Summer of Love by Heidi Champa

Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC

Date published: August 19, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-61124-465-6

Genre: M/M contemporary

Book format: E-book

Obtained via: Publisher Gift

Reviewed by Keldon__

RATING: four and ½ hearts

 

Summer: it’s a time of weddings and outdoor activities, and getting away from the city for the weekend. Long hot days and cool nights create the perfect carefree atmosphere for a summer fling. It’s a great time for falling in love, and author Heidi Champa is up to the task of providing a great story.

Max knows everything about planning a wedding, as long as it’s someone else’s. His own wedding fell through nine months ago. Since then, Max hasn’t felt like getting back in the game, and has buried himself in work. Unfortunately, watching other people get married is a constant reminder of Max’s biggest failure.

After five years with Max, fiancé Trevor walked away in the middle of wedding planning, saying only he didn’t want to get married.

The Acres is a resort catering to gay men, and summer in the woods has its own brand of magic. When Max goes to The Acres to meet with friends Jeff and Justin to plan their wedding, he runs into Trevor. Again. And again. An unexpected kiss heats things up between Max and Trevor, but can they overcome the issue that tore them apart nine months ago?

Max is endearing—he’s a pro at his job, but stuck in a rut in his private life. If it weren’t for directing weddings, he’d never get out. He’s funny and anxious in turns. Trevor is just the right amount of regret combined with reconciliation—I loved anticipating what might happen next.

As far as secondary characters, Max’s friend and business associate Danielle has a sassy personality and is an excellent foil for Max. Friends Jeff and Justin at The Acres likewise make for good conversation and facilitate the reunion.

The pace is good, the climax believable, and the resolution satisfying. I enjoyed the author’s voice, and would like to read more of this series. Summer reading homerun!

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.