Summer Under the Big Sky

by Ashley McKenna

Lacey came to Montana for a fresh start. A new job. A steady routine. Miles of open road, perfect for running when her thoughts grow too loud.

It was supposed to be simple.

What she didn’t anticipate was her first love reappearing—with a hotter-than-she-remembers smile and the kind of presence that derails all common sense. And to top it off, she can’t seem to avoid him.

He’s in her town. At her job. And everywhere she turns… stirring up memories and feelings she thought she left behind.

So Lacey sets a few very reasonable rules for herself: avoid Luke, don’t stare at his muscles, definitely don’t fall for that dimple, and pretend she’s over him.

All of which she is failing miserably at.

Luke’s life is simple—early morning sweat sessions, long days training clients, and evenings spent on the baseball field. But it always felt like something was missing… and he’s pretty sure the missing piece just arrived in a sundress and a smile that can undo him.

Lacey—his ex—has just shown up in the town he now calls home.

The problem? She doesn’t seem nearly as thrilled to see him.

If anything, Lacey is doing everything she can to keep her distance—to act like whatever they had is firmly in the past… but the more she pulls away, the harder Luke tries to convince her they’re worth another shot.

But there’s a hitch to his plan to get her back—

He didn’t tell her the whole truth the first time around…And he’s not sure he can tell her now.

One summer. One second chance they never saw coming.

Can they fix what tore them apart eight years ago?

402 pages, ebook

Expected publication June 3, 2026

Reviews

[Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer Under the Big Sky is a heartfelt second chance romance that completely pulled me in from 30%(but that’s cause I wanted them to be together) to finish.

I loved Lacey and Lucas and the way their connection never truly faded, even after time and distance separated them. There’s something so emotional about watching two people who were always meant to find their way back to each other, even when life takes them in different directions.

The small-town setting adds so much warmth and nostalgia to the story, making it feel grounded and comforting while still delivering all the emotional tension you want from a second chance romance.

And the baseball aspect? Absolutely loved it. As a baseball girly, that element brought an extra layer of charm and atmosphere that made the story even more engaging.

Tropes included:
⚾️ Second chance romance
⚾️ Small-town setting
⚾️ Baseball romance

Overall, this was an emotional, cozy, and satisfying read about timing, love, and the pull of a connection that never really disappears.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a fun read. I loved the chemistry between Lacey and Luke and how, even after all the years apart, they still had that pull to one another.

I really loved the friend group Lacey found herself a part of, and how interconnected they all were with Luke's family. And the banter was so good. Such a fun relationship, and even though they have crazy chemistry, it's also clear they really are good friends.

I really liked the small-town Montana setting (i've always wanted to visit!) and there were some moments that made me laugh out loud. One in particular I did NOT see coming. 👀😂

This was a really easy book to read and I flew through it! It's set in the summer, but would be a great book to read any time.

ARC review 🩷

[angies_book_garden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of ARC provided by author

This book had all of those heart warming feelings you get when someone mentions summer love, first love, and small town romances. It was equal parts sweet, nostalgic, and bittersweet. All of those years wasted due to miscommunication was hard to read because it could’ve been prevented.

The scenery was vivid and made me feel like I was there in Montana. I loved the flashbacks to their teenage years because it showed exactly how and why their relationship evolved. And the fact that Luke kept a shoebox of their memories? Swoon fest.

This was a great quick read to kick off the summer romance season.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

What a read!

Lacey and Luke met and fell in love when they were teenagers during summer vacation.
A couple of summers later, Luke breaks Lacey's heart! For reasons only he knows...
Eight years later, Lacey and Luke run into each other in the middle of a small town where Lacey is getting a new job.

Their story of growth and hilariously awkward moments make you laugh and cheer for them!

It's delightfully fun! I truly enjoyed it.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts:
Lacey and Lucas….always meant to be together but real life had different ideas for them.
What will happen when they reconnect?
Can they succeed in healing what happened in the past?

🩵Slow Burn
💚Second Chance
🤎Baseball Romance
💜Small Town
🧡Banter

Are you looking for a cozy, heartwarming book for your summer/beach reading?????? Well, here it is!

[Rylie Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so funny and cute. I laughed out loud multiple times and was giggling and kicking my feet when I wasn’t laughing. There are some deeper elements of emotional abuse (from parents), infidelity (not the MMC), past sexual assault (non descriptive), and a present attempt at sexual assault (also non descriptive).

There is no spice (a few innuendos), minimal language (a few instances of h*ll).

It’s a second chance romance that’s dual POV. They’re coworkers and it has great summer vibes. I would read more books from this writer!

Thank you so much to this author for letting me read an early copy. All thoughts are my own! 🫶

[Say You Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had EVERYTHING!!! The laugh out loud funny, tears, heartbreak and the LOVE that poured out of these characters…my gosh. I read this in less than 24 hours and wish I could go back and read it again for the first time 📚✨🩷

[turnthedamnpage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come! 😊