Review – Slow Summer Kisses by Shannon Stacey

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: Out Now
How I got this book: NetGalley

Anna Frazier is used to living life at 100 mph, but being downsized out of a job in the financial industry has her permanently stalled. With nowhere to go, go, go, Anna hails a cab to her grandparents’ neglected New Hampshire camp to plan her next move. It seems like a good idea—until she realizes there’s no takeout to be had and the boy next door has grown into a sexy but surly recluse.

Cameron Mayfield knows he can kiss his peace and quiet goodbye when Hurricane Anna blows in. She was loud and bossy as a ten-year-old—and besides developing some attractive curves, she hasn’t changed. Cam’s not looking for a relationship, especially not with a woman like Anna. He nearly broke down on that road once before. So why can’t he stop thinking about her?

It’s not long before their sizzling attraction leads to smoking-hot kisses. But as the days get shorter, Anna must decide if she’s found a new road to happiness, or just taken a detour.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I will read anything and everything Shannon Stacey writes, so when I saw that she had a novella in the new Carina Press Editors Choice Anthology, I got my hands on it as soon as I possibly could.

Anna lost her high dollar job in the big city after the downturn in the economy. While in the process of discovering what to do next, she goes to her grandparents lakeside house to figure things out. No only did she never expect to see her childhood friend Cam living next door, but she never thought in a million years that she would enjoy the small town vibe and out-of-the-way lifestyle at the lake.

Cam loves his slow paced life on the lake. He can work easy hours, relax and enjoy life. When Anna shows up next door, Cam is immediately attracted to her, but also knows he needs to stay far away from her. Anna is big city, he’s small town. She is organized and a little anal retentive, he is laid back and go-with-the-flow. They are the most unlikely couple, yet when these two come together, they realize just how strongly opposites attract.

Although this was a shorter novella, it felt as if it was longer than average. I loved Anna and Cam together. They were the perfect opposites attract couple. They were so different at times, and yet Cam helped Anna relax, and Anna helped Cam smile more and come out of his somewhat hermit status. They understood each other in ways that neither expected, and although they were vastly different, they were also perfect for eachother.

I loved the relationship between these two. It started off slow, with Cam constantly looking out for Anna, getting annoyed, and then eventually helping her achieve whatever goal she has for herself. They start as friends, progress to lovers, and eventually make the jump to a committed relationship. Their relationship melted me into a puddle of goo and I really did adore these two together.

I also really liked the added conflict of Anna trying to find a job, not knowing where life is going to take her next, and the hesitancies both she and Cam have about it. Getting to peek into Cam’s head while he dealt with falling for her, and knowing she was eventually going to leave, along with Anna’s struggles with falling in love, while trying to find a job, was just done so well. It was hyped up drama, but instead was just enough conflict for the both of them to try and figure out what to do next. Loved it.

All in all I really enjoyed this Stacey novella. Although I wish it was longer – these characters were so easy to fall in love with – I also didn’t feel as if he story was rushed or cut short. The romance was so sweet and sexy and I fell in absolute love with Anna and Cam both. Fans of Stacey won’t be disappointed!
I give Slow Summer Kisses an A-

Kindle eBook | Carina Press Presents: Editor’s Choice Volume I: eBook