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Slow Summer Kisses
Anna Frazier is used to living life at 100 mph, but being downsized out of a job in the financial industry has her permanently stalled. With nowhere to "go, go, go, " Anna hails a cab to her grandparents' neglected New Hampshire camp to plan her next move. It seems like a good idea--until she realizes there's no takeout to be had and the boy next door has grown into a sexy but surly recluse.
Cameron Mayfield knows he can kiss his peace and quiet goodbye when Hurricane Anna blows in. She was loud and bossy as a ten-year-old--and besides developing some attractive curves, she hasn't changed. Cam's not looking for a relationship, especially not with a woman like Anna. He nearly broke down on that road once before. So why can't he stop thinking about her?
It's not long before their sizzling attraction leads to smoking-hot kisses. But as the days get shorter, Anna must decide if she's found a new road to happiness, or just taken a detour.
25,000 words
Cameron Mayfield knows he can kiss his peace and quiet goodbye when Hurricane Anna blows in. She was loud and bossy as a ten-year-old--and besides developing some attractive curves, she hasn't changed. Cam's not looking for a relationship, especially not with a woman like Anna. He nearly broke down on that road once before. So why can't he stop thinking about her?
It's not long before their sizzling attraction leads to smoking-hot kisses. But as the days get shorter, Anna must decide if she's found a new road to happiness, or just taken a detour.
25,000 words
73 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2012
61 people are currently reading
1357 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Stacey
145 books2,639 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her favorite activities are writing romance and really random tweets when she’s not riding her ATV. She loves mud, books, football & watching way too much TV.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
March 10, 2017
“Did that manual happen to mention you’re supposed to stay between the lines?”
“There was a pothole in my lane.”
“There was a Buick in the other one.”
Reading this short story is like taking a big breath of fresh air!
The story was very cute and sweet. After losing her high-dollar finance job in New York City, Anna Frazier temporarily moved into her grandparents' old New Hampshire camp to have a relaxing time and look for her new job. With her multiple to-do lists, she needed to ask her cranky neighbor for some help.
At first glance, it seemed like Cam and Anna were totally wrong for each other. Cam was a grumpy, solitary man who could simply enjoy the peace and quiet just sitting on the dock without doing anything for hours, whereas Anna was his polar opposite, she was uptight, intense, and a bit restless that she didn't even know how to relax without getting bored.
But as they spent more time together and got to know each other better, it became obvious that they were perfect together. Cam enjoyed her company while Anna felt comfortable with him.
When the company in Boston offered her the job, both Cam and Anna found it hard to say goodbye to each other. She had to choose between her dream job and a man she loved. Is Cam worth throwing everything away for?
I enjoyed this couple a lot. They were so lovely together. I fell in love with the beautiful and peaceful setting of Askaskwi Lake. It’s like a heavenly place on earth!
All in all, this was a lovely, funny, and feel-good read. I immensely enjoyed every page I read. Highly recommended.
Loved it!!
The knowing glare she’d given him the night before when he handed her that particular shirt had made him laugh, but he who had the brownies had the power.
“There was a pothole in my lane.”
“There was a Buick in the other one.”
Reading this short story is like taking a big breath of fresh air!
The story was very cute and sweet. After losing her high-dollar finance job in New York City, Anna Frazier temporarily moved into her grandparents' old New Hampshire camp to have a relaxing time and look for her new job. With her multiple to-do lists, she needed to ask her cranky neighbor for some help.
At first glance, it seemed like Cam and Anna were totally wrong for each other. Cam was a grumpy, solitary man who could simply enjoy the peace and quiet just sitting on the dock without doing anything for hours, whereas Anna was his polar opposite, she was uptight, intense, and a bit restless that she didn't even know how to relax without getting bored.
But as they spent more time together and got to know each other better, it became obvious that they were perfect together. Cam enjoyed her company while Anna felt comfortable with him.
When the company in Boston offered her the job, both Cam and Anna found it hard to say goodbye to each other. She had to choose between her dream job and a man she loved. Is Cam worth throwing everything away for?
I enjoyed this couple a lot. They were so lovely together. I fell in love with the beautiful and peaceful setting of Askaskwi Lake. It’s like a heavenly place on earth!
All in all, this was a lovely, funny, and feel-good read. I immensely enjoyed every page I read. Highly recommended.
Loved it!!
The knowing glare she’d given him the night before when he handed her that particular shirt had made him laugh, but he who had the brownies had the power.
June 9, 2012
3-stars. Oh, how I wanted to love this one! Alas, this was more frustrating than entertaining, but it did pull out a redeemable last half. The story itself was too weak for my enjoyment, but Slow Summer Kisses did have some good moments that made it worth finishing.
Shannon Stacey is such a talented author, which is why this book isn’t getting just 2-stars from me. She has a way of writing some great scenes and dialogue between her H/h that are captivating and fresh, a talent that does set her apart from other contemporary romance authors. Slow Summer Kisses has several of these great scenes which I enjoyed, but over all they just weren’t enough to make this novella into a ‘must read’ winner.
The premise of this story was right up my alley as I looooove cabin romances. Cameron lives alone in a remote cabin on a lake. After dumping his high paying job as a lawyer, and his wife who preferred the good life, he now enjoys the single life and a simple job caring for the local camp grounds. He spends his free time fishing, swimming, watching sports, drinking beer, and sleeping. Then his life is upset by the high strung Anna, a lady who finds herself living in her grandparents cabin next door to Cameron for a few weeks while she regroups after losing her high power job in New York.
The close proximity allows these two to spend plenty of time together, and since they are so remote from civilization they need to offer neighborly help from time to time. But Cameron is not interested in being neighborly, he is interested in being alone and not being troubled by the obnoxious girl next door. ( He knew her as a 10-year old, and thus still believes she must be the same obnoxious person as an adult.)
At times he begrudgingly does offer her help – bringing in her luggage, helping her to the store since she can’t drive, and lifting heavy items around her home. But he does it with no grace or dignity, which made him a hard hero to like. In fact, he was a bona fide ASS for the first half of this book. He made it quite clear with his words and body language that she was a burden, and at one point midway in the story he even went as far as telling her “…you’re a pain in the ass.” (And NOT in a cheeky, humorous way either). T
Sadly, Anna isn’t much better. She’s rude, ungrateful, and not very friendly either. I found it odd that she would go to a remote cabin with no possible means of transportation while she is there and not even think to pick up groceries on the way. While this made a nice plot-device for her and Cameron to spend time together so she could go shopping with him and he could drive her around, it sure didn’t speak to her obsessive planning-ahead skills (that we read about over and over and over!) How could a person be so organized and yet so scattered at the same time? She was a confusing and inconsistent character.
But I haven’t even gotten to the parts that really frustrated and thus brought this book down for me. What frustrated me the MOST was their so-called growing attraction to each other as it was based on VAPOR. Their actions toward each other repeatedly spoke loudly that they did not like each other, but yet their inner dialogue repeatedly kept telling the reader how hot they were for each other. WTF? Why?? It was crazy odd that they kept fantasizing about each other, yet when an opportunity to connect arose, they chose to be rude instead of nice thus killing the moment dead in the water.
Would it have killed them to be nice and flirt just a bit so their lusting for each other made some sense to the reader? I didn’t see the need for the level of anger and hostility they had for each other. Cameron had no apparent reason to be so rude, yet he just was. Anna had every reason to be nice (as she clearly needed his help), yet she wasn’t.
By the second half of the story, both Cameron and Anna started to chill and exchange some nice words (Thank GOD!) – and we even got some cute funny moments to enjoy! But their hostility and aloofness toward each other remained well until the end. The second half of the story they started to connect in a manner enjoyable for a good contemporary romance. They spent some quality time together, exchanged some light hearted and flirtation moments, and (of course) jumped each other’s bones repeatedly. Best of all, I could finally start to see what they saw in each other, and for that I was grateful.
Then came the ending. Argh. This is a novella, so I don’t expect long drawn out endings, but a sensical one would be nice. I won’t spoil the ending, but I can say you’ll see it coming a mile away. While they got an HEA, the steps they took felt out of order. If it wasn’t for the few good scenes in the last half of the book, this would be a 2-star read.
On a side note, this book had a slight ‘déjà vu’ feeling to RL Mathewson’s Neighbors From Hell series where it takes a complete ass-hat neighbor guy and turns him into a desirable hero, but sadly it fell way short in this story. I think this story could have been so much better if only they dropped their anger issues earlier and flirted a bit in the beginning.
Well, despite not loving this one I still can’t wait for her next Kowalski book! I haven’t given up on her as a ‘must read’ author yet.
Shannon Stacey is such a talented author, which is why this book isn’t getting just 2-stars from me. She has a way of writing some great scenes and dialogue between her H/h that are captivating and fresh, a talent that does set her apart from other contemporary romance authors. Slow Summer Kisses has several of these great scenes which I enjoyed, but over all they just weren’t enough to make this novella into a ‘must read’ winner.
The premise of this story was right up my alley as I looooove cabin romances. Cameron lives alone in a remote cabin on a lake. After dumping his high paying job as a lawyer, and his wife who preferred the good life, he now enjoys the single life and a simple job caring for the local camp grounds. He spends his free time fishing, swimming, watching sports, drinking beer, and sleeping. Then his life is upset by the high strung Anna, a lady who finds herself living in her grandparents cabin next door to Cameron for a few weeks while she regroups after losing her high power job in New York.
The close proximity allows these two to spend plenty of time together, and since they are so remote from civilization they need to offer neighborly help from time to time. But Cameron is not interested in being neighborly, he is interested in being alone and not being troubled by the obnoxious girl next door. ( He knew her as a 10-year old, and thus still believes she must be the same obnoxious person as an adult.)
At times he begrudgingly does offer her help – bringing in her luggage, helping her to the store since she can’t drive, and lifting heavy items around her home. But he does it with no grace or dignity, which made him a hard hero to like. In fact, he was a bona fide ASS for the first half of this book. He made it quite clear with his words and body language that she was a burden, and at one point midway in the story he even went as far as telling her “…you’re a pain in the ass.” (And NOT in a cheeky, humorous way either). T
Sadly, Anna isn’t much better. She’s rude, ungrateful, and not very friendly either. I found it odd that she would go to a remote cabin with no possible means of transportation while she is there and not even think to pick up groceries on the way. While this made a nice plot-device for her and Cameron to spend time together so she could go shopping with him and he could drive her around, it sure didn’t speak to her obsessive planning-ahead skills (that we read about over and over and over!) How could a person be so organized and yet so scattered at the same time? She was a confusing and inconsistent character.
But I haven’t even gotten to the parts that really frustrated and thus brought this book down for me. What frustrated me the MOST was their so-called growing attraction to each other as it was based on VAPOR. Their actions toward each other repeatedly spoke loudly that they did not like each other, but yet their inner dialogue repeatedly kept telling the reader how hot they were for each other. WTF? Why?? It was crazy odd that they kept fantasizing about each other, yet when an opportunity to connect arose, they chose to be rude instead of nice thus killing the moment dead in the water.
Would it have killed them to be nice and flirt just a bit so their lusting for each other made some sense to the reader? I didn’t see the need for the level of anger and hostility they had for each other. Cameron had no apparent reason to be so rude, yet he just was. Anna had every reason to be nice (as she clearly needed his help), yet she wasn’t.
By the second half of the story, both Cameron and Anna started to chill and exchange some nice words (Thank GOD!) – and we even got some cute funny moments to enjoy! But their hostility and aloofness toward each other remained well until the end. The second half of the story they started to connect in a manner enjoyable for a good contemporary romance. They spent some quality time together, exchanged some light hearted and flirtation moments, and (of course) jumped each other’s bones repeatedly. Best of all, I could finally start to see what they saw in each other, and for that I was grateful.
Then came the ending. Argh. This is a novella, so I don’t expect long drawn out endings, but a sensical one would be nice. I won’t spoil the ending, but I can say you’ll see it coming a mile away. While they got an HEA, the steps they took felt out of order. If it wasn’t for the few good scenes in the last half of the book, this would be a 2-star read.
On a side note, this book had a slight ‘déjà vu’ feeling to RL Mathewson’s Neighbors From Hell series where it takes a complete ass-hat neighbor guy and turns him into a desirable hero, but sadly it fell way short in this story. I think this story could have been so much better if only they dropped their anger issues earlier and flirted a bit in the beginning.
Well, despite not loving this one I still can’t wait for her next Kowalski book! I haven’t given up on her as a ‘must read’ author yet.
June 7, 2012
The last person that Cameron wanted to occupy his next door summer cottage was Anna. He remembered her as a ten year old girl who was bossy and cannot sit still long. He liked his life laid-back and mellow and hoped that Anna wont ruin that.
This was just a light read with a heavy dose of humorous banters.
"I'm going to walk. I just don't know which direction to walk in."
"It's three miles. One way. And in those shoes, I'm surprised you made it to the dock without breaking both your ankles."
"I do have other shoes, you know. And a bathing suit, which doesn't appear to be a staple in your wardrobe."
"When's the last time you rode a bike?"
"I did the stationary bike at the gym almost every day."
He snorted. " When's the last time you rode a bike that wasn't bolted down?"
She had to think about it.
"What the hell is that you're wearing? It's a Yankees T-shirt. You're a Yankees fan." He could barely get the words out.
"Yup."
"I kissed a Yankees fan." It was too late for mouthwash, so he did the next best thing and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.
Their head-butting with each other were very adorable. As I said, a funny short story without any drama or bad guys. It left me with a smile on my face.
This was just a light read with a heavy dose of humorous banters.
"I'm going to walk. I just don't know which direction to walk in."
"It's three miles. One way. And in those shoes, I'm surprised you made it to the dock without breaking both your ankles."
"I do have other shoes, you know. And a bathing suit, which doesn't appear to be a staple in your wardrobe."
"When's the last time you rode a bike?"
"I did the stationary bike at the gym almost every day."
He snorted. " When's the last time you rode a bike that wasn't bolted down?"
She had to think about it.
"What the hell is that you're wearing? It's a Yankees T-shirt. You're a Yankees fan." He could barely get the words out.
"Yup."
"I kissed a Yankees fan." It was too late for mouthwash, so he did the next best thing and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.
Their head-butting with each other were very adorable. As I said, a funny short story without any drama or bad guys. It left me with a smile on my face.
June 5, 2012
I swear, I spend as much time reading Shannon Stacey's books as I do searching tumblr for the perfect mental cast. She writes strong, career-oriented women and sexy, well-mannered men who love and support them. What's not to love?
Cameron Mayfield is a guy who gave up his fast-paced, stressful career as a lawyer to live at his family's cabin working odd jobs to pay the bills. Anna Frazier is his new old neighbor, someone who used to visit her family's cabin next door to his until she was 10, who is now back after having been downsized from her fast-paced, stressful job in finance. The difference is that she wants to get back to the corporate world, even though it was giving her an ulcer. There are a ton of steamy scenes packed into this short story as Cam and Anna fall for each other -- and find out one is a Red Sox fan and the other is a Yankees fan. The horror. I lived down the street from Fenway Park for 4 years and it was Capulets vs Montagues with shittier accents whenever the Yankees came into town. My favorite was the little old lady in the shirt with "Yankees suck" on the front and "Jeter swallows" on the back. The rivalry though adds to Anna and Cam's banter and foreplay.
For this short and sweet novella, I needed someone believable as both a lawyer and a lumberjack. For Cam, the sexy guy next door who knows how to use his hands ifyouknowwhatimean, I chose Tyler Hoechlin.
Mmm hmm! Speaking of hands, there's one scene where Cam holds out his hand to help Anna down that was very Matthew-Macfadyen-as-Darcy-esque. Well, if Darcy had a hard-on.
Slow Summer Kisses was cute, as all Shannon Stacey's books/novellas are. This was my favorite novella of hers and makes me even more excited for her next Kowalski book.
--
Pre-read: The Spurs are down 2-3 in a best of seven series. I'm allowing myselfone two drinks and this book.
Cameron Mayfield is a guy who gave up his fast-paced, stressful career as a lawyer to live at his family's cabin working odd jobs to pay the bills. Anna Frazier is his new old neighbor, someone who used to visit her family's cabin next door to his until she was 10, who is now back after having been downsized from her fast-paced, stressful job in finance. The difference is that she wants to get back to the corporate world, even though it was giving her an ulcer. There are a ton of steamy scenes packed into this short story as Cam and Anna fall for each other -- and find out one is a Red Sox fan and the other is a Yankees fan. The horror. I lived down the street from Fenway Park for 4 years and it was Capulets vs Montagues with shittier accents whenever the Yankees came into town. My favorite was the little old lady in the shirt with "Yankees suck" on the front and "Jeter swallows" on the back. The rivalry though adds to Anna and Cam's banter and foreplay.
For this short and sweet novella, I needed someone believable as both a lawyer and a lumberjack. For Cam, the sexy guy next door who knows how to use his hands ifyouknowwhatimean, I chose Tyler Hoechlin.
Mmm hmm! Speaking of hands, there's one scene where Cam holds out his hand to help Anna down that was very Matthew-Macfadyen-as-Darcy-esque. Well, if Darcy had a hard-on.
Slow Summer Kisses was cute, as all Shannon Stacey's books/novellas are. This was my favorite novella of hers and makes me even more excited for her next Kowalski book.
--
Pre-read: The Spurs are down 2-3 in a best of seven series. I'm allowing myself
May 1, 2012
So, I started this book while I was on deadline (I know, bad me), and read it in one day. Anyone who knows me also knows Shan is one of my best friends, so I'll put that out there as full disclosure. That being said, if you've read Shannon Stacey before, you know that she writes compelling, fun, heart tugging contemporary romance, and Slow Summer Kisses is one of her best. I loved this book. It was funny as hell, sweet, sexy, and totally un-put-downable. Anna and Cam make the perfect couple. You're going to love this book.
June 21, 2012
Fun, quick read! Shannon writes "ordinary guy" SO well, and she somehow managed to do an intense, suit-wearing, fancy-shoe-sporting heroine who I didn't want to maim. Which is quite a feat, if you know me. Plus, the sex is hot. Definitely recommend!
June 25, 2012
What a great summer read! I read it in a little over an hour while laying in the pool! It was hot, and sweet. I loved Anna immediately and even Cam caught my heart. Great quick read! I recommend it!
June 4, 2012
{This review originally appeared on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.}
Can a Red Sox fan and a Yankees fan see past their differences and fall in love? Unbelievable or not, in the world of Shannon Stacey’s Slow Summer Kisses, this is entirely possible.
Few writers can entice me to read a short story. Shannon Stacey is one of those few.
She expertly translates her trademark believable—and likeable—characters and fresh, contemporary writing style in the short story/novella form. I’ve read and enjoyed her previous shorts Holiday Sparks (highly recommended) and Mistletoe & Margaritas (fun!), and enjoyed them quite a bit. Despite their being short (duh), they actually were complete stories with well-developed characters. Her latest, Slow Summer Kisses, is no exception.
Slow Summer Kisses features Anna (the Yankees fan), a recently-downsized financial executive who’s taken up residence at her grandparents’ New Hampshire lake cabin while she looks for a new job that will keep her on the same rocketous career trajectory. Her next door neighbor, Cameron (the Red Sox fan), is a bit lot surly and rather reclusive, and definitely not very appreciative of Anna disrupting his tranquility on the lakeshore. The two were childhood friends who grew apart after Anna’s family quit visiting the lake, so there’s some history between the two (yay!). Obviously, the two reconnect, but there’s some healthy conflict between the two very differing lifestyles and goals.
Can Anna slow down enough to appreciate Cameron’s laid back ways?
Can Cameron cope with Anna’s city girl pace?
It’s Shannon Stacey, so we know the answer, but the journey is oh-so-sweet.
Like Stacey’s Kowalski novels, Slow Summer Kisses is fresh and current. Anna’s situation, having to recalibrate after a job loss is extremely relatable. She’s been very successful in her career, but (as we all know) the economy sucks. So, while she’s got the skills to excel at any firm, finding a new job eludes her, and she’s lost without her professional life.
All in all, her time at Askaskwi Lake was turning out to be a lot more relaxing than she’d first anticipated, except when she stopped in front of the refrigerator and analyzed what was going on in her life. Each day that passed without a job offer seemed to add a dark chunk to the black raincloud hovering over her. She’d already had to drop the bar a little, sending out a second and then third round of resumés to companies that hadn’t been on her original A-list. Even though she tried to hide it, she was starting to get a little twitchy about it. She wasn’t ready to be left behind by the career she’d dedicated almost her entire life to.
Cameron was on the fast track to burnout, and had a wakeup call following the death of his father, resuling from a lifetime of stress.
Because Shannon Stacey is so fantastic at creating real, believable characters, the conflict between the two also feels real. He’s chosen to get out of the fast line, she’s racing to get back on it. Also, they have the little issue of their baseball fandom (serious business, y’all).
Yes, I admit it—I have a huge soft spot for anything sports-themed. But Anna and Cameron’s friendly barbs about baseball just sealed the deal for me. (Though I actually detest both of those teams, for the record—Go Mariners!)
Even though Slow Summer Kisses is short, the story of Anna and Cameron figuring out their relationship doesn’t feel short-changed. They have a bit of a history, Cameron is friends with Anna’s grandparents, they’re both smart and confident (a Shanon Stacey trademark)—it all makes sense and I was able to buy into their haiving a shot at a future together.
If you’re looking for an evening’s reading full of charm, fun and relateable characters you’re going to root for, Shannon Stacey’s Slow Summer Kisses is just the ticket.
Slow Summer Kisses is available in ebook form only on June 4th as a standalone short/novella, or in a bundle with two other stories from popular Carina authors (one’s a steampunk by Cindy Spencer Pape, the other’s a romantic suspense by Adrienne Giordano). At 25,000 words, you’re getting quite a bit of story in Slow Summer Kisses for three bucks for the single story and if you’re curious about the other authors, the $6.79 price tag for the collection is a pretty good deal.
Can a Red Sox fan and a Yankees fan see past their differences and fall in love? Unbelievable or not, in the world of Shannon Stacey’s Slow Summer Kisses, this is entirely possible.
Few writers can entice me to read a short story. Shannon Stacey is one of those few.
She expertly translates her trademark believable—and likeable—characters and fresh, contemporary writing style in the short story/novella form. I’ve read and enjoyed her previous shorts Holiday Sparks (highly recommended) and Mistletoe & Margaritas (fun!), and enjoyed them quite a bit. Despite their being short (duh), they actually were complete stories with well-developed characters. Her latest, Slow Summer Kisses, is no exception.
Slow Summer Kisses features Anna (the Yankees fan), a recently-downsized financial executive who’s taken up residence at her grandparents’ New Hampshire lake cabin while she looks for a new job that will keep her on the same rocketous career trajectory. Her next door neighbor, Cameron (the Red Sox fan), is a bit lot surly and rather reclusive, and definitely not very appreciative of Anna disrupting his tranquility on the lakeshore. The two were childhood friends who grew apart after Anna’s family quit visiting the lake, so there’s some history between the two (yay!). Obviously, the two reconnect, but there’s some healthy conflict between the two very differing lifestyles and goals.
Can Anna slow down enough to appreciate Cameron’s laid back ways?
Can Cameron cope with Anna’s city girl pace?
It’s Shannon Stacey, so we know the answer, but the journey is oh-so-sweet.
Like Stacey’s Kowalski novels, Slow Summer Kisses is fresh and current. Anna’s situation, having to recalibrate after a job loss is extremely relatable. She’s been very successful in her career, but (as we all know) the economy sucks. So, while she’s got the skills to excel at any firm, finding a new job eludes her, and she’s lost without her professional life.
All in all, her time at Askaskwi Lake was turning out to be a lot more relaxing than she’d first anticipated, except when she stopped in front of the refrigerator and analyzed what was going on in her life. Each day that passed without a job offer seemed to add a dark chunk to the black raincloud hovering over her. She’d already had to drop the bar a little, sending out a second and then third round of resumés to companies that hadn’t been on her original A-list. Even though she tried to hide it, she was starting to get a little twitchy about it. She wasn’t ready to be left behind by the career she’d dedicated almost her entire life to.
Cameron was on the fast track to burnout, and had a wakeup call following the death of his father, resuling from a lifetime of stress.
Losing his dad to a heart attack had been a giant caution flag waving in front of his face. Then there were his own demons—insomnia, blood pressure, funks that weren’t quite depression but were getting close. He’d talked to his wife about downsizing. He wanted to leave his fancy law firm and maybe do some family law. They could buy a smaller house in a more rural neighborhood. She’d gotten angry and went shoe shopping.
He’d walked away.
Because Shannon Stacey is so fantastic at creating real, believable characters, the conflict between the two also feels real. He’s chosen to get out of the fast line, she’s racing to get back on it. Also, they have the little issue of their baseball fandom (serious business, y’all).
“What the hell is that you’re wearing?”
She looked down at her shirt with a confused expression. As if she didn’t know. “My shirt? It’s pretty old, so I usually only wear it for sleeping now, but my stepdad bought it for me years ago.”
“It’s a Yankees T-shirt.” He could barely get the words out.
“That’s because we’re Yankees fans.” She snapped open her chair and set it next to his as if that was still okay. “We never watched sports when I was little—the games I listened to with you was about it—but then Mom married Kent and we moved to Connecticut. He loved baseball and he taught me to love it, too.”
“You’re a Yankees fan.”
“Yup.”
“I kissed a Yankees fan.”
“Yup. Really well, too.”
It was too late for mouthwash, so he did the next best thing and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Get off my dock.”
Yes, I admit it—I have a huge soft spot for anything sports-themed. But Anna and Cameron’s friendly barbs about baseball just sealed the deal for me. (Though I actually detest both of those teams, for the record—Go Mariners!)
Even though Slow Summer Kisses is short, the story of Anna and Cameron figuring out their relationship doesn’t feel short-changed. They have a bit of a history, Cameron is friends with Anna’s grandparents, they’re both smart and confident (a Shanon Stacey trademark)—it all makes sense and I was able to buy into their haiving a shot at a future together.
If you’re looking for an evening’s reading full of charm, fun and relateable characters you’re going to root for, Shannon Stacey’s Slow Summer Kisses is just the ticket.
Slow Summer Kisses is available in ebook form only on June 4th as a standalone short/novella, or in a bundle with two other stories from popular Carina authors (one’s a steampunk by Cindy Spencer Pape, the other’s a romantic suspense by Adrienne Giordano). At 25,000 words, you’re getting quite a bit of story in Slow Summer Kisses for three bucks for the single story and if you’re curious about the other authors, the $6.79 price tag for the collection is a pretty good deal.
June 20, 2012
I fell in love with Shannon Stacey's writing in Yours to Keep, the third in the Kowalski Family series. She had me hooked once again in this short and sweet novella.
From the beginning, I really enjoyed Anna's character. She was high-strung, but lovable and friendly. She was a breath of fresh air to Cam's brooding, and I thought they balanced each other really well.
If you've never read any of Shannon's books, this would be a great starter book. It's a fast read with the swoons, the delicious sexy times, and the hot as hell heroes I've come to expect from her writing.
From the beginning, I really enjoyed Anna's character. She was high-strung, but lovable and friendly. She was a breath of fresh air to Cam's brooding, and I thought they balanced each other really well.
If you've never read any of Shannon's books, this would be a great starter book. It's a fast read with the swoons, the delicious sexy times, and the hot as hell heroes I've come to expect from her writing.
June 6, 2012
a sweet little story...not as good as the kowalski series though..
I didn't feel any real chemistry between the main characters..its still a good read though even without the both funny and sweet banter I was expecting and hoping for
I didn't feel any real chemistry between the main characters..its still a good read though even without the both funny and sweet banter I was expecting and hoping for
June 8, 2012
Really pretty meh for me. I feel like they need to have more than sex to bind them together and never was especially convinced that these two did. I haven't liked her novellas as much as her Kowalski books so maybe she just needs more room to tell a story I find satisfying.
September 9, 2013
Aaawwwwww! Such a cute, sweet, quick read :)
I love Shannon Stacey's books-especially Yours to Keep, so I knew I'd enjoy this. But it was very short and things happened quickly. I can appreciate a light read, though, when I find one, and this did the trick.
I ♥ you Shannon Stacey!
I love Shannon Stacey's books-especially Yours to Keep, so I knew I'd enjoy this. But it was very short and things happened quickly. I can appreciate a light read, though, when I find one, and this did the trick.
I ♥ you Shannon Stacey!
June 18, 2012
Why I read it: I'm a fan of Shannon Stacey's Kowalski series. I think she writes really good, fun, sexy contemporaries. I picked this one up at NetGalley in the Editor's Choice Vol 1 edition. I'm not sure if/when I'll get to the other stories - the main reason for my interest was this novella.
What it's about: (from Goodreads) Anna Frazier is used to living life at 100 mph, but being downsized out of a job in the financial industry has her permanently stalled. With nowhere to go, go, go, Anna hails a cab to her grandparents' neglected New Hampshire camp to plan her next move. It seems like a good idea—until she realizes there's no takeout to be had and the boy next door has grown into a sexy but surly recluse.
Cameron Mayfield knows he can kiss his peace and quiet goodbye when Hurricane Anna blows in. She was loud and bossy as a ten-year-old—and besides developing some attractive curves, she hasn't changed. Cam's not looking for a relationship, especially not with a woman like Anna. He nearly broke down on that road once before. So why can't he stop thinking about her?
It's not long before their sizzling attraction leads to smoking-hot kisses. But as the days get shorter, Anna must decide if she's found a new road to happiness, or just taken a detour.
What worked for me (and what didn't): I'm a hero-centric reader and I think Shannon Stacey writes excellent contemporary heroes. They're realistic. They talk and act like men - they hate shopping and dithering over which plants to buy (flowers are flowers after all) or which particular shade of white to paint a window trim. They're also funny and sexy and good guys. Cam has withdrawn from the rat race after seeing it kill his father. It cost him his marriage but he's found peace at Askaskwi Lake and he's not going back to that "gotta-get-ahead-no-matter-what" world.
Anna is all fast paced, making lists and being busy and Cam has to teach her to relax and take a break. She'll probably never be as good as it as he is but she does appreciate the absence of gastric discomfort that being away from her high stress job brings. However, she's also worked very hard to get where she is and she doesn't want to just walk away from a career she's put so much effort into and in which, as it happens, she excels. For all that Anna is a high maintenance lady (just as well Cam is a handyman - ha, geddit! :D), she is not a bitch. She's capable and smart and busy but she's also kind and a bit lonely.
Cam and Anna's initial reaction to each other is a bit oil/water and it is NOT helped by the fact that she is a Yankees fan and he's Boston Red Sox all the way. (It's a bit like the Crows and the Power here - random AFL reference - I gather). Regardless of Cam's baseball allegiance, there's plenty about him she can appreciate:
...while she was, in fact, watching a shirtless Cam Mayfield swing a hammer. And what a view it was, all tanned flesh and rippling muscles. She should probably feel guilty about using his body as her entertainment, but she didn’t have cable.
I enjoyed the banter between the two. It felt real and adult while at the same time being funny and sexy and showing the genuine open affection between them.
Cam stared blankly at the menu in his hand, his mind on everything but the food choices. He’d kissed her. In the paint section of a home-improvement warehouse, no less. Classy.
“I’m having a cheeseburger,” Anna said. “With fries smothered in vinegar and salt.”
“I told you I wouldn’t kiss you again. You don’t have to poison your mouth.”
“Very funny. What are you having?"
“Something with onions and garlic."
And, there's this:
He wasn’t a cuddler or a spooner, preferring to sleep on his opposite side...
At last! From a vox pop of my friends and family, this is actually pretty common outside romance novels (it certainly is in my house) so it was nice to see a romance hero who likes his own space in the bed.
The couple reach a reasonable compromise in the end, which I believe will satisfy both of their needs without either having to give up what is essential to them. I loved that.
I could happily have read a full length story featuring these two and I did feel that the end was somewhat rushed. I also thought Anna's reaction to Cam's confession of love was a bit odd - almost like she didn't hear him when he said "I love you Anna". But these are small niggles in an otherwise delightful fun and sexy book. I recommend. :)
What else? I learned that "camp" is a New England term for a holiday cabin used mainly either for snow or in the summer - what we Australians call a "shack". See, you really do learn stuff from romance novels! :) Now, if someone would tell me what "steak tips" are....
Grade: B+
www.kaetrinsmusings.blogspot.com
What it's about: (from Goodreads) Anna Frazier is used to living life at 100 mph, but being downsized out of a job in the financial industry has her permanently stalled. With nowhere to go, go, go, Anna hails a cab to her grandparents' neglected New Hampshire camp to plan her next move. It seems like a good idea—until she realizes there's no takeout to be had and the boy next door has grown into a sexy but surly recluse.
Cameron Mayfield knows he can kiss his peace and quiet goodbye when Hurricane Anna blows in. She was loud and bossy as a ten-year-old—and besides developing some attractive curves, she hasn't changed. Cam's not looking for a relationship, especially not with a woman like Anna. He nearly broke down on that road once before. So why can't he stop thinking about her?
It's not long before their sizzling attraction leads to smoking-hot kisses. But as the days get shorter, Anna must decide if she's found a new road to happiness, or just taken a detour.
What worked for me (and what didn't): I'm a hero-centric reader and I think Shannon Stacey writes excellent contemporary heroes. They're realistic. They talk and act like men - they hate shopping and dithering over which plants to buy (flowers are flowers after all) or which particular shade of white to paint a window trim. They're also funny and sexy and good guys. Cam has withdrawn from the rat race after seeing it kill his father. It cost him his marriage but he's found peace at Askaskwi Lake and he's not going back to that "gotta-get-ahead-no-matter-what" world.
Anna is all fast paced, making lists and being busy and Cam has to teach her to relax and take a break. She'll probably never be as good as it as he is but she does appreciate the absence of gastric discomfort that being away from her high stress job brings. However, she's also worked very hard to get where she is and she doesn't want to just walk away from a career she's put so much effort into and in which, as it happens, she excels. For all that Anna is a high maintenance lady (just as well Cam is a handyman - ha, geddit! :D), she is not a bitch. She's capable and smart and busy but she's also kind and a bit lonely.
Cam and Anna's initial reaction to each other is a bit oil/water and it is NOT helped by the fact that she is a Yankees fan and he's Boston Red Sox all the way. (It's a bit like the Crows and the Power here - random AFL reference - I gather). Regardless of Cam's baseball allegiance, there's plenty about him she can appreciate:
...while she was, in fact, watching a shirtless Cam Mayfield swing a hammer. And what a view it was, all tanned flesh and rippling muscles. She should probably feel guilty about using his body as her entertainment, but she didn’t have cable.
I enjoyed the banter between the two. It felt real and adult while at the same time being funny and sexy and showing the genuine open affection between them.
Cam stared blankly at the menu in his hand, his mind on everything but the food choices. He’d kissed her. In the paint section of a home-improvement warehouse, no less. Classy.
“I’m having a cheeseburger,” Anna said. “With fries smothered in vinegar and salt.”
“I told you I wouldn’t kiss you again. You don’t have to poison your mouth.”
“Very funny. What are you having?"
“Something with onions and garlic."
And, there's this:
He wasn’t a cuddler or a spooner, preferring to sleep on his opposite side...
At last! From a vox pop of my friends and family, this is actually pretty common outside romance novels (it certainly is in my house) so it was nice to see a romance hero who likes his own space in the bed.
The couple reach a reasonable compromise in the end, which I believe will satisfy both of their needs without either having to give up what is essential to them. I loved that.
I could happily have read a full length story featuring these two and I did feel that the end was somewhat rushed. I also thought Anna's reaction to Cam's confession of love was a bit odd - almost like she didn't hear him when he said "I love you Anna". But these are small niggles in an otherwise delightful fun and sexy book. I recommend. :)
What else? I learned that "camp" is a New England term for a holiday cabin used mainly either for snow or in the summer - what we Australians call a "shack". See, you really do learn stuff from romance novels! :) Now, if someone would tell me what "steak tips" are....
Grade: B+
www.kaetrinsmusings.blogspot.com
May 27, 2012
My Blog: HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews
Great Summer Read! Slow Summer Kisses by Shannon Stacey was such a fun read; I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face as I read this book.
Cam and Anna spent a summer together as kids; Cam remembers Anna as the kid that annoyed the hell out of him. Fast-forward a few years and Cam learns that Anna is moving into the cabin next door while she evaluates her next career move and realizes that nothings changed she still annoys the hell out of him.
Cam with his laid back attitude and charm was just adorable, while Anna with her list and hyperactive personality drove Cam Crazy. It was fun watching Anna learn to relax and unwind as the book progressed. Anna and Cam are perfect for each other, it was fun to watch them fall in love. I couldn’t help but wonder how they would work it out and get to their HEA but Shannon did an awesome job with it. This book was my first Shannon Stacey book; it’s safe to say it won’t be my last.
Slow Summer kisses was funny, heartwarming and sexy; a perfect summer read.
The banter between Cam and Anna was witty and humorous with plenty of Laugh out moments; Here are a couple of my favorite parts from the book.
Great Summer Read! Slow Summer Kisses by Shannon Stacey was such a fun read; I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face as I read this book.
Cam and Anna spent a summer together as kids; Cam remembers Anna as the kid that annoyed the hell out of him. Fast-forward a few years and Cam learns that Anna is moving into the cabin next door while she evaluates her next career move and realizes that nothings changed she still annoys the hell out of him.
Cam with his laid back attitude and charm was just adorable, while Anna with her list and hyperactive personality drove Cam Crazy. It was fun watching Anna learn to relax and unwind as the book progressed. Anna and Cam are perfect for each other, it was fun to watch them fall in love. I couldn’t help but wonder how they would work it out and get to their HEA but Shannon did an awesome job with it. This book was my first Shannon Stacey book; it’s safe to say it won’t be my last.
Slow Summer kisses was funny, heartwarming and sexy; a perfect summer read.
The banter between Cam and Anna was witty and humorous with plenty of Laugh out moments; Here are a couple of my favorite parts from the book.
“Do you have your phone with you?” she asked. “I need you to call me.”
“No, I don’t have my phone. I’m fishing. And I’m sitting right next to you.”
“I think I have it set so it plays a certain song if you call me, but I’m not sure”
He turned his head, scowling at her. “A certain song? Which song?”
“Call me and you’ll find out…..
“whatever. If I want to call you, I’ll yell out the window.”
"What the hell is that you're wearing? It's a Yankees T-shirt. You're a Yankees fan." He could barely get the words out.
"Yup."
"I kissed a Yankees fan."
“Yup. Really well, too.”
It was too late for mouthwash, so he did the next best thing and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.
“Get off my dock.”
Cam: “Every time we sit on the dock, I want to strip you naked and take you right there.”
Anna: “And Yet we watch leaves float by instead”
June 25, 2012
Shannon Stacey steals your heart with this Summer Romance
I was SOOO excited when she announced a Summer Novella was being published. I love her Kowalski Series and I was hoping that this novella would be all include all the things I love about a Shannon Stacey romance, and she did not disappoint.
Flawed lovable heroine, dashing sexy-as-all get out hero, and a build-up of emotions and romance that sets the pages on fire.
In Slow Summer Kisses we meet Anna Frazier, who is in need of A LOT of relaxation, but she has been on the go, go, go so long, she doesn't know what to do with quiet...and I mean A lot of quiet, as she has taken some time after losing her big city job to spend the summer at her grandparents lake cabin where she spent so many summers as a child. NOTHING about the lake is as she remembers, except maybe her next door neighbor, Cameron Mayfield.
Anna is just as Cam remembers, bossy, loud and unable to settle down for five seconds. The only thing she hadn't been back in the day was drop-dead gorgeous, with legs that go for miles. He just wants some peace and quiet in his life, the way he'd been living since he left the rat race after a family tragedy years ago, and all Anna does is remind him of who he used to be.
Cam will just have to find a way to keep Anna relaxed and not so high-strung, and he knows exactly the way to do it, but can he keep his heart out of the equation when he begins to enjoy spending so much time with Anna? Will Anna leave the lake when she finds another position or will she stick around and make one summer a forever summer?
I really, really enjoyed this novella by Shannon Stacey and I know you will too. Not only is Cam freakn adorable, but if you are like me, you will find yourself falling more and more in love with him page after page.
I highly recommend this GREAT summer read, and If you haven't read her other romances, you need to grab up all three of the Kowalski Series today!!
I was SOOO excited when she announced a Summer Novella was being published. I love her Kowalski Series and I was hoping that this novella would be all include all the things I love about a Shannon Stacey romance, and she did not disappoint.
Flawed lovable heroine, dashing sexy-as-all get out hero, and a build-up of emotions and romance that sets the pages on fire.
In Slow Summer Kisses we meet Anna Frazier, who is in need of A LOT of relaxation, but she has been on the go, go, go so long, she doesn't know what to do with quiet...and I mean A lot of quiet, as she has taken some time after losing her big city job to spend the summer at her grandparents lake cabin where she spent so many summers as a child. NOTHING about the lake is as she remembers, except maybe her next door neighbor, Cameron Mayfield.
Anna is just as Cam remembers, bossy, loud and unable to settle down for five seconds. The only thing she hadn't been back in the day was drop-dead gorgeous, with legs that go for miles. He just wants some peace and quiet in his life, the way he'd been living since he left the rat race after a family tragedy years ago, and all Anna does is remind him of who he used to be.
Cam will just have to find a way to keep Anna relaxed and not so high-strung, and he knows exactly the way to do it, but can he keep his heart out of the equation when he begins to enjoy spending so much time with Anna? Will Anna leave the lake when she finds another position or will she stick around and make one summer a forever summer?
I really, really enjoyed this novella by Shannon Stacey and I know you will too. Not only is Cam freakn adorable, but if you are like me, you will find yourself falling more and more in love with him page after page.
I highly recommend this GREAT summer read, and If you haven't read her other romances, you need to grab up all three of the Kowalski Series today!!
July 20, 2012
What a great little book. Anna, a high powered financier, has lost her job due to downsizing. She decides to spend some time trying to relax at her grandparents' lakeside cottage. She becomes reacquainted with her childhood friend and playmate, Cameron, who has left his powerful law career and marriage behind to live a more simple life at the lake. He supports himself doing odd jobs for the local residents. Of course they become sexually attracted and have some good times not realizing they were falling in love. We get to see Anna discover for herself what is important in her life. Very satisfying read.
July 6, 2012
As usual, Stacey writes snappy dialog that makes me laugh out loud and creates characters - heroes especially - who feel so real I'd swear she was borrowing people from my life to populate her books. Unfortunately, this story didn't really grab me like hers usually do. I don't know if it was the shorter length or what, but I felt hurried along and like I was missing out on their romance developing.
Not bad, but it's not my favorite of hers, much as I wanted to love "my" story with the Sox-Yankees conflict. I'm an asshole like that.
Not bad, but it's not my favorite of hers, much as I wanted to love "my" story with the Sox-Yankees conflict. I'm an asshole like that.
October 20, 2013
//ebook
2.5 stars
I actually had some "reflections" after finishing the book. City life. Provincial life.
It's somehow similar to one of Kinsella's books (I forgot the title!) wherein this hot shot lawyer woman was kind of fed up in the city, so she went for a vacation and ended up loving it there. Almost like that. Hahaha!
Wait, or was it Cecelia Ahern's? I forgot.... : /
---
“You can’t rush kisses. You have to slow down and savor them. Lose yourself in them.”
2.5 stars
I actually had some "reflections" after finishing the book. City life. Provincial life.
It's somehow similar to one of Kinsella's books (I forgot the title!) wherein this hot shot lawyer woman was kind of fed up in the city, so she went for a vacation and ended up loving it there. Almost like that. Hahaha!
Wait, or was it Cecelia Ahern's? I forgot.... : /
---
“You can’t rush kisses. You have to slow down and savor them. Lose yourself in them.”
February 5, 2017
Una lectura muy ligera y rápida de leer, y tomando en cuenta eso, agradable. No diré que me gustó, pero sí que el tiempo que se invierte leyéndola es bueno. Es una historia sencilla, con personajes nada complicados. Cam y Anna. No logré conectar con ninguno, y en realidad tampoco con su historia de amor. Todo era muy predecible, sin embargo como cosa extraña no estuvo mal.
July 9, 2012
Don't get me wrong. Shannon Stacey writes really well and I get why some readers will simply loooove this story, but, for me, the heroine reminded me of those annoying, yippy toy dogs that are carried as accessories and named Princess. On the bright side, it was short.
June 5, 2012
Mmmhmm good.
June 9, 2012
Short, sweet, and fluffy - a perfect summer read.
February 10, 2015
I love that she knits
July 10, 2016
Justamente lo que me esperaba, una historia ligera, juvenil, leída en solo dos horas, con un final feliz y sin problemas ni traumas. Me gustó ;)
June 6, 2012
I thought this was a cute love story....just wish it was a little longer.
July 8, 2013
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“Cam got out of his truck and the door slamming drowned out the curse he let loose. He wanted to sit on the dock and drink a beer, not play bellhop for a woman who didn’t have the sense to wear sneakers.”
When Cameron Mayfield is asked by his close friends Jim and Betty Frazier to look out for their granddaughter, Anna, while she’s staying at their cottage on Lake Askaskwi over the summer, Cameron is anything but pleased. Although the two haven’t seen one another since they were children, Cameron hasn’t forgotten the uptight, bossy ten-year-old he once knew. After escaping a former life of stress and pressure, Anna’s return to the lake is little more than a potential reminder of all that Cameron has chosen to leave behind. Returning to New Hampshire after losing her job in the fast-paced, high-powered world of New York City finance, Anna needs some time to decompress and reevaluate her life and her priorities. Armed with a series of lists, a can-do attitude and what she believes is a foolproof plan for success, the one thing Anna never planned on was to fall in love with her inscrutable and mercurial neighbour.
“She jumped and then pointed her finger at him. “I’m going to put a bell around your neck.”
“You’re welcome to try.”
I haven’t always had the best luck with novellas. I often find that the unfortunate consequence of a shortened word count is the limitation of an author’s ability to explore their story with any amount of depth or substance. In all honesty, I didn’t notice that Slow Summer Kisses was a novella until after I had purchased it. Had I known, I likely wouldn’t have read this particular book, and that would have been a shame because I absolutely loved this sweet little story! I completed this novella after a particularly egregious two-week-long reading slump and it was precisely what I needed to snap me out of my funk. With a touch of sensuality and a whole lot of heart, Slow Summer Kisses is the ideal addition to anyone’s summer reading list.
“She was still listing off things she needed to add as she walked away and Cam shook his head. So much for knitting relaxing her. He was beginning to suspect the only thing that would relax Anna were a couple of Valium with a whiskey chaser.”
Former class valedictorian and all-around Type-A personality Anna Frazier has returned to spend the summer at her grandparents’ cottage in New Hampshire following the unexpected loss of her job in the financial district. Having spent the last fifteen years following a very specific plan for success and doing exactly what is expected of her, Anna is left adrift and unsure of what to do when her job search doesn’t immediately yield results. Plagued by anxiety, high blood pressure and an ulcer, Anna’s former high-stress lifestyle has left her with a rather painful legacy. Having grown constantly used to being on the go, Anna struggles to adjust to the slower pace of the small New Hampshire community. Although she takes up both knitting and gardening, Anna soon finds out that her favourite pastime is trading kisses with the often-grumpy Cameron Mayfield. With every intention of making her stay of short duration, Anna knows she can’t afford to develop feelings for him, but for the first time in her life, her head and her heart may not be in agreement about what is best for her. While I could certainly empathize and connect with Anna as a fellow planner and Type-A personality, I did grow a little tired of her continual complaints about being ‘bored’ when she wasn’t constantly involved in something. To quote the illustrious Betty Draper from AMC’s Mad Men – “Only boring people are bored”. Her constant need for attention and engagement unfortunately reminded me a little of a child who can’t entertain themselves. That small gripe aside, I was happy to see Anna willing to stand up to Cameron, who could often be more than a little intimidating, as well as challenging herself to learn new things. Her willingness to grow and compromise was extremely admirable and she was a character who was easy to care for.
“He’d had sex with a woman who thought the New York Yankees were better than the Boston Red Sox. There was probably going to be a special place in hell just for him. A place with no beer and no sports and remote controls with dead batteries while the TVs were all stuck on Real Housewives of someplace or another.”
For rugged outdoorsman Cameron Mayfield, Anna Frazier is a reminder of the life he left behind. Formerly married to a woman who was more interested in their gross annual income than in Cameron’s well-being and employed as an attorney in a high-powered, competitive law firm, Cameron left it all behind following the untimely death of his father. Having been settled in Askaskwi Lake for the past four years, Cameron has left the trappings and inevitable strain of his former consumer-driven life behind and now lives a relatively simple life working as a carpenter and roofer, all while doing other assorted odd jobs around town. A man of few words who likes nothing more than a cold beer, a quiet afternoon spent fishing and listening to the Red Sox play on the radio, Cameron is the epitome of a ‘man’s man’. Wild and a little rough around the edges, Cameron certainly had the ability to make me weak at the knees! That said, while I found Cam attractive within the context of the story, I’m not sure I would personally be able to put up with his rather mercurial moods and domineering attitude in real life. I don’t mind Alpha males in romance stories as long as their behaviour doesn’t border on abusive, but I could certainly understand why select readers might find a couple of his comments a little irritating. While Cameron was often a little bossy and demanding towards Anna, I felt as though he only ever had Anna’s best interests at heart and worried and cared deeply for her.
“You’re a Yankees fan.”
“Yup.”
“I kissed a Yankees fan.”
“Yup. Really well, too.”
It was too late for mouthwash, so he did the next best thing and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Get off my dock.”
On the surface of things, Anna and Cameron are about as incompatible as they come. With vastly different ideas of what their futures will entail and with personalities that seem to clash at every turn, Stacey perfectly captures the ‘love-to-hate’ dynamic. Painfully aware of the differences between them, both struggle with their growing feelings as they grapple with the fact that their affair will likely be of short duration because of Anna’s plans to eventually leave New Hampshire and return to the financial sector in a major city. Their hesitation about confronting the depth of their true feelings for one another because of this obstacle added an additional element to their relationship that I greatly appreciated.
As I mentioned earlier, often times in novellas romances have a habit of feeling rushed because of the abridged nature of the story. This often results in the much-dreaded ‘instalove’ phenomenon where characters seem to fall too hard and too fast in order to necessitate the development of their relationship in a rather short period of time. While Cameron and Anna do grow quite close rather quickly in Slow Summer Kisses, I was more able to accept this in this particular case because of their past history together. The foundation of their relationship, formed as a friendship when they were children, made their eventual romantic coupling more believable. Their playful banter and occasional reminiscences about their past as children together were very cute. While I would have loved to read about Anna and Cameron’s story in greater depth in a full-length novel as I was very engaged in their relationship, I was completely satisfied with what Stacey provided us within the strict parameters of a novella-length story.
“You can’t rush kisses. You have to slow down and savour them. Lose yourself in them.”
“There’s no right or wrong way to kiss, Cam.”
“There may not be a wrong way, but there are better ways than standing in Home Depot or kissing so fast I thought a bird flew by and smacked me in the mouth.”
…
Cam took a half step closer to her, definitely crowding her space a little, and ran his hand from her elbow to shoulder. “A kiss should be anticipated. You should know it’s coming so your heart can beat faster and your skin can flush with heat.”
Perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Victoria Dahl, Slow Summer Kisses is a cute contemporary romance that will sweep you away and leave you longing for more. Shannon Stacey accomplishes a lot within the restrictive confines of a novella-length story. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, delightful, light-hearted summer romance, this is the book for you! Currently retailing for a mere $2.36 on Amazon.com, Shannon Stacey’s Slow Summer Kisses is a veritable steal.
“Cam got out of his truck and the door slamming drowned out the curse he let loose. He wanted to sit on the dock and drink a beer, not play bellhop for a woman who didn’t have the sense to wear sneakers.”
When Cameron Mayfield is asked by his close friends Jim and Betty Frazier to look out for their granddaughter, Anna, while she’s staying at their cottage on Lake Askaskwi over the summer, Cameron is anything but pleased. Although the two haven’t seen one another since they were children, Cameron hasn’t forgotten the uptight, bossy ten-year-old he once knew. After escaping a former life of stress and pressure, Anna’s return to the lake is little more than a potential reminder of all that Cameron has chosen to leave behind. Returning to New Hampshire after losing her job in the fast-paced, high-powered world of New York City finance, Anna needs some time to decompress and reevaluate her life and her priorities. Armed with a series of lists, a can-do attitude and what she believes is a foolproof plan for success, the one thing Anna never planned on was to fall in love with her inscrutable and mercurial neighbour.
“She jumped and then pointed her finger at him. “I’m going to put a bell around your neck.”
“You’re welcome to try.”
I haven’t always had the best luck with novellas. I often find that the unfortunate consequence of a shortened word count is the limitation of an author’s ability to explore their story with any amount of depth or substance. In all honesty, I didn’t notice that Slow Summer Kisses was a novella until after I had purchased it. Had I known, I likely wouldn’t have read this particular book, and that would have been a shame because I absolutely loved this sweet little story! I completed this novella after a particularly egregious two-week-long reading slump and it was precisely what I needed to snap me out of my funk. With a touch of sensuality and a whole lot of heart, Slow Summer Kisses is the ideal addition to anyone’s summer reading list.
“She was still listing off things she needed to add as she walked away and Cam shook his head. So much for knitting relaxing her. He was beginning to suspect the only thing that would relax Anna were a couple of Valium with a whiskey chaser.”
Former class valedictorian and all-around Type-A personality Anna Frazier has returned to spend the summer at her grandparents’ cottage in New Hampshire following the unexpected loss of her job in the financial district. Having spent the last fifteen years following a very specific plan for success and doing exactly what is expected of her, Anna is left adrift and unsure of what to do when her job search doesn’t immediately yield results. Plagued by anxiety, high blood pressure and an ulcer, Anna’s former high-stress lifestyle has left her with a rather painful legacy. Having grown constantly used to being on the go, Anna struggles to adjust to the slower pace of the small New Hampshire community. Although she takes up both knitting and gardening, Anna soon finds out that her favourite pastime is trading kisses with the often-grumpy Cameron Mayfield. With every intention of making her stay of short duration, Anna knows she can’t afford to develop feelings for him, but for the first time in her life, her head and her heart may not be in agreement about what is best for her. While I could certainly empathize and connect with Anna as a fellow planner and Type-A personality, I did grow a little tired of her continual complaints about being ‘bored’ when she wasn’t constantly involved in something. To quote the illustrious Betty Draper from AMC’s Mad Men – “Only boring people are bored”. Her constant need for attention and engagement unfortunately reminded me a little of a child who can’t entertain themselves. That small gripe aside, I was happy to see Anna willing to stand up to Cameron, who could often be more than a little intimidating, as well as challenging herself to learn new things. Her willingness to grow and compromise was extremely admirable and she was a character who was easy to care for.
“He’d had sex with a woman who thought the New York Yankees were better than the Boston Red Sox. There was probably going to be a special place in hell just for him. A place with no beer and no sports and remote controls with dead batteries while the TVs were all stuck on Real Housewives of someplace or another.”
For rugged outdoorsman Cameron Mayfield, Anna Frazier is a reminder of the life he left behind. Formerly married to a woman who was more interested in their gross annual income than in Cameron’s well-being and employed as an attorney in a high-powered, competitive law firm, Cameron left it all behind following the untimely death of his father. Having been settled in Askaskwi Lake for the past four years, Cameron has left the trappings and inevitable strain of his former consumer-driven life behind and now lives a relatively simple life working as a carpenter and roofer, all while doing other assorted odd jobs around town. A man of few words who likes nothing more than a cold beer, a quiet afternoon spent fishing and listening to the Red Sox play on the radio, Cameron is the epitome of a ‘man’s man’. Wild and a little rough around the edges, Cameron certainly had the ability to make me weak at the knees! That said, while I found Cam attractive within the context of the story, I’m not sure I would personally be able to put up with his rather mercurial moods and domineering attitude in real life. I don’t mind Alpha males in romance stories as long as their behaviour doesn’t border on abusive, but I could certainly understand why select readers might find a couple of his comments a little irritating. While Cameron was often a little bossy and demanding towards Anna, I felt as though he only ever had Anna’s best interests at heart and worried and cared deeply for her.
“You’re a Yankees fan.”
“Yup.”
“I kissed a Yankees fan.”
“Yup. Really well, too.”
It was too late for mouthwash, so he did the next best thing and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Get off my dock.”
On the surface of things, Anna and Cameron are about as incompatible as they come. With vastly different ideas of what their futures will entail and with personalities that seem to clash at every turn, Stacey perfectly captures the ‘love-to-hate’ dynamic. Painfully aware of the differences between them, both struggle with their growing feelings as they grapple with the fact that their affair will likely be of short duration because of Anna’s plans to eventually leave New Hampshire and return to the financial sector in a major city. Their hesitation about confronting the depth of their true feelings for one another because of this obstacle added an additional element to their relationship that I greatly appreciated.
As I mentioned earlier, often times in novellas romances have a habit of feeling rushed because of the abridged nature of the story. This often results in the much-dreaded ‘instalove’ phenomenon where characters seem to fall too hard and too fast in order to necessitate the development of their relationship in a rather short period of time. While Cameron and Anna do grow quite close rather quickly in Slow Summer Kisses, I was more able to accept this in this particular case because of their past history together. The foundation of their relationship, formed as a friendship when they were children, made their eventual romantic coupling more believable. Their playful banter and occasional reminiscences about their past as children together were very cute. While I would have loved to read about Anna and Cameron’s story in greater depth in a full-length novel as I was very engaged in their relationship, I was completely satisfied with what Stacey provided us within the strict parameters of a novella-length story.
“You can’t rush kisses. You have to slow down and savour them. Lose yourself in them.”
“There’s no right or wrong way to kiss, Cam.”
“There may not be a wrong way, but there are better ways than standing in Home Depot or kissing so fast I thought a bird flew by and smacked me in the mouth.”
…
Cam took a half step closer to her, definitely crowding her space a little, and ran his hand from her elbow to shoulder. “A kiss should be anticipated. You should know it’s coming so your heart can beat faster and your skin can flush with heat.”
Perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Victoria Dahl, Slow Summer Kisses is a cute contemporary romance that will sweep you away and leave you longing for more. Shannon Stacey accomplishes a lot within the restrictive confines of a novella-length story. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, delightful, light-hearted summer romance, this is the book for you! Currently retailing for a mere $2.36 on Amazon.com, Shannon Stacey’s Slow Summer Kisses is a veritable steal.
January 11, 2017
Esta es la primer obra que leo de esta escritora, algo que no entiendo, porque muchas personas me han recomendado la serie Kowalski Family y he visto que tiene muy buena criticas, en fin.
La sorpresa que me lleve fue que su pluma es rápida y sencilla, no sé si es porque es una historia corta pero es de esas escrituras que va al punto.
¿Los sucesos? Muy predecibles pero agradables, es decir, es de aquellas historias que sabes lo que pasará sin embargo no importa es agradable leer lo que sabes.
Cam... vaya, un chico tratando de salir adelante y dejando todo atrás, me gusto como lo describió la autora con una dosis de realismo más de lo que esperaba.
Anna por el contrario de Cam, ella quiere controlarlo todo, quiere pasar ocupada tanto como pueda para así evitar pensar demasiado en ciertas cosas. Me gustó que fuera de esas protagonistas inteligentes y duras pero que a la vez era tan delicada. Nuevamente más realismo de lo que esperaba.
Polos opuestos, pero complementarios.
Una lectura fácil de llevar y entretenida.
La sorpresa que me lleve fue que su pluma es rápida y sencilla, no sé si es porque es una historia corta pero es de esas escrituras que va al punto.
¿Los sucesos? Muy predecibles pero agradables, es decir, es de aquellas historias que sabes lo que pasará sin embargo no importa es agradable leer lo que sabes.
Cam... vaya, un chico tratando de salir adelante y dejando todo atrás, me gusto como lo describió la autora con una dosis de realismo más de lo que esperaba.
Anna por el contrario de Cam, ella quiere controlarlo todo, quiere pasar ocupada tanto como pueda para así evitar pensar demasiado en ciertas cosas. Me gustó que fuera de esas protagonistas inteligentes y duras pero que a la vez era tan delicada. Nuevamente más realismo de lo que esperaba.
Polos opuestos, pero complementarios.
Una lectura fácil de llevar y entretenida.
May 25, 2017
Lectura cortita y sin muchas vueltas; con un estilo muy de novela Harlequin, pero sin tanto drama y con más humor!
Los personajes son más bien sencillos pero no por eso aburridos, Anna me encanto! Quizás parece un poco loca y está demasiado estresada (además de que anda estresando a los que andan cerca de ella) pero me pareció un personaje fresco, con una actitud bien puesta, nada de niña tonta. Y Cam, bueno, cumple perfectamente el rol de vecino malhumorado y buenorro.
El final fue bonito, con una resolución sencilla y predecible, pero estuvo bien dulce y empalagoso (como me gustan a veces mis libros). SI tuviese que recomendar este libro,
lo haría hacia personas que quieren cortar un poco de lectura pesada, o si tienen ganas de una lectura sencilla, fácil y con un felices para siempre escrito por todos lados.
Los personajes son más bien sencillos pero no por eso aburridos, Anna me encanto! Quizás parece un poco loca y está demasiado estresada (además de que anda estresando a los que andan cerca de ella) pero me pareció un personaje fresco, con una actitud bien puesta, nada de niña tonta. Y Cam, bueno, cumple perfectamente el rol de vecino malhumorado y buenorro.
El final fue bonito, con una resolución sencilla y predecible, pero estuvo bien dulce y empalagoso (como me gustan a veces mis libros). SI tuviese que recomendar este libro,
lo haría hacia personas que quieren cortar un poco de lectura pesada, o si tienen ganas de una lectura sencilla, fácil y con un felices para siempre escrito por todos lados.
January 6, 2017
La historia es corta, pero linda.
Me gustaron los personajes, Anna es de esas mujeres que necesitan controlarlo todo, en todo momento y Cam es un relajado total. Son completamente diferentes y sin embargo se sienten atraídos desde el primer momento. Me gustó como su relación va fluyendo, a pesar de que van muy rápidos para mis gustos pero eso es en parte por lo corto del libro.
Creo que es primera vez que leo algo de esta autora y ya me gustó por el ritmo ágil y ligero de la historia, de verdad que se lee súper fácil y rápido.
El final fue muy esperado, pero igual de dulce que el resto del libro. ¿Mi parte favorita? la discusión Yankees/Boston donde por supuesto estoy de parte de Anna. Los Yankees son mejores.
Me gustaron los personajes, Anna es de esas mujeres que necesitan controlarlo todo, en todo momento y Cam es un relajado total. Son completamente diferentes y sin embargo se sienten atraídos desde el primer momento. Me gustó como su relación va fluyendo, a pesar de que van muy rápidos para mis gustos pero eso es en parte por lo corto del libro.
Creo que es primera vez que leo algo de esta autora y ya me gustó por el ritmo ágil y ligero de la historia, de verdad que se lee súper fácil y rápido.
El final fue muy esperado, pero igual de dulce que el resto del libro. ¿Mi parte favorita? la discusión Yankees/Boston donde por supuesto estoy de parte de Anna. Los Yankees son mejores.
April 9, 2020
Anna is staying at her grandparent's summer home to regroup after being downsized. Relaxing is not something she knows how to do. As a child she use to visit her grandparents and hang out with the neighbor boy, Cam. When Anna shows up Cam knows that he is quiet life is about to become a lot louder. One look at her and he knows she is trouble. Little, loud Anna has grown into an amazing woman. He knows she is not staying, it's only temporary. He does not want a relationship. So why is he so drawn to her? Sometimes the things we really need find us when we least expect it. Great story.
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