Customer Reviews

Summer Lovin' (Costas Sisters)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Carly Phillips has written a charming follow-up to Under The Boardwalk in Summer Loving. It continues the wickedly delightful tale of the Costas family.

Zoe Costas ex Fed Agent is changing the direction of her life. She has opened a new business with her new brother in law Quinn and his former police office Connor. Zoe has reconnected with her family and especially with her twin Ari. She cares deeply for her family and the newest addition, foster sister Sam. The Costas are in the final stages to adopt Sam. A surprise in the form of Ryan Baldwin changes everything.

Lawyer Ryan Baldwin has been searching for his deceased sisters Faith's child for years. He finds her thriving at the wild and fun loving Costas. Ryan and Zoe agree to hold off on telling the family until things are more settled. One major problem with that plan is that Zoe and Ryan are attracted to each other.

Ryan always toed the line with his strict upper class family, but his sister Faith could never find her place at home. Zoe makes him loosen up and look at his life in a whole new light. Zoe is a free spirit but afraid to let her self go and fall in love. When the truth from the night Faith ran away comes to light they both will need the strength from each other to deal with the fall out.

Carly Phillips brings the Costas family to life. It's a delicious story filled with love, family and hotter then hot passion. Its another keeper.

The second in the Costas Sister series is a fast-paced read with endearing characters. Fan's of Ms. Phillips are in for a very entertaining read.

Zoe Costas has quit the Secret Service and has gone into business with her brother-in-law and his best friend. She is trying to find her place in life while maintaining the close family connection that her loving Greek family has. The family is about to increase by one with the adoption of their foster child Samantha. That is until a stranger shows up. He is handsome, uptight, and straighlaced. He's trouble alright. Trouble for Zoe.

Ryan Baldwin comes from a wealthy Bostonian family. He has been looking for her niece for years. He tracks her down in Jersey. She is living with a fun, zany family that are totally opposite of his own family. On top of that there is Zoe. Zoe is beautiful inside and out. She truly cares about his niece and she speaks to a part of his heart that he didn't know he had. He's going to have to jugggle things in order to make sure that everyone is happy in the end. The Costas family, Zoe, Samantha, and himself. How can he take Samantha away from a family that truly loves her when all he wants is to bring home the piece of his sister that he didn't know he could have? And, how can he walk away from the first woman that he's ever loved?

This is a complex story but not so complex to confuse readers. I truly enjoyed stepping into Ms. Phillips world. The Costas family, Zoe and Ryan are truly wonderful and dynamic characters. There is no don't that THEY tell their own story.

There is a natural chemistry between Ryan and Zoe that makes this a very good romance. Ms. Phillips truly has a talent when it comes to drawing out her characters and pulling a reader in. This is a great read and one that you won't want to miss.

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

Summer Lovin' is the continuation of the Costa Family story. There are lots of family get-togethers, with family dynamic and misdynamic. The teen that the senior Costa's took under their wing and into their hearts turns out not to be without relatives. Actually she has wealthy, sneaky, stuck-up relatives. Naturally, the only 'nice' relative finds the teen and has to deal with the loving family she's found for herself. Specifically her older 'sister'. This book is fairly predictable, but Phillips has a way with characters that makes you keep on reading, just to see what happens next. If you are hooked on finding out what happens to characters throughout a series, Phillips is high up in the pecking order

I don't know if I just didn't like this story or if I just don't like Carly Phillips very much. This story did nothing for me. I didn't like Zoe very much, she was kind of hard to understand. I understood that she loved Sam and wanted her to be part of the family but she was very shady with Ryan in my opinion and from how far I read didn't always respect Ryan's feelings for his niece. She kind of threw her close relationship with Sam in his face all the time. And Ryan started out good but the social worker mix-up which wasn't really his fault kept being brought back up by Zoe and his angry moods and stodgy attitude turned me off. It was too boring to actually finish reading it. Maybe it redeemed itself in the end for other readers. But based on the premise and the poor execution I give it 2 stars.

After reading Under the Boardwalk I ordered this book and was very excited to read it. However, this book disappointed greatly. There was no character development, especially in the relationship between Zoe and Ryan. Phillips stated exactly what the character's emotions and feelings were, leaving no room for your own insight and feel for the characters. As an avid chick-lit reader, this was one of the worst books I have read in a long time.

`Summer Lovin' by Carly Phillips is the second book about the eccentric Greek Costas Family. The first book was `Under the Boardwalk' (2004) that tells the love story of Aniana. This novel tells the love story of Zoe (Aniana's twin) the ex-secret service agent. While protecting her family from Ryan Baldwin the biological uncle of her parents foster child she feels he maybe her soul mate. Zoë's eccentric Greek family steals the show with a mix of A Greek Wedding meets the Adam's Family. I am not sure this series is my favorite Carly Phillips novel but it is quick read and nice conclusion of the twins search for love.

Put this at the top of your list for a "best for the beach listen" or "while away the long vacation drive." It's one more romantic romp by Carly Phillips, author of "Hot Number" and "The Bachelor." Phillips is a pundit of passion and she never stints, especially when opposites attract as they do in "Summer Lovin'."

Zoe Costas's family may be far removed from mainline, but they make up for it in foibles and lots of love. Included in this happy New Jersey circle is Sam, a 14-year-old whom they're adopting. Slight snag when Sam's hither to now unknown uncle appears. He's Ryan Baldwin - tall, handsome and a very rich Bostonian. Seems his sister ran away as a teenager, and he has just now learned of Sam's existence. He doesn't want her to be a Costas but wants to return her to the well-to-do Baldwin clan.

A security specialist, Zoe has eyes and she can see that Ryan's a hunk, but she can also see that someone else is trying to keep Sam away from the Baldwin's. In fact, that mysterious person or persons never wanted Sam to be found at all.

Romance soon runs riot after Zoe and Ryan meet. But everything isn't all hearts and flowers as Ryan has recently discovered that his sister is dead, and he has vowed to find out the reason for her untimely end and protect Sam. Of course, he can't do this alone - Zoe to the rescue and into his arms.

Voice performer Bernadette Quigley gives a lush, highly entertaining reading. She's especially effective when their mutual attraction finds Zoe and Ryan in a steamy scene or three.

- Gail Cooke

This is another great Carly Phillips book. I am not sure why any of the reviewers said it wasn't that great. I was a fabulous book. I read it in two sittings. If you love Carly Phillips, you'll love this one too.

Zoe Costas lives with her very eccentric loving greek family in New Jersey. Zoe once worked for the Secret Service, but tired of all the rules and regulations of the government, she is starting her own business now. Samantha is Zoe's foster sister and lives with Zoe and her family. They are all gathered to celebrate Sam's first year with the Costas family.The family is about to increase by one with the adoption of Samantha then Ryan Baldwin arrives.

Ryan is a lawyer from Boston, handsome, uptight and straighlaced. Ryan's sister Faith ran away from home, got into drugs and was eventually killed in a drug deal gone bad many years ago. Ryan didn't know he had a niece until recently, he has been looking for her niece ever since. He tracks her down in Jersey and he has arrived at the Costas home to "save" Sam and bring her back to Boston.

Because Ryan is Sam's blood relative, he is able to be a part of Sam's life even though the Costas' object. They don't want to part with Sam, they were so close to adopting her. They are shattered. As they all try to find common ground, Sam's life is suddenly threatened. Working together, Zoe and Ryan protect her while attempting to solve the mystery of Faith's now suspicious disappearance. Through all the problems Zoe and Ryan are falling for each other, there is a natural chemistry between them, but they are very different people and although Zoe knows opposites attract, she isn't sure it's enough to make things work. How can he take Samantha away from a family that truly loves her.

Summer Lovin' is a fabulous story! Mystery, passion, desire and family squabbles. Light easy beach read in summer or with a blanket in front of a fire in winter!!!

I picked this book up on a sale shelf at the store and read it in a little over a day. I was surprised to come to Amazon and find other readers had not liked it as much. The book was an easy read and a nice romance. Perhaps I just like quirky characters! It's a fun book for a summer afternoon.