All Summer Long (Fool's Gold Book 12)

Summer Lovin' Part IIPosted on August 31, 2012I love Susan Mallery! She's one of my favorite contemporary Romance novelists today!!! She is very personable and available via her website and social media! She will respond to your questions, comments, and insights! She even has an official cheerleading squad made up of some of her best readers who promote her books!!! Isn't that great?She loves to write about families and siblings and their search for love and this summer was no exception! We were treated to her "Summer" books: `Summer Days,' `Summer Nights,' and `All Summer Long.' The novels focused on three best friends Heidi, Annabelle, and Charlie who eventually pair off with the handsome and conflicted Stryker brothers. All three are engrossing and romantic, (and yes, heartbreaking at times). They are each able to stand alone, but it was the final book in the trilogy, `All Summer Long' that captured my heart.Readers who had been following the previous two novels already know Charlie. She marches to her own drumbeat as she is firefighter and is known for her strength and sometimes brutal honesty. She also has a heart of gold and is as loyal as they come. She loves Fool's Gold, the setting of this series, and is secure in her place there. Surprisingly, she wants to have a child; biologically or through adoption and feels that she will need to "heal" herself before she is able to give a child a true home.Charlie's facade of toughness comes as a result of being raped while in college and not being believed by anyone, not even her world-famous ballerina of a mother. She comes to the conclusion that she will need to get over her aversion to men by spending time with one and possibly getting naked (gasp!). She decides to ask Clay Stryker, brother of her best friends' husbands and former model and butt-double who has returned to town. They aren't friends, exactly, but, in her straightforward manner, she asks if he could help her.And he does with much patience, understanding, and dare I say, attention to detail.When Clay decides to apply to be a volunteer fireman, Charlie is able to return the favor. No one expects to develop feelings. They are friends; nothing more. But what happens when we have two people both in need of healing? Clay, who seems to have everything, must deal with being seen as more than just a pretty face (or body in this case) and his belief that true love can only happen once in a lifetime. He had that with his photographer wife, now deceased. She was 14 years older than him (I've noticed this convention in a couple of books I've read this summer. See my review of `On The Island') and he doesn't feel that he has it in him to love anyone else. Ever.I could not help but pull for Charlie. She was such an amazing character. She made the effort to close the rift between her mother and herself through forgiveness. She looked for ways to help Clay realize his plans for helping the community. She was so strong and brave, yet she learns to find strength in her vulnerability and capacity to love. Please take the time to visit Fool's Gold and read Charlie and Clay's story.Note: Clay's sister Evie's story is coming this Fall in `A Fool's Gold Christmas' and I can't wait!!!!!

All Summer Long is definitely my favorite of the Stryker brothers series. Charlie is a local firefighter who is fighting the demons of her past and needs to figure out a way to become "normal" again so she can carryon with her idea of wanting to have a family some day.Clay Stryker is a former underwear model who comes home to Fool's Gold to start a normal life and join his family at Castle Ranch. He figures that by joining the volunteer Fire Department, it will help him become a regular part of the community, as long as everyone can get past how attractive he is and take him seriously.Charlie and Clay form a friendship and they enter into an agreement that on the service seems to be mutually beneficial to both of them, as long as their feelings don't get in the way, which of course, they do!!As as side story, Charlie's mother, Dominique comes back into Charlies life after having a health scare and realizes that she wants to try and have a regular relationship with her daughter, but their past history and the way that Dominque treats her daughter could be a problem and Charlie needs to figure out if this is a relationship that she really wants to have.

"All Summer Long" is the 9th book in Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold series. This is by far the steamiest book in the series; Susan upped the sizzle factor for Clay and Charlie. I loved this couple; they are a great balance for one another. Both of them have been stereotyped for their looks, but towards one another they look deeper to the beauty within. Charlie is an extremely likable character. She's a snarky, tough, honest woman who hides a vulnerable side. I admire her honesty; I want to be that kind of woman. Clay is just....YUM!!! Besides being a specimen of male perfection; he's intelligent, kind hearted and hardworking (I need a superpower to bring things I read about to life =) Clay's slow seduction of Charlie is what I think made this book so hot. Can you say anticipation!!!! Charlie's mother was a surprise. Even though she's awful for most of the story, I felt she redeemed herself in the end. I thought it was highly ironic that Clay's mother was giving Charlie's mother advice on how to connect with her daughter. I like how Susan always sets up the next book's characters (this time it's Evie) The ending was great and believable considering who Clay used to be. I give "All Summer Long" 4/5 stars, well more 4.5/5! It was one of the best books of the series but I felt it lacked what I consider the best of the series, "Only His", had.....serious humor!! I'd say this one is my 2nd favorite.

After several duds and mediocre entries in this long-running series, the author picked up steam. This is the ninth book (not counting a few novellas) in a series comprised of trilogies set in Fool's Gold, a town located squarely in the heart of Romanceland. People are friendlier, better-looking, and more laden with secret angst from their pasts. The men tend to be wealthier and taller, too, always a good thing. In this novel, Charlie (Chantal) is trying to cope with a traumatic event by doing her best to look and act like a man. She's gruff, tough, and a firefighter to boot. Clay, the too-gorgeous-to-believe underwear model, is back in town and attempting to establish his bona fides as a business owner...but everyone keeps looking at his rear view. To add complications, Charlie's mother has descended upon her, filled with narcissism and a blind disregard for anyone else. Clay's business hits some snags. But, as any romance reader knows, a happy-ever-after is in sight. This is a formulaic romance, but I found it a great way to pass a long day in waiting rooms. It's also a fast read, so if you read well, have a second book on hand as you will go through this before the day is over.

I have enjoyed Charlie as a character in previous Fools Gold books and was delighted to read her story at last. She is a straightforward woman who has been hurt by her past and by a date rape - the biggest hurts she has received however are from her self-obsessed ballerina mother. Clay is an ex-underwear model who is trying to make a future for himself in the town but it continually faced with his past in teh way in which he is treated.There are lots of plot threads and some interesting ideas - not gone in too deeply as this is a light romance but nice to see. Charlie remains the character we love and handles what happens to her well and Clay grows to respect himself in such a way that others respect him too. Charlie's mother changes her opinion a little too quickly moving from self-obsessed to self-aware in a couple of pages but it is an interesting journey.One of teh stronger entries in this series. Very enjoyable

Story of a woman uncomfortable with romance and love, and a man who's first love had died. They get together, and slowly she falls in love - and much to his surprise so does he. Well told, worthy of Susan Mallory.

I just love the Fools Gold stories - they never disappoint.

Charlie and Clay's story is the best of the Fools Gold books by far (and I think for Susan Mallery's books of late) - well worth the read. The emotions feel real, as do the thoughts and reactions (and frustrations) of the two key characters. The love scenes are well written and feel emotionally charged, running from sensual to hot, and fit well with the story.Well done Susan Mallery.

Really loved all 3 books hope there will be more