Summer Loving
Ashleigh is a high school math teacher who lives with her parents. She’s been divorced from her wife for a few years now and her ex has moved on with a man. Ashleigh isn’t in love with Regan anymore, and hasn’t been for quite a long time, but she still feels hurt and betrayed (even though Regan never cheated) and lost. She has decided to spend the summer doing the touristy things in her home of NYC, doing all those things that she’s never done or wants to do again. She’s asked her friend Liam to go with her but he is busy with his new bar. Kellan is Liam’s Army friend and one of his closest friends. She lives in Colorado but she is in Brooklyn for the summer house and cat sitting for her Aunt. She too asked Liam to show her around when he has time but he has a better idea and the next thing you know, he’s roped Ashleigh into the task. As the summer progresses their friendship deepens until it’s something more. The question is, will this summer fling turn into something more???

This was a good book. As anyone who knows me will tell you, NYC is one of the last places in the USA that I would want to be but this book actually made it sound… well, (SHHH) fun… Who knew? Anyway, I really liked Kellan and Ashleigh, though a bit neurotic, wasn’t too bad either. She kind of grows on you but I really didn’t get all the angst in her responses to even seeing Regan. The story was entertaining. There was a lot more to it than just the city, they spent a lot of time in their neighbourhoods too. I liked the slower burn build up to them becoming a couple and I liked the relationships between the friends as well. Blue, the cat stole the show in my opinion, not that he had a big role, I just love cuddly, adorable cats lol! Actually, the parts right before the epilogue was my favourite because it was just so perfect. I did love the follow up at the end because it tied everything together nicely and neatly.

so much fun...i loved exploring New York through this story...as someone who has never been it was a fun part of the experience. The relationship is flirty, funny, and sexy. A must read from Maggie Cummings

This books was a perfect example of romance without all the frills and spectacles. Just a good story with enjoyable main characters, plausible storyline and a realistic development of the relationship. So don't expect big plot twists in this story about Kellan and Ashleigh, but do yourself a favor and laze around on the couch (or beach, or balcony or wherever) and enjoy this sweet story against the background of summer in New York.

I RECEIVED AN ARC COPY OF THE BOOK FROM THE PUBLISHER AND VOLUNTARILY LEAVING MY REVIEW.

KELLAN IS AN EX SOLDIER WHO LIVES IN COLORADO BUT SPENDS THE SUMMER IN NEW YORK CAT SITTING FOR HER AUNT.

ASHLEIGH LIVES IN NEW YORK WITH HER PARENTS AND GRANDMOTHER. SHE IS A MATH TEACHER AND STRUGGLING TO GET OVER A DIVORCE AFTER BEING MARRIED FOR TWELVE YEARS.

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS STORY. KELLAN IS A HOT BUTCH THAT EVEN I FELL IN LOVE WITH AND I WOULD PERSONALLY GO FOR A FEMME BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR KELLAN. SHE IS MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER FROM THE TWO MC'S. I ENJOYED THE STORY LINE. I FELT LIKE I WAS GETTING A TOUR OF NEW YORK CITY WITH KELLAN WHEN SHE WAS VISITING DIFFERENT PLACES OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER. FOR THE STORY THE PACE WAS JUST RIGHT, SOME HOT SEX SCENES. THERE WAS A GREAT BUNCH OF SECONDARY CHARACTERS (I ESPECIALLY LOVED ASHLEIGH'S GRANDMOTHER, SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS).

ALL IN ALL IT WAS A GREAT READ AND ONE THAT I COULD RE-READ OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GIVING IT A READ.

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This was a great read! I loved the characters and their connection was amazing. I was very confused with all the hints about Dara, and the secret was built up so much that the conclusion was very obvious. I did want to know more about Reagan as the whole ex-wife who Ashleigh was obsessing over for a while. The interactions with Reagan and Ashleigh made me want to know more about them. Over all Kellan and Ashleigh were perfect and this was a great romantic read.

Ashleigh is a teacher who has been divorced (from a woman) for about a year. She's off for the summer from school and wants to explore her hometown, New York City (and what surrounds it) like she hasn't before. First she thinks she'll be doing it with her friend Liam, but, he's setting up his new bar, and so he suggest that Kellan, his friend and fellow soldier, newly retired, accompany Ashleigh instead. Kellan is just retired from the Army and house sitting for her Aunt in New York City.

They do start exploring together and very fast find themselves liking each other in a more than friend way. But, Ashleigh is still recovering from her divorce, and Kellan, whew, Kellan has a heck of a secret too.

I liked the beginning and middle of the book a lot. (Except for a two to three page rambling about the gender identity of Kellan that added nothing to the story and yanked me hard, very hard, out of the narrative. It was a such a nice build up through the beginning and middle.

But, then there was the end of the novel. I could barely get through reading the end of it. The choices the character made just didn't seem right. Why does it always seem like in some of these lesfic books there is one character that has to be wrong, wrong, wrong (even if they're 80% justified to be pissed, or angry, or sat, or whatever)? The one character doesn't get given room to be whatever their feelings are, and instead has to suck it up and take the 'I'm the bad guy' flaming letter on their chest, and then beg forgiveness from the 'perfect' one. It drives me entirely nutty.

So, first 2/3rds of the book, 4 stars. Last 1/3 of the book, 1 star. Even it out to 3 stars.

I was given this ARC by Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Ashleigh is still hurting over her divorce from her ex wife Reagan of seventeen years. To make matters worst she runs into her and her boyfriend Josh at every turn. Ashleigh decide to do tourist attractions she haven't had time to do in Brooklyn.

Kellan just got out the army when she volunteer to babysit her Aunt Holly cat Blue while she away. Kellan also decide to do it because she wants to reconnect with an old friend in Brooklyn that she kinda had a falling out with.

Ashleigh and Kellan meet when they have friend in comma Liam who was in the army with Kellan suggest Ashleigh show her around since he can't because he just open a restaurant.

I like Ashleigh and Kellan because they got to know each other even though Kellan was holding back before they got together.

As they decide to keep it as a summer fling theirs feelings start to become more deeper but when Kellan didn't confide in Ashleigh about the fall out she had with her bestfriend Dara it almost ruin their relationship. Even though I thought Ashleigh blew it out of portion about Kellan secret about Dara I'm happy they got their happy ending.

Brooklyn Summer details the life of Ashleigh McAllister, whose ex dumped her for a guy, and she routinely sees the couple in their small Brooklyn neighborhood. During summer break from teaching math, Ashleigh meets hot butch Kellan Dwyer at the bar/restaurant of a mutual friend of Ashleigh's and Kellan's named Liam. Kellan is in Brooklyn to apartment and cat sit for her Aunt for the summer. Ashleigh has sworn off dating from a rather tumultuous divorce but Kellan definitely catches her attention. Liam volunteers Ashleigh to show Kellan around the city during Ashleigh's teaching break. Ashleigh has a master schedule planned full of sightseeing and Kellan joins her on this adventure. Slowly they begin to grow closer.

I really enjoyed this butch/femme story filled with adventurous sightseeing, hot nights with delicious sex scenes, and some backstory angst. The heartfelt conversations between Ashleigh and Kellan really helped solidify their relationship before their physical relationship kicked off.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Book and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As Ashleigh Mcallister is struggling to get over her 12 year marriage, her friend introduces her to ex-soldier Kellan Dwyer who has travelled from Colorado to apartment-sit. They have a lovely time enjoying New York sights and each other until Kellan’s secret lands like a bomb between them.

This is my first time reading romance from a gay/lesbian perspective. I will not pretend to be knowledgeable about it but found it an interesting read. Universal elements in this story I think might be relevant for any gender, as the plot is about development and change of relationships. About what fears and insecurities might come into play when we try to be in a relationship.

Ashley is weary of dating following her divorce, but she still manages to open up to Kellan. She knows she will leave after the summer so she starts off guarding her heart, pretending this is just a pleasant summer fling. Kellan helps Ashley move through the hurt feelings from her divorce and gradually starts to trust her more and share her innermost feelings. Kellan, on the other hand, seems to be under sharing which comes back to haunt them both later in the plot.

Of all the characters in this story, I think Ashley’s 80 year old grandma was my favorite. She is important in the story’s first part as Ashley’s sounding board and confidant. The energetic and young-at-heart grandma is a great support for Ashley with her sharp comments and good advice while they walk to the Day Centre together. I found it endearing and funny that she is computer literate and gets information from a day centre friend’s Instagram account.

This story felt sweet and easy with a summer vibe to it, which would make a great holiday read. For anyone tempted to go to New York, there is a nice collection of sights described. I’m sure fans of Maggie Cummings’ other work would appreciate this new installment, as well as readers of gay/lesbian romance.

Thank you to publisher Bold Strokes via NetGalley for this eARC in return for my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
My rating: 4 stars / 5

Ashleigh, 37, was recently divorced from Reagan after being in a relationship with her for 17 years, married for 12. Kellan, 38, recently retired from the Army. Originally from Colorado, she was only in DUMBO for the summer house sitting for her aunt and taking care of her aunt’s cat. Since Kellan wanted to see some NYC sites, Liam, a mutual friend, suggested Ashleigh become her tour guide since she was going sightseeing anyway during her summer break from teaching. The women enjoyed each other’s company and felt a realness to their relationship. Since Ashleigh’s only relationship was with her ex wife, she really didn’t want a summer fling but after some deliberation decided to fully embrace the time she had with Kellan.

Even though the women declared their love for each other in a rather short period of time, it seemed right. I think this was because the time they spent with each, almost everyday and from morning til night, they had in-depth conversations about life, love…expectations. They had heartfelt conversations about past relationships to gender identity to the collapse of Ashleigh’s marriage to her feelings of insignificance with regard to her ex-wife and boyfriend. They listened and supported each other. They spoke from the heart.

With that being said, the only problem I had with the story was actually Kellan’s non disclosure about a major event from her past to Ashleigh. This was the angst moment and it really didn’t feel right. The not telling part didn’t seem to fit with Kellan’s whole persona, especially since later on Kellan actually did tell someone. This part left me with too many questions as well as how it was resolved.

Aside from that, I did think Maggie Cummings did a great job with the setting, highlighting the specialness of Brooklyn and its surrounding areas. I’m familiar with those areas. If I was a tourist I would definitely want to check out those spots based on her descriptions…and the axe throwing bar is actually quite safe and fun.

Overall, it was an entertaining read.

A delicious butch/femme story, Brooklyn Summer captures summer in New York with the budding romance between Kellan and Ashleigh. Their romance builds over fun summer days exploring the city while getting to know each other after meeting through a mutual friend. Their dialogue flows beautifully and it's wonderful to watch their friendship build as well as their romance. The conflict of the story had me sobbing but it made their HEA so worth it in the end.

I like this book. I was looking for a nice light read after a couple of emotional heavy hitters and this book hit the spot. I am a sucker for butch femme storylines. I appreciated the gender conversation and that it touched on what was necessary but didn't turn into a TED talk. I enjoyed the light summer romance and the well written sex scenes. Sometimes it felt like Ashleigh was emotionally younger than her 38 years but her history explains some of that stunting. There wasn't much I didn't like until the conflict near the ending. I just wanted to scream "shut up and let her talk!" It was dramatic enough that I was concerned that this might end up as ONLY a summer fling. This is a HEA, happily, so crisis averted. I guess the fact that I cared enough to be bothered near the end shows how much I bonded to the characters and became invested in their outcome. This book is a thumbs up for me.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'd like to say this is a slow burn, but that's not entirely true. Ashleigh and Kellan fall in love rather fast. I guess it would be more accurate to say the pacing is rather languid.

Ashleigh's thirty-eight and living at home with her mom, dad, and grandma. Her mom cuts her sandwiches, her dad folds her laundry, and she has to race home from a date because they might be worried about her. Some might find that cute, others not so much.

Kellan is butch, and the reader isn't allowed to forget it. Early in the book I almost stopped reading when the dialogue went on for too long about what she should be called. Maybe it's a conversation people in butch/femme relationships have, but it annoyed me. It changed a book about two women fall in love to the labels they put on themselves.

Moving on, this story follows the two leads as they get to know each other over the summer. Around the 90% mark what seems to be the pre-required conflict in lesfic rears its ugly head and we all know how it goes after that. Everyone lives happily ever after.

In summary, I'm sure this is a story many fans of Maggie Cummings will relish.