Summer and Damian are both fighting demons. Thrown together when she inherited the house he is fixing up, while hiding his mom and 10 year old sister from an abusive stepfather. A good story overall, and one I recommend.

Not a bad book. Cute story. Insta-love. If it weren't for the suspense element to it, I probably wouldn't have kept reading.

Second Chance Summer is the first title in the Whispering Pines series. Damian and Summer are both running from their pasts, or in Damian’s case his family’s past. Summer has little memory of the night her younger brother died, and she’s been estranged from her father ever since. The last thing she expected was to inherit a rundown mansion after his death. The main house is being remodeled by someone she knows and Damian, whose mother and sister are living (hiding) in the cottage on site. She intends to sell quickly and get out of town – but the family who is staying in the caretaker’s cottage obviously don’t deserve to have their home ripped out from under them. It doesn’t help that her attraction for Damian is giving her second thoughts about so much.

There are so many underlying nuances in Second Chance Summer. Not only a growing romance for Summer and Damian but also suspense and mystery as Summer’s flashbacks to that night emerge – and danger faces them all. I enjoyed Summer and Damian’s story, the romance is a bit light, the suspense and mystery have a stronger presence. This title was previously published and has had revisions and updates to the original story.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from DFM Publishing via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It was a book that held my interest. I wanted to know all the secrets that were hidden by the characters. I also liked the characters and was eager for them to be out of danger and settled. I found that I couldn't put the book down.

Second chance Summer is a small town love story of two people in their late 20’s fighting their battle with demons. For Summer, a drastic car accident ten years ago leaves her scarred. Damien has an underlying responsibility to protect his mother and a much younger step-sister who he loves more than his life from his abusive step-father.

Summer doesn’t want to be back in her home town , the reason is her bad memories apart from unresolved issues in need of sorting. But she is left with no other alternative. She must return to Whispering Panes ASAP to sell the property her deceased father has left in his will. She becomes Damien’s new landlord after her father’s death. It’s love at first sight for them. However, they shut their feelings as both have a past that is now haunting their present making them hopeless they could ever lead a normal life. Selling her property and returning to her museum curator job is her priority whilst the fate has some other plans for her. She decides to stay out of obligation.

There are secrets that’s gonna shake Summer’s world. Gabe, her ex-boyfriend hid something from her the fateful night that put a stop to their relationship. When the truth is revealed, she will be full of regrets . How will she be able to overcome the guilt? A fatal error on her part has taken the life of a dear one. The people in her town have moved on and blamed somebody else for the tragic incident that took away a precious life and punished the wrong one. If they learnt who is the actual culprit, what will be their reaction? Will Gabe’s sacrifice go in vain?

Meanwhile, Damien’s step father’s vigorous attempts to find out the whereabouts of his wife and daughter’s new location has reached the peak. Summer feels the burden of wronging an innocent for the second time in her life. Can she right it this time before it is too late?

Personally, the story didn’t click with me. A melancholic drama the author has spun is dry with few worthy stuffs. Romance element is unrealistic missing the baseline. Gabe, her ex-boyfriend would be the right partner for her. He likes her even after what happened to them in the accident that caused losses aplenty.

Summer’s character is not admirable neither inspiring. She jeopardizes innocent lives due to her foolishness. I feel the author could have given us a strong, brave and smart Summer. She is clumsy when she was young and this behavior continues in her adult life.Damien is 2 years younger yet smarter than her, despite this fact, there’s no believable sexual chemistry between these two and their attraction towards each other seems superficial and irrational. My heart simply couldn’t accept them as a pair.

The narration is not up to the mark, it requires skillful editing. Otherwise this is a good story plot which has the potential to linger in the minds of the readers for the long haul. But to be honest, I don’t welcome the cougar woman story. I recommend the book for the moral messages ‘Making peace with the past is vital if one desires a fulfilling life’. ‘Good will triumph over evil in the end’ ,‘A mistake though cannot be undone it can be forgiven when a person accept their part and repents’.

Second chances to make things right and to fall in love. This sweet romance has a bit of mystery, suspense and even a bit of danger. When Summer returns to Whispering Pines to get the house ready that her dad willed to her after he died, Summer will find that it’s not that easy to walk away and sell the house as she thought. Being sent away after a car crash 10 yrs ago that killed her little brother, Summer feels that the heartache in the town will be too much. But she doesn’t remember what really happened that night, so to be able to put the past behind her, she will need to find out. And when she meets Damian and his family, things are no longer as clear cut as they were.

A nice story, even with a twist I didn’t see coming at all. This is a nice small town romance and you get to feel the emotional turmoil of Summer’s life, as well as Damian and his family. There is a HEA here, and it would have been nice to read an epilogue, since so much of Summer’s time in the book is confusion and sadness, it would have been nice to see a bit into the future of her being a bit more happy, but this is a charming story that shows you that you can go home again.

Thanks goes to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of Second Chance Summer by Allie Boniface for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. A contemporary romance and Book 1 in here Whispering Pines series. My opinions are my own and no one has influenced me.

Second Chance Summer is a well written novel with engaging characters and an emotionally charged plot. The pacing is excellent and kept me enmeshed from the first page to the last. Ms. Boniface paints a lovely picture of the small town, Whispering Pines, giving me enough description without interfering with the story.

Summer Thompson’s character is a woman with a lot of baggage. She has holes in her memory of a horrific car crash that took the life of her brother ten years before. Now she’s back in Whispering Pines, and she’s having flashbacks. I became enthralled with her character and felt her confusion and emotional pain.

Damien Knight is an amazing hero. He’s doing everything he can to protect his mother and sister from their abusive husband and father. When he meets Summer, he’s immediately attracted to her, but he believes he would be making a huge mistake if he pursued her. I could fell his pain and fear, and I became completely invested in his character.

The romance between Summer and Damien builds slowly because of the baggage both characters have. This is a lovely sweet romance, and although the focus of the book is more on their struggles to overcome the issues that separate them, I wanted them to find a way to find their happy ending.

If you enjoy sweet contemporary romance with characters that will touch your heart and a plot to pull at your heartstrings, then you well love Second Chance Summer as much as I. This is the second book I’ve read by Ms. Boniface, and I can’t wait to read the next book in this amazing series. Happy reading!

Second Chance Summer is a small town love story about two people battling their demons from the past.

Summer has returned to Whispering Pines as her dad has passed away. She's having a hard time figuring out why one, he left a mansion that's in need off repairs to her, and two what really happened that night 10 years ago as she has very few memories from it, only what's been told to her.

For Summer a drastic car accident from 10 years earlier haunts her. So coming back to the small town Whispering Pines brings back many painful memories. Damien feels it his duty, and that he is responsible for taking care of his mother and his much younger sister, who loves more than his own life from his abusive step-father.

She tries to decide what to do with the property as she had been planning to sell, but she finds out her father had paid until the end of summer for the 2 handymen to do what they need to fix it. One of these 2 men also just happens to be Damien and he lives with his family at the farm house on the sprawling property Summers father left her.

It was a great book, to me a fairly light read as I read half one night before bed, the other half the next morning.

If you like a slow burn, with some intrigue and family love, then this book is for you.

Complementary copy for hones review and opinion. Imagine forgetting the worst day of your life. A blocked memory comes rushing back. A step dad tries to destroy a mother and sister. A house given by a father that was estranged. This book is full of complications and drama. It was enjoyable.

Second Chance Summer is the first book in Allie Boniface’s Whispering Pines Sweet Small Town Romances. Although there is romance in the book, for me the main plot threads were interpersonal relationships, mystery, and coming to terms with your own life story.

Summer Thompson left Whispering Pines ten years ago after the accident that had taken her younger brother’s life, pledging to never return. Now here she was back in her hometown and meeting with her father’s attorney. It seems that when her estranged father recently passed he had left his estate to her, including the old ramshackle McCready house which he had already begun restoring and had set up funds and a crew to complete the task.

Summer’s friend from her youth, Mac Herbert, is the foreman on the job working alongside newcomer Damian Knight, who is also the tenant, together with his mother Hannah and little sister Dinah, in the caretaker’s house on her property.

Summer and Damian click immediately but each is dealing with their own issues. Summer has a period of amnesia around the time of the accident and wants to remember so that she may come to terms with whatever actually happened. Damian is the protector for his mother and little sister as they hide out from his mother’s brutal ex-husband, Theo.

Although the attraction between Summer and Damian is palpable, they are orbiting each other trying not to acknowledge the draw. As Summer becomes more entrenched in her hometown and Damian opens himself up to one not a relative, they both try to ignore the obvious. When danger strikes taking Dinah to parts unknown, their ranks close to find the girl, drawing them to a heart pounding climax.

This is a very interesting new series and I do look for the next addition. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it

Days after her younger brother was killed in a car accident, her father sent Summer Thompson to live with her aunt. Ten years later, her father has died and she returns to sell his home. She still doesn’t remember what happened the night her brother died, but will her memories return when she is back home? Damian Knight has been repairing her father’s home and renting the smaller home on the property. He lives with his mother and younger half-sister, keeping them safe from his mother’s abusive ex. He finds himself attracted to Summer, but she plans to sell the property and return to San Francisco. A complex romance with both main characters dealing with past issues to move on with their lives. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

This story is the start of a new series taking place in the small town of Whispering PInes.
A place that Summer Thompson left ten years ago when her thirteen year old brother died in a car accident. An accident she was in and one that she doesn’t entirely remember.
After the death of her estranged father, she’s back after discovering he’s left her a dilapidated house he recently bought.
Her goal is to put it on the market asap and leave.
When she meets Damian Knight, one of the construction workers updating the house and also the one living in a barn in the property with his family, the attraction is immediate, but she’s leaving and he has secrets of his own.
Will Summer remember what really happened the night of the accident? What will happen if she does? Will Damian reveal his secrets while keeping his family safe? Will both Summer an Damian allow the past to dictate their present and future, or will they take a chance on love?
This was a sweet , clean romance about letting go of the past and living in the present as hopes for the future blossom.
A nice story for an afternoon of leisure.
For me, it was more of a 3.5 stars story.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. the opinions expressed are solely my own.

I was grateful to receive a free copy of Second chance Summer in exchange for an honest review. This was a great novel with a well thought out plot, and easy to follow characters.

Summer was dealt a pretty crappy hand in life growing up without a mom, loosing her brother as she was finishing high school, and being sent away and estranged from her father. I can't begin to imagine how tough it would be to be 28 years old without any immediate family,

Damian is the type of guy that every mother would be proud of. His family comes first, and the respect he shows is mother is commendable. I also like the fact that he was willing to put his needs and feelings towards Summer aside for his family. He also chose to give Summer space when he thought she might have feelings for her high school boyfriend Gabe. I'm not sure there are too many men out there that would do that.

Overall, this was a quick and easy read with a few surprises along the way. I'm so glad Damian and Summer got their happily ever after.

I'd definitely recommend this book to friends and family.

Seen the author's name around and had a chance to have an early read via NetGalley. The synopsis sounded fine, but the storytelling didn't live up to my expectations.

Insta-love is a tough sell sometimes. Characters and their encounters need to be well-developed. Too often I think we dumb things down to the cosmic "feels" that this hunk or babe is their destiny. When the author doesn't invest enough into building that experience into something we can hang our hat on, something that feels majestic -- like you need to go back to re-read that portion because it left you swooning -- it falls flat.

Overall, I felt Second Chance Summer was too simplistic. I wish it worked better for me.

I reviewed this through #NetGalley.

This book, while well written, is not my typical cup of tea. Fans of Nora Roberts Jill Chavez and Robin car will be very interested to read this. It follows Damien Knight and his family as they try to escape his mother’s bad prior relationship. The Knight family comes into contact with Summer, who has been called back to her hometown after the death of her father.
It’s more suspense, broader relationships, and character development than romance, as most of the previously mentioned authors’ books are.

I just struggled to connect with this book overall. I felt like there was a major lack of chemistry between the MCs, and just too many different issues and barriers presented that the plot was thin.

I also struggle with any book that is touted as a romance novel, but the characters never do more than kiss. At least if they're both in their late 20s. Yawn. Give me at least one steamy passage to make my time reading worthwhile!

Not fully developed:
This is a sweet, clean slow burn romance. Both Damian and Summer had been hurt in the past and had closed themselves off from love. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery aspects surrounding Summer's car accident and Damian's family life. However whilst the mystery aspects of the book were resolved, I felt the relational aspect was not fully developed. In fact the book ended without them even going on one date, just Damian confessing his feelings for Summer and her nodding?!!
It did contain a good lesson about not letting the past define who we are but allowing ourselves to be free to embrace the future. Yet whilst this book had promise, the ending felt contrived, rushed and not fully resolved. Perhaps an epilogue would have helped to bring closure.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Summer leaves her home town after her then boyfriend and her were involved in a car accident that killed her younger brother.
After being estranged from her father for many years; she is gifted a house her father bought for her before he died. Determined to sell this house in a few days and return home; Summer begrudgingly returns to see the house.
But things don’t always go as planned. Especially when a good looking man happens to live on the property owned now by herself.
Summer and Damian have quite a lot of sparks flying between them and many reasons why the should t be involved
There’s a few little surprises in this book which I liked. Although categorised A’s a romance; I loved the unexpected arrival of thrill!
Great book. Lots of character and easy read

Loved this well written romance. Great plot with believable characters and a great setting. Romance readers will enjoy this book. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Summer hasn’t been back to Whispering Pines since a tragic accident, she has put that behind her , so why did her estranged father but a run down mansion and leave it to her?

Damian has one goal, keep his mom and sister safe from his abusive step father .

When Summer and Damian meet, there is an immediate attraction, but Summer is leaving and Damians life is already too complicated.

I am a huge fan of this author and I love books revolving around small towns and Whispering Pines is a place I want to visit again and again .