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One Golden Summer
Would you trade fame for love?
Saffron Oliver is the golden girl. Golden hair. Golden skin. Golden movie career.
Only one problem: she hates it.
She flees to her sister’s seaside town – where she meets the confident & charming Kirsty McBride.
Kirsty is everything Saffron wants to be. Perhaps also, everything she wants.
But Saffron can’t have it all. So now, she has to decide: does she crave Kirsty enough to blow up her golden life?
Best-selling lesbian romance authors Clare Lydon & TB Markinson have written a sizzling lesbian love story about not being afraid and going after what you really want.
Saffron Oliver is the golden girl. Golden hair. Golden skin. Golden movie career.
Only one problem: she hates it.
She flees to her sister’s seaside town – where she meets the confident & charming Kirsty McBride.
Kirsty is everything Saffron wants to be. Perhaps also, everything she wants.
But Saffron can’t have it all. So now, she has to decide: does she crave Kirsty enough to blow up her golden life?
Best-selling lesbian romance authors Clare Lydon & TB Markinson have written a sizzling lesbian love story about not being afraid and going after what you really want.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2020
449 people are currently reading
1013 people want to read
About the author
Clare Lydon
43 books1,582 followersClare Lydon is a London-based writer of contemporary lesbian romance. She's a No.1 best-seller on lesbian fiction charts around the globe with five full-length novels to her name, as well as writing the All I Want series, set to continue throughout 2016. If you love romantic comedies, prepare to fall head over heels in love.
If you like books shot through with witty dialogue, 3D characters and sharp observations of modern lesbian life, why not give Clare's books a try?
More at: www.clarelydon.co.uk
Get a copy of my free Christmas novella 'It Had To Be You' by signing up to my mailing list here:
www.clarelydon.co.uk/it-had-to-be-you
If you like books shot through with witty dialogue, 3D characters and sharp observations of modern lesbian life, why not give Clare's books a try?
More at: www.clarelydon.co.uk
Get a copy of my free Christmas novella 'It Had To Be You' by signing up to my mailing list here:
www.clarelydon.co.uk/it-had-to-be-you
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
June 16, 2020
4.5 * - For almost the whole time I was reading One Golden Summer, my heart felt like it was caught in a vice. It’s not a comfortable feeling, but it was close enough to what one feels when scared of losing everything. It probably was close to what Kirsty and Saffron were feeling too. Damn. Falling in love is hard, sometimes.
At 49, Kirsty McBride is finally in a good place in her life. She’s happily single since her divorce from her cheating ex and her little wine store is doing well. She loves her small town on the Kent coast, she enjoys working with her best friend and partner Helena, and her parents are awfully cute. Enters Saffron Oliver, Hollywood star in need of a break. Saffron’s sister Ginger recently moved to Sandy Cove and Saffron is hoping to spend time with her sister and take it easy for a while, away from her greedy and overbearing agent and from her manipulative ex and co-star Echo Black. Sparks fly between Kirsty and Saffron, despite the age gap and everything else that should make them incompatible.
I didn’t expect to enjoy this book so much. I’ve liked books by T. B. Markinson (she writes the most realistic characters) and I’ve liked books by Clare Lydon. The two of them writing together works even better for me.
The main theme here is trust. How do you trust when you’ve been cheated on. How do you trust when everything around you is fake. Two sides of the same question, linked to a second one: is it possible to come back from your mistakes? As I’ve written before, communication is not only key, it’s also very sexy, in and out of the bedroom. Something both Kirsty and Saffron would agree on, I think. I really liked both characters, the way their differences make them perfect for each other once they manage to get over them. I loved Ginger, the merry divorcée and fantastically supportive sister and friend. The other secondary characters – Helena and her husband Hugh, Kirsty’s parents, Saffron’s entourage… – are good too.
Another thing I loved is the place itself. Sandy Cove. I’ve been lucky enough to move to my own small beach town (small but with an insane number of visitors in the summer) and beyond the small-town feel, with everything it implies, both good and bad, it’s the nature side of things I enjoyed a lot. The breeze, the sea, the smells, the quiet. All things I cherish where I am. The setting is a real part of the story, which is something I always appreciate.
If you’re looking for a cute but cleverly angsty novel, give One Golden Summer a try.
At 49, Kirsty McBride is finally in a good place in her life. She’s happily single since her divorce from her cheating ex and her little wine store is doing well. She loves her small town on the Kent coast, she enjoys working with her best friend and partner Helena, and her parents are awfully cute. Enters Saffron Oliver, Hollywood star in need of a break. Saffron’s sister Ginger recently moved to Sandy Cove and Saffron is hoping to spend time with her sister and take it easy for a while, away from her greedy and overbearing agent and from her manipulative ex and co-star Echo Black. Sparks fly between Kirsty and Saffron, despite the age gap and everything else that should make them incompatible.
I didn’t expect to enjoy this book so much. I’ve liked books by T. B. Markinson (she writes the most realistic characters) and I’ve liked books by Clare Lydon. The two of them writing together works even better for me.
The main theme here is trust. How do you trust when you’ve been cheated on. How do you trust when everything around you is fake. Two sides of the same question, linked to a second one: is it possible to come back from your mistakes? As I’ve written before, communication is not only key, it’s also very sexy, in and out of the bedroom. Something both Kirsty and Saffron would agree on, I think. I really liked both characters, the way their differences make them perfect for each other once they manage to get over them. I loved Ginger, the merry divorcée and fantastically supportive sister and friend. The other secondary characters – Helena and her husband Hugh, Kirsty’s parents, Saffron’s entourage… – are good too.
Another thing I loved is the place itself. Sandy Cove. I’ve been lucky enough to move to my own small beach town (small but with an insane number of visitors in the summer) and beyond the small-town feel, with everything it implies, both good and bad, it’s the nature side of things I enjoyed a lot. The breeze, the sea, the smells, the quiet. All things I cherish where I am. The setting is a real part of the story, which is something I always appreciate.
If you’re looking for a cute but cleverly angsty novel, give One Golden Summer a try.
February 25, 2021
There's a lot to like about this story, though with a few things that didn't sit so well. I really liked the setting and the setup between the characters. Kirsty and Saffron were an unexpectedly good fit and I liked seeing them get to know, and respect, one another.
But the age difference didn't work for me in this one. Or maybe it's just Kirsty's age at all that I had a problem with? She's 49 but I never felt that could be true. The thing is, she didn't feel like a contemporary. And yes, I'm very nearly that age (okay, fine, I'm no longer that age but it wasn't that long ago!), so when we get bits of flavor that are supposed to indicate how old she is, I'm all "nice try, but missed the mark." And the thing about being 49 is that the next birthday crops up in odd moments of astonishment long before it actually shows up and turns out to be not so bad after all. So I had a hard time with Kirsty because the background felt thin.
And that meant it was harder to take it seriously when Saffron insists that Kirsty is so very attractive, despite having 17 years on her (just barely within the squick formula* for these characters). I mean, that's possible. It just doesn't seem likely, is all.
Anyway, I edited Kirsty's age down in my head so it wasn't that big of a deal. I admit I got caught up in Saffron's journey of discovery. She starts out so weak and her interactions with her agent were so frustrating that I'm glad she faded to the background until it was time for things to blow up. It helps that Saffron's sister, Ginger, was such a central part of the plot as that gave her a peripheral and undemanding role and let her settle into the place and people in Kirsty's small town.
And while I didn't like the blow up when it came, and particularly as it centered on a lack of communication, I thought it was a brilliant character moment having both be at fault and assume the worst of each other. And yeah, that is odd for me because it took two things that I didn't like and put them together in a way that brought me along just fine. Lydon showed how the same impulse manifest in different ways and had different causes. And it gave them both occasion to identify the problem and see the warning flags that went with their respective bad reactions. And best of all, let them learn and grow from it in important ways that reassured me of their commitment and trust when they worked things out.
Anyway, this is a solid four stars, though again, the age thing bugged me, just not in the way it might affect most others. It was a good story, and I liked where it ended up.
A note about Steamy: There are a couple of explicit sex scenes so this is on the light side of my steam tolerance. They fit the story, I suppose, but I don't remember if they do it very well or not. Weird.
* The Squick Formula is a guideline for appropriate relationship ages. It's rough, but serviceable until the extremes. It's simple enough. The age of the elder divided in half and then add seven. So at 49, the youngest Kirsty should be comfortable with is 32ish. 49/2 = 24.5+7 = 31.5.
But the age difference didn't work for me in this one. Or maybe it's just Kirsty's age at all that I had a problem with? She's 49 but I never felt that could be true. The thing is, she didn't feel like a contemporary. And yes, I'm very nearly that age (okay, fine, I'm no longer that age but it wasn't that long ago!), so when we get bits of flavor that are supposed to indicate how old she is, I'm all "nice try, but missed the mark." And the thing about being 49 is that the next birthday crops up in odd moments of astonishment long before it actually shows up and turns out to be not so bad after all. So I had a hard time with Kirsty because the background felt thin.
And that meant it was harder to take it seriously when Saffron insists that Kirsty is so very attractive, despite having 17 years on her (just barely within the squick formula* for these characters). I mean, that's possible. It just doesn't seem likely, is all.
Anyway, I edited Kirsty's age down in my head so it wasn't that big of a deal. I admit I got caught up in Saffron's journey of discovery. She starts out so weak and her interactions with her agent were so frustrating that I'm glad she faded to the background until it was time for things to blow up. It helps that Saffron's sister, Ginger, was such a central part of the plot as that gave her a peripheral and undemanding role and let her settle into the place and people in Kirsty's small town.
And while I didn't like the blow up when it came, and particularly as it centered on a lack of communication, I thought it was a brilliant character moment having both be at fault and assume the worst of each other. And yeah, that is odd for me because it took two things that I didn't like and put them together in a way that brought me along just fine. Lydon showed how the same impulse manifest in different ways and had different causes. And it gave them both occasion to identify the problem and see the warning flags that went with their respective bad reactions. And best of all, let them learn and grow from it in important ways that reassured me of their commitment and trust when they worked things out.
Anyway, this is a solid four stars, though again, the age thing bugged me, just not in the way it might affect most others. It was a good story, and I liked where it ended up.
A note about Steamy: There are a couple of explicit sex scenes so this is on the light side of my steam tolerance. They fit the story, I suppose, but I don't remember if they do it very well or not. Weird.
* The Squick Formula is a guideline for appropriate relationship ages. It's rough, but serviceable until the extremes. It's simple enough. The age of the elder divided in half and then add seven. So at 49, the youngest Kirsty should be comfortable with is 32ish. 49/2 = 24.5+7 = 31.5.
July 16, 2020
3.5 stars. Usually I'm not a big fan of these author collabs because they tend to water down the voice of each individual author, so the result is neither here nor there - a combination of safe decisions that take the middle road on everything. But I have read little of either Lydon or Markinson, so I didn't feel that this time around.
There's a lot to like in this read. The main and secondary characters are well rounded. The setting is fresh. Leading women definitely have chemistry in spades. I enjoyed the dialogue often too. Saffron especially was written in a way new to me. Authors came up with believable conflict for the characters to overcome.
On a surface level, this book is a complete package. It has it all. But I just couldn't get over the fact how Kirsty objectifies Saffron. Yea, she's a world-famous actress. Some gushing is inevitable. But Kirsty just can't stop focusing on that until the very end of the book. Often she appears an obsessive fan rather than a lover. And it just didn't sit well with me.
While overall I liked the book quite a lot, it left an unpleasant aftertaste. Kirsty's endless comments about Saffrons body and her star status goes against the narrative of the book. Some editing on this aspect could have improved the story by a lot. It could have been a character growth arc, even. But it is what it is.
There's a lot to like in this read. The main and secondary characters are well rounded. The setting is fresh. Leading women definitely have chemistry in spades. I enjoyed the dialogue often too. Saffron especially was written in a way new to me. Authors came up with believable conflict for the characters to overcome.
On a surface level, this book is a complete package. It has it all. But I just couldn't get over the fact how Kirsty objectifies Saffron. Yea, she's a world-famous actress. Some gushing is inevitable. But Kirsty just can't stop focusing on that until the very end of the book. Often she appears an obsessive fan rather than a lover. And it just didn't sit well with me.
While overall I liked the book quite a lot, it left an unpleasant aftertaste. Kirsty's endless comments about Saffrons body and her star status goes against the narrative of the book. Some editing on this aspect could have improved the story by a lot. It could have been a character growth arc, even. But it is what it is.
September 21, 2020
Always a sucker when it comes to Celebrity or age-gap romance but for whatever reason, I can’t devour One Golden Summer in one sitting. Took me quite a while to complete the book; which means I’m dragging my feet to finish OGS and it didn’t quite hold hold my interest. Why? I really don’t know.... Maybe it’s the characters or the plot or it’s just one of my ‘off day’...... Not gonna explore further why and leave it as that..
3.25 ⭐️
3.25 ⭐️
September 23, 2020
If Clare Lydon is the queen of British contemporary romance, then TB Markinson is the monarch of the nerdy wit. Both authors are great on their own but they make an explosive team together. ‘One Golden Summer’ is fun, entertaining and, as expected, hot.
Safron Oliver has it all. She is a famous actress, beautiful and rich but she’s burnt out and needs a break. She rents a house in an English seaside town to find the peace she craves and there she meets Kirsty McBride, a wine shop owner 17 years older. In theory, their relationship shouldn’t work but their attraction is undeniable and hard to resist…
This book has many of the lesfic favourite tropes: opposites-attract, celebrity, age-gap, small town, summer fling. You name it. A tall order for the authors to bring all that together in a realistic, entertaining, and fun way but they exceeded all my expectations. The formula? By building incredible chemistry between the mains and endearing secondary characters to support them.
As I said, this is an opposites-attract lesbian romance book but what these women have in common is trust issues. I liked the way the authors took the leads through their conflict with humour, banter, and wit and, at the same time, make their romance credible. If you are looking for an entertaining, fun and feel-good read, then this is a great choice. 4.5 stars.
ARC provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
Safron Oliver has it all. She is a famous actress, beautiful and rich but she’s burnt out and needs a break. She rents a house in an English seaside town to find the peace she craves and there she meets Kirsty McBride, a wine shop owner 17 years older. In theory, their relationship shouldn’t work but their attraction is undeniable and hard to resist…
This book has many of the lesfic favourite tropes: opposites-attract, celebrity, age-gap, small town, summer fling. You name it. A tall order for the authors to bring all that together in a realistic, entertaining, and fun way but they exceeded all my expectations. The formula? By building incredible chemistry between the mains and endearing secondary characters to support them.
As I said, this is an opposites-attract lesbian romance book but what these women have in common is trust issues. I liked the way the authors took the leads through their conflict with humour, banter, and wit and, at the same time, make their romance credible. If you are looking for an entertaining, fun and feel-good read, then this is a great choice. 4.5 stars.
ARC provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
July 5, 2020
Lovely age-gap romance with some substance. The two main characters both have trust issues. It’s fortunate that one them is able to talk about what’s happening. Very nice side cast ( I loved Ginger en liked the instant friendship between her and Kirsty) that really supported the story and the build up of the romance. Well written. Four fat stars.
June 25, 2020
You wouldn't know it was written by two brilliant authors. It was good, competent and good fun - but didn't quite reach that peak that they can do individually.
February 10, 2023
Being that I just raved about my last read Clare Lydon book, I showed up to this one with high expectations. The blurb sounded interesting and romantic. I was wary of the double-author thing for not much of a reason besides I haven't found one that I really enjoyed yet.
This one started promising, but as it went on, I realized I didn't buy their connection. At one point, I wondered what's the point of the age gap since they had so many other issues between them. This was a frustrating read when I wanted to fall into a sexy romance. Their push-and-pull didn't entice me since it involved miscommunication and a lack of trust.
There were some funny lines and parts I highlighted. It's well-written, of course. I love a small town setting when it's done right. Wine is a good addition. For the last fourth of the story, their bantering, bickering, and jokes started to grate at me. It felt more like filler instead of cuteness between the characters.
Not a bad book. Just didn't have the love factor i was searching for. ☆☆☆
This one started promising, but as it went on, I realized I didn't buy their connection. At one point, I wondered what's the point of the age gap since they had so many other issues between them. This was a frustrating read when I wanted to fall into a sexy romance. Their push-and-pull didn't entice me since it involved miscommunication and a lack of trust.
There were some funny lines and parts I highlighted. It's well-written, of course. I love a small town setting when it's done right. Wine is a good addition. For the last fourth of the story, their bantering, bickering, and jokes started to grate at me. It felt more like filler instead of cuteness between the characters.
Not a bad book. Just didn't have the love factor i was searching for. ☆☆☆
July 14, 2020
Strangely considering both authors popularity, I've only read one book by Markinson before, and before this hadn't explored any Lydon work. I will definitely be reading more books by both authors. I think one of the biggest compliments I can pay the book is that you can't tell it's written by more than one author - it flows so freely.
I often find I don't enjoy books set in the UK - they often feel like they're written for a foreign audience perspective of life here, but I loved this book. The descriptions of British small town life and our coastal towns rings very true. The scenery, town and British life are almost a character in themselves, really helping to make the book in my opinion.
I wanted the MCs to be together from the moment they met, and found myself frustrated with both characters that they couldn't quite get it right at times. However I think it's a mark of how well the book and the characters are written that I felt this way. The secondary characters in the book are also well written, relevant and contribute to the story.
If you're looking for a good summer read in all the current madness you won't go wrong this with one.
I often find I don't enjoy books set in the UK - they often feel like they're written for a foreign audience perspective of life here, but I loved this book. The descriptions of British small town life and our coastal towns rings very true. The scenery, town and British life are almost a character in themselves, really helping to make the book in my opinion.
I wanted the MCs to be together from the moment they met, and found myself frustrated with both characters that they couldn't quite get it right at times. However I think it's a mark of how well the book and the characters are written that I felt this way. The secondary characters in the book are also well written, relevant and contribute to the story.
If you're looking for a good summer read in all the current madness you won't go wrong this with one.
July 17, 2020
This book made me feel a lot of things. It made me feel a bit oppressive because of the trust issues both Saffron and Kirsty. Also it made me feel good and sweet because of the seaside setting, the banter and the secondary characters.
Saffron doesn’t trust easy because as an actress, she is used to the fake world of movies and people wanting to know the characters she plays but not the real Saffron. And Kirsty doesn’t trust easy because she was betrayed by her ex and she can’t imagine a movie-star would be interested in the likes of her. Especially because she is way to old for Saffron.
For me this book was as much about stepping outside your comfort-zone and baring your soul as it was about trust and daring to be honest.
A very well written novel and I sure enjoyed reading it.
Saffron doesn’t trust easy because as an actress, she is used to the fake world of movies and people wanting to know the characters she plays but not the real Saffron. And Kirsty doesn’t trust easy because she was betrayed by her ex and she can’t imagine a movie-star would be interested in the likes of her. Especially because she is way to old for Saffron.
For me this book was as much about stepping outside your comfort-zone and baring your soul as it was about trust and daring to be honest.
A very well written novel and I sure enjoyed reading it.
June 15, 2020
You know your not giving the relationship your seeking a true chance, when you keep referring to the other person by both their first and last name. Saffron may have been 32 and Kirsty 49, but Kirsty seemed like the one that had some growing up to do throughout this whole story. Saffron is an actress, and tired of the Hollywood/London life. She is seeking anonymity and life at a normal pace after becoming an actress at 16. Kirsty is a divorced wine shop owner with her best friend, in the adorable coastal town she grew up in. She seems to be content with life and has little motivation considering every chapter she thought that she should repaint the sign to her shop. If it were possible I would have crawled through the book and painted the sign myself, so we could move on. Kirsty and Saffron were fine until Kirsty couldn’t get over her hangups about how famous Saffron was. Kirsty, get over yourself. Saffron likes you and for some reason keeps trying to make things with you even though your the one acting like a “tit”. All in all a decent read, but not one I loved. I do think we should bring 99s to the US. I had to look that one up. A Cadbury chocolate flake on ice cream? Yes, please
July 7, 2020
I love Clare Lydon's books, I love her dialog, her wit, her storylines. Unfortunately, this
book was not my favorite. I found the writing kind of silly, the dialog lacking in the wit and
sharpness I've seen before in her other books. And a straw donkey to go with sangria and paella? The author is British, she should not confuse Mexican customs with Spaniards.
All in all, I read it because it is a Clare Lydon book. It was not the kind of book you stop reading but it is the kind of book you kind of want it to move along. I look forward to more Lydon's stories. This one not the best, only my opinion.
book was not my favorite. I found the writing kind of silly, the dialog lacking in the wit and
sharpness I've seen before in her other books. And a straw donkey to go with sangria and paella? The author is British, she should not confuse Mexican customs with Spaniards.
All in all, I read it because it is a Clare Lydon book. It was not the kind of book you stop reading but it is the kind of book you kind of want it to move along. I look forward to more Lydon's stories. This one not the best, only my opinion.
August 19, 2020
3.25 Stars - has a celebrity but I would not really call this a "celebrity romance" - it was...ok
A perfectly serviceable lesfic romance. Will make you really want to eat iced buns and drink wine and copious amounts of tea. The angst was a bit much, but I forgive for the 1-year-later epilogue.
A perfectly serviceable lesfic romance. Will make you really want to eat iced buns and drink wine and copious amounts of tea. The angst was a bit much, but I forgive for the 1-year-later epilogue.
June 19, 2020
I enjoyed this book by Clare Lydon and T.B. Markinson. I don't read a lot of romance, but escape was exactly what I needed this summer and that's exactly what they gave me. If you like age gap stories and stories where a celebrity meets and maybe falls for a common woman, this is the book for you.
October 14, 2020
The perfect book for summer!
This was the best book to just fall into and get sucked in. It’s the perfect summer romance, and I will definitely be cracking it out for a reread when we get our Australian summer. It hits heaps of my favourite tropes, but the best is age-gap romance. It made the story even more enjoyable.
I think one of the reasons I loved this book was because of Saffron’s trust issues and watching her let go gradually and trust not only Kirsty but the whole village. She was the character we watched have the most emotional growth and deal with her insurmountable trust issues.
I really feel like Sandy Cove could be the perfect backdrop for a new series. Lydon and Markinson write exceptionally well together, and I think they could create a really fantastic series together. I know I’d love some more of the sleepy coastal village of Sandy Cove.
Secondary characters in this book are excellent, especially Saffron’s sister Ginger and Kirsty’s best friend, Helena. In fact, I have this weird idea in my head of Ginger finding her own female love. Even though she’s straight, I thought maybe more of a fall for the person, not the gender trope but oops the gender is female! I just want more Ginger really!
Kirsty and Saffron have chemistry in spades. Once they have gotten over their trust issues, it’s clear how much they can have together. The sex was very sexy and brought both characters closer together.
The non-sexual chemistry was also beautiful, and when Kirsty and Saffron showed their vulnerable sides, it just strengthened them.
Wonderful book. I suggest grabbing a copy and heading to the beach for the day!
This was the best book to just fall into and get sucked in. It’s the perfect summer romance, and I will definitely be cracking it out for a reread when we get our Australian summer. It hits heaps of my favourite tropes, but the best is age-gap romance. It made the story even more enjoyable.
I think one of the reasons I loved this book was because of Saffron’s trust issues and watching her let go gradually and trust not only Kirsty but the whole village. She was the character we watched have the most emotional growth and deal with her insurmountable trust issues.
I really feel like Sandy Cove could be the perfect backdrop for a new series. Lydon and Markinson write exceptionally well together, and I think they could create a really fantastic series together. I know I’d love some more of the sleepy coastal village of Sandy Cove.
Secondary characters in this book are excellent, especially Saffron’s sister Ginger and Kirsty’s best friend, Helena. In fact, I have this weird idea in my head of Ginger finding her own female love. Even though she’s straight, I thought maybe more of a fall for the person, not the gender trope but oops the gender is female! I just want more Ginger really!
Kirsty and Saffron have chemistry in spades. Once they have gotten over their trust issues, it’s clear how much they can have together. The sex was very sexy and brought both characters closer together.
The non-sexual chemistry was also beautiful, and when Kirsty and Saffron showed their vulnerable sides, it just strengthened them.
Wonderful book. I suggest grabbing a copy and heading to the beach for the day!
July 8, 2020
A perfect summer romance!
Kirsty runs a little wine shop in the seaside town of Sandy Cove. She meets Ginger, a recently divorced woman who is starting over. When they run into Hollywood movie star Saffron Oliver, Kirsty can’t believe she is Ginger’s sister but she is quickly thrown into spending a lot of time with Saffron as they plan a party to celebrate Ginger’s new life. Kirsty and Saffron realise they are attracted to one another but before they can even develop anything further Saffron’s career threatens to stand between them. It is down to Saffron to make the decision, will she give up everything in trade for a life and love she has always dreamed of, with Kirsty.
This was the cutest, angstyiest most brilliant summer celebrity romance. I loved the setting, the characters, the moments, the awkwardness and all that angst. Just brilliant! Clare Lydon and T.B. Markinson have successfully created an emotional and moving romance for the summer with characters you can’t help but love, in an amazing place, and who are destined for so much happiness from the simple things in life. It was also refreshing that Saffron wasn’t the typical celebrity found in these types of romances.
There was an age gap between Kirsty and Saffron but because of the way their characters had been created, sometimes I forgot about it which was lovely. At times it was obvious, but I liked that it wasn’t the glaring factor between them and the fact that other characters didn’t spend a lot of time pointing it out to them. They were big girls, they knew what they were getting into!
The story was brilliant though, the way it all came together and the moments shared between Kirsty and Saffron. They were equally as vulnerable as a result of their past relationships, and in Saffron’s case also her career and childhood. This just gave them an extra level of connection and made them even more special. They really understood each other, even when they were getting their wires crossed you just knew they’d be alright because they had a great team surrounding them that were going to bang their heads together if they didn’t figure it out themselves.
A brilliant summer romance with everything you could want to get swept away in a whirlwind and fall in love with. I look forward to future collaborations from Clare and T.B. and highly recommend this story as it was just amazing!
Kirsty runs a little wine shop in the seaside town of Sandy Cove. She meets Ginger, a recently divorced woman who is starting over. When they run into Hollywood movie star Saffron Oliver, Kirsty can’t believe she is Ginger’s sister but she is quickly thrown into spending a lot of time with Saffron as they plan a party to celebrate Ginger’s new life. Kirsty and Saffron realise they are attracted to one another but before they can even develop anything further Saffron’s career threatens to stand between them. It is down to Saffron to make the decision, will she give up everything in trade for a life and love she has always dreamed of, with Kirsty.
This was the cutest, angstyiest most brilliant summer celebrity romance. I loved the setting, the characters, the moments, the awkwardness and all that angst. Just brilliant! Clare Lydon and T.B. Markinson have successfully created an emotional and moving romance for the summer with characters you can’t help but love, in an amazing place, and who are destined for so much happiness from the simple things in life. It was also refreshing that Saffron wasn’t the typical celebrity found in these types of romances.
There was an age gap between Kirsty and Saffron but because of the way their characters had been created, sometimes I forgot about it which was lovely. At times it was obvious, but I liked that it wasn’t the glaring factor between them and the fact that other characters didn’t spend a lot of time pointing it out to them. They were big girls, they knew what they were getting into!
The story was brilliant though, the way it all came together and the moments shared between Kirsty and Saffron. They were equally as vulnerable as a result of their past relationships, and in Saffron’s case also her career and childhood. This just gave them an extra level of connection and made them even more special. They really understood each other, even when they were getting their wires crossed you just knew they’d be alright because they had a great team surrounding them that were going to bang their heads together if they didn’t figure it out themselves.
A brilliant summer romance with everything you could want to get swept away in a whirlwind and fall in love with. I look forward to future collaborations from Clare and T.B. and highly recommend this story as it was just amazing!
June 16, 2020
Summer Loving
Beyond beautiful Saffron is a 33 yr. old actress who is so over the business she can’t stand it! She is getting pressure from everywhere she turns. Her agent is pushy and insists she start reading the script for the third movie in a series. Her costar is also a piece of work, always with the social media linking the two of them together romantically… No one listens to her when she says she needs a break until she finally puts her foot down and plans a getaway to Sandy Cove, a sleepy seaside town. Kirsty is a 49 yr. old divorcée who runs a wine shop in said seaside town. Business isn’t great but she has ideas. Her romantic life is in shambles and she doesn’t see that changing. When Saffron and Kirsty collide sparks fly, and not the good kind… And yet… wait till you see what the summer has instore for these two….
I loved the characters in this super sweet age gap romance. They are both so insecure and convinced they are not loveable and there are real trust issues for them to overcome but in spite of themselves they really are perfect for each other. I loved all the emotions and the angst these two have within themselves and with each other. I also couldn’t help but sympathize with them as well. They felt so real to life to me and I could totally understand where they were coming from. Kirsty’s parents, Saffron’s sister, and the other people these two encounter are lovely as well. They all helped make the story as good as it is, and it IS good!!! The writing is great, the mushiness level solid and the conflict and resolution spot on. I had a wonderful time reading this delightful drama.
Beyond beautiful Saffron is a 33 yr. old actress who is so over the business she can’t stand it! She is getting pressure from everywhere she turns. Her agent is pushy and insists she start reading the script for the third movie in a series. Her costar is also a piece of work, always with the social media linking the two of them together romantically… No one listens to her when she says she needs a break until she finally puts her foot down and plans a getaway to Sandy Cove, a sleepy seaside town. Kirsty is a 49 yr. old divorcée who runs a wine shop in said seaside town. Business isn’t great but she has ideas. Her romantic life is in shambles and she doesn’t see that changing. When Saffron and Kirsty collide sparks fly, and not the good kind… And yet… wait till you see what the summer has instore for these two….
I loved the characters in this super sweet age gap romance. They are both so insecure and convinced they are not loveable and there are real trust issues for them to overcome but in spite of themselves they really are perfect for each other. I loved all the emotions and the angst these two have within themselves and with each other. I also couldn’t help but sympathize with them as well. They felt so real to life to me and I could totally understand where they were coming from. Kirsty’s parents, Saffron’s sister, and the other people these two encounter are lovely as well. They all helped make the story as good as it is, and it IS good!!! The writing is great, the mushiness level solid and the conflict and resolution spot on. I had a wonderful time reading this delightful drama.
June 19, 2020
I'm a big fan of Clare Lydon's novels and feel privileged to be on her Early Reader list. One Golden Summer features Saffron (the gorgeous out-and-proud actress) and Kirsty (wine shop owner in a small seaside village). I thought there was a great amount of humour within this book, and I found myself chuckling throughout the read. I liked that there was a fairly large age gap (+15 years) as I think it worked well with establishing that slower connection between our two MCs. I'm not great with insta-love lesfic and this worked really well for me as I was able to see their relationship build slowly but surely. Highly recommend a read!
Many thanks to Clare Lydon for an early copy of this book!
Many thanks to Clare Lydon for an early copy of this book!
June 17, 2020
If you love romance novels, then you will enjoy this refreshing novel about two women, one who finally finds herself and one who finally trusts herself. The setting of the novel will make you wish you lived there with the quirky people of that town. I especially loved the interactions between the main characters
June 16, 2020
Exceptionally Amazing - deserve more than 5 stars
The story isn’t unique but the writing collaboration of these two talented writers making it so unique. I couldn’t stop reading this book it took me really a bit more of 24 hours to finish it after its launch. The description of Sandy Cove is so detailed that I felt that I was there with the main two characters. The dialogues are realistic and so smooth plus all the characters of the book are adding so much at the story. The hot scenes are beautifully intense and so romantic and the whole story is so interested and so believable. A wonderful wonderful book to to take the reader’s mind away from all this weird new reality. Thank you both!!!
The story isn’t unique but the writing collaboration of these two talented writers making it so unique. I couldn’t stop reading this book it took me really a bit more of 24 hours to finish it after its launch. The description of Sandy Cove is so detailed that I felt that I was there with the main two characters. The dialogues are realistic and so smooth plus all the characters of the book are adding so much at the story. The hot scenes are beautifully intense and so romantic and the whole story is so interested and so believable. A wonderful wonderful book to to take the reader’s mind away from all this weird new reality. Thank you both!!!
July 15, 2020
Great light beach read.
I enjoy both of these writers and this shared endeavor really worked.
The story revolves around a small town wine owner and a famous movie star coming together with all of their baggage and misconceptions. They’re flanked by a solid supporting cast that really round out the story.
Well written, flows well, solid character chemistry, and has enough interesting events to keep you turning the page.
I enjoy both of these writers and this shared endeavor really worked.
The story revolves around a small town wine owner and a famous movie star coming together with all of their baggage and misconceptions. They’re flanked by a solid supporting cast that really round out the story.
Well written, flows well, solid character chemistry, and has enough interesting events to keep you turning the page.
June 25, 2020
I have been luck enough to read some really good books this year. One Golden Summer for sure fits that bill. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. I have read a ton of Lydon's books, but not many TB Markinson. They did a fabulous job putting this one together.
Saffron Oliver is 32 years old and tired of acting. She is tired of her agent and just needs a break. She decides to take this break in the sea side town where her sister has recently moved. Does Saffron has trust issues? Of course she does. What actor wouldn't? Kirsty McBride loves her community. She is a youthful 49 and has been divorced for 7 years. She has lived there all of her life and spends her time with her parents and working at Wine Time - the business she owns with friend Helena.
There are so many things to like about One Golden Summer. I love me a good celebrity romance. Then on top of that you have an age gap. Wow. Even though Saffron and Kirsty get off to a rocky start, you can just sense they will really get on well together. They are both attracted to one another and the chemistry is palpable. I loved the storyline and the angst. Yeah the angst was good. And the sex in this one is well done. The hotness meter was high on this one. Again, I really enjoyed this one. I hope Lydon and Markinson collaborate again.
I have to give this one 5 stars.
Saffron Oliver is 32 years old and tired of acting. She is tired of her agent and just needs a break. She decides to take this break in the sea side town where her sister has recently moved. Does Saffron has trust issues? Of course she does. What actor wouldn't? Kirsty McBride loves her community. She is a youthful 49 and has been divorced for 7 years. She has lived there all of her life and spends her time with her parents and working at Wine Time - the business she owns with friend Helena.
There are so many things to like about One Golden Summer. I love me a good celebrity romance. Then on top of that you have an age gap. Wow. Even though Saffron and Kirsty get off to a rocky start, you can just sense they will really get on well together. They are both attracted to one another and the chemistry is palpable. I loved the storyline and the angst. Yeah the angst was good. And the sex in this one is well done. The hotness meter was high on this one. Again, I really enjoyed this one. I hope Lydon and Markinson collaborate again.
I have to give this one 5 stars.
July 27, 2020
These characters had zero chemistry. And there are so many Britishisms that many times I could not understand what was being said. A few referencing to "taking a piss" which was bizarre, "going to mine" and other words that I've never seen before. Too many references to Saffron be a beautiful "movie star". So much of that that I just started skipping over paragraphs. With the 17 year age gap it all worked together to be a pass for me.
Abandoned at 44%
Abandoned at 44%
June 17, 2020
This novel went by too quickly. It had a little of everything: humor, angst, anger, betrayal, trust, family and friends, lust, and of course, romance. Saffron is a movie star lesbian icon who needs a break, Kirsty is a middle-aged business owner who, like everyone else, lusts after Saffron. But fortunately, the authors create a deeper portrait of both women. Events in the real world seems destined to tear them apart, as well their own baggage regarding past relationships and trust issues. Luckily, both have strong families and/or friends to help them figure out what they want. One Golden Summer is a perfect summer read.
October 19, 2022
Light and breezy just like the setting. I enjoyed how the MC's came together.
June 27, 2023
This was a delightfully well written and enjoyable read. The seaside town of Sandy Cove was the perfect backdrop for this age-gap celebrity romance. Saffron and Kirsty were wonderful main characters and the supporting characters really added to the story. One Golden Summer is a low angst, low drama read with some witty dialogue and a couple of spicy scenes. I think that Clare Lydon and TB Markinson penned a really adorable story together. Thanks ladies!
February 1, 2021
is a lightweight romance between trapped-by-unwanted-success-superstar and a wine shop owner in a quint beach town.
Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
August 20, 2020
I have read some of Clare Lydon’s romances before as well as other’s, age gap lesbian romances always being of interest to me. Actually I have a coupe already in my favourite list. This one takes the cake, though!
The combined styles of TB Markinson and Clare make for a great read, a lovely setting, that reminded my a lot of the seaside resort, where I learned my English at thirteen in a student exchange: Lowestoft. It did not at all surprise me, that the location wasn’t entirely fiction, but based on another seaside resort from the same time and also on the east coast towards the North Sea, next to which I grew up on in Hamburg. I had no problem to imagine everything about Sandy Cove.
The Dialogues are brilliantly written and more often that not cause a smile or a laugh, even when the plot seems to be going a dark route, Knowing both authors one can be sure the two heroines will overcome the difficulties. [Spoiler alert!] The sizzeling hot attraction is too strong for either to let go completely of the other and, given the incredible sex they share on to of everything else, it is clear that they are meant for each other. All they need to finally do is let it happen.[end spoiler]
If you’re after a heart warming, well written and interesting plot for your summer read, this is for you.
December 18, 2021
Two sapphic romance writers team up to write this one. Kirsty McBride runs a wine shop in a small English coastal village. She befriends a newly divorced woman who moves to the town and lo and behold her sister turns out to be a famous movie actress. Saffron Oliver has been acting since she was 15 and decides to take two months to herself and what better place than to be near her sister. Kirsty and Saffron of course become friendly too. But there is a lack of trust between them. Saffron is always fearful someone wants to be with her because she is famous. Kirsty has been cheated on before and it is hard to ignore all the photos of Saff with her famous c0-star.
This is a light story with a modest amount of heat. Both characters are likable but a couple things did work for me. If Saffron really wants to leave the movies you'd think she'd know her obligations to her manager and thought things through a little. The age gap is 17 years, which is a lot and mentally I just chose to ignore it. I like Kirsty as a good human being but didn't know why Saffron was so attracted to her. Some scenes seemed to go on too long. I did like the setting and the side characters. It is a good story and worth the few hours I spent reading it but it didn't leave me swooning.
This is a light story with a modest amount of heat. Both characters are likable but a couple things did work for me. If Saffron really wants to leave the movies you'd think she'd know her obligations to her manager and thought things through a little. The age gap is 17 years, which is a lot and mentally I just chose to ignore it. I like Kirsty as a good human being but didn't know why Saffron was so attracted to her. Some scenes seemed to go on too long. I did like the setting and the side characters. It is a good story and worth the few hours I spent reading it but it didn't leave me swooning.
June 15, 2020
Trust is a difficult thing but vulnerability requires it.
I fell in love with Saffron and her sister Ginger. They game to the Cove to start over. Ginger is newly divorced but Saffron is escaping her celebrity life. They have trusted each other but to start over their circle must widen Kirsty and Helena run the wine shop in the sleepy but beautiful summer retreat. Kristy has had a very harsh breakup and trust is not easy to come by. The journey these women take had me turning pages just to see the next moment. Ginger grabs a hold of life and is a loving inspiration of life changing growth. Saffron had to slow down long enough to remember what she loved about herself. She and Kristy must be vulnerable and trust to find love. Their journey is both poinet and romantically hot. This is such a summer loving book with all the issues of starting the life you want. Strong characters who find strength in each other make this a great read.
I fell in love with Saffron and her sister Ginger. They game to the Cove to start over. Ginger is newly divorced but Saffron is escaping her celebrity life. They have trusted each other but to start over their circle must widen Kirsty and Helena run the wine shop in the sleepy but beautiful summer retreat. Kristy has had a very harsh breakup and trust is not easy to come by. The journey these women take had me turning pages just to see the next moment. Ginger grabs a hold of life and is a loving inspiration of life changing growth. Saffron had to slow down long enough to remember what she loved about herself. She and Kristy must be vulnerable and trust to find love. Their journey is both poinet and romantically hot. This is such a summer loving book with all the issues of starting the life you want. Strong characters who find strength in each other make this a great read.
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