Summer Hours by Amy Mason Doan

Sometimes the things one does as a teenager can affect everything in your life thereafter. This is something Becc discovers as her choices affected her longtime friendship with Eric and tempers her everyday life. Summer Hours weaves a story of the past as they play against the present in Becc’s life.

The Summer Guests by Mary Alice Monroe

I liked The Summer Guests but not as much as I have other books by Mary Alice Monroe. Nine chapters in and I was not too thrilled with the book but attribute it to there being so many characters to decipher (Charles and Grace; Moira; Elisa, Angel, Greta and Karl; Cara and David). I did like that the turmoil and devastation of a hurricane mirrors the same for the characters-all in some form of upheaval and change brewing. The building hurricane force also mirrors the building changes in the characters’ lives: abandoned homes for safety-abandoned positions/relationships for personal well-being.

The addition of Cara and David from previous novels was a nice touch allowing for closure in their relationship.

Summer on Mirror Lake by JoAnn Ross

Summer on Mirror Lake is a thoroughly enjoyable novel involving the many changes and chances taken in the life of a man on a much needed break from his life.
Gabe Mannion is on a self-imposed summer break from his high paced, anxiety inducing hedge fund trader job in New York. He returns to his hometown on Mirror Lake to get his Zen in order. Chelsea Prescott, the local librarian, piques his interest when she approaches him about the summer reading program and about showing kids his Viking boat as he is making it. Only a summer fling with an end date becomes more intense than he bargains for. Add in two foster child sisters and they plus Chelsea infuse themselves into his life and into his protected heart. It is a huge risk for Gabe involving the possibility of a life change that he is not quite ready to have happen.

Forget Me by Kimberly Ash

Forget Me is an extremely touching story involving a man, Jonah Gardiner, struggling  against himself and his insecurities  while falling in love all over with his one true other. Struggling, also, is Laurel Moor, who is desperately striving to bring her family’s bar out of deep debt after her father’s death. Undercurrents of a deep love run through the novel wanting to surface and take over.

This, the second in the Van Allen Brothers series is just as great as the first, Forgive Me. I cannot wait for the final book, Free Me, to come out.

The Cowboy's Daughter by Jamie K. Schmidt

The Cowboy’s Daughter is a testament to internal strength and fighting demons. Kelly Sullivan returns home after a distressing call from her estranged father claiming he is selling the family ranch she grew up on and loves. Towing her daughter with her, Kelly returns to the cruelness of her father who could never forgive her for her teen pregnancy. No one knows the father of the little girl but Kelly. Of course, the girl’s father has also returned to Last Stand and Kelly can no longer hide the truth from him. Deception kept them apart and love brings them back full circle.

It is a great story of so many second chances: Kelly and Trent; Kelly and her father; the survival of the ranch.

Closing the Deal by Lenora Worth

I liked this sweet, easy to read , and enjoyable novel that was really about finding your true self and calling all wrapped around an in trouble B & B, also in need of restoration.

Sarina Gabriel is bequeathed the Falling Blossoms  B & B by her grandmother. It is under water in debt and desperately needing repairs. Drake Dunmore comes to (what he sees) her rescue offering to buy the whole kit and caboodle. What he finds, though, is Sarina vacillating between hanging onto the mansion or selling it. No one seems like they will end up the winner in the contest.

Outback Brides of Wirralong: Emma by Kelly Hunter

High society Britain, Emma, meets bush rancher Liam in this opposites attract novel. There is a great story line of each trying to buck society and find a path to forever.