All Summer Long - My Review

Melody Carlson's book All Summer Long is a great beach read for this time of year.  It is light-hearted and a fairly quick read, but that may be because I had trouble putting it down.  I love when a book becomes a page turner, and the story follows a fluid path.  From being introduced to the main characters, to finding out and understanding the plot of the text, each scene flowed easily from one page to the next, and I was excited to see how each part of the overall story played out. 

Tia D'Amico is an aspiring chef who longs to not only further her career but also cannot wait to jump at the chance to leave behind her hometown of Norton, Washington.  Even though it has been in the family for generations, Tia feels that her talents can be put to better use somewhere other than her uncle's restaurant, and she longs for a new adventure to come her way.  When it finally does, her immediate excitement turns to worry as she takes a giant leap into the great unknown.  Will she be able to successfully manage the next page in her life?  Or is she making a terrible mistake?  These are the thoughts that run through Tia's mind as she boards the plane to San Francisco to meet her aunt and uncle.  Unfortunately, her destination will uncover a secret from her past along with great amounts of heartache and prayer.

Leo Parker has always dreamed of being a sea captain.  That is after he abandoned the family plan of becoming an attorney.  Despite his father's trepidation at this news, Leo continues in his plans of wanting to live a life at sea.  Interestingly, he gets offered the position of sea captain aboard the Pacific Pearl.  There is one problem though.  The Pacific Pearl is not ready to set sail much less even be boarded at the dock.  After much loving care, maybe she will be ready to make her maiden voyage.  In the midst of trying to recover this rare gem from the past, Leo confronts his own past while trying to start a new chapter.  Some unforeseen troubles might derail his plans, yet they might also be the steps he needs to take in order to secure his own happiness in life. 

This book is filled with joys, sadness, questions about the past and future, along with trying to reconnect with people and places you never thought you knew or needed.  Carlson's addition of colorful characters along the way will keep you guessing as you wonder how the actions and consequences of each person's life will turn out.  There were even moments I wished I could join in with the gang and makes s'mores by the campfire with them! 

In addition to her relatable characters, her style of writing is easy to read and understand, and she modernizes her text by using familiar names, such as Whole Food and Starbucks.  I highly recommend checking this story out!

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my copy.

About The Book

*She's ready to take on a new challenge.  What she doesn't expect is an old flame.  Tia D'Amico is thrilled to move to San Fransisco to help her aunt transform an old luxury yacht into an upscale floating restaurant.  What's not to love?  Sunset dinner cruises, posh wedding receptions--the possibilities are endless and far more appetizing than staying in a monotonous job in her Podunk hometown.  Besides, some of her best memories are tied to San Fransisco--especially the memory of Leo Parker, her crush from a long ago sailing camp.  

When Leo Parker himself turns out to be the yacht's captain, Tia is floating on air.  But will it all come crashing down around her when she discover his heart belong to someone else? 

Get ready for a romantic summer in San Francisco, where the future glistens brighter than the Bay at Sunset.  

*Synopsis is from the back cover of the novel.

About The Author

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than 6.5 million.  She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice.  She and her husband live in central Oregon. 

Learn more at:  www.melodycarlson.com