“The perfect beach read!” –Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author of Beach House Reunion. “Tender and triumphant…California Summer made my heart sing.” –Allison Winn Scotch, New York Times bestselling author of Between Me and You Anita Hughes’s California Summer is a charming and beautiful love story about a former Hollywood producer who trades her cast list in for cookbooks in … love story about a former Hollywood producer who trades her cast list in for cookbooks in the hopes of following her dreams and finding new love.
Ben and Rosie are Hollywood’s newest director/producer dream team. After hitting it big at Sundance, it seems that their ten years of love and hard work are finally paying off. Rosie is happy making independent films, but Ben wants the A-List celebrity package: a house in Beverly Hills, fancy cars in the driveway, and his name on the biggest blockbusters. He’s willing to do anything, even sleep with the most famous producer in town, to get them.
Rosie is devastated by Ben’s affair, and she decides to take a break from show business. She accepts her best friend’s invitation to spend the summer at her parents’ estate in Montecito. It’s far away from L.A., the perfect place to start over.
In Montecito, Rosie meets a colorful cast of characters including Rachel, who owns a chocolate shop, and Josh, a handsome local who splits his time between surfing and classic cars. Suddenly Rosie has new friends and a new purpose. She starts a business in the village, and her luck seems to be turning around. But Rosie knows all too well that success comes with a price, and the price might be losing love…again.
California Summer is a touching and romantic story about following your dreams but not letting them get in the way of love.
more
Anita Hughes is a master at sweeping the reader away to an exotic location! In California Summer, Hughes takes us behind the gates to the manicured lawns, exquisite gardens, and mansions of Hollywood royalty to experience a second chance at a career and love. The perfect beach read!
I enjoyed this book, this is one of those books that you will want to take to the beach and read till the sun goes down
California Summer was an enjoyable, charming novel! I really enjoyed the characters, especially Morris! Rosie and Ben have been together for ten years. They have been living in L.A. and immersed in directing and producing to make a break-through in the movie industry. Though Ben’s ambition was at a higher level than Rosie’s, and soon she discovers that he has slept with a famous producer. Rosie is so upset that she leaves and goes to stay at her friend’s parents’ estate in Montecito. Rosie is still upset about Ben, but she doesn’t want to let go. She hopes to get back together. In time, Rosie realizes as she is forced to start over without Ben that she wants to start over right in Montecito. She makes new friends and each of them gives her new wisdom and courage to actually start a new life. She begins to have new dreams, but along the way she has to deal with her emotions and learn to trust again.
Everything a beach, summer, stay-cation book should be Light, easy to read, great location, interesting characters. I wanted to go out to eat with them and live at the estate. Five stars for me.
A little too fluffy for me. Very easy to read but the relationships are frustrating. In the end, all characters and loose ends are neatly tied up.
Great book!
California Summer is this summer’s offering from author Anita Hughes. Rosie Keller and Ben Ford met in college and have been together ever since, over ten years. They had dreams of creating movies and when they achieved some success at Sundance it looked like they were on their way, together. But all that comes to a halt when Rosie returns from a location scouting trip to discover Ben is sleeping with executive producer Mary Beth Chase.
Lost, Rosie’s friend Angelica suggests Rosie get away for the summer and offers Rosie her parents’ guest house in Montecito , just a short distance north of Los Angeles. Rosie arrives, feeling sad and dejected. Stopping in town on her way to the estate. Rosie meets the first of her new friends, candy store owner Rachel Gold and deli owner Patrick. Both make her feel very welcome. Before arriving at the estate, she makes one more stop at Butterfly Beach to watch the sunset finding a peaceful respite if it weren’t for running over the surfboard belonging to Josh Fellows.
Arriving at the estate, Rosie is warmly welcomed by Angelica’s parents, Estelle and Oscar, a music producer. She is also befriended by butler and former rocker, Morris. Initially, Rosie is terribly distraught, but the interaction she has with this lovely cast of characters and the things she learns from and about them, help her to grow in ways she never would have imagined in the course of this special summer.
This story was well woven with beautiful description and unexpected twists. I did enjoy this book and do recommend it!
Good read just in time for summer!
Thank you for this free print copy of the book, which I won through the Goodreads giveaway program.
The only thing I cared for in this book were the 2 recipes in the back of the book, 1 for guacamole which has a lovely spin on it (which I’m dying to try & know it will be delicious!!), and the other, a fish taco recipe which also sounds decadent. I am so thankful for these because I craved them the whole time through the book!!!!.
The story line in California Summer, just wasn’t for me. I strongly disliked the younger characters in this book all being so self absorbed. The main character Rosie, had no mind of her own and I almost put the book down mulitiple times because I cannot stand women who are constantly Dick tripping over men nonstop! Rosie was constantly thinking about what her ex would say if he saw her, what she should wear incase she runs into him, the conversations they could have, she obesses over men in this book with no mind of her own and it drove me absolutely crazy. The characters were so dismissive to each other and then the ending it was wrapped up quickly weddings vows and pregnancies.
It just wasn’t for me but I really appreciate the free copy to try out new authors. Thank you.