Francesca Simon and her mother, Mauve, own a memorabilia shop of Hollywood collectibles. Unlike many such shops, their’s displays the collections in the open, not locked behind closed glass.  Her mother was very insistent upon this as it allows the customers to touch and experience the deep seated emotions and connection the items holds for them.  Francesca still has trouble thinking of her mother in past tense.  When her mother died suddenly in an automobile accident, Francesca’s world changed dramatically.

If you are an iconic movie buff, you will not want to miss reading A Summer to Remember by Erika Montgomery.  The story is filled with references to such great movies as The Love Story and An Affair to Remember.  The book gives an inside look at the lives of a Hollywood couple who retire to Harpswich, Massachusetts. It also is a story about a young woman on a mission to discover the identity of her father.  While she attempts to find her father, Francesca learns many things about her mother that she never knew, and also discovers some things about herself along the way.  Finally, it is a very good love story.  Who can resist that?

The book has both a dual setting and a dual timeline.  The story begins in present day California, but then really takes off when the setting changes to Harpswich.   The sections of the book set in Harpswich are set in both present day and in the 1980s.

Although I am not a huge fan of Hollywood, I found the story to be intriguing.  The quotes and references in the story did bring back some memories of both my first movies and also movies that etched themselves on my heart forever.  I believe every reader will be able to relate and make a connection to the story.

Although the sex scenes are not graphic or detailed, there is a bit of strong language in the story.  Because of this, I would recommend it for the adult reader.   

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