Disclosure: I received this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

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Alright, let’s talk about Harlequin books.

I’ve shied away from them in the past, feeling as though they would lack the intensity or depth of the historical fiction I generally prefer.   Suddenly Last Summer has this sugar-sweet cover that really seemed to belie the story.  Or so I thought! 

There is definite tension filling up the pages of Suddenly Last Summer.  Sean needed a vacation, considering he was wound tight from work, a demanding girlfriend, and a family business to ignore.  He walked into a fight waiting to happen but instead got slammed with instant electricity from the hot French chef-turned-pioneer-woman Elise.  The background story is interesting.  The family dynamics kept the story going long enough to reach the end of the book.  I’d give this a 3.5 or 4, leaning toward the 4.

Now, there’s still the trademark Harlequin steamy scene action going on in this book. It’s definitely not something I could pass along to my young nieces.  The two main characters, Sean and Elise, are like oil and fire when it comes to chemistry but like oil and water when it comes to relationships.  Neither of them seemed to have a solid footing on life for the longest time.  There was a constant battle of emotions that seeped into both their relationships.  Sean’s devotion to his family was contradicted by his fierce determination to make work his main priority.  Elise, too, seemed completely absorbed with work while adoption Sean’s family as her own.  The side characters were endearing; the playful banter between the brothers was a good balance of humor in an otherwise heavy book.  I haven’t read the book before this one (Sleigh Bells In The Snow) but didn’t miss the background at all.   Elise’s native French slipped into the conversations several time; luckily my sister translated some of it for me. Otherwise I would have been lost on the context of the words.

Does this mean that I’ll be reading more Harlequin books in the future?  Probably not, but this one was worth its salt!

Here are some cute graphics to emulate the personalities of Sean and Elise.

About the Book:

USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan introduces another irresistible O’Neil brother who’s more tempting than dessert and twice as sinful!

Fiery French chef Élise Philippe is having a seriously bad day. Not only have the grand opening plans for her beloved café fallen apart, but Sean O’Neil is back in town and looking more delectable than ever. Memories of the electrifying night they shared last summer leave Élise very tempted, but she knows all too well that eventually Sean will be leaving…again.

Being back in Vermont—even temporarily—is surgeon Sean O’Neil’s worst nightmare. Returning home to the Snow Crystal Resort means confronting the guilt he feels about rejecting his family’s lifestyle years ago. But discovering that Élise is still in Vermont and still sets his blood racing is a very welcome distraction! Remembering last summer and how good they were together is going to make walking away more difficult than he could imagine….

Goodreads | Amazon | Harlequin

About the Author:

USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes hot, happy contemporary romance and her trademark humour and sensuality have gained her fans across the globe. She has been nominated three years in succession for the prestigious RITA© Award from the Romance Writers of America and has won the award twice, in 2012 and 2013. RT Book Reviews has called her ‘a magician with words’ and she has made numerous appearances in their ‘Top Pick’ slot. Sarah lives near London, and when she isn’t reading or writing she loves being outdoors, preferably on vacation so she can forget the house needs tidying. She loves chatting with readers by email and on Facebook and Twitter. More information can be found on her website.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

Grand Prize includes a La Bonne Vie Cupcake necklace, Sleigh Bells in the Snow (first book in the series), Suddenly Last Summer and a bookmark

Second prize is Sleigh Bells in the Snow, Suddenly Last Summer and a bookmark.

Prizing provided by Harlequin.  Note that this giveaway is sponsored by CBB and not by Savings in Seconds.

Open to US/CA only

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions: