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Long Hot Summer #3
Hot Spring Kingpin
I’m a king of the underworld. A criminal titan.
She’s an ice cream seller with freckles.
It’s stressful running an organization like mine. There are constant threats; huge riches; sudden violence. And I deal with it all, their king and commander—until my doctor tells me to relax. Or else.
A vacation. A vacation. I can’t think of anything worse.
But I go, and thank god that I do. Because at the hot springs, I see her.
A young woman carrying an ice cream tray. An angel.
In life, I take what I want.
And I want her badly. She’s mine.
Hot Spring Kingpin is a short and steamy age gap instalove story, starring a grumpy kingpin who doesn’t know how to relax, and the ice cream seller who’s more than happy to teach him.
49 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2021
166 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Cassie Mint
152 books1,378 followersCassie writes outrageous, OTT insta-love with tons of sugar and steam. She loves cookie dough, summer barbecues, and her gorgeous cat Missy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
October 23, 2021
A few weeks ago, I read Ballet Master by Cassie Mint and liked it a lot so I thought I should add this book to my tbr too.
It’s not a bad read but it’s a novella (a pretty short novella mind you) so there’s not much to expect from it. The story is about a mobster who goes on a vacation for a few days and that’s where he meets the heroine, a sassy young girl who has a van and sells ice cream for living.
There’s not much to say about the plot but if you want to read something short with smut in it then you should probably go for it. Not a bad read but I’ll probably forget it next week so 3 ⭐.
March 8, 2023
**1.8/5 stars**
Not Cassie Mint's best work, I'll tell that much. It's one of those stories I kept thinking 'Are you serious? You can't be serious'. The concept, as per usual, was promising. It was original, sweet and I liked what I read at first. Now the main thing that bothered me was how unrealistic it was and how the pacing just didn't make sense. But before I start my rant, here's the premise:
Roman is a boss mobster who is forced to go on a vacation to learn to relax. He goes to a hotspring where he meets Layla, a girl who lives in her icecream van and who likes to invent new flavors to sell. It's pretty much love/lust at first sight for them.
Now this plot looks very simple, and it is. There was literally not much to it. All the events happen in less than a day. What annoyed me was how dramatic it was for two strangers to have all those back and forth, just like a teenage couple would act. This will be SPOILERS and I don't even care. The story went like this:
No development. No chemistry. No build up...I feel like my review is a bit harsh but that's because I feel upset about what I've read. This novella is less than 50 pages and I wanted to DNF it. I just found that it was ridiculous. Labeling something insta-love doesn't exempt you from properly developing the relationship to make it make sense. I'm very disappointed with this one. Move on.
✔️HEA
✔️Novella
✔️Dual POV
✔️Age gap
✔️Grumpy H
✔️Sweet/Virgin h/Sunshine
✔️No OW/OM
✔️No cheating
✔️Safe
✔️Push and pull
✔️Separation
🔥 Steam level: 1/5
⚡Content warning
Would I recommend this novella? Hm.. no. Not this one.
**Note that I do not rate novellas and full-length books by the same standards**
Not Cassie Mint's best work, I'll tell that much. It's one of those stories I kept thinking 'Are you serious? You can't be serious'. The concept, as per usual, was promising. It was original, sweet and I liked what I read at first. Now the main thing that bothered me was how unrealistic it was and how the pacing just didn't make sense. But before I start my rant, here's the premise:
Roman is a boss mobster who is forced to go on a vacation to learn to relax. He goes to a hotspring where he meets Layla, a girl who lives in her icecream van and who likes to invent new flavors to sell. It's pretty much love/lust at first sight for them.
Now this plot looks very simple, and it is. There was literally not much to it. All the events happen in less than a day. What annoyed me was how dramatic it was for two strangers to have all those back and forth, just like a teenage couple would act. This will be SPOILERS and I don't even care. The story went like this:
Layla arrives at the hotspring and sees Roman. She offers him a massage to relax which works but she has to go. When Roman decides to leave the water pool, he goes to his car and Layla comes to offer him icecream, which he refuses pretty harshly and hurts Layla's feelings. She goes hide in her ice cream van, and when she gets out of it, Roman is there to apologize. Apology accepted! They kiss. Layla invites Roman in her van to go further and he then goes down on her, giving her the big O with his mouth. Before she can return the favor, Roman gets a call from his organization and Layla is upset once again and tells him to go screw himself, and walks away. Roman chases her and apologizes once more. Apology is accepted right away. They then go to the hotspring again and have their first time together. On their way back to the parking lot, Roman gets another call from his organization which needs him cause it's all a mess in his absence. He decides to go, choosing his job over staying with Layla...and while driving, he realizes he can't live without Layla, calls his cousin, tells him he quit (yes cause quitting the mob is that simple), throws his phone out the window and drives back to Layla. And let me remind to you that this all happens in less than a day! They live happily ever after in their new icecream van. The end. 😑
No development. No chemistry. No build up...I feel like my review is a bit harsh but that's because I feel upset about what I've read. This novella is less than 50 pages and I wanted to DNF it. I just found that it was ridiculous. Labeling something insta-love doesn't exempt you from properly developing the relationship to make it make sense. I'm very disappointed with this one. Move on.
✔️HEA
✔️Novella
✔️Dual POV
✔️Age gap
✔️Grumpy H
✔️Sweet/Virgin h/Sunshine
✔️No OW/OM
✔️No cheating
✔️Safe
✔️Push and pull
✔️Separation
🔥 Steam level: 1/5
⚡Content warning
Would I recommend this novella? Hm.. no. Not this one.
**Note that I do not rate novellas and full-length books by the same standards**
Long Hot Summer Series
(Series Rating: ⭐⭐.8 /5)
1. Pool Girl - 2. Beach Baby - 3. Hot Spring Kingpin - 4. With the Band
November 14, 2021
It was.....OK.
Chemistry was....OK.
Passion was....hmmm....6/10.
Plot was...meh😑. It was not even 50 pages.
Check tags for spoilers.
Chemistry was....OK.
Passion was....hmmm....6/10.
Plot was...meh😑. It was not even 50 pages.
Check tags for spoilers.
May 26, 2022
"Hot Spring Kingpin" is the story of Layla and Roman.
Heroine runs a delicious ice cream shop and lives on a truck, when the hero who is running from his busy life spots her. He continues to be rude to her and they fall in love? LOL
Safe
2.5/5
Heroine runs a delicious ice cream shop and lives on a truck, when the hero who is running from his busy life spots her. He continues to be rude to her and they fall in love? LOL
Safe
2.5/5
April 30, 2023
Ratings🌊
Story - ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice - 🔥🔥/5
Cover - 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤/5
🌊What To Expect🌊
Rich Man, Insta-Love, Mafia, Virgin FMC
🌊Review🌊
Great story, just not very memorable. The character were okay. Everything about this novella was pretty mediocre. THE MMC LEFT THE MOB. Like in record time. He called his cousin said he not coming and to do whatever he wants then came straight back to the FMC. I mean come on! Who doesn’t love a monster!?
⚠️OVERALL IT IS UP TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO READ THIS⚠️
Story - ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice - 🔥🔥/5
Cover - 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤/5
🌊What To Expect🌊
Rich Man, Insta-Love, Mafia, Virgin FMC
🌊Review🌊
Great story, just not very memorable. The character were okay. Everything about this novella was pretty mediocre. THE MMC LEFT THE MOB. Like in record time. He called his cousin said he not coming and to do whatever he wants then came straight back to the FMC. I mean come on! Who doesn’t love a monster!?
⚠️OVERALL IT IS UP TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO READ THIS⚠️
May 30, 2023
1.5 stars rounded up to generous 2
Definitely not my favourite.
Having learnt that Cassie Mint can give me a beautiful, deep and meaningful novelette with a bit of slow burn, my expectation bar towards her writing is pretty darn high.
And this one just wasn't it.
Because what we have here is just yet another instacrap feast.
With everything happening within one day.
ONE FREAKING DAY!
We have Roman, the head of a mafia organization who is forced to go on vacay because of his health.
We then have Layla, our ditzy heroine who lives in a van and sells ice-cream for a living.
We have insta everything and they jump to bed, or maybe I should say a cot, right away.
And just like that Roman decides to leave the mafia and live with her in her mini van.
After one freaking day!?!?
And it was just so freaking unrealistic and just so dumb, I kept rolling my eyes till I hit the end.
I may sound like a broken record here but I do love Cassie Mint.
Just not this insta crap.
Never the insta crap.
So no hard feelings I hope.
Gimme the deep, beautiful goodness that I know you, as one of the very few, can pull off in a novelette.
Definitely not my favourite.
Having learnt that Cassie Mint can give me a beautiful, deep and meaningful novelette with a bit of slow burn, my expectation bar towards her writing is pretty darn high.
And this one just wasn't it.
Because what we have here is just yet another instacrap feast.
With everything happening within one day.
ONE FREAKING DAY!
We have Roman, the head of a mafia organization who is forced to go on vacay because of his health.
We then have Layla, our ditzy heroine who lives in a van and sells ice-cream for a living.
We have insta everything and they jump to bed, or maybe I should say a cot, right away.
And just like that Roman decides to leave the mafia and live with her in her mini van.
After one freaking day!?!?
And it was just so freaking unrealistic and just so dumb, I kept rolling my eyes till I hit the end.
I may sound like a broken record here but I do love Cassie Mint.
Just not this insta crap.
Never the insta crap.
So no hard feelings I hope.
Gimme the deep, beautiful goodness that I know you, as one of the very few, can pull off in a novelette.
August 14, 2023
3.75 stars. they’d love an RV and could even hook up a trailer converted to an ice cream shop on it
July 30, 2023
Middle of the road.
I thought this story was just okay. I can’t really place my finger on why I didn’t like it more. Maybe because they actually never say they love one another? I guess it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
I thought this story was just okay. I can’t really place my finger on why I didn’t like it more. Maybe because they actually never say they love one another? I guess it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
April 5, 2022
Loved it 🥰
This was definitely my favourite Cassie Mint story so far. I loved both Roman and Layla. Roman was rough and kinda mean like he has had to be all his life. Meeting Layla throws him off kilter. She brings him a sense of peace he’s never had before but he’s a bad man and doesn’t know how to be different. Layla is a free spirit. She is drawn to Roman but doesn’t know what to make of him. One moment he is sweet and the next he is a little mean. He is trying to balance both lives but his old one isn’t what he wants anymore. He needs to prove to Layla he can be the man she needs forever.
Safety and Spoilers
Completely safe. No ow/om drama. Nothing mentioned about H’s past and the h is a virgin. No abuse though the H does hurt the h’s feelings a few times making her cry. He always feels terrible and apologizes. He realizes he doesn’t want to hurt her and wants to change for the better!
This was definitely my favourite Cassie Mint story so far. I loved both Roman and Layla. Roman was rough and kinda mean like he has had to be all his life. Meeting Layla throws him off kilter. She brings him a sense of peace he’s never had before but he’s a bad man and doesn’t know how to be different. Layla is a free spirit. She is drawn to Roman but doesn’t know what to make of him. One moment he is sweet and the next he is a little mean. He is trying to balance both lives but his old one isn’t what he wants anymore. He needs to prove to Layla he can be the man she needs forever.
Safety and Spoilers
Completely safe. No ow/om drama. Nothing mentioned about H’s past and the h is a virgin. No abuse though the H does hurt the h’s feelings a few times making her cry. He always feels terrible and apologizes. He realizes he doesn’t want to hurt her and wants to change for the better!
July 21, 2021
If you are looking for OTT instalove with minimum complication, then this is the right book for you. Our h was a drifter who live and breathe selling ice cream; she was practically living on her ice cream truck. Unexpectedly she met a mob boss on one of the place she sold her ice cream. One look and hooked. Steam rose and the rest was history.
The story was short and quite steamy. A bit unrealistic, but that was expected from OTT instalove story, right?! Not much complication and straightforward plot.
Virgin h, celibate H
No condoms
Dual PoV
OTT instalove
No drama/angst
No cheating, No OW/OM
Safe read, HEA, Epilogue
Overall score: 3 instalove stars
The story was short and quite steamy. A bit unrealistic, but that was expected from OTT instalove story, right?! Not much complication and straightforward plot.
Virgin h, celibate H
No condoms
Dual PoV
OTT instalove
No drama/angst
No cheating, No OW/OM
Safe read, HEA, Epilogue
Overall score: 3 instalove stars
July 26, 2021
Rating: 2.5
October 27, 2022
I don't know why I keep getting surprised by how ridiculous these stories are- CM has truly written a book about every occupation out there 💀.
This wasn't my favorite but it was still pretty fun.
This wasn't my favorite but it was still pretty fun.
July 17, 2021
Roman and Layla
This one was the best of the whole series, though, no by much. I think my problem with these stories is that they'll feel rushed. They definitely need more time to develop. This one was great, the lot, the characters. 3+
This one was the best of the whole series, though, no by much. I think my problem with these stories is that they'll feel rushed. They definitely need more time to develop. This one was great, the lot, the characters. 3+
September 16, 2023
Gave me a giggle
August 18, 2022
Layla & Roman
You know what? I don’t know anymore.
How does this novella happen in less than a day?
I … okay let’s list the things that happen in that day to give you a feel for what is in that novella:
• Roman, the mob boss, gets to the hot springs to relax because his doctor ordered him to.
• Layla finds him there, massages his shoulders. Goes back to the van.
• Roman gets out of the hot springs, is rude to people including Layla, who greets him there.
• She goes to her van, he follows her, apologises.
• They kiss.
• They go inside the van and he goes down on her
• Roman gets a phone call from his second in command, Lee, and Layla thinks she was rejected, walks into a forest.
• He follows her, apologises again
• They get into a secret hot spring, have sex
• A couple of hours later Roman is getting another phone call from Lee, he says Roman needs to come back.
• Roman says goodbye to Layla. Gets into the car. Drives off.
• A couple of miles down the road he calls Lee to take over for him, throws his phone out of the car and drives back to Layla
• Epilogue in which Roman and Layla are now living in a spacious luxury camper type thing and Layla is pregnant.
— The End —
THEY DON’T EVEN SAY I LOVE YOU ON THE PAGE.
Never! Not even in the epilogue. Urgh.
Sigh.
I liked their chemistry.
They were kind of a grumpy x sunshine type of pair.
They felt really nice as a couple especially during their intimate scenes so that was nice.
But honest to god, this was so ridiculously fast and over dramatic for the fact that they only have known each other for maybe 12 - 16 hours?!
I know when writing love stories, after the meet cute you gotta have some kind of adhesion point. Like something that get’s the couple stuck together.
And with a perpetually tense and not at all relaxed mob boss you gotta have a good one.
Insta love or obsession would be an option - but that wasn’t shown on page so that couldn’t be used.
So basically my assumption is that they had to stick together the entire novella because otherwise it wouldn’t have made sense that they end up together.
But maybe I’m overthinking this again.
Anyhow. I would have liked to see his day to day as a ruthless mafia boss, as the “dangerous man” that he claimed he was. Because on page he only was pretty rude. Not dangerous.
I would have loved to see the brutality of mob life clash with her sunshine and ice cream reality.
Also I don’t buy that a mafia boss can say “I’m never coming back” that easily to his second in command, throw the phone out of the car window and that is it then.
I just don’t believe it. Even if you’re the now ex boss.
I’m sure there would be aftermath.
But what do I know 🤷🏼♀️
So yeah. I liked it better than “Pool Girl” (that’s easy) and “Beach Baby” so 3★
You know what? I don’t know anymore.
How does this novella happen in less than a day?
I … okay let’s list the things that happen in that day to give you a feel for what is in that novella:
• Roman, the mob boss, gets to the hot springs to relax because his doctor ordered him to.
• Layla finds him there, massages his shoulders. Goes back to the van.
• Roman gets out of the hot springs, is rude to people including Layla, who greets him there.
• She goes to her van, he follows her, apologises.
• They kiss.
• They go inside the van and he goes down on her
• Roman gets a phone call from his second in command, Lee, and Layla thinks she was rejected, walks into a forest.
• He follows her, apologises again
• They get into a secret hot spring, have sex
• A couple of hours later Roman is getting another phone call from Lee, he says Roman needs to come back.
• Roman says goodbye to Layla. Gets into the car. Drives off.
• A couple of miles down the road he calls Lee to take over for him, throws his phone out of the car and drives back to Layla
• Epilogue in which Roman and Layla are now living in a spacious luxury camper type thing and Layla is pregnant.
— The End —
THEY DON’T EVEN SAY I LOVE YOU ON THE PAGE.
Never! Not even in the epilogue. Urgh.
Sigh.
I liked their chemistry.
They were kind of a grumpy x sunshine type of pair.
They felt really nice as a couple especially during their intimate scenes so that was nice.
But honest to god, this was so ridiculously fast and over dramatic for the fact that they only have known each other for maybe 12 - 16 hours?!
I know when writing love stories, after the meet cute you gotta have some kind of adhesion point. Like something that get’s the couple stuck together.
And with a perpetually tense and not at all relaxed mob boss you gotta have a good one.
Insta love or obsession would be an option - but that wasn’t shown on page so that couldn’t be used.
So basically my assumption is that they had to stick together the entire novella because otherwise it wouldn’t have made sense that they end up together.
But maybe I’m overthinking this again.
Anyhow. I would have liked to see his day to day as a ruthless mafia boss, as the “dangerous man” that he claimed he was. Because on page he only was pretty rude. Not dangerous.
I would have loved to see the brutality of mob life clash with her sunshine and ice cream reality.
Also I don’t buy that a mafia boss can say “I’m never coming back” that easily to his second in command, throw the phone out of the car window and that is it then.
I just don’t believe it. Even if you’re the now ex boss.
I’m sure there would be aftermath.
But what do I know 🤷🏼♀️
So yeah. I liked it better than “Pool Girl” (that’s easy) and “Beach Baby” so 3★
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2021
Lickety Split Ice Cream melts the Mafia Boss
Hot Spring Kingpin is the third book in the Long Hot Summer series and in this story the hot springs is not the only thing bubbling hot. This fun, quirky, insta-lust/love story is about Layla and Roman. Roman is the head of the Mafia in his town and with so much stress he has been ordered by the doctor to take a vacation. So he heads out of town to a hot springs, grumbling all along the way. Layla is a sweet and easy going young woman who makes and sells ice cream. She has her van, Charlie, which she also lives in and drives where ever she wants to go next. She is parked at the hot springs and after waking up early heads to the springs to enjoy the early morning when no one else is there. Only when she gets there she finds a man already in the hot springs.
This is a fast-paced, opposites attract, older man/younger woman, insta-lust/love story that is a bit quirky but fun and entertaining.
Hot Spring Kingpin is the third book in the Long Hot Summer series and in this story the hot springs is not the only thing bubbling hot. This fun, quirky, insta-lust/love story is about Layla and Roman. Roman is the head of the Mafia in his town and with so much stress he has been ordered by the doctor to take a vacation. So he heads out of town to a hot springs, grumbling all along the way. Layla is a sweet and easy going young woman who makes and sells ice cream. She has her van, Charlie, which she also lives in and drives where ever she wants to go next. She is parked at the hot springs and after waking up early heads to the springs to enjoy the early morning when no one else is there. Only when she gets there she finds a man already in the hot springs.
This is a fast-paced, opposites attract, older man/younger woman, insta-lust/love story that is a bit quirky but fun and entertaining.
December 28, 2022
The couple: Roman and Layla
Romance trope: insta-love
Series: Long Hot Summer
Length: 49 pages
Plot: Layla is a free spirit, selling homemade ice cream out of her van during the hot days of summer. Roman, a mob boss, has been ordered by his doctor to take a vacation and relax, for his health. When he arrives at the vacation spot, he meets Layla at the hot springs. She'll teach him to relax and maybe even be a better person, but is he sticking around?
Commentary: This one was okay, but Roman wasn't a particularly nice or desirable hero. And having her first time be in her cramped old can that she sold ice cream from wasn't very hot at all. So while I enjoyed this quick read, it wasn't one of my favorites.
Previous book in the series: Beach Baby
Next book in the series: With The Band
Romance trope: insta-love
Series: Long Hot Summer
Length: 49 pages
Plot: Layla is a free spirit, selling homemade ice cream out of her van during the hot days of summer. Roman, a mob boss, has been ordered by his doctor to take a vacation and relax, for his health. When he arrives at the vacation spot, he meets Layla at the hot springs. She'll teach him to relax and maybe even be a better person, but is he sticking around?
Commentary: This one was okay, but Roman wasn't a particularly nice or desirable hero. And having her first time be in her cramped old can that she sold ice cream from wasn't very hot at all. So while I enjoyed this quick read, it wasn't one of my favorites.
Previous book in the series: Beach Baby
Next book in the series: With The Band
July 15, 2021
Roman is the kingpin of the organization but he has been told by the doctor that he needs to learn to relax or else. The problem is he has no idea how to step back from his business and relax. He is taking a week vacation at a hot springs but he can't unwind until he meets Layla. Layla is a beautiful young women who seems to want to help him relax. Roman is very attracted to her but he can't leave his phone off even after a passionate encounter.
Layla has been driving around the country in her van Charlie and selling ice cream. When she sees Roman, she is instantly attracted to him but they are definitely opposites. Roman doesn't have a clue how to relax and relaxing is what she mostly does. Can she teach him how to take life a little easier?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Layla has been driving around the country in her van Charlie and selling ice cream. When she sees Roman, she is instantly attracted to him but they are definitely opposites. Roman doesn't have a clue how to relax and relaxing is what she mostly does. Can she teach him how to take life a little easier?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 12, 2021
Sometimes a vacation can lead to love.
I liked this short story (3.5 stars but it won’t let me do that). It was entertaining and enjoyable. The characters were interesting and likable. I was kind of jealous of Layla and her freedom even though I can’t imagine myself actually living like she does. Layla was sweet, kind, and caring with a dash of sass. Roman was a dangerous man and he had been ordered to relax. The only problem with Roman relaxing was that he didn’t know how! Layla met Roman and tried to help him relax. They have a different dynamic. There is a little angst but the resolution was great. I wanted a bit more between Layla and Roman. I liked how the story ended and their happy ever after was cute. I recommend reading this book.
I liked this short story (3.5 stars but it won’t let me do that). It was entertaining and enjoyable. The characters were interesting and likable. I was kind of jealous of Layla and her freedom even though I can’t imagine myself actually living like she does. Layla was sweet, kind, and caring with a dash of sass. Roman was a dangerous man and he had been ordered to relax. The only problem with Roman relaxing was that he didn’t know how! Layla met Roman and tried to help him relax. They have a different dynamic. There is a little angst but the resolution was great. I wanted a bit more between Layla and Roman. I liked how the story ended and their happy ever after was cute. I recommend reading this book.
August 5, 2022
Hot Spring Kingpin is the story of Layla and Roman.
He’s a mobster or some sort of political mobster or some shit and he gets sent on a vacation to relax or take a break. On that break he meets Layla and he’s all stiff and tense and he fell for her when she gave him a massage. But he was still tense but calm. Bro he let her down so many times, from yelling at her, after giving her an orgasm he picked up a phone call, and when he needed to go back to work he left her with nothing more than a goodbye. He realises he stupidity and turns the car back around and goes back after her. She’s astonished that she’s here but forgives him and asks if he’s in the mob to which he says not anymore and that’s that. He just gave off this possessive vibe. SO HOT.
Solid 3.5/5
He’s a mobster or some sort of political mobster or some shit and he gets sent on a vacation to relax or take a break. On that break he meets Layla and he’s all stiff and tense and he fell for her when she gave him a massage. But he was still tense but calm. Bro he let her down so many times, from yelling at her, after giving her an orgasm he picked up a phone call, and when he needed to go back to work he left her with nothing more than a goodbye. He realises he stupidity and turns the car back around and goes back after her. She’s astonished that she’s here but forgives him and asks if he’s in the mob to which he says not anymore and that’s that. He just gave off this possessive vibe. SO HOT.
Solid 3.5/5
July 10, 2021
Roman, the male lead, is a mafia boss with stress induced illness and he’s been ordered by his doctor to relax. Layla, the female lead, is a much younger woman who has built her life around being stress free whilst still having enough to live on. When they meet, the attraction is instant and, when Roman is recalled to his “real” life, he finds he doesn’t want to leave her and has the capacity to make that choice.
This short story is dual POV, well written, and a fun, contemporary fantasy. I enjoyed reading it and taking a reality break
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This short story is dual POV, well written, and a fun, contemporary fantasy. I enjoyed reading it and taking a reality break
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 15, 2021
Roman is the head of his crime family and has been told by his doctor to take a vacation, the stress of his responsibilities is making him sick. He is in a hot spring the first time he sees Layla, who travels all around in van selling her homemade ice cream, living a stress free life. The attraction to each other is immediate but they are in different places in life, she lives carefree and lets his phone interrupt interactions between the two of them. The story is written in dual point of view, is entertaining and steamy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 2, 2024
Layla and Roman
Roman, the handsome but rude mobster kingpin, becomes mesmerized by the sweet innocent Layla of “Lickety Split” fame, when they meet at the most romantic place ever (only in the imagination of Cassie Mint, during a “Long Hot Summer”), and he falls under her spell, in the hot spring, beneath the icy waterfall. So romantic 💘
Don’t know why I waited so long to re-read this! I will be reading this again soon! The ending surprised me this second time reading this… I had forgotten how it ended. It was looking pretty hopeless a couple of times.. Read it and weep! Only happy tears! Awesome HEA! So good!!!
Roman, the handsome but rude mobster kingpin, becomes mesmerized by the sweet innocent Layla of “Lickety Split” fame, when they meet at the most romantic place ever (only in the imagination of Cassie Mint, during a “Long Hot Summer”), and he falls under her spell, in the hot spring, beneath the icy waterfall. So romantic 💘
Don’t know why I waited so long to re-read this! I will be reading this again soon! The ending surprised me this second time reading this… I had forgotten how it ended. It was looking pretty hopeless a couple of times.. Read it and weep! Only happy tears! Awesome HEA! So good!!!
August 25, 2021
Now this is a little different to anything I have previously read by this author, but that is not a bad thing.
The author manages to paint the picture of this story so well that you can easily envision it on your head as you are reading.
Both characters were really well written and brought the book to life.
For a short book, it doesn't leave you feeling as though you have missed out on anything, the romance is still there at the forefront.
I did finish this in one sitting and I can say that I was left satisfied with the ending, even if I wanted more!
The author manages to paint the picture of this story so well that you can easily envision it on your head as you are reading.
Both characters were really well written and brought the book to life.
For a short book, it doesn't leave you feeling as though you have missed out on anything, the romance is still there at the forefront.
I did finish this in one sitting and I can say that I was left satisfied with the ending, even if I wanted more!
August 16, 2023
Um, Wow!
This novel was up and down with extreme grumpy/sunshine romance vibes. First impression of Roman? I hated him for being so rude to Layla and making her cry. I cried on her behalf! First impression of Layla? Loved her from the get-go! Although their opposites-attract love story between angel of a small businesswoman and a mob boss wouldn't work in reality, in fiction, anything goes. Kudos to you, Cassie Mint! You never stop amazing me with your quirky romance novels! I'm a lifer reader of yours, no matter what!
This novel was up and down with extreme grumpy/sunshine romance vibes. First impression of Roman? I hated him for being so rude to Layla and making her cry. I cried on her behalf! First impression of Layla? Loved her from the get-go! Although their opposites-attract love story between angel of a small businesswoman and a mob boss wouldn't work in reality, in fiction, anything goes. Kudos to you, Cassie Mint! You never stop amazing me with your quirky romance novels! I'm a lifer reader of yours, no matter what!
July 15, 2021
I think Pool Girl has been my favorite so far in the Long Hot Summer series. Roman was an intense mobster that couldn't relax. He was ordered to take some time off to relax and stumbles a crossed Layla. She is sweet, both in personality and the ice cream she sells out of her van. These two were plenty hot together with little angst or drama other than Roman constantly being pulled back into the underworld he lives in. It was an enjoyable, fast read.
July 15, 2021
Hot Springs Kingpin was another absolutely smoking hot read by Cassie Mint. There is nothing better than curling up with a beverage and a steamy romance that will take you away. In her latest, we meet mafia kingpin, Roman and his Layla, his ice cream princess. Where Roman is strict and all business, Layla is fun and adventurous but the chemistry and the attraction between them is too strong to ignore. If you enjoy OTT steamy insta love you will love this story! 5 stars!
July 16, 2021
A fast paced short story of bumping into an overworked Boss named Roman where he meets a young naive girl named Layla. I did like the spunkiness of her character, as she did not back down from Romans attitude. Thought there were some missing aspects to this storyline as they jumped from meeting to hellos to make out session. The ending was surprising as Roman made some life altering changes.
I am voluntarily leaving a review for this book that I received free.
I am voluntarily leaving a review for this book that I received free.
August 11, 2021
Adorable
“Are you in the mob?”
Layla is so cute!!! Layla lives in her van and makes her own ice cream that she sales while traveling on the road. She is the sweetest to rude grumpy Roman. Roman doesn’t know how to take a day off, he’s tense and rude towards others.
This is a grumpy/sunshine romance and my favorite so far in this little series of cute summer smutty romance with happily ever afters.
“Are you in the mob?”
Layla is so cute!!! Layla lives in her van and makes her own ice cream that she sales while traveling on the road. She is the sweetest to rude grumpy Roman. Roman doesn’t know how to take a day off, he’s tense and rude towards others.
This is a grumpy/sunshine romance and my favorite so far in this little series of cute summer smutty romance with happily ever afters.
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