Lili Howe took a leap of faith when she decided to join the Tornado Alleycats, her elderly landlady’s all-female glamour-camping club. Lili’s always given everything to her career, putting herself on track to become her CPA firm’s youngest partner. But now that Lili’s carefully planned future is shattered, she’s willing to let summer work its magic on her―at all costs.
There’s never a dull moment at Stardance Ranch, the Colorado resort Brick Callahan built from the ground up. Still, a late night skinny-dipping session involving a bunch of “glamping” grannies. . .with his best friend’s kid sister Lili among them? He couldn’t have made up such story if he tried. The undeniable mutual attraction between Brick and gorgeous, spirited Lili is a reminder that life is full of surprises. But when Brick’s ex-girlfriend suddenly shows up, he’s faced with a desperate choice: Do right by a woman he once loved or take a chance on Lili. . .and do everything he can to win her heart?
Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a "master of delightful banter," and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Romance Writers of America.
A Stardance Summer by Emily March is a 2017 St. Martin’s Press publication
A very pleasant summertime book!
Lili Howe impulsively joins the Tornado Alleycats- an all -female camping group- after she is fired from her job and her family doesn’t step up to defend her honor.
Upon arrival at the Stardance Ranch, she is stunned to find the camp is being managed by her brother’s best friend, Brick Callahan, who also happens to be her very first crush.
Making things even more awkward, Lili is all too aware that Brick suffered a crushing heartbreak when the love of his life married another man.. Having glimpsed him at a very vulnerable moment, she knows he took it very hard. But, Brick also witnessed every big humilating moment in Lili's life, and is now a constant reminder of her failures.
But, Lili isn’t going to allow her lingering feelings for Brick to spoil her plans. She’s there to live life to the fullest, take a few risks, and leave her boring, ‘good girl’ reputation in the dust. But, she embraces her new role a little too eagerly, causing her friends to worry about her, and leaving Brick in between a rock and a hard place. His feelings for Lili breaks all the ‘no dating one’s best friend’s sister’ rules, for one thing, and for another, he’s determined to never fall in love again to avoid having his heart broken.
Let’s lay our cards on the table right up front. I’ve enjoyed many installments in this wonderful series, and no, this one is not one that pushes all the big emotional buttons or comes with a ‘keep those tissues handy’ warning. It’s not as deep, and is much lighter in the drama department, but it is just the right amount of angst, humor, sweet, heartwarming, and sexy time, for a poolside companion.
Summer always puts me in the mood for lighter reading, fun ‘chick-lit’, zany contemporary romances, and beach reads. So, this book, at this moment, is a nice fit for me. I just loved the Tornado Alleycats, the skinny dipping, and a few of Lili’s epic fails. Brick’s character was perhaps a little underdeveloped and kind of bland, perhaps, but he came through for Lili when it counted.
The romance, of course, is a big part of the story, but Lili’s finally stepping away from her brother’s shadow, understanding her family's actions, learning to relax and enjoy life more, is the strongest message in the story, and getting the boy at the end just makes it that much better!
Overall, this is just an all around fun read. It’s not as serious as some other installments have been, but it still has a few heart-tugging moments and a lovely happily ever after. 3.5 rounded up.
As I marked Stardance Summer by Emily March on Goodreads as currently reading, I noticed it was #13 in the series. How did we get that far in this romantic series I love so much. The time has sped by. These books are an auto read for me, and I love every visit to Eternity Springs where the inimitable Celeste, the 'angel' watches over all - especially would be couples, who need a little push and shove to find themselves, heal and reach out to true love.
This time it is Liliana who flees to Eternity Springs because she has struck trouble in her home town and she sure is hurting from it. She joins a feisty group of women out to have a good time, led by Patsy, in a way not dissimilar to the wonderful Celeste in her spirit and ways of life.
Lilana walks right into the camp of Brick Callahan ( and don't get me going on the Callahan men, omg - I love that gang). It's a bit of a shock for Lili, she sets eyes on Brick and realises she has known him as the boy next door, many years ago when he was Mark and her brother's best friend. And... her secret love. He was very good to her but well she still wasn't allowed into their tree house.
Along the way as these two meet up and explore their relationship now, we get to reacquaint ourselves with many of the beloved characters in this town. If you are new to the series you don't have to have read previous books, they all stand alone, however every story is such fun. Many of them join with Celeste to put the screws on Brick when he is following the path all Callahan men seem prone to take, as I said I just love them.
Another heart warming, delightful read and visit to Eternity Springs. One of those small towns you really wish existed and you could visit... or live!
I love Eternity Springs and couldn't wait to return with Brick and Lili. The journey towards their HEA wasn't easy for Brick, because he wanted to stand by his RULES and since she was his best friends, little sister meant she was off limits. But sometimes your heart knows what it knows and you can't help who you fall in love with. As for Lili, she has loved him since she was 9 years old, but at some point and time she is going to have to face the facts and probably move on.
In this book, we get to see a lot of the past characters as they all gather for July 4th and I always love all of their banter between each other. There is always some matching making going on and you get more of that in A Stardance Summer. This is another must read by Emily March!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When Liliana goes to her parents for emotional support and they shut her down, she decides a life shake-up is in order. She joins the all women's group the Tornado Alleycats and takes off on a camping trip with them. Except, she doesn’t get to fully escape as the owner of the camp turns out to be Mark "Brick" Callahan, her brother's high school best friend and her lifelong crush. Brick can't believe his best friend's skinny sister turned out so hot but after being burned hard by his high school sweetheart, he's turned into a three date max man. However, the summer is long and his and Liliana's chemistry can't be denied.
Thirteenth in the Eternity Springs series, A Stardance Summer, is full of past couples as the series centers around the Callahan family. As a newcomer to the series it was pretty overwhelming and as the Callahan family is full of lost children, adoptive members, and spouses, relationships and whose who was a bit confusing. On the other side of the coin, if you are a longtime reader of the series, you'd probably enjoy the whole big messy loving family appearances and interactions. I also felt this had a bit of a women's fiction vibe to it as the romance between our leads didn't exactly feel like the focus so much as their individual personal struggles.
Our heroine Liliana was a fun plucky character. She grew up in her brother's shadow a bit and seemed to follow what her parents wanted for her life more than her own desires. When she uncovers something illegal at work and then gets framed for a DUI, it was the eye opener she needed to take charge of her own life. I liked following her journey as she went from unsure to solid in her own convictions. She was also very sympathetic with her wallflower crush on big brother's best friend.
Brick and his many names, was harder for me to connect with. He had the overused burned once, forever and ever shy syndrome that more often than not comes off a bit immature and dragged out. I never felt like I truly got to know him. I think my main problem stemmed from him and Liliana not really having much romantic or emotional relationship bonding and scenes. We see most of their relationship from Liliana's past recollections of crushing on him and what we do get in the present is colored by Brick's constant stonewalling any thoughts of love or future with Liliana because of his past highschool girlfriend. I was disappointed in the lack of scenes of the two just being together and seeing them grow closer.
There was a lot happening in this book with a huge cast of characters. It seemed like some minor storyline was introduced, lasted for a couple pages, and then disappeared quickly. Liliana's work drama could have easily carried the drama but instead it's brought up in the beginning and then completely ignored until the very end, kind of a big deal for her character to just be ignored. There was also a pretty big character action reveal at the very end that felt out of nowhere and the wrap up with Liliana’s parents was extremely pat. The actress drama could have been completely cut out as the only thing it added was to seemingly throw a superfluous sneer at Hollywood types. There was also a slight twinge of sexist comments and tone that I wish would disappear from women's fiction and romance. Liliana talks about wanting to have a one night stand to be a "wild girl" and words like slutty and ho (after thinking she slept with someone the hero calls her a ho, does apologize right away but the thinking and sentiment are there) are thrown around. After getting into a fight with the actress, Liliana also derogatorily says, "she fought like a girl." Somewhat small but in what are supposed to be books for women, could we not?
If you're a reader of the series, you'll probably enjoy the large cast of past characters interactions and appearances and if you're looking for a clean (a kiss scene or two and the sex scene is completely fade to black) more leaning women's fiction, the writing is clean and crisp here.
Lili decides to go to Eternity Springs for the summer to get away from all that went down back at home. She joins the all female camping club called the Alleycats. Lili has spent all her life doing what others expect her to do, but now she's had enough and she wants to do what makes her feel happy and alive. She wanted to spend a fun summer at the RV resort, but when she finds out who is running the RV resort, she's more than surprised because it's her high school crush Brick. Lili and Brick were teenagers back then, but now years later as adults there's a mutual attraction. Is it now the right time for Lili and Brick to be happy and in love?
It was my first book in the series and I really enjoyed reading it. I definitely want to read more from this author in the future. I liked how that there was a glimpse to the main characters teenage time and then how things progressed in the present. It was a sweet, feel-good novel - perfect for the summer time.
What a delightful find! I'm always so thrilled when I discover a 'new to me author' who I so enjoy and I realize has a treasure trove of other books just waiting for me. This was my experience reading Emily March's latest, A Stardance Summer. This is thirteenth in the Eternity Springs Series, but new readers can totally jump in and feel right at home with these characters. One chapter in and I knew I'd be reading many, many more in this series, as well as other Emily March titles.
A Stardance Summer is a perfect summer read, the one you search for every year, but is often illusive. Lili Howe is at a crossroads. At twenty-nine she comes face to face with the realization that her career, ever striving for a higher rung on the corporate ladder, was never her dream, but simply a way to please her parents and keep up with an over-achieving older brother. She is abruptly shaken when she is framed for embezzlement and a DUI after getting to close to some damning information at work. The tipping point comes when her parents don't believe her innocence and won't back her desire to fight back. Devastated, Lili makes a decision that seems rash but it's something I'm going to entirely admit to dreaming of...she drives away right then and there, buys a truck and camper, and goes to meet up with an all girls camping club in Colorado for the summer. Hello, YES, and can I come too please?!? I did an audible cheer for this girl! Emily March had me, hook-line-and-sinker. I was all-in for Lili's journey of self discovery. Don't we all need a little vicarious escapism?
Arriving at Colorado's Stardance Ranch Lili gets a bit more then she bargained for when she realizes the Camp director, Brick Callahan, is her brother's childhood best friend who she had a massive crush on, and truth be told never got over. As she is embraced by the members of the camping club, all much older then she, they seem set on fixing her up with her old friend. Things never go smoothly however, and despite a crazy attraction there are obstacles, missed opportunities, misunderstandings, a lot of mixed signals, and an old love and nemesis named Tiffany. The warmth of these characters, the very real nature of what they experience, the enduring relationships, along with the stunning Colorado wilderness, made this such an enjoyable, immersion read for me. I can't wait to experience more of this series, and other titles from Emily March. I strongly recommend this sweet summer book!
I received an advanced reader copy (eGalley) from St Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review reflects my honest and unbiased opinions.
Book # 13 in the “Eternity Springs” series. I haven’t read any of the previous books, but don’t feel I was missing much by reading this one out of order.
Lili has to face a work crisis without help from her parents or brother. She decided to join with her landlady’s group, the Tornado Alleycats, and camp all summer in the Colorado Rockies. Brick Callahan is happy to have his campground, Stardance Ranch, booked for the summer but he’s not getting a sedate group of seniors in the Tornado Alleycats. Both Lili and Brick are stunned to see one another – turns out they knew each other as children.
The writing is formulaic and simple. A philosophical / spiritual guru will make sure everyone finds his/her way to happiness. I can see the plot twists coming miles ahead. And the cheesy romantic ending is sweet enough to give me diabetes. Still, it’s a fast read and moderately entertaining, and it satisfied several challenges. A decent summer read.
A STARDANCE SUMMER captures the array of emotions that come with struggling to find yourself, letting go of a dream and starting afresh; and Eternity Springs has a proven track record as the perfect place for healing and new beginnings, especially for those who have lost their way or have completely given up. This is the perfect summer read for any fan of contemporary romance or women's fiction.
Liliana Howe comes from a family of overachievers and has always struggled to measure up. At a crossroads in her life and unable to find support from her family, Lili must decide her own fate and chart her own course, but first she needs a break from life and joining the all-female camping club, the Tornado Alleys for an extended summer vacation is the way to go. But Lili's vacation is not exactly what she expects because of the surprise she finds on vacation: her childhood crush and a chance for a guilt-free summer fling.
Brick Callahan enjoys his life in Eternity Springs, even though he has pretty much given up on relationships and limits his entanglements to three dates max per woman. Having Lili show up at his campground, all grown up and so gorgeous is going to test his restraint and the bro code, but Brick still has the scars from being burned in love and is not interested in going back for seconds.
I enjoyed reading this book a lot and not just for Lili and Brick's romance and everything that came with it. I enjoyed the other characters in the story and their own paths, as well as the many lessons the story gives us. One thing is certain, life is a cycle and people pass through each other's lives for a reason.
This book will resonate with readers and leave them assessing their own lives, as well the connections they have formed with others. The biggest takeaway for me was that we are in charge of our own lives, choices and happiness, and are the only ones who can make the decisions that bring us the best life has to offer.
It was great catching up with characters from previous books and I look forward to what Ms. March has in store for us next.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.
This was my first Emily March book. Yep, I jumped in at book 13 LOL Was I lost with the characters from previous books? A little bit. Did it take away from my enjoyment of this? Not at all. It made me want to go back and read the stories of all the wonderful citizens of Eternity Springs.
Lili has come to Eternity Springs after some horrible, false, stuff went down with her at work. She comes to meet up with her friend Patsy and Patsy's camping group. These ladies seem like a whole bunch of fun! Is Lili running from what happened at work and her parent's reaction? Yes, she is. But she is also realizing she needs to make a change in herself. And for that I am beyond jealous. Women who have the nerve to just pick up and move, change careers mid-life, and start over somewhere have my utmost admiration. I couldn't do it. I'm not brave enough, but Lili was, and when she got to Stardance RV resort she runs into her childhood and teenage crush, who also happens to be her brother's best friend, Mark Christopher, or Brick Callahan, as he goes by now.
Sparks fly between Brick and Lili, but Brick won't put himself out there because 1) Lili is his best friend's little sister, and 2) he's been burned by a woman before that he thought was going to be the one. I have to say, Brick made me kind of mad with him pushing her off and acting the way he did for so long in here. But the way he made it up to her at the end? OH MY! SWOON! Totally made up for any ill feelings I had towards him LOL
*thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy of this with me*
Another fabulous episode in one of my favorite places on earth….Eternity Springs. And yes, I am aware this only exists in Emily March’s imagination but I am so happy that she takes us there periodically. I often wish Eternity Springs were a real place so we could all go visit and have our own story. I would love to meet Celeste. Emily March takes my two favorite series of hers, The Callahans and Eternity Springs, and although they have overlapped before, this time gave us more. Brick Callahan, of the Texas Callahans, is the son of Mark, but if you have ever read the Callahan series, you know he was adopted as a toddler, and didn't meet Mark, ( his biological father) until he was almost grown. If you haven't read the series, it is explained nicely throughout this book. Brick runs an RV camp site right next to Eternity Springs, has now settled in that area, and then runs into Liliana who he knew as a child with his adopted family. Liliana has decided to ditch her life in Oklahoma due to several unfortunate circumstances, and join her friend, Patsy for a summer of RV camping. Lili and Brick do not have an easy journey, but since Emily Marsh is the queen of romances that have to be hard fought to get to the HEA, I am never surprised. However, I am constantly surprised at how involved I become in each of her relationships, and how emotionally attached I feel. This is a 5 star read for me. I hope she never stops writing about our town Eternity Springs.
A Stardance Summer was my first read by Emily March and I know definitely not my last. I have Luke & Maddie bumped up on my kindle (I gotta find out if all the Callahan men are the same as Brick). I just fell in love with everyone in Eternity Springs and the Tornado Alleycats especially Patsy she is the type of grandma I want to be when I get her age.
Liliana Howe had a childhood crush on Brick Callahan aka Mark Christopher her neighbor & brother’s best friend until he crushed that crush by going after the school Queen of Mean, Tiffany, who eventually made Brick the man whom he is today three dates and your out, never does relationships, but will that change when he spends the summer with a blast from his past Liliana.
A Stardance Summer was a read I fought myself to put down & just kept me turning the page. I loved the small town atmosphere, the nosey but caring Callahan family and who couldn’t fall in love with the gals of Tornado Alleycats. After reading Brick’s & Lili’s story it makes me want to go & read everyone else’s story in Eternity Springs and also the Callahan brother’s especially Brick’ s dad’s Mark’s story I to learn the story of Brick being adopted. If you love books with small town atmosphere, crazy grannies, loving but nosey family, and looking for a few giggles I recommend you pick up a copy of A Stardance Summer by Emily March.
She’d never expected to be the wronged character in a real-life novel.
She could possibly face the powers that be at the firm. She might even be able to hold her own while presenting her case to the cops. But Tiffany Lambeau? Forget about it. Some parts of high school a girl simply couldn’t leave behind.
They made out like high school kids beneath the bleachers. At least, Lili guessed that this was what making out beneath the bleachers would have been like. She’d never had the experience.
Sounds like what you need to do is retrace your steps until you find your wits. Obviously, you’ve lost them.
Lili wasn’t the wallflower. A smile played upon her lips. Aloud, she observed, “I’m brazen.”
My Review:
This was my first visit to Eternity Springs; I know I am a bit behind in my travels as A Stardance Summer was the thirteenth book of the series. But I truly enjoyed my time at camp or glamp (glamorous camping). The storyline was entertaining, amusing, light, and easy to follow despite the large array of family and friends and a complicated family history, but then again, this is book #13 in the series so there was a lot to catch up on. I adored and relished all the secondary characters of the mature ladies of the Tornado Alleycats, even more than I enjoyed the primary protagonists. Most of these quirky characters were endearing and likable with relatable traits and concerns and were the type of colorful and fun-loving people I would like to know.
A very well written romance. I loved the storyline and the setting. My first book by this author and I enjoyed her writing. I must read more books in this series.
I received an ARC via Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.
Eternity Springs is a place of healing. It gives hope and a fresh start to those who have lost their way. Having read a number of books from this series, I am blown away by the sense of nostalgic serenity, Ms. March conveys as she spins a tale that walks the line between hope and hopelessness. A quest of self - discovery and finding courage to start anew makes for a trek that is powerful and true.
I've read all the Callihan books (written under Geralyn Dawson) and all the Eternity Springs novels as well. To be honest, I much preferred her writing under her previous name, the Eternity Springs series is a little too inspirational for me. However, Miss Dawson/March is a skilled writer and the combination of the characters and the community heart of this small town in Colorado keeps me coming back for more.
If one is looking for a quick, sweet contemporary romance, this will fit the bill. The girl who one didn't expect to get the guy does. But most importantly, she finds herself and realizes she is happy in her own skin.
I was delighted to return to Eternity Springs with this latest release from the very talented Emily March. You don't have to read all of the other books in this series to fall in love with this community, but you won't regret it if you read them all.
When Lili uncovers illegal activity at her workplace, she suddenly finds herself framed for a DUI and unceremoniously sacked. Determined to go down fighting she heads to her parent's home to come up with a game plan to get justice but is shocked when she realises that her parents don't believe her. Growing up in the shadow of her successful brother, she has always tried to be the perfect child, and always told the truth, so she is deeply disturbed by what she sees as their betrayal. Wanting to shake up her life a bit and gain some perspective, Lili heads to Eternity Springs as a member of the Tornado Alleycats, and soon finds herself face to face with her childhood crush, her brother's best friend, Mark Callahan also known as Brick. There is no denying that attraction is simmering between them, but they are no longer kids and they both have trust issues. Can Eternity Springs work some magic on the pair when their past comes a calling?
A STARDANCE SUMMER by Emily March is a heartwarming, funny, charming tale about friendship, love, family, and finding yourself, set in a beautiful community that I would love to live in myself. The characters are well-developed and completely engaging, and I was engrossed in this story from the very first page. Emily March has a way with words that really capture your heart as well as your imagination and I highly recommend this book and this series to contemporary romance fans everywhere.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com
The magic of Eternity Springs is alive and well, working it's way through the hearts of Lili Howe and Brick Callahan. Lili is having a heck of a year. Facing false allegations and lies back home and feeling like her family is once again judging her she decides to join a group of older ladies on their vacation to Eternity Springs. What she never expected was to stumble across her childhood crush Brick Callahan. Well that wasn't his name then but after reuniting with his biological family that's what they call him. There's a definite attraction between them but Lili knows she needs to return to her real life and Brick doesn't do commitment. So that leaves them a beautiful summer at Stardance Ranch. Sounds simple enough but nothing's ever simple when the heart becomes involved.
Another great story in this series and a book I highly recommend to everyone.
'A Stardance Summer' BY Emily March is book 13 in the "Eternity Springs" Series. I have been jumping in and out of the series so for me this can easily be a standalone series. Just as the other books I have read this was a sweet romance that warmed your heart! I cannot recommend this book enough if you are looking for a sweet and easy read. "My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
I'm certainly on a roll with good books recently as this was another wonderful, summery, feel-good book that I really enjoyed. I've read a couple of the earlier 'Eternity Springs' books a few years ago but somehow seemed to lose track of the series with all the other books around, but I shall definitely be going back to catch up with the previous books now.
This book was about Lilli and Brick (or Mark). Lilli has recently lost her job and been treated really badly at the firm she used to work for and decides to join in with her landlady's all female Tornado Alleycats RV group and spend the summer at Stardance Ranch resort in Eternity Springs. Lilli always did what was expected of her and decided it was time to do what she wanted and let loose a bit. After arriving at Eternity Springs she finds out the resort is owned by her schoolgirl crush and her brother's best friend Brick. The initial meeting is very funny as Brick goes out to the lake to ask the ladies to be quieter as it's very late, and finds them all skinny-dipping!
The Tornado Alleycats sound a wonderful, fun group of ladies that I'd love to know, especially their leader, and Lilli's landlady, Patsy. She lives her life to the full and has sounds like she's had a wonderful exciting life. Brick's extended family, also sound a wonderful group and as some are featured in previous books I'll certainly be catching up with their stories soon.
A very easy reading, feel-good, fun read that I read in one day sitting in my garden on a lovely hot, sunny bank holiday weekend in the UK (that doesn't happen very often so I made the most of it!).
Emily March takes me back to one of my favorite fictional towns in the latest edition of her Eternity Springs series.
Brick Callahan enjoys the chaos at his campground, Stardance Ranch, especially after the Tornado Alleycats arrive for an extended summer stay. But when he discovers Liliana “Lili” Howe among the Alleycats, he fears he's in for a summer of trouble. Betrayed by those she trusted, Lili decides she's put her career first for too long and heads to Eternity Springs for a summer of rest and reassessment. The last person she expects to find running an RV resort is her high school crush.
Brick and Lili’s story is my 13th visit to the lovely Colorado town of Eternity Springs. And like the couples before them, their story does not disappoint. There’s chemistry and of course, trouble in paradise that needs to be worked through. Their romance is believable and heartfelt, but I needed an epilogue. Brick and Lili’s story ended too quickly for me. I know I’ll probably hear more from them in future books, but I needed that little something extra right now. In addition to the love story there are a couple of side stories – one involving an Alleycat, the other Brick’s brother Josh – that I enjoyed very much. I would love to see more of these characters in future books.
This visit to Eternity Springs focuses a bit more on the Callahans than the other residents of the town. But don’t worry, there are updates about the other residents as well. If you’re not familiar with the Callahan brothers, there’s a reason for that. Their stories are told in the Callahan Brothers/Brazos Bend series. You can certainly jump right into A Stardance Summer without having read the previous Callahan books, but they’re worth an add to your TBR. While I’ve read all the Callahan and Eternity Springs books I admit I struggled at the beginning of this book to keep each of the characters straight. However, that had more to do with my short memory than Ms. March’s writing. But March did a good job of giving just enough info from previous books to keep the story (and my memory) flowing without it feeling like a rehash of the older titles.
I hope you’ll grab your copy of A Stardance Summer and journey back to Eternity Springs with me. I'll see you on our next stop in town …
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
This is the first Emily March book I have read, so coming in 13 books into a series did make things a little bit difficult for me at times
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it, but things flew right over my head.
I did mostly like Lilliana and her summer of self discovery, however I felt that the reason why she ran away for the summer was left behind at the beginning and forgotten until right at the end. It was a pretty big thing that happened and then... just dropped.
I did have quite a bit of trouble keeping up with who's who at the zoo. Since it is so far into a series ,and it is all adopted families and blended families and so many characters, I felt like my head was spinning trying to keep up - however if you are up to date with the series, you probably won't have this trouble.
I did adore Lilliana's friend Patty - she was a hoot and I want to be like her when I grow up.
I did like the push/pull between Lili and Brick - the boy she has loved all her life. He is a bit of a d!ck at times, but he does redeem himself to me.
I did feel that there was maybe just a little bit too much going on in the story at times, but this is probably just me. I also felt that the ending was a little rushed, again as so much was happening throughout the story.
If you are a fan of this author and this series, you will enjoy A Stardance Summer.
This is the 13th book in the Eternity Springs Series, but I have not read any of the others and had no problem following and enjoying this story. Having said that, I will go back and read some of the others as the characters I met have some storylines that I would like to learn more about.
Liliana (Lili) Howe who flees to Eternity Springs because she is upset and hurting from circustances at home. She joins the Tornado Alleycats, an older, all female camping group, run by her landlady, Patsy. This group wants to have a good time and Lili is the one that they want to be successful in her endeavours. Shortly after arriving at the camp, Lili catches a glimpse of someone she thinks is familiar. It turns out to be Brick Callahan whom she has known as the boy next door when she was growing up. At that time he was called Mark and was her brother's best friend. He was also the one that she loved from the time she was nine years old, but lost to someone his own age. As it turned out, she dumped him and married someone else. A hurt he has never gotten over.
As we meet the characters in this book, I wanted to be there with them. The Tornado Alleycats were a hoot. From skinny dipping to all their fun activities (pole dancing anyone?) they were going to have a good time. Lili started out a scared rabbit who decided to let go in Colorado and could have gotten herself into a lot of trouble, but with all her guardian angels, nothing bad happened to her. Brick aka Mark, is a troubled character who tries to fight the feelings he has for Lili, of course he is really not sure what they mean. The rest of the family flit in and out of the story but are there enough to make you want to learn more about the Callahans and Eternity Springs. The story moved along at a good pace and left me with a great feeling when I finished. I read this one in a 24 hour period but I am still thinking about these characters. This is a romance but more than that. It is a story about finding your strengths and doing what you want out of life, not what others expect of you (i.e jobs, where to live, who to love). It is a story of family, loyalty and personal strength. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story with romance thrown in. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
There is a lot going on in this book. It opens with Lili Howe going to her parents for help with a problem she is having and them being dismissive towards her. They come around very much later in the story but you get the feeling that is the way she has always felt. She decides to join the Tornado Alleycats, which is an all-women’s camping club and she is the youngest at 29. Once she makes the drive from Oklahoma to Colorado, and the StarDance Ranch she sets up her trailer and discovers that the camp ground is own by her brothers best who lived next door to Brick Callahan, but had a different name when he was living next door. Yes she had a crush on him but he fell head over heels for another girl in town who broke his heart and she got to watch it from the front row. Now he has a three date only policy yada, yada, yada. That is why he is named Brick. This book felt slow when reading, and there was a lot going on. When you finished one thing you were being led to another which took a while to get to, and sometimes even that was slow. The characters were good and there are a lot of them especially when his family shows up. You do feel like you went through summer, but when you get to the end you are left with some unanswered questions. That is the way I took it maybe others will look at it differently but I felt wanting some closer on some of the things that were happening during the story. Overall good characters and good scenery. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 3 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
After a miserable encounter with her unsupportive parents, all Lili Howe did was to take a chance, jump onto the lake with the Tornado Alleycats, and soon she found the man she'd been hopelessly in love with since she was a child.
After assuring the honeymooners that they're in a safe ranch, all Brick Callahan needed was peace and quiet, and soon he was looking at a pair of shimmery long legs and a beautiful woman who was once tall and gangly when she was a child.
All they needed was to reconnect and rebuild a friendship that had gone lost, but their excess baggages seemed to hold up their chance of getting together.
This has been a charming read. I loved the characters in the story, most especially Liliana "Lili" Howe and her attitude towards achieving her goal in life - to newfound freedom and new beginnings. I loved that she got herself out of her cocoon and took her chances after getting stuck at being the good daughter who always adhered to rules. I loved how she became a different person when she decided to let go and let loose.
Brick Callahan aka Mark Christopher, aka the boy in the treehouse was a revelation, too. I thought I wouldn't like him for Lili because he was a flirt when they were kids. Well, he soon had me grinning the moment he called Freckled Legs and admonish the skinny-dipping grannies. That scene had me really cracking up. From that moment on, I knew A Stardance Summer was going to be a great read.
And Emily March did not disappoint. I loved how I couldn't forget Brick and Lili even after reading this book. I loved how Miss March made her characters flawed and realistic and sensible. I really liked that this storyline is had me smiling and sighing with love when I got to the last page.
Lili Howe comes from a world of high expectations, and privilege, and even though that is how she has been raised, it's never really stuck to her, not something she wants to identify with. But for her parents sake she gave it a shot, got a job with a prestigious CPA Firm, and gave it her all, but somewhere along the line she lost her way, and lost her job to boot. So, now she is doing things her way for a change, she wants to reinvent herself, and thinks that the perfect way to do that is to join the Tornado Alleycats on their trip to Eternity Springs. Everything is falling right into place, that is until a certain sexy teenage crush wanders back into her world.
The moment Brick Callahan discovers Lili amongst some skinny dipping elderly ladies, he can't help but admire the way his kid sisters best friend has grown into quite a beautiful woman... a very tempting woman! But just as the sparks start to fly between these two, someone from Brick's past comes back around with unexpected news, and now he is left with a tough choice... go with an old trusted love or something new and very exciting!
I knew from the synopsis alone, that this was going to be a fun little read, and boy were my instincts spot on! This was my first read from this author, and after devouring this little literary gem, I can say with complete honesty that it won't be my last visit to this series! The story line totally drew me and had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through! The characters had sizzling chemistry and I loved the banter between them, they had me giggling throughout! If you like outdoorsy alpha males, and feisty female characters with indomitable spirit then this book is right up your alley!! Highly recommend this one, it's sure to leave you with a smile!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.
Brick and Lillianna's story is oh so fun to read. Every time I return to an Eternity Springs story it mesmerises me with it faith, love and Angel dust. You have to read the books in the series to experience the angel dust and serenity of Eternity Springs. Brick like the name suggests is our hard headed, hot hero. He is one of those guys who is a commitment phobe yet he dates and is friends with every woman around him. Lilianna is growing up and breaking out of her shell. From being her childhood crush to meeting the man he's become after 2 decades, Lillianna has tough taks ahead of her. It maybe a clichéd story of a guy falling for his best friends sister but the setting makes it something amazing to read. With familiar characters from Eternity Springs and the Magic of that place I fell easily for the characters yet again.
A Stardance Summer by Emily March is a very fun but realistic read. Liliana, known as Lily, is a sensible and hard-working person from Oklahoma. In eighth grade, she wanted Christopher, her brother Derek's friend, to notice her instead of her nemesis Tiffany.
Years later, at age 30, she feels really dissatisfied with her life and has a difficult relationship with her conservative and unsupportive parents. There's also a scandal at her job.
She makes a snap decision to change her life and wants to reinvent herself. Before long, she finds herself joining the Tornado Alleycats, a group of glamorous campers, or "glampers" at the Stardance River Camp in the town of Eternity Springs, Colorado. When she finds out the camp's owner, Brick Calahan, is none other than Christopher himself, she finds she gets more than she bargained for......
I'd like to thank Emily March and a huge thanks to St Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this eARC via NetGalley. I'm especially priveledged to have been invited to participate in the blog tour for this title.
A Stardance Summer is a sweet and throughly enjoyable book about taking chances, living life the best you can reinventing yourself and rekindling old relationships. It is a feel-good novel about finding out who you really are.
This is the first book by Emily March, and also the first Eternity Springs novel I've had the pleasure of reading. Can't wait to read more by her!
This book was a delight and a joy to read. When I voluntarily accepted an advanced review copy, I didn't realize that it was part of a series. Then, as I got into the story, certain characters and places reminded me of a quirky town from another book that I read last year, and checking showed me that I was taking another trip to Eternity Springs. I enjoyed watching Lili use her time with the Tornado Alleycats to figure out the kind of person she wanted to be and what she really wanted from the rest of her life. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.