Summer rivals

by C.K. Blake

VINCENT:

I’ve hated Landon ever since high school and after leaving my hometown, I never thought I'd see my biggest rival again.

Imagine how shocked I am when I bump into Landon a decade later. I guess some things don’t really change because we almost get into a fight after just one interaction.

I can't seem to get away from this former varsity jock. Fast forward a few months later, I end up at a destination wedding with him.

Sure, we’re at a gorgeous vineyard,

But staying in a room together? (Really?)
Having to share the same bed? (Uh-oh…)
With the guy I hate most in the world? (F*ck)

Now that we're older, can we set our differences aside and finally mend the past? Or will things never get better no matter how hard we try?

This may be the most unexpected summer ever, but I expect things to only get hotter from here.

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2020

Reviews

[Pablito · Rating 2 out of 5]

Masked identities and enemies-to-lovers are two of my favorite tropes, but the writing was so limp and predictable, it was a hard slog to the finish.

[NicoleR.M.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 stars.
I've made notes for this book while reading. Ok, maybe a lot of people do so in order to review properly, but I hardly ever do, and honestly, the list of notes I am looking at, is quite a negative one.
So now I'm rethinking this story, trying to find something that did give me a more positive feeling, and I end up thinking about Joel, Logan's roommate. He's funny, specially when he's dressed up for his dragqueen act. There were some fun parts that included him. But other than that...I think my complaints about this book are overruling all the rest.

This is an enemies to lovers trope, one of the tropes I usually enjoy most. That's why the blurb immediately sounded good to me. But it was overall disappointing.
We meet Logan and Vincent, who used to hate each others guts in highschool. They both were very competitive and that's where things went wrong between them. When we meet them, they are in their late twenties, and that's my first complaint. They acted younger than that, at some point I tried not to roll my eyes at how childish they acted.

"You say sorry for punching my shoulder."
"No way," Landon scoffed.
"Say sorry for hitting me," Landon said with a slight smile.
"If you don't let go of me, I'll spit in your face," I said.

"You suck me first," I said. "I sucked you first last time."

They accidentally meet again, still hating each other, but after that first meeting (that nearly ended in a physical fight), they come across each other again on the soccer field, both playing for the opposite teams. After that, they seem to bump into each other more often, while they haven't seen, spoken or met in the 10 years before that.

We get dual POV, but I had to constantly look back to see who's POV I was reading, because they sounded so similar. I had a hard time connecting with both of them as well, since the author didn't really manage to create dimensional MC's. They fell quite flat, honestly, and with both voices sounding so alike, it was hard to get the feeling and the connection.

At one point - Vincent is still a virgin, as he has been hiding his bi-sexual side, even for his twin brother, and never acted upon his attraction to guys - there's sex, of course, and it surprised me that the first time 'real sex' was with Vincent bottoming. I would think that their first time would be all about getting acquainted with each others body's, and not about a V-card that had to be taken. But ok, it happened, so what surprised me even more, was that there was no 'after talk'. There was no talk about feelings or whatsoever. I would think it had to be a great deal, one they would want to talk about. And besides that being one of my main complaints, I didn't find the sex hot. If I had to label it, I'd say it was even a bit awkward and unrealistic. And what's with the pre come?!
Another thing that bothered me: rimming on the first night of sex (other than the occasional jerk off or BJ)? There was no freaking out, no hesitation, and seeing these two men hated each other before this, how was there enough trust all over sudden? I didn't get that. And ok, I'm a woman, I only know of gay male sex by reading or watching, but it just didn't feel right in the context of this story.

Then there was the first 'sleep over'. It happened way too soon. It was too easy and too quickly. Again, no inner conflicts, no hesitations. Which I thought was weird, since they had been enemies for too long.
Finally in chapter 18 we have a fight, which, in my opinion, was blown out of proportions, in order to add some more drama to the story. Of course the following chapters we find the make-up, and then, out of the blue, the moving in.

There were some grammar errors as well that needed editing, but since I got an ARC, I hope that's sorted out with the actual publication.
Overall, this book disappointed me quite a bit. The writing, the story...I didn't feel any connection. FEELS, EMOTIONS, bad or good, those are the things I NEED in order to connect, in order to be drawn into a book and not being able to put it down.
Unfortunately this book didn't deliver that. At all.

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. This review contains my own opinion.

[Audrey Pott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love enemies to lovers stories, after 10 years Vincent and Landon meet at a bar and nearly get into a fight, but Godfrey steps in as he’s always been friends with Landon. Hate is often akin to love as the two of them work out that they’re very competitive so maybe not hate just both needed to win. Vincent has finally realised he might be bi, he hasn’t come out to his twin Godfrey or family as he’s worried how they will feel, silly man. This was a slow burn romance, which I loved, the characters were so well drawn it didn’t take long to invest in them. Can’t wait to read the next story.

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. I definitely recommend this book.

[Patricia Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic, grab-you-by-the-feels, amazing, poignant, smoking hot, and totally awesome twist on the usual rivals-to-lovers storyline. It had me hooked from beginning to end, and I would definitely recommend getting this gem for yourself.

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Summer Rivals is an enjoyable enemies to lovers romance. The third book in CK Blake's Online series, I am thrilled with this addition to the series.

It's a fun story, with two stubborn men and their stubborn ways. As with the theme of the series, Vincent and Langdon get to know one another online before discovering they know each other. And damn, I love when they do make this discovery.

For me, the story started out on the slow side, but once I felt a connection to the characters, everything picked up quickly.

The way the men meet up in real life is entertaining and the way they still hate one another is delightful. The development into becoming friends is natural and well done. Hell, what's not to like about someone asking a hot man if he wants to have hate sex?

It's always fun when two people realize the reason they hated one another was because of their attraction. As teens, they naturally fought their attraction, never wanting to be out at the time. Now, years later, sexuality isn't an obstacle, but the two still need to balance their competitive ways.

Their story is one of sexual awakening and a whole lot of sexy firsts. I love that Vincent realizes his attraction to Landon and works to overcome his issues. These two make for a great couple, definitely meshing well and offering some good growth to each other.

I love the writing style in general and the author's writing of dialogue has definitely improved. There aren't as many instances of frequent "he said."s. Since I love the author's characters and storylines, I am excited for this development.

Summer Rivals is a delightful enemies to lovers story that's sweet and swoon-worthy. CK Blake definitely left me satisfied with this cute and feel good romance.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this author so it’s hard for me to give this a 3 star as all the others in the series I loved but there was just something about this story that didn’t grab me the way the others did. I found it kind of dragged out until about 50% and then it went from nothing to everything all at once it happened very fast. If it hadn’t been for the side character that we had met and a new drag queen called Joel that I loved o don’t think it would have gotten 3 stars.

Landon and Vincent have hated one another since high school. They haven’t seen each other in 10 years and when they end up playing against each other in a soccer game that old feeling of hatred comes back but is it hate or was it lust that was disguised as hatred. Only problem is no one knows Vincent is Bi he has kept his secret for 28 years from everyone including his twin brother. How would he react to the news.

Don’t get me wrong I did enjoy the story but I prefer the second half to the first and hopefully there will be a Josh story soon.
If you like enemies to lovers this is definitely one you should try low angst is always a bonus .

[Enirehtak Melas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read the previous books in this series and it read perfectly fine as a standalone. It did take me awhile to understand the dynamic between Landon and Vincent. The competitive nature between the two men that stemmed from their teenage high school years came off more immature and unattractive at times. I just wanted them to act like the grown men they are and not let their teenage rivalry interfere with what felt like a tension filled animosity centered on repressed and unaware attraction between each other. It did take a minute for me to see that change in them near the end of the book, but it was very much welcomed. I did not like Vincent's attitude and reaction when he and Landon stumbled on Landon's ex. That was incredibly immature and jarred me out of the story for a second. Vincent running away and acting like a petulant child didn't help that either. I wanted more substance from the two that addressed that immaturity and had them confront the need for actual discourse that didn't simply lead into the bedroom.

*ARC provided and I have given my honest review*

[Coline Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe he was there, at the bar when I was out celebrating with my twin and his friends, my old rival, my nemisis Landon. Now everytime I turn around he's there and I start noticing things about him I shouldn't, I have been dishonest with everyone about myself and after texting with a blind date on the app I'm learning to be my authentic self and after getting to know him better about my feeling for Landon.

[Lyndsay TC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Landon and Vincent had a really intense chemistry in this enemies to lovers romance. The enemies part didn't last long but the the intensity never died down. It was a low-angst romance with two epilogues for your enjoyment.

[devil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took a while to feel the connection between the characters... I did enjoy the second half of the story. The overall storyline was great. I'd read this author again.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vincent and Landon's story is a great addition to this series. I like this rivals to lovers story. I did take a little bit to get into the story for me. However once I got into I didn't want to stop.

[Izaminifee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seriously, I can’t understand the ratings. It feels like nothing is happening. It was supposed to be a enemies to lovers story but there’s no angst, no real antagonism between them. They even asked themself multiple times in the book « Why do we hate each other? ». Feels empty and shallow. Sorry.