Review: California Summer

California Summer by Anita Hughes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rosie and Ben have been together for a decade, a young couple intent on hitting Hollywood and wowing the glitterati with their film making skills - he's a director and she's a producer.

When Ben hits the big time, Rosie discovers that her lover, friend and colleague has been unfaithful to her, and the bottom falls out of her world. She decides to leave the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood Hills, and goes to stay with her friends parent's in their sprawling mansion in Montecito.

In the little town, Rosie soon blends in and makes new friends with Rachel who owns the chocolate shop, Morris the butler, and Josh the surfer.

Taking to the kitchen to cook her anxieties away, Rosie discovers it’s a place she feels happy and relaxed in, and when everyone raves over her fish tacos, the idea of opening her own shop grows from a seed of an idea to an actual thing!

This is a novel about friendship, love and most importantly hope – which is something we all need!

My favourite character was Morris - who wouldn’t want a gay butler as your best friend? He provided so much love and friendship to Rosie that he made my heart burst!

If I had one little niggle, it would be that Josh’s constant walking out on situations got under my skin, and on occasions I wanted Rosie to just wash her hands of him – instead of running to him constantly seeking reassurance.

All in all I really enjoyed this book – the descriptions of the beach, and the Taco Shop had me right there in Montecito, and I don’t even like fish!!

I was provided with a free ARC copy of this book in return for an honest and open review.

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