Author: Jay Northcote
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 184 Pages
Category: Contemporary
At a Glance: Summer Heat turned out to be a delightful romance that was an easy breezy read, perfect for those wanting a story that delivers no surprises and lots of fun.
Reviewed By: Sammy
Blurb: A summer fling is an ideal cure for a broken heart. But when it’s with your best friend, things get complicated.
When Adam is dumped by his boyfriend, a week away at a beach resort seems like a great opportunity to get over his ex. Sun, sea, and no-strings sex will be just the boost he needs to move on with his life.
Adam’s best friend, Finn, agrees to accompany him at short notice. Finn’s had a crush on Adam for years, but is determined to put his feelings aside and be the perfect wingman in Adam’s time of crisis.
A spontaneous threesome with another guy forces Adam and Finn to confront their attraction to each other. Having a holiday fling together wasn’t part of the plan, and as their trip heats up, they soon realise that one night of fun won’t be enough for either of them.
The passion might be scorching, but their hearts and friendship are on the line. If their romance is going to survive the flight home, they have to be honest about what they want.
Review: Summer Heat by Jay Northcote is a lighthearted romance that delivers a minimal amount of angst and a friends-to-lovers trope that accomplishes exactly what it set out to do—tell a sweet story of a love finally developed between two long-standing friends. Despite never really liking the older man his friend Adam fell for, and lived with for several years, Finn has always been there for Adam. So, it follows that he is the first person Adam turns to when his partner cheats on him with a younger man.
Adam is left reeling when he comes to terms with the fact that his relationship is over, and since he is left with an extra ticket to a gay beach resort, he offers it to his bestie, Finn. Finn is over the moon at the idea that Adam is finally free, but also incredibly worried that the feelings he has kept hidden for Adam will all come tumbling out of the closet once the two of them are in close quarters on vacation. When the two of them hook up with a third for a one-night stand, Adam and Finn realize just how attracted they are to each other. However, neither feels secure enough to ask for anything more than a summer fling during that one week of vacation despite their hearts telling them that it is definitely not just a casual hook up.
Jay Northcote set out to introduce his readers to two incredibly likable guys, and fully succeeded. Finn is really an amazing friend to Adam—one who has bitten his tongue on more than one occasion and allowed his best friend to live the life he thought he wanted. Despite really loathing Adam’s boyfriend, Finn has stuck by his pal and tried so hard not to let his real feelings toward Adam rise to the surface. Given all that, when they go on vacation together Finn cannot help but crumble a bit inside watching other guys cruise Adam even as he attempts to help the guy get back in the saddle, so to speak, and begin dating again.
Adam is just that right mix of confused, hurt and cautious after being burned badly by a lover he trusted. While he knew their relationship was in danger, he never dreamed it was over. When he goes to Finn for help and shelter, it is like putting on an old comfy sweater—his friend has always had his back and never let him down. So what are those thoughts he keeps having about Finn being so sexy and appealing doing running through his brain when he should be focused on getting laid by a casual hook-up? His hesitancy to even voice his feelings is genuine and understandable, and even though the declarations of love come fairly rapidly in this story, in terms of time spent on the page together, you know there is such a deep history between these two men that the idea of an insta-love trope really isn’t what you are being offered. Instead, this is a friendship that has blossomed into love, over time, and simply comes into focus when all barriers against those deeper feelings are removed.
The only real disappointment I had with this story was the need for the author to throw that little monkey wrench into the last few chapters of the book. I felt it was just a bit too clichéd how Adam and his ex interacted after he and Finn returned from vacation and went to retrieve the last of his belongings. I definitely don’t want to expound on this further, so as not to give anything away, except to say that the little twist at the end was truly not needed, in my opinion, and didn’t really add to the story in much of any way.
In the end, Summer Heat turned out to be a delightful romance that was an easy breezy read, perfect for those wanting a story that delivers no surprises and lots of fun.
You can buy Summer Heat here:
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