Summer's Gift - Contemporary Romance Review

Goodreads: Summer's Gift by Jennifer Ryan

Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  A young woman takes a DNA test on a whim and discovers the birth father—and half sisters—she never knew. New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan returns with this dramatic and page-turning novel perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Lori Foster. A DNA test tells you who you come from, not who you are. All her life, Summer Sutherland felt like the missing piece in a puzzle, left out and looking for the place she truly belongs. And when an at-home DNA test reveals her selfish mother and well-meaning grandfather lied about her father, Summer sets out to discover the truth. Her new instant family comes with two half one who accepts her with open arms, the other resistant to the stranger staying in their house. But somehow Summer senses this is where she is meant to be—so she settles into her father’s Carmel home, ready to get to know them and find her place in the family she always wanted. But while her newfound parent is thrilled to get to know Summer—and her romantic connection to his business partner, Cody, heats up—tensions rise within the family. Will she ever fit in? Or should she return to her other life before tearing all their lives apart?

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:   I've been wanting to read this author for awhile and liked the sound of this one.

My Impression: This is my first book by this author (who is not to be confused with the author of the same name who writes historical fiction set around wartime) and I enjoyed the read.  Summer is a nice woman who has been grown up believing that her father didn't want her thanks to the lies told to her by her mother and backed up by her grandfather by his silence.  When the truth is revealed to her it is not surprising that she is absolutely furious and feeling like the bottom has dropped out of her world.  With the support of her father's business partner, Cody, Summer heads to California to meet her biological father and his family.  

I liked that this wasn't all sunshine and roses.  While one of her sisters is thrilled to learn of her existence the other one is not quite as enthused.  Summer has to come to terms with what she knows now and how she feels about her family - both newly discovered and the one she grew up with.  The communication between Cody and Summer was really nice and I liked that Summer is able to call her mother on her behavior.

What kept this from being a complete winner of a story for me was the writing style.  While I enjoyed the book I did find it a bit stilted and dialogue heavy. I did like the characters and the story and am looking forward to to reading more of this author.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  I would.  While this one wasn't a five star read for me I did enjoy it and want to read more from this author. 

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would.  While I did find it a bit dialogue heavy I did enjoy getting to know these characters and following their stories.  

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *