
Eileen Aberman-Wells
Jake and Mallory’s love story did not end as happily as it started, and as I hoped, in Sunkissed Days, the prequel novel for Samantha Chase’s new Magnolia Sound series. We meet Mallory and Jake, her girlhood crush turned summer lover, as she stays in Magnolia Sound to help her great-grandfather Zeke with the Coleman house and grounds before she goes back to college. Watching the love between Jake and Mallory grow was wonderful but knowing that roadblocks and real life would be in their way, they really need to get past all that would be heartbreaking. They also really needed to communicate and not believe all that you hear or mishear while eavesdropping. Just when things get good the story takes a twist and leaves you with wanting to know more about what will happen between Jake and Mallory. Ms. Chase gives a hint of the direction the story goes in Remind Me, book one. Six years have passed and an idea of what Jake and Mallory have done during that time is given. The first few pages of Remind me teases and I need to know how Mallory and Jake work out their differences and stubbornness, I need to know about Pops and I need to know about Sam, Mallory's twin brother who seems to be dealing with something we are not made aware of; hopefully a future book will answer that concern. Ms. Chase provided an emotional tale rich with sexual chemistry, amusing banter, strong family connections and endearing characters; leaving me hanging. I highly recommend Sunkissed Days to other readers and can't wait to read more about this family from Magnolia Sound and see what else is in store for us readers.
1 person found this review helpful

Sandy S.
SUNKISSED DAYS is the prequel novella in Samantha Chase’s contemporary, adult MAGNOLIA SOUND romance series. This is twenty-four year old construction worker Jake Summerford, and twenty year old college student Mallory Westbrook’s story line. NOTE: SUNKISSED DAYS was originally released as a newsletter serial Told from dual third person perspectives (Mallory and Jake) SUNKISSED DAYS takes the reader back in time, six years earlier, where we are privy to the summer time relationship between twenty-four year old construction worker Jake Summerford, and twenty year old college student Mallory Westbrook. Home for the summer in Magnolia Grove, to celebrate her great-grandfather’s ninetieth birthday, Mallory comes face to face with Jake Summerford, four years her senior, and the young man on whom she has crushed for most of her life. Taking the first steps towards getting the man that she wants, Mallory makes the first move in what would prove to be a summer fling that will end in misunderstanding and broken hearts. What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Jake and Mallory, and the fall-out as their time together comes to an end as each heads in a different direction towards personal and professional goals. SUNKISSED DAYS is a story of family, friendship, romance and love; struggle and acceptance, pride and heart. Samantha Chase pulls the reader into a passionate and emotional story of first love, broken hearts and painful good byes. The premise is engaging; the romance is sweet and sensitive; the characters are animated. SUNKISSED DAYS ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Patti Lucas
I really loved Sunkissed Days by Samantha Chase, the prequel to her Magnolia Sound series. It was free on Amazon, so I decided to give it a try. I was so happy that I did. I loved the characters and the setting. The characters are so believable and the book is filled with bittersweet moments and a surprise ending. I have only read one other book by Samantha Chase, and it will definitely not be the last book that I read by her. I really enjoy how the story is told from the perspective of both Mallory and Jake. Sunkissed Days is the story of Mallory "Mal" Westbrook and Jacob "Jake" Summerford. Mallory has had a crush on Jake, her great-grandfather, Ezekiel, "Zeke" or "Pops" Coleman's neighbor, but with their age gap, Mallory never thought that Jake noticed her. Jake works for Zeke at Coleman Construction. Mallory, her twin brother Sam, and her mother Susannah always spend the beginning of summer break at Zeke's home in Magnolia Sound, North Carolina. Sam and Susannah return home to New York, but Mallory remains. Pops asks her to redecorate the boat house on the pier that she loves. Romance blooms between she and Jake, but they both know that it will only be a summer fling. At the end of summer, Mallory will return home and to college and Jake will begin his college career in Colorado. Mallory overhears a conversation between Pops and Jake and it changes everything. Who doesn't love a friends to lovers story and Samantha Chase delivered a wonderfully written story. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the continuation of Mallory and Jake's story with Remind Me.