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When August Ends
From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.
What do you do when a sexy, older man moves into your family’s summer rental?
Well, apparently, you make a fool of yourself—over and over. Things didn’t exactly get off on the right foot with Noah Cavallari. Our first encounter was embarrassing, to say the least.
But despite that, I found myself waking up every day with a newfound energy. Nothing exciting ever happened on the lake—not until Noah moved into the small boathouse on our property. He’d booked it for the entire summer…and I was still trying to figure out why.
When my mother became ill, I inherited the responsibility of making sure our guests were well taken care of. I should have been in college. Instead, I was living my best life…as a maid.
Dark, handsome, and mysterious, everything about Noah screamed forbidden.
I knew he was just passing through town for the summer.
I knew he was probably too old for me.
Yet, I was drawn to him.
Not to mention, he tried to save my life when he mistakenly thought I was drowning.
I wanted him and made no secret of it.
His own attempts to warn me away soon gave way to late-night moonlight chats by the lake. We were slowly easing into a friendship that was gearing up to explode into something I might not recover from.
Because he’s leaving at the end of the summer.
And I have no idea what I’ll do when August ends.
What do you do when a sexy, older man moves into your family’s summer rental?
Well, apparently, you make a fool of yourself—over and over. Things didn’t exactly get off on the right foot with Noah Cavallari. Our first encounter was embarrassing, to say the least.
But despite that, I found myself waking up every day with a newfound energy. Nothing exciting ever happened on the lake—not until Noah moved into the small boathouse on our property. He’d booked it for the entire summer…and I was still trying to figure out why.
When my mother became ill, I inherited the responsibility of making sure our guests were well taken care of. I should have been in college. Instead, I was living my best life…as a maid.
Dark, handsome, and mysterious, everything about Noah screamed forbidden.
I knew he was just passing through town for the summer.
I knew he was probably too old for me.
Yet, I was drawn to him.
Not to mention, he tried to save my life when he mistakenly thought I was drowning.
I wanted him and made no secret of it.
His own attempts to warn me away soon gave way to late-night moonlight chats by the lake. We were slowly easing into a friendship that was gearing up to explode into something I might not recover from.
Because he’s leaving at the end of the summer.
And I have no idea what I’ll do when August ends.
ebook
First published February 25, 2019
1662 people are currently reading
12382 people want to read
About the author
Penelope Ward
98 books25.8k followersPenelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.
She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.
With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty novels.
In 2014, Penelope’s fourth book, Stepbrother Dearest, became the #1 bestselling independently published Kindle ebook of the year on Amazon.com and was credited with igniting an entirely new subgenre of romance. Her 2016 smash hit RoomHate debuted at #2 on The New York Times Bestseller list. Penelope is an Audie Award Winner and three-time Goodreads Choice Romance of the Year Nominee. Her books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly and Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review).
Penelope’s novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.
She can often be found chatting live with her readers in her private Facebook group, Penelope’s Peeps.
She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.
With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty novels.
In 2014, Penelope’s fourth book, Stepbrother Dearest, became the #1 bestselling independently published Kindle ebook of the year on Amazon.com and was credited with igniting an entirely new subgenre of romance. Her 2016 smash hit RoomHate debuted at #2 on The New York Times Bestseller list. Penelope is an Audie Award Winner and three-time Goodreads Choice Romance of the Year Nominee. Her books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly and Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review).
Penelope’s novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.
She can often be found chatting live with her readers in her private Facebook group, Penelope’s Peeps.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,194 reviews
February 8, 2019
You know those heroes that are full of self control and have that quiet confidence? The ones that watch the woman they want but can't have and somehow make brooding about it sexy? Yeah him--oh my. Noah Cavallari has oodles of that going on. This was one hell of a slow burn!
February 23, 2019
WHEN AUGUST ENDS: Is a full length romance novel by Penelope Ward.Twenty year old Heather Chadwick has reached a stalemate with her life, the soul caregiver of a housebound mother has taken its toll on her life aspirations, she'd made a few big sacrifices for her mother, with not being able to go away to college a lot of responsibility rests on her head. For the past several years they have rented out a converted boathouse on their property at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire to bring in the extra income that entails. But Heathers still has to works five nights a week at the local pub to help with their daily needs.
Enter Noah Cavallari a much older guy, who has rented out the boathouse for the whole summer, which is unheard of, generally most only rent it out for a few weeks and then go on their way.
Thinking the boathouse is unoccupied since his truck isn't parked out front she enters to make up his bed and give it a general tidy up, the last thing she expects to see is him coming from the bathroom area only draped in a towel, most would make their apologies and leave, but Heather was just too gobsmacked by how drop dead gorgeous he was and stood there glued to the spot staring.
This wasn't the only awkward moment these two characters share, believe me there is more to come. The second time she encountered him she'd yet again managed to piss him off within seconds. It seemed Noah was either scolding me or laughing at me. There was no middle ground.
These two developed such a unique friendship, sometimes it took me out of my comfort zone as most of the time it wasn't smooth sailing. It was awkward at the best of times. She became obsessed with him, but didn't want to form an attachment with someone just passing through. For some inexplicable reason since you moved in, something has awakened inside of me. I wake up excited.
God there were sooooo many times, too many times to count, how uncomfortable I was reading this, Heather is just out there, like so out there, so young, but so old and wise in other ways, her awkwardness made me blush too many times to count. But god how I loved her character, just so free and quirky, vivacious and full of life a breath of fresh air, so open and honest, so dorky, but so adorable, I cringed, I laughed, I facepalmed so many times throughout this book. But her character was so endearing.
Noah was a different kettle of fish entirely, so closed off and gruff, and so determined to keep his walls up, to keep her at a distance, but she was like a tornado once loose there was no stopping her crashing those walls to smithereens. He had no chance really. These two together were just perfection. I loved watching/reading as it all unfolded, the feels, the swoony moments, the sighs, such a sweet easy to love slow burn romance story.
Heather Chadwick-beautiful, young, wide-eyed, honest Heather Chadwick, whom I wanted to protect with every ounce of my soul as much as I wanted to taint her.
* Teaser uses is off the authors fb page *
Want to read
February 25, 2019LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK | B&N | KOBO | iBOOKS |
OH-LA-LA-LA-LA! CHECK THIS OUT!
Stand-alone.
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK | B&N | KOBO | iBOOKS |
Blurb:
From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.
What do you do when a sexy, older man moves into your family’s summer rental?
Well, apparently, you make a fool of yourself—over and over. Things didn’t exactly get off on the right foot with Noah Cavallari. Our first encounter was embarrassing, to say the least.
But despite that, I found myself waking up every day with a newfound energy. Nothing exciting ever happened on the lake—not until Noah moved into the small boathouse on our property. He’d booked it for the entire summer…and I was still trying to figure out why.
When my mother became ill, I inherited the responsibility of making sure our guests were well taken care of. I should have been in college. Instead, I was living my best life…as a maid.
Dark, handsome, and mysterious, everything about Noah screamed forbidden.
I knew he was just passing through town for the summer.
I knew he was probably too old for me.
Yet, I was drawn to him.
Not to mention, he tried to save my life when he mistakenly thought I was drowning.
I wanted him and made no secret of it.
His own attempts to warn me away soon gave way to late-night moonlight chats by the lake. We were slowly easing into a friendship that was gearing up to explode into something I might not recover from.
Because he’s leaving at the end of the summer.
And I have no idea what I’ll do when August ends.
OH-LA-LA-LA-LA! CHECK THIS OUT!
Stand-alone.
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK | B&N | KOBO | iBOOKS |
Blurb:
From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.
What do you do when a sexy, older man moves into your family’s summer rental?
Well, apparently, you make a fool of yourself—over and over. Things didn’t exactly get off on the right foot with Noah Cavallari. Our first encounter was embarrassing, to say the least.
But despite that, I found myself waking up every day with a newfound energy. Nothing exciting ever happened on the lake—not until Noah moved into the small boathouse on our property. He’d booked it for the entire summer…and I was still trying to figure out why.
When my mother became ill, I inherited the responsibility of making sure our guests were well taken care of. I should have been in college. Instead, I was living my best life…as a maid.
Dark, handsome, and mysterious, everything about Noah screamed forbidden.
I knew he was just passing through town for the summer.
I knew he was probably too old for me.
Yet, I was drawn to him.
Not to mention, he tried to save my life when he mistakenly thought I was drowning.
I wanted him and made no secret of it.
His own attempts to warn me away soon gave way to late-night moonlight chats by the lake. We were slowly easing into a friendship that was gearing up to explode into something I might not recover from.
Because he’s leaving at the end of the summer.
And I have no idea what I’ll do when August ends.
February 24, 2019
*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I was living the moment I’d always feared: knowing what it was like to have her and still feeling as though I needed to let her go.
I fell head over heels in love with this story right from the start. There were moments I laughed so hard I nearly cried and then at other times I could feel my heart shatter for Noah and Heather. This was one hell of a perfect love story, and true to Penelope Ward’s style of writing, she throws in a twist that I once again, did not see coming!! Everything about this book was absolutely perfect from the plot, amazing characters…right down to the cute guinea pigs, Bonnie & Clyde! This is the writing that I’ve always come to expect from this truly talented author!
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
WHEN AUGUST ENDS releases on February 25th. Drop everything you are reading and make sure you get to this one! I promise you that you are going to fall just as much in love with Noah and Heather as I have!
Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/2XnZUW3
Audio ➜ https://adbl.co/2B3y0ov
Amazon Print ➜https://amzn.to/2F0tMSo
Apple Books ➜ https://apple.co/2Tj776z
Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/2IiEqX7
Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/2BAL4lC
Google Play ➜ https://bit.ly/2GLqNgz
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I was living the moment I’d always feared: knowing what it was like to have her and still feeling as though I needed to let her go.
I fell head over heels in love with this story right from the start. There were moments I laughed so hard I nearly cried and then at other times I could feel my heart shatter for Noah and Heather. This was one hell of a perfect love story, and true to Penelope Ward’s style of writing, she throws in a twist that I once again, did not see coming!! Everything about this book was absolutely perfect from the plot, amazing characters…right down to the cute guinea pigs, Bonnie & Clyde! This is the writing that I’ve always come to expect from this truly talented author!
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
WHEN AUGUST ENDS releases on February 25th. Drop everything you are reading and make sure you get to this one! I promise you that you are going to fall just as much in love with Noah and Heather as I have!
Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/2XnZUW3
Audio ➜ https://adbl.co/2B3y0ov
Amazon Print ➜https://amzn.to/2F0tMSo
Apple Books ➜ https://apple.co/2Tj776z
Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/2IiEqX7
Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/2BAL4lC
Google Play ➜ https://bit.ly/2GLqNgz
February 26, 2019
2.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: I was ALL about that cover model and blurb and one-clicked the F out of this book! I have to praise Ms. Ward for that awesomeness first. But sadly, I'm convinced I didn't read the same book as other readers. I'm also confused that this is a Penelope Ward book. It felt...off to me. I won't go as far to say it wasn't her writing or anything, but it didn't feel like the same flow as I've felt with her books in the past. To lay it all out in a few words -- I never connected with the main characters, I felt like the H's perspective was too feminine, the taboo aspect was lame, the time jumps made it feel too insta and disjointed, and the turn it took in the last 20% just seemed weird and not fully panned out. Phew! I'm sad this wasn't all I was hoping it'd be, BUT! Don't take just my word for it, because I'm obviously in the very small minority here because everyone else is raving about this!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Heather and Noah's story. Heather is taking care of her mother and by doing that taking care of their boathouse rental property. Noah is their new tenant. After some embarrassing encounters and some failed come-ons from Heather, they form a friendship. There is a strong underlying attraction and connection that they both try to deny, but eventually give in and fall in love. There are some big life changes going on for Heather, a big secret revealed, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Heather and Noah's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. I thought it had some slow parts, there were some big time jumps, and the last 20ish % was in fast-forward. The ending wasn't my favorite either. I never skimmed though.
Instalove: Yes. I didn't understand the progression into the stronger feelings at all.
H rating: 2.5 Stars. Noah. I'm conflicted about him. I didn't get that "mysteriousness" or "aloofness" that other reviewers seemed to get from him. To me, it felt like his was a woman's perspective and not a man's tbh 😬
h rating: 3.5 stars. Heather. I appreciated how she took care of her mother and how she was mature for her age.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had what felt like a fast forward ending with some closure. It's enough closure that I'm sure other readers will be fine calling it a HEA. I will classify it as a HFN because I'm picky about what I call a "HEA" and this wasn't quite there .
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
Overall Opinion: I was ALL about that cover model and blurb and one-clicked the F out of this book! I have to praise Ms. Ward for that awesomeness first. But sadly, I'm convinced I didn't read the same book as other readers. I'm also confused that this is a Penelope Ward book. It felt...off to me. I won't go as far to say it wasn't her writing or anything, but it didn't feel like the same flow as I've felt with her books in the past. To lay it all out in a few words -- I never connected with the main characters, I felt like the H's perspective was too feminine, the taboo aspect was lame, the time jumps made it feel too insta and disjointed, and the turn it took in the last 20% just seemed weird and not fully panned out. Phew! I'm sad this wasn't all I was hoping it'd be, BUT! Don't take just my word for it, because I'm obviously in the very small minority here because everyone else is raving about this!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Heather and Noah's story. Heather is taking care of her mother and by doing that taking care of their boathouse rental property. Noah is their new tenant. After some embarrassing encounters and some failed come-ons from Heather, they form a friendship. There is a strong underlying attraction and connection that they both try to deny, but eventually give in and fall in love. There are some big life changes going on for Heather, a big secret revealed, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Heather and Noah's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. I thought it had some slow parts, there were some big time jumps, and the last 20ish % was in fast-forward. The ending wasn't my favorite either. I never skimmed though.
Instalove: Yes. I didn't understand the progression into the stronger feelings at all.
H rating: 2.5 Stars. Noah. I'm conflicted about him. I didn't get that "mysteriousness" or "aloofness" that other reviewers seemed to get from him. To me, it felt like his was a woman's perspective and not a man's tbh 😬
h rating: 3.5 stars. Heather. I appreciated how she took care of her mother and how she was mature for her age.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had what felt like a fast forward ending with some closure. It's enough closure that I'm sure other readers will be fine calling it a HEA. I will classify it as a HFN because I'm picky about what I call a "HEA" and this wasn't quite there .
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
not-appealing
January 17, 2019
She is 20; he is much older...
Not my cuppa.
And one more thing... The blurb says she makes a fool of herself over and over again. So my question is:
Who finds it endearing when the heroine makes a fool of herself in front of the hero?
- What's female writers' obsession with making their heroines look stupid?
- And why don't more readers complain about such silly heroines? Who thinks that putting oneself in embarrassing situations all the time is an attractive quality?
- Would you fall in love with a guy who constantly makes a fool of himself? I wouldn't. Would you? So what makes some people think that it is cute when the fool is a woman?
Well, if you have answers, please enlighten me...
Not my cuppa.
And one more thing... The blurb says she makes a fool of herself over and over again. So my question is:
Who finds it endearing when the heroine makes a fool of herself in front of the hero?
- What's female writers' obsession with making their heroines look stupid?
- And why don't more readers complain about such silly heroines? Who thinks that putting oneself in embarrassing situations all the time is an attractive quality?
- Would you fall in love with a guy who constantly makes a fool of himself? I wouldn't. Would you? So what makes some people think that it is cute when the fool is a woman?
Well, if you have answers, please enlighten me...
February 25, 2019
5 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
-“Life is made up of little moments that don’t seem that important at the time, but in retrospect they’re what get you to where you are.”
Heather Chadwick is a beautiful 20 yr. old woman who lives on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire on land that’s been in her family for years. It’s a popular destination for tourists looking to escape the city, and they have a boathouse on the property they use for a summer rental. For being so young, Heather had a lot of responsibilities. Life happened, and instead of going off to college, she’s home caring for her mother, and running things. Her life is pretty boring, and then a man named Noah rents their boathouse for the entire summer. All she knows about him is he’s from Pennsylvania. She meets the new tenant and doesn’t make the best first impression. Things are a little awkward from the start, but she’s completely in awe of how gorgeous he is. He’s clearly older than her, but all delicious man. She’s never been so insanely attracted to someone before. He makes her feel bold, and she decides to act on her massive crush, but sadly he continually rejects her advances. Since they met it feels like something has awakened in her, and he excites her.
-This guy had the strangest effect on me.
-Every time he smiled at me, I felt my insides stir.
-My reaction to this man was both exhilarating and terrifying all at once.
-My body was in a constant state of alert whenever I was around Noah.
-I wanted him more each day.
-There wasn’t much I wouldn’t give for a taste of something more with him.
Noah Cavallari wanted a change of pace and a much needed break for the summer. His rest and relaxation wasn’t to include a young, persistent woman who makes it clear she wants him. He quickly learns she’s as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. She has a heart of gold, and soon even though he lets her know they can never be more than friends, things get complicated. He found himself enjoying her company, and wanting to spend more time with her.
Heather is intrigued and a bit obsessed with Noah. No matter how she tries not to be, she’s drawn to him. He’s a mystery she wants to solve, and a constant temptation. She knows she shouldn’t let herself get so attached to someone just passing through town, but she can’t help herself.
When August Ends is an amazing new standalone novel about forbidden romance, and second chances. It’s emotional, funny, sweet, and sexy. I really loved these characters, and couldn’t put this book down. I’m a huge fan of Penelope Ward’s writing, and this is my favorite book she’s written. There’s just something extra special about it. The story had everything I look for in a 5 star book, and I still can’t quit thinking about it.
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2GYm1wh
(ARC provided by author)
-“Life is made up of little moments that don’t seem that important at the time, but in retrospect they’re what get you to where you are.”
Heather Chadwick is a beautiful 20 yr. old woman who lives on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire on land that’s been in her family for years. It’s a popular destination for tourists looking to escape the city, and they have a boathouse on the property they use for a summer rental. For being so young, Heather had a lot of responsibilities. Life happened, and instead of going off to college, she’s home caring for her mother, and running things. Her life is pretty boring, and then a man named Noah rents their boathouse for the entire summer. All she knows about him is he’s from Pennsylvania. She meets the new tenant and doesn’t make the best first impression. Things are a little awkward from the start, but she’s completely in awe of how gorgeous he is. He’s clearly older than her, but all delicious man. She’s never been so insanely attracted to someone before. He makes her feel bold, and she decides to act on her massive crush, but sadly he continually rejects her advances. Since they met it feels like something has awakened in her, and he excites her.
-This guy had the strangest effect on me.
-Every time he smiled at me, I felt my insides stir.
-My reaction to this man was both exhilarating and terrifying all at once.
-My body was in a constant state of alert whenever I was around Noah.
-I wanted him more each day.
-There wasn’t much I wouldn’t give for a taste of something more with him.
Noah Cavallari wanted a change of pace and a much needed break for the summer. His rest and relaxation wasn’t to include a young, persistent woman who makes it clear she wants him. He quickly learns she’s as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. She has a heart of gold, and soon even though he lets her know they can never be more than friends, things get complicated. He found himself enjoying her company, and wanting to spend more time with her.
Heather is intrigued and a bit obsessed with Noah. No matter how she tries not to be, she’s drawn to him. He’s a mystery she wants to solve, and a constant temptation. She knows she shouldn’t let herself get so attached to someone just passing through town, but she can’t help herself.
When August Ends is an amazing new standalone novel about forbidden romance, and second chances. It’s emotional, funny, sweet, and sexy. I really loved these characters, and couldn’t put this book down. I’m a huge fan of Penelope Ward’s writing, and this is my favorite book she’s written. There’s just something extra special about it. The story had everything I look for in a 5 star book, and I still can’t quit thinking about it.
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2GYm1wh
Read
March 1, 2019★ ★THE PRICE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE! ★ ★
Who grabbed their copy?? Going, going, gone! I am changing the special release price of WHEN AUGUST ENDS shortly. Get this sexy, slow burn while it's still $3.99. (Moving to $4.99 permanently after release and will not be on sale ever again. It also will NOT be going into Kindle Unlimited.)
BUY HERE: https://amzn.to/2E5DcZM
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2NoW1eE
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2Tj776z
Nook: https://bit.ly/2IiEqX7
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2BAL4lC
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2BCw3Qc
Who grabbed their copy?? Going, going, gone! I am changing the special release price of WHEN AUGUST ENDS shortly. Get this sexy, slow burn while it's still $3.99. (Moving to $4.99 permanently after release and will not be on sale ever again. It also will NOT be going into Kindle Unlimited.)
BUY HERE: https://amzn.to/2E5DcZM
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2NoW1eE
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2Tj776z
Nook: https://bit.ly/2IiEqX7
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2BAL4lC
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2BCw3Qc
March 6, 2019
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
Let's take a moment and stare at the rugged beauty that is Joseph Cannata...*clears throat*
Sometimes it sucks a little to be a reviewer with deadlines (and one who can't say no). Many of the books I buy are sitting prettily on my Kindle and I rarely get to read them due to a busy schedule. Pains me because I miss out on a lot of good ones and for some authors it's impossible to get arcs for ( like Penelope Ward's) if you're not in her group of chosen bloggers. Anyhoo...my point is - this was my first book by Penelope Ward as a solo writer and damn did I miss out.
In WHEN AUGUST ENDS, Noah, a photographer in his thirties and Heather, a young woman, who isn't even of legal drinking age yet, become unlikely friends.
Heather and her mom own property on a lake and a houseboat which they rent out. Noah is their new guest and he intends to stay for a couple of months. From the first moment Noah and Heather feel an irresistible pull towards one another and although Heather would love to act on it, Noah keeps his distance because he thinks he's too old for her. Heather knows she has to accept Noah's decision but that doesn't keep her from being a mischievous little devil who pushes boundaries. She doesn't know how close to giving in he soon is.
I loved the main characters in this story so much. Heather is an outgoing, bright young woman with a bad taste in music and a positive outlook on life which is a bit of a miracle. Her sister killed herself five years earlier and her mother is battling depression. She takes care of her mom and her plans to go to nursing school are put on hold. Despite it all she looks life right into its face and embraces it. Heather was so honest, a little crazy and quirky and so adorable that even the little stalker episode was cute. I loved that she didn't tear herself up over embarrassing herself in front of Noah.
"Life is made up of little moments that don’t seem that important at the time, but in retrospect they’re what get you to where you are.”
Noah seems a little grumpy when we meet him but the more we get to know him it becomes obvious that he isn't at all. He married his childhood friend and when the marriage fell apart he considered it one of his biggest failures in life. A change of pace to find himself again is what we are made to believe is the reason he rents the houseboat.
Before coming to the lake, I hadn’t known what to expect from this place. I sure as hell wasn’t planning to feel so at peace here. It had crossed my mind that I could live this simple life forever.
But why he really came to Heather's lake remains a mystery for a while. And let me tell you - I was totally blindsided by that twist. Totally didn't see it coming. I fell in love with Noah because of his integrity, his obvious adoration for Heather, his sense of humor and dirty thoughts. He considered people's feelings, maybe a little too much sometimes. I loved how Heather's optimism changed the way he looked at life.
She walked to me and fell into my arms. I held her tightly. For the first time, I let myself breathe her in, hold her the way I wanted to without resisting.
I was a goner.
And can I say how much I loved Heather and Noah's friendship? It was so heartwarming to see that they got along so well. They made me laugh, especially Heather's antics, and made my heart hurt a little. The slow burn builds up to a sexual tension that makes you want to smoosh their faces together and yell to get on with it already.
WHEN AUGUST ENDS is a beautiful story about an extraordinary connection between two people who teach one another aspects of life they didn't consider before and which change them fundamentally and for the better. It's got a couple of twists and is unexpectedly emotional which made me a little bit teary-eyed...that end and epilogue....oh my heart. I am so glad I got to read this story and I'm so looking forward to reading more books by Penelope Ward.
"In the end, all we have are memories. I don’t have nearly enough memories with you. I want to make some."
February 26, 2019
"Neighbor Dearest" is still my favorite Penelope Ward book but I really enjoyed this story too. <3 And that epilogue was so sweet. It gave me the butterflies! :)
Synopsis:
What do you do when a sexy, older man moves into your family’s summer rental?
Well, apparently, you make a fool of yourself—over and over. Things didn’t exactly get off on the right foot with Noah Cavallari. Our first encounter was embarrassing, to say the least.
But despite that, I found myself waking up every day with a newfound energy. Nothing ex-citing ever happened on the lake—not until Noah moved into the small boathouse on our property. He’d booked it for the entire summer…and I was still trying to figure out why.
When my mother became ill, I inherited the responsibility of making sure our guests were well taken care of. I should have been in college. Instead, I was living my best life…as a maid.
Dark, handsome, and mysterious, everything about Noah screamed forbidden.
I knew he was just passing through town for the summer.
I knew he was probably too old for me.
Yet, I was drawn to him.
Not to mention, he tried to save my life when he mistakenly thought I was drowning.
I wanted him and made no secret of it.
His own attempts to warn me away soon gave way to late-night moonlight chats by the lake. We were slowly easing into a friendship that was gearing up to explode into something I might not recover from.
Because he’s leaving at the end of the summer.
And I have no idea what I’ll do when August ends.
LINKS:
Apple Books ➜ https://apple.co/2Tj776z
Amazon Print ➜https://amzn.to/2RqwLJs
Add to Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/2VjWx13
Sign up to be alerted when it goes live on Amazon here: http://eepurl.com/MnXoH
**No Amazon e-book preorder. Will go live on/around release day.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/penelopeward...
Facebook Private Fan Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Penel...
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@penelopewardauthor
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Twitter
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Synopsis:
What do you do when a sexy, older man moves into your family’s summer rental?
Well, apparently, you make a fool of yourself—over and over. Things didn’t exactly get off on the right foot with Noah Cavallari. Our first encounter was embarrassing, to say the least.
But despite that, I found myself waking up every day with a newfound energy. Nothing ex-citing ever happened on the lake—not until Noah moved into the small boathouse on our property. He’d booked it for the entire summer…and I was still trying to figure out why.
When my mother became ill, I inherited the responsibility of making sure our guests were well taken care of. I should have been in college. Instead, I was living my best life…as a maid.
Dark, handsome, and mysterious, everything about Noah screamed forbidden.
I knew he was just passing through town for the summer.
I knew he was probably too old for me.
Yet, I was drawn to him.
Not to mention, he tried to save my life when he mistakenly thought I was drowning.
I wanted him and made no secret of it.
His own attempts to warn me away soon gave way to late-night moonlight chats by the lake. We were slowly easing into a friendship that was gearing up to explode into something I might not recover from.
Because he’s leaving at the end of the summer.
And I have no idea what I’ll do when August ends.
LINKS:
Apple Books ➜ https://apple.co/2Tj776z
Amazon Print ➜https://amzn.to/2RqwLJs
Add to Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/2VjWx13
Sign up to be alerted when it goes live on Amazon here: http://eepurl.com/MnXoH
**No Amazon e-book preorder. Will go live on/around release day.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/penelopeward...
Facebook Private Fan Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Penel...
@penelopewardauthor
http://instagram.com/PenelopeWardAuthor/
https://twitter.com/PenelopeAuthor
April 16, 2020
🔥 Cover Model Joseph Cannata 🔥
Heather is twenty years old. She's not going to college like she'd planned - she's at home at their lake house in New Hampshire, because her mom can't take care of the place and the little boat house they rent out. So Heather stayed.
Enter Noah.
He's rented the little house for the whole summer.
Heather is hugely mega and totally attracted to the mysterious older guy.
How much older is he anyway?? ☺
The only important thing is that she wants him - bad!
But he's not all that interested ... or is he??
But she's way too young for him! Right?
I loved this book!
I kinda hate age gap romances - that's why it's so crazy that this is my 5th one this year already! So weird. My age limit is 7/8 years, but it's a bit more here. It didn't bother me much. Heather is a very old soul. She's had to be the grown-up for a long while now.
But of course poor Noah still thinks he's too old - plus we're still not sure why he's checked out of his real life for the summer? Why is he here?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
It's so worth it!
It's adorable and funny and beautiful and heartbreaking and mysterious.
I really enjoyed reading it!
A few tiny little things I didn't love. I still really adored the book - but those things are in my head and I have to get them out!!!! But don't be scared! ☺
It was a bit too slow-burnish. Almost nothing really happens in this book. Yes, we have adorable and fun moments - even some exciting ones, but not much happens for most of the book. I wanted something a tiny bit ... more!
The cover! Beautiful. Hot guy. But the Noah in the book was a bit too softish for my tastes. Most of the time at least. He doesn't act like the tough guy on the cover led us to expect he would. But I still loved him!
And then .... the writing ....it was a bit weird. The way they talk... like a lawyer would talk to a ... professor while reading the will of his late grandfather who was a ... politician. So very formal and with so many 10 dollar words that young people would never use in a casual conversation. And then in the next line they say GONNA. Or HE BOOKED IT OUT OF HERE! 'Gonna' btw. was the most used word in this book! Sooo weird. Choose one way to talk! Or have one person talk this way and the other person that way. But not both in the exact same way and with the same expressions - that's the author speaking and not the characters! :(
WHEN AUGUST ENDS was a really adorable and fun love story with some very heartbreaking moments! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Noah - this one is MINE!!!
...and I mean the Noah in the book and Joseph on the cover!!! ☺
♡
February 23, 2019
<3 5 STARS <3
This was absolutely fantastic, I could say it was epic with one word!I loved everything about it but mostly the characters.This was another refreshing,addictive and unique story!Penelope Ward delivers a heartwarming,sweet and slow burn romance!
Heather is something else, I loved her so much!I adored her and Noah was fantastic too.Mysterious,sexy and sweet.I liked how things went out for them.With slow burn and first with a friendship before something else.Both characters were well developed and their chemistry was fantastic.
Gah I can't wait to see what Penelope will have up for us next!She impressed me every time I start a new book by her!The writing was flawless, the characters original and the story sweet and refreshing!
This was absolutely fantastic, I could say it was epic with one word!I loved everything about it but mostly the characters.This was another refreshing,addictive and unique story!Penelope Ward delivers a heartwarming,sweet and slow burn romance!
Heather is something else, I loved her so much!I adored her and Noah was fantastic too.Mysterious,sexy and sweet.I liked how things went out for them.With slow burn and first with a friendship before something else.Both characters were well developed and their chemistry was fantastic.
Gah I can't wait to see what Penelope will have up for us next!She impressed me every time I start a new book by her!The writing was flawless, the characters original and the story sweet and refreshing!
August 8, 2021
3.5 stars
When August Ends is an age gap romance about Noah and Heather. I liked both of these characters and enjoyed quite a bit of their story but something was just missing for me and I can’t put my finger on it. It felt a little slow for so much of the book, which is surprising as it’s not a long story, then the end felt really rushed to me. Overall, it was good, just not great for me personally.
When August Ends is an age gap romance about Noah and Heather. I liked both of these characters and enjoyed quite a bit of their story but something was just missing for me and I can’t put my finger on it. It felt a little slow for so much of the book, which is surprising as it’s not a long story, then the end felt really rushed to me. Overall, it was good, just not great for me personally.
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Sebastian York & Andi Arndt
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance (age gap)
Length: 7h 2m
August 27, 2019
2.5 stars
This was okay, but it was pretty forgettable. I wanted to read this because I wanted to read a good forbidden romance (and it’s August so it seemed fitting) but this main character drove me nuts. She’s twenty years old and he’s thirty four, but she acts and behaves so much younger. I also hate the fact that she slut shames other girls for doing the same exact thing she is doing 🙄 like it’s 2019 can we stop slut shaming girls in books now? thanks.
I just didn’t really feel the chemistry between these two and the age gap was brought up a lot but it never really felt forbidden the way I wanted it to.
This was okay, but it was pretty forgettable. I wanted to read this because I wanted to read a good forbidden romance (and it’s August so it seemed fitting) but this main character drove me nuts. She’s twenty years old and he’s thirty four, but she acts and behaves so much younger. I also hate the fact that she slut shames other girls for doing the same exact thing she is doing 🙄 like it’s 2019 can we stop slut shaming girls in books now? thanks.
I just didn’t really feel the chemistry between these two and the age gap was brought up a lot but it never really felt forbidden the way I wanted it to.
not-interested
January 4, 2019I guess September begins...?!🤔😁😉🤣
I’ll never know... this author is not part of my reading list.
I’ll never know... this author is not part of my reading list.
February 22, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Heather Chadwick still had a lot of life ahead of her. But due to unfortunate circumstances, she was stuck in her hometown taking care of the boathouse rental on her family property. When Noah Cavallari rented it for the whole summer, she was intrigued by his presence. Neither of them realized how much things would change before the summer ended.
I knew this book is going to be of older hero but Noah was not as old as I thought he would be. With the mentality of a matured man, he had a quiet sexiness about him. He was definitely more of a beta hero. I loved how he helped Heather in more than one way and seeing him with Bonnie & Clyde just made me all warm and fuzzy haha!
For someone so young, Heather was burdened with responsibilities that prevented her from living her life the way she envisioned. She was graceful in shouldering her obligations but I also loved how she was kooky with just the right amount of vulnerability to make her lovable.
The enjoyed the book overall. It was cute with the sexual tension and easy pace. But I felt the story was a little too slow with most of it of them being just friends. I wish his secret was weightier and the issue towards the end occurred a bit earlier.
When August End is a story of living life without regret. It would appeal to readers looking for friends to lovers, age gap romance.
💋 ⏳ 💋 . . . (F)BR With Loyda . . . 💋 ⏳ 💋
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Heather Chadwick still had a lot of life ahead of her. But due to unfortunate circumstances, she was stuck in her hometown taking care of the boathouse rental on her family property. When Noah Cavallari rented it for the whole summer, she was intrigued by his presence. Neither of them realized how much things would change before the summer ended.
I knew this book is going to be of older hero but Noah was not as old as I thought he would be. With the mentality of a matured man, he had a quiet sexiness about him. He was definitely more of a beta hero. I loved how he helped Heather in more than one way and seeing him with Bonnie & Clyde just made me all warm and fuzzy haha!
I was mad that Heather lived as a virtual prisoner to her mother’s needs. She deserved to live her life, go to college, travel, and do whatever she damn well pleased.
For someone so young, Heather was burdened with responsibilities that prevented her from living her life the way she envisioned. She was graceful in shouldering her obligations but I also loved how she was kooky with just the right amount of vulnerability to make her lovable.
The enjoyed the book overall. It was cute with the sexual tension and easy pace. But I felt the story was a little too slow with most of it of them being just friends. I wish his secret was weightier and the issue towards the end occurred a bit earlier.
“Life is made up of little moments that don’t seem that important at the time, but in retrospect they’re what get you to where you are.”
When August End is a story of living life without regret. It would appeal to readers looking for friends to lovers, age gap romance.
💋 ⏳ 💋 . . . (F)BR With Loyda . . . 💋 ⏳ 💋
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
February 25, 2019
4★★★★Stars
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
Type:
Standalone
POV:
First Person - Dual
❝In the end, all we have are memories. I don't have nearly enough memories with you. I want to make some.❞
Heather Chadwick had a long life ahead of her. Before she could begin to live, her life handled her pain after pain which forced her to grow up faster than she could have ever imagine. Now at only twenty years of age she has a full job caring for her mother, running the family inheritance and no time for herself.
Noah Cavallari needing time for himself decided to stop traveling and rented heather's family boathouse for the summer. He could have never imagine he would find struggling with his feelings and guilt of the past. The lay back and carrying personality of Heather won him over super fast but his fear of falling for her was so deep he fought with himself every time to stay away.
❝Before coming to the lake, I hadn't known what to except from this place. I sure as hell wasn't planning to feel so at peace here.❞
I knew there was some age difference between this two but not as much as I thought. Noah was such a great character; he was hot, sexy, strong, and intimidated at time. That didn't stopped Heather from trying to be close to him as much as possible. This book has so many funny scenes had me giggling so much. The chemistry between this two was on point. Overall, I truly enjoyed it. I was kind of hoping for Noah's secret to be deeper I felt he felt so much guilt. I totally wasn't expecting that. Readers looking for friends to lovers romance will find this story appealing.
...This was a F(BR) with War...
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
March 4, 2019
***FULL REVIEW***
When August Ends wasn’t what I was expecting. That isn’t good or bad. Just unexpected.
The relationship between Noah and Heather was not the norm or me in a Penelope Ward book. Normally, Penelope Ward’s characters have sizzling chemistry, and, for me, it was lacking in this couple. And yet, I still enjoyed them, because while the chemistry was lack luster for me, I love their friendship, I love the peace they brought each other. I enjoyed their moments together. There is enough chemistry that I bought Into them as a couple, but it wasn’t all consuming. It was a love built on something more.
What I loved most about the story, though, was the message behind it. The idea of living, exploring, grabbing moments in life while we can. The idea of loving who you love, looking for your person without care of social constraints. The examination of the reflection of guilt and how it haunts a person.
So while this wasn’t your standard Penelope ward novel, it was a beautiful journey of a slow burn love, a real world love, showcasing an exemplar couple who lives and explores the world together.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
When August Ends wasn’t what I was expecting. That isn’t good or bad. Just unexpected.
The relationship between Noah and Heather was not the norm or me in a Penelope Ward book. Normally, Penelope Ward’s characters have sizzling chemistry, and, for me, it was lacking in this couple. And yet, I still enjoyed them, because while the chemistry was lack luster for me, I love their friendship, I love the peace they brought each other. I enjoyed their moments together. There is enough chemistry that I bought Into them as a couple, but it wasn’t all consuming. It was a love built on something more.
What I loved most about the story, though, was the message behind it. The idea of living, exploring, grabbing moments in life while we can. The idea of loving who you love, looking for your person without care of social constraints. The examination of the reflection of guilt and how it haunts a person.
So while this wasn’t your standard Penelope ward novel, it was a beautiful journey of a slow burn love, a real world love, showcasing an exemplar couple who lives and explores the world together.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
February 27, 2019
A summer holiday romance at a lakeside location is the first thing that drew me to this story. The hint of an age gap between the main characters and a fling with a time limit sealed the deal.
Heather may only be 20 years old but she carries the weight of responsibility of someone much older. After a family tragedy she put her college dreams aside to care for her mother. She not only looks after her but also their substantial home and holiday rental.
One day she hopes to convince her mum to sell up so she can finally do what she wants to do with her life and not feel like she is being pulled in so many different directions. However, a lot needs to be done before she can actually do that.
When their boathouse holiday rental gets booked out for summer Heather is eager to meet their new tenant. To say she is gob smacked upon meeting him would be an understatement and their first meeting does not go as planned. Noah Cavallari is perfection. He is all rugged, handsome and has eyes Heather could get lost in.
The last thing Noah needs is a young girl drooling over him. Heather makes it clear she is very interested in him but respects his stance that they can only be friends. Over the summer they become just that. He admires the sacrifices that Heather has made for her mother and loves all the quirky parts of her personality. He finds them really cute and endearing.
As their friendship develops and they confide in each other more and more, something else begins to grow. Heather can feel it but she needs Noah to make the first move. Noah is feeling conflicted about what is happening between them. The fact that he is leaving soon and the age gap is the main reason for his hesitation.
What if he walks away from Heather without exploring the possibility of something amazing? Will he be filled with regret for not trusting what his heart wants? Is it selfish to start something when she hasn’t really experienced much of life yet? But - what if she turns out to be the love of his lifetime?
So many questions to ponder and you will find all of the answers when you read this book ☺ This was my fabulous weekend read that had a couple of nice little plot twists that took me by surprise. Loved this.
Heather may only be 20 years old but she carries the weight of responsibility of someone much older. After a family tragedy she put her college dreams aside to care for her mother. She not only looks after her but also their substantial home and holiday rental.
One day she hopes to convince her mum to sell up so she can finally do what she wants to do with her life and not feel like she is being pulled in so many different directions. However, a lot needs to be done before she can actually do that.
When their boathouse holiday rental gets booked out for summer Heather is eager to meet their new tenant. To say she is gob smacked upon meeting him would be an understatement and their first meeting does not go as planned. Noah Cavallari is perfection. He is all rugged, handsome and has eyes Heather could get lost in.
The last thing Noah needs is a young girl drooling over him. Heather makes it clear she is very interested in him but respects his stance that they can only be friends. Over the summer they become just that. He admires the sacrifices that Heather has made for her mother and loves all the quirky parts of her personality. He finds them really cute and endearing.
As their friendship develops and they confide in each other more and more, something else begins to grow. Heather can feel it but she needs Noah to make the first move. Noah is feeling conflicted about what is happening between them. The fact that he is leaving soon and the age gap is the main reason for his hesitation.
What if he walks away from Heather without exploring the possibility of something amazing? Will he be filled with regret for not trusting what his heart wants? Is it selfish to start something when she hasn’t really experienced much of life yet? But - what if she turns out to be the love of his lifetime?
So many questions to ponder and you will find all of the answers when you read this book ☺ This was my fabulous weekend read that had a couple of nice little plot twists that took me by surprise. Loved this.
March 5, 2019
3.75 - 4 Stars
March 19, 2019
Penelope Ward tops my 3 favorite authors and I love her writing so much. I don’t think she wrote a book I haven’t read and the fact that her stories continue to surprise and entertain me is a sign of how good and talented she is. There isn’t a book that matches another, all being original and well drafted.
“When August ends” is by far the best read of 2019 in terms of Romance. How can I prove it? I read the book in 1 days, because from the first 2 chapters I was hooked. The story was so good, addictive and with an element I just love. To hint on it, I love student-professor love stories. This is not the case here, but the age difference is something that triggers my interest up to a maximum level, and not taking into consideration who is older in the couple.
Heather is a 20 years old girl with a lot of responsibilities. She has to take care of her mother who suffers from depression and besides that, her father remarried, leaving her practically alone to deal with all the problems that might come. What she wants is not important, but she is fine with it, because the purpose of taking care of her mother is greater than everything she needs. When she rents the boathouse on their property at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire she doesn’t know that her life will change irrevocably. Her new tenant is a very grouchy and sour man who doesn’t want to interact with her much. He is only here for the Summer and after that he is long gone. But their plans will soon change.
Noah appears to run from something and even if he sees Heather as a child, soon this will change because they will become very good friends. He knows August will soon end and he doesn’t have to get attached or involved much with Heather, but this pull is stronger than his will. Surpassing the physical attraction, their connection is extremely strong because they can easily talk about anything like they knew each other for years. It was very relaxing seeing them like this and apart from that, their mocking and push and pull was fun. Heather clearly had a crush on Noah, but he had to stay away for their own good. Things will become complicated and a lot of things will be revealed….
I liked Heather a lot due to her maturity and sincerity towards Noah. She was clear from the start about the way she feels and even though no hopes were given she still let crumbles behind for a tiny chance. Their relationship developed so naturally and I was soooo eager to see them together. Noah put up a good fight, with pertinent arguments, but Heather took his heart by storm and obliterated everything he believed in. Even with the age gap they still fit perfectly and I was very delighted to read about this type of characters that beg to be brought together by love and life. As a reader you are very aware they are not doing anything wrong, but they think the other way around.
The story was addictive, I read it in a day because I couldn’t put the book down. I wanted to see when Noah will crack, how Heather will manage her feelings and what will be the outcome. I loved the funny dialogues, the tension and chemistry between the characters, the steamy scenes but also the drama and the mystery, because the plot will reveal many things, believe me. I like slow burn romances and I like to see the “after” part. In this book, this part was amazing and it developed naturally, as their relantionship in the first place.
It was such an interesting read, a relaxing love story fitted for a lazy Sunday, with great character development and romantic tension. When everything exploded, it was extremely satisfying and I love how Penelope delivers so much to her readers, never letting them down. Every story is unique, with something new but in the same time featured elements that match her style.
One of the best stories so far which I totally recommend 😊
“When August ends” is by far the best read of 2019 in terms of Romance. How can I prove it? I read the book in 1 days, because from the first 2 chapters I was hooked. The story was so good, addictive and with an element I just love. To hint on it, I love student-professor love stories. This is not the case here, but the age difference is something that triggers my interest up to a maximum level, and not taking into consideration who is older in the couple.
Heather is a 20 years old girl with a lot of responsibilities. She has to take care of her mother who suffers from depression and besides that, her father remarried, leaving her practically alone to deal with all the problems that might come. What she wants is not important, but she is fine with it, because the purpose of taking care of her mother is greater than everything she needs. When she rents the boathouse on their property at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire she doesn’t know that her life will change irrevocably. Her new tenant is a very grouchy and sour man who doesn’t want to interact with her much. He is only here for the Summer and after that he is long gone. But their plans will soon change.
Noah appears to run from something and even if he sees Heather as a child, soon this will change because they will become very good friends. He knows August will soon end and he doesn’t have to get attached or involved much with Heather, but this pull is stronger than his will. Surpassing the physical attraction, their connection is extremely strong because they can easily talk about anything like they knew each other for years. It was very relaxing seeing them like this and apart from that, their mocking and push and pull was fun. Heather clearly had a crush on Noah, but he had to stay away for their own good. Things will become complicated and a lot of things will be revealed….
I liked Heather a lot due to her maturity and sincerity towards Noah. She was clear from the start about the way she feels and even though no hopes were given she still let crumbles behind for a tiny chance. Their relationship developed so naturally and I was soooo eager to see them together. Noah put up a good fight, with pertinent arguments, but Heather took his heart by storm and obliterated everything he believed in. Even with the age gap they still fit perfectly and I was very delighted to read about this type of characters that beg to be brought together by love and life. As a reader you are very aware they are not doing anything wrong, but they think the other way around.
The story was addictive, I read it in a day because I couldn’t put the book down. I wanted to see when Noah will crack, how Heather will manage her feelings and what will be the outcome. I loved the funny dialogues, the tension and chemistry between the characters, the steamy scenes but also the drama and the mystery, because the plot will reveal many things, believe me. I like slow burn romances and I like to see the “after” part. In this book, this part was amazing and it developed naturally, as their relantionship in the first place.
It was such an interesting read, a relaxing love story fitted for a lazy Sunday, with great character development and romantic tension. When everything exploded, it was extremely satisfying and I love how Penelope delivers so much to her readers, never letting them down. Every story is unique, with something new but in the same time featured elements that match her style.
One of the best stories so far which I totally recommend 😊
March 15, 2019
This book is so gooood 😍😍😍
I love it so much 💛!
I love it so much 💛!
February 28, 2019
Penelope Ward has this gift for taking her readers on some kind of wild emotional ride. Even as the burn was slow, and even as the banter was often more awkward than sparky, I knew there was going to be a moment (or, really, a few moments) where I felt the emotion like a punch to the gut - and that would be a huge game changer.
And boy howdy, was I ever right!
I mean, the book got off to a bit of a wobbly start for me. I was embarrassed for Heather, and didn't always connect with the choices she made or the awkwardness that kept flying out of her mouth. I wasn't really sure what to make of the standoffish and slightly prickly Noah. But...they grew on me. As I became more familiar with Heather's personality, and got a better understanding of her big, beautiful heart, those awkward moments felt less jarring and more endearing. While it took me a little bit longer to embrace Noah's push/pull approach to Heather, I did love the way he tried to protect her, wanted the best for her, and in the end - how deeply he loved her.
And then the emotional firecrackers started detonating and as the story took its little twists and turns, my heart lept completely on board and I absolutely could not put this book down. It was compelling and interesting. It was heartfelt and touching. It was sexy, sweet, and so so satisfying. It touched on some serious, heartbreaking subject matter and balanced that against the playful, adorable burn that sizzled between Heather and Noah. In the end, it was indeed some kind of wild emotional ride - but it was completely worth every scratch and bruise left on my heart! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
***
Oh man, I just love a May-December romance. All the wonderful angst over age gap and what will other people think about them together. Is he robbing the cradle? Is she looking for a sugar daddy? What do they have in common? Delicious.
And that’s just what When August Ends is! Angsty deliciousness that wraps around a wonderful slow burn romance.
I really liked both Noah and Heather—separately and together. Their meet-cute was super awkward and honestly, I was wondering if they’d ever move past their initial interactions to find their happily ever after.
Heather’s a bit of an old soul—she’s had to take care of her mother for many years due to mental illness. And it’s forced her to grow up quickly! At just 20 years old, she comes across much more mature and older. Until she gets all tongue tied in Noah’s presence—and somewhat makes a fool out of herself. But she’s not afraid to ask for what she needs—she’s got some massive confidence underneath her gorgeous exterior. And that’s something I can appreciate in others. And awkwardness aside, it’s quite the turn on for Noah.
But also a deterrent because Noah thinks he’s got nothing to offer the young, “just getting started in life” beauty. But as the summer days pass and they get to know each other better, their attraction is undeniable. And soon they’re overcome by both circumstance and their desire for each other.
And holy swoony hotness.
When August Ends is a love story for the ages. It’s a story full of romantic love as well fraught with love of family and the decisions made that aren’t necessarily their own. I wholly enjoyed the romance that eventually blossomed between Noah and Heather. It was so lovely to see them working toward a future—planning ahead to be together . . . maybe. When August Ends packs a wallop of an emotional punch along side a lovely romance. And while I struggled a bit with the first half of the book, it was definitely worth the read! ~ Missy, 3.5 stars
And boy howdy, was I ever right!
I mean, the book got off to a bit of a wobbly start for me. I was embarrassed for Heather, and didn't always connect with the choices she made or the awkwardness that kept flying out of her mouth. I wasn't really sure what to make of the standoffish and slightly prickly Noah. But...they grew on me. As I became more familiar with Heather's personality, and got a better understanding of her big, beautiful heart, those awkward moments felt less jarring and more endearing. While it took me a little bit longer to embrace Noah's push/pull approach to Heather, I did love the way he tried to protect her, wanted the best for her, and in the end - how deeply he loved her.
And then the emotional firecrackers started detonating and as the story took its little twists and turns, my heart lept completely on board and I absolutely could not put this book down. It was compelling and interesting. It was heartfelt and touching. It was sexy, sweet, and so so satisfying. It touched on some serious, heartbreaking subject matter and balanced that against the playful, adorable burn that sizzled between Heather and Noah. In the end, it was indeed some kind of wild emotional ride - but it was completely worth every scratch and bruise left on my heart! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
***
Oh man, I just love a May-December romance. All the wonderful angst over age gap and what will other people think about them together. Is he robbing the cradle? Is she looking for a sugar daddy? What do they have in common? Delicious.
And that’s just what When August Ends is! Angsty deliciousness that wraps around a wonderful slow burn romance.
I really liked both Noah and Heather—separately and together. Their meet-cute was super awkward and honestly, I was wondering if they’d ever move past their initial interactions to find their happily ever after.
Heather’s a bit of an old soul—she’s had to take care of her mother for many years due to mental illness. And it’s forced her to grow up quickly! At just 20 years old, she comes across much more mature and older. Until she gets all tongue tied in Noah’s presence—and somewhat makes a fool out of herself. But she’s not afraid to ask for what she needs—she’s got some massive confidence underneath her gorgeous exterior. And that’s something I can appreciate in others. And awkwardness aside, it’s quite the turn on for Noah.
But also a deterrent because Noah thinks he’s got nothing to offer the young, “just getting started in life” beauty. But as the summer days pass and they get to know each other better, their attraction is undeniable. And soon they’re overcome by both circumstance and their desire for each other.
And holy swoony hotness.
When August Ends is a love story for the ages. It’s a story full of romantic love as well fraught with love of family and the decisions made that aren’t necessarily their own. I wholly enjoyed the romance that eventually blossomed between Noah and Heather. It was so lovely to see them working toward a future—planning ahead to be together . . . maybe. When August Ends packs a wallop of an emotional punch along side a lovely romance. And while I struggled a bit with the first half of the book, it was definitely worth the read! ~ Missy, 3.5 stars
March 18, 2019
Nicely narrated by Sebastian York and Andi Arndt……And spot on with the cover model. He is exactly how I pictured Noah.
August 18, 2022
**SPOILERS**
Not as angsty as other Ward books, which isn't a bad thing since the negative surprise in this book was re: h's older sister & she wasn't romantically involved with H but she wanted to.
Slow-burn romance that worked coz the time helped build their relationship and sexual & emotional chemistry in a more meaningful & mature way and allowed us to get to know both characters. Likable characters—both nice people who didn't know they struggled with survivor's guilt due to the suicide of h's older sister (who H only met 1x during a photo shoot but h's older sister ended up stalking him for awhile &, at her death, left a suidice note for H to look after her younger sisteir h). The plot with h's older sister stalking H & the suicide note he left her was unbelievable & off-the-wall reason for H&h to meet. Good thing majority of book was spent on current time with both H&h getting to know each other as 34yo photographer H was the guest of the boathouse rental that was owned by the mom of almost-21yo housekeeper-waitress h but h ran since her mom was too depressed to get out of her room most days.
Average S chem & emo chem in general. But things sped up after they finally kissed @52% . Around 60% they finally smexxed, which was hot from that built-up sexual tension. @86% they separated since H was adamant that h go to college to experience freedom like she'd never had since she ended up taking care of her mom & their guesthouse property since her older sister died when h was 15yo. Better pacing & emotion with some angst after 85%, when H&h's romance was threatened by the separation neither wanted but H thought was good for both of them. Liked the emphasis of H's love for h as more than for any OW. His ex-wife was even hurt by how H was so ga-ga over h. Also, loved that H never felt the desire for a baby with his ex-wife but was excited about having a baby with h. Wished he were more alpha-dominant though. I actually didn't mind that h was the chaser in their romance since H was so worried about their age-gap & hurting her.
Sexual History:
21yo h was with her high-school BF for a few years until she broke up with him about 1 year ago, after her confessed to cheating on her with a girl at his new college. H is her 2nd lover. 32yo H was divorced from his wife 3yrs ago since he was always away for work and he put his career first while she wanted to have kids & he wasn't ready for 1. Since his divorce, he had 2 casual lovers he ended up breaking things off with when he found out they wanted more than just sex with him. He last had sex 1 month with his last lover before meeting h.
After H&h had sex the 1st time, they didn't have sex again weeks later @ the night before she left for college since H didn't want to hurt h more, knowing that they would go their separate ways because H wanted h to experience the freedom of a young adult & not be tied down to him. Both were celibate for 7 months while they ended up maintaining a long-distance romance through phone/text contact. H was about to declare his love for h the night he collasped & went into surgery for aneurysm. h took an immediate flight to H's hospital &, when he woke up from his 5-hr surgery, they both confessed their ILYs. Epilogue1...3 months later, H is discharged from the hospital to his home that h has already moved into. They both agree to travel together for awhile & h to finish college later. Epilogue2....5months later, H proposed to h during their last trip abroad....Epilogue3...5 years later, H proposed to have their wedding at the guesthouse where they met & that he just bought from the new owners who bought it from h & her mom. But h surprised H with the news that their wedding would have to be sooner since she was preggo.
Not as angsty as other Ward books, which isn't a bad thing since the negative surprise in this book was re: h's older sister & she wasn't romantically involved with H but she wanted to.
Slow-burn romance that worked coz the time helped build their relationship and sexual & emotional chemistry in a more meaningful & mature way and allowed us to get to know both characters. Likable characters—both nice people who didn't know they struggled with survivor's guilt due to the suicide of h's older sister (who H only met 1x during a photo shoot but h's older sister ended up stalking him for awhile &, at her death, left a suidice note for H to look after her younger sisteir h). The plot with h's older sister stalking H & the suicide note he left her was unbelievable & off-the-wall reason for H&h to meet. Good thing majority of book was spent on current time with both H&h getting to know each other as 34yo photographer H was the guest of the boathouse rental that was owned by the mom of almost-21yo housekeeper-waitress h but h ran since her mom was too depressed to get out of her room most days.
Average S chem & emo chem in general. But things sped up after they finally kissed @52% . Around 60% they finally smexxed, which was hot from that built-up sexual tension. @86% they separated since H was adamant that h go to college to experience freedom like she'd never had since she ended up taking care of her mom & their guesthouse property since her older sister died when h was 15yo. Better pacing & emotion with some angst after 85%, when H&h's romance was threatened by the separation neither wanted but H thought was good for both of them. Liked the emphasis of H's love for h as more than for any OW. His ex-wife was even hurt by how H was so ga-ga over h. Also, loved that H never felt the desire for a baby with his ex-wife but was excited about having a baby with h. Wished he were more alpha-dominant though. I actually didn't mind that h was the chaser in their romance since H was so worried about their age-gap & hurting her.
Sexual History:
21yo h was with her high-school BF for a few years until she broke up with him about 1 year ago, after her confessed to cheating on her with a girl at his new college. H is her 2nd lover. 32yo H was divorced from his wife 3yrs ago since he was always away for work and he put his career first while she wanted to have kids & he wasn't ready for 1. Since his divorce, he had 2 casual lovers he ended up breaking things off with when he found out they wanted more than just sex with him. He last had sex 1 month with his last lover before meeting h.
After H&h had sex the 1st time, they didn't have sex again weeks later @ the night before she left for college since H didn't want to hurt h more, knowing that they would go their separate ways because H wanted h to experience the freedom of a young adult & not be tied down to him. Both were celibate for 7 months while they ended up maintaining a long-distance romance through phone/text contact. H was about to declare his love for h the night he collasped & went into surgery for aneurysm. h took an immediate flight to H's hospital &, when he woke up from his 5-hr surgery, they both confessed their ILYs. Epilogue1...3 months later, H is discharged from the hospital to his home that h has already moved into. They both agree to travel together for awhile & h to finish college later. Epilogue2....5months later, H proposed to h during their last trip abroad....Epilogue3...5 years later, H proposed to have their wedding at the guesthouse where they met & that he just bought from the new owners who bought it from h & her mom. But h surprised H with the news that their wedding would have to be sooner since she was preggo.
March 4, 2019
Sweet May/December romance…
Penelope Ward is a favourite author plus I’m a sucker for May/December romance so Noah and Heather immediately caught my attention!
Heather was young but mature in so many ways. She was keeping their small family together and taking care of renters was part of her responsibilities. When Noah rented the boathouse she was intrigued and attracted to the tall, handsome older man. Noah wasn’t sure what to make of Heather as their initial meetings were anything but un-embarrassing. I laughed and was charmed by their back and forth. Heather’s honesty and Noah’s reluctant realization that he liked her were a slow build-up to the revelations and twists to come.
While I struggled with some of the plot bird walks, their journey was one of discovery. Of stepping outside their comfort zones to reach for what, at the heart, they really wanted and needed. Fun and emotional their story reminded me why I enjoy the May/December genre so much! ~Diane, 4 stars
Penelope Ward is a favourite author plus I’m a sucker for May/December romance so Noah and Heather immediately caught my attention!
Heather was young but mature in so many ways. She was keeping their small family together and taking care of renters was part of her responsibilities. When Noah rented the boathouse she was intrigued and attracted to the tall, handsome older man. Noah wasn’t sure what to make of Heather as their initial meetings were anything but un-embarrassing. I laughed and was charmed by their back and forth. Heather’s honesty and Noah’s reluctant realization that he liked her were a slow build-up to the revelations and twists to come.
While I struggled with some of the plot bird walks, their journey was one of discovery. Of stepping outside their comfort zones to reach for what, at the heart, they really wanted and needed. Fun and emotional their story reminded me why I enjoy the May/December genre so much! ~Diane, 4 stars
February 26, 2019
I had high hopes for this one. I really wish I could say I loved it, but unfortunately it just didn´t grab me as I had hoped it would. I liked it, but nothing more than that. There was just something missing for me. It fell a little flat.
February 26, 2019
This is one you have to pick up.
Briefly it's about this girl who has put her life on hold to take care of her mother who has fallen depressed after her sister committed suicide 6 years before.
Things seem to turn around when she falls in love with a guy 14 years older than her but he also has a secret of his own.
You just have to pick this one up.
Briefly it's about this girl who has put her life on hold to take care of her mother who has fallen depressed after her sister committed suicide 6 years before.
Things seem to turn around when she falls in love with a guy 14 years older than her but he also has a secret of his own.
You just have to pick this one up.
June 4, 2023
Ach, świetny romans z motywem różnicy wieku! Solidne 4/5
Nie jakiś płytki, tylko poruszający sporo ważnych tematów (depresja, żałoba), a i na małe zaskoczenie znalazło się w nim miejsce
Nie jakiś płytki, tylko poruszający sporo ważnych tematów (depresja, żałoba), a i na małe zaskoczenie znalazło się w nim miejsce
March 5, 2019
Me gustó, los personajes fueron agradables, fue entretenido y sin mucho drama.
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