Review: Heartwarming debut novel
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 29, 2013
Another well-written debut novel, 'Summer's Desire' captured me from the start and kept me hooked throughout."Yesterday, his Mom dropped him like useless baggage at his Grams' place and bolted for parts unknown. After that incredible stroke of luck, he should've known that something nasty would soon follow. Fortune was a b***h that way."I love books where both of the main characters have significant hurdles in their pasts to overcome...this one did not disappoint in this area. I really felt the pain of both Summer (also known as Sunny) and Seth, and liked the way the author began with their childhood and then skipped to the present, when they were teenagers.Summer ("Sunny"):"She was hugging to her the same stuffed bear from yesterday, and her eyes were fixed on Seth, her awestruck expression (when she thought that he wasn't looking) revealing clearly that she considered him the Master of the Universe. Seth secretly approved of her good judgment."Seth:"He has the face of a fallen angel, the body of a warrior and the presence of a prince. And, I instantly realize, he is now utterly unreachable to me."The very best aspect, however, is the bond between the two, and I love watching that friendship develop into something much more."No, Sunny, you're just a bit battered. We both are. Or if we're broken, that's only when we're alone. But now we're together, baby! And together, we're both whole."The only critique I have is that the self-talk and dialogue when they are older isn't very realistic. The author did address this, stating that Summer, in particular, spoke this way because she had little interaction with other teens and because they were raised by a grandmother."He's utterly scrumptious. I, on the other hand, look like the dowdy Beast to his effortlessly stylish Beauty."Summer's Desire, above all, is a sweet, heartwarming story of friendship and love. Although this friendship changes over the course of the years, it is still the bond between Summer and Seth that truly makes this story so special.***I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.