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Summersweet Island #5
With This Fling
Laura Bennett has spent her life taking care of other people and running the Dip and Twist. Happily spending her time being single and carefree, she has no intention of settling down or falling in love. With an ever-growing family, she’s a mother to them all, and she loves every minute of it. But her baby is getting married, and her oldest has her own life changes she’s dealing with. Suddenly, being all alone doesn’t sound so appealing anymore.
Dean Campbell has been the black sheep of his family since the day he was born. The only one he cares about is his nephew, Palmer. Deciding at the last minute to attend Palmer’s nuptials, Dean knows he’s going to need to try his hardest not to be his usual, grouchy self. He doesn’t like people, and he really doesn’t like weddings. But the sexy and sassy mother-of-the-bride has him wanting to check Plus-One on his invite. He’s never had more fun getting under someone’s skin, and it doesn’t take long for all the people, noise, and chaos that surround Laura Bennett to become a few of his favorite things.
Laura thinks a fun wedding fling is just what the doctor ordered to get her out of this funk. But Dean’s been sprinkled with Shepherd’s glitter and the magic of Summersweet Island. He’ll do whatever it takes to convince her that, with this fling, she just might change her mind about falling in love again.
Dean Campbell has been the black sheep of his family since the day he was born. The only one he cares about is his nephew, Palmer. Deciding at the last minute to attend Palmer’s nuptials, Dean knows he’s going to need to try his hardest not to be his usual, grouchy self. He doesn’t like people, and he really doesn’t like weddings. But the sexy and sassy mother-of-the-bride has him wanting to check Plus-One on his invite. He’s never had more fun getting under someone’s skin, and it doesn’t take long for all the people, noise, and chaos that surround Laura Bennett to become a few of his favorite things.
Laura thinks a fun wedding fling is just what the doctor ordered to get her out of this funk. But Dean’s been sprinkled with Shepherd’s glitter and the magic of Summersweet Island. He’ll do whatever it takes to convince her that, with this fling, she just might change her mind about falling in love again.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2022
137 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
About the author
Tara Sivec
71 books10.3k followersTara Sivec is a USA Today best-selling author, wife, mother, chauffeur, maid, short-order cook, baby-sitter, and sarcasm expert. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children and looks forward to the day when all three of them become adults and move out.
After working in the brokerage business for fourteen years, Tara decided to pick up a pen and write instead of shoving it in her eye out of boredom. She writes in a wide range of genres including Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy/Mystery, Romantic Suspense, New Adult Drama, Contemporary Romance and Psychological Thriller. Her novel Seduction and Snacks won first place in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book and she was voted Best Indie Author in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2014.
In her spare time, Tara loves to dream about all of the baking she'll do and naps she'll take when she ever gets spare time.
After working in the brokerage business for fourteen years, Tara decided to pick up a pen and write instead of shoving it in her eye out of boredom. She writes in a wide range of genres including Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy/Mystery, Romantic Suspense, New Adult Drama, Contemporary Romance and Psychological Thriller. Her novel Seduction and Snacks won first place in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book and she was voted Best Indie Author in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2014.
In her spare time, Tara loves to dream about all of the baking she'll do and naps she'll take when she ever gets spare time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
April 25, 2022
Laura + Dean
We're back on our favorite Island!
We all met Laura in the previous books - she's the owner of the Island's Ice Cream Stand and she's Wren and Birdie's mom - and of course she kind of adopted all the other guys and girls!
And now here's her time to find her own HEA!
At her daughter's wedding! With the groom's hot uncle! LOL!
Let the fun times begin...
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LOL! ADORABLE!
I loved this!
If you're new to this seris, please go back and read all the other books before starting this one! This group of people is so amazing! I really need this to be a Netflix show! The guys are so hilarious with their crafting and glitter and gossiping! If you haven't done some glitter-glue-hearts-crafting with Shep, Palmer and Bodhi - you haven't lived. LOL!
I just love this series so much!
And this time we have this adorable and very sparky and sexy and very mature love story. Laura and Dean are 54 and 57 years old! And I loved that! We're all getting older and we can't always read about 23 year olds! Not that they behaved much differently than younger people - lol! I just adored those two and their hilarious flirting and fighting and falling for each other - even though they are both against a real relationship. But with Laura's youngest daughter getting married it feels like everybody is leaving her - even though that is so not the case - she's still very much in demand by the bridezilla and everybody else! But she feels so very lonely, especially when she comes home to an empty house at night - a little fling would be okay... or maybe even something more? Laura and Dean are just perfect for each other - but he'll be gone after the wedding, right?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
Oh and can someone on the Island please adopt me??? I want to live there - I want to live in the ice cream stand - or just work in it - or just eat it!
WITH THIS FLING was the most adorable + hilarious island love story. I just loved it! Hurry to your nearest amazon for your own Dean ... he'll be sold out in no time!
💜
💜
April 26, 2022
Light and sexy
Hot grandparents, cougars, and flings are all things I tend to avoid when reading romance, but I couldn’t resist a trip back to Summersweet, so… here we are! Did I find these characters relatable? Not in the slightest. This couple is the same age as my parents, so I might be a little mentally scarred from the steam, lol. But I loved returning to this excellent series and getting more of the light, sexy vibes it emits from every scene. It’s another low angst installment that’s got humor, heart, and a fulfilling HEA - and a very strong focus on the full cast of characters rather than just the couple.
The story follows Laura (54), everyone's favorite single mom. She has spent the last thirty years raising her daughter, who is now getting married. It's putting some things into perspective for Laura - she's now the only one who isn't coupled up, because she closed off her heart years ago. Decades of having flings with younger guys has left Laura a little jaded, but one of the wedding guests has the potential to change everything. Laura has heard about "Uncle Dean" (57) for years, but she never imagined that the man would be so sexy and compelling in person. Neither one is looking for love, but it's not long before Dean is starting to fall for everything - and everyone - in Summersweet.
I don't know how I feel about the fact that the steamiest book in this series features a couple my parents' age. Wait... yeah, I do know how I feel about that, lol. I definitely prefer reading about younger couples, but Laura and Dean are both worthy of their own HEAs, and it was great to see how perfectly they fit together. While their relationship is front and center, it did feel like the book was more about ALL of the couples we've read about in the past - there are only a few scenes where Laura and Dean are actually by themselves. The timeline is also pretty quick. But every book in Summersweet is quirky fun, with such a lighthearted, easygoing feel and plenty of humor. I don't know that I'd recommend this as a standalone, but if you've been following the series then it's certainly worth a read.
Hot grandparents, cougars, and flings are all things I tend to avoid when reading romance, but I couldn’t resist a trip back to Summersweet, so… here we are! Did I find these characters relatable? Not in the slightest. This couple is the same age as my parents, so I might be a little mentally scarred from the steam, lol. But I loved returning to this excellent series and getting more of the light, sexy vibes it emits from every scene. It’s another low angst installment that’s got humor, heart, and a fulfilling HEA - and a very strong focus on the full cast of characters rather than just the couple.
The story follows Laura (54), everyone's favorite single mom. She has spent the last thirty years raising her daughter, who is now getting married. It's putting some things into perspective for Laura - she's now the only one who isn't coupled up, because she closed off her heart years ago. Decades of having flings with younger guys has left Laura a little jaded, but one of the wedding guests has the potential to change everything. Laura has heard about "Uncle Dean" (57) for years, but she never imagined that the man would be so sexy and compelling in person. Neither one is looking for love, but it's not long before Dean is starting to fall for everything - and everyone - in Summersweet.
I don't know how I feel about the fact that the steamiest book in this series features a couple my parents' age. Wait... yeah, I do know how I feel about that, lol. I definitely prefer reading about younger couples, but Laura and Dean are both worthy of their own HEAs, and it was great to see how perfectly they fit together. While their relationship is front and center, it did feel like the book was more about ALL of the couples we've read about in the past - there are only a few scenes where Laura and Dean are actually by themselves. The timeline is also pretty quick. But every book in Summersweet is quirky fun, with such a lighthearted, easygoing feel and plenty of humor. I don't know that I'd recommend this as a standalone, but if you've been following the series then it's certainly worth a read.
April 25, 2022
So, I’ll start off honestly and say that I’ve actually only read the first book in this series so far, Kiss My Putt, which I adored, as I do all of Sivec’s book. So when I saw her post about opening up some spots on her reader team, I immediately signed up! Not realizing I’d get in so quick! But when I got this one, I was so excited! Because I know all the characters, and basically who was going to end up with who, but I will still need to go back and read all their journeys to get to where they are in this book. However, that does not mess up reading this book ahead of them at all!
As with every other book I’ve read by this author I was laughing out loud, literally, constantly! The characters, oh my gosh, so crazy and so much fun. Since I haven’t read all the books yet, a few were newer to me, but since they had matched up with characters I knew from the first book, they all felt like old friends. I mean I wish I could hang out with the author some time, because I know she has got to be a blast! Especially when she mentioned two parts of the story that were actually based on real events from her own life. A certain party thrown by Owen, as well as the words Palmer says to Birdie when they’re getting married. Swoon!
But anyway, let’s talk about the main couple of this book. Because while like Laura, I’m normally attracted to younger guys, Dean totally made me swoon in this book. First of all his line, “What do you need, sugar?” Might sound cheesy, but by the end of the book I was swooning and wishing someone in my life would say that to me. My own Dean. I loved how he always showed up just in time to overhear something she’d said about him that was embarrassing to her. Not to mention once they started texting, lol, “Block contact.” And the bedroom scenes, or wherever they happened to take place, steam and perfection, with just the right amount of humor (Bodhi in the closet) just as you’d expect from Sivec!
This book had those fake babies that they use in schools for classes like Home Ec or Sex Ed to get kids to understand about what it’s like to have a baby. Oh my gosh, that made for some of the funniest times. It wasn’t just Owen who had to carry it though, they gave one to Bodhi too. And the names they called them, and when it pooped and Bodhi talked about knowing it was chocolate pudding. I was dying laughing. I mean Bodhi is a whole story all by himself.
And then the guys, getting into crafting, and saying they’d been “Summersweetened”. So cute and adorable! Gah! This book was just perfection! Talk about having a total book hangover when I finished. If I hadn’t had another one of my favorite author’s latest books lined up to read next, I have a feeling I wouldn’t have been able to get into anything else. All I know now is that I need to read the rest of this series as soon as possible! Oh yeah, and I’m so excited to hear the next one has bowling as part of the sports aspect since I was the bowling coach the last two years at my last school!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
As with every other book I’ve read by this author I was laughing out loud, literally, constantly! The characters, oh my gosh, so crazy and so much fun. Since I haven’t read all the books yet, a few were newer to me, but since they had matched up with characters I knew from the first book, they all felt like old friends. I mean I wish I could hang out with the author some time, because I know she has got to be a blast! Especially when she mentioned two parts of the story that were actually based on real events from her own life. A certain party thrown by Owen, as well as the words Palmer says to Birdie when they’re getting married. Swoon!
But anyway, let’s talk about the main couple of this book. Because while like Laura, I’m normally attracted to younger guys, Dean totally made me swoon in this book. First of all his line, “What do you need, sugar?” Might sound cheesy, but by the end of the book I was swooning and wishing someone in my life would say that to me. My own Dean. I loved how he always showed up just in time to overhear something she’d said about him that was embarrassing to her. Not to mention once they started texting, lol, “Block contact.” And the bedroom scenes, or wherever they happened to take place, steam and perfection, with just the right amount of humor (Bodhi in the closet) just as you’d expect from Sivec!
This book had those fake babies that they use in schools for classes like Home Ec or Sex Ed to get kids to understand about what it’s like to have a baby. Oh my gosh, that made for some of the funniest times. It wasn’t just Owen who had to carry it though, they gave one to Bodhi too. And the names they called them, and when it pooped and Bodhi talked about knowing it was chocolate pudding. I was dying laughing. I mean Bodhi is a whole story all by himself.
And then the guys, getting into crafting, and saying they’d been “Summersweetened”. So cute and adorable! Gah! This book was just perfection! Talk about having a total book hangover when I finished. If I hadn’t had another one of my favorite author’s latest books lined up to read next, I have a feeling I wouldn’t have been able to get into anything else. All I know now is that I need to read the rest of this series as soon as possible! Oh yeah, and I’m so excited to hear the next one has bowling as part of the sports aspect since I was the bowling coach the last two years at my last school!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
August 11, 2022
i'm giving 5 stars not because the story was amazing but because it was like an epilogue for all the couples!! i loved them so much 😭
it was weird to read about a 50+ years old couple and their sex life because they're older than my parents but good for them 🤠
it was weird to read about a 50+ years old couple and their sex life because they're older than my parents but good for them 🤠
April 25, 2022
I have been Summersweetened since First and Tension and now we get to enjoy Birdie and Palmer’s wedding. Well, we will enjoy the wedding … Laura, maybe not so much. Especially since everyone is insisting she take an age-appropriate plus one. Yea, so not her speed. Until Dean.
Ok, I’m going to start with Dean. Yes, he was being likened to a certain actor in Sons of Anarchy. But, boy did he give me Sam Elliot vibes. Raspy voice, sex on a stick … and I can just hear him calling me “sugar”. Whew. He was just panty-melting throughout this whole story. He may have been the black sheep of his family, grouchy and a loner but he was also kind, considerate and sexy. And, he eventually got Summersweetened too. A little glitter goes a long way on Summersweet Island!
Now, let’s add Laura to the equation. She’s not grumpy at all. In fact, she’s very friendly, especially if you are younger. She’s not a loner. With Birdie and Wren, add in Tess, Bohdi, Palmer and Shepherd, a grandson and 2 on the way, she has no way to even try to be alone or a loner. She’s naturally outgoing and witty and now totally falling all over herself with the likes of Dean. She’s feeling her age and can’t decide if it’s hot flashes or just Dean that’s causing her to reexamine her choice of men. These two getting together totally made my day. A story involving older characters with sex drives as strong as the younger characters, navigating the waters of menopause, love and feelings that you are too old to have a 2nd chance at love. Dean couldn’t understand why he was having these feelings after swearing off anything but one-night-stands. Laura kept trying to tell herself that he was too old for her tastes. When they finally gave into the explosive chemistry between them, there was fireworks. To bad Bohdi had to witness it all.
Yes, Birdie and Palmer get married. Tess is still setting fires. Bohdi is still Bohdi. Glitter is still abundant. From a box of dildos to tequila shots, I laughed, cheered and even shed a tear or two. But, my favorite part was realizing that Tara Sivic wasn’t going to end this series here. She has more up her sleeve for us to enjoy and be Summersweetened about. Yes, she made that a word and I, for one, is so happy that she did. There’s really no other way to explain how you feel when you go into the world of Summersweet Island.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Ok, I’m going to start with Dean. Yes, he was being likened to a certain actor in Sons of Anarchy. But, boy did he give me Sam Elliot vibes. Raspy voice, sex on a stick … and I can just hear him calling me “sugar”. Whew. He was just panty-melting throughout this whole story. He may have been the black sheep of his family, grouchy and a loner but he was also kind, considerate and sexy. And, he eventually got Summersweetened too. A little glitter goes a long way on Summersweet Island!
Now, let’s add Laura to the equation. She’s not grumpy at all. In fact, she’s very friendly, especially if you are younger. She’s not a loner. With Birdie and Wren, add in Tess, Bohdi, Palmer and Shepherd, a grandson and 2 on the way, she has no way to even try to be alone or a loner. She’s naturally outgoing and witty and now totally falling all over herself with the likes of Dean. She’s feeling her age and can’t decide if it’s hot flashes or just Dean that’s causing her to reexamine her choice of men. These two getting together totally made my day. A story involving older characters with sex drives as strong as the younger characters, navigating the waters of menopause, love and feelings that you are too old to have a 2nd chance at love. Dean couldn’t understand why he was having these feelings after swearing off anything but one-night-stands. Laura kept trying to tell herself that he was too old for her tastes. When they finally gave into the explosive chemistry between them, there was fireworks. To bad Bohdi had to witness it all.
Yes, Birdie and Palmer get married. Tess is still setting fires. Bohdi is still Bohdi. Glitter is still abundant. From a box of dildos to tequila shots, I laughed, cheered and even shed a tear or two. But, my favorite part was realizing that Tara Sivic wasn’t going to end this series here. She has more up her sleeve for us to enjoy and be Summersweetened about. Yes, she made that a word and I, for one, is so happy that she did. There’s really no other way to explain how you feel when you go into the world of Summersweet Island.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
May 22, 2023
With This Fling (Summersweet Island #5) by Tara Sivec
Romantic comedy with an older couple. Can stand alone but you should read them all.
5+++ Stars
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I’ve been Summersweetened.
Just when I thought I couldn’t love Tara Sivec any more, she goes and writes a book about a woman my age (54) with a hot 57-year-old who are still so fun and sexy that readers of any age will love With This Fling .
Laura’s two daughters, Birdie and Wren, met their loves in previous books in the Summersweet Island Series, so we have seen Laura and her business, The Dip & Twist throughout the series. I’ve always loved her, she is cool, sarcastic, funny, and dates only younger men for quick flings. She is also basically everyone's mom as new people have been added to her brood with each story.
It’s the week of Birdie and Palmer’s week-long destination wedding, and Laura isn’t interested in bringing a young fling to her younger daughter’s wedding. She would be too busy running around making sure everything goes smoothly and that nobody has a breakdown. But when Palmer’s Uncle Dean shows up, Laura starts to question her “younger men” rule.
OMG ladies. DEAN. ~~~SWOOON~~~. Dean designs and hand makes custom golf clubs (such an interesting job!). He doesn’t even have a home, just lives on the road going from one job to the next all over the country. He’s a grumpy, salt & peppered tattooed lone wolf who liked his nice quiet life, just him and his Harley.
Until he came to Summersweet Island for the wedding, took one look at Laura, and he was done for.
“Jesus. You are stunning.”
I loved how he just kept popping up all over the place, always there to lend a hand and take care of Laura. This woman has spent her life taking care of everyone else, and it literally brought me to tears to see her finally have someone there for her, even though she continually pushed him away.
“What do you need, sugar?”
Things I loved (there are no dislikes):
•Characters in their 50s who are just as cool as her characters in their 20s.
•Visiting with all the other Summersweet couples.
•There were a few casual references to menopause, hot flashes, and aging bodies, but it was never harped on at all, and they were all funny and relatable. Most of the time they could be any age.
•Dean is literally the perfect man. “Hard or slow, sugar? What do you need?”
•While we are there for Birdie’s wedding, the story very much focused on Laura and Dean.
•The banter between them was perfect!
•The sex was HOT and age-appropriate (yes, people in their 50s can still have crazy hot sex!)
•The cover is so perfect and exactly how I picture them (except real lol).
•The heartbreak and pride (at the same time) of your kids growing up and not really needing you anymore was written perfectly.
The Down & Dirty:
Nobody else but Tara Sivec can make me literally laugh out loud and bawl my eyes out at the same time. The Summersweet Island family is all a little OTT, but I can’t tell you how happy this series makes me. I look for books with older couples, so I’ve read a good number of them, but this portrayal actually felt the most real of any to me. Dean and Laura have lived nice lives all along, but when they realize how much better it is together, magic happens. Tara did the impossible and took a normal people in their fifties and Summersweetened them, and I couldn’t be happier to see there will be another in the series.
“It’s called hot flashes, Dean. Don’t judge me.”
“Oh, I’ll give you hot flashes.”
Rating: 5++ Stars, 4 Heat
Purchase With This Fling by Tara Sivec
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See My Review for Kiss My Putt
See My Review for Swing and a Mishap
See My Review for Dashing Through The No
See My Review for First and Tension
May 17, 2022
This was so cute! And hilarious! I mean, I do find five grown men happily crafting with glitter and shit highly unbelievable, but it’s just funny enough for me not to roll me eyes…much. And kudos to the author for not trying to brush over the age factor and all the fun things that come with being in your fifties. Not that I would know, but it felt realistic!
Dean, who I totally pictured as Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Laura are so meant to be. I found it a little hard to stomach how much of a bitch she was to him, but luckily it just amused him. I wonder how this would play out in real life…maybe some men just like taking the abuse!
All in all, it was a great continuation of the series. I love that the first four couples were never far away, ADORED Palmer’s vows to Birdie, and the sibling/parent dynamic was just so hilarious and entertaining. I love this series so much!
Dean, who I totally pictured as Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Laura are so meant to be. I found it a little hard to stomach how much of a bitch she was to him, but luckily it just amused him. I wonder how this would play out in real life…maybe some men just like taking the abuse!
All in all, it was a great continuation of the series. I love that the first four couples were never far away, ADORED Palmer’s vows to Birdie, and the sibling/parent dynamic was just so hilarious and entertaining. I love this series so much!
October 19, 2022
Another very funny story in this series. My big problem with it, though, is that the heroine and hero had a major communication issue. There’s nothing more frustrating that people over 50 who just won’t tell the other person what they think and feel, and it got tiresome in this book. The only thing that saved this book is all the humor.
April 25, 2022
I was so excited to be getting a new Tara Sivec book. They usually come just when I need them. There is also guaranteed humor, heat, and heart. They are hard not to read with a smile on your face. The Summetsweat Island series is all of that. While I think it could be read as stand alone, what is the fun in that. Start with Kiss My Putt.
With This Fling is about the girls’ mom. Both of the main characters are in their 50s. I had just as fun reading this one as the others. They tell me more is to come. I’m here patiently waiting.
I voluntarily read an early copy.
With This Fling is about the girls’ mom. Both of the main characters are in their 50s. I had just as fun reading this one as the others. They tell me more is to come. I’m here patiently waiting.
I voluntarily read an early copy.
April 21, 2022
4.5 stars
This series just gets me every time! The chaos, the laughter, the snark, the ridiculousness...but also the genuine love, care and support these characters have for each other. This story is no exception. It's time for Birdie and Palmer's big Summersweet wedding extravaganza! Bring on the glitter!
Laura Bennett is a mid-fifties mom of Birdie and Wren, and adopted mom to their best friends and spouses. She runs her own business and does everything to take care of everyone else. She is sassy, sweet, outspoken, and still feels young. But she does not believe in love or relationships and just tends to hook up with young guys with no expectations, but she is also starting to feel lonely.
Dean Campbell is Palmer's black sheep uncle who literally rolls into town on his Harley for the wedding. He is in his late fifties, scruffy, edgy, sarcastic, and known to be grumpy and antisocial. But he is enamored of Laura as soon as he sees her...not the perfect version he has always heard about, but the real woman. He finds himself hunting her out, eavesdropping at inopportune times, volunteering to help her, and finding excuses just to be around her. She lights up his possessive, jealous, and flirty sides.
They tussle, tease, and spar, but also laugh and smile more around each other. They both challenge and support each other, and their chemistry is out of control. A wedding fling sounds like a great idea. But now these two people who thought they were just fine being alone and did not believe in love for themselves are now feeling a bit out of their element.
This is a laugh-out-loud, sweet, hot love story with a bit older characters who thrive on not acting their age. But it is also about family, home, and a sense of community. This is a celebration of life and love with lots of laughter and shenanigans. I totally enjoyed being back on the island and hanging out with the "kids" and their spouses and seeing the more stuck-in-their-ruts Dean and Laura explore different sides of themselves. I was happy to see there will be another book coming in this wacky and fun island world.
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This series just gets me every time! The chaos, the laughter, the snark, the ridiculousness...but also the genuine love, care and support these characters have for each other. This story is no exception. It's time for Birdie and Palmer's big Summersweet wedding extravaganza! Bring on the glitter!
Laura Bennett is a mid-fifties mom of Birdie and Wren, and adopted mom to their best friends and spouses. She runs her own business and does everything to take care of everyone else. She is sassy, sweet, outspoken, and still feels young. But she does not believe in love or relationships and just tends to hook up with young guys with no expectations, but she is also starting to feel lonely.
Dean Campbell is Palmer's black sheep uncle who literally rolls into town on his Harley for the wedding. He is in his late fifties, scruffy, edgy, sarcastic, and known to be grumpy and antisocial. But he is enamored of Laura as soon as he sees her...not the perfect version he has always heard about, but the real woman. He finds himself hunting her out, eavesdropping at inopportune times, volunteering to help her, and finding excuses just to be around her. She lights up his possessive, jealous, and flirty sides.
They tussle, tease, and spar, but also laugh and smile more around each other. They both challenge and support each other, and their chemistry is out of control. A wedding fling sounds like a great idea. But now these two people who thought they were just fine being alone and did not believe in love for themselves are now feeling a bit out of their element.
This is a laugh-out-loud, sweet, hot love story with a bit older characters who thrive on not acting their age. But it is also about family, home, and a sense of community. This is a celebration of life and love with lots of laughter and shenanigans. I totally enjoyed being back on the island and hanging out with the "kids" and their spouses and seeing the more stuck-in-their-ruts Dean and Laura explore different sides of themselves. I was happy to see there will be another book coming in this wacky and fun island world.
April 18, 2022
If you are a romance fan, looking for a story featuring an older couple (50s), this is your story.
Why? Because Tara Sivec is probably one of the best to deliver a story that does not tone down the excitement just because the characters are up in years.
Having read all the previous books in the Summersweet Island series, I'm very familiar with Laura Bennett, the crazy mother to Wren and Birdie, who has shown a lack of a filter. So, I was eager to see her get her own story featuring a plus one, aka Dean Campbell.
As the island, and Laura, prepare for Birdie's wedding, Dean enters her life as one big distraction. He is literally everywhere, and while Laura can't seem to shake him, she desperately wants to climb him. HEY-YO!! (yes, I really just typed that, yikes!)
As the two struggle with their inner selves about whether it is worth pursuing a fling, the hormones take over and throw caution to the wind, with some steamy scenes. And I loved that the author added some humorous references to their aging bodies, while still making it sexy.
Overall, this was another LOL installment to the series and perfect "summer read" as the temps outside increase.
*An ARC was received for an honest review.
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Why? Because Tara Sivec is probably one of the best to deliver a story that does not tone down the excitement just because the characters are up in years.
Having read all the previous books in the Summersweet Island series, I'm very familiar with Laura Bennett, the crazy mother to Wren and Birdie, who has shown a lack of a filter. So, I was eager to see her get her own story featuring a plus one, aka Dean Campbell.
As the island, and Laura, prepare for Birdie's wedding, Dean enters her life as one big distraction. He is literally everywhere, and while Laura can't seem to shake him, she desperately wants to climb him. HEY-YO!! (yes, I really just typed that, yikes!)
As the two struggle with their inner selves about whether it is worth pursuing a fling, the hormones take over and throw caution to the wind, with some steamy scenes. And I loved that the author added some humorous references to their aging bodies, while still making it sexy.
Overall, this was another LOL installment to the series and perfect "summer read" as the temps outside increase.
*An ARC was received for an honest review.
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April 13, 2022
Welcome back to Summersweet Island, VA.
If you haven't read the previous three books, you are in for a treat (and you really do need to go back and read them!)
Whilst the previous books have been about the kids and finding their true loves, we are now focused on Wren and Birdie's mum Laura, whom we have met. She owns the ice cream stand and is mum to all - she adopts the strays and the friends of her daughters.
Gah, I loved it. I loved that we are reading about people in my age bracket or older. I loved that we are dealing with people who have been dealt crappy hands in the past and are now living their best lives. I love how they are still so young at heart.
I freaking love Uncle Dean (every time I read Dean I thought of Dean Winchester, which made me think of Uncle Dean as Papa Winchester, Jeffrey Dean Morgan).
It was wonderful to get more of the couples I have loved in the past (and thankfully, Bodhi and Tess were a lot tamer in this book than they have in the past - they kinda annoyed me before. This time the just made me laugh).
I want to go get Summersweeted on Summersweet Island - who is coming to join me?
If you haven't read the previous three books, you are in for a treat (and you really do need to go back and read them!)
Whilst the previous books have been about the kids and finding their true loves, we are now focused on Wren and Birdie's mum Laura, whom we have met. She owns the ice cream stand and is mum to all - she adopts the strays and the friends of her daughters.
Gah, I loved it. I loved that we are reading about people in my age bracket or older. I loved that we are dealing with people who have been dealt crappy hands in the past and are now living their best lives. I love how they are still so young at heart.
I freaking love Uncle Dean (every time I read Dean I thought of Dean Winchester, which made me think of Uncle Dean as Papa Winchester, Jeffrey Dean Morgan).
It was wonderful to get more of the couples I have loved in the past (and thankfully, Bodhi and Tess were a lot tamer in this book than they have in the past - they kinda annoyed me before. This time the just made me laugh).
I want to go get Summersweeted on Summersweet Island - who is coming to join me?
April 15, 2022
Tara Sivec is one of my absolute favorite romance authors and it was SO good to be back in Summersweet Island! If you haven’t read this series it’s a must, I’ve adored every single book and will keep reading more as long as the author keeps writing them.
This one follows Laura, who has featured in most of the books and I loved that she was older than what you usually see in most romances. She’s at such a freeing place in her life and she has no more fucks to give and her relationship with Dean was not only sexy and sweet, it was refreshing. This was also super funny, I actually laugh out loud every time I read one of these books and a couple scenes had me damn near cry laughing. And if you’re a fan of this series you get plenty of time with past favorites and they’re every bit as ridiculous and hilarious as ever. Overall this was the best, I couldn’t get enough and highly recommend it!
April 29, 2022
This one was ok for me. Part of it was Laura, you would think a woman in her 50's wouldn't act the way she did around Dean, like a pre-teen girl just discovering boys. That got old fast. I was glad to see the wedding and other events with the group. Even at the end, was glad things worked out between Laura and Dean.
April 26, 2022
Best book in the series. Absolutely loved Dean and his Plus One. Tears and laughter throughout. My favorite line, even though there are a ton of them is:
“Don’t knock up our mom!”
“Don’t knock up our mom!”
April 25, 2022
4.5 stars
Laura Bennett is the natural caretaker of the group of characters we’ve followed on Summersweet Island. She spent most of her daughters’ lives as a single mom, taking care of not only her own children, but any of their friends who needed the help, and running a business at the same time. Now that her girls are all grown up and on their way to starting their own families, Laura feels the loneliness creeping in (but not entirely, because now she has even more people to look out for as her family expands).
Dean Campbell hasn’t been close with anyone in his family except for his nephew, Palmer. He shows up to Palmer’s wedding at the last minute and finds himself caught in a whirlwind he wasn’t expecting: Laura Bennett and Summersweet Island in general. He has generally been a loner, traveling extensively for work and rarely staying in one place for long. But as he gets to know the real Laura (not the perfect version his nephew has told him stories of), he finds himself wondering if he could make a home on Summersweet.
It doesn’t take long for these two to find sparks, and soon, getting under Laura’s skin is Dean’s favorite thing to do. With the chaos of the days leading up to the wedding: final preparations and all the daily activities planned for the out of town guests, this quickly turns into a recipe for hilarity and heart.
I loved the way Dean slipped into Laura’s crazy routine. So much fell onto her shoulders (or she offered to pick up) that it’s no wonder she was feeling out of sorts. Watching him step up to help so she could keep doing the things she loved and maybe have a moment of peace here and there was where I fell in love with Dean completely.
They are surrounded by the “children” (who are technically adults even if they don’t always act like it) and grandchildren (who are actually children), and regularly find themselves leaning in to support their families with situations that extend beyond just the two of them in a way that makes this series feel like family, more than just those who are tied by blood. (And boy can this family find themselves in some crazy situations.)
In true Tara Sivec fashion, this book is full of outrageous one-liners, hilarious antics, and a group of characters who keep everyone around them on their toes with hijinks and mayhem. Returning to Summersweet Island is always entertaining and I cannot wait for more.
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Laura Bennett is the natural caretaker of the group of characters we’ve followed on Summersweet Island. She spent most of her daughters’ lives as a single mom, taking care of not only her own children, but any of their friends who needed the help, and running a business at the same time. Now that her girls are all grown up and on their way to starting their own families, Laura feels the loneliness creeping in (but not entirely, because now she has even more people to look out for as her family expands).
Dean Campbell hasn’t been close with anyone in his family except for his nephew, Palmer. He shows up to Palmer’s wedding at the last minute and finds himself caught in a whirlwind he wasn’t expecting: Laura Bennett and Summersweet Island in general. He has generally been a loner, traveling extensively for work and rarely staying in one place for long. But as he gets to know the real Laura (not the perfect version his nephew has told him stories of), he finds himself wondering if he could make a home on Summersweet.
It doesn’t take long for these two to find sparks, and soon, getting under Laura’s skin is Dean’s favorite thing to do. With the chaos of the days leading up to the wedding: final preparations and all the daily activities planned for the out of town guests, this quickly turns into a recipe for hilarity and heart.
I loved the way Dean slipped into Laura’s crazy routine. So much fell onto her shoulders (or she offered to pick up) that it’s no wonder she was feeling out of sorts. Watching him step up to help so she could keep doing the things she loved and maybe have a moment of peace here and there was where I fell in love with Dean completely.
They are surrounded by the “children” (who are technically adults even if they don’t always act like it) and grandchildren (who are actually children), and regularly find themselves leaning in to support their families with situations that extend beyond just the two of them in a way that makes this series feel like family, more than just those who are tied by blood. (And boy can this family find themselves in some crazy situations.)
In true Tara Sivec fashion, this book is full of outrageous one-liners, hilarious antics, and a group of characters who keep everyone around them on their toes with hijinks and mayhem. Returning to Summersweet Island is always entertaining and I cannot wait for more.
April 13, 2022
Published: April 25, 2022
Tara Sivec
Genre: Romantic Comedy
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Tara Sivec is a USA Today best-selling author, wife, mother, chauffeur, maid, short-order cook, baby-sitter, and sarcasm expert. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children and looks forward to the day when all three of them become adults and move out. She writes in a wide range of genres, including Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy/Mystery, Romantic Suspense, New Adult Drama, Contemporary Romance, and Psychological Thriller. Her novel Seduction and Snacks won first place in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book, and she was voted Best Indie Author in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2014. In her spare time, Tara loves to dream about all of the baking she'll do and naps she'll take when she ever gets spare time.
“I’ve never been so turned on and so pissed off in my entire life.”
Laura is still running the show, helping keep all of her kids (the two she birthed and those she’s collected) in line. Preparing for Birdie and Palmer’s wedding means family and friends flocking to the island and a panicked bride. Laura handles it all with ease until a pair of motorcycle boots come strutting into her life.
OH, MY HEART. I think I spent the majority of this book with a goofy smile on my face because it’s just so freaking sweet.
I loved this book. Laura has always been a great character, and it was great that she finally got her story. And all of our favorites were here! I could have used more Tess; I digress.
This was such a hilarious book. This is my favorite so far- I laughed out loud several times. Tara has outdone herself with the humor, sass, emotions, and love.
I have so much appreciation for several of the things Tara wrote about in this book. Laura is an older woman, and her body is changing, and things were discussed with such normalcy and without judgment.
Dean also had some things addressed that were just accepted. No shame, no blame, no jokes. I loved seeing the natural things that happen to our bodies as we age handled with such respect.
This was such a perfect installation in this series. There was so much humor, emotion, love, and Bodhi. I am ready for the next book, Sivec!
Tara Sivec
Genre: Romantic Comedy
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Tara Sivec is a USA Today best-selling author, wife, mother, chauffeur, maid, short-order cook, baby-sitter, and sarcasm expert. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children and looks forward to the day when all three of them become adults and move out. She writes in a wide range of genres, including Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy/Mystery, Romantic Suspense, New Adult Drama, Contemporary Romance, and Psychological Thriller. Her novel Seduction and Snacks won first place in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book, and she was voted Best Indie Author in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2014. In her spare time, Tara loves to dream about all of the baking she'll do and naps she'll take when she ever gets spare time.
“I’ve never been so turned on and so pissed off in my entire life.”
Laura is still running the show, helping keep all of her kids (the two she birthed and those she’s collected) in line. Preparing for Birdie and Palmer’s wedding means family and friends flocking to the island and a panicked bride. Laura handles it all with ease until a pair of motorcycle boots come strutting into her life.
OH, MY HEART. I think I spent the majority of this book with a goofy smile on my face because it’s just so freaking sweet.
I loved this book. Laura has always been a great character, and it was great that she finally got her story. And all of our favorites were here! I could have used more Tess; I digress.
This was such a hilarious book. This is my favorite so far- I laughed out loud several times. Tara has outdone herself with the humor, sass, emotions, and love.
I have so much appreciation for several of the things Tara wrote about in this book. Laura is an older woman, and her body is changing, and things were discussed with such normalcy and without judgment.
Dean also had some things addressed that were just accepted. No shame, no blame, no jokes. I loved seeing the natural things that happen to our bodies as we age handled with such respect.
This was such a perfect installation in this series. There was so much humor, emotion, love, and Bodhi. I am ready for the next book, Sivec!
April 29, 2022
When you read this romcom you can't deny laughing out loud, having a smile on your face the whole book and simply enjoy a good romance with lots of banter and sarcastic comments. Dean and Laura's story is all that and more, you will find a sweet romance story with fantastic characters and a plot to keep you entertained.
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April 14, 2022
I still haven’t figured out the Enigma that is Tara Sivec and how she can make you laugh tears, cry tears, and somehow hate tears into her stories. With This Fling is no exception.
The menopausal (spot on pre menopausal descriptions..ugh hot flashes are no joke) fiercely independent, over worked Laura finds the perfect match in the hot biker loner Uncle Dean. Their chemistry is blazing from the moment they meet- crikcut skills and glitter included. The banter between the two will have you choking on rice. Seriously, it happened. Choking hazard. And did I mention the spice! Ohhh my.. Uncle Dean. Or well Daddy Dean will not disappoint.
Tara is the Queen of Romcoms!
The menopausal (spot on pre menopausal descriptions..ugh hot flashes are no joke) fiercely independent, over worked Laura finds the perfect match in the hot biker loner Uncle Dean. Their chemistry is blazing from the moment they meet- crikcut skills and glitter included. The banter between the two will have you choking on rice. Seriously, it happened. Choking hazard. And did I mention the spice! Ohhh my.. Uncle Dean. Or well Daddy Dean will not disappoint.
Tara is the Queen of Romcoms!
April 26, 2022
Laura and Dean were so much fun! Palmer's "Uncle Dean" has arrived in Summersweet Island for Palmer and Birdie's wedding and sparks are FLYYYYING between him and Laura. I am so glad she got her story, she deserved one. This in general is such a fun series, the gang is amazing and hilarious. Laura doesn't usually date anyone her age or older, she's a always dated men younger than herself, but there is just something about Dean that makes her feel alllll. Cast of characters were great, we even get to see Murphy, always funny. Definitely recommend reading the rest of the series, it would make it sooooo much more enjoyable and laughs galore!
February 13, 2024
Fun?
There's so much that's problematic about the way Tara Sivec thinks but I somehow shotgun her books. The thinking is very old school (telling a woman in her 50s she needs to find someone "age appropriate" instead of the younger men she usually hooks up with; the zero respect for a woman telling you she doesn't want kids bc of course she wants kids, she just hasn't met the right man yet; the idea that a brand new partner knows your sexual needs better than you do) but I somehow find these books easy to read if I just turn my brain off for the duration? Idk I have a lot of reflecting to do 😂
There's so much that's problematic about the way Tara Sivec thinks but I somehow shotgun her books. The thinking is very old school (telling a woman in her 50s she needs to find someone "age appropriate" instead of the younger men she usually hooks up with; the zero respect for a woman telling you she doesn't want kids bc of course she wants kids, she just hasn't met the right man yet; the idea that a brand new partner knows your sexual needs better than you do) but I somehow find these books easy to read if I just turn my brain off for the duration? Idk I have a lot of reflecting to do 😂
September 28, 2022
My fave book in the series (so far)
Laura Bennett, 50-something mom and owner of the Dip and Twist, finally gets her happy ending.
But her Prince Charming rides a Harley, has armloads of tattoos, and can read cursive.
Gasp!
A slightly older man!
This is my favorite Summersweet Island book yet.
Over-50 couple
Forced proximity
He falls first
Spice
And so many laughs.
If you like spicy romantic comedies with an older couple, get this book.
Laura Bennett, 50-something mom and owner of the Dip and Twist, finally gets her happy ending.
But her Prince Charming rides a Harley, has armloads of tattoos, and can read cursive.
Gasp!
A slightly older man!
This is my favorite Summersweet Island book yet.
Over-50 couple
Forced proximity
He falls first
Spice
And so many laughs.
If you like spicy romantic comedies with an older couple, get this book.
November 26, 2022
I think this might be my favorite book of 2022…if not #1, definitely in my top 3.
I absolutely cannot get enough of the Summersweet Island crew, and I laughed so hard I cried more than once while reading this book.
I pretty much knew what to expect, but I did have a few moments where I wasn’t sure how it was going to end, and I loved that about this book.
I absolutely cannot get enough of the Summersweet Island crew, and I laughed so hard I cried more than once while reading this book.
I pretty much knew what to expect, but I did have a few moments where I wasn’t sure how it was going to end, and I loved that about this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2022
4.5/5 (rounded up) – Book #5 of Summersweet Island; Available on Kindle Unlimited.
UGH I loveee this series! The characters are all HILARIOUS, and the spice is good as well! Im excited there is another book to this series because I love the word, the characters relationships, and all of the connections between all the love stories. This book we get the two main girls mom finally getting her love story while her daughter is about to be married.
Brief Plot: As Laura prepares for her younger daughter’s wedding, she is match made with the groom’s HOT uncle Dean. As Laura handles chaotic event after the other, Dean is drawn to both her, as well as helping out the entire bridal party gang. He’s left working on proving to Laura he is more than a vacationer, and wants to earn his place on the Island, and Laura’s heart.
UGH I loveee this series! The characters are all HILARIOUS, and the spice is good as well! Im excited there is another book to this series because I love the word, the characters relationships, and all of the connections between all the love stories. This book we get the two main girls mom finally getting her love story while her daughter is about to be married.
Brief Plot: As Laura prepares for her younger daughter’s wedding, she is match made with the groom’s HOT uncle Dean. As Laura handles chaotic event after the other, Dean is drawn to both her, as well as helping out the entire bridal party gang. He’s left working on proving to Laura he is more than a vacationer, and wants to earn his place on the Island, and Laura’s heart.
July 16, 2022
4.5 stars
This was not a book that I went into for the romance aspect of it. Instead, I was wanting to see more of the main characters and how this marriage between Birdie and Palmer was going to go. It quickly became so much more than that. I loved Dean and Laura. It was refreshing to see characters in my age range. I liked that the author made it obvious and natural that age doesn't deter sexual chemistry. The banter/text messages were great again. This authors ability to get a pun in her banter while making it with equal parts sass and snark is on a WHOLE other level.
I'm glad I took the chance on this book.
This was not a book that I went into for the romance aspect of it. Instead, I was wanting to see more of the main characters and how this marriage between Birdie and Palmer was going to go. It quickly became so much more than that. I loved Dean and Laura. It was refreshing to see characters in my age range. I liked that the author made it obvious and natural that age doesn't deter sexual chemistry. The banter/text messages were great again. This authors ability to get a pun in her banter while making it with equal parts sass and snark is on a WHOLE other level.
I'm glad I took the chance on this book.
January 22, 2023
I just want to live on this island and be friends with all these people. I’m down to hang for a sip and bitch.
April 24, 2022
I have to admit that I was late in reading this series. But when I was graciously given an ARC for an honest review, well I can't read a series out of order. So I have binge read this whole series in one week.
Series review:
I have always been a Chocolate Lovers series devoted fan, but this series comes in a very close second. Especially with the cameo of Millie from a Christmas Cliché (a must read for all Tara Sivec fans). I feel like I identify most with Tess, and admittedly I've dated a few Bodhi's in my life. This whole cast of characters is hilarious, my favorite dialogue are the text messages. Somehow that just makes it so much more laughing with tears funnier.
With This Fling review:
But for With This Fling, as I'm around the age of Laura, I would like to believe that there is hope for all of us stubborn, do it ourselves women, who could still find our HEA. Great couple, Dean just somehow melts right in to the crazy cast of characters and doesn't even blink with their insanity.
Series review:
I have always been a Chocolate Lovers series devoted fan, but this series comes in a very close second. Especially with the cameo of Millie from a Christmas Cliché (a must read for all Tara Sivec fans). I feel like I identify most with Tess, and admittedly I've dated a few Bodhi's in my life. This whole cast of characters is hilarious, my favorite dialogue are the text messages. Somehow that just makes it so much more laughing with tears funnier.
With This Fling review:
But for With This Fling, as I'm around the age of Laura, I would like to believe that there is hope for all of us stubborn, do it ourselves women, who could still find our HEA. Great couple, Dean just somehow melts right in to the crazy cast of characters and doesn't even blink with their insanity.
April 25, 2022
Oh... come on! If you don't find this book exciting and funny, we can't be friends! This is my favorite book in this series so far! Mr. Grumpy Daddy Uncle... Need I say more?
Sivec hit this one out of the park. I laughed so much. When I wasn't laughing, I was giggling. Her wit and imagination know no bounds. Am I right?
I thought for sure this series was done after that last book, but alas, Sivec found a way to keep this series going with lots of fun, hijinks, and laughter. I can't sing this book enough praises!
Sivec hit this one out of the park. I laughed so much. When I wasn't laughing, I was giggling. Her wit and imagination know no bounds. Am I right?
I thought for sure this series was done after that last book, but alas, Sivec found a way to keep this series going with lots of fun, hijinks, and laughter. I can't sing this book enough praises!
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