The Summer Getaway

Product Information

Robyn stared at her friend-slash-boss. “You two talked about how that promotion would be more work for him but that it would be worth it. You wanted this for him.” I could hardly put my headphones down, not wanting to miss what was happening next. The narrator added to my enjoyment of the story as she captured the perfect tone and spirit of both the characters and the tale. It was enlightening to see Harlow and Austin find their way on their own, both having a higher appreciation for their mother. It was even more heartwarming to see Robyn learn to let them go and finally focus on her own needs. I loved every moment of my listening experience! Robyn Caldwell is mother of two young adult children and is managing a lot in her life. As the drama and tensions build, she decides an escape to her precious grandmother’s home in picturesque Santa Barbara, California, like previous times in her life, is exactly what she needs. One-by-one the people and problems she is running from show up at her door, but she’s finally ready to deal with them. What she isn’t prepared for is the new arrival of a handsome, kind-hearted stranger, the estranged relative of her grandmother’s late husband. I had an interesting time with this story. The characters featured will make you either want to cheer them on, scream at them, shake some sense into them or feel indifferent towards them. I knew I would like Robyn from the moment of her introduction. She was such a personable character. No wonder everyone looked to her for solace, whenever situations in their lives goes sideways. There are so many pieces in this book that I related to. It’s magical when an author writes from the heart. Mallory totally understands women, kids we’re trying to raise, and those crazy emotions all over the place.

Honestly, put this book on your must-read list. It is so good and loaded with rich descriptions, in-depth emotions, and some sweet heat that enhanced the budding romance. I just fell in love with The Summer Getaway. Maybe because I need to escape too! Robyn Caldwell, single mum to two now adults, decides she needs to make a plan for her life. She has mere months to either buy out her ex-husbands half of the house, or sell up. Her daughter desperately wants her to keep the house, as a selfish bride-to-be wanting her wedding there, while her son is off doing his own thing. When her aunt Lillian asks her to come and visit for a while, Robyn decides it’s the perfect time to go and spend some time thinking. One by one, every person she knows follows her to Santa Barbara, ending up with a house full of drama, oh and the handsome stranger due to inherit the house.I looked forward to reading The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery, having enjoyed her work in the past and it did not disappoint. In the Summer Getaway, Mallery delivered a tale filled with family drama, angst, humour and romance. Is Cord’s relationship going to be a problem for you and Harlow? Boys will be boys, but it’s just so awkward.” New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.

Robyn again resisted the urge to chug her wine. “Kip’s great. He adores Harlow, and doesn’t every mother want that in a future son-in-law? I just wish…”I was reading this book, rather enjoying it...bumping along with the family drama and the humor. And then the last quarter the author unceremoniously jettisoned the personality of some of the characters that we spent the the whole first part of the book getting to know. The heel turn of one character especially annoyed me especially since I cynically felt it was 100% done in the service of making one character more sympathetic. And the more I thought about the book, everything about how some of the other outcomes came about began to annoy me. While feeling defeated, Robyn receives an invitation for a summer visit at her Aunt Lillian's estate in Santa Barbara. Her aunt is eccentric and a free spirit in her nineties. She makes plans for her estate with one of her late husband's relatives, Mason, who has retired from the military. Mason and Robyn's friendship blossoms naturally and openly.... perfect timing. Madison shook her head in faux sympathy. “You have no idea what I’m talking about. Oh, no. I shouldn’t have said a word.” The fantasies are safe. The real thing could destroy everything you have. Knowing you’ve cheated would devastate Payne.” Imagine all the drama you could think of happening within a family, and quadruple it. This family goes through a lot, with cheating, divorce, serious illness, death, lies, debt, in-laws, as well as everything else! Corr this is a book and a half. This will be your read of the summer, that’s for sure! Hell, maybe even your read of the year!

It’s okay. As for talking to her when I was Harlow’s age, I probably wouldn’t have listened, either. I want to say I would have been mature and interested in her opinion, but it seems unlikely.” Robyn is divorced, living in Naples, Florida, and will need to sell her home in just a few months as part of the divorce settlement. Her daughter has turned into bridezilla and is demanding to be married at the home - which just isn't going to work. Her son is eighteen and won't even discuss college. Her ex-husband is involved with a woman he shouldn't be involved with. Her best friend is talking about cheating on her husband with a tennis pro. Her boyfriend is not the man she thought he was. It's all too much. Robyn flees to California to stay with her great-aunt Lillian in a beautiful home on the coast in Santa Barbara. Robyn needs to come to grips with her life, her finances, her kids, and find the direction she wants her life to go. Are you?” Robyn asked before she could stop herself. “It seems to me you’re delighted. It must be hard having such a small life.” I had no trouble wrapping myself up in this delicious drama. The story is sudsy, and over the top at times, but it was also a nice journey of renewed self-discovery for Robyn and a time for those who maybe took her for granted, who needed to become more self-reliant, to start growing up and making better decisions, both the younger characters and some of the older ones, too.This was a delightfully amusing and engaging read that kept me smirking and pleasantly entertained throughout perusal. I enjoyed all the various storylines, all of which were advancing at a steady pace. You have a great husband. Payne loves you and the kids, and never has eyes for another woman. Why would you screw that up?” Genres: Fiction / Family Life / Marriage & Divorce, Fiction / Family Life / Siblings, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Women A very valid question, Robyn thought. “How can you be insightful? That’s your third glass of champagne.” One by one, everyone she was escaping appear in her great aunt’s home. With her great aunt Lillian’s counsel and the steadfastness of a new male friend, Robyn can have everything she wants if she is willing to believe in herself.

Single mom Robyn Caldwell needs a new plan for her future. She has always put her family first. Now, with her kids grown, she yearns for a change. But what can she do when her daughter has become the most demanding bride ever, her son won’t even consider college, her best friend is on the brink of marital disaster and her ex is making a monumentally bad decision that could ruin everything? I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Robyn is striving to find her path in life, and taking a chance on herself just might be too big a risk. Lillian is incredibly wise and the time that Robyn spends with her will no doubt change her life. However, what about the fact that her family is showing up, one by one? Has Robyn actually gotten away or has everything she escaped followed her to the degree that she might never find her footing?

Robyn is a single mom trying to figure out the rest of her life. Although Robyn lives in a sophisticated home in Naples, Florida, she is recently divorced, and dealing with family issues. She stands at a crossroad with her children. Her daughter is behaving as a bridezilla with intolerable demands for her wedding and her son is finishing high school with no plans for college or his future. On top of that, her ex is vocal about his problems with his new girlfriend. Robyn Caldwell (42) has to find a new plan for her future now that her daughter Harlow (22) and her son (18) have moved out. Robyn sacrificed her dreams and always put her family first. Now she don't know how to deal with problems her adult children and her ex-husband create. When her great-aunt Lillian invite her to sunny Santa Barbara for the summer, she decide it is time to get away from all the stress and troubles, be with the person who has always been there for her! Something Robyn had learned the hard way herself. She’d been blissfully unaware of her ex-husband’s affairs until a “friend” had oh-so-sweetly informed her. The story delivered some interesting and dramatic moments, most of which were centered around Robyn's philandering ex-husband , Cord and her entitled daughter, Harlowe. The depth of character development in The Summer Getaway was precisely what I expected from Mallery. The characters grew and learn from their mistakes. Even the obnoxious ones. I believe Robyn's friend got off too easy for her stupidity. After all the warnings Robyn gave her she went and did the unthinkable and then she came running to Robyn looking for solace. It shows Robyn's kindheartedness. Every character was in transition and actively moving forward while wading through unanticipated opportunities and conundrums. I adored the couple of Mason and Robyn, but Mason most of all, as he was not at all what I was expecting.