Can a casual summer fling turn into something more?

Synopsis

Can a no-strings attached holiday fling really just stay casual?

Olivia is a fiercely independent woman climbing the ladder of corporate finance. But when her family demands she take time off to go to her niece’s bachelorette and wedding in Nantucket, she reluctantly agrees.

On the island, she catches the eye of Connor: a handsome, cocky, playboy type—also ten years her junior. Olivia’s sisters egg her on, encouraging a summer fling, but she’s more interested in catching up on her finance reading. Except…he’s funny and sexy, and doing her ego a world of good.

As their attraction steadily grows, Connor gets Olivia to relax her tightly held control and indulge in the fling she won’t admit she needs. But too soon, the holiday is over and they’re back home, living two very different lives.

And yet, neither can ignore the intense chemistry that didn’t go away after the summer. Are they just a Nantucket fling… or something much more?

Tropes:

• Opposites attract

• Age gap

• Summer fling

• No strings attached

• Single dad

My review

Olivia’s goal in life is to climb as high as possible in the world of corporate business. She doesn’t have time for romance, and believes that love and family is a choice that she will never make. Even taking time off for a holiday is something Olivia will never do, as she can use that time better for her work. So when her niece is getting married and also has a bachelorette party organized in Nantucket, Olivia has no choice than agreeing to join her family. Upon her arrival, she meets Connor, who is working during the summer on the island. Connor may a good looking, real handsome man, and also a cocky one. And Connor for sure knows how to boost Olivia’s ego with his attention. But despite his playboyerish behaviour, Connor is in fact a responsible single father, with no greater desire to give his daughter all that she dreams of, even if in reality it is a struggle. And the summer is the only opportunity he has to be and feel somewhat young again. While Olivia for sure is out of his league, he cannot resists the attraction he feels for Olivia. And while initially Olivia is reluctant to have a summer fling with a man so much younger than herself, with the persuasion of her own family, she gives into temptation. But what when the holiday is over and both Olivia and Connor have to return to their lives?

I always have a smile on my face when I start reading a book of this author. And the fact that there is an age gap, and that the characters couldn’t be more different, intrigued me even more!

But I have to admit, it took me a while to get completely into the story. I know that it takes a moment to get to know the characters, to understand them and to connect with them. And while I understood Olivia’s choices, those choices also made it a little bit difficult to connect with her.

Of course, everyone is free to chose how to life their lives how they want. And why shouldn’t a woman go for her career? When a man makes this kind of choice, nobody questions that choice. But when it is a woman, it feels like everyone is judging that choice. So in a way I admired Olivia for being so open about her own choices and dreams. On the other hand though, and while I understand that not everyone wants to have a family, I found that Olivia is also taking away her chances of finding love, even when not wanting to have children.

Now, of course her choice has to come from somewhere, especially as it is a perhaps unpopular opinion. And the more I got to know Olivia, I could understand her reasoning, even if I didn’t agree with her the full 100%.

That doesn’t mean that Olivia is not a lovable character. She has her own views and thoughts about things, but even if that differs from those of her own family, she loves them very deeply. She is also a focused woman, she knows what she wants and goes for it. She won’t allow anyone to put her in a corner. If she stands in a literal corner, it is because she wants it.

And at first instance, you would think that Connor is Olivia’s complete opposite. Of course they are different, and his initial player attitude, or rather his past player attitude, would make you think that they would never work.

Yet rather early we learn that Connor is a single dad, and that his player – days are definitely over. And that also made me change my mind about him quickly. Because not everyone would take up the responsibility of raising a child while almost being a child yourself. And that is something I admired about Connor.

Because we see that he hasn’t had it easy, and still isn’t having an easy time. Yet he is a loving father to his little girl, a devoted one. He would do anything for her.

On the other hand, we also see how he has lost his own freedom. Freedom isn’t exactly the right word, but where young people were and still are enjoying their lives without a real second thought, Connor took his responsibilities and all he tries to do is to make Ellie happy.

And I can understand that during the summers, he brings Ellie to the good care of her grandparents, while he tries to earn extra money and yet feel a little bit ‘more free’. Also it is a way to get closer to his own dream, opening his own restaurant.

So while slowly I got to know and learned to appreciate each character separately, I also absolutely enjoyed reading about their dynamics and how their combined story was evolving.

Because I absolutely loved reading how in Nantucket Connor is able to change Olivia’s mind and have a fling with him. Already on the island the electricity flies between them and it made me even more curious to discover what would happen when they would be both back home, as the book was far by its end!

And let’s be honest, we see people getting together all the time, whether it started as a fling or not. But what when there is a character so set on her own ideas (not pointing the finger towards anyone, OLIVIA!!! 😊) how can things towards a happy ending where both parties don’t give up or lose the essence that makes them?

Just that, reading how the characters would evolve, what made me truly love this story.

Because of course once back home Olivia wants to keep her distance, and not continue their fling.  But when they cross paths again, would this summer be that easily forgotten like nothing ever happened?

Seeing that evolution, made me once again believe in the power, the strength of love. Because as we all know, Olivia is a strong, independent woman, who isn’t looking for love, for a family. But when the right person comes into your life, a lot can change. And what you thought you would never want or need, suddenly becomes impossible to not have. Most important though, is how the right person (whether in this case it’s Olivia or Connor), will always support you, understand what you need, what you want, and is there for you, even at moments when you don’t think you need that support. And the right person will always accept you for who you are, will never try to change you. Even if that acceptance will hurt that same person…

What a wonderful story this was, even is it took me a while to get into it, it was sooooo worth it!

Giveaway time!

Giveaway to Win a paperback copy of A Nantucket Fling (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

https://gleam.io/PNcxM/win-a-paperback-copy-of-a-nantucket-fling-open-internationally