One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune: The book brings us back to Barry’s Bay and to Sam and Percy from ‘Every Summer After‘. However, they play only minor roles in this story, which focuses on Charlie, Sam’s brother, and Alice. Both spend the summer at Lake Kamaniskeg to recalibrate. He is on a sabbatical, while she takes care of her Nan. I loved the mood of this book, the simple life and the pleasure of feeling good and enjoying oneself. There is some heavier stuff towards the end, but this is a wonderful beach read.
Start at the End by Emma Grey: The book really starts with the end, and I decided to read it first, although my e-reader automatically jumped to the start page. The end is the wedding of Audrey and Fraser, where one of them doesn’t show up. I loved the beginning, which tells the story of how they met and fell in love, but what appears to be the end turns out to be the middle. After the wedding falls through, the book continues with their stories and how they manage life on their own. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll keep it vague, but I loved it. It is beautifully written and, although heartbreaking, also uplifting.
The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett: This is the story of a road trip undertaken by a newly formed patchwork family. Luna and Ollie end up in the care of PJ, their great uncle, and together with his daughter Sophie, they drive from Massachusetts to Arizona to find Michelle, PJ’s first love. The book is a wild ride, with some really special characters, like the ‘killer’ cat Pancake and a talking hat. I loved the family dynamics and how the relationships develop during this road trip. It’s all about family and what you are willing to do for those you love.
Role Model by Rachel Reid: Astonishingly enough, I really enjoyed this book in the Heated Rivalry series, even though it is already book five. Troy gets traded from Toronto to Ottawa and finds himself on the same team as Ilya Rozanov, which perhaps added a little to the charm of this book. The characters of closeted Troy and openly gay Harris are well written, and I loved their banter, especially once Troy starts feeling more comfortable. The Ottawa team as a whole is a lot nicer than most of the other teams in the series, which adds to the feel good factor. Plus, there was a puppy!
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