Apr 7 2011
REVIEW: The Last Summer of Being Single by Nina Harrington
Sydney entrepreneur Sebastien Castellano is used to women falling at his feet-’not vice versa! But flat on his back, after an encounter with some overexcited hounds, he meets quirky housekeeper Ella Martinez.
Ella’s been dusting photos of Seb for years, and is skeptical about why he’s suddenly arrived at his childhood home in France. But her little boy thinks Seb’s cooler than his favorite superhero!
Well, if superheroes have pinstripe suits and laptops Ella sees the similarity. But beneath his buttoned-up exterior, Seb has the power to sweep Ella off her feet and show her a summer she’ll never forget!
Dear Ms. Harrington,
It was the blurb that got me to try this book. Sometimes Harlequin book blurbs can be horrible, sometimes bland, sometimes totally off base but in this case the image of a suave Frenchman upended on his ass who nevertheless ends up sweeping the heroine off her feet got me.
With apologies to its fans, I’ve discovered that the Harlequin Presents line, with their super powerful, almost misogynistic heroes, doesn’t appeal to me. I like a more balanced set of hero and heroine regardless of the amounts of money or prestige they might have – or not have. Here Sebastien has made his money, buckets of it, by his own efforts yet he’s so down to earth and approachable. His first meeting with Ella made me fall for him – no pun intended. Here’s a major international business player who could have gotten all snotty about being found on the ground under two enthusiastic griffons with his custom made suit rumpled but no, he takes the mature, fun way and laughs it off.
Sebastien isn’t presented as a French playboy, out for sex from anyone. He’s a driven businessman but he knows how to treat a lady well and is sensitive to Ella’s needs. The first time Ella has a chance to study Sebastien, she’s not taken with how hot he is – though she does notice what she’s already seen from his pictures at his stepmother’s house – she envies him his “on the road lifestyle,” seeing new places and things – and in the end this is something he’ll be able to offer her.
Ella isn’t a powerful, corporate type but she’s secure in what she does. Without a background of abundant salable skills, she’s managed to provide a home for her son. I love that Ella won’t let Sebastien walk over her even in a conversation. She demands respect and gets it. His apology is a hoot – “I am pond scum. Please accept my sincere apology.” Her lips twitched slightly, but he had already guess that she was not going to let him off the hook that easily. “What kind of pond scum?” “Green slime.” “Um. Okay.”
Though it’s placed in the south of France, the setting isn’t quite the usual Cote d’Azur but rather the Camargue. I can sense the warmth of the sunshine on the patio tiles, smell the heady fragrance of the many flowers in the garden, hear the buzzing of the bees, taste the salt from the marshes and would I ever love to taste the sweet cherries bursting out of Ella’s homemade tarts. And I totally agree that navy blue is just not the correct color for the shutters of the farmhouse. I hope that’s one of the first things Sebastien and Ella change.
The characters’ pasts are tied in with the present and they learn from things. Ella has to come to grips with the fact that her in-laws are just trying to do the best for Dan and hold onto what is left of his father in him. But she also has to face the insular environment she’s created at the farmhouse as a way to hold off the world. Sebastien is right that she needs to open up, let loose and live again – to reach for her singing dreams instead of shelving them no matter how nice the life is she’s created. He gets her to dare to try.
Meanwhile, Sebastien’s experience with his father is reflected in how he thinks about Dan. I’m glad that Sebastien’s search for his heritage didn’t take over the story and derail it. It adds to the feelings he has for the place and for his relatives and gives him insight into how to be a father to another man’s son. The scenes in which he and Dan share excitement over cars, big flashlights and other male bonding stuff are charming. Dan is a great character too who sees the world from a six year old boy’s point of view. He’s not a plot moppet either but is obviously first and foremost in his mother’s world as he comes to be in Sebastien’s. The scene of Ella breaking down and tearfully asking Sebastien if she’s a good mother to keep her boy at this remote French farmhouse when he could live in comfort with his grandparents in Barcelona is a great bonding moment between the two as Sebastien tells her she’s giving Dan far more than money could ever buy him – something Sebastien knows from experience. For a moment at the end, I was worried that you were throwing a spanner in the works just for more drama but it quickly turned into a moment where Sebastien got to bond some more with Dan and then reassure Ella that she could have her dreams as well.
Sebastien makes a telling comment about how this is the first time he’s visited his mother’s grave in 18 years and it’s Ella he takes with him. He also feels like he’s home – not just in a house that has all his tech stuff but really *home* and I kept thinking towards the end that since bringing high tech and communications to remote places under difficult conditions is what his company is all about, I can see him doing this and still not spoiling the remote farmhouse in the Camargue. It’s win/win.
The book has no sex but to me it’s not needed. Even the kissing comes late in the book but by golly when it gets there, it means something – to Sebastien and Ella and to me. Instead of mindless lust, it’s true care and growing feelings of love. Usually I’m not one for quick romances but here I feel the connection between these two and love how you show it in little ways. Ella and Sebastien talk, really talk, to each other and about things that count and matter. Things they’ve not spoken to others about but which feel right to discuss with each other. One of the best examples of all this is the nice scene of them sitting by the marsh, enjoying the sand between their toes as they watch the flamants roses.
Into almost every review, a little rain must fall so here goes. I
must ask, what’s with the abundance of exclamation points at the beginning of the story? Sometimes two sentences in a row! Sometimes for sentences that I just don’t see the need to set off this way! It became wearying and I’m glad it seemed to tone down later on! I also wonder why Sebastien never called Ella on her assumption that he didn’t care for his stepmother and planned to duck out of her birthday party.
Sturm und drang, angsty romances aren’t what I’ve been reaching for lately so this book is great for me. “The Last Summer of Being Single” is a sweet romance between nice people whom I would enjoy knowing. Nobody acts like an ass at any time. No one storms off in a snit over anything trivial. No one misunderstands something that derails the romance for another 4 chapters. It’s such a relief and was a quiet, happy find for me. B
ps – is Milou a petit or grand basset griffon vendeen?
~Jayne
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Apr 07, 2011 @ 04:17:32
I don’t really understand why this reviewer had to say anything about Harlequin Presents novels and why she doesn’t enjoy them, what did that have to do with reviewing this book? They are two completely different lines, when readers reach for a book, they know what they want.
Lovely review for Nina though, must check the book out!
Yours, Abby Green
Apr 07, 2011 @ 05:02:38
Thank you so much for your kind review Jayne. I am delighted that you enjoyed the book and Ella and Sebastien’s journey to love in this part of France I know so well. I am particularly thrilled that you enjoyed the beach scene in the Camargue – one of my favourite quiet moments.
Yes – I shall have to watch out for the exclamation marks in future – thank you for the tip.
And Milou? Definitely a grand griffon LOL
Thanks again. Nina.
Apr 07, 2011 @ 06:14:34
Great review! I’ve been looking for some light romances to read, and this ticks all the buttons, so I’ll definitely be buying it.
Jayne, I feel the same way about the Harlequin Presents line. I’ve tried so many, and yet they’ve ended up as DNF because I literally can’t stand the heroes. I’m really wary when it comes to Harlequin’s category romances, but with the Romance and SuperRomance lines, I’ve found that they have a nice range of characters.
Apr 07, 2011 @ 09:30:54
I think maybe the Harlequin Presents was mentioned because the blurb makes it sound more like one than like not? I also find the Presents line is not my taste, but I generally like the Blaze, Superromance, and American Romance lines–just as a matter of personal preference.
Apr 07, 2011 @ 10:28:14
I see a French theme lately; yearning for a trip there perhaps? Your review makes the book sound lovely and I’m glad to hear the nonsensical exclamation points calmed themselves down. Might have to give this author a try.
Regarding the lack of appeal in the Presents, have you ever tried Kelly Hunter? Sleeping Partner and Red Hot Renegade are two of my favorite category reads and Untameable Rogue has a really interesting role switch (Luke in that elevator is an out-and-out femme fatale). Her heroes, while 100% male, are not generally uber powerful or remotely women haters. I’ve only recently started reading categories again, but I am sure there are other HP authors who work around the typical format. I’m up for recommendations in any of the category lines as I firmly believe in the Mae West philosophy.
Apr 07, 2011 @ 10:57:10
I’d echo Lynn S – there really are all sorts of voices within the Presents range and some that definitely offer up something the reviewer might take another look at. Along with Kelly Hunter and Nina Harrington I’d recommend Heidi Rice as a really sexy voice whose heroes are uber gorgeous and irresistible. Her Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger has a real opening with a twist!
Abby
Apr 07, 2011 @ 13:07:01
@Nina: I remember when the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen breed was first added to the American Kennel Club. Everyone had trouble remembering the whole name and it was quickly shortened to PBGV. A friend of mine was at a dog show around this time and saw her first one. Rushing up to the owner, she -having a total brain fart in her excitement – exclaimed “It’s…it’s… a heebie jeebie!”
Luckily the owner had a sense of humor and laughed it off while my friend admired her dog.
Apr 07, 2011 @ 14:05:40
I adored this book – but then I’ve loved every single book Nina Harrington has written so far.
Jayne, there are some great writers in the HQ Presents line. I was blown away by Abby Green’s latest Secrets of the Oasis and Kate Walker’s amazing new novel, The Proud Wife. I also devour anything by Maggie Cox, India Grey, Catherine George, Helen Brooks, Anne McAllister, Chantelle Shaw and Sarah Morgan.
From the Riva line (why on earth are they published along Presents in the States when the tone is different?), I second Heidi Rice and Kelly Hunter and adore Natalie Anderson and Lucy King.
Apr 08, 2011 @ 08:55:37
I wonder why the guys have to be mega rich in so many of the novels? Is it because most of us don’t have that in “real” life and it’s a fantasy? So many of the books now are dealing with the same problems we have day to day, so I wonder why some lines cling to that stereotype of the mega rich, handsome guy? And RARELY is the woman the mega rich one. Unless her daddy had money and she inherited it.
Apr 09, 2011 @ 20:19:18
@Abby Green My guess is that because it is fairly well known on the blog that I read and review HPs (and enjoy them) and Jayne is just making an interblog reference.
Apr 10, 2011 @ 08:17:01
@RebeccaJ: As far as I know, the line that ‘clings to’ the mega-rich hero (i.e. Presents) is by far the best selling line. That may have something to do with it…
Apr 11, 2011 @ 04:43:49
@ Jane – thanks for that, it was a bit of a knee jerk reaction to be honest – Presents seems to come in for a lot of sweeping criticism so I reacted to that! In fact the authors in the line offer much more nuanced heroes and heroines than the supposedly ubiquitous alpha male hero and impoverished but feisty heroine. And as Rebecca says, it is the best selling line so I can see how it has a bit of a Marmite effect on people, i.e. they either love it or hate it! Thanks for clarifying though!
Abby
Apr 11, 2011 @ 04:44:35
Sorry -that should have been – As Ros says!
Abby
Apr 11, 2011 @ 06:57:07
Thanks for the review!!