One Season of Sunshine (Cedar Springs #2)

Oct 29, 2012 Bnice rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a joy to read. I was browsing in Target and saw that they were having a big sale on all Romance Novels and since I'm a new convert to the books, I decided to take a peek. Well that peek turned into me purchasing 10 books not on the same day but within the time limit to take advantage of the sale indeed. The cover of the book caught my eye and I must admit that the covers of books are pretty much what sway me to it and then I turn it around and take a read of the brief explanation....more This book was a joy to read. I was browsing in Target and saw that they were having a big sale on all Romance Novels and since I'm a new convert to the books, I decided to take a peek. Well that peek turned into me purchasing 10 books not on the same day but within the time limit to take advantage of the sale indeed. The cover of the book caught my eye and I must admit that the covers of books are pretty much what sway me to it and then I turn it around and take a read of the brief explanation. If it captures my attention then its gonna be a definite purchase. So that is my explanation of how I bought "One Season of Sunshine" by Julia London. I must admit that this is the first book of hers that I've read and I wasn't disappointed.
Characters:
Susanna Price- wife and mother of 2 children
Asher Price- husband of Susanna
Riley Price- 13 year old daughter of the Prices
Levi Price- 5 year old son of the Prices
Jane Aaron- nanny for the Price kids
Jane Aaron a 2nd grade teacher and graduate student working on her masters. Jane was brought up in a home with 2 brothers, loving parents who owned a local restaurant in Houston, called The Garden. The family would have their dinner in one of the rooms of the restaurant every night before they opened up for business. What a nice family tradition, to have dinner together the old fashioned way. I always say a family that prays and EATS together, stays together haha~ Jane had black hair and could not cook a meal if her life depended on it, but her brothers were very good cooks like their parents. Jane wasn't athletic, but her brothers were tall, slender, blonde hair and blue eyes. Jane loved her family to death and wouldn't trade them for the world, but something was missing and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. As time passes on, Jane begins to feel uneasy not knowing who her real birth mother was and the question always lingered in her mind, why did my birth mother give me away? Why didn't she love me? Jane was adopted and it didn't bother her until recently. She felt an emptiness that wouldn't stop bothering her until she was able to answer those questions of who she was, what natiionality was she, is her mother still alive? So many questions needed to be answered.
Jane was born September 1980 in Cedar Springs, and that's all she knew. Summer came around and Jane made up her mind, she was going to move to Cedar Springs and get some answers however she could. Her family was not happy about her move and Jane reassured them she would be back before the start of the new school year. She also had a steady boyfriend for 3 years who loved her and wanted to marry her, but when he proposed on that day, Jane didn't say no and she didn't say yes. Time is what she needed to straighten things out in her life right now. He (Johnathan) adored her and loved her more than anythng, but at this point and time in Janes life, she wasn't ready to committ, not just yet. She wanted to know who she was, etc. So she broke his heart and was still friends with Johnathan. I was king of mad at Jane at this point, I mean come on 3 years in a relationship, the guy loves you and proposes and you just let him go , whoa that is alot to take in for a guy. poor Johnathan. Jane told him she was just being honest and the truth hurts almost all the time.
Before Jane sets out to leave from Cedar Springs her mom tells her, Jane God has put is in our care and you're right where you're suppose to be. You might go and not find what you're looking for or get disappointed, whatever it is, remember we are here and we are your family, we love you Jane and you are my daughter! Jane shed some tears and told her that she is her mother and loves her very much, this is just something she has to do for herself. She said her good byes and left for her journey to Cedar Springs.
Jane got a job as a live in nanny for Asher Prices kids. Their mother Sussana Price passed away in a car accident about 2 years ago and frankly Asher Price was desperate for a nanny. He was partner in an advertising firm which needed his attention and required that he would travel for weeks at a time out of state. His home was lavished with fine paintings and art work and photos of his late wife hanging everywhere. Jane was hired and settled into the guest house which was beautiful and right by the pool. As time progresses she sees how much the kids love their father and are often anxiously awaiting for their father to return from his trips. Asher Price absolutely loved his kids and there was nothing more that he loved to come home to then the sound of his kids sweet voices when they would greet him from a trip.
I admired Asher Price for raising his 2 kids the best way he knew how. Cedar Springs was a small town and everyone knew everyone in town. He adored his kids and they were his first priority in life and then his work which had taken him away from his kids so many times. His family was a sweet one and his wifes death came as a tragic shock to all of his family and his wifes. He had to adjust his life and make sure the kids were taken care of, that he could work for the things they needed in life. But it wasn't all about money, in this book, we see that money comes and goes, but the genuine time needed to be with family is priceless. He watched his little 13 year old Riley bloom into a beautiful young woman. His 5 year old son Levi loved to blurt out things and watch movies and play board games with his dad, what a pleasant family pass time. Their little Price family had gone thru many ups and downs and his children did not fully understand the extent of their mothers accident and lifestyle.
Jane the nanny was able to connect with Riley and Levi and she grew to love them as her own. It's funny how Jane is adopted and her mother she was raised by was able to love her, nurture her even though she was not her birth mother. And here Jane comes and begins to love these 2 kids who are not hers, as her very own. Very interesting indeed~As Jane becomes closer to the kids and their father, she realizes that there is more to their little happy family than what Asher portrays. Susanna his late wife was stunningly beautiful and always looked prestige and glamorous, yet there bits and pieces that Jane couldn't put together about Susanna's life with her family. Pictures of Asher looked as if he were so lonely in his marriage to Susanna. Jane didn't have all the answers and quite friankly she wasn't sure if she wanted to know. As her mother told her before she left Houston, some things are better left alone..hmm.
As the story progresses, Jane and Asher have this attration and they both sense the feeling. Both of them are in the laundry room and Asher is frustrated that Levi wet in his bed and he's complaining to Jane and then he just reaches out and plants a big one on her..the forbidden kiss~
Do things work out between them? Does Jane get to find out who her birth mother is? Does she find out what kind of family and lifestyle the Prices lived, was it a happily ever after family or a family of deep secrets? You can find out when you read the book and find the answers.
This book when I read it, was one of those you just can't put it down and had to find out what happened next. I found myself in between the lights on my way to work, reading and I could see the cars next to me looking over, but I didn't care, those fricken stoplights take forever ugh~ I really enjoyed reading this book. But, I did feel like the author kind of described Susanna a little too much in the book for me even thought she was a main character. In this book, my heart went out to ASHER PRICE-SUPER DAD~He just loved his kids to pieces and at the same time was in love with Jane Aaron. He needed to find a place for all of them to fit perfectly in his life. FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A PERFECT FIT~
Big ups to Julia London for a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to reading your other novels.. Another fine author to add the list of great writers. THANK YOU~(less)

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Feb 15, 2012 Tytti rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 03, 2011 Hattie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

fter reading One Season of Sunshine by Julia London, there is no doubt in my mind why this author is a NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR. Yes, the book is a page turner. It is also a novel filled with meaningful incidents and relationships. Jane Aaron is the main character. Jane leaves her adopted family whom she loves very much. She moves to the town named Cedar Springs, Texas to search for information about her biological mother. In Cedar Springs she moves in with a family of three. There is A...more fter reading One Season of Sunshine by Julia London, there is no doubt in my mind why this author is a NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR. Yes, the book is a page turner. It is also a novel filled with meaningful incidents and relationships. Jane Aaron is the main character. Jane leaves her adopted family whom she loves very much. She moves to the town named Cedar Springs, Texas to search for information about her biological mother. In Cedar Springs she moves in with a family of three. There is Asher, the father, the teen daughter, Riley, and the youngest child, Levi. This family is in turmoil. They are adjusting to major emotional pain after the death of their mother and wife, Susanna. Levi wets the bed, Riley acts out to get attention. Asher strives to be a mother and father while working hard on his job. He travels often missing how his children are coping on a daily basis.

When the story begins, Susanna has died. I learn about her life and personality through the Price children and of course, Asher. I also learn about her from the grandmother, Helen. It’s odd how I felt so connected to Susanna. While she lived, her life was explosive. If a see-saw could talk and move on its own like in a cartoon, I would name the playground toy Susanna. The mother and wife of the Price family suffered with a chemical imbalance. Since Susanna was Bipolar, no day in her life was normal. No day was normal for her family.

This novel by Julia London is about how a family copes and doesn’t cope with emotional chaos in the home. This novel is a reality check. Although the source of questions, psychological imbalance and the mainstay of a family, like a mother, might leave involuntarily or voluntarily, the environment does not become strengthened and renewed overnight. There is healing to be done while the person is there or not there. The people left behind will carry the scars, splinters and bruises for many days. However, there is always hope. Hope comes in the form of a miracle. In this instance, Jane is the miracle to a hurting family. Jane is this family’s Mary Poppins. There is one difference. She doesn’t carry an umbrella. POCKET BOOKS(less)

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Nov 16, 2010 Lea's Audiobooks Hensley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Narrated by Natalie Ross

More chick lit than romance, One Season of Sunshine delivers a solid story that I found tender at times and a little aggravating at others. Asher, a wealthy widower, has two children in need of care and it’s the perfect job for Jane as she takes time from her usual life to search for her birth mother. Natalie Ross is a talented narrator but one I find inconsistent – her performance here is only adequate. There is little to distinguish Asher’s voice from the general narrat...more

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Nov 05, 2010 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is my first book by Julia London...I liked it!

It’s the story of Jane Aaron who was adopted when she was a few days old. Who has a great life: loving family, a nice boyfriend, great friends, and a job as a teacher (second grade) but, is still yet not satisfied with her life Jane has always felt that something was missing and that is finding out who her birth mother is and why she was given up? She moves to Cedar Springs where she was born in search of answers and there, she ends up working f...more This is my first book by Julia London...I liked it!

It’s the story of Jane Aaron who was adopted when she was a few days old. Who has a great life: loving family, a nice boyfriend, great friends, and a job as a teacher (second grade) but, is still yet not satisfied with her life Jane has always felt that something was missing and that is finding out who her birth mother is and why she was given up? She moves to Cedar Springs where she was born in search of answers and there, she ends up working for the Price family as a nanny. Widower Asher Price has two children: 13 year old Riley and energetic 5-year-old Levi.Asher's wife, Susanna, died in a terrible car accident a couple of years ago but, the family is still not over her death and their house like a shrine to Susanna Price. As Jane gets to know the family, she begins to suspect that Susanna might not be the perfect wife and mother everyone says she was. An attraction starts to grow between Jane and Asher but, as Jane gets closer to finding out the identity of her birth mother, secrets are exposed that might ruin a future for Jane and Asher.

I liked Jane’s character but, I was a bit upset because I thought she was a bit selfish and insensitive towards her family and boyfriend (Jonathan) in how she just packs up and leaves. She then does the same with the Price family. She is so into herself or finding her true self that she doesn't think on how it impacts everyone when she at the spur of the moment decides to just…leave. I really did not like how she kept stringing her boyfriend along and I was rooting for him when he finally told her he had moved on. Jane describes herself as being a flake and she is but, her character starts to grow and she changes.On the other hand, Asher’s (Mr. Price) kids…ugh! I was amazed and loved how she was so firm but, loving at the same time with them. They are really difficult kids especially Riley Ann. I like that she wasn't intimidated by her. Levi just needed the void of his mother to be filled to have that loving and nurturing felling and Jane in my opinion filled that for him. I liked Asher right away and I could picture him to very handsome man though--he's trying his hardest to juggle a demanding career and still be a father his children who had lost their mother. I felt that Asher could have been there for his kids more. It seemed that he was more involved with his work than with his children. They lost their mother and not having their father around was as if the kids were being raised by nannies.As the story progressed, it became less about Jane finding her birth mother and more about Jane becoming a very important part of the Price family. She changes the kids in many ways Levi stops bed wetting and starts behaving at camp and Riley even though you can’t really notice right away but, she becomes...social, she makes friends and starts drawing again. Which shows that all they needed was some T.L.C someone to give them attention and time.I was really interested in Jane and Asher’s romance and very happy for them especially Asher he needed to have someone in his life to fill that void that was left from his wife Susanna. Jane having filled that actually brought Asher close to his children. The part where Jane was looking for her birth mother really dragged and slowed the story I wished she would just stop searching and just take all the dead ends as signs that she shouldn’t find out especially since it makes you assume who her birth mother might be but, even though you want her to stop searching want to continue just to know if your assumptions are right.Overall, I liked the fact that the issues in the book weren't all tied up in a happily ever after but, the ending is satisfying. I like the author's voice she is very detailed and you could picture every scene makes you feel involved. All in all I enjoyed book, I recommend it and I wouldn’t mind picking up another novel by Julia London.(less)

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Sep 10, 2010 Crystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

I could not put this book down! Jane is struggling to find herself, and her birth mother. For the summer, she moves to the town where she was born so she can find her mother. In the process she takes a job as a nanny for a handsome widower who has 2 kids. Things tend to get a bit complicated the longer Jane stays there, thus giving you the can't-put-it-down syndrome.

While I give it 5 stars, and I think it is worthy of the 5, I do have 2 small complaints. I expected more on the issue of her tryi...more

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Aug 02, 2010 Angelc rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

Jane Aaron left her adoptive family behind in order to find her birth mother. Jobs are scarce in her new town, so she takes a position as a nanny to two children who have run off anyone else who dared attempt the job. Jane butts heads with their father, Asher Price-mostly over the fact that he's not around much due to work. While at the Price's, Jane discovers secrets not only about her birth mother, but also about Asher's deceased wife-who may not be as perfect as she seems.

This was an...more

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Jul 22, 2010 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This has been sitting on my TBR pile for way too long. I think the above summary is off-putting and vague. The story is actually much better than the summary. The book starts out with Susanna, drunk, at a bar. She's obviously at artist and lacks good judgment. She dies by the third page in a head on collision. Next we meet Jane who is not plain but wants to gain her genetic history. Although a teacher by trade, she moves to a small Texas town to place herself closer to her birth.

Asher is widower...more

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Jul 20, 2010 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Another case where I wish half stars were possible. I'd give it 3 and a half stars if I could but I just didn't like it enough to bump it up to 4. I'm about the characters. Give me characters I love and I'll go along with pretty much ANYTHING you throw at me.

GIve me characters that I wanna strangle and I will nitpick until the cows come home.

In the case of Jane, she redeemed herself in the end (thankfully) and I did enjoy the rest of the cast enough to finish the book. Had I not, had it depend...more

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Jul 12, 2010 Kathleen Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kathleen by: momkelly2003@yahoo.com

Shelves: finished

I have to be honest and say that I had never read any of Julia London's books, so after reading about One Season of Sunshine, it sounded interesting so I agreed to read and review.

Jane comes from a loving family, parents and two brothers who love her very much. Her family owns a restaurant and everyone in the family works there, except for Jane. She is a teacher and working on her thesis. She has a boyfriend and he has asked her to marry him but Jane stalls him because she can't commit until she...more I have to be honest and say that I had never read any of Julia London's books, so after reading about One Season of Sunshine, it sounded interesting so I agreed to read and review.

Jane comes from a loving family, parents and two brothers who love her very much. Her family owns a restaurant and everyone in the family works there, except for Jane. She is a teacher and working on her thesis. She has a boyfriend and he has asked her to marry him but Jane stalls him because she can't commit until she knows more about herself. Jane is adopted and wants to find her birth mother, so in order to do this, she moves to the town that she knows she was born in. Jane applies and is accepted for a position as a nanny with Asher Price, a rich widower with two children, Riley 11 and Levi 5. Ashers wife Susanna was killed in a terrible car crash and the children are having a hard time adapting to this. Riley is sulky and argumentative and Levi acts out in bad behavior. So Jane has a hard time trying to get close to the children. She does win Levi over as she helps him grow a garden but Riley is harder to reach. Susanna was a gifted artist and Riley has inherited her talent but refuses to do any painting. As Jane learns more about Susanna she begins to understand the difficulties that this family has overcoming the loss of their mother and wife. In the meantime Jane is continuing to do all she can to find her birth mother. So with the help of some women at the local hospital and newpaper, clues start to emerge. On the other side of this, her relationship with her boyfriend, Jonathan, becomes strained as Jane is still not ready for marriage. As time goes by Jane and Asher become more and more attracted to each other until it gets to the point that they both need to make a decision. The truth about Susanna soon comes out, that she was bipolar and her behavior had been detrimental to her ability to be a good wife and mother. Asher is away from home often for his job and does not want to get involved with the nanny, but he has a hard time with this as he finds himself falling in love with Jane and he hopes the feeling is mutual.

This book was a fast and enjoyable read. I liked the characters and how they evolved over time and were able to start to have a life as a family that they all desperately need. I highly recommend this book and I will be reading more by this author.

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Jul 11, 2010 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: romantics!

Recommended to Julie by: Ayelet of Pocket Books

Shelves: contemporary, favorite-authors, pocket-books, romance

I was so incredibly excited when Ayelet, a publicity specialist of Pocket Books (a division of Simon and Schuster), contacted me and asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing Julia London's newest book! I read Summer of Two Wishes last summer and loved it so I knew this one had to be a hit as well!

Jane has a strong longing to find her birth family, especially her birth mother, before she makes a life long commitment to Johnathan. It's only fair that she knows who she really is afterall, eh? Sh...more I was so incredibly excited when Ayelet, a publicity specialist of Pocket Books (a division of Simon and Schuster), contacted me and asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing Julia London's newest book! I read Summer of Two Wishes last summer and loved it so I knew this one had to be a hit as well!

Jane has a strong longing to find her birth family, especially her birth mother, before she makes a life long commitment to Johnathan. It's only fair that she knows who she really is afterall, eh? She can't cook like the others in her family and she just needs to know...

The bombshell is dropped and she moves to Cedar Springs, her birth town. She obtains a job as a nanny (What was she thinking? She knew nothing about kids beyond her 2nd grade class!) Riley is a beautiful 13 year old girl who is really missing her mother. Levi is a young 5 year old who barely remembers his mother. Asher, the man of the house/absolute worst person to work for, is well, handsome...difficult...intriguing. Asher's deceased wife Susanna is everywhere and soon Jane feels like she's being watched by this woman. Why was she so great? Or was she?

Without saying too much more about the book (at this point you should be running to the nearest book outlet and purchasing it!), I LOVED it! I was not the least bit disappointed in this story, even though I thought I knew where it would end. I wasn't exactly right though! Full of twists and turns, Julia London weaves a beautiful tale of a woman trying to find herself in the midst of chaos, a young woman (Riley) who is also trying to find herself and deal with the loss of her mom, a young man in search of a mother he never knew, and a man who is overworked and misses his family.

What do I love most about this book? It's towards the end but I see some familiar characters from Summer of Two Wishes (read my review here! SQUEE!!! I love how this story felt "full circle" at that point! Mentioning Macy made my day! It was beautiful!

I highly recommend this book to all hopeless (and hopeful) romantics. This is such a sweet love story and I look forward to more from Julia London!

(You may wish to know that there are some pretty intense intimate scenes in portions of this book. I would caution young adults in reading this book.)

My thanks to Pocket Books (and Ayelet) for providing a review copy of this book!(less)

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Jul 01, 2010 Cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jane Aaron always knew something was different about her from the rest of her family. She was right. Jane was adopted. Jane loves her parents but now that Jane is grown up, she feels like a part of her is missing. It bothers Jane so much that when her boyfriend, Jonathan proposes to her, Jane turns him down. How can Jane expect to marry someone when she doesn’t really know who she is?

The one thing Jane does know is that she was born in Cedar Springs. Jane moves to Cedar Springs to find out more...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

One Season of Sunshine wasn't quite what I expected. The book is about a 30 year old adoptee who is trying to "find herself". When her teaching job ends for the school year, she moves away from her family and her long time boyfriend to the town where she was born so she can search for her birth mother and work on her thesis for grad school. She realizes she needs to get a job to support herself for the summer and picks up a job as a nanny. Due to the demands of the job, she doesn't feel motivate...more

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Aug 11, 2010 Hilcia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-bookshelf, impressions-blog-review, contemporary, romance

One Season of Sunshine is supposed to be a contemporary romance, and in many ways it is, but there's more to it. I would say this book is a combination women's fiction/contemporary romance. This is an all around difficult story with likable and not-so-likable characters. London is actually quite ambitious in her exploration of serious subjects: adoption, death of a spouse, bipolar disorder, guilt-ridden father, traumatized children, dysfunctional families and a romance to tie it all up. The roma...more

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Sep 21, 2010 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane Aaron is a thirty year old school teacher with a handsome, singer boyfriend that adores her, and a happy family that loves her. Jane feels like a black sheep in her family as she is adopted and doesn’t share the love of cooking that runs through the rest of her family. Indeed they even own their own family restaurant in Houston. When her boyfriend asks her to marry him, Jane feels that she needs to solve the mystery of her past before she can pursue her future. To this end, Jane moves to Ce...more Jane Aaron is a thirty year old school teacher with a handsome, singer boyfriend that adores her, and a happy family that loves her. Jane feels like a black sheep in her family as she is adopted and doesn’t share the love of cooking that runs through the rest of her family. Indeed they even own their own family restaurant in Houston. When her boyfriend asks her to marry him, Jane feels that she needs to solve the mystery of her past before she can pursue her future. To this end, Jane moves to Cedar Springs, the town where she was born, to investigate her past.

Asher Price lost his wife in a tragic car accident two years ago. His two children, thirteen year old Riley and 5-year old Levi have a difficult life with no mother and an absent father. Asher is trying to hold everything together at his advertising firm and finds himself on the road constantly. He hires Jane as a nanny for his children for the summer.

Jane searches to discover the mother she never knew while also learning the secrets of the beautiful Susanna Price and the tragedy that the Price family had to endure. She also finds herself falling in love with her employer, Asher, as well as with his children.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I love how Jane grew to understand through her connection with the Price children that her parents could love her even though she was adopted. I liked the mystery of finding out more about Jane’s birth parents as well as about Susanna. I also enjoyed the love story between Jane and Asher. At times I got a Jane Eyre vibe from the book with the “master” falling in love with the governess (or nanny in this case) and a “mad wife” in the attic being the ghost of Susanna Price. Indeed there were references by young Levi that he heard his mother in the attic and that made me think the author was perhaps intentionally making the reader think of that reference. It also reminded me of one of my other favorite books, Rebecca, with Susanna as the Rebecca character that everyone else must be able to move beyond to be able to start life anew.
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Aug 15, 2010 Jennifer Jensen (Literally Jen) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

After her boyfriend of 3 years proposes to her, Jane Aaron finds herself unable to commit to moving forward with her life until she discovers the identity of her birth mother. Jane leaves her job and adoptive family behind and moves to Cedar Springs, the city of her birth. Planning to stay a full summer, Jane reluctantly accepts a nanny position for the children of well-to-do ad executive Asher Price.

Less than 2 years ago, Asher's wife died in a tragic car accident. As Jane makes friends with th...more After her boyfriend of 3 years proposes to her, Jane Aaron finds herself unable to commit to moving forward with her life until she discovers the identity of her birth mother. Jane leaves her job and adoptive family behind and moves to Cedar Springs, the city of her birth. Planning to stay a full summer, Jane reluctantly accepts a nanny position for the children of well-to-do ad executive Asher Price.

Less than 2 years ago, Asher's wife died in a tragic car accident. As Jane makes friends with the residents of Cedar Springs and warms up to Asher and his children, she slowly learns that Susanna had a checkered past. There is an undeniable attraction between Asher and Jane, but in order for them to build a life together, they must both let go of the ghosts that have kept them stagnant for so long.

"One Season of Sunshine" was the first book by Julia London that I have ever read, and it was completely addictive. It has just the right combination of romance, mystery, and deep characterization to keep readers interested from the first page to the last.

When I first read the description of this novel, I knew I had to read it. I was interested to find out about Jane's quest to find her birth mother, and what she would learn about her. She is a solid and well-written character, someone I would love to be friends with. I shared in her frustration as she discovered one dead end and then another as she researched her birth.

The relationships the characters formed with one another were very real and heartbreaking. I especially loved how Jane, who was at first unsure if she could take charge of two children, started to treat them as if they were her own children. In the process she learned that the strongest bonds are the ones we create for ourselves, not the ones we long for just because of blood ties.

This is the second book that Julia London has written set in Cedar Springs, and I am now very eager to read the first one, which is called "Summer of Two Wishes". I have always been fascinated by small town life, and know I will adore that book just as much as I did this one.

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Jul 26, 2011 Susan Bright rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One Season of Sunshine was a delightful summer read. When Jane Aaron’s rocker boy friend asked her to marry him, she surprised everyone including herself. She couldn’t say yes. Jane had always known that she was adopted, but suddenly realized that she could not move on with her life without knowing where she came from. The only thing she knew for sure was that she was born in Cedar Springs, Texas. Jane took a leave of absence from her teaching job, left her loving family and boyfriend and moved...more

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Sep 08, 2010 Christie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jane Aaron moves to Cedar Springs, Texas in search of her birth mother. Taking a leave of absence from her job as a school teacher, Jane needs to find a job to help make ends meet. After a quick, and impersonal interview she is hired as a nanny by a very wealthy widow. Jane and her new boss, Asher, clash from day one. Lucky for Jane he finds her outspokenness attractive, and doesn’t fire her. As the relationship between Asher and Jane begins to evolve into an intense attraction, they find severa...more

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Jul 24, 2010 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

This book, which I received as a GoodReads Giveaway winner, tells the story of Jane Aaron and her search to find her birthmother. After getting no results from an adoption registry, Jane moves to Cedar Springs, the town of her birth, in hopes of finding answers. In order to support herself while she continues her search, Jane takes a job as a nanny for Riley and Levi, children on Asher Price. Though she came to find her birthmother and get some answers about her past, Jane ends up finding even m...more

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Jul 09, 2010 Chelleyreads (Michelle&Leslie's Book Picks) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews-july2010

I've read the author's historical romances before but this is my first contemporary by her and I was curious. To me One Season of Sunshine is more women's fiction than romance but I liked it nonetheless. It tells the story of Jane Aaron who was adopted when she was only a few days old. She has a great life: a loving family, great friends, a nice boyfriend and a job as a second grade teacher. But she had always felt that she's missing something in her life and yearns to meet her birth mother. So,...more I've read the author's historical romances before but this is my first contemporary by her and I was curious. To me One Season of Sunshine is more women's fiction than romance but I liked it nonetheless. It tells the story of Jane Aaron who was adopted when she was only a few days old. She has a great life: a loving family, great friends, a nice boyfriend and a job as a second grade teacher. But she had always felt that she's missing something in her life and yearns to meet her birth mother. So, she goes to Cedar Springs where she was born to search for answers and there, she ends up working for single dad Asher Price as a nanny to his two children--prickly teenager Riley and energetic 5-year-old Levi. Asher's wife, Susanna, died in a terrible car accident over a year ago but the family is still not over her death and their house is very Manderley-esque shrine to Susanna Price. As Jane gets to know the family, she begins to suspect that Susanna might not be the perfect wife and mother everyone says she was. A growing attraction between Jane and Asher develops but as Jane gets closer to finding out the identity of her birth mother, secrets are exposed that may ruin any future Jane and Asher might have.

Throughout the whole book, I wasn't sure how I feel about Jane. I thought she was a bit selfish and insensitive in how she just packs up and leaves, first with her family and then later with Asher and the children. It's like she doesn't think about the impact of her decisions and what her leaving has on them. I also didn't like how she just kept stringing along her boyfriend for most of the book when she couldn't make a decision as to what to do with him. She describes herself as being a flake and she is that but her character does grow. On the other hand, I really liked how she was firm but sweet to Asher's difficult children and wasn't intimidated by them, especially Riley. I liked Asher right away though--he's trying his hardest to juggle a demanding career and still be a father his children who just lost their mother. As we learn more about Susanna, I really felt for him and was happy when he got his second chance with Jane--I thought the romance between them was sweet.

As the story went on, it became less about finding Jane's birth mother and more about Jane becoming a vital part of the Price family. That's fine with me as I was more interested in Jane, Asher and the children and I thought the scenes where Jane was looking for her birth mom slowed the story down a bit. I liked that the issues weren't all tied up in a nice happily ever after bow but the ending is satisfying. Overall, this book is an easy read and, like in her historical novels, I like the author's voice. I enjoyed this book--I recommend it as a nice beach or a book club read.(less)

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Sep 03, 2010 Katie(babs) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Elementary school teacher Jane Aaron has a loving family and a boyfriend who wants to marry her. But Jane wants to find out who she really is since she's adopted. Jane has decided she'll quit teaching and more to Cedar Springs, the small town where she was born. She hopes to find the answers she's looking for and hopefully the mother who gave her away.

Jane finds work as a live-in nanny, or rather a temporary babysitter for Asher Price. Asher travels a great deal and works long hours as an ad exe...more Elementary school teacher Jane Aaron has a loving family and a boyfriend who wants to marry her. But Jane wants to find out who she really is since she's adopted. Jane has decided she'll quit teaching and more to Cedar Springs, the small town where she was born. She hopes to find the answers she's looking for and hopefully the mother who gave her away.

Jane finds work as a live-in nanny, or rather a temporary babysitter for Asher Price. Asher travels a great deal and works long hours as an ad executive ever since his managing partner was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His twelve-year old daughter Riley and five-year old son Adam are without a mother. A year and a half ago, Asher's wife Susanna died in a car accident. Asher loves his children dearly, but with Riley acting out and Adam wetting his bed, he feels he's failing as a father. He hopes Jane will be the answer to all his problems.

As Jane investigates her adoption, she has to put up with an angry Riley, and Asher who doesn't want Jane to be too heavy handed with his children. They argue about what's best but soon come to an agreement. Asher then begins to sees Jane in a different light and Jane longs to be part of a family like the Prices. But then she finds a shocking fact about her birth, it may not just destroy her entire world, but Asher's also.

One Season of Sunshine is more women's fiction than romance, but readers won't be disappointed. Julia London has written a heartbreaking tale filled with secrets, lies and the aftermath of a death that can almost ruin a family. Jane is very down to earth, but feels that she hasn't really belonged with her adopted family even though they give her a great deal of love and support. She doesn't expect to find a kindred soul in Asher, who at first rubs her the wrong way. Asher is close to having a break down because of the stress of work, his childrens' emotional issues and the untimely death of his wife. Not until Jane comes into his life does Asher begin to live for himself again.

Many secrets are brought out into the open from both Jane and Asher that must be torn apart and discussed. Julia almost went somewhere in regards to Jane's possible biological mother that made my mouth drop, but she quickly nipped that in the bud. These are some emotional encounters where the reader's heart will ache over what Jane and Asher are going through. Watching Jane and Asher connect makes for some nice moments, including those tender scenes where Jane interacts with Riley and Adam. The love scenes are subtle and this is one book that would be a good read for teens and those readers who enjoy more of the emotional drama rather than the romantic interludes between the two main characters.

Julia London has proven once again that she's an author to rely on to write a touching story, about real people and real problems that makes you anxious for her next release. (less)

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Jul 13, 2010 Laura de Leon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-copy, romance, fiction, chick-lit

I want to give it an extra 1/2 star for being a good fit to my mood.

Is the book really a romance if the romantic storyline is secondary? It's a strong part of the book, but it isn't the primary focus.

As is true of most good romance novels, chick lit, contemporary women's fiction, and probably some other umbrellas that I don't quite understand the boundaries of, the book is very character centered.

Jane Aaron has a very good life, but she's realized she can't move on until she gets some closure w...more

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Feb 23, 2011 Michele Cameron-wages rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book.It was not the what I thought it would be like..I started it on Feb. 22 at 5:30 and finished this morning Feb.23 at 9:45.
The book could really be someones life, it could of been mine. The story and love that Jane felt when she realized who is was, it took my breathe away..Being a mom of a 13 yr old I could feel the struggles that Riley was going through. I cried...This book everyone should read...JULIA LONDON has a wonderful soul to have been about to write this one...I am now...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Julie Barrett rated it 5 of 5 stars

One Season of Sunshine by Julia London
Jane wants to find out who her mother really is, the one who gave
her up for adoption. She heads to Cedar Springs where the hospital is located
where she was born. She wants to finish writing her thesis this summer
and also finds a job as a nanny as there's nothing else there for work.
She finds she really can't get through to the dad at his office so she
must handle everything that comes up during the summer.
He started getting closer to her and she wondered what...more

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Aug 11, 2010 Asho rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-reviewed-books, books-we-own

If I could give this book 3.5 stars I would, mostly because it surprised me by being something different than I was expecting. I was intrigued by the description of the book so I requested a review edition from GoodReads FirstReads. When the book arrived, however, I was somewhat disappointed. Something about it gave me the idea that it was going to be the stereotypical romance novel, heavy on heaving chests and smooth legs and cascading waves of hair and all that jazz. In other words, not my usu...more

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Feb 24, 2011 Sari-isb Yamamoto rated it 5 of 5 stars

The main character Jane was adopted as an infant and have lived happily with her family for the past years. The proposal from her boyfriend triggered her of wanting to know her birth mother and visit the town she was born. She uses her summer vocation to move into the village and look for clues about her birth. While searching, she becomes a nanny for a family which has gone through quite a rough time. The children Riley and Levi, have lost their mother in a car accident but since their father A...more

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Aug 05, 2010 Julie Smith (Knitting and Sundries) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

This review was first published on my blog at: http://jewelknits.blogspot.com/2010/0...

Jane Aaron, a teacher with a wonderful, warm, adoptive family and a loving boyfriend, Jonathan, who is just waiting for her to say "yes" to his proposal, feels, like many adopted children, that to know herself better, she must learn where she came from.

In her search for answers, she takes a leave from her job, her family, and her boyfriend to move to the town of her birth, Cedar Springs, where she hopes to lea...more This review was first published on my blog at: http://jewelknits.blogspot.com/2010/0...

Jane Aaron, a teacher with a wonderful, warm, adoptive family and a loving boyfriend, Jonathan, who is just waiting for her to say "yes" to his proposal, feels, like many adopted children, that to know herself better, she must learn where she came from.

In her search for answers, she takes a leave from her job, her family, and her boyfriend to move to the town of her birth, Cedar Springs, where she hopes to learn who her birth mother is and hopefully, still the restlessness and vague dissatisfaction that has crept into her life. She also hopes that this respite from her everyday life will give her the time to finish her graduate thesis.

Jane, whose teacher's salary only allowed for a small amount of savings, takes a job as a nanny to Asher Price's children, Levi and Riley, who are still recovering from the sudden death of their mother, Susanna, in a terrible car accident a year-and-a-half ago. She moves into the guest house of their lavish property and promptly finds herself in the midst of pre-teen angst (Riley), and toddler rebellion (Levi), in a home where the only surviving parent spends most of his time away, even out of the country, on business.

On her voyage of discovery, she runs into many pitfalls in her search for her birth mother as well as in her relationship with her new charges and their seemingly self-absorbed father.

As her friendship with both the children and Asher begins to bloom, she unearths the story of what happened to her birth mother - and it is a shocker - one that rocks her to her core and causes her to suddenly veer off course yet again.

I was drawn into this story by the believability of the characters. They are fully-fleshed and drawn-to-life with a well-paced evolution throughout the story. I understood and empathized with Jane's dilemmas. The depicted romance was sweet - not overblown and dramatic - the sort of easing into that often happens in everyone's life.

I enjoyed reading this story, It touched on many items: adoption, the struggle of getting back to life after the loss of a parent and spouse, how someone adapts to suddenly becoming a single parent, the ravaging effects of bipolar disorder on the family of the person who suffers the disorder .. if you haven't experienced any of these situations, you won't come out with a deep understanding, but you will definitely come out with a better understanding of these issues.

Sensitive Reader: Due to some intimately drawn romantic scenes, this book may not be for you.
(less)

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Jul 15, 2011 Maria rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

I got this book when I ran out of reading matter on a recent trip. The blurb on the back sounded reasonably interesting, so I thought I'd give it a try. For some reason it just didn't work for me. I couldn't really get into the characters, even the children, and I usually love books with children. The bipolar disorder and its results were interesting. I have never connected it with anything genetic when previously exposed to characters who exhibit symptoms and it sounds very similar to manic dep...more

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Aug 11, 2010 Shonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is my first read of Julia London. I thought it was a great women's fiction love story. I'm a sucker for this stuff what can I say. I took this book with me on vacation and really thought I would maybe read a few pages at night winding down. Well within 2 days of my vacation, I had it read! Upon reading about this author, it seems she has several differnt types of books that she writes. She has a Historical Romance series as well as this series which, for her, is considered comtemporary fict...more

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Sep 02, 2010 My Book Views rated it 5 of 5 stars

I completely adored One Season of Sunshine; Jane was so relatable even though I don’t have much in common with her (definitely none of the big things). Although I wished that her birth mother search had been a little easier (it seemed that someone in such a small town should’ve remembered a woman putting a baby up for adoption), I liked that her answers didn’t come immediately and that she struggled with how much she wanted to know.

This book also includes a little update on Macy from Summer of T...more

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One Season of Sunshine (Cedar Springs #2)

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