Summer Dreams

This book is the first I’ve read by Delia Latham. It is part of the Paradise Pines series. I had a really hard time rating this book, because while I really enjoyed the message, I found it a bit lacking as a work of fiction Christian romance. This sweet story follows Logan and Summer and their journey to love in Paradise Pines which is located in Cambria, California. There are several supporting characters which you will recognize if you have already read Spring Raine, including Declan, Raine, and Miss Angie.

Let’s start with what I liked. The message was great and the theme was present through the entire book. In this book, many characters take on the lesson that they are God’s perfect children, loved beyond imagination, beautiful princes and princesses, children of the one true King. This lesson was taught by Summer from the very beginning. I think in today’s society we often forget this and focus on the worldly beauty that seems to be so important today. The book also makes it clear that this message applies to everyone no matter what gender, age, or past actions. I enjoyed this reminder.

Where this book fell a bit flat for me was on character development. It was very heavy on the Christian and light on the fiction and romance. While I liked most of what I saw in the characters, there was little information offered outside their Christianity. We were able to explore how they served Christ and how they prefered to worship, but we really knew very little else about them.

For example, Summer has lived a tragic life. However, we know very little about how she felt and what life was like after she lost her parents. In fact, it seemed her backstory was glossed over simply so she could teach Logan about the mirror. While the lesson was important, I would’ve like to have known more about her life with her mother and what it was like once she moved in with her uncle and aunt. Summer is not the only character that seemed glossed over to me. We know very little about Logan other than the fact that he grew up with Christian parents and had a sister who was not a Christian and was not in contact with their parents. I was definitely curious about the sister, but also wondered what his childhood was like.

I, however, could have lived with limited backstories, but I felt like we didn’t know the current characters either. What did they do outside of their worship? Other than worshiping through praise dance, art, and the Chrysalis House, we see little of their lives. While it was clear they lived Christ centered lives, I felt like there was so much focus on that and we lost a little on overall character development.

The other thing that bothered me about this book was the dramatic swings. Logan believes God sent Summer into his life for a purpose. He says he loves her and hopes to spend his life with her, but she makes one mistake and he seems ready to throw it all away. In fact, he drives off and yells, “Why, God? Why have You forsaken me?” This seems a bit over the top. This isn’t the only time I felt like the characters’ reactions to things was a bit too dramatic and unbelievable.

Overall, I liked the message of the book, but I felt like other aspect, primarily character development, could be more developed. If you are looking for an inspirational Christian book that reminds you of your worth in Christ, this is a good choice. If you are looking for a fiction Christian romance that is a lighter, fun read you may want to look elsewhere.

Thank you, NetGalley, Pelican Book Group, and White Rose Publishing, for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.

Summer Dreams

by Delia Latham

Pelican Book Group

Christian , Romance

Pub Date 19 May 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Summer Dreams through Pelican Book Group and Netgalley:

Summer Callihan is on vacation in Cambria California, with her younger cousin Dean, she wants to spend time dreaming up plots for her next novel, though no one knows she's an author as she writes under a pseudonym Shelby Callan, after her cousin Deah throws a tantrum, and then goes into a sullen silence Summer finally finds the time to write.

Summer is saved from a run in with the ocean by a young man named Logan, her real life hero. Logan is a wealthy artist and the man her saves from the undertow.

Will a romance come out of this find out in Summer Dreams.

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Summer Dreams by Delia Latham is a wonderful, light summer read that is very positive and uplifting in its message.
Summer Callihan and her cousin Deah are spending the summer at Paradise Pines Lodge in Cambria CA. Summer is a strong Christian and plans to spend the time working on her next novel; Deah plans to party the summer away. Logan is a local artist who often paints at the beach. He has been having a dream about a woman dancing on the beach. Is Summer literally the woman of his dream? Miss Angie is the owner of the lodge; a friend and confidant to everyone. She has a Bible verse for every situation. What will happen when their lives intersect for the summer?
I enjoyed this story very much. The characters are all very realistic. The Christians are portrayed as not being perfect and they struggle with what they see as their shortcomings. Will they overcome these flaws when the need to help others arises? There are many situations when the characters are challenged to go beyond their comfort level in order to follow God’s leading. This is my first book by this author but it won’t be my last. I read the book in one day; I couldn’t put it down.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Another lovely story set in picturesque Cambria, on the California coast, a sweet, clean romance full of faith and inspirational moments! The second Paradise Pines Lodge story easily reads as a standalone, but to get the most out of it, I recommend reading the first one, Spring Raine, to find out Raine and Declan's story.

This one reads like a modern day fairytale, except with divine intervention, and instead of a fairy godmother, the ethereal Miss Angie, who runs the Lodge. The use of dreams as a way of God communicating was interesting, as well as 'praise dancing' as a form of worship, something new to me. I like how this author naturally slips Scripture into the conversations, and how Summer's testimony brought so much hope to others. This story is packed with hope and inspiration, making it a very uplifting read! So many romantic moments too. Logan definitely falls in the Prince Charming category. It was refreshing to see a few chinks in his armor though, and also Summer's struggles to reach out to her cousin, Deah.

Recommend to fans of Christian contemporary romances. I hope there will be more in this uplifting series!

What an enchanting tale expressing how much God loves us.

Summer isn't that thrilled to be "babysitting" her party girl cousin. In fact, she hates it. But she can't complain about the beach house she would be living in while in Paradise Pines. She loves nothing more to write on her newest novel and walk on the beach...a little too close to the water.

Logan doesn't know why he's in love with the woman of his dreams. Literally...he's in love with the woman he dreams about every night. He's convinced that God is sending him a message but isn't sure until he comes to the rescue of a beautiful woman just pulled under by the waves.

This was a charming little tale and a great reminder that we are all God's favorites.

I recommend this book for everyone.

I am going to be buying the rest of this series I could not put this one down,I enjoyed it . Second book in the series and the first one are now in my wish list. Delia is a new Author to me.I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

A nicely written and told romance story but i wish that the characters themselves would have been given a bit more development, a bit of an actual depth that make them feel and seem more real as they do but overall a great and easy to read and entertaining romance book!