All Summer Long

All Summer Long: A San Francisco Romance 

Follow Your Heart #2

Paperback, hardback, ebook

June 7, 2016

by Melody Carlson 

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Revell
• ISBN-13: 978-0800723583

She's ready to take on a new challenge. What she doesn't expect is an old flame.

Tia D'Amico is thrilled to move to San Francisco to help her aunt transform an old luxury yacht into an upscale floating restaurant. What's not to love? Sunset dinner cruises, posh wedding receptions--the possibilities are endless and far more appetizing than staying in a monotonous job in her Podunk hometown. Besides, some of her best memories are tied to San Francisco--especially the memory of Leo Parker, her crush from a long-ago sailing camp.

When Leo Parker himself turns out to be the yacht's captain, Tia is floating on air. But will it all come crashing down around her when she discovers his heart belongs to someone else?

Get ready for a romantic summer in San Francisco, where the future glistens brighter than the Bay at sunset.

My thoughts: ALL SUMMER LONG is another good summer romance story by master storyteller, Melody Carlson. Written in her trademark, innocent style, we have Tia, unsatisfied with her life in her "small" town where she works with her uncle in a restaurant. She is just thinking how unhappy she is when ring! A phone call comes and whirl, she has a makeover and is on a plane to San Francisco where an old flame meets her at the airport and romance flares.
Except, he's engaged. To this really sweet girl that Tia actually likes. 

What I like? The story holds my interest. I like Tia, I like Leo, I like Judith, I like the setting, the boats, the premise, the bay... maybe it'd be easier to say what I don't like. :)

Tia almost seems too naive. She is easily swept into deceit with the girlfriend. Easily forgets her uncle who might be dying in the hospital because she's on a date with a hot man. Everything is coming up all rosy and nothing seems to go seriously wrong. A bad thing happens and wave a magic wand, it is fixed. The story is also predicable. 

But this is Melody Carlson. And a reader knows what to expect with her. Sweet, heartwarming, uplifting, innocent stories about fulfilling dreams.  And that is exactly what is delivered.  I loved the story. At the same time, it annoyed me just a little. Kind of like a familiar, well-loved friend that you adore and yet you see its faults. That is what ALL SUMMER LONG is like. A best friend. 4.5 stars. 

Praise for Once Upon a Summertime

"Carlson kicks off her new series with this heartwarming and uplifting novel about taking a chance on fulfilling your dreams. . . . A pleasant summer escape."--Library Journal

"Sweet, romantic, and endlessly entertaining."--Christian Manifesto

"[The] perfect summer read for a day at the beach."--CBA Retailers + Resources

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than 6.5 million. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.