This Can't Be Love

Summer Lovin'

by Kasey Michaels

Free-spirited Molly Preston, a former lingerie model who must work for ten months out of each year to keep her vast inheritance, is hired to watch the niece and nephew of hot young Broadway producer Dom Longstreet, a challenging assignment that lands her a starring role in Dom's love life. Original.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Humor, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Kasey Michaels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books (she doesn't count them). Kasey has received three coveted Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly, two for the historical romances, THE SECRETS OF THE HEART and THE BUTLER DID IT, and a third for contemporary romance LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (that shows diversity, you see). She is a recipient of the RITA, a Waldenbooks and Bookrak Bestseller award, and many awards from Romantic Times magazine, including a Career Achievement award for her Regency era historical romances. She is an Honor Roll author in Romance Writers of America, Inc. (RWA)

Kasey has appeared on the TODAY show, and was the subject of a Lifetime Cable TV show "A Better Way," in conjunction with Good Housekeeping magazine, a program devoted to women and how they have achieved career success in the midst of motherhood (short version: "with great difficulty").

A highly praised nonfiction book, written as Kathryn Seidick, "...OR YOU CAN LET HIM GO," details the story of Kasey and her family during the time of her eldest son's first kidney transplant.

Kasey has written Regency romances, Regency historicals, category books including novellas and continuities and a few series "launch" books, and single title contemporaries. She has coped with time travel, ghosts, trilogies, the dark side, the very light side, and just about everything in between. Hers is also the twisted mind behind her ongoing Maggie Kelly mystery series starring a former romance writer turned historical mystery writer whose gorgeous hunk of a fictional hero shows up, live and in color, in her Manhattan living room – to melt her knees, to help her solve murders, and to leave the top off her toothpaste. And, says Kasey, she's just getting started!

Series:
* His Chariot Awaits
* Lion On the Prowl
* Crown Family
* London Friends
* Chandlers Request
* The Trehan Brothers
* Maggie Kelly Mystery
* Romney Marsh
* Sunshine Girls

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book as a whole, but I was a little disappointed with the ending. There was really no explanation as to why Molly changed her mind, and there was no real wrap-up in terms of the theater production, and Lizzie's audition.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2.5* I had issues with this book because parts of it were so adorable and others were so irritating. It took me forever to get into this story, I just could not develop a connection with any of the characters. And when I finally did, I felt robbed by the ending. We get absolutely no closure. How does Lizzie's audition go? What about the show? And the stars? What happens with her hearing? The epilogue, while showing that Molly has gotten over her issues does not answer any of those questions. So this was just meh for me. I will not re-read it and probably won't recommend it either.

[Callie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, so terrible I had to force myself to keep reading. Then eventually I finally gave up. I guess I could have tried to stick it out another 100 pages, but really it just was painful to force myself to keep picking this book up when I could actually read something that wasn't so obnoxious.

It seemed to have a reasonable story-line to start off, even the initial "shock" statement by the MMC to pull you in was okay enough, but then wow, so sappy and off-key the rest of the time. Obnoxiously calling the younger brother Little Tony, but then eventually the author must have realized this was obnoxious and decided that Molly should encourage the boy to rename himself. This part of the story line was weak and not helpful to the plot and should have been eliminated by avoiding the derogatory "little-boy" in the first place. The replacement names were lame! The MMC being your traditional macho man learning about himself bleh, the MFC was unique in her having money but the strings attached and her being a "free-spirit" was nice, but many of the things that happened were out of character and now with good reasons, but it was minor and not the whole problem. Just overall sappy and predictable. My note to myself said I bought this in March of 2004, guess I should have read it then, it might have been more enjoyable, but maybe not since it's not a "dated" style that makes it terrible, though in some ways it is a bit dated. The writing style isn't terrible, it's just not great and the characters aren't all that great either.

I'll give it 2 stars because it's not the worst thing I've ever read, I've just gotten better about not wasting time with stuff that makes it feel like a chore to read.

**I have now also read a few of the reviews (after making mine), and I'm glad for my decision since they state the ending is not satisfying and feels unfinished. Having to force myself to read and then find that kind of ending would be a disappointment for sure. On the plus side, another book off my shelf.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly (Margaret) Applegate is a very bright woman, but her extremely wealthy parents abandoned her at birth for all intents and purposes. The "parental units" sent her to boarding schools, camps, etc. while they flitted all over the world. When they were killed in a plane crash, their will stipulated she must be gainfully employed for 10 months a year to retain her inheritance or she must marry. For 10 years, she has flitted from one job to another to fulfill the letter but not the law of the terms. Her latest job is to fill in for her cousin's daycare business. Dominic Longstreet, a hit Broadway producer, has agreed to care for his 8-year-old nephew and 12-year-old niece but he put the two into the daycare so he could rehears his new play. When the daycare closes for two weeks, Molly agrees to tend the two at his home. Molly becomes a favorite with everyone and helps out in many ways. She helps Dom relax when his stress level sends him to the hospital. She discovers the hearing loss of the main actress and helps the 2 kids out immensely. What she doesn't count on is falling in love - something she's avoided all her life to avoid being hurt. Dom breaks through the shell however and eventually wins her heart. Fun story, some sex. Sequel to "This Must be Love" but stands alone well.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious

Molly got roped into holding down the fort at her cousin’s daycare center which led to her becoming a nanny for a couple of weeks to a Broadway producer who was watching his brother’s two children while the brother was on a second honeymoon. I have spent a wonderful day laughing at the antics Ms. Michaels concocted as Molly tries to deal with the children and the group of actors trying to find their way with a new script. This is a fun story that also delves into some deeper human relationships, motivations and feelings. Most highly recommend.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molly got roped into holding down the fort at her cousin’s daycare center which led to her becoming a nanny for a couple of weeks to a Broadway producer who was watching his brother’s two children while the brother was on a second honeymoon. I have spent a wonderful day laughing at the antics Ms. Michaels concocted as Molly tries to deal with the children and the group of actors trying to find their way with a new script. This is a fun story that also delves into some deeper human relationships, motivations and feelings. Most highly recommend.

[Janice Cafarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dom is a well known producer who is given the task of watching his niece and nephew. When the day care he set up is going to be closed he goes to pick up his charges only to meet up with Molly who was running the place for her cousin. Somehow Molly ends up becoming his nanny for the next few weeks and turns his world on its ear. Both Dom and Molly learn much about themselves and each other as they try to figure out how and if they figure in each others world.

[Dorothy Morawsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down.

[Marcia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t get into this book, didn’t finish it.

[Kami Neely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great beach read.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable

Funny, witty, romantic, with a great cast of characters, that will keep you reading into the night , couldn't resist reading, a page turner,

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute little story -though a long winded and a touch of too much interpersonal angst dragging but the story line and a little humor saved if from a 2 star

[Sashi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very entertaining one which made me giggling all the way. Molly is a funny however mercurial character. She is rich but never overdoing it and she is also a good hearted person. Dominic on the other hand is a strong character who works hard and plays hard but the latter part is not that true. When Dominic is required to take care his brothers children Tony and Lizzie he was clueless and he hired Molly to be the nanny. Over the two weeks time he has loosen up and realise he love Molly. Overall the story is nice but it could have been better if there is explanation or internal monolog on what made her say yes when Dominic propose. Other then that it is very entertaining summer reads.

[Karschtl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Modern Romance with a very unlikely story: a rich guy, who is expected to watch his niece and nephew for two weeks, hires a babysitter in the parking lot of the kids' day care [yes, the girl works there and already knows the kids, but still] and immediately brings her to mansion to live there with them.
Obviously, the two adults will have to fall in love, and it's probably a nice love story, it was just too boring for me to keep reading.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sufficiently entertaining, but I thought it was a bit overdone with the psycho-babble. As the book wore on, it got increasingly tiring. The children were entertaining, and the characters at their core were fun and held my interest, but ultimately this book was unremarkable and generally lacking.

I would recommend to only those that have this book in an airport...or are otherwise limited in their reading options.

[Linda]

This one didn't hold my attention very well. The heroine was just plain silly, and I couldn't relate to her. Maybe it is just because I've never been a poor little rich girl or an impossibly beautiful ex lingerie model with a heart of gold. I thought the story itself was kind of sappy and predictable, as well. Not a keeper.

[Kristine Cuevas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. I got hooked up with the characters.
Molly Applegate's character was lovely. She's cool. While Dominic Longstreet... Well... I love him! I don't know what else to say. This book is really lovely. Thumbs up for Kasey Michaels! :)

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one Out of the Park!!!

I love Kasey Michaels! This book has well thought out characters. Entertaining ideas. Relationships that complex and fun. Besides being a hoot a minute I went through a couple of tissues waiting for my HEA.

[Denise Link · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book. Within the obvious constraints of its genre, the story is fresh--no coyness, no manufactured misunderstandings, enough possible (tempting) directions not taken. Perfect beach/plane/hotel read.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern

[Sarah Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

perfect weekend reading. I love Kasey Michaels!

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable, in my opinion, but very cute. A light, happy read. Just what I was looking for at the moment.

[Jeanette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think I'm going to finish this one. I couldn't get into it and I have no desire to waste any more of my time with this book.

[Tilequa · Rating 4 out of 5]

took me forever to find this good book'

[Karen Desmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Kasey Michaels' book but they do have a very predictable formula.

[Nicci · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of humor in this book. I really enjoyed the main character she's a spit fire.

[Reba · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this. A super cute, fun beach read. Perfect for some light, fluffy reading.

[Debra Walke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, light romance.

[C K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an author that I have read a lot of and have added her books to my 'keeper' book shelf. Most I have read at least twice and some even more than that.