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judeinthestars's review
4.0
To quote my friend – and LezReviewBooks boss – Gaby, anthologies are tricky. Finding the right balance, choosing authors whose stories will fit together, cannot be easy. Sometimes it works perfectly, sometimes it doesn’t. More often than not, it falls in the middle. That’s where Summer Loving is, an uneven but overall good mix of not-so-short stories.
The strongest point of this collection – a limited edition, only sold this summer – is in the variety of stories it offers, around a pretty traditional but always fun and exciting theme. Nine authors, nine stories, with a wide range of situations and writing styles. Some stories portray teenagers, others women in their thirties, others older women, either with brand new characters or some we’ve already met. Some authors have chosen to fade to black when it comes to sex while other stories are borderline erotica. All of them take advantage of the lightness and joy associated with summer and either play along or turn the feelings on their head.
A couple of the stories are really excellent, some are more formulaic, some are full of surprises while others are more predictable but there’s a little something for everyone. I know I’ll read Aurora Rey‘s Park Service again at some point because it’s fun and sexy and really good. And my favourite of all stories is #MissedOpportunities by Erin Zak, which I think will stay with me for a while for many reasons, one of which is the masterful way Zak pulls off a second-person narrative.
1- Stranded by [a:Lise Gold|16556448|Lise Gold|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539200069p2/16556448.jpg]
2- Blisters and Beer by [a:Claire Highton-Stevenson|20100930|Claire Highton-Stevenson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
3- Beach House by [a:KC Luck|19878133|KC Luck|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
4- Order Up! by [a:Cara Malone|16568127|Cara Malone|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1546711559p2/16568127.jpg]
5- Tropical Heat by [a:T.B. Markinson|7166895|T.B. Markinson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1373473232p2/7166895.jpg]
6- Always Check The Reviews by [a:Amanda Radley|18278178|Amanda Radley|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png]
7- Park Service by [a:Aurora Rey|13652923|Aurora Rey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1578339562p2/13652923.jpg]
8- #MissedOpportunities by [a:Erin Zak|17290455|Erin Zak|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1514712377p2/17290455.jpg]
9- Insomnia Club by [a:Emma Sterner-Radley|15640352|Emma Sterner-Radley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1480004612p2/15640352.jpg]
The strongest point of this collection – a limited edition, only sold this summer – is in the variety of stories it offers, around a pretty traditional but always fun and exciting theme. Nine authors, nine stories, with a wide range of situations and writing styles. Some stories portray teenagers, others women in their thirties, others older women, either with brand new characters or some we’ve already met. Some authors have chosen to fade to black when it comes to sex while other stories are borderline erotica. All of them take advantage of the lightness and joy associated with summer and either play along or turn the feelings on their head.
A couple of the stories are really excellent, some are more formulaic, some are full of surprises while others are more predictable but there’s a little something for everyone. I know I’ll read Aurora Rey‘s Park Service again at some point because it’s fun and sexy and really good. And my favourite of all stories is #MissedOpportunities by Erin Zak, which I think will stay with me for a while for many reasons, one of which is the masterful way Zak pulls off a second-person narrative.
1- Stranded by [a:Lise Gold|16556448|Lise Gold|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539200069p2/16556448.jpg]
2- Blisters and Beer by [a:Claire Highton-Stevenson|20100930|Claire Highton-Stevenson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
3- Beach House by [a:KC Luck|19878133|KC Luck|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
4- Order Up! by [a:Cara Malone|16568127|Cara Malone|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1546711559p2/16568127.jpg]
5- Tropical Heat by [a:T.B. Markinson|7166895|T.B. Markinson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1373473232p2/7166895.jpg]
6- Always Check The Reviews by [a:Amanda Radley|18278178|Amanda Radley|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png]
7- Park Service by [a:Aurora Rey|13652923|Aurora Rey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1578339562p2/13652923.jpg]
8- #MissedOpportunities by [a:Erin Zak|17290455|Erin Zak|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1514712377p2/17290455.jpg]
9- Insomnia Club by [a:Emma Sterner-Radley|15640352|Emma Sterner-Radley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1480004612p2/15640352.jpg]
mxphoebesviewpoint's review
4.0
Two friends find each other again at the Beach House written by K.C. Luck. Thirty years may have gone by that has not stopped the feelings left over from summer crushes that were never spoken of. Luck brings the sparks to Abby and Toni, proving that love can come later in life and that we do get second chances.
TB Markinson counts on the Tropical Heat to bring a couple back together. Jamie books a much needed romantic vacation for her wife and her and at the last minute her wife chooses to handle a work emergency versus going. Jamie has had enough and ends their relationship via text message. Then goes on the vacation alone. Alex goes to Honduras looking to seduce the woman she loves and convince her that nothing means more to her than their relationship. When these two see each other across the bar, they cannot keep their hands off each other. Now can they each remember why they originally went there? (laugh) I ended up writing a synopsis versus a real review, but Markinson does bring the heat. I loved this story.
#MissedOpportunities is all about secret crushes and the times when we could have said something and we didn’t. Erin Zak brings longing to another level. Remember those aching stomachs, banging heads, and how many “ughs!” have been said when those moments passed by when our crushes were right there and the moment hangs with potential. Zak wrings these moments out and some with comedic timing. This is a very cute rom-com where you might be nodding your head in remembrance and remembered empathy.
Authors include: Lise Gold, Claire Highton-Stevenson, K.C. Luck, Cara Malone, T.B. Markinson, Amanda Radley, Aurora Rey, Erin Zak, and Emma Sterner-Radley.
TB Markinson counts on the Tropical Heat to bring a couple back together. Jamie books a much needed romantic vacation for her wife and her and at the last minute her wife chooses to handle a work emergency versus going. Jamie has had enough and ends their relationship via text message. Then goes on the vacation alone. Alex goes to Honduras looking to seduce the woman she loves and convince her that nothing means more to her than their relationship. When these two see each other across the bar, they cannot keep their hands off each other. Now can they each remember why they originally went there? (laugh) I ended up writing a synopsis versus a real review, but Markinson does bring the heat. I loved this story.
#MissedOpportunities is all about secret crushes and the times when we could have said something and we didn’t. Erin Zak brings longing to another level. Remember those aching stomachs, banging heads, and how many “ughs!” have been said when those moments passed by when our crushes were right there and the moment hangs with potential. Zak wrings these moments out and some with comedic timing. This is a very cute rom-com where you might be nodding your head in remembrance and remembered empathy.
Authors include: Lise Gold, Claire Highton-Stevenson, K.C. Luck, Cara Malone, T.B. Markinson, Amanda Radley, Aurora Rey, Erin Zak, and Emma Sterner-Radley.
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