Book Review and Giveaway: The Summer Deal

By Sara Steven

Brynn Turner desperately wishes she had it together, but her personal life is like a ping-pong match that’s left her scared and hurt after so many attempts to get it right. In search of a place to lick her wounds and get a fresh start, she heads back home to Wildstone.

And then there’s Kinsey Davis, who after battling serious health issues her entire twenty-nine years of life, is tired of hoping for...well, anything. She's fierce, tough, and pretty much the opposite of Brynn except for one thing: they're half-sisters. Kinsey is keeping this bombshell, and a few others as well. Long time frenemies from summer camp, there’s no way she’s going to tell Brynn they’re related.

But then Brynn runs into Kinsey's lifelong best friend, Eli, renewing a childhood crush. He’s still easy-going and funny and sexy as hell. When he gets her to agree to a summer-time deal to trust him to do right by her, no matter what, she never dreams it’ll result in finding a piece of herself she didn’t even know was missing. She could have a sister, love, and a future―if she can only learn to let go of the past.

As the long days of summer wind down, the three of them must discover if forgiveness is enough to grasp the unconditional love that’s right in front of them. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

This is my second trip to the Wildstone series, and my experience this time around was just as enjoyable as the first visit. While I appreciated Brynn and the journey she is on in finding a way in healing from a bad relationship, I think Kinsey is my new favorite heroine. Her acerbic personality reminded me so much of a dear friend of mine, who could appear bristly and rough, hiding an extremely sensitive heart. It’s a means of protection, in trying not to get hurt. It’s understandable, given Kinsey’s health and what she’s gone through.

I loved the way that Brynn and Kinsey slowly discover who they really are and how they’re connected. It happened gradually, which kept me guessing on when the bombshell would hit. There were romantic relationships, and I enjoyed seeing that unfold, yet taking center stage is the frenemies turned potential friendship, potentially leading into a familial status that Brynn can’t comprehend, due to the way Kinsey had always treated her when they had gone to summer camp years ago. I liked how that played out, because it’s hard to forgive and forget when you’ve been hurt in your childhood.

Eli is like the glue that holds this ragtag crew together. You don’t often see platonic relationships, but the one that Eli and Kinsey have is special. Not to mention Eli’s half-brother, Kinsey’s love interest, and now Brynn. A common theme thread within the pages of The Summer Deal is the fact that family is a choice. It’s who you choose to let into your circle, whether they’re related or not. It’s that mentality that makes Eli fiercely protective over the ones he loves, but this can also be a detriment, placing him in sticky situations, particularly when it comes to Kinsey and Brynn.

There were plenty of struggles for nearly every character within this unique family. Will Kinsey let her guard down, will Brynn trust, will Eli feel accepted? Watching all three find their way was at times inspirational, challenging, and in the end, more than worth it. The Summer Deal is part of the Wildstone series, but it can be read as a standalone, and while this is my second visit to Wildstone, I plan on visiting again soon. A worthy five-star read!

Thanks to William Morrow for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have one copy to give away!

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Giveaway ends June 16th at midnight EST.

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