WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER

Years after a failed summer fling, Jonathan and Connie are thrown together again. Their attraction is alive and well, but their fundamental differences are still getting in the way. Aren’t they?

Connie Reyes has never forgotten sexy Jonathan Pierce, whom she met when she spent a college summer at her best friend Maggie’s summer house in Sea Kiss, a beach town on the Jersey Shore. She’d hoped to continue the relationship, but when Jonathan told her he wasn’t going back to school, she knew he wasn’t the man for her. Her Cuban mother had wasted her life waiting for undependable men, and she wouldn’t fall for a man with no ambition. Now, seven years later, he’s back in Sea Kiss, supporting his brother, Owen, as he navigates a problematic relationship with Maggie. At first Jonathan tries to avoid Connie, but they fall into a sexual relationship, which is frustrating for Jonathan since, despite his entrepreneurial success, Connie still sees him as a fickle wanderer, loathe to commit and settle down. Yet Connie’s own success seems questionable thanks to a sexist partner in her law firm who refuses to see her skill and contributions. Connie’s conflicted feelings lead her to take stock of her choices and priorities, especially when a conversation with her mother, an unexpected job offer, and some startling news combine to give her a changed perspective on life and love. Pineiro’s follow-up to One Summer Night (2017) covers the same time frame from the alternate couple’s viewpoint, to sexy, satisfying effect. Connie and Jonathan’s trials, tribulations, and second chance at love are engaging and at times thought-provoking, touching on the power of love, loyalty, and friendship.

Another visit to Sea Kiss will charm romance fans.