Summer Days

April 9, 2012
Mallery opens her third trilogy set in Fool’s Gold, Calif. (after Only His), with a tender tale based on a flawed premise. Heidi Simpson’s grandfather Glen sold part of her ranch to May Stryker—without Heidi’s knowledge, and even though it’s her name on the deed—to help a friend pay for cancer treatment. May’s son Rafe, a ruthless, savvy businessman, nonetheless co-signed the papers without reading them. When he realizes the sale isn’t legitimate, he reluctantly returns to the town of his miserable, impoverished childhood to have Glen arrested. Heidi must find a way to pay May back so Glen won’t go to prison; she also, implausibly, fears losing the ranch altogether. Mallery infuses her story with eccentricity, gentle humor, and smalltown shenanigans, and readers undeterred by the flimsy underpinnings will enjoy the connection between Heidi and Rafe, two proud, hardworking people wary of romantic love who willingly sacrifice for their families. Agent: Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency.

June 15, 2012

Goat rancher and cheese maker Heidi Simpson's grandfather has sold her ranch (which isn't his to sell) to pay for his good friend's cancer treatment, and May Stryker, who bought it, is out $250,000. Now May's legal eagle son Rafe is on the warpath, and Heidi sees her dreams going up in smoke if they can't work it out. Fortunately, May is of the same mind, but when the judge orders them to share the ranch until things are resolved, May and Rafe move in, changing the dynamics in hilarious and quite romantic ways. VERDICT Funny, heartwarming, and rife with lovable characters, this deliciously lighthearted, feel-good story is the first of a subset about the Stryker siblings within Mallery's larger "Fool's Gold" series. Fans will want to watch for Summer Nights (Jul.) and All Summer Long (Aug.). Mallery (Barefoot Season) lives in Seattle.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.