The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis – Review & Giveaway
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Description:
Brynn Turner desperately wishes she had it together, but her personal life is like a ping-pong match that’s left her scared and hurt after so many attempts to get it right. In search of a place to lick her wounds and get a fresh start, she heads back home to Wildstone.
And then there’s Kinsey Davis, who after battling serious health issues her entire twenty-nine years of life, is tired of hoping for . . . well, anything. She’s fierce, tough, and pretty much the opposite of Brynn except for one thing: they’re half-sisters. Kinsey is keeping this bombshell, and a few others as well. Long time frenemies from summer camp, there’s no way she’s going to tell Brynn they’re related.
But then Brynn runs into Kinsey’s lifelong best friend, Eli, renewing a childhood crush. He’s still easy-going and funny and sexy as hell. When he gets her to agree to a summer-time deal to trust him to do right by her, no matter what, she never dreams it’ll result in finding a piece of herself she didn’t even know was missing. She could have a sister, love, and a future―if she can only learn to let go of the past.
As the long days of summer wind down, the three of them must discover if forgiveness is enough to grasp the unconditional love that’s right in front of them
Review:
The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis is the 5th book in her wonderful Wildstone series. As noted on previous occasions, I love reading Jill Shalvis’s books, as she is the best at pure romances. We meet our heroine, Brynn Turner, who returns home to Wildstone, after her boyfriend left her and took everything she owned (money, valuables, apartment lease, etc). Brynn considers herself a loser, always picking the wrong guy. She returns to her two moms, doing her best to not reveal how bad shape she was in. When she has an anxiety attack trying to explain her predicament, she is rushed to the hospital, but not for long. As she leaves to runs into an old friend, whom she had a crush on as a teenager.
Eli Thomas, always had a slight crush on Brynn, but because he was part of the popular group in school, led by the mean girl Kinsey, he never got to first base with Brynn. Kinsey and Brynn were enemies at camp during their childhood days, with Brynn hating her. Life is about to change for all of them.
Kinsey Davis, continues to be Eli’s best friend, and once again he is there for her in the hospital. Kinsey has a failing kidney, and is currently on dialysis; and had been hoping for a kidney transplant, but it turned out not to be a match. Kinsey has had her issues since she was 15 years old, having received a kidney from a school mate, only for him to die shortly thereafter. She refuses to accept any kidney, unless it’s from a recently deceased person. Kinsey does have a secret, when investigating DNA’s, she discovered that Brynn had the same sperm donor father, and therefor she is her half-sister; but she is not about to tell Brynn that.
When Eli runs into Brynn the next day, he offers her a room to rent at his place, which in order to get away from her moms constant attention, she accepts. She meets Max, Eli’s brother and then to her shock learns that Kinsey also has a room there. At first Brynn leaves, but they will convince her to give it a chance.
The Summer Deal revolves around Brynn, Eli and Kinsey, as Eli tries hard to help them learn more about each other, in hope that Kinsey would tell Brynn the truth, and maybe save her own life in the process. The romance between Eli and Brynn was slow built, but we saw the chemistry between them quickly. Brynn had been hurt badly a number of times, and was hesitant to allow herself to fall for Eli. Very slowly, both Brynn and Kinsey learn to get past their old differences, and become friends; though when Kinsey reveals the truth about her condition, as well as they are half sisters, things fall apart. Brynn demands truths always, no secrets and they make up, and now Brynn is determined to be tested to help her sister; but Kinsey will not accept, for her fear of the donor dying again.
I loved all the characters in this story, and Shalvis usually creates wonderful ones, but she outdid herself in this book. Besides, Brynn, Kinsey, Eli, I loved Deck (Kinsey’s nurse boyfriend), Max, Toby, Brynn’s two moms. Most of all, I loved how Brynn and Kinsey became closer, and turn into true sisters, there for each other. Very well done.
The Summer Deal was a fantastic, intriguing, heartwarming story about family, tragedy, romance, forgiveness and love. Secrets will be revealed that will change the course of their lives. Though Brynn and Kinsey were difficult at times, I did care about both of them, as well as the rest of the other characters, especially Eli and Deck.
The Summer Deal was so well written by Jill Shalvis, which I always come to expect from her, as well as being very emotional. Shalvis pulls on our emotions throughout the book, which happily does have a HEA. I do not want to tell too much more, as this is one book you want to read from start to finish. If you have not read Jill Shalvis, what are you waiting for?
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website, www.jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Connect with Jill
Website: http://jillshalvis.com/
Facebook: @JillShalvis
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author
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Jill Shalvis’s publisher is offering a paper copy of THE SUMMER DEAL to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.
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