Melody Spencer has a plan: work hard, stay focused and save enough money to get out of Stone Cliff and the rumors that surround her. Wounded and distrustful, she’s learned the hard way that if a guy is nice to her, it means he’s only after one thing.
Until Ryeland Montgomery cruises back into her resort town, beautifully protective as he insists they get to know each other better.
Ryeland’s future is in the palm of his hands. Problem is it’s the future his hard-nosed father has chosen for him, not the one he wants. Warned by his folks to steer clear of the local girls who will do whatever it takes to escape the sleepy mountain town, he’s always played the good son and kept his distance.
Until he sees Melody, sweet yet tough, standing on the road side, drenched and furious—a girl he knows he has to have.
Soon this unlikely pair find themselves lost in each other, and after a whirlwind summer of passion and pleasure, he vows to protect her from everything and everyone. But when secrets unfold, Melody is forced to make the toughest decision of her life and Ryeland must determine whether he's wasted the summer on nothing more than a beautiful lie, or if they can move past the deceit and rebuild the wreckage that has become their lives.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, aunt and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. Cathryn lives in beautiful Nova Scotia with her husband, who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. When not writing, Cathryn can be found Skyping with her son living in Seattle (could he have moved any farther away?) shopping with her daughter in the city, watching a big action flick with her husband, or hanging out and laughing with friends.
I was given an ARC of this book for my honest opinion. Let me just start out by saying I LOVED this book from beginning to end. Once again Cathryn Fox has written a book that drew me in from the first page of the first chapter.
This is the second book in her Stone Cliffs series and we get to meet Ryeland and Melody. She's the girl from the wrong side of the tracks and he's the rich boy who comes to the resort for the Summers with his family. As is expected there is the classic tug between the two and why they shouldn't be together. Mel is the girl everyone is talking about in town and the rumors going around about her place her in less than a positive light to say the least. But Rye has been watching Mel for a while now and by luck he finds the opportunity to "make his move" so to say!
Rye doesn't see what all the others in town see and he doesn't believe the rumors and he wants to get to know Mel and make the decision for himself. There's a chemistry between these two that you can feel coming off the pages as you get further and further into the book.
As we move through the story, there's a few surprises that come to light that literally had me saying WTH!!! I totally wasn't expecting that to happen....
Do Rye and Mel get what they each have been dreaming about all their lives or don't they? You'll just have to read the book to find out :o)
I highly recommend this to all the Cathryn Fox "Foxy Ladies" fans and to those of you haven't experienced a Cathryn Fox book, you should pick this one up and you'll be hooked just like me!!
Mel Spencer was just biding her time until she can escape the podunk town she's lived in all her life, and leave behind all the rumors that have followed her, some true but most false. She goes to work, her writing class a couple of town away, and minds her own business. That is, until Ryeland Montgomery comes back to town. Mel knows that she can't let him get to her and derail her plans because they are from two different worlds and they can never be.
Ryeland Montgomery is back in town for the summer before heading off to law school but he's actually come back with one mission in mind; to get Mel Spencer. Rye has always been the obedient son and followed the rules, until his parents prohibited him from having anything to do with Mel because in their eyes she will just trick him and make sure that he doesn't have the future they have planned for him.
Mel does her best to ignore Rye but he is persistent and finally breaks her down. One thing is for sure, though, there is more against them than with them.
There is plenty of drama, ex’s causing problems and family members plotting revenge in Wasted Summer. Take this emotionally beautiful trip with Rye and Mel as they battle whatever is thrown their way to reach their HEA. Ms. Fox gives us a glimpse of the next book and it looks good! ~ Kara, 4 Beautiful Stars
I really enjoyed this one. Melody is working her butt off to leave this town and its ugly rumors behind. In comes Ryeland, a guy he says he's different from the rest, but is he really. Enjoy the journey as Melody and Ryeland spend the summer getting g to know one another. Will everything that they've built come crashing down when secrets are revealed that could tear families apart.
Wasted Summer by Cathryn Fox is the second book from her Stone Cliff series. The setting is in Deerfield, a small tourist town in the Canadian Rockies. The story is centered around aspiring romance writer Melody Spencer, and physician wannabe Ryeland Montgomery. Melody is a townie and has lived in Deerfield her entire sad and twisted life. Working two jobs at the Stone Cliff Resort has allowed her to almost save enough money to escape the horrors of her past in the very near future. Her personal business is a plethora of fodder to the townspeople, in addition to some of the vacationers. Melody loves to write and she is on the cusp of having her work submitted to the publishing world. Ryeland is well educated, comes from wealth and his family spends every summer vacationing at the resort. He is not the quintessential, snobby vacationer. Ryeland is a nice guy that wants to use his knowledge, skills and abilities to help others. Much to the dismay of his father, he plans on being physician, instead of a slimy lawyer in his father's successful law firm.
This is both a hot and sweet love story. Melody and Ryeland have amazing chemistry and Ms. Fox evolves their relationship very thoughtfully. The old adage opposites attract is alive and well here. Melody and Ryeland are well-defined, and I could not get enough of them. The summer of Melody and Ryeland is full of secrets, which once unturned, changes their lives forever. I did not want the story to end because I just wanted to basque in their dreams of happiness.
Ms. Fox beautifully combines a little suspense, excitement, and heat into this new adult romance. I immediately connected with Melody and Ryeland, and there was never a moment that I did not want them to be together. The secondary characters are important in their own right, and add a ton of intrigue to the dramatic plot. Overall, this is a solid story with a happy ending that will leave a smile on your face. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone, however, I highly recommend that you read Crashing Down, the first book in the Stone Cliff series, because it is very good as well.
(Won an ARC from another author, review in no way effected by receiving this gift)
Melody Spencer a girl with a past that has left her hurt and looking for a way out of town the first chance she gets. So she keeps her head tucked, heart covered, to save up for the for first chance she can bust out a place that has nothing left for her but bad memories. And then there’s Ryeland Montgomery, sweet boy with the “world” at his fingertips, but it’s a world of his fathers picking not his. Both have very different visions of their future until rainy night things change, their paths cross and tangle together. That is until secrets raise up and threaten to destroy everything they have started to build.
From the beginning of the story brings you into a little town with big details and even bigger characters. They are real, there’s back story and grit to them, it’s not all rainbows and fireflies here. Everyone has their own demons, especially lovely Melody Spencer. Nothing goes right for her in the start of this story, that is until Ryeland pulls up playing white knight. Not that she was having any of his chivalry, I loved her back bone during this scene all prickly yet inside self doubting. She’s exactly how I imagine myself in this situation, it’s a connection that draws you in. Barriers she had built up, his crooked grin tears down.
From that point on the book is a great balance of scenes that make you feel for the characters and cheer for them. There was no scene I would call predictable, the story had me turning the page for the next chapter. My only grumble is within the details of the story I feel like getting to see the whole picture costs the story to lag just a little. It may just be my impatience to see what happens next, others might very well enjoy the world building in here. So in all I find this book enjoyable and a sweet believable read that I can picture happening, I will be putting this in my “Read Again” pile for sure.
Wasted Summer the second book in Cathryn Fox's Stone Cliff Series touches all of the emotions and keeps you coming back for more. Melody or Mel as she likes to be called knows what she wants and is determined to get it. She is a townie who is going to break free from her home town and all of her responsibilities and memories that hold her there. She just has to get enough money together and finish up some of her night classes and she is out of there. Ryeland is one of the guys who comes to Stone Cliff in the summer with his rich family and friends. They usually don't have the time of day for the townies unless they want something from them or just take it. Ryeland isn't like his family or his friends. He wants something different, but feels trapped by his family, friends and society. He knows that by the end of the summer he's going to make sure that his family knows that he's not going to follow in his father's footsteps and become a lawyer. From the first time these two meet there is a very strong connection, but they both know that it can't go anywhere because summer people don't date townies. They decide to keep their relationship in the friend zone, but soon their feelings for each other can't be denied. The more Mel's life spirals out of control and Ryeland's family expectations push him to rebel they gravitate towards one another. Two people that are extremely strong and independent alone are absolutely fierce together. I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review. All conclusions are mine and mine alone
I received an ARC for an honest review. Loved, Loved this story. This is a fantastically written story about two people coming together from two very different worlds. Ryeland Montgomery and Melody Spencer are as different as they can be. But Ryeland is intrigued by this beautiful creature who is sharp witted as she is strong and fierce. Melody Spencer doesn't trust any male and has good reason not too. But with persistence and flirty banter Ryeland finally gets under Melody's defenses. This book is such a pleasure to read with their flirty banter and the progression of their relationship but also with their sizzling chemistry that will keep you glued to this book until you are done and then it leaves you wanting more. Such a beautiful, romance that you can not miss. Thank you Cathryn Fox for such a fantastic story What a gift you have. Would love to read more on these two.
fabulous story. Rich boy vacations every summer at stone ridge, watches townie for years before he decides to go after her. His parents are against it and fight him on it, his friends are against it and try to split them and the townies are against it. against the odds the two spend the summer forming a strong bond. throw in some secrets revealed, some drama, and lots of loving support and you find yourself a 5 star read. this book stands alone, but leaves me ready to read what other love is found at stone ridge.
Ryeland comes from money and the best of everything. All his father wants is for him to follow in the family footsteps and do what is expected. Melody has struggled all her life to find something good. Working her way through school, she's ready to get away from all the tourists, small town rumors, her mother, and judgmental rich boys. Until Ryeland won't take no for an answer. As he pushes Melody outside her comfort range she falls harder and harder. Can they overcome his parents from the good side of the tracks and her mother from the other side?
No cheating, HFN/HEA They are in love with a lot against them. Like her mom getting betrayed by his dad with her best friend and they are the Hs parents. Melody has a bad rep that is completely false but she just wants to save enough to get away. Her mom is the town drunk and her father is in prison and a scumbag. The hero is a rich boy with aspirations to help people as a doctor but his father wants him to be a lawyer with him for his own secret reasons. This was a good read and the H really made me proud.
funny banter, different lives (rich/poor), twists and unexpected turns, unconditional love... Some of my favorite lines are: "I don't care. I'd rather be poor and happy with you than rich and without you." "Don't worry, baby. I'm going to give you every minute of every day of every year. Except right now I'm pretty sure I can only give a minute " "You cracked his nuts wide open my friend. Chipmunks will be following him around for weeks." (LMAO)
Take one hot guy and one broken girl. She's longing to get off the island and he's longing to get out from under his father's thumb. Can they realize that only they can help each other with their biggest issues? Will he get this head strong girl and will he forgive her for a few white lies... And awesome 2nd book in this series!
I liked the story until I got like 60% through it then I felt like the author was tired of writing and just threw a bunch of things to try and keep the story interesting. I would not read this book again.
I didn't like how this book in the series started either. It felt just a tad unrealistic but I was able to convince myself to just go with it. I'm not from a small town or a tourist resort town but I think it over exaggerated the fact that her reputation as the town slut was such a big deal. I mean you have all these college kids around the same age whether local or seasonal doing the same thing as what they're accusing her of and criticizing her for it yet they single out one person and everyone including adults are judging her and apparently know her. Then to make it even worse, Ryeland himself asks his friend if she really sleeps around and Cameron is the only person that isn't a hypocrite and says I don't think so but I mean we're all doing the same thing implying what makes them better than her even if she was sleeping around. It hit a nerve that Ryeland would actually claim not to judge her then do so behind her back when she's clearly seen him with a different girl every summer, he's implied he's been with a couple of girls but because he's male they're not looked down upon but rather praised for it, and since he's apparently watched her for years yet not once has he ever seen her with a guy. Ryeland did not start out well with me.
I also wanted Mel to stay true to her character before Ryeland started throwing himself in her life. It lasted one chapter then all of a sudden she immediately gives in and is opening herself up to him like they've known each other for months already. I would have liked to see her gradually and cautiously give him little things to start out and eventually build up to her life story but she pretty much bared her heart and soul to him in two days. That's it? A little persistence from someone (that could so easily have been ANYONE given they'd stalked her for a day or two) with a pretty face and a nice body is all it took to gain the trust of someone determined to get out of town. It happened so fast and took away from her character which was described to be very closed off and just minded her own business not letting anyone get close or bring her down. At first it's implied from the blurb and in the book that her life consists of her against the town and she has no one on her side but then there's a group of people (Jaelyn, a police officer, Jessica, Jamie, Cassandra) that aren't even judging her or don't look down on her making it seem a little too dramatic.
I don't know if it was just me but almost every character in this book just felt flat and fake. For example, I liked Cameron's perception of Mel as it felt like how a real person would think of her. But his dialogue and the way it's delivered in one scene feels like he's a bad actor reading from a script. It just felt so off and awkward, almost robotic even. Other characters just didn't feel like the same person by the end of the book and kept fluctuating between good and bad that it was hard to tell where to place them and what their purpose in the story was because they just disappeared and their part was left unresolved.
Just like the last book, it started getting a good rhythm about halfway in and I was just starting to root for Ryeland and Mel...Then the ending happened...so fast it came out of nowhere and I'm sitting here thinking wait, that's it? Problem solved? Where's the rest? The climax didn't deliver and failed because it was glossed over with a rushed ending and quick wrap up bringing the rest of the story down. While Crashing Down I might be able to read again at some point when I need something light and fluffy, I couldn't connect to the characters and don't care for them enough in this book to pick up again even for a cheesy read.
Another sexy, sweet, romantic read from Cathryn Fox. It was laugh out loud funny and filled with lots of heat between the two main characters. This is book two in the Stone Cliff series but can be read as a stand alone.
"Okay, let's do a tally. You think I'm infuriating, wimpy, and...adorable." "I never said adorable." He shifted closer, craving the heat of her body. "I know, but you're thinking it."
All Melody wants is to run as fast as she can away from Stone Cliff and the rumors that surround her. She's been hurt and had to learn the hard way that if a guy is nice to her, he’s only after one thing. So when sexy Ryeland Montgomery comes back to town and turns her world upside down, is she willing to let herself open up to someone and risk getting hurt?
"Just so you know, now that I know what it's like to kiss you, I'm never going to stop."
Ryeland comes home for the summer, his father determined that he take his place with the family law firm, uncaring of what his son wants. He's always been the good son but he's unhappy, wanting to be a doctor like those that saved his life as a child. In walks Mel and his whole life seems to brighten.
Ryeland - "I just got my ass kicked for you, and I probably have a concussion. I wouldn't be surprised if I wandered into oncoming traffic and got run over and this...this is how you treat me?"
Melody - "Are you always this dramatic? Maybe you should take a Midol?"
I swear, there were some points that I could not stop laughing. And did I mention how hot? Melody might be fighting her feelings for him but these two can't stop the attraction between them. Melody has been badly burned and is terrified of trusting Ryeland. But there is something about him grabs her. He's sweet and keeps proving to her that he's not like other guys. But there a huge amount of secrets threatening to tear these two apart and when all is said and done, will they ever be the same?
Mel Spencer was just buying out her time to leave the pu dunk a dunk town she's lived all her life and to leave all the rumors that have followed her, some true but most false. She goes to work, her writing class a couple of town away and minds her own business, that is until Ryeland Montgomery comes back to town. Mel knows though that she can't let him get to her and derail her plans because they are fro two different worlds and they can never be!
Ryeland Montgomery is back in town for the summer before heading off to law school in preparation to working with his father at his firm but he's actually come back with one mission in mind, to get Mel Spencer. Rye has always been the obedient son and followed the rules until his father & mother prohibit him from having anything to do with Mel because in their eyes she will just trick him and make sure that he doesn't have the future they have planned for him.
Mel does her best to ignore Rye but he is persistent and finally breaks her down, but one thing is for sure their there are more against them than with them. As Rye tries to help Mel see the potential she has and assures her that her past is her past there are people that are constantly reminding her that she will never amount to anything! There is plenty of drama, exe's causing problems and family members plotting revenge. Take this emotionally beautiful trip with Rye and Mel as they battle whatever is thrown their way to reach their HEA. Ms Fox gives us a glimpse of the next book and it looks good! 4 Beautiful Stars
I love the Stone Cliff series by Cathryn Fox. I loved the first book and the characters in it. And couldn't wait to see what she came up with for in this book.
I have to say I loved loved loved Ryeland. Even though he was supposed to be this spoiled rich boy. He didn't act like it and he wanted to do something different than what was expected of him.
Melody was a little harder for me to like and I'm not sure if I ever really came around to her character. Maybe I should say I came to understanding with her character. She was a strong and independent character, even with everything thrown her way.
I do have to say their are several characters in this book that I do not like and when you read it you'll find out why. Cathryn Fox did another great job in writing another great book in the Stone Cliff series.
I give this book 4 Out of 5 Stars and would recommend it. This book has a little bit of everything in it. It has a little bit of drama, some romance and of course some smexy time. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
**Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the author for my honest review**
This was my 2nd Cathryn Fox book and Wasted Summer didn't disappoint! A well written and steamy story an about two people coming together from two different upbringings. Ryeland and Mels characters were fun, witty, and strong-willed. A great story with a few twists and turns I totally didn't see coming! Highly recommend!