Tiffany Odekirk

***4.5 stars***

Tiffany Odekirk has created her first Regency romance. I enjoyed her contemporary novels and was very excited to read Summerhaven. This story did not disappoint. The plot is established and plausible.

Hannah was excited to visit Summerhaven. She spends many idyllic summers there as a child. She longs to rekindle her romance with Oliver. Their mothers plotted to have them marry as adults and Hannah is anxious to make it happen. Unfortunately, Oliver is not the same as the boy she spent her youth with. His older brother, Damon, was her nemesis. He teased her and tormented her. But he has a plan to foil his father's designs to have him marry and make Oliver jealous and help remind Oliver of his feelings for her.

Fortunately (for me), she starts to realize Damon's charms. He is no longer the boy who loved to tease her. He is handsome and considerate. A friendship of convenience leads to a very interesting story. At one point she considered him to be her enemy. An enemies-to-lovers story is always a lot of fun.

This story was everything that I hoped it would be. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to more Regency stories from the author.… (más)

Adored this Regency debut by Tiffany Odekirk! Summerhaven was incredibly hard to put down and I ended up finishing it in two days. It’s an enemies to lovers, childhood friends to lovers, fake relationship all combined into one. Set mainly on a country estate, this unique Regency offered something delightful and new to the genre. The characters, most especially Damon, really drew me in. I quickly became absorbed in the story and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

Living a rather mundane life after her mother’s death, Hannah’s thrilled when she receives an invitation to Summerhaven where she enjoyed spending time in her childhood. She’s hoping to rekindle her relationship with childhood friend Ollie and garner a marriage proposal. Unfortunately, the man there to greet her is Damon, Ollie’s older brother, whom she remembers tormented her as a child. But, two people can see the same incidents differently and as Hannah spends time with Damon, she realizes her perception of the past may be wrong.

Damon is definitely a favorite hero! He’s handsome, thoughtful and an incredible flirt. He offers Hannah a bargain, he’ll help her win Oliver by pretending to court her, and she’ll protect him from an unwanted marriage. But, there’s more to Damon than fun, witty banter. All those swoony moments where he rescues Hannah and shows his thoughtfulness towards her suggest he’s not indifferent to her. Whether it’s riding a stallion or wearing a red dress, I loved how Damon encourages Hannah to not be afraid to be herself. His attention to her needs was definitely romantic.

Told exclusively from Hannah’s perspective, I loved it when she finally recognizes the truth about both brothers. I liked how she encouraged Damon to be his best self and break away from the mold he’s being forced into. I enjoyed her intuitive insight into her own feelings and her unwillingness to go for the easy choice instead of her heart’s desire.

The side characters were charming including Amelia and Lady Margaret. Oliver for all his faults redeemed himself somewhat in the end. I can’t wait to see what happens next for him.

Ginger drops, the quadrille, the chess game, frog legs, the piano scene, skipping stones, the portrait hall, helping a tenant farmer, dancing in an empty ballroom, wiping tears away, a lock of hair, the gazebo scene, the letter, and a frantic horseback ride, these were some of my favorite moments in the story. Now, I can’t wait to go back and reread it! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.… (más)

I was drawn to the cover and the premise of Tiffany Odekirk’s new book, Summerhaven, along with my love of stories set in Regency England. Odekirk did a wonderful job of setting the stage for the story, and the characters were well-drawn and engaging. Hannah Kent is sweet and possibly a bit naïve when she travels to Summerhaven and expects her relationships with Oliver Jennings and his brother Damon to still be as they were years ago. When she arrives, she finds nothing seems to be the same.

This is a sweet, clean historical romance that was a treat to read. I did feel that it dragged a bit in places, but, overall, it’s an entertaining tale. I’m looking forward to more books by this author.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Covenant Communications through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.… (más)