Another summer month is over! And with that, I have 4 new spoiler-free book reviews from my reading in June! I’m reviewing The Temporary Wife, The Summer We Fell, Meet Me at the Lake, and The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King. If you’re looking for a specific one, feel free to jump around using the Table of Contents links below!
Looking for even more book reviews? Check out last month’s book reviews!
The Temporary Wife Book Review
Author: Catharina Maura
Genre: Enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance
Pages: 384
Release Date: February 3, 2023
If you read my May 2023 Reading Wrap-Up (linked above!), this book actually reminds me of The Ex I’d Love to Hate that I reviewed in that post. Probably because it’s a workplace romance with a boss/secretary dynamic. Also, that the series follows a large family with each book featuring a different family member and their love story. The Temporary Wife is the second book in The Windsors Series, though I didn’t read the first. This really wasn’t a problem since they are stand-alones.
This book is focused on Luca and Valentina’s story. He’s a billionaire CEO, and she is his secretary, but also basically runs the business with him. Luca’s family sets up arranged marriages so that they can continue to strengthen their business empire. When Luca is finally tapped to get married, Val decides to resign because she can’t see him be with someone else.
Luca doesn’t take this well and doesn’t want to let her go. When Val’s grandma goes missing and needs more care at home for her health, Luca takes advantage of the situation by offering to help if she marries him. Valentina is close to his family, and he knows that she’s the only one his Grandma would accept instead of the arranged marriage and still get to keep his inheritance. They agree to not fall in love, keep things a secret at work, and sleep in the same bed every night – Grandma has a 3-day rule… And she’s pretty meddlesome, but I’ll let you figure that part out.
Overall, I really liked this enemies-to-lovers, workplace, marriage of convenience romance! Luca was possessive and honestly a little unhinged at times, but he also did some really sweet, ruthless things for Val because he loved her.
The Summer We Fell Book Review
Author: Elizabeth O’Roark
Genre: Enemies-to-lovers, second chance
Pages: 318
Release Date: April 6, 2023
Ahhh! This book is stunning. I’ve come to expect a lot of wit and banter when it comes to Elizabeth O’Roark books, but this took a turn into more serious subject matter, and I absolutely loved it. While it’s still a romance, there’s so much back story weaved into the current story that explains how the characters got to where they are today.
Juliet had an incredibly tough upbringing, but she’s found a home at her boyfriend’s (Danny) family house – taken in by the pastor and his wife, Donna. Though they invite her in and give her a home, she never really feels like she fits in, and honestly it seems like she’s treated like a maid in many instances. Donna doesn’t have it much better. She walks on eggshells around her husband, afraid to speak up.
Danny returns home from college for the summer with his best friend, Luke. They play football together and are looking forward to a summer of surfing and working. Luke and Juliet don’t get along, but they also seem to understand each other in a way Danny and his family can’t.
The book continues to follow Danny and Luke through their college summers while Juliet is still home finishing high school. We’re also taken into the present day from the start where Juliet and Luke have come back home to help Donna finish setting up a foster home for kids. We’re given bits and pieces and know that Juliet is a successful singer, Luke is a pro surfer, and Danny has passed away – but we don’t know the full story until the book progresses.
Overall, this book had so much substance, and I’d recommend it to anyone that wants a romance with depth. From the abuse Juliet receives from her family to her guilt-ridden relationship with Danny, to her hidden feelings for Luke, to her precarious place in her new home with Danny and his family, Juliet faces so much. This book makes you feel for her. It also makes you want to see her realize that she deserves more, and she deserves better.
Meet Me at the Lake Book Review
Author: Carley Fortune
Genre: Second chance
Pages: 304
Release Date: April 18, 2023
I recommended this book in my Summer Book Club Recommendations List, and we actually chose it for my work book club! I’ve seen a lot of book reviews that were disappointed in this book, especially after Every Summer After. I didn’t read the other book, so I had no idea what to expect from Carley Fortune’s writing. I’ll admit – I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it.
This book volleys between present day and 10 years ago. In the past, Fern Brookbanks is about to head back to her family’s lakeside resort in Canada to start running the business with her mom. She’s got a boyfriend, Jamie, a best friend, Whitney, and a pastry chef faux-father, Peter, all waiting for her there. But is she ready to leave TOWN?
She meets Will Baxter at the coffee shop she works at when he comes into paint a mural there. Their connection is instant (even though they’re both in relationships). Instead of parting ways when he finishes the painting, they decide to do a tour around town together. At the end, they agree to meet 1 year from that day at the resort. She shows, but he doesn’t. But why?
In the present day, Fern is back at the resort, trying to sort out what her mom has left her. Her mom has just passed in a car accident, and Fern must decide whether to sell the resort or give up her coffee shop city dream to run it herself.
9 years ago, Will didn’t show, but now, he arrives at the resort ready to offer his consulting help. Apparently, he met Fern’s mom the summer before and offered to help her work on the resort to make it profitable again in exchange for a free month-long stay. His cabin is right next to Fern’s, and he’s there to help, but will she accept it and trust him again?
Overall, I think the romance was the worst part of this book. I actually enjoyed seeing her relationships with the guests at the resort, Peter, Whitney, and her mother’s journals so much more. I found myself wanting more of the backstory that had nothing to do with Will. By the end, I disliked Will, though others will find him redeemable, I just didn’t feel connected to him and his reasonings.
P.S. I liked the Dirty Dancing references.
The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King Book Review
Author: Clarissa Broadbent
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 626
Release Date: April 14, 2023
Another 5-star read and the conclusion to this duet series (though more books will be written in this world! Yay!)!
The first book leaves off with Oraya’s future of being married to Raihn and a prisoner in her own home – what was formerly her father’s castle – and now is under Raihn’s rule. Although Raihn is the new king of the House of Night, he’s not easily accepted by the nobles since he’s Turned and was once the slave of his creator/the king before Vincent (Oraya’s father).
Also, the deal with the House of Blood is causing its own issues. Septimus can’t be trusted. He’s using the House of Night for his own gain. But he’s searching for Vincent’s secrets and that can benefit Oraya if she finds them first and learns how to wield them.
Aside from the politics in the world, the book also navigates Oraya and Raihn’s new strained relationship, where they must become allies to get what they both want – whether that’s freedom or ruling in peace. Oraya also comes to terms with how little she knew about her father and accept that he wasn’t as great as she thought.
The book answers many questions that were left open in the first and gives greater insight into both Oraya and Raihn’s past. If you loved the first book, you’ll enjoy this conclusion! My only complaint is that since the world is continuing, I felt like we didn’t get a huge happily ever after or epilogue, and I felt like it left room open for more conflict to arise. But I’ll let you come to your own conclusions on that!
Final Thoughts
If you enjoyed these book reviews for The Temporary Wife, The Summer We Fell, Meet Me at the Lake, and The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King, let me know – in the comments or over on Instagram! Also, I’d love for you to share this post!
