Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Pine Harbour #4

Love on a Summer Night

Rate this book
Never say never. Especially not to a determined bad boy.

Zander Minelli is exactly the wrong kind of man. He’s dark, dangerous, and knows far too much about sawed-off shotguns.

Faith Davidson finds him irresistible. The widowed single mother knows she should dip her toe back in the dating pool with someone solid and dependable. Definitely no tattoos. But every time she looks up, the brooding soldier is watching her, and she can’t help but wonder what it would be like to let herself have a taste…

Small town summer nights have never been hotter—and one transplanted city-girl’s heart has never been more fragile.

Book 4 in the acclaimed Pine Harbour series!

Love in a Small Town - Rafe and Olivia
Love in a Snow Storm - Jake and Dani
Love on a Spring Morning - Ryan and Holly
Love on a Summer Night - Zander and Faith

308 pages, ebook

First published November 24, 2015

898 people are currently reading
1552 people want to read

About the author

Zoe York

125 books1,344 followers
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Zoe York is a busy working mom of two young boys, wife to a very understanding soldier, and creator of modern, sexy, small town contemporary romances.

She lives in London, Ontario and is currently chugging Americanos, wiping sticky fingers, and dreaming of heroes in and out of uniform.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
952 (48%)
4 stars
697 (35%)
3 stars
246 (12%)
2 stars
42 (2%)
1 star
25 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
Profile Image for Nicola.
1,390 reviews287 followers
July 25, 2020
Halfway through the series and I can confidently say Pine Harbour is my new happy place.

description
Profile Image for NMmomof4.
1,786 reviews5,028 followers
dnf
June 4, 2016
DNF at 67%
I think it's a good sign to quit when I start playing games on my iPad instead of using my kindle app. I was just bored. I can see that it was going to be a sweet book that had some hot scenes, but I just didn't feel it. The 4 year old was the best part, and he really wasn't all that present. Both the h and H were ok, but I didn't like them enough for me to be invested in their story or really feel their connection. I'm sure others would like this low key, sweet, sexy story -- but I'm moving on...
Profile Image for Gi's Spot Reviews.
1,144 reviews1,366 followers
November 30, 2015
4.5 Stars
Basic Info

Standalone or Part of a Series:
MF, Ménage, etc.:
POV:
Triggers:
Cheating:
Descriptive Sex with OW/OM:
HEA:
Safety Gang Notes:

Personal Overview

Zander and Faith paths cross by change one day, and their lives changed forever.
Zander is visiting his family on Pine Harbour before moving back definitively in six months, after more them a two decades of service to the Canadian Army. The always had a adventurous side, and after so many years in the army, it was hard for him to imagine coming back and settle down.
“It wasn’t even in his nature to set down roots. In all his time in the army, he’d never bought a house, always preferring to live in base housing or rent a room from another guy who could use the cash.
(...)
He was a grown-ass man, and he’d buy a damn house, even if it killed him a little inside.”

But deep down it was a anchor he was truly missing, and this one had to names on it, Faith and Eric.
Faith is a popular urban fantasy series writer and four year widower, with a wonderfully adventurous almost five year boy, Eric. Now she was considering that maybe she was ready for something else.
“And, slowly but surely, she was putting the broken pieces of her soul mostly back together.”

What she wasn’t ready was for the motorcycle riding bad-boy soldier. They were instantly attracted to one another, and sparks flew, and feelings Zander never felt before were taking a hold on him.
“His chest tightened as she stared at him for a beat. Two beats. And when she nodded, a stuttering little jerk of her head that suggested maybe she was as surprised as he was, his heart jumped back to life, giving his ribs a fist bump of the likes he’d never felt before."

But he was bother by it, instead, he embraced them. Now he just had to convince Faith.
Faith had no problem accepting his attention when she fought he was just in passage through town, but when she realized he was from the area, she started to become wary of the connection, all thanks to her baggage. The problem was not love for the deceased husband, because, like she let’s us known it was a very particular relationship,
“He loved us in his own way. But he wasn’t the type of guy to hold a baby for very long. He got up in the middle of the night and changed diapers, no problem. He was a good father. He researched first baby foods and mashed sweet potato.”
(...)
“We never reconnected after Eric was born. He’d seen me cut open, and it didn’t heal perfectly, and…I was changed. Irrevocably.”

but the reckless way he had died, which affected her and her free spirit ways forever. And that the crux of the matter, since she can’t look past Zander’s bad boy facade. But that never deterred him, and he managed to push his way in to their lives.
“He was big and bold and demanding…but nice. Damn it, the biker dude kissed like a prince. A dirty prince. ”

And that smart little boy instantly got a piece of his heart, and he never wanted it back.
“But Faith’s kid? He was awesome. Funny and smart, a mighty little man in a small but perfect package.”

Little by little Faith accepted Zander, and truly saw what a wonderful man he was at core, and admitted that what she felt for him was something she never felt before.
“She was kidding herself. This connection was unlike anything she’d ever had. ”

They had to overcome some minor issues, like her obsessiveness for safe, a long distance relationship for a short period of time, but in the end, they overcame everything, and became a true loving and happy family.
“I meant what I said about the pie. I met the man of my dreams over a slice of pie. He taught me about katanas and sawed-off shotguns. He makes my kid breakfast and plays the big-bad enforcer on not eating sugar until at least second breakfast and preferably elevensies. And most importantly, he taught me that life was for living.”


PS. Forgot to mention Dani and Jake's wedding vows, OMG, they were amazing, and even teared me up. One of the best I have ever heard! ;)
Profile Image for Jessica Alcazar.
4,394 reviews622 followers
November 25, 2015
ARC provided by the author for an honest review

#ZanderEffect **swoon**

I'll be doing a FULL review of this flawlessly endearing story soon but just know ... If and when you read this story, have tissues and extra undies available !!

It's time for my FULL REVIEW :)

Zander Minelli has spent the last 20 years serving his country. It's time to retire. It's time to settle down and grow some roots. But there's a problem...he's not really that guy. The guy who lets roots grow. So he's fidgety about his future. He's not uncertain about retiring, just uncertain about how he will fit into the world. But then Faith Davidson happened. One look at Ponytail Girl and Zander was smitten :)

Faith Davidson is a widowed single mom to a spunky 4 year old, living with her mother and writing her next best seller. It's been four years since the death of her husband and she's ready to move forward with life. Well, she's ready to take tiny steps forward. Very stable, sure-footed tiny steps forward. But then Zander Minelli happened and she was fascinated :) #ZanderEffect

Faith and Zander were kismet from the start. From the very beginning of this story you feel the connection. It's woven into the prose of the story flawlessly. They are two pieces of a puzzle perfectly matched. Zander adds just the right amount of zest to Faith's world to help her come out of the shelter she has built around herself and her heart and Faith has just the right allure it takes to bring the roaming alpha man home.

Theirs is a story that although begins quickly, builds over time apart. They meet when Zander is home on break. He still has commitments to the army he needs to meet. They only have a week and then he'll be gone for six months. They start out friendly but that doesn't last. They're explosive together. Their chemistry and desire for one another is palpable. They never stood a chance as friendlies. They were destined to explode between the sheets, in the living room, in the kitchen, under the stars ... everywhere. They were just meant to be, period..kismet :)

Love on a Summer Night is a story of trust and growth, destiny, love, friendship and family. It's a story of two people roaming until their paths crossed and they could both finally come home.

If you've never read a Zoe York novel, start here. Read this story. Because this is the story that defines who Zoe is as a writer. This isn't her first book, but I feel it is the best representation of who she is as a writer. I've read every book she's ever published so I think I've seen her many sides. This story shows her heart and her passion for story-telling. It's romantic and sexy, emotional and funny, tender and heartwarming with the right amount of angst and heartache. It's one of Zoe's best work yet, you really shouldn't miss out on it! #TRUST
Profile Image for Alyse.
318 reviews26 followers
November 30, 2015
For more reviews, PLEASE follow my blog:
http://alysenovak.blogspot.com

Love on a Summer Night is the fourth in Zoe York's Pine Harbour series. Each book can be read as a standalone since it focuses on different couples (which is good since this was the first book I've read by Zoe York).

Zander Minelli has about 6 months left before he is about to retire from 20 years in the military. He knows it his time. He is getting closer and closer to 40 years old and he feels like he SHOULD be putting down roots, but he has been on his own for so long that he doesn't know if he knows how to. He figures he can make Pine Harbour his home base (after all, all his family is here) and still be able to come and go as he pleases. But all that wanderlust feelings begin to change when he runs into Faith the night he rode into town.

Single mother Faith Davidson is still putting her life back together for herself and her son, Eric, after her husband died for years ago. She knows she needs to start to put herself out there and have more of a (adult) social life, but life is easy to avoid when you write fantasy books for a living and the adventurous life took everything from you.

The minute Faith asks Zander if he knows anything about weapons (for her book), Zander is fascinated with discovering more about Faith. But he knows he is only on leave for a week, and while he'll be back for a few days here and there, he won't be completely in Pine Harbour for another 6 months.

Can he convince Faith in that week that he is worth having an adventure with or will he lose the first woman that has ever captivated him, body and soul?

On a side note...

The one thing that kind of annoyed me with this book was the description of Zander as a "bad boy". Umm.... I NEVER got a "bad boy" vibe from him. And actually it seems to be a growing description for any book that has a Hero with tattoos. I don't think having tattoos automatically make someone a "bad boy". This term seems to be thrown around a lot lately (for me), and while I think it fits for some, I don't think that description fit for Zander.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Profile Image for Mandy.
1,559 reviews235 followers
November 27, 2015
This was so good! Faith is a widowed single mother to an adventurous 5 year old boy. She's a writer and one night, she goes to the bakery to do some writing. She strikes up a conversation with a sexy, tattooed biker. Zander has been in the military for twenty years and is set to retire and move back to his hometown. He has 6 months left on his contract. He has a week leave and heads to Pine Harbour for a visit. When he sees Faith in the bakery, he is instantly attracted to her and can tell there's something different about her.

I loved Zander! He's a super sexy tattooed biker. Some of my favorite parts of this book were Zanders interactions with Faith's son Eric. He was so sweet and I loved the friendship they developed. Another one of my favorite parts of this book were the steamy scenes. They were HOT! Faith and Zander had really amazing chemistry. I really loved this book (and this whole series.) I can't wait for Dean's book next!

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
Profile Image for Tenley.
387 reviews57 followers
September 12, 2022
This book was totally choring (cheesy and boring). Or borsy?? I'm open to either combination.

Either way.....

🧀 😴🧀😴
Profile Image for Maria Rose.
2,631 reviews267 followers
February 17, 2017
This is the fourth title in the Pine Harbour series, each of which has featured the wonderful combination of small town romance with sexy contemporary style. They are all standalone novels featuring different couples getting their happy endings. Zander's brother Rafe is married to Olivia, his sister Dani is with long time friend Jake, his good friend Ryan has partnered with movie star actress Hope and he couldn't be happier for them, even if he sometimes feels a pang of loneliness. A career army man, after twenty years in the service he's decided to retire, not sure what he'll end up doing next, but visiting his home town of Pine Harbour while he decides on his next move. Meeting widow Faith (whom we were introduced to as a secondary character in Ryan's story, Love on a Spring Morning) in the diner on the eve of his arrival into town sparks a desire in him to find out more about the woman whom he finds quite fascinating. Zander's plans are to be in town for a week, then head back to his base in Alberta, still with no definite plans for the future. But developing a friendship with Faith suddenly becomes more important than anything, and he's willing to risk a chink in his armor if she'll consider the same. Naturally hesitant after the loss of her husband, and with all her focus on her 5 year old son, the last thing Faith is looking for is a new man in her life. Can Zander convince her that if she'll just give him a chance, he'll come back to stay with her, for good?

I think I'm going to be hard pressed to find another book boyfriend as perfect as Zander. Seriously, he's all that and a bag of chips. He's funny, sweet, sexy, enough alpha to satisfy any woman and at the same time a patient, kind and understanding person. After his first encounter with Faith he knows it's not going to be enough, and meeting up with her again just solidifies for him that even though she's trying to hold him at arm's length, she is the one he can see as part of his future. Some of the story portrays their long distance relationship, as Zander still has obligations to his military career and travels back and forth. I thought that was portrayed realistically, and if absence makes the heart grow fonder, it definitely works on Faith. Zander's a wonderful father figure for Faith's son too, and seeing a strong, confident male show that parental side is enough to give your ovaries a zing. The sexual chemistry between Zander and Faith is present from their first meeting, and we get some surprisingly steamy scenes between them as they connect on an intimate level. Faith may guard her heart from Zander at first, but he does a pretty good job of wearing her down.

Equally interesting was seeing the other couples in this story, in particular Jake and Dani whose wedding we witness here. The friendships and family relationships all have that warmhearted feel to them, which isn't to say that conflicts don't arise, but that there is no doubt that they have strong bonds that can weather any storm. And while there are some emotional moments in the story, I found it to be very low in angst with lots of laughter and sweetness. I'm going to call this one as my favourite in the series so far (and really, they've all been excellent). 5 stars.

He didn't say anything for a bit. He just held her and touched her, whispered his lips against her ear and down her neck. Finally when she was well and thoroughly undone, he rolled her onto her back. It had gotten dark while they talked.
"I am your friend, no matter what." He gave her a stern look, one you could imagine him pointing at children who got too noisy. The fondest kind of stern. It looked good on him. "But I want more. I want to hear your secrets and soothe your frustrations. Cheer your successes and be someone you can lean on."
"How many friends like that do you have?"
"None."
She believed him. There was a raw look in his eye that promised while he may have said more than he intended - or maybe she was reading clearly between the lines for the first time in days - he was making her promises that he'd hold up.
"I'm going to miss you something fierce."
"Then we'll just have to make a memory tonight that will keep you warm while I'm gone."


Note: a copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
Profile Image for Jess.
3,590 reviews5 followers
December 7, 2021
I grabbed this one because of a book thread on twitter and it was exactly what I wanted, but I have also completely lost it in the haze of five books in the same universe in three days. Zoe York does great single parent and I really enjoyed both Faith's caution and Zander's all in-ness.
Profile Image for Grace.
1,380 reviews44 followers
January 9, 2022
3.5/5 stars, rounding up

I generally liked this a lot. I enjoyed Faith and Zander and their relationship, and Eric was a really good kid character. I could have done without

I generally did enjoy this, though, and I would read more by this author. I should probably try to read them in order, but Kindle had book three available for free when I was grabbing this one so that's probably up next when I've finished some library books.
Profile Image for Jae.
693 reviews178 followers
December 1, 2015
So disappointed with this. I wanted more for the big bad military guy Zander whom we heard so much about since book #1. I hated how his story was just a big flat MEH.

Other than that incident at 81%, everything was about nothing. I would've even settled for a secret jilted ex-girlfriend drama thrown in somewhere maybe. It was that boring.

Here's hoping for a better story for Dean next.
Profile Image for Derna.
590 reviews290 followers
August 6, 2016
*** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ***

"Haven’t you ever met someone and just wanted to know more about them”

Love on a Summer Night is book 4 in the Pine Harbour series by Zoe York and is Zander Minnelli’s story. Zander is the oldest of the Minnelli clan hot, sexy and a few tattoos for good measure. He may look like your typical bad boy, but he is far from it. Something that widowed single mother Faith Davidson, who is ready to start dating again is about to discover. When these two meet both start to question their future plans.

“There is something about her. I don’t know what it is, but it’s enough for me to want to figure it out.”

Zander made me smile a lot during this book he knows how to make a lady feel special. Zander “gets” Faith, understand her fears and sees through the wall that she has built up. He knows when to push her to be more carefree and knows when to step back and give her some space, patience and support when she needs it. I appreciate why Faith is wary at first; I think anyone in her situation would be the same. It wasn’t just her own heart she felt the need to protect but also that of her cute little boy Eric.

“Let me in babe. Let me make you feel good”

I liked the way things developed between Zander and Faith and because of Zander’s job it was a case of “absence makes the heart grow fonder” and so the relationship didn't feel rushed. The chemistry between Zander and Faith was perfect and physically off the charts.

I’m going to tell you how I feel, because you deserved to here it.”

Love on a Summer Night with its mix of romantic, emotional, sexy, tender, heartwarming, funny and genuine moments is another easy, enjoyable read from Zoe York. A must read for fans who love small town romance stories.
Profile Image for Mandie Foxylutely.
948 reviews96 followers
December 14, 2015
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

This is one of my favourite small town series – Pine Harbour – and this is the fourth book. Although not strictly necessary that the previous books need to be read, I would strongly advise so you are aware of what has happened with the other characters mentioned and who form part of this small town.

Faith Davidson is a single widowed Mom to four year old Eric, and is gradually pulling her life into shape with the help of her Mother. She has hidden herself away writing her books but knows she needs to get back out there and meet new people. It is whilst she has set up at the corner table in the local eatery to write her next book, that she meets sexy soldier Zander Minelli.

Zander has been serving his country for the last twenty years and is not often at home to see his family. His wanderlust and zest for danger has been satisfied with his job as a soldier but now he knows it is time to take stock and start making plans for his life back as a civilian. He is dreading moving back to Pine Harbour and having the eyes of his family on his every move. But then he meets the beautiful Faith and maybe his life will be something he didn’t realise he was searching for.

The attraction of this pairing was instant and easy to believe. I liked how Faith overcame her unease at Zander’s free spirit and thrill seeking which was related to how her husband had died. This was down to Zander slowly chipping away at her hesitance to let go of the past but this also helped him to resolve some of his own issues. The relationship between Zander and young Eric was so sweet to see and had me sighing. There is just something about a tough, strong, inked, biker ex-soldier, showing the sweet stuff that grabs at my heart.

There were some areas I would have liked to have had more coverage of as some crucial parts like when they moved in together were just skipped over. I wanted to know how they adjusted to that as this would have been a major impact on their relationship and little Eric. However I still loved this story of older love and there was some seriously hot and steamy passion to get the temperature rising (amongst other things!)

Zoe York is an instant must read for me and I highly recommend this series to the new reader if you love your romance hot and passionate with a touch of the sweetness and a cast of strong secondary characters. Loved it! Four and a half stars.
242 reviews
November 19, 2015
Zander Minelli is the perfect man. He appears to be a bad boy with his tattoos and his bike and his knowledge of killing people with any known weapon and his big bad career army persona. But where Faith Davidson is concerned, he is the sweetest, most caring, patient, understanding, and giving man. And he cooks like only the son of Italian parents who own a restaurant could. Faith Davidson lives with her mom and 4 year old son born after his father died almost 5 years ago. However, Faith has not healed her heart enough to risk getting it broken again by dating. It is a good thing Zander is so patient and sweet. When they meet up at the local bakery where Faith is struggling to figure out how to choreograph her sword fight scene in her novel and Zander stops in for pie before returning to his parents’ house on leave from the army, they hit it off and neither one of them is prepared for their weapons fighting conversation to end but Faith is not prepared to start dating again yet.
Zander and Faith keep bumping into each other around the small Pine Harbour town which gives Zander opportunities to show Faith what a great guy he is and how his tattoos don’t define him. It also gives him a chance to get to know Faith’s son who obviously misses having a male role model in his life because they bond quite quickly over imaginary spy bases and army related missions. After 2 weeks though, Faith is ready to say goodbye to Zander to spare her heart any pain until she realizes that it is too late for her son. So she decides to give the long distance relationship a try when Zander has to go back to his base until his retirement in 6 months. It isn’t easy though because Faith is still so broken that it is one step forward, two steps back the entire time.
Zander is so absolutely amazing and the chemistry between him and Faith is so incredible that I lost track of time reading this book and couldn’t put it down. The fact that no matter what arguments Faith makes against their relationship and how she isn’t ready, he patiently listens and understands and gives her exactly what she needs. The pace of the story was constant and perfect. The tone was mostly melancholy but still hopeful. This book was incredible and I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Kaley.
33 reviews1 follower
November 12, 2015
Review of ARC, kindly provided by the author for an honest review.

Wow, another emotion packed love story by Zoe York! I have been waiting to hear Zander's story since he was brought up earlier in the series. A tall, dark, and handsome, bad boy, biker, soldier-all wrapped in one glorious package. What's not to love?
As Zander prepares to say goodbye to military life, he had an unsettled feeling about going back home to Pine Harbour and setting up a permanent home. That is, until he makes an unplanned stop for a piece of pie at the local bakery and meets Faith.
Faith is a young widowed mother who is not looking for anyone to complete her. She would like to stay in her safe little home and raise and protect her son, who is her life. Faith was deeply scared after a freak accident took her husband from her at such a young age and has sworn off any adventures that may be dangerous, including dangerously sexy men who she meets in a bakery.
Faith and Zander bond after Faith asks Zander for some professional advice while writing her newest novel. Faith is hesitant to bring someone new into her life, especially a bad boy like Zander. Zander knows his time in town is limited, but the can't seem to break this attraction to the young widow and her son who wraps him tighter around his finger every time they meet.
i can't say that I have ever read a love story that actually made me sigh when I read the last words. I felt so emotionally drawn into this story and these characters. Zander is the bad boy turned good that every girl dreams of. His patience and understanding with Faith is amazing. His instant love for her little boy will have your ovaries weeping.
817 reviews2 followers
November 18, 2015
I think this has to be my favorite Zoe York book so far! Zander is a bad boy, biker dude, about to be retired soldier. He's returning home for a week to start getting things prepared for when he officially retires from the Army in 6 months. He runs in to the beautiful heroine Faith. A single mom who's adventure loving husband passed away several years ago. Unfortunately, she hasn't yet healed from his unexpected death. They meet on Zander's way in to town and she picks his brain for some research she needs for a book she's writing.

For some reason (unknown to him) he's drawn to Faith and starts envisioning a future that he never once desired to have with someone. Faith however, is scared to move back into the dating pool or let herself experience some of the more exciting joys in life that she used to love. She's overly protective of her young son. Even though he's this tattooed biker boy, he's completely sensitive and understanding of Faith and her worries. He has so much patience.

I love how Zoe creates these characters that you can relate to on some level. The way she writes just draws you in and takes you on an amazingly wonderful journey. You will not be disappointed. This book had the perfect mix of love, patience, chemistry, hot scenes (OMG! that tent scene)and drama. I had to hold my breath and even cry.

Will everything work it's way out in the end? Grab the book and find out, it's definitely worth the ride!

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an HONEST review.
Profile Image for Bette Hansen.
5,073 reviews40 followers
November 21, 2015
I definitely think every woman needs a Zander in her life. All tatted up, motorcycle riding bad boy on the outside. Heart of gold, kind, loving, and a hell of a cook on the outside. *sigh*

Zander's been out of Pine Harbour for a while, but he's ready to say goodbye to military life and settle down in his hometown. Just 6 months to go, but now he's home for a two week visit and to try and figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life. Meeting someone as wonderful as Faith was never in the plan but now that he has, any future without her seems unbearable.

Faith had her one love but he's gone now, so she devotes her time to her young son and mother. Dating isn't something she's ready for. Well until Zander happens. But he's all wrong for her. At least she thinks so.....right??

This is a wonderful love story. One that proves that the heart wants what the heart wants regardless of what the brain says. I definitely recommend this one.
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
8,928 reviews172 followers
November 15, 2015
Zoe York is known for signature stories that are sensitive, passionate and emotion charged. All of those words describe Love On a Summer Night. This novel is standard Zoe York with a little bit more edge. Zander is more tense, moody and has a lot more baggage than the average hero in one of Ms. York's reads. The twists and turns he has traveled may have something to do with that. The heroine Faith is a nurturer that is floundering and trying to find a new direction. I received an ARC of Love on A Summer Night in exchange for an honest review. It surprised me how well this couple worked. So different but so perfect for each other. Zander provided Faith with the courage to give love another try and Faith gave Zander the guidance, protection and understanding he needed to get past his tumultuous memories. Shouldn't have worked but it somehow did.
Profile Image for XxTainaxX Curvy and Nerdy.
1,563 reviews507 followers
December 2, 2015
A dude that can speak to weapons and action is a dream for writer Faith. Throw in the fact that he's super sexy and he's the total package. Faith is looking for stability and Zander might be a risk but temptation is too sweet to be denied. Good story and development :)

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews131 followers
Want to read
July 28, 2023
🎁 FREE on iBooks today (2/22/2019)! 🎁
Profile Image for Kathi.
396 reviews17 followers
February 20, 2020
Love on a Summer Night is the fourth book in the Pine Harbour Series by Zoe York. Faith is a widow and has a 5-year-old son. She does everything in her capability to make him feel loved and safe. One day, while writing her newest book in a cafe, she meets Zander. Zander has six months left in the Army and drops by in his old hometown to discuss his future career plans. When both of them meet for the first time, they immediately feel attracted to each other. But both fear the responsibilities that come with a relationship.

I did not expect this book to be as good as it was. The love story was rather quick even though they always talked about not rushing it. But it was hot and sexy and the perfect amount of romance for this book. I enjoyed it. It was a bit rusty to get into the story at the beginning, but I enjoyed it more and more towards the end. There were a lot of scenes that felt bitter-sweet. Some scenes nearly made me cry (I was soo close!), others made me laugh out loud. The story was very predictable, but it is usually with those kinds of books.

Eric, Faith's son, is a dream. He is so cute and one of the best characters in this book. Faith is a wonderful mum, even though she sometimes just does not have the time for him. As with a lot of books recently, I had problems with the male protagonist. Zander is a nice guy and loves Faith and Eric a lot. But he is just so sure about himself. When they had sex, it was like "I am the best man to make you feel those things. Only I know how to do that.". These are some characteristics I hate. This got better towards the end.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. It was a rather fast read.
Profile Image for Jessica Morales.
728 reviews60 followers
September 17, 2021
First read by this author I did notice this is book 4 in the series. I'm hoping I can read it as a standalone. I definitely was able to read it as a standalone. The beginning started off a bit slow. Definitely fell in love with this book.
Profile Image for Linda.
887 reviews83 followers
November 26, 2015
"Love on a Summer Night" is the fourth book in Zoe Yorks incredible Pine Barbour series and though it can absolutely be read as a stand alone novel, I would recommend starting from book one so you get toknow all the lovely people of Pine Harbour!

Faith Davidson moved to Pine Harbour with her Four year old son, Eric and her mother having moved there after loosing her husband, four years ago;she spend her days writing her novels and is currently trying to finish her next best seller . Of course, when Eric comes home is when her real job starts, because nothing is more important than him! Her book may not be as important but she happens to be stuck on the weaponry she chose to use in this novel, so once Eric is settled for the evening , Faith heads out to the local Bakery coffee shop in town to try an working out.

Zander Minelli, has not np been home to Pine Harbour for a while, but as happy as he is to becoming home for good in six short months , he is in no rush to get there so he decides to stop for a cup a coffee and a piece of pie , to enjoy the quiet . What Zander does not expect. Is to find himself sitting with a very beautiful women taking about weapons
Zander is at the stage of his life that he is ready to settle down, marry and have a family and he never thought that coming home for his sisters wedding would lead him to meet someone who might just be able to fill that job!
Faith, though ready to start venturing out into the dating pool , she is just looking to dabble, she is not ready for any major commitment , but she finds herself overwhelmingly drawn , to the very sexy, tattooed man who knows an awful lot about weapons!
To spite being drawn for him she tries hard not to get too involved, but how can any red blooded women resist the Zander effect!
Not sure what that is ; well your just going to have to read and find out for yourself , because Zoe York has written another book that just captures you and has you falling in love with another Minelli and the people of Pine Harbour even more! Zoe , never ceases to surprise me just when I think the last book was the absolute best she has written the next one comes along and floors me all over again!
Arc copy graciously provided by author for an honest review, and honestly , no matter which book of Zoe's you start with you will not be disappointed!

Profile Image for Trisha.
78 reviews10 followers
November 24, 2015
Love on a Summer Night by Zoe York is the fourth book in the Pine Harbour Series.

Zander Manelli is the kind of man that has spent the majority of his life blazing his own path without being compelled to announce it to all. Though he enlisted in the military right out of high school, his off time has been spent sauntering on his motorcycle wherever in the world his attention beckoned at that time. To call him a wanderer or nomad would indicate that he lacked purpose for his act. I get the sense that his purpose was to absorb all that he saw and experienced. These treks that Zander has taken are what have seasoned him as a man. Zander has been gone from his hometown and family for more years than he spent in Pine Harbour growing up. The time to come home has grown closer but is that what Zander is really ready to embrace? Maybe not, but then he stops for a slice of apple pie.

Faith Davidson lives her life for her son Eric, to the very point of not opening herself up to embrace who she is as a whole person anymore. She has allowed herself to support others in their passages of grief, but she forgot that there is life on the other side of those passages especially for her. Wrapped up in writing her novels and raising her son is the tunnel vision that Faith is stuck in. Fear to live, to love, to let go, to run freely without boundaries has encapsulated Faith in a stranglehold. Until she meets a man that she is pretty sure is Mr. Wrong and Mr. NeverGonnaHappen.

Life is a path that we must all go down. We have to do it regardless of whether it is a smooth one or some seriously rough terrain. Having someone there to lead, follow or just keep patiently encouraging while we pace it; is a gift and gives us the strength to continue on. That is Zander and Faith.

This story has a HEA and does not leave a cliffhanger. It does reference characters from the previous Pine Harbour stories, so reading them in order would give the best experience.

I was gifted this ARC by Zoe York in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for KathyAnne.
570 reviews97 followers
January 8, 2016
This is such a wonderful series for the small town romance fan, especially for those who like it to be a little bit on the hot and steamy side! Zoe York has a talent for tugging at our heart strings as well as giving us a few things to make us blush. :) Zander was just the guy to take care of both. After a long military career he is now ready to settle down for good in Pine Harbour. He's a little uncertain about leaving his life in the military because he's always enjoyed his freedom. But, life changes pretty quickly for him when he meets Faith, the widow that charms him from the first time they met. Her little boy Eric also finds a way into his heart. Yes, nothing brings down a military man faster than a little boy who likes to play with leggos. I loved the way these two bonded throughout the story.
Faith is just one of those types of heroines you can't help but love. She is completely devoted to her son Eric and tries to do right by him despite the difficulty of being a single mom. Her first marriage that ended quite tragically has her more than a little paranoid for her son and his safety as well as her own.
There is just something special for me when you throw children into the mix in romance. And, with little Eric and his need for a father figure and coping with the loss of his dad gave this story quite the emotional nudge.
And we get a wedding in this book! Yes, Dani gets hitched and I cried during that part of the book. Beautiful vows, beautiful wedding... sighhhhhhhhh... warmed my heart!
I've loved every book in this series so far but I think this one is one of my favorites.

ARC was provided by the author... :)


Follow us on
KT Book Reviews
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
>
Profile Image for new_user.
262 reviews191 followers
April 2, 2016
Another cheesy cover, but Love on a Summer Night's a fun read from Zoe York about a "bad boy" who's really a nice guy, in this case a tatted, soon-to-be-ex-military biker who's admitted he prefers to travel and doesn't want to settle down. But lest ye expect kidnappings et cetera, this is a realistic small-town romance, not a gritty, dark one, and it turns out Zander enjoys"showing up" as a family man a lot more than he thought, he's a standup guy for widowed mother and writer Faith. I loved that writing looked so exciting in this book, lol!

Faith's no-I-mustn't-but-he's-so-hot internal dialogue got tedious after a while, however. I love an author that unapologetically portrays a woman's libido and sensual impulses, but will-they-or-won't-they does get repetitive with no other conflict. Her resistance seemed a little contrived because it wasn't explained well. But once they're past that stage, it's smooth going. Zander is so awesome with her son. It was interesting to see him negotiating a role as a first-time father figure and interesting to see that he was ready to commit faster than Faith. Definitely like the family dynamics and development in this series and how they contribute to the characters. I'd like to see more, like Zander's Italian mom. (So similar to an Arab mom, although they probably wouldn't like me saying so.) And his father's role in his life, especially in contrast to Faith's family life. I hope to see this author exploring different families again. Four stars for this contemporary. I'm less into the Hollywood up next and more into these families, so maybe I'll check out her other series.
Profile Image for Holly (epiloguebookblog).
175 reviews5 followers
November 25, 2015
4.5-5 stars

As I've said elsewhere, Zoe York is a one-click, go-to author for me. Her Wardham and Pine Harbour series always keep me coming back for more!

The story between Faith and Zander (and Eric) is heart-warming, while also peppered with genuine, real-life concerns. Faith is a single parent, and because of that, has to be vigilant when it comes to guarding her son's sweet spirit. She puts parenting first, well ahead of any dating pursuits. Nevertheless, her career as a writer brings her face-to-face with Zander, who, despite his wanderlust and military career, sees something special and long-term in Faith.

The long-distance part of their relationship is handled the best I've ever seen. Zander is to-die-for as a hero, both as a boyfriend and a father-figure to Eric. (Pretty sure I swooned each time he referred to the five-year-old as "bud.")

Even though I'm not typically a fan of third person POV, this author nails it. Love on a Summer Night exemplifies how third person should be written.

If you're still on the fence about trying author Zoe York, I promise you won't regret taking the plunge. She's one of the best contemporary romance authors out there.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.