I received this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Last Kiss of Summer by Marina Adair Series: Destiny Bay #1
Published by Forever on 2016-08-30
Length: 336 pages
Reviewing eARC from Netgalley
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2016 ARC August, 2016 New Release Challenge, COYER 2016 Summer Vacation
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He's one bad apple she just can't resist…
Kennedy Sinclair never dreamed she'd own a pie shop and an orchard in a small town like Destiny Bay. But nestled between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean, it's the perfect place to cross something off her "Life's short so eat the icing first" list and start her life over from scratch. Her shop, Sweetie Pies, is famous for its hot, flaky apple turnovers and sinfully delicious deep dish pie. For Kennedy though, nothing is more enticing than the tall, strapping slice of temptation who keeps coming back for more.
Luke Callahan is determined to make his hard cider business a success. With his beloved father's cider recipe and the opportunity of a lifetime in his grasp, he'll stop at nothing to get this deal done. There's just one catch: he needs Kennedy's apples. At first, he thinks it'll be as easy as pie to charm those apples right off her trees. But Kennedy isn't falling for his tender charms or his wicked ways. When the negotiations start heating up, so do the feelings they have for each other. And it takes just one kiss to seal the deal…
Excerpt
Kennedy rested her elbows on the counter and leaned forward. “You cook, clean, and make house calls? Be still, my heart.”
“I aim to please.” He dried off his hands and brought two steaming mugs of coffee to the counter. “Which is why I was trying to be quiet, so you could get another few minutes of sleep, before I surprised you in bed.” He grinned. It was a wicked grin. “Again.”
Luke had done more than surprise her last night; he’d spoiled her for other men. Sure, he was an incredible lover, but it was the tender moments in between that made her nervous.
This thing between them couldn’t last. She knew that. She also understood that if he was looking for something more permanent, she wouldn’t be the kind of woman to inspire that kind of commitment. She was unable to do it with her perfect match, or even her own mother. The one person who was supposed to love her unconditionally. Which left Kennedy painfully afraid that she was missing that elusive quality that led to forever.
Finding out that she was right, that she was unlovable, from a man who obviously had an incredible capacity to love, as she’d seen with his friends and family, would be too painful to survive. So she took the moment for what it was, committing to memory the warm aroma of the coffee, the way the sun cast a glassy haze over the kitchen, and the sleepy expression on his face that made him look softer. More relaxed. Like this was where he was supposed to be.
In this kitchen—with her.
Kennedy was becoming more attached—she could feel it. The way he treated her, the way he made her feel, even the way he looked at her, like right now, as if she were special. Which made her feel special.
Review
Last Kiss of Summer by Marina Adair is the first in her new series Destiny Bay about a woman trying to find her place in the world. Kennedy Sinclair has just lost her boyfriend of 4 years to their dance instructor when she makes the decision to move across the country and take over a family friend’s bakery. Luke Callahan is trying to keep his orchard out of the red, build a cider business, and get his mom her summer home back when he finds out she sold her bakery to some city girl along with three acres of apples he needs to save the orchard. Now it comes down to a battle of who gets the apples: the determined Kennedy or the desperate Luke.
I SO enjoyed this book! I enjoyed it so much that I read it in one sitting, loving every word. The chemistry between Luke and Kennedy is sweet, swoon-worthy, and irritating all at the same time. From their first encounter to their first kiss I was rooting for them to succeed. Alone the two characters are broken, missing something they don’t realize they need. Together they find their missing piece. It’s heart-warming and breaking all at the same time, as they are on opposing sides, pitted against each other.
Kennedy is a wonderful lead character. She’s had a rough life, a life filled with people leaving her, which has left the grown woman with a lost little girl at her heart. Yet she’s tough, independent, and determined (which is just a better version of stubborn) to find a place she can call home.
Luke is swoon-worthy from the moment he steps on the pages. He’s a tad arrogant, but has a giant-sized heart. After his dad’s death, guilt has ate away at him and he feels responsible for his family. This is endearing to me and made my heart ache for him. His determination to save his family’s orchard and get his mom’s summer home back is so incredibly sweet.
Overall I really loved this book. The sweet romance that blossoms between Kennedy and Luke, while predictable, was heart-warming and had me rooting for them. The small town charm of the town Destiny Bay reminded me of my own hometown and how nothing is better than realizing they have your back. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend you grab a copy! It doesn’t disappoint.
Teasers
Giveaway
About Marina Adair
Marina Adair is an International and #1 National best-selling author of romance novels. Along with the St. Helena Vineyard series, she is also the author of Sugar's Twice as Sweet, part of the Sugar, Georgia series and Tucker's Crossing, part of the Sweet Plains series. She currently lives with her husband, daughter, and two neurotic cats in Northern California.
As a writer, Marina is devoted to giving her readers contemporary romance where the towns are small, the personalities large, and the romance explosive. She also loves to interact with readers and you can catch her on Twitter at @MarinaEAdair or visit her at www.MarinaAdair.com.
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