How Sweet It Is

The Summerhills #6

by Kate Perry, Kathia

Over 3.5 million readers have fallen for Kate Perry's novels. Get into her new Summerhill series…

Viola Summerhill needs sex.

Her sisters say a rebound fling is just the thing to wash away the bad taste left from her recently crumbled marriage. But Viola knows she needs more than that. She has to reinvent herself, to regain the identity she lost being a wife and a mother. And she's going to do it as an art gallery owner.

Stocking her new gallery with work worthy of the grand opening she desires isn't easy, though. She needs a smashing piece--something that'll steal everyone's breath. And she finds the most amazing work she's ever seen where she least expects in the home of what was supposed to be a one night stand.

Don't miss the rest of Kate's new Summerhill
Book 1: SAY YOU WILL
Book 2: LOST IN LOVE
Book 3: LET'S MISBEHAVE
Book 4: STAY THE NIGHT
Book 5: ONCE UPON A DREAM
Book 6: HOW SWEET IT IS
Book 7: GIVE A LITTLE

Kate's fun, sexy Laurel Heights series is available
Book 1: PERFECT FOR YOU
Book 2: CLOSE TO YOU
Book 3: RETURN TO YOU
Book 4: LOOKING FOR YOU
Book 5: DREAM OF YOU
Book 6: SWEET ON YOU
Book 7: TAMED BY YOU
Book 8: HERE WITH YOU
ALL FOR YOU
Book 9: MAD ABOUT YOU
Book 10: LOVED BY YOU

Like strong independent women and the sexy alpha heroes who love them? Are you a fan of the greats like Bella Andre, Kristan Higgins, and Marie Force? Then try Kate's quirky romances. We think you'll love them, too.


"Kate Perry is on my auto buy list." –Night Owl Romance

"Hot! Recommended!" –Bookpleasures

"Kate's brilliant, as evidenced by the fact that she married me." - the Magic Man, Kate's husband

"I can't help the ear-to-ear smile I have plastered to my face when reading any of Kate's books… She makes me laugh out loud, even on a crowded bus!"
–Donna, Public Transit Romance Reviewer

"Perry's storytelling skills just keep getting better and better!" –Romantic Times Book Reviews

"Kate's writing is fluid, with a touch of sexiness and loads of romance, just what you need to relax after a long, hard-working day."
–Gabby, Romance Reader Extraordinaire

"Kate writes books?" –Kia, Kate's brother

"Kate Perry's Laurel Heights series is of my most guilty pleasures. ;) Keep on keepin' on and kickin' ass!" –R, Closet Romance Fan

"Reading Kate Perry's books is my favorite way to spend an afternoon (well..okay, my second favorite way, the husband insists I clarify...)" –M.W., Bedroom Enthusiast

"A winning and entertaining combination of humor and pathos." –Booklist

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks, Chick Lit, Apple

265 pages, ebook

First published September 15, 2014

About the author

With over 6 million books sold (and counting), Kathia’s novels have been #1 bestsellers around the world. They’ve received starred reviews from Booklist, have consistently earned Editor’s Picks for Best Romance, and have been featured by O, The Oprah Magazine and Entertainment Weekly.

Kate (aka Kathia) has written over 50 romcom and paranormal books so far, as well as a couple romantasy screenplays and various poems (her ode to the color orange is particularly moving). Full of hope and bonds of found family and friendship, her stories feature sassy, independent women who just want love and earthy men full of heart who are more than able to rise to the occasion.

Reviews

[D.B. Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Kate Perry's books, but her Summerhill stories are some of my favorite. I'm so glad Viola finally got her HEA, and loved watching her gain her confidence back, determined to reclaim herself after her divorce. And Finn is just the perfect romantic hero. There is such heart in this story.

[Derna · Rating 4 out of 5]

“How Sweet It Is” is the sixth book in the Summerhill series by Kate Perry. I love this series and catching up with the sisters. This one is Viola Summerhill story. Viola is the sister, whose marriage ended, and as a result since the divorce she is a little lost, stuck in a rut, and her self-esteem low. However a new look, a plan to open an art gallery, and a chance meeting with a very talented artist could change all that in ways she could never imagine.

“Journeys end in lovers meeting”

“How Sweet It Is” is about second chances, trust, determination, taking a chance and changes. Viola is a great character, and I loved watching her slowly realize that she was worth so much more she could do what she wanted and see her confidence grow. Finn was great, a little stubborn at times but was just what Viola needed and Viola turned out to be was just what Finn needed. Love the passion between these two.

I like the second story about her Chloe Viola’s teenage daughter who was falling in love for the first time. And of course, the rest of the Summerhill clan are there to give Viola advice and support when she needs it.

"How Sweet It Is" Is a great addition to the Summerhill series fans of the brilliant Kate Perry, and this series will not be disappointed. She has a way with words and knows how to write delightful romance stories that leave you with that warm and happy feeling. I have to say I’m looking forward to reading Bea’s story, but at the same time it will be bittersweet as it’s the final book in the series.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read where we see another Summerhill sister fall. After her recent divorce, the last thing Viola wants in her life is a man. But a hot rebound fling may be just what she needs. While looking for talented artists to fill her newly opening gallery Viola meets Finn. He may be just what she needs for both projects!! This is a great story that shows us sometimes life gives us a second chance and we just need to go for it! I highly recommend this one.

[Petal Reynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erudite, Loving, Quirky Sexy Love Story

Moving with ease from London to Paris, this lovely confection presses all the right buttons for a contemporary romance.

Chemistry-driven sexy interludes fledge into loving coupling. Hot without porn.

This is indeed sweet and 'How Sweet It Is' joins the favourites on my digital bookshelf.

[Anne Turnley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family

Family is central to these characters. The women of the Summerhill family are very close to one another. On the other hand, Finn has moved to Paris to avoid any contact with his family.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never really felt comfortable with Finn. He seemed a bit old to be so immature in his relationship with Vi. Parents can mess their kids up but as an adult you have to accept responsibility for how you choose to live. Just not into emotionally closed off artists.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just loving this series of books. Can be read as a standalone but so enjoyable to follow the characters.

[Kathy Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it, feel-good story.

[Gail Dew · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Sweet it is. No 6

I liked the story and I liked the characters. This is the first book in this series I have read but it isn't necessary to read the other 5 first.

[The Literary Shed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Perry’s novels remind me of Jilly Cooper’s early named titles (Emily, Octavia, Imogen, Bella, Prudence and Harriet), featuring madcap heroines who get themselves into all manner of scrapes, only to rescue themselves, much to the chagrin of the slightly fallen heroes, who are left waiting in the wings. Perry’s books, while undeniably contemporary and current, share with Cooper’s titles that slightly retro, old-fashioned romance feel, which, in turn, makes them all the more appealing to modern audiences.

I first came across Perry through the Laurel Heights’ ebooks, which are set in a very select area of San Francisco and focus on a group of young women, who we see, in the 12 books, bond together both as friends and family. The Summerhill series is loosely linked to Laurel Heights through Rosalind Summerhill, the protagonist of the first novel, Say You Will. A member of an extremely fragmented, aristocratic family, Rosalind returns to her native London to attend the funeral of her ne’er-do-well father, the ninth Earl of Amberlin, only to discover that he has left a huge emotional and financial mess behind. Over the course of the series, Rosalind, her five sisters and their mother mend their relationships and also bond with their new half-sister, Summer, forming lasting attachments over macarons and cocktails. While doing so, they also find the loves of their lives, their particular ‘Magic Men’. The books don’t disappoint.

Perry’s talent as an author lies in her ability to create authentic, extremely funny dialogue, endearing and enjoyably flawed characters, usually searching for something or someone, and great plots that meander towards the finish – with the added interest of the odd waif and stray (or gnome) thrown in along the way. We know in a Perry title that the heroine will invariably get her man, but she certainly has to jump through many, many hoops to do so.

How Sweet It Is, the sixth Summerhill book, sees protagonist Viola reeling from a bitter divorce. As the book opens, Viola’s confidence is at an all-time low and yet she’s doing her best to pull her life together, not just for herself, but also for Chloé, her teenage pseudo-goth daughter. Suffering from negative self-esteem issues, Viola is trying desperately to find her métier in life, but is rapidly coming to the conclusion that she has no particular skill, other than her ability to spot great art. It’s thus just a hop and a skip for her to make the decision to set up her own gallery.

Finn, a brilliant artist, who refuses to exhibit his work, is Viola’s ultimate goal. She’s convinced that she needs him to make her opening exhibition truly great, but Finn lives in Paris in self-imposed exile and refuses to play ball. He believes that his uncle killed himself after being pressurized into exhibiting his work by Finn’s wicked father. Viola is determined to show Finn’s art, however, and when Finn moves to London temporarily for work, all bets are off.

As in other Perry books, location is important in How Sweet It Is, the author showing us the best of London, where the Summerhills reside, and also Paris, where Finn lives. Perry’s London, like San Francisco in the Laurel Heights’ titles, is a wealthy one, her protagonists, for the most part, living, working and socialising in and around Mayfair, Kensington and Knightsbridge.

Her protagonists are glamorous: Formula One racing drivers, Hollywood actresses, former rock stars and internationally renowned photographers. They are generally beautiful, sexy and charismatic, but they are also real people – conflicted and flawed and desperately, desperately in need and in search of love, whether they acknowledge it or not. The hinterland of characters, who support them and often become part of the ‘gang’, move in and out of Perry’s books, helping to create an authentic landscape, one in which her readers themselves would happily live and play.

While this is possibly one of my favourite books from the series, I have to confess that Viola didn’t really resonate with me in the earlier books, other than as the sister who looks tired and haunted and as the mother of the highly engaging Chloé. Here, however, she emerges as an intelligent, vulnerable character, desperate to bond with her extremely bright but rebellious daughter, while also regaining a sense of her own worth. Divorce has debilitated her, but art and the love and support of her family and friends help Viola on her way to being reborn, a phoenix rising from the ashes of her previous life, able to take up her proper place in the world, Finn, her worthy partner, by her side.

This is a very enjoyable book and if you haven’t read the other titles in the series, please do.

Put simply, Perry’s novels are like a glass of champagne – heady, addictive and leaving one with a taste for much, much more.


This is an edited version of a review that appeared on The Literary Shed's site. See: http://www.theliteraryshed.co.uk/read...

[RoloPoloBookBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Sweet It Is by Kate Perry
Book #6: Summerhill Series
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 5/5 stars
My Review:

Viola Sumemrhill is in what we commonly refer to as a rut. Since her divorce from her loser husband, Charles, Viola has struggled to find her place in the world. Viola married at a very young age and for the entirety of her marriage she has been a stay-at-home mom (I’m not saying that in a negative way so calm down!) and done very little in the way of developing her own interests and pursuits. With an impressionable teenage daughter at home, Viola is desperate to find a way to not only support her small family but to find a way to make her daughter proud of her.

According to Vi’s older sister and best friend, Beatrice, all Viola needs to get out of her rut is some good old fashioned sex! Sure, sex sounds good but Viola hasn’t dated in more than a decade and she’s pretty sure casual sex isn’t going to help her straighten out her life and find a real future. So, with sex off the table, Viola is right back where she started, looking for a career. In a moment of pure brilliance it occurs to Viola how much she loves art and the knack she has for recognizing talent. In the moment just after the brilliance strikes, Viola decides she is going to open her own art gallery. Now all she has to do is find just the right artists to stock her gallery with.

Finn Buchanan’s art is his passion, his soul and anyone who has ever had the pleasure of seeing it knows they are being allowed to experience something quite special. Finn’s talent is astounding yet he allows very few people to see his paintings and absolutely refuses to sell anything he creates. Finn’s refusal stems from his love of his uncle who killed himself after being unable to meet the demands of life as practicing artist. When his uncle died, Finn understood that producing for a gallery and sales is simply too much pressure for one person to bear and not worth the paint hat is inevitably involved. In order to support himself and be as far away from his family as possible, Finn has lived in Paris for years and works as a high-end restoration specialist. To date, Finn’s life has gone exactly according to plan and then, Viola Summerhill comes calling.

The second she sees Finn’s work, Viola knows she absolutely must have it for her gallery’s opening. With Finn’s paintings on her walls the gallery is sure to be a success. Getting to Finn in Paris is the easy part, getting Finn to agree to show and sell his work is a cat of a different color. When Viola shows up unexpectedly on Finn’s front porch, each is wholly unprepared for the road they are both about to travel. Neither Finn nor Viola is prepared for the other and in just a few days’ time each is reevaluating everything they know and have done up to this point in their lives.

The Bottom Line: Up to this point in the Summerhill series, Viola has just been one of the sisters and in large part this has been because of the rut she has been in. Viola’s divorce has taken a serious toll on her, her daughter is a somewhat angsty teenager Viola wants to connect with and, up until she conceives of the gallery idea she has had no direction in life. Meeting Finn turns Viola’s world upside down and with him by her side, she comes into her own. Finn is by far one of the most stubborn men chosen by a Summerhill sister but in that way, he is perfect for Viola. The give and take, push and pull between Viola and Finn keeps the story moving along at a quick and sexy pace. Their road to an HEA is not at all easy but then both have a significant amount of baggage they are bringing into the relationship. As usual, Perry throws some fun and totally unexpected curveballs at her characters, the rest of the Summerhill’s are totally involved up to their butts and, the ending is pretty much perfect. In all, Perry has added another winner to the Summerhill series!

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In How Sweet It Is (Summerhill Book 6), Viola Summerhill is ready to move on from not only her ex-husband, but her boring lifestyle. The Summerhill sisters think a fling would liven her up, but what Vi really wants is to create a new life for herself and her daughter Chloe. In order to do that, she decides to open up an art gallery. As Vi's searching for the artists to feature in her gallery she meets Finn Buchanan. Finn may be the man she needs for her gallery...and for her life.

I simply adore Kate Perry's novels. Her series are fun and delightful to read. She knows how to add enough drama to the story to make it interesting, while at the same time making it something that could happen in real life. I love how she takes beautiful strong women and makes them even stronger by falling in love.

What I really loved about How Sweet It Is was the intertwining stories of Vi and her daughter Chloe. It was fun to read their different viewpoints of the same event (Vi's divorce) and how each of them moved forward to find themselves and love. The title for the book was perfect because this really was a sweet story. I think it may just be my favorite Summerhill novel so far, but I say that with every new addition to the series! I can't wait to read Bea's story next!

A big thank you to Kate Perry and her team for allowing me to read an ARC of How Seet It Is.

[Abigail Books Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Kate Perry definitely know how to write such amazing romance novels. How Sweet It Is definitely does not disappoint in the Summerhill series. We finally get to read about Viola romance story. I definitely enjoy Viola character very much because she is determine to find herself no matter what. Viola has ditched her loser husband when she discovered that he was cheating on her. Viola does not know what to do in her life that she begin to wonder what best fit her personality as a career. And she discover she has a creative eye in the art work galley. She begin a wonderful journey in stocking her new galley that she come across a gorgeous yet stubborn men who has a incredible skill in creating wonderful paint work. Their love journey is a cute yet passionate because they fuel in each other fire. I am so happy for Viola because she finally found herself and a new hot men! A great book in the Summerhill series. It will not disappoint no one. Five Stars!
P.S. Readers will also get to read about Viola daughter who would find herself a wonderful and amazing guy!

[Becky Claxon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Viola, the main character, and the strength and confidence she found in herself. Her ex-husband may have made her lose confidence in herself, but she learns she has talents for a career which helps build back her confidence. I really enjoyed reading about her daughter--the thoughts about her father, her new found love, gaining confidence in herself, growing into a young woman. I always love visiting again with the Summerhill sisters and their mother. Kate has a great way of writing that you don't want to put the book down. Once you come to the end, you can't wait to get your hands on the next book!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never really thought Viola and Chloe were anything that special. I have now changed my mind....this is one of my favorite Summerhill sister books. Kate Perry brought the characters to life, it's like they just jumped off the pages, so vibrant and electrifying. I wanted it to go on forever. I hope Bea's story is a show stopper... Kate Perry has her hands full to finish the series on a high note....it's a tall order but if anyone can pull it off it will be her. Her writing is so fresh and exciting!!! It's some of the best modern day fiction ever written!!!!

[Agnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

At long last, Viola gets her story, and this second chance love story is as sweet as it comes. Totally heart melting hugely entertaining and rife with wry humour, and of course overflowing with the sisters love and support for each other. The Summerhill sisters and their myriad paths to love are no less inspiring for happening under the most unexpected circumstances and the complete surrender of hearts, and always, for the unending love a,post the women.

[Suas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finn is an absolute delight to read as a modern incarnation of a tortured artist. Viola is recovering from a traumatic relationship with Charles and is reasserting herself as an independent woman with hopes and dreams. I really enjoyed reading about Viola's predilection for macarons, her daughter Chloe's adventures with Hunter and Schrodinger, and Finn and Viola's adventures in Paris. This was delicious and a lovely treat to read.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my How Sweet it is was perfectly named and Viola certainly deserves a very happy ending after 17yrs with Charles the mega douchebag but at least she got Chloe out of it all and that sassy 16yr old was so worth it.
Viola finally figures out her soul passion besides being a mum opening an Art gallery is an awesome idea it really suits Viola and so does sexy brooding artist Finn lol I really love these 2 characters they are so good together.

[Melody Mcallister Novellino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! The only down side is theres only 1 more sister to go! I so wanted Viola to have her happy ever after. I really want to find out more about their cousin from the US and hope he gets his own story. I devoured this novel in no time at all and am already waiting impatiently for the next installment! Please don't let us wait to long Kate!

[Denise]

I really liked the 'Laurel Heights' series of books but the 'Summerhills' really hit home for me, probably because they are set in the UK. I grew up in London and I love any books that are set there but reading about all of the sisters and their journeys to finding love and each other are really feel good books.

[Aneta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book. Summerhill sisters are back and this time Viola is looking for her opportunity to love after a bad year which was filled with hardships after a divorce, changes in family relationships .. Great!!

[Janka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series. So happy for Viola for finally getting rid of Charles and moving on with her life. Oh and Finn. I can just see him painting. He is such a great character. So suited for each other.

[Ash P Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just gets better and better. I don't even have to think twice before picking up a Kate Perry Book. Can't wait till March to read Bea's story.

[Lora J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, can't wait for bea's story cuz she is such a tough kick ass kinda girl great read for me thx

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite book in the series. I loved the Chloe storyline and Finn and Viola had such an intense connection.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous addition to this series. The story line is great and keeps you gripped and the end is great. A super lead into book 7 also ☺

[Tracey Zelukovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series, you can't put it down

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous as always. These stories are always the best.