Book Review: Summer Return by Elise K. Ackers

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Summer Return
Author: Elise K. Ackers
Reading Level: Adult Fiction
Genres: Romance
Release Date: July 20, 2017
Publisher: Escape Publishing
Review Source: NetGalley

He’ll never come back to stay, unless someone asks him to...

Funerals can bring people together who are best kept apart. Ethan Foster, home to mourn his sister-in-law, finds himself as unwelcome as ever in the town that once meant the world to him. For more than a decade he’s been saddled with a bad reputation – a drunk, a deserter – and he’s lived with it, will keep living with it, because the only way to clear his name is to share his secrets. But the secrets are not his to tell and their telling would destroy the family he loves and the woman he’s never forgiven himself for leaving behind.

Samantha O’Hara once loved freely, but now she doesn’t. Now she leaves before she’s left and keeps her vulnerabilities tucked away. But when Ethan Foster walks back into town, finally looking at her the way she always wanted him to, she finds her hard-won armour developing chinks. She can’t – won’t – have anything to do with any reinvention Ethan is going through. But maybe this isn’t a new Ethan... Maybe he’s the same Ethan she fell in love with all those years ago.

And maybe, just maybe, this time their love will be strong enough to make him stay.

Summer Return was a good book to have on hand while vacationing. The story was enjoyable and easy, so I felted relax while listing to the waves crash around me. The author did a great job with the characters and how they influenced the story. I will say, I didn't realize until almost half way, that the book wasn't based in the US. But it doesn't take away at all from the story. 

So in this story, you follow along the lives of folks from a small hometown. One of the main characters is Ethan, he ends up having to go "home" when his sister in law passes away. He has been away pretty much since his parents died, he only visits when tragedies strike, such as this visit. Hence, the one suit in his old bedroom closet. But something about this trips, begins to change Ethan. I personally believe it's due to his niece and nephew. I loved the interactions they had. Then of course you have Ethan's old love, Sam. Will that spark light up again, will Sam let herself fall once again for Ethan? All this you find out when you read Summer Returns. 

As I mentioned before, this is a great book to take to the beach, pool or just anyplace you feel like being lazy. Definitely plan to read more from this author in the future.