Review: "Just for the Summer" by Jenna Rutland (Lake Bliss #1)


Eight years ago, Dani Sullivan made the most difficult decision she ever had to in her then-young life: she was giving up her baby boy for adoption. Now, she finds herself in the town of Lake Bliss and is renting a cottage for the summer. She tells whoever's asking that she's using the time to work on her latest cookbook while getting in some much needed rest and relaxation. However, the main reason she's in the small town is to, at the very least, get a glimpse of the life her son has and if his family treats him well.

Eight years ago, Matt Reagan made the best decision he ever had to in his entire life: he and his then-wife adopted a baby boy and named him Sam. He's never understood how Sam's biological mother could have given him up or why she agreed to a closed adoption. Sam's his greatest pride and joy, and even though he may have a lot going on right now, what with his new position as sheriff, his mom moving in with them, and his being a dad, Matt still believes that he'll have the complete family both he and Sam deserve.

When Dani meets Sam for the first time, her joy knows no bounds, but she has no intention of introducing herself as his birth mother. She wants to make sure that Matt's the best father he can be for Sam, but she doesn't expect there to be such a strong connection between the two of them, something she needs to avoid, especially with the secret she's keeping from him. But even though their heads both tell them that whatever's happening between them is just for the summer, their hearts know it could be so much more.

Just for the Summer is the first book in the Lake Bliss series by author Jenna Rutland and was a heartwarming contemporary romance about a woman needing to find peace in a choice she made eight years ago and a single father who dreams of creating the ideal family for himself and his son Sam. Neither of them is looking for a summer fling but with Dani making it clear to Matt that she's leaving after a few months, they're seriously considering taking what they can get from each other, even if it's temporary.

This was such an original story, one that I had never come across before, and it was written with just the right amounts of drama and humor. Dani keeping two secrets--how she got pregnant and Sam being her son--from Matt and Sam isn't due to any selfish or nefarious reason. However, the fact that she is forms relationships with father and son and that part of the foundation is her not being completely honest is a recipe doesn't make the problems or Matt's reaction when the truth comes out a complete surprise.

With both Dani and Matt being strong lead characters, the inclusion of memorable supporting characters like Sam Reagan, Rachel Clarke, who becomes Dani's closest friend in Lake Bliss, Jack Clarke, Rachel's brother and Matt's best friend, and Larry the dog, make the town of Lake Bliss all the more interesting, wanting you to read more about them in future books. Just for the Summer was a touching tale and one that I enjoyed immensely and I'd be happy to recommend it to other bookaholics. This gets five stars! ♥

Date Read: 08 April 2015

Learn more about Jenna Rutland here.

Purchase Just for the Summer on Amazon | B&N | Kobo.

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