Zoe Costas is a security specialist and a Costas through and through. Her eccentric, rather dubious family runs an Atlantic City spa that’s just this side of legit. So Zoe isn’t inclined to trust handsome, charming Ryan Baldwin when he shows up claiming to be related to Sam, the girl the Costas family is about to adopt. But Ryan is Sam’s uncle and one of the famously rich and snooty Boston … Boston Baldwins.
Ryan’s search for his sister has led him to news of her death, and to a niece he’s never met. But someone else has also tracked Sam down — someone who never wanted the child to be found. Ryan is determined to protect Sam and find out what really happened to his sister. And Zoe is just the woman to help him do it. Neither expects to lose their heart in the process.
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I enjoyed this fun romance. I liked Zoe and Ryan. They had good chemistry and it was easy to feel their attraction. The story held my attention well and kept me entertained. A entertaining blend of humor, drama, emotion and mystery ensure a very pleasurable reading experience. This is my frank, freely posted review.
Time for the other Costas twin. I really loved Zoey. She is a fun character and to see her relationship with Ari being repaired was awesome.
Lots of great chemistry between Ryan and Zoey.
Like the first book it was short and sweet with lots of exciting elements, well written, well paced and with great characters, most we met in the first book.
I absolutely love the ending .
* I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review*
Honestly, this was not my favorite Carly Phillips book. I had a very hard time connecting with any of the characters in general and wondered at first if I was feeling this way because I had not read Ari’s story beforehand, to get a bit of background into the Costas family and Sam’s history.
But while the writing was there, i was too distracted with the ridiculous family antics to enjoy it. There was too much big fat Greek wedding hijinks involved (I hate that movie), which distracted me from the romance between Zoe and Ryan. I just didn’t see much chemistry between them, so I wasn’t rooting for them. And frankly, I’m over the teenage character who acts out…it’s been used too much in contemporary romances that I’ve read. I’m immune to their “charm” and their drama.
I’m disappointed because I can’t think of another Phillips story that has been less than a 4 star for me.
I read this book a long time ago and I found it interesting back then. After reading book #1 not only it still an interesting story I love this story. I think Zoe and Ryan are perfect for each other and Sam is a lovely and strong girl. This story makes so much sense now and I think is a lovely story with a little bit of suspense and a lot of romance. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is one of the few Carly Phillips books that I didn’t read the first time it was published. It’s the story of Security Specialist Zoe Costas, who comes from an eccentric Greek family from Jersey, and Lawyer Ryan Baldwin, a man who was born into a true Boston Upper Crust Family, but is nothing like his parents. Ryan shows up on the Costas’ doorstep with the claim to be brother of Samantha’s dead mother, the teenager that the Costas family are in the middle of adopting.
Zoe decides that she’s not telling Sam or her family who Ryan really is, before she sees how he bonds with the teenager. What neither Ryan nor Zoe expects is that there is someone who didn’t want the girl to be located. Ryan’s going to get to the bottom of what exactly happened to his sister, with Zoe’s help.
This book is a sarcastic, fun, flirty read with a little mystery thrown in.
Another Great book by Carly Phillips. Such great chemistry surrounding them and the same goal of protection lead to a wonderful story.
It sure has been fun, re-reading these older books of Carly Phillips. I had forgotten how crazy and funny the Costas clan was!
This is the second book in the Costas Sisters series and Zoe Costas’ story. Having recently left the Secret Service, Zoe has now started up a security specialist company along with Quinn and Connor. She is also living at her parents home since they now are fostering Sam, with the hopes of adopting her. When a strange guy shows up at Sam’s party, they all assume he is the temporary social worker on Sam’s case but in reality he is actually Sam’s Uncle Ryan. When Zoe finds out that Ryan is not a social worker, she calls him on it and he tells her that he is Sam’s uncle. Both of them decide not to let the family know who Ryan really is until they get to know more about each other….which neither of them seem to mind because there is definite chemistry going on there! It is pretty funny how completely opposite these two are!
When someone is threatening Sam, Zoe and Ryan work together to try and figure out what is going on and end up taking Sam to Boston where Ryan’s family lives. The Baldwin’s way of life is night and day different from the Costas way of life. This was such a fun comparison! While working together, things are definitely heating up between Zoe and Ryan and have both of them feeling things that they have never felt before. The mystery behind the threats was fun and entertaining. I really enjoyed how everything played out in the end and really loved Zoe and Ryan’s happy ending.
Overall, this was a fun and entertaining story with some great, colorful characters!
A delightful read for this newer fan of Carly Phillips. I enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it to anyone who loves Carly’s writing.
The Costas family, a warm loving, eccentric Greek family who is in the process of adopting Samantha (Sam) whom they have taken in from the foster system. Zoe, the fun loving sister, ex government agent, starting her own security business along with her brother in law and another friend.
Ryan Baldwin, part of the Boston Baldwins, elite social family who has no idea how to show real love to each other. A lawyer, set out to make it on his own and not part of the family business, who never got over the loss of having his sister part of his life. Faith, his sister, ran away when Ryan was a young boy and he never saw her again. After hiring a PI to determine what happened to his sister he stumbles upon some tragic news as well as finding out he has a niece he never knew about… Samantha!
Determined to find her and bring her home and rescue her from the foster system, imagine his surprise upon finding her happy, and adjusting to her new family the Costas, soon to be her real family once the adoption is final. Sam is not happy to find out she has family, and especially Ryan, whom she considers a snob and doesn’t want anything to do with him or his family. Due to twists in the story it becomes necessary for Sam to be taken out of town for her safety and Ryan’s home in Boston seems the logical solution as long as Zoe goes along with her. In Boston, a whole mystery unravels, one that no one expected and Zoe can’t help falling for the man who wants to take her new sister from them. The chemistry between her and Ryan is off the charts, with just a touch you can feel the sparks. Thinking she’s not made to fall in love with anyone, she fights the feelings and eventually walks away.. at least for a while.. you won’t regret picking this one up and finding out how this HEA unfolds and how two unlikely opposites find their other half.
There are many twists I didn’t expect in this book and really enjoyed the mystery that evolved with Samantha and her now deceased mother. It kept me engaged and couldn’t put it down. Without giving away too much of the plot, you won’t be sorry you took the chance and got this one!!! I wish there were more in this series.
Talk about opposites attract. It true Carly Phillips fashion she made two people who definitely shouldn’t work simply perfect for each other.
Zoe was a loudmouth with a free spirit and Ryan was a suit wearing guy who just needed someone to show him the fun side of life. I believe both Zoe and Sam made that possible for him. Everything he did for his niece was so sweet it was just impossible not to fall for him.
I loved every minute of this story and would definitely recommend it.
***Review copy received by the author for an honest review***
.5 star review Summer Lovin (Costas Sisters #2) by Carly Phillips
Zoe is Ariana (Ari) Costas’s sister who we met in the first book in this re released series from Carly Phillips. There is more to her than meets the eye; a security specialist she is not afraid to take on what needs to be done and is fiercely protective of those she cares for. Her crazy Greek family are quirky and I love how all in your face they get.
Summer Lovin is a romantic suspense story that ticked the boxes for me. There were times that I was on the edge of my seat as well as times that I needed to fan myself with the heat that sizzled between Zoe and Ryan Baldwin.
I enjoy Ms.Phillips style of writing, it is strong and she writes characters that you cannot help but become invested in their story. I really liked Zoe and Ryan, both separately and together.
Whilst her family is in the middle of adopting a 14 year old girl named Sam, they are shocked when Ryan turns up, mistakenly believing he is a social worker. Zoe doesn’t trust easily and is suspicious of Ryan,not believing he is a social worker. It turns out she is right as Ryan claims to be Sam’s uncle and when she learns that he really is, they decide to keep it between them until he gets to know his niece better. When danger rears it’s head and Sam is threatened the Costas family, Zoe in particular and Ryan will do whatever it takes to protect her.
Can they find out who is after Sam and keep her safe? What will happen when long buried secrets are revealed? One click and find out.
I enjoyed Zoe and Ryan’s story. I was intrigued after Zoe’s sister Ari’s story and I’m glad I read this book. The Costas family is quirky, fun, and full of heart. Zoe and Ryan started out on opposite sides, but they had one common goal. This book continues from the first in a way, but you don’t have to have read the first book to enjoy this one.
I absolutely adored Summer of Love by Carly Phillips. It is the second book in the Costas Sisters series, but reads pretty well as a stand-alone story. I had to laugh at how Zoe and Ryan first met and how they had a misunderstanding about his identity.
When you hear the term opposites attract, Zoe Costas and Ryan Baldwin fit the statement perfectly. Zoe is way more of a free spirit than Ryan and while she can handle some rules, she goes more with her feelings than too many rules. Ryan is a Boston Baldwin and while he pretty much always follows the rules, he can tell as soon as he meets his niece Sam, that she is a free spirit like her mom. I loved there was an attraction between Zoe and Ryan from pretty much the moment they met. I also loved they both worried so much about Sam and what was best for her, all while trying to figure out what had really happened with Ryan’s sister.
Zoe and Ryan had to find a way to get their two very different families to work together for Sam’s best interest. I liked the bit of mystery that Zoe and Ryan had to figure out when it came to Sam’s mom. I also have to say I adored how the Baldwin family started to bend and be so much more understanding when it came to their granddaughter. The Costas family is such an accepting group that you just knew they would do anything for Sam just like they would for any other member of their family.
I really liked Zoe and Ryan as a couple. Again, there was an attraction between them from the very beginning, and it got stronger the more time they spent together. I hated that Zoe was so hesitant in admitting her feelings to others, her family included. However, I felt like her feelings for Ryan were too strong for her to fight.
Summer of Love had me experiencing so many different emotions as I read it. I laughed at all the antics of the Costas clan and Sam, smiled and sighed as I saw Zoe and Ryan fall in love, and even experienced both anger and sadness as we learned the truth about Ryan’s sister and her past. I love a story that makes me feel so many different emotions as I read it and highly recommend Summer of Love.
Rating: 5 Stars (A)
Review copy provided by publisher
I really enjoyed reading this story . This is book two in the Costas Sisters .
Zoe Costas is starting a Security firm with her brother in-law Quinn and his partner that are ex undercover detectives . Celebrating her soon to be adopted sister Samantha’s birthday . Ryan Baldwin Sams unknown uncle shows up and Zoes eccentric mother mistakes him for the caseworker . Zoe is not convinced so she confronts him . Ryan admits to her he has been searching for Sam . They agree not to tell the family just yet . As Zoe and Ryan spend more time together feelings grow , but are truely tested , Sam and Zoe are introduced to Ryans stuff shirt family . Through in a pig and crazy times abound .Can they all come to a happy conclusion or will everything fall apart . This story is heart wrenching but also heartwarming and definitely delightful . I highly recommend taking the time to read .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Summer Lovin’ is book two in the Costas Sisters series. This opposites attract romance story is fast-paced and packed with drama, danger, a bit of mystery, some suspense, steamy chemistry, secrets, twists and turns, LOL moments and plenty of antics from a crazy Greek family.
I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.
This is the second book in the Costas’ series and focuses on Zoe, who was introduced in Under the Boardwalk (in my opinion you’ll need to read that book first to fully understand this story).
Zoe is still living at home but has started her own security firm with Quinn and Connor. Zoe has also bonded with Sam, who is in the final stages of being adopted by Nicholas and Elena. Unfortunately, or is it fortunately, Ryan Baldwin shows up at Sam’s fourteenth birthday party. Assuming he is the fill in social worker, Zoe welcomes him but a phone call blows his cover and he confesses that he is Sam’s uncle. Needless to say, Zoe goes into protect the family mode but can’t deny that Ryan appeals to her on a personal level and Ryan feels the same about Zoe. Throw in a threat to Sam, Ima Pig, snooty relatives, betrayal and undeniable chemistry and you’ve got a satisfying summer read. Enjoy!
Zoe and Ryan come from very different families. You will find much humor, mystery and love for Sam as they seek to find happiness for all.
4.5 stars. I loved Zoe and Ryan’s story from start to finish. Things aren’t all sunshine and rainbows for them as there is quite a lot to work out, but when people are willing to compromise, that happens without too much drama. We also get more of the quirky Costas family in this book, but I felt they were a bit more down to earth than they were in Ari’s story, probably because of the situation with Sam. Don’t get me wrong they still made me chuckle often, like with Ima, for instance, but they definitely show more of their familial loving and nurturing side. Anyway, I don’t want to give anything away but let’s just say that everything works out as it should and as I hoped it would. I also feel like there were happy endings for more than just Ryan and Zoe which was absolutely wonderful and made my heart so full.
Zoe Costas is starting a new career with her partners in the security business.
Ryan Baldwin has finally found his sister’s daughter after learning his sister has passed away. Ryan is determined to bring his niece home.
The Costas are a force to deal with but soon Ryan realizes Sam is exactly where she belongs and Ryan belongs with Zoe! Love these Costas sisters and their crazy family!!
I loved both characters, Ryan and Zoe. They are as different as day and night. Not only in their social backgrounds, but in their childhood homes and upbringing. Ryan knows what he wants, is self-confident and has a clear idea of what he wants for his future, even though he’s been through quite a few traumas.
Zoe is insecure and unsettled, on a journey of self-discovery, questioning everything …
You might say that two worlds collide when they meet.
Once again the author manages to convey deep psychological insights into the human soul in an entertaining way. The plot develops quickly, and the tension slowly builds up as the plot progresses. Enough to keep you on the edge of your seat.
But there is also a lot of humor and romance, including some very steamy scenes. Zoe’s family, whom we already got to know enough from the book Under The Boardwalk, and Sam and Ima Pig provide us with lots of laugh-out-loud moments.
I love this book and highly recommend reading it!
Summer Lovin’ (Costas Sisters #2) by Carly Phillips ….I loved this book as much the second time reading it as I did the first time. Carly always pulls me into the story and I hate to leave.. Zoe and Ryan are the perfect match even if it takes them awhile to figure it out..her longer than him. Sam is the glue that brings them all together and lets not forget Spanks and Ima… Who wouldn’t want to be part of the crazy Costa family? ….with a little mystery and danger thrown in the mix…it is a great fun story and I’m sure I’ll read it again