Tag Archives: Hot Summer Nights

The Legend of Jane by Jessica Clare

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for hot summer nights book cover

Title: The Legend of Clare
Author: Jessica Clare
Series: Bluebonnet #2.5
In: Hot Summer Nights (Jaci Burton, Carly Phillips, Erin McCarthy & Jessica Clare)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Year: 2013

Thoughts

This is probably my least favourite of the novellas in the Hot Summer Nights collection. But, that’s not saying saying because so far I’ve loved them all. I think it was just the whole premise of the video blogging that had me feeling a bit “eh”.

The lead male in this, Officer Sharp, was a great and fun lead. He is very serious and straightlaced, so a little different to many of the male leads I normally read. He’s still an alpha, just a little less grey and rebellious than I’m used to. But, I think that’s why I liked him so much… he was so damn different to other characters.

Aside from the fun of the romance, I really liked the setting of this story. I was immediately drawn into the world of Bluebonnet. Putting the first few books of this series on my wishlist was by no means a chore.

<- Perfect StrangerIce Princess ->

Image source: Goodreads

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Hot Summer Nights by Jaci Burton, Carly Phillips, Erin McCarthy & Jessica Clare

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
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Title: Perfect Stranger
Author: Jaci Burton, Carly Phillips, Erin McCarthy & Jessica Clare
In: Hot Summer Nights (Jaci Burton, Carly Phillips, Erin McCarthy & Jessica Clare)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Short story collections
Pace: Fast
Format: Anthology
Year: 2013

Thoughts

I may not be entirely sure why this collection is called Hot Summer Nights. But it was definitely good fun. I had imagined that I would be reading four beach romance novellas. Or stories of summer flings. Not quite what I ended up with.

The majority of these stories have a fun and light small-town America feel to them. They’re cute and simple filled with interesting characters. Interesting characters that I want to meet again in some of the series that these novellas introduced me to. More books to add to the wishlist!!!

This was a wonderful collection that left me feeling content and happy. Exactly what you feel after reading a good romance. Or really, any good book in my case. Definitely one that I’ll be reading again.

<- Ice PrincessHope Smolders ->

Image source: Goodreads

Ice Princess by Erin McCarthy

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for hot summer nights book cover

Title: Ice Princess
Author: Erin McCarthy
In: Hot Summer Nights (Jaci Burton, Carly Phillips, Erin McCarthy & Jessica Clare)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I’ll read this again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Year: 2013

Thoughts

Erin McCarthy does it for me every time. She is fantastic at writing light, fun and incredibly cute romances. Ice Princess is no exception. My only feeling of confusion… why was a snow story in a collection titled Hot Summer Nights?

This novella may have one of my favourite Meet Cutes of recent. I mean, trying to jump off a balcony and falling (literally) into a gorgeous man’s arms? Yes please! The fact that the lead female is quirky and kind of has verbal diarrhoea… well, it had me giggling Kate at night when I really should have been sleeping.

The gutsy and willing to go get it attitude of both of the leads in Ice Princess is seriously amazing. I’m honestly jealous of how willing they are to take a leap. And, since this is one of those Happily Ever After stories, I love how it all turns out. I won’t ever be that gutsy and willing to jump into things. But it sure was fun travelling along and imagining that I could be.

<- The Legend of JaneHot Summer Nights ->

Image source: Goodreads

Perfect Stranger by Carly Phillips

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for hot summer nights book cover

Title: Perfect Stranger
Author: Carly Phillips
Series: Serendipity #3.5
In: Hot Summer Nights (Jaci Burton, Carly Phillips, Erin McCarthy & Jessica Clare)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 31st October 2021
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Alexa couldn’t relate to guy issues considering she lived an extremely busy life, spent hours in the hospital ER, and had no time for a relationship, let alone hot, stress-relieving sex – something she could definitely use.

Synopsis

Carly Phillips takes you back to the town of Serendipity, where overworked Alexa has an instant connection with a sinfully sexy football star on the dance floor. A one-night stand evolves into multiple nights when Luke decides to teach the good doctor about his own brand of fun. But when it’s time for him to leave town, will this “Perfect Stranger” be able to say good-bye for good?

Thoughts

Alright, this story did have slightly stalkers vibes. I mean, guy and girl dance I a club, she has to rush off to help a friend. He then… follows her? And yet, because there is that level of mutual interest and chemistry, it somehow becomes sweet. I’m not sure WHY that is. But I still thoroughly and seriously enjoyed this novella.

I loved that this is a story about usurping parental expectations and finding one’s own path. So many of my younger decisions were based on the idea of what my parents would and wouldn’t like. What was expected of me because I was intelligent. But, ultimately, happiness for me was completely against what my family had expected for me. And the same is obviously the situation I this story. Probably part of the reason I enjoyed it so much.

Although this is a romance, the part I enjoyed most about the “romance” was the fact that it was about finding one’s own happiness. And that most definitely happened here.

<- Hope SmoldersThe Legend of Jane ->

Image source: Goodreads