Review: 'A Summer to Remember' by Victoria Connelly (2014)

Nina Elliot is tired of her life. She’s not sure how it happened but, somewhere along the way, she lost track of where it was all going.
So one fateful day, she makes a brave decision: she’s going to leave it all behind.
Taking a job deep in the English countryside, Nina does just that. Ensconced at the Old Mill, she settles into daily life with the Milton family, where she works as a researcher for author Dudley.
With endless summer days stretching out ahead of her, Nina couldn’t be happier. But her quiet life is soon interrupted when the handsome Milton boys return home – for they plan to make sure this really is a summer to remember…
Ever since I read Victoria Connelly’s novel ‘A Weekend with Mr. Darcy’ I’ve been a big fan of her work. As a big Jane Austen fan, I love her Austen Addicts series, but her other books are simply amazing as well. So, it’s no big surprise that when I was contacted to review ‘A Summer to Remember’, Victoria’s ninth novel, I couldn’t say ‘yes’ quickly enough (thanks so much, Olivia!). The pretty brightly-coloured cover immediately made me long for summer and I couldn’t wait to sit down with the book and start reading!
It has taken her some time, but Nina has finally found the courage to change her boring and unhappy life. She has ended her relationship, quit her job, and is looking for a new place to live. Nina isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life, but she’s already looking forward to that next step towards something new. While she’s at the supermarket, she unexpectedly bumps into her old boss, Olivia Milton. When she was a teenager, Nina used to babysit Olivia’s two sons Dominic and Alex, and now, after all these years, it appears Olivia would like to make use of Nina’s services again. Her husband Dudley is writing his first novel and could use a secretary to help him. Nina can’t say ‘yes’ fast enough and soon she is welcomed back the Old Mill, the amazing Milton family home. To Nina, this is the start of an exciting summer which includes her new job, the untrained family dog, and the handsome Milton boys...   
Victoria Connelly has done it again; what a thoroughly enjoyable summer read! ‘A Summer to Remember’ has everything a romantic comedy should have: a fascinating cast, a beautiful scene setting, handsome men, and an entertaining storyline. I absolutely adored the setting of this novel. The Norfolk countryside is described in beautiful detail, just like The Old Mill, the Milton family home, and I just wanted to jump into the novel and join Nina on her afternoons spent in the fabulous garden. The book includes a great cast of main and secondary characters. I liked Nina and how she decides to turn everything in her life around and start doing what she wants instead of what she feels she is expected to do. Next to that, the Milton family is a collection of eccentric but easily loveable and individual characters, which definitely made the book even more enjoyable.
The plotline of the novel is perhaps not that unique, but I loved what Victoria Connelly has done with it to give it her own twist. The novel really transported me to another place and made me feel all warm and happy inside; I didn’t want to put it down and I didn’t want the story to end. Overall, ‘A Summer to Remember’ is another brilliant Victoria Connelly read; a sparklingly sunny and gorgeous read that will definitely bring a smile to your face. Perfect holiday reading material! Rating:

9,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.