All Summer Long (Fool's Gold) [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Mallery (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 31, 2012

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?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mallery's prose is luscious and provocative."

-Publishers Weekly

"An adorable, outspoken heroine and an intense hero...set the sparks flying in Mallery's latest lively, comic, and touching family-centered story."

- Library Journal on Only Yours

"Mallery...excels at creating varied, well-developed characters and an emotion-packed story gently infused with her trademark wit and humor." One of the Top 10 Romances of 2011!

- Booklist on Only Mine

"Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling."

-Booklist

From the Author

Dear Reader,

I love all the characters that I write, but there are a few who find a special place in my heart. Firefighter Charlie Dixon is one of those special few. I adore Charlie. Her crabbiness makes me laugh, and her big, generous, vulnerable heart makes me want to be her friend. I don't know if I've ever been happier to write a happily ever after.

Charlie is determined to get over her painful past so that she can move toward the bright future her best friends Annabelle and Heidi found earlier this summer. (See Summer Days and Summer Nights.) Could Clay Stryker, of all people, be the man to help her heal? Clay made his fortune as an underwear model and a Hollywood butt double. He could very well be the most handsome man in the world. By all rights, this small town firefighter should be wildly intimidated by the man's classic good looks. And yet... Charlie just might be the only woman in the world more dazzled by Clay's heart than by his world-famous... assets. Can she trust Clay enough to approach him with an indecent proposal?

For a complete list of all of my books in order of publication, please visit the Freebies page inside the Members Only area of my website.

Susan Mallery
read. laugh. love.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin HQN; Original edition (July 31, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373776942
• ISBN-13: 978-0373776948
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (220 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that define their lives. She has published more than 100 romance and women's fiction novels, beginning with two books the same month when she was just out of college. Her books have spent more than 120 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list and have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestsellers list (SUMMER NIGHTS, Fool's Gold book 8). Known for her keen insight into human nature and her humorous take on life, Susan Mallery has been described by RT Book Reviews as "in a class by herself!" and was featured as a Red Hot Read in Cosmopolitan Magazine.

With a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Susan is one of the few writers who can understand her royalty statement. She went on to get a Masters in Writing Popular Fiction and has extensively studied story structure in screenwriting courses, though she has no plans to write for the screen. Her goal, always, is to give readers a story that will move them, populated with characters who feel like real people.

Booklist says, "Novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and Publisher's Weekly calls her prose "luscious and provocative." Susan appreciates critical praise, but she values praise from her readers even more. She credits her successful career to the loyal readers who rush out to buy each new book on the day it's released.

With the advent of ebooks, Susan's career has soared even higher, and her books make regular appearances on both print and ebook bestsellers lists. She has embraced the Digital Age with a robust website (www.susanmallery.com), an active presence on Facebook (www.facebook.com/susanmallery) and a free Susan Mallery app for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices (www.mobileroadie.com/apps/susanmallery). At www.foolsgoldca.com, she also provides bonus content such as after-the-happily-ever-after updates for the Fool's Gold romances, her most popular ongoing series.

Born and raised in California, Susan lives with her family in Seattle, where she survives the dreary days of winter with the help of a "happy lamp" and plenty of coffee.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#34 Overall (See top 100 authors)

#9 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Contemporary

#9 in Books > Romance > Contemporary

#10 in Books > Romance

#11 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance

#24 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction

#9 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Contemporary

#9 in Books > Romance > Contemporary

#10 in Books > Romance

#11 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance

#24 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 star read July 31, 2012

By K. Branfield

Format:Kindle Edition

In All Summer Long, Susan Mallery brings the Stryker brothers' trilogy to an outstanding finish and tantalizes her readers with a teasing glimpse of their sister Evageline's upcoming story. While this latest novel in the Fool's Gold series is a bit more serious than the previous two novels, it is a romantic and fairly light-hearted read.

Well drawn and true to life, Charlie Dixon and Clay Stryker are fabulous characters. Straightforward, blunt and to the point, Charlie is a refreshing breath of fresh air. She says what she means and she means what she says. Never mean or hurtful, she is sensitive to others' feelings and she gets her point across with an great deal of tact. Finally ready to put her painful past behind her, Charlie entices Clay with a proposal he finds impossible to resist.

Ahh, Clay. I confess. He is my favorite of the three brothers. Former underwear model and butt double with spectacular looks that routinely inspire numerous propositions from legions of women both young and old, he is surprisingly blasé about how gorgeous he is. More than just a pretty face (and butt), he is a kind-hearted, down-to-earth, intelligent and surprisingly insightful man. He has arrived in Fool's Gold with a well-researched business plan and a strong desire to contribute to the local community.

While their relationship is originally based on their mutual sexual attraction, there is true friendship, mutual respect and genuine affection between Clay and Charlie. Clay's patience and understanding with Charlie adds to his character's depth and appeal. Their sex scenes are quite sensual and reveal a lot about their emotions and feelings for one another.

The secondary story line with Charlie's mother, Dominique, provides most of the conflict in All Summer Long. Dominique is vain, shallow, amazingly self-centered and highly critical of Charlie. Absent for much of Charlie's childhood due to Dominique's career as a world-renowned ballerina, they have been estranged for quite some time and for Charlie, their relationship is a minefield of hurt feelings and unmet needs. With a whole lot of advice from May Stryker, Dominique tries to heal past mistakes and become the mother that Charlie deserves.

Ms. Mallery presents some very interesting contrasts in All Summer Long. May Stryker is the epitome of the perfect mother (at least for the Stryker men) and Dominique, well, we know where she falls on the parenting spectrum. Instead of the heroine being judged based on her appearance, Clay is the one who is objectified. But the difference I found most striking and fascinating is the vast and completely opposite effect fame has on Clay and Dominique. It is absolutely amazing how differently the two react to their respective careers and how they view and interact with other people around them.

All Summer Long is a moving and heartfelt story about healing the past. It is also a beautiful romance that is slow-growing, sweet and most important, realistic. Susan Mallery handles a difficult and sensitive topic with exquisite care in a believable and forthright manner.

All Summer Long is another magnificent installment in the delightfully charming Fool's Gold series that old and new fans are sure to enjoy. The intriguing glimpses of old and new characters leave readers eagerly anticipating their next visit in the lovely town of Fool's Gold.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Charlie has met her match in Clay! July 31, 2012

By B. Ferris VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I think this maybe my fave, so far, in the Fool's Gold series of course I've said this about each book LOL I do love both the hero and heroine. Charlie has been a little out of focus through several of the books-she's been seen as the big, strong friend but this book brings out her wonderful personality and of course the hero, Clay, that compliments her.

Charlie is best friends with Heidi, the newlywed in SUMMER DAYS, and Annabelle, the newly engaged in SUMMER NIGHTS, who have met their soulmates in the Stryker brothers, Rafe and Shane so this leaves the youngest brother Clay, single and unattached. He has been a underwear model and even had his bare butt in the movies. Charlie needs some help and Clay seems to be the guy that can do it!

You can take a wild guess what she needs help doing and maybe you'd be right. This is the big secret Charlie has been holding onto for years. She tells her close friends after she has decided to do this. To add to Charlie's problems her mother has come to town to make Charlie pay attention to her and Dominique needs a lesson on how to get along and be close as mother/daughter.

The book is great! Ms Mallery has created a too good place in Fool's Gold but like a tourist I'll keep coming back.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best one yet August 7, 2012

By Blessed 911

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Charlie and Clay's story is my favorite of the summer,.. I think I say all of Susan Mallerys books at my favorite and I'm sorry for continuously repeating myself, however, she is an amazing writer who captures so much emotion in her books. There is sad, anger, laughing, happy, hysterical, romantic, lust, and in this book, a lil bit of erotica.... I loved this book, I laughed out loud at some of Charlies blunt statements, she reminded me of a friend...
Please, if you have never read a Susan Mallery book, buy this on, and I promise you won't be disappointed.