One Restless Summer

by Nikki Pennington

The July moon saw everything.



Amber

I’ve spent my entire life on my grandpa’s farm. He's my hero, my mentor, and the reason I'm the woman I am today.

I’ve got a great group of friends and a life I love. But, you know what they say about not knowing what you're missing until it finds you?

Chase Jennings was never in my plans. He gave me a whirlwind of a summer and then he was gone. My life was never the same after he left.

Chase

My life has had its fair share of obstacles. My parents gave me a dive headfirst into the family business, bypassing college, or tough it out on a farm to work for a different opportunity. The decision was crystal clear.

My heart yearned to carve its own path, to build something distinctly mine. Little did I know, a piece was missing until Amber waltzed into my life.

As we basked in the warmth of our fleeting summer love, we both knew the clock was ticking. Yet, I wouldn't trade those heart-stopping moments, wrapped in her embrace, for anything.

But what happens when the past, long buried, resurfaces? Was it just a reckless infatuation or a love story for the ages?

Was that one restless summer enough to last a lifetime?

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2024

Reviews

[Danielle Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber has been attached to her Grand's hip since the day she was born. The child of a teenage pregnancy and a mother who took a little extra time to grow up, by time she reached that point though he time was cut short. Being raised by her grandfather she has lived the best life she could have ever asked for on their family farm. She has never been the social butterfly most girls her age are so she tends to stick around the farm and help her grandpa out with the chores. Her grandpa has other plans for her though, he wants her to go to college, see the world, experience more than this small little town of theirs. With graduation right around the corner along with her 1gth birthday, he's really pushing her to go spend her last summer before college with her 4 best friends, but to do that he has to hire some help, and that help comes in the form of 18 year old Chase Jennings.

Chase has always had this dream, go to college for agriculture, own a farm of his own, marry and have a beautiful family. Only to his father his dreams are just that dreams. His father has a plan for him to get a degree in business and join the family business, and marry for social status. When his grandfather reaches out saying that his old neighbor from back home is needing a little summer help around his farm Chase jumps at the opportunity, what he is not expecting is to be totally blind sided by the farmers granddaughter, Amber White.

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Nikki love, holy cow, No I did not stay up until 1am devouring this book from 16% until the pages wouldn't let me turn anymore! No I did not cry the biggest ugly tears I have cried for a book in a long time. Okay yes I totally did both of those things, oh my heart went through the ringer ripped apart and put back together so many times, but thankfully the ending was the happlest ugly tears I could cry! You just keep writing these men swoonier and sweenter, malam and I am just in love with these 2.

[ReadonReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story of young love and loss and while the world keeps moving forward that love never really leaves your heart. Amber was such an amazing character with a heart of gold and loved her grandfather fiercely, but when he wants her to enjoy her last summer at home with her friends she is reluctant not to help until Chase walks into their life. Chase has dreams of having his own farm and family but coming from the family he does, that isn’t a possibility until he spends a summer with Amber and her grandfather. The summer that Amber and Chase find a love that is intense and honestly a real deal it is perfection and beautiful, until it isn’t and their paths take them in different directions. Years go by and they are both leading different lives and now they are back on the farm with so much that has been left unsaid and emotions running high, will these two find closure for what they once had or will this be the start of something new for them? I was so invested in this story my heart was breaking and healing with the best of them and I couldn’t put it down until I knew exactly how things would play out. It brings out emotions that have you loving every element of the story with fun side characters that are easy to love, but mostly it gives you a taste of young love and hope that leaves you smiling.

[Brittany Hayley Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished One Reckless Summer by Nikki Pennington. It is such a good sweet read. It follows our MFC Amber her life on her grandfather’s farm meeting our MMC Chase who comes to help on the farm for one summer. They instantly fall in love with each other. Things got in the way and they have been separated for 10 years. It is a second change small town romance. I do recommend this book to anyone who loves sweet stories. There isn’t much spice in it so I consider it a sweet book to read lol

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure how I feel about this book. There were parts I loved and kept me pulled in and then there were parts that I wasn’t a fan of and I had to push through to get back to the parts I loved. I loved the relationship between the main characters and the side characters all of that was well written and perfect! Some parts of the plot felt rushed mostly towards the end, but I also understood the rush. Over all it was a good read and I recommend it!

💙💙💙

[Robin ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC, and I thought it was so good. Very emotional and sweet book. I definitely was rooting for this couple. I would recommend it. Not my first book from this author. I have enjoyed all the books I have read so far by her.

Loved this quote at the beginning of the book.
They say that your first love never dies. You can put out the flames, but not the fire.
-Bonnie Tyler

[Kayla Pocernich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I was hooked from the very first page and fell in love with these two right away. I loved the chemistry and attraction that these two had and the banter between them was really amazing. Add this book to your TBR to see what happens with these two.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Armanda Spitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet read. It has two parts, the past and the present. Amber finds love at 17 to a young man that helps around her Gramps farm. Chase and Amber end up going separate ways as they were attending different colleges. Fast forward ten years and fate has them finding each other! I loved getting the backstory on their love and being a part of their journey of fate getting them back together.

[emilyreadsandreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt romance between two teenagers who spend one Summer to fall madly in. Nikki always writes books that can pull those heart strings. The way Chase and Amber have to go through life wondering if the other one still feels the same gets me every time. This story has love, loss, and rekindling and is the perfect feel good + a side of spice.

[-♥ Keppy ♥- · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello strawberry wine! This book was so sweet and had me in all my feelings. We follow Amber and Chase, and how fate brings them back together 10 years after one memorable summer. If you are in the mood for a sweet second chance small town romance this is 100% the book for you!

[Cynthia Woodham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent read. A beautiful well written story. Brought back summer memories of mine. A exciting time in young people life's. I like how the flashback were written.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reading_Junkie28 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just beautiful! Ten years after one amazing summer, Amber and Chase reunite….ALL THE FEELS!!! The chemistry between these two is ADDICTING. I loved this sweet, small town, second chance romance.

[Ashley McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber and Chase have the love we all dream about having. If it’s meant to be it will be and this is a a wonderful love story with twists and turns that take you by surprise. Highly recommend!

[Alonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute simple story. I grew up as a farm girl in a very small town in Kentucky, so relating to the female character, Amber was very easy for me. I also absolutely love Strawberry Wine by Deana Carter and the fact this book has elements of that song made me fall in love with it instantly. The emotions that were pulled from me were starting to become a problem when the words would blur because of my teary eyes. Definitely have your tissues ready if you're as much a softy as I am. Such an adorable story, but the spice was amazing as well.