Kimberly’s review of All Summer Long by Susan Mallery

TITLE: All Summer Long
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE:   07/31/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Can a summer fling turn into love that lasts a lifetime? Former underwear model turned entrepreneur Clay Stryker has loved, tragically lost and vowed that he’ll never risk his heart again. After making his fortune, the youngest of the rugged Stryker brothers returns to Fool’s Gold, California, to put down roots on a ranch of his own. But he’s frustrated to discover that even in his hometown, people see him only for his world-famous…assets.

Firefighter Chantal (Charlie) Dixon grew up an ugly duckling beside her delicately beautiful mother, a feeling reinforced long ago by a man who left soul-deep scars. Now she has good friends, a solid job and the itch to start a family-yet she can’t move toward the future while she’s haunted by painful memories.

Clay finds an unexpected ally, and unexpected temptation, in tomboyish Charlie, the only person who sees beyond his dazzling good looks to the real man beneath. But when Charlie comes to him with an indecent proposal, will they be able to overcome their pasts and find a love that lasts beyond one incredible summer?

REVIEW:
This is the ninth in the Fool’s Gold series. And the last of the Stryker Brother trilogy. And I think Mallery saved the best brother for last. This is the story of Clay and Charlie. We met Charlie a few books back. She is a Fool’s Gold firefighter and Clay is a NYC underwear model.

I will be honest, I could not imagine these two together. I imagined Charlie something like Kristen Johnston from “3rd Rock from the Sun” tv show. And Clay something like Matthew McConaughey. Just not a couple that would look good together but something about them just meshes really well once you start reading. Not only does Charlie believe she is far from feminine she was raped years ago and has never gotten beyond the trauma of the incident and trusting in a man. When she befriends Clay she feels he might be the one to help her get beyond her past. Clay just wants to move past his reputation of being a model and being dumb, spoiled and stand-offish. The interesting thing is both of them just want to be “normal”.

Any woman who has had trauma in her life, even if it was not a rape, can relate to Charlie. She is written so strong physically and will do anything for her friends but when it comes to men there is a vulnerability that any woman can relate to. Then Clay comes into her life. I loved the way he was written. He is so sensitive to her mind, body and heart. He is willing to take it slow with Charlie even when she doesn’t think that is what she wants. Every woman who has been through a trauma should have a man like Clay.

While I would suggest reading the entire series, this book really can stand alone. But I would strongly recommend the entire series. Mallery has a way of bringing you right into her world of Fool’s Gold and you never want to leave.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.