Malibu Summer

＂Ivy Bauer is a young, bright environmental scientist, PhD candidate, and inventor of a game-changing organic irrigation system. She’s on top of the world when, suddenly, her husband is killed in a biking accident. Needing space to grieve, she takes a summer job as a gardener in Malibu. Conrad Reed is a wealthy Hollywood has-been who, after the death of his young wife, feels overwhelmed by the care of his rambunctious stepson Hudson, massive beach estate, and deteriorating career. Enter Ivy with her gig as gardener-for-the-summer, who-he hopes-will help take at least one thing off his plate. But the bossy, opinionated Ivy isn’t making things any easier for him. When she starts cutting back his late wife’s prized rose bushes to plant indigenous grasses, sparks fly between these two uber-driven people-and not the good kind of sparks. It’s when Ivy finds the key to Hudson’s heart that Conrad’s own heart begins to melt as well. . . and then the sparks that fly are the ones that kindle the best kind of love affair. ＂--

Libby Gill grew up on two continents before starting her career at Norman Lear’s Embassy Communications, eventually becoming head of publicity, advertising, and promotion for Sony’s worldwide television group. She is the founder of LA-based Libby Gill & Company, a leadership consulting and executive coaching firm, and is the author of six nonfiction books. She lives in Oregon.