Fall in love at Bayside, where sandy beaches, good friends,
and true love come together in the sweet small towns of Cape Cod.
BAYSIDE DESIRES
Bayside Summers #1
Melissa Foster
Releasing May 9, 2017
World Literary Press
As the co-owner of Bayside Resorts, Rick Savage has a fabulous job working with his best friends and brother, and a thriving business in Washington, DC, which he’ll be returning to at the end of the summer. Spending time with his family is great, but being back on Cape Cod has unearthed painful memories. When sweet, smart, and overly cautious Desiree Cleary moves in next door, Rick is drawn to the sexy preschool teacher, and she just might prove to be the perfect distraction.
Running an art gallery was not in preschool teacher Desiree Cleary’s plans, but after being tricked into coming to her impetuous, unreliable mother’s aid, she’s stuck spending the summer with the badass half sister she barely knows and a misbehaving dog. If that’s not frustrating enough, she can’t escape the sparks igniting with her strikingly handsome and pushy neighbor, Rick, who makes all her warning bells go off.
Passion ignites as Desiree and Rick spend long summer nights sharing heartfelt confessions and steamy kisses. For the first time in years Rick is enjoying life again instead of hiding behind mounds of work miles away from his family. Desiree has touched him in a way that makes him want to slow down. Only slowing down means dealing with his demons, and he isn’t sure who he’ll be when he comes out the other side.
Melissa Foster is one of those authors that I always know I'll enjoy. She has a way of telling a story that always pulls me in from the first page and has me hooked. Bayside Desires was no different. This book had ups and downs and there were definitely times I felt myself sniffling and reaching for the kleenex. However, those moments were balanced with laughs and swoons-which were all pretty great.
I instantly felt for Desiree. She has her share of insecurities-which once you read the book I think you'd agree are completely justified, so seeing her grow to work through them was really satisfying to me. She is stronger than she realizes but has some tender spots as well, just making her more human.
Rick was a different type of character for me. I liked his pursuit of Desiree right away, but I didn't expect some of his personal issues, which made him a unique character to me. He's got cracks in his heart and it's up to him to decide if Desiree can fill them or if a fling is all he can give.
There was definitely some sexy time-the flirting leading up to it helped build that up nicely. There's never a lack of steam from Melissa Foster and I love that.
There were some things that I didn't love, or necessarily believe. I thought some of the family drama was a bit over the top at times which took me away from the book a tiny bit. Overall though, the writing was strong as always, even if the end was a bit rushed to me. The main characters made me fall in love with them and reminded me why Melissa Foster is a one of my go to authors. I do recommend this book.
Rick and Desiree were interesting as a couple and as people. I actually enjoyed getting to know them, although there were times where I thought the relationship moved oddly fast, for the most part I believed their chemistry, connection and attraction.
I liked that they had the commonality of both having lives somewhere else with ties to the community and a reason to be there as well as a reason to leave at the end of the summer. I think, at least in their case, it made them being willing to explore a relationship with one another make a lot of sense, the idea that both were going to be leaving.
There was drama with Desiree's mother, her sister, and the idea that in order to stay she would have to give up her home and career in Virginia. In order for Rick to stay with Desiree, he was going to have to walk away from a business he founded in DC. Obviously, as this is a HEA, this is what happens, they work it out to be together.
And, that was my issue with the story. I felt that it was all too quick. Yes, the foundation was in place for both of them to make the decision they did, but it just seemed like a sudden decision, especially when changing your entire life is on the line.
I do recommend the book, as overall the writing and the characters were strong, I just thought the pacing and resolution at the end felt a little rushed, that they resolved some things that weren't able to be resolved quickly in the space of a couple of pages.
But, the characters were cute, the story was fun, I enjoyed it, and I recommend it overall.
Melissa Foster is a New
York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes
sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with
emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last
page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family
oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading
about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.
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