Tag: Summer Reading

ECONOGAL > Summer Reading

One Golden Summer Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

Perfect Summer Read

Until reading the author’s note at the end of One Golden Summer, I did not realize the novel was a sequel. Mostly because this is the first Carley Fortune book I have read. She is good. Very good. And I really enjoyed the romance between Charlie and Alice.

Alice Everly

Alice is a professional photographer working her way past a devastating break-up. She’s worked 9 days straight when the call comes in regarding her grandmother’s fall and subsequent hip replacement. She immediately clears her calendar. That is Alice.

With her gran, Nan, down in spirit, Alice decides a summer at the lake would be the perfect tonic for both Everly’s. Alice hasn’t been in over a decade. She was a shy self-conscious seventeen-year-old on her last visit. But it was a summer that changed her life. Good memories remain of that one golden summer at Barry’s Bay.

Charlie Florek

Charlie is enigmatic. A charming flirt. A successful businessman. And a man of depth. Charlie grew up in the area, indeed he was one of three teenagers Alice used to watch from across the bay. Furthermore, he figures in her first great photo. The first she sold and the one that remains close to her heart.

But Charlie is battling demons and loss from his past. He needs friendship. Perhaps even more.

While others see the spark between the two, Alica and Charlie each fight the attraction for their own reason. But attraction wins out.

One Golden Summer

The two lovers have much in common. Foremost is the ties to family. Both Alice and Charlie support their families. Then, when they are at crosshairs, their families return the favor. As in most romances, the couple split for a while before reuniting. Each more in love than before but stronger as individuals. And a better understanding of each other.

Recommendation for One Golden Summer

I enjoyed this summer read. If you have a free day, you may even finish it in one sitting. The romance is spicy, but not too hot and the characters truly fit together. Carley Fortune is one to add to your list, if the Canadian writer isn’t already on your radar. She is now on mine, and I look forward to her next novel.

Summer In The City Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

Red-Hot Romance

Alex Aster’s 2025 Summer In The City is a red-hot romance with enough steam coming off the pages to fuel a locomotive. Reminiscent of the Harlequin Romances I read in college, the novel delivers attraction, passion and angst for the star-crossed lovers. Aster’s writing brought both tears and smiles to this reader. So, all the markings of a good book.

Protagonist Elle

Elle is a very successful screenwriter with a hidden identity. She is up against a deadline to produce a script centered around New York City. But her last stay there ended on a bad note. Because her instant attraction to Parker Warren was spurned by his “I can buy anything” billionaire attitude. She hopes to never run into him again.

However, Elle returns to the city hoping to break her writer’s block with free rent in exchange for overseeing a remodeling job. As luck would have it, (or perhaps bad luck) Mr. Warren lives across the hall.

Summer In The City Plot

With a case of opposites attracting, Elle and Parker try to ignore the tension. Furthermore, each needs the other for business reasons. So, they agree to “see” each other just for the summer.

Parker tries to ferret out her true identity and Elle fiercely protects her anonymity. All the while slowly falling for each other. Finally, they run into someone who knows, really knows Elle and her story tumbles out. Parker falls more in love than ever. And like a true romance-blows his opportunity.

Summer In The City Recommendation

I enjoyed Alex Aster’s love story and found her characters compelling. The romance is real as is the angst when things don’t work out right away. Aster keeps the reader hoping for a happy ending and then delivers. This was a library checkout, but between the title, the map highlighting NYC on the inside cover and the blurb on the cover, it could have been an easy buy if I first spotted it in a bookstore. It is a spicy love story with explicit scenes so I would label this for adult eyes only.

Summers at the Saint Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

Summer Read

Mary Kay Andrews’ Summers at The Saint is an outstanding whodunnit just in time for summer reading. The veteran writer delivers once again with surprising plot twists, heartwarming characters and unexpected victims. So, if you need a good vacation read, find a copy of this page-turner.

The Saint is a family-owned resort along the Atlantic seaboard. The current general manager, Traci Eddings is the widow of Hoke Eddings. Since she grew up as an “Ain’t” and not a member of the high society social class frequenting The Saint, Eddings faces hostility from other members of the family. Except for her niece Parrish. The two are close allies.

Traci Eddings- Protagonist of Summers at The Saint

Widowed and childless, Traci Eddings is very close to Parrish. The younger Eddings never bonded with her stepmother and her birth mom has been missing from the scene for most of her life. So, the two women teaming up to stave off the red ink of operating the resort makes good business sense.

However, the financial woes stem from malfeasance. Thus, danger lurks for the two women and death strikes at The Saint resort once again. Traci’s memories of a tragic drowning from her first summer at the resort provide backdrop and a parallel story line. And secondary characters link the two plots.

Good vs. Evil in Summers at the Saint

Summers at The Saint presents a story of good versus evil. The many supporting characters are divided along this line in the sand. Furthermore, there are varying degrees of wrongdoing. And when tragedy strikes, characters on both sides of the spectrum suffer.

Since the story is contemporary in nature, drug use is a key factor in the storyline. However, embezzlement is at the core of the disastrous happenings occurring at the resort. Fortunately for Traci Eddings, new hires provide evidence of the misdeeds.

Wicked Good Twist

I truly enjoy a mystery containing an unexpected plot twist. Summers at The Saint is such a book. Perhaps other readers will have guessed how the past and present are linked. But, I did not. Andrews masterfully presents a plausible, yet unforeseen, turn-of-event melding the plot and the actions of the characters.

Furthermore, the character of Traci Eddings moves past death and grasps the hope of the future. A lesson for all seeking happiness. Summers at The Saint may make you cry, but the end is a “feel good” and full of positivity. This is great summer reading.