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Summer Dreams
Where else but in her beloved New Mexico would Natalia Colon want to spend a summer---preferably in the strong arms of her macho childhood friend, Esteban Montalvo. But when she arrives home, hurting from a broken engagement, Natalia discovers her childhood pal has become a minor league baseball player, and with his dark, athletic good looks, is attracting women like bees to honey. She fears he'd never be interested in a bookish school teacher like her. But how wrong she is! Esteban has been secretly in love with Natalia from the time they were children, but he worries his love isn't good enough for her. Can he win Natalia's heart . . . with a soul-searing romance that fulfills all of her summer dreams.
159 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1999
20 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Hebby Roman
33 books307 followersHebby Roman is a New York traditionally published, small-press published, and Indie published #1 Amazon best-selling author of both historical and contemporary romances.
Her WEST TEXAS CHRISTMAS TRILOGY is an Amazon Bestselling and Award-Winning series. Her first contemporary romance, SUMMER DREAMS, was the launch title for Kensington’s Encanto line. And her re-published e-book, SUMMER DREAMS, was #1 in Amazon fiction and romance. Her medieval historical romance, THE PRINCESS AND THE TEMPLAR, was selected for the Amazon Encore program and was #1 in medieval fiction.
She was selected for the Romantic Times "Texas Author" award, and she won a national Harlequin contest. Her book, BORDER HEAT, was a Los Angeles Times Book Festival selection. She has been a RONE Finalist three times and in three different categories.
She is blessed to have all her family living close by in north Texas, including her two granddaughters, Mackenzie Reese and Presley Davis. Hebby lives in Arlington, Texas with her husband, Luis, and Maltipoo, Maximillian.
Her WEST TEXAS CHRISTMAS TRILOGY is an Amazon Bestselling and Award-Winning series. Her first contemporary romance, SUMMER DREAMS, was the launch title for Kensington’s Encanto line. And her re-published e-book, SUMMER DREAMS, was #1 in Amazon fiction and romance. Her medieval historical romance, THE PRINCESS AND THE TEMPLAR, was selected for the Amazon Encore program and was #1 in medieval fiction.
She was selected for the Romantic Times "Texas Author" award, and she won a national Harlequin contest. Her book, BORDER HEAT, was a Los Angeles Times Book Festival selection. She has been a RONE Finalist three times and in three different categories.
She is blessed to have all her family living close by in north Texas, including her two granddaughters, Mackenzie Reese and Presley Davis. Hebby lives in Arlington, Texas with her husband, Luis, and Maltipoo, Maximillian.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 2, 2016
Its summer and straight-laced teacher, Natalia has come home to New Mexico, once again. This year is different in so many ways, Natalia has broken off her engagement to a successful business man who rubbed elbows with the elite and her childhood friend, Esteban has become a babe magnet with his dark good looks and his quest to be a pro baseball player. Together they are still great friends, but something is different and Esteban may have stepped over the friendship line, terrifying Natalia that should they become friends with benefits, she will lose the one person she knows will always have her back.
Esteban has loved Natalia from afar for years, but now he is determined that she will know, fully hoping she will reciprocate his feelings, but those words refuse to leave her mouth. Is he not good enough for her? She deserves more than he could ever give her, unless he makes it to the big leagues, with his heart on his sleeve he vows to always be there for her and to make her see they are meant to be together, until her past comes slithering back in the shape of her ex-fiance, with a devious plan to save his own hide at any cost.
In a powerfully dramatic Hispanic romance, Hebby Roman gives us all the turmoil of angsty love, danger, and one woman who refuses to listen to her heart, let alone her grandmother when it comes to the love that is standing before with open arms. They say love can be blind and for as kind, caring and giving as Esteban is, Natalia is just as self-absorbed in her own life, needing continual proof that she is afraid to believe. But grandmothers and Cupids always know best, if only Natalia would listen. Will she push Esteban so far that he gives up or will she realize there is more to true love and the sense of “home” than the glamor and glitz of the big city?
I received this copy from Hebby Roman in exchange for my honest review.
Anthology: Summer Solstice: When Friends Become Lovers (Expected publication: June 21st 2016 )
Publisher: Estrella Books (January 15, 2014)
Publication Date: January 15, 2014
Genre: Hispanic Romance | Contemporary Romance
Print Length: 384 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Esteban has loved Natalia from afar for years, but now he is determined that she will know, fully hoping she will reciprocate his feelings, but those words refuse to leave her mouth. Is he not good enough for her? She deserves more than he could ever give her, unless he makes it to the big leagues, with his heart on his sleeve he vows to always be there for her and to make her see they are meant to be together, until her past comes slithering back in the shape of her ex-fiance, with a devious plan to save his own hide at any cost.
In a powerfully dramatic Hispanic romance, Hebby Roman gives us all the turmoil of angsty love, danger, and one woman who refuses to listen to her heart, let alone her grandmother when it comes to the love that is standing before with open arms. They say love can be blind and for as kind, caring and giving as Esteban is, Natalia is just as self-absorbed in her own life, needing continual proof that she is afraid to believe. But grandmothers and Cupids always know best, if only Natalia would listen. Will she push Esteban so far that he gives up or will she realize there is more to true love and the sense of “home” than the glamor and glitz of the big city?
I received this copy from Hebby Roman in exchange for my honest review.
Anthology: Summer Solstice: When Friends Become Lovers (Expected publication: June 21st 2016 )
Publisher: Estrella Books (January 15, 2014)
Publication Date: January 15, 2014
Genre: Hispanic Romance | Contemporary Romance
Print Length: 384 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
April 30, 2019
Oh my gosh we need a continuation of this book Roman, please don't say No!
September 22, 2017
Summer Dreams by Hebby Roman is such a spicy romantic book. Hebby incorporates just the right twist, which leaves you holding your breath to see the final outcome.
Natalia has come home to New Mexico to spend the summer with her grandmother at her beautiful mountain farm, after breaking her long engagement to Hector, a self absorbed money hungry broker. But Hector has set himself up for failure and his only way out of the hole he's dug, is Natalia's grandmothers land.
Esteban a baseball player still works and helps Natalia's grandmother, Pura, at her family farm.
As Natalia and Esteban rekindle their feelings for one another and discover the true meaning of love, they are about to be face a devil in disguise who only has one goal in mind. Saving himself from pure destruction.
Pura maybe 70 years old, but she's spry, healthy, and has a mind of her own. But does her decision in which she holds steadfast, destroy everything she loves?
Truly an explosive ending that had me cringing for no one to get hurt in the evil scheme that has come calling.
Hebby Roman truly pulls you in and keeps you glued until the end.
Natalia has come home to New Mexico to spend the summer with her grandmother at her beautiful mountain farm, after breaking her long engagement to Hector, a self absorbed money hungry broker. But Hector has set himself up for failure and his only way out of the hole he's dug, is Natalia's grandmothers land.
Esteban a baseball player still works and helps Natalia's grandmother, Pura, at her family farm.
As Natalia and Esteban rekindle their feelings for one another and discover the true meaning of love, they are about to be face a devil in disguise who only has one goal in mind. Saving himself from pure destruction.
Pura maybe 70 years old, but she's spry, healthy, and has a mind of her own. But does her decision in which she holds steadfast, destroy everything she loves?
Truly an explosive ending that had me cringing for no one to get hurt in the evil scheme that has come calling.
Hebby Roman truly pulls you in and keeps you glued until the end.
March 12, 2020
This review is of “Summer Dreams” by Hebby Roman.
The book takes place in New Mexico. It is here that Natalia Colon, 27, the heroine of the book and a special education teacher, has come to spend the summer with her abuela (grandmother for non-Spanish speakers), Pura Alberty. While in New Mexico, Natalia reunites with her longtime friend Esteban Montalvo, 25 (yes, a rare book where the heroine is older than the hero), the hero of the book. Esteban has many jobs: he works as a waiter at a local resort; he does odd jobs for Pura (who helped him when he was a teenager), and he plays minor-league baseball. Esteban is also madly in love with Natalia, who is on the rebound from her broken engagement to her former fiancee, Hector Garcia, a Dallas financial analyst who is involved in shady dealings.
As Natalia and Esteban grow closer, Hector shows up. He shows up for two reasons, both related. One, to get back his engagement ring from Natalia, and two, to try to convince Pura to sell him some land so he can build a path to another resort. On the first, Hector is successful; he is not on the second. He also gets Esteban fired from his job. However, this does not impede Esteban and Natalia from becoming lovers.
Hector then tries to force Pura to agree to his offer by having her farm vandalized. Pura is later injured as a result of this vandalism, but survives. Esteban is signed by the Kansas City Royals to a minor-league contract, proposes to Natalia, who gives up her job in Dallas to move to New Mexico, and they have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: I really appreciated reading a book with a non-anglo hero and heroine (This book was part of Kensington publishing’s “Encanto” series, published from 1999 through 2002, a series of books featuring Latinx characters and written by Latinx authors). Ms. Roman’s writing style in this book reminded me so much of the Harlequin Temptation books I read back in the day.
Natalia and Esteban are likeable, engaging characters, as is Pura, who would have made a great romantic heroine in her own right, even if she is 70!
Downside: There is a lack of depth among the characters. (The Kindle book is only 159 pages so perhaps that’s understandable). I didn’t like that Hector got away with his actions without consequences. I REALLY didn’t like the fact that Ms. Roman wrote that Esteban has a justice involved background (the current term used in Human Services, for people who have been arrested/in prison. I work in Human Services when I’m not reading books). I felt this was feeding into a stereotype of Latinx people, and it’s especially disturbing given that this was written by a Latinx author.
Sex: Two love scenes, which are about the level one would find in the Harlequin “Temptation” line of books. In other words, mildly descriptive and somewhat hot, but not reaching the level of erotica.
Violence: One amusing scene of violence when Esteban is kicked by Pura’s goat while trying to milk her. One less amusing scene of violence when Hector and Esteban get into a fight, which leads to Esteban losing his job. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: It could have been hotter and deeper, but “Summer Dreams” is a book that will appeal to fans of light Latinx romance and those who are fans of the Harlequin “Temptation” line of category romance. “Summer Dreams” is one of the better books I’ve read in quite a while.
The book takes place in New Mexico. It is here that Natalia Colon, 27, the heroine of the book and a special education teacher, has come to spend the summer with her abuela (grandmother for non-Spanish speakers), Pura Alberty. While in New Mexico, Natalia reunites with her longtime friend Esteban Montalvo, 25 (yes, a rare book where the heroine is older than the hero), the hero of the book. Esteban has many jobs: he works as a waiter at a local resort; he does odd jobs for Pura (who helped him when he was a teenager), and he plays minor-league baseball. Esteban is also madly in love with Natalia, who is on the rebound from her broken engagement to her former fiancee, Hector Garcia, a Dallas financial analyst who is involved in shady dealings.
As Natalia and Esteban grow closer, Hector shows up. He shows up for two reasons, both related. One, to get back his engagement ring from Natalia, and two, to try to convince Pura to sell him some land so he can build a path to another resort. On the first, Hector is successful; he is not on the second. He also gets Esteban fired from his job. However, this does not impede Esteban and Natalia from becoming lovers.
Hector then tries to force Pura to agree to his offer by having her farm vandalized. Pura is later injured as a result of this vandalism, but survives. Esteban is signed by the Kansas City Royals to a minor-league contract, proposes to Natalia, who gives up her job in Dallas to move to New Mexico, and they have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: I really appreciated reading a book with a non-anglo hero and heroine (This book was part of Kensington publishing’s “Encanto” series, published from 1999 through 2002, a series of books featuring Latinx characters and written by Latinx authors). Ms. Roman’s writing style in this book reminded me so much of the Harlequin Temptation books I read back in the day.
Natalia and Esteban are likeable, engaging characters, as is Pura, who would have made a great romantic heroine in her own right, even if she is 70!
Downside: There is a lack of depth among the characters. (The Kindle book is only 159 pages so perhaps that’s understandable). I didn’t like that Hector got away with his actions without consequences. I REALLY didn’t like the fact that Ms. Roman wrote that Esteban has a justice involved background (the current term used in Human Services, for people who have been arrested/in prison. I work in Human Services when I’m not reading books). I felt this was feeding into a stereotype of Latinx people, and it’s especially disturbing given that this was written by a Latinx author.
Sex: Two love scenes, which are about the level one would find in the Harlequin “Temptation” line of books. In other words, mildly descriptive and somewhat hot, but not reaching the level of erotica.
Violence: One amusing scene of violence when Esteban is kicked by Pura’s goat while trying to milk her. One less amusing scene of violence when Hector and Esteban get into a fight, which leads to Esteban losing his job. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: It could have been hotter and deeper, but “Summer Dreams” is a book that will appeal to fans of light Latinx romance and those who are fans of the Harlequin “Temptation” line of category romance. “Summer Dreams” is one of the better books I’ve read in quite a while.
February 28, 2014
Summer Dreams. Her dreams are preferably in the strong arms of her (Natalia Colon) macho childhood friend. It may be too late or is it? He has always been in love with her but after the hurt she went through with her broken engagement can she learn to open her heart and love again? Or will she push the one man who has loved her since young away and loose the chance of a lifetime? Now I want to know what the smell of Jasmine smells like lol. Hey at least with this book I get to learn some Spanish… which has me even more excited to read.
February 20, 2014
Definitely an average book with a happy ending. Standard storyline of girl goes "home" and rekindles feelings for a childhood friend who then returns them. The twist of it being a Latino romance might make the story appeal more to some readers but it didn't really do anything for me. I don't understand how nothing came of Hector's seemingly illegal money schemes, seems like that part should have been more fully flushed out. Glad it was a freebie.
March 5, 2017
Great story!
The characters and storyline were good the whole time, but for some reason the beginning seemed a little slow to me. I kept reading because it was good. By the last half I couldn't put it down, and ended up reading into the wee hours of the morning to finish it. It was a great story!
The characters and storyline were good the whole time, but for some reason the beginning seemed a little slow to me. I kept reading because it was good. By the last half I couldn't put it down, and ended up reading into the wee hours of the morning to finish it. It was a great story!
May 26, 2019
This was a very good book which kept me interested the entire time.
Natalia returns home to New Mexico for the summer to be with her grandmother. This year she returns after breaking her engagement to Hector only to find her true love with Esteban her childhood friend.
Natalia returns home to New Mexico for the summer to be with her grandmother. This year she returns after breaking her engagement to Hector only to find her true love with Esteban her childhood friend.
February 7, 2018
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
January 4, 2020
I admire Natalia’s devotion to her grandmother.
September 24, 2014
I was expecting more of this book, the blurb was OK but the story was simply not for me, nor the writing style for that matter. It took me a lot of time to read it because I didn't feel the story.
Want to read
February 16, 2014its free! http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00H926...
February 27, 2014
couldn't get into the book. =(
July 19, 2014
Read it but it was slow and a different kind of writing style.....
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews