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Cedar Falls #2
A Summer to Shine
Laylah McPherson never planned to be a runaway bride.
She definitely never planned to crash into a moose on a stormy night and end up stranded in a lakeside town she’s never heard of. But when her car needs months of repairs, she begs the town’s infuriating (infuriatingly attractive) bar owner for a job while she hides from the life she left at the altar.
Lucas Hanson has no interest in being anyone’s hero.
A betrayal cost him his career, and he’s rebuilt a quieter life in Cedar Falls – one with no drama, and definitely no room for a bubbly socialite who has too many ideas, wears too much pink, and somehow convinces him to adopt a stray bar cat.
Unfortunately, she’s impossible to say no to.
Just as Laylah starts to build a life that’s finally her own, the controlling past she escaped catches up to her. She’ll have to choose: the life that was chosen for her … or risk everything for the one she’s chosen for herself.
A slow-burn, small town romance with a grumpy bar owner, a runaway bride, and one bed neither of them asked for.
She definitely never planned to crash into a moose on a stormy night and end up stranded in a lakeside town she’s never heard of. But when her car needs months of repairs, she begs the town’s infuriating (infuriatingly attractive) bar owner for a job while she hides from the life she left at the altar.
Lucas Hanson has no interest in being anyone’s hero.
A betrayal cost him his career, and he’s rebuilt a quieter life in Cedar Falls – one with no drama, and definitely no room for a bubbly socialite who has too many ideas, wears too much pink, and somehow convinces him to adopt a stray bar cat.
Unfortunately, she’s impossible to say no to.
Just as Laylah starts to build a life that’s finally her own, the controlling past she escaped catches up to her. She’ll have to choose: the life that was chosen for her … or risk everything for the one she’s chosen for herself.
A slow-burn, small town romance with a grumpy bar owner, a runaway bride, and one bed neither of them asked for.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2026
About the author
Michelle Ruoff
4 books20 followersMichelle Ruoff writes spicy small-town romance with a little magic. She is a technical writer turned romance author based in Florida. After earning her BA in English from the University of Florida and her MA in Professional Communication from Clemson University, she spent a decade in the tech industry before following her heart to romance.
She loves all romance tropes, but single-parent, childhood friends-to-lovers, and why-choose stories hold a special place in her reader heart. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her deep in an omegaverse (IYKYK), binge-watching Love Island, or pulling tarot cards with an iced coffee in hand.
She lives in Orlando with her husband and dog, Sage, the true love of her life and constant writing companion.
She loves all romance tropes, but single-parent, childhood friends-to-lovers, and why-choose stories hold a special place in her reader heart. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her deep in an omegaverse (IYKYK), binge-watching Love Island, or pulling tarot cards with an iced coffee in hand.
She lives in Orlando with her husband and dog, Sage, the true love of her life and constant writing companion.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
EXTREMELY BIASED BECAUSE I HELPED EDIT THIS BOOK AND IT IS ALSO DEDICATED TO ME
October 1, 2026
A SUMMER TO SHINE has been out in the world for a week now, and Laylah and Lucas are finding their way around Cedar Falls - moose, stray cat, and all.
If you've already read it, we'd love to know what you thought - reviews help so much in getting this book in front of new readers.
And if you haven't picked it up yet, it's live now on Amazon for purchase, and also available to read w/ Kindle Unlimited.
If you've already read it, we'd love to know what you thought - reviews help so much in getting this book in front of new readers.
And if you haven't picked it up yet, it's live now on Amazon for purchase, and also available to read w/ Kindle Unlimited.
September 24, 2026
Thank you Michelle Ruoff for an arc read of A Summer To Shine.
Summary:
Laylah is running away from her fancy life, ditching her fiancé, and walking out on the eve of her wedding. Where she’s going, she doesn’t really know, but she ends up in a small town in Maine after a moose causes her car to veer off the road. Now she’s stuck in town while waiting for her car to get fixed, and that’s when she meets Lucas, the town’s grumpy bar owner.
Thoughts
• The capybara Squishmallow!! I love this one, and it’s one of my daughter’s favorites.
• The banter between Laylah and Lucas is very enjoyable. There were some laugh-out-loud moments.
• Lucas loves deeply, and I loved watching him open his heart.
• The runaway bride trope is becoming a favorite of mine.
• There were some parts where I felt the pacing moved a little too fast, especially toward the end. Still, it was an enjoyable story!
• I love interconnected series, and I was excited to get more of Lucas! I’m excited to see what comes next in book three!
Summary:
Laylah is running away from her fancy life, ditching her fiancé, and walking out on the eve of her wedding. Where she’s going, she doesn’t really know, but she ends up in a small town in Maine after a moose causes her car to veer off the road. Now she’s stuck in town while waiting for her car to get fixed, and that’s when she meets Lucas, the town’s grumpy bar owner.
Thoughts
• The capybara Squishmallow!! I love this one, and it’s one of my daughter’s favorites.
• The banter between Laylah and Lucas is very enjoyable. There were some laugh-out-loud moments.
• Lucas loves deeply, and I loved watching him open his heart.
• The runaway bride trope is becoming a favorite of mine.
• There were some parts where I felt the pacing moved a little too fast, especially toward the end. Still, it was an enjoyable story!
• I love interconnected series, and I was excited to get more of Lucas! I’m excited to see what comes next in book three!
October 1, 2026
Kitten vs Moose
If you're looking for a fish-out-of-water girl and her acerbic review, then make sure to check out A Summer to Shine.
Once again, found family is a major aspect of this series, and I think it plays an even bigger role in this book than it did in the first. While I love this aspect, I think my favorite part was getting to know Lucas. He was such a pain in the first book, and we get to learn why. And it makes sense, and my heart goes out to him for everything he's had to deal with.
I also really liked the connection between Laylah and Lucas. It felt real. And while fast, it didn't feel forced. After reading this one, all I know is I can't wait for the next book!
If you're looking for a fish-out-of-water girl and her acerbic review, then make sure to check out A Summer to Shine.
Once again, found family is a major aspect of this series, and I think it plays an even bigger role in this book than it did in the first. While I love this aspect, I think my favorite part was getting to know Lucas. He was such a pain in the first book, and we get to learn why. And it makes sense, and my heart goes out to him for everything he's had to deal with.
I also really liked the connection between Laylah and Lucas. It felt real. And while fast, it didn't feel forced. After reading this one, all I know is I can't wait for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Foreword PR & Marketing and Michelle Ruoff for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review!
I really loved coming back into Cedar Falls!
When i finished A Summer to Stay I wanted to read about Ava’s brothers, and about Summer! And in this book we have the story of one of the brothers, Lucas, and a new person that appears suddenly, Laylah!
This story was incredibly cute and enjoyable, with just the right amount of spice (as the one before). I couldn’t put the book down until I’d finished it!!
It was so easy to connect with Lucas and Laylah, they are so wholesome and they needed each other in their lives. Seeing the characters grow and the relationships between them was the icing on the cake.
I still want to read about the other brother and Summer. Is A Summer to Score there story??
“He pinched the bridge of his nose to fight off a smile, not wanting to admit he found her cute.”
“Patience wasn’t his strongest skill, especially when he had an uncharacteristic urge to spend more time with someone. With Laylah.”
“And he definitely had judgement to dispense, but like the damn kitten, the pink princess across from him had wormed her way into a sliver of his walled-off heart . . . against his very strong will.”
““Trust me, Laylah, you’re not prepared to hear what I think about your mouth. But please, continue to push me and see what happens.””
““The only woman I want, I can’t have. And if I can’t have her, then I don’t want anyone. So no, I’m not sleeping with anyone. Where is this coming from?””
“God, he loved how she smiled at him, like his mere presence was enough to bring her happiness.”
““I see you, Lucas, and I wouldn’t change a thing about you,””
“She sighed with contentment, still amazed this was her life. That she had a family of her choosing, who chose her back.”
I really loved coming back into Cedar Falls!
When i finished A Summer to Stay I wanted to read about Ava’s brothers, and about Summer! And in this book we have the story of one of the brothers, Lucas, and a new person that appears suddenly, Laylah!
This story was incredibly cute and enjoyable, with just the right amount of spice (as the one before). I couldn’t put the book down until I’d finished it!!
It was so easy to connect with Lucas and Laylah, they are so wholesome and they needed each other in their lives. Seeing the characters grow and the relationships between them was the icing on the cake.
I still want to read about the other brother and Summer. Is A Summer to Score there story??
“He pinched the bridge of his nose to fight off a smile, not wanting to admit he found her cute.”
“Patience wasn’t his strongest skill, especially when he had an uncharacteristic urge to spend more time with someone. With Laylah.”
“And he definitely had judgement to dispense, but like the damn kitten, the pink princess across from him had wormed her way into a sliver of his walled-off heart . . . against his very strong will.”
““Trust me, Laylah, you’re not prepared to hear what I think about your mouth. But please, continue to push me and see what happens.””
““The only woman I want, I can’t have. And if I can’t have her, then I don’t want anyone. So no, I’m not sleeping with anyone. Where is this coming from?””
“God, he loved how she smiled at him, like his mere presence was enough to bring her happiness.”
““I see you, Lucas, and I wouldn’t change a thing about you,””
“She sighed with contentment, still amazed this was her life. That she had a family of her choosing, who chose her back.”
September 30, 2026
Thank you to Foreword PR and Michelle Ruoff for the eARC of this book.
I loved Ava and Owen’s story and this one is just as sweet. Layla and Lucas had chemistry from the beginning as well as ongoing banter throughout the whole story. I love that we had additional view into Cedar Falls and some new characters as well. I love Layla‘s quirkiness, and Lucas is very strait-laced approach and how the two of them mashed together. She softened him and he sharpened her a little bit. I love the whole setting of Cedar Falls and I just think that is a beautiful backdrop to this story. I can’t wait for the next chapter for Ava and Owen’s brother and Summer!!!
I loved Ava and Owen’s story and this one is just as sweet. Layla and Lucas had chemistry from the beginning as well as ongoing banter throughout the whole story. I love that we had additional view into Cedar Falls and some new characters as well. I love Layla‘s quirkiness, and Lucas is very strait-laced approach and how the two of them mashed together. She softened him and he sharpened her a little bit. I love the whole setting of Cedar Falls and I just think that is a beautiful backdrop to this story. I can’t wait for the next chapter for Ava and Owen’s brother and Summer!!!
October 4, 2026
A Summer to Shine was a fun, runaway bride, small town, grumpy sunshine book. The writing was fabulous and the storyline pulled me in right from the start. Laylah and Lucas had amazing chemistry and I could feel their connection pouring off of the pages. I also loved all of the characters I got to meet through the story and definitely need to get my hands on book 1 to find out what I missed and then grab book 3 once it is released. A must read book and series for sure!- By Alisa
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Really enjoyable! Cute and wholesome characters, and the characters that you're supposed to not like are normal jerks, not outlandish or unrealistically cruel.
A couple of sentences or words here or there seemed out of place or mistaken. Like a 1 in 3 billion chance making no mathematical sense from a guy that's 'good with numbers' took me out of it for a minute.
A couple of sentences or words here or there seemed out of place or mistaken. Like a 1 in 3 billion chance making no mathematical sense from a guy that's 'good with numbers' took me out of it for a minute.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews