Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this book, even if it starts with an amusing premise, it definitely has some depth and is quite a moving story, as well as a sexy romance by the end.

Piper is banished to the fishing town of her birth. Her sister, Hannah, goes with her and they find themselves moving into the bar owned by their dead father. Here they learn more about their heritage and whilst they certainly do not fit in to start with, they learn some valuable life lessons. Piper has to reassess her life in L.A. and come to some difficult conclusions.

Her mother left the town behind when her father died at sea, and Piper cannot believe that she has fallen for a fisherman too. Brendan is larger than life, and from the moment they arrived in town, he has been on her case. It is fun watching them fall for each other, but also complicated by her family past, and also the fact that in knowing Piper, Brendan knows that he never really loved his first wife. So it is not just her who has to face some complicated decisions and realisations.

I think this is a perfect summer read – I recommend it to you.

Such a fun story that had unique characters that fit perfectly in the unique setting. I have to admit that while I always love Tessa Bailey's male MCs, Piper really stole the show. She went through the biggest character growth, and I loved reading about it. She felt so genuine and I really rooted for her to get to a point where she was happy with herself and with where she was in life. Brendan was a grumpy sweetheart set in his ways, but Piper came into his life and shook all his routines up. His backstory was very interesting and I liked that it became obvious that he needed Piper's colorful personality to illuminate the black and white life he was living.

You know it's the sign of a good romance when you start wanting the characters to succeed outside of the relationship just as much as you want the romance itself! Piper and Brendan definitely grew separately and together, and it made for a very entertaining journey. I'll be on the lookout for Fox and Hannah's story!

If you only read one romance book this summer, please let it be this one.

It Happened One Summer is a fun, sweet, steamy, and swoony jaunt to the Pacific Northwest featuring a grumpy widowed fisherman and a pampered socialite. It is small-town romance and opposites attract and grumpy/sunshine to the max, and it made me tear up and laugh out loud, and I loved everything about it.

Piper is in her late 20s and hasn’t ever had a ‘real’ job or responsibilities outside of being Instagram famous. Growing up in LA, she has relied on her looks and social connections to get through life, and when a revenge party goes wrong, she can’t charm her way out of the consequences.

After one too many screw-ups, her step-father cuts her off and banishes her to a tiny coastal town to teach her a lesson about real life. While there, Piper and her sister make the best of the situation while reconnecting with their roots along the way.

Brendan Taggart is a grumpy, set-in-his-ways fisherman who lives by his routine and risks his life every few weeks while seeking the next big catch. He’s responsible, an upstanding member of the community, and loyal to a fault.

When Brendan meets Piper, not only does she throw a couture and sequin-encrusted wrench into his carefully crafted life, sparks fly and all bets are off.

Oh my. Did I mention that this book is steamy? Because it is. Tessa Bailey is known as the Queen of Dirty-Talking Heroes for good reason, and she did not disappoint with Brendan.

Aside from his gruff exterior, he’s so very sweet and caring and accepts Piper for who she is. I just loved him to pieces. (I also loved Piper in all her quirky glory, by the way.)

In addition to the steam, Ms. Bailey delivers swoon by the bucketful. There are also flawed and sometimes insecure characters who grow throughout the book, supportive side characters, a charming small town that you can’t help but love, and oodles of feels.

I absolutely adored this book, and I can’t wait for more in this series. If you’re looking for a beach read with tons of simmering chemistry, bubbly banter, and a big-hearted cast of characters, do not miss It Happened One Summer!

4.5 Stars!
Piper Bellinger is a socialite from Beverly Hills who lives for her social media accounts. The spoiled party princess takes things too far one evening and ends up spending a night locked up. Her step father has had enough of her impulsive, reckless behavior and decides to teach her a much needed lesson. She's cut off financially and sent with her sister to run their late father's bar in Washington. She's used to luxury and wealth, and loves adventure and being in the spotlight. She's completely out of place in this fishing town, and wishes she could just go home. To make matters even worse she clashes with a burly, bearded, hot fisherman. She's extremely bothered by her attraction to him, and wishes someone would finally believe in her and see past the glitz and glamour. Nobody really takes her seriously and she's not sure where she really belongs anymore. While finding her way will her path lead her to a grumpy man with a surprisingly tender heart?

Brendan Taggart is a sea captain in the small beach town called Westport. He chose a dangerous job, but the sea was a part of him. He lived for sunsets, tides and the rhythm of the ocean. He's a responsible rule follower who is all about routines and order. When a high maintenance outsider blows into town and creates chaos in his life she challenges him at every turn. It didn't matter they were from two different worlds. He was fascinated by her and wanted more even if it was temporary. Soon they are both trying new things and stepping out of their comfort zones. Will they give in to the inevitable, or part their separate ways when the time comes?

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey is the first book in an all new series set in a small beach town. It's a standalone, slow burn, enemies to lovers romance where opposites attract and ignite. It's about self discovery and listening to your heart. I really loved this story and these characters. Piper is unapolligetically herself and fabulous, and Brendan stole my heart. This beautiful, sexy man's sweetness just sneaks up on you. He's full on alpha male, and then BOOM... the swoon hits and you don't stand a chance. His dreaminess completely caught me by surprise and left me dying for more!

Thank you so much to Avon Books and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of It Happened One Summer! I love every book I've ever read by Tessa Bailey, so I was the most excited when I was approved for this one! It Happened One Summer is out now, so make sure you go grab it ASAP!
It Happened One Summer 5/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:
Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who’s cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town... where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong.
Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar... in Washington.
Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.
Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart.

Oh I really liked everything about this book! It was cute and super spicy and with the contrast between super bubbly and outgoing Piper and slightly grumpy and very set in his ways Brendan was great. I really liked the way the story progressed and the way the characters grew and learned from each other to grow. One thing that really annoyed me was the fact that Piper's stepfather was so rude to her- I get that she was spoiled, but who creates spoiled children? The people who raised them. If Piper never had to work for anything and never thought she had to do anything besides be social media famous, then why should her stepfather think that she would have any reason to do anything differently? And then, when she calls him later, he doesn't even show up because something else came up?! What the heck! That's unacceptable! And Piper and Hannah are never anything but grateful towards him and see him as their father and everything, so why the heck doesn't he act like it??? Ok rant over about how much I dislike their stepfather. I really liked Piper and Hannah's relationship with each other- they're best friends and while they still have some arguments, they're always in each other's corner. I also liked Brendan's relationship with his crew- they seemed like siblings as well, which was cute. I didn't realize how much money crab fishermen made- millions of dollars for their 80,000 pounds of crab? That sounds like a lot (although I'm sure they get that and more since it's such a dangerous job). In terms of the book itself, I really liked the plot and the pacing and honestly, it lived up to all of the other Tessa Bailey books I've read and loved (there's a reason she's one of my favorite authors). I definitely highly recommend It Happened One Summer and I cannot wait to read Hannah's book in 2022!

*Link to blog to be added as soon as blog post goes live*

If you are a fan of the city mouse/country mouse trope, then you will love this romance between the Los Angeles socialite and the Westport burly sea captain. IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER is Tessa Bailey’s latest book, and the two main characters are replete with good-looks, kindness and plenty of heat.

Piper Bellinger is a socialite with the mostess, while secretly yearning for more out of life. She enjoys wearing designer clothes and being the life of the party, until her latest stint lands her in jail. Although she is twenty-eight, her stepfather has had enough of her antics and decides that she needs to learn about responsibility. As a result, he limits his financial support and requires her to spend three months in her late father’s hometown in Washington, managing his rundown bar. Luckily, Piper’s sister agrees to go with her, and they embark on a new normal.

Brendan Taggert has been a fisherman his entire life, and he doesn’t feel whole unless he is on the sea. Being the captain of his late wife’s father’s boat is his true calling. Brendan is a creature of habit and schedules his days accordingly. Then Piper walks into his life, and there is an instant attraction. Over time, they fall into lust and love.

I liked this book. Ms. Bailey is a talented storyteller, and I love how she defines her characters. By the end of the story, I felt that I knew Piper and Brendan intimately, and that their future would be everlasting. Their sexy times were extremely hot. Hannah, Piper’s sister, was an interesting character, with her love for music on vinyl. I am truly looking forward to her story, which is scheduled for release early next year. This is the first book from the author’s brand new series, IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER, and it can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Review posted on romancejunkies.com

Still waiting for my 5 star Tessa Bailey! I really disliked Piper at the beginning of this so I was shocked to be rooting for her by the end. Tessa’s steam is my flavor and it gets me every time but I don’t necessarily think this was the perfect plot for me.

Tessa never fails! I always pick up one of her books when I really need it and they never fail to amaze me. When I say this is one of my favorite books this year, I’m being 100% honest and if I could read it again for the first time I would in a heartbeat! It Happened One Summer is a summer romance full of sweet moments that will leave you feeling sun-kissed and smitten!

O Captain! My Captain! I am head over heels in love with Captain Taggart and he will go down as one of my all time favorite heroes. He starts off as a bit of a grumpy jerk but boy does he change that really quick and become quite the dreamboat! I need a recharging station like Brendan to keep me warm at night!

My girl Piper. I’m gonna be honest I wasn’t a huge fan of her in the first chapter of the story and I wasn’t sure how this book would pan out for her, but very very quickly I began to see past the first impression she gives off and I loved her. She’s so much more than everyone else sees her as and honestly what she sees herself as too. This book is truly her journey to finding herself and happiness and I couldn’t have been happier to have a front row seat to it. She’s such a beautiful, kind, and caring heroine.

Brendan and Piper together were magic. They are polar opposites, but they work together like a well oiled machine. Their love overflows off the pages and makes you so invested in their story.

I couldn’t have asked for a better summer read! Tessa gave us heat and passion with a side of emotion and angst. It Happened One Summer is the complete package and you won’t regret picking up this beach read!

𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 meets 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 in this 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵’𝘴 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘬-inspired romantic comedy full of heart and heat.

What happens when a pampered Hollywood “It girl” is exiled to a small beach town in the PNW and butts heads with a sexy, grumpy local? Between the blurb and being inspired by 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵’𝘴 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘬, one of my favorite shows, I knew I’d love this book.

Piper and Brendan were so much fun to read about. Sunshine-and-the-grump tropes are a favorite of mine, and the character growth and evolution of romantic tension were perfect. There’s more depth to both of them than meets the eye, and watching them discover that about each other made me swoon and smile. Plus, their chemistry is hot hot hot! This cover is hiding some delicious steam and dirty talk, which is something I’ve come to love in Tessa Bailey’s books.

Overall, this book does a masterful job exploring different types of love: self, familial, and romantic. I was able to connect to Piper and root for her on her journey, and her story makes me feel like I got a little bit (more of) Alexis. ;)

This is easily one of my favorite reads of 2021, and it was just what I needed to kick off my summer. I’m eagerly counting down until we get Hannah’s story!

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ if you enjoy romance with humor, sexy times, and characters who find more than they bargained for in life and in love.

It Happened One Summer is a contemporary romance about socialite Piper Bellinger reeling after a fall from grace. Following some bad choices, Piper finds herself stuck for the summer in the small town where she was born, where she might find more than she bargained for.

Our story begins when Piper is dumped by her latest boyfriend, a guy who tells her that she’s about as substantial as a champagne bubble and not as interesting. A public break-up is not great for a reputation, so Piper takes the natural next step: she throws a huge, wild, and highly illegal party. When she gets caught, Piper is forced by Daniel, her disappointed stepfather, to face the music, and the consequences are unthinkable- at least for Piper. Daniel exiles her to her late father’s hometown of Westport, with limited funds. Hannah, Piper’s little sister, volunteers to join her, but two girls who can’t boil water might be out of their depth in a sleepy fishing town far from the bright lights of Los Angeles.

Brendan is worlds away from the guys Piper runs circles around back home. Their first encounter reeks of antagonism, so despite his handsome exterior, Piper knows she should steer clear of the rugged fishing boat captain. Besides, a gold band clearly marks Brendan as married, and thus off-limits. Piper can only hope that his antipathy for her isn’t reflected in the town’s entire population. Having lost their father very young, Piper and her sister want to take this opportunity to try to understand the man they never knew, and Westport is the key.

In reality, Brendan is a gruff, routine-following widower, still wearing his ring out of a loyalty to his father-in-law, rather than his wife. Instantly attracted to Piper, Brendan knows he has to keep her at arm’s length, and so he can’t involve himself in her messes, not even when she can’t navigate a grocery store or nearly starts a fire. Despite his best efforts, Brendan finds himself falling under the spell of this strange new addition to his hometown. Piper feels the attraction too, but a lot of obstacles stand in their way. Piper tries to confine their connection to a purely sexual one, but she can only lie to herself for so long. Brendan knows that being with him would require Piper to make a lot of sacrifices, and he’s not sure a guy like him would be worth it. Between them, they have to work through a lot of baggage to see if what they have could be forever.

This is a great read, and surprising in a lot of ways. There’s room for there to be grief in this book- both of the main characters have lost someone important to them – but the story isn’t about grieving and death, it’s about healing and moving on. Piper and her sister start off with no connection to their biological father, and part of their journey together is getting to know the town where he lived and loved. I adored the relationship between the sisters. You can tell that they truly care for one another, and there is never any tension between them about the choices they make, they are a team. Hannah goes out of her way to help Piper when Piper isn’t even sure what she wants, and she supports her sister through thick and thin. They are also incredibly different people, but each respects those differences in the other. It’s a wonderful, supportive sibling relationship and really adds dimension to the characters and the story.

In general, the cast of characters is stellar; the citizens of Westport each leave an impression and feel very grounded in their town. The only ones who fell short for me were Daniel and Maureen, the girls’ mother and stepfather. While we do get a little bit from Maureen about her grief and healing following their father’s death, very little is said about her and there isn’t really any sense of closure about her daughters coming to peace with their father’s life. I was also kind of surprised that we didn’t get any conclusion with Piper’s stepfather either. It was Daniel’s idea that Piper spend time in Westport to cool her heels, and it is unsatisfying that there isn’t any resolution to the conflict in their relationship. Given that Piper seemed to desire his approval and for him to feel pride in her, I would have liked some kind of affirmation from Piper’s parents of her worthiness.

While at first I wasn’t a fan of Piper the Bratty Heiress, she quickly charmed me. She’s a lot more than she appears to be, and I love that she doesn’t stop being herself for a second. A lot of narratives about rich kids are about coming to love the more wholesome life, and Piper does appreciate Westport, but she doesn’t stop loving sequins. Piper doesn’t have to change to find herself, and I loved that. She and Brendan have great chemistry on all levels, and I love that they both get to have the things that make them happy, without making huge sacrifices for each other. Brendan also gets a great arc; he really opens up to Piper and talks to her about things that matter, and that leads to him being more open with the other people in his life. The book has a strong emotional backbone, and that holds everything together.

Overall, I loved It Happened One Summer. It would be an A, if not for the lack of closure with Piper’s parents. I highly anticipate the sequel!

4.5 stars
This is a snarky, amusing, sweet, opposites-attract, sparkling city girl meets grumpy sea captain love story. If you have ever watched Schitt's Creek you can see the inspiration clearly for Piper. She is seen as the social media star, airhead, spoiled, rich girl. But when she takes things too far, her stepfather decides she needs to learn a lesson.

Soon she and her sister Hanna find themselves shipped off to a small seaside town where they were born. The pretty princesses are not sure what exactly they are in for, but they start to enlist their girl power and tackle it head-on.

When Piper meets the surly, sarcastic, sea caption, Brendan, he does not feel very welcoming. He is a creature of habit and has been living in a rut and set routine for years. But soon she is shaking up his life. He begins to see the appeal of something different and starts embracing more change. Under his gruff exterior is a protective, caring, thoughtful, and passionate man. One that starts to provide a true anchor for a lost woman who has never known her life's purpose and has never been able to trust a man to be there for her. The real her, who has a brain, ideas, a heart, and real feelings that she hides for fear of rejection.

But they have their challenges. They are both very different people and their lives have been lived in different locations and social classes. He has deep roots and he is not sure if he can help her grow some. Her plan was always to make amends and go back to her easy, excessive life. But now she will have to take a hard look and decide who she is and wants to be, and what will make her happy.

This is a book about living in the moment, believing in yourself and others, and finding a true home. I loved her sister, Hanna, and his best friend, Fox, and I am glad there will be another book in Westport. The whole town has some interesting characters and a quirky charm. I started off not quite sure if I was going to be able to warm up to Piper, but ended up totally in love with these together. They both had opportunities to grow and change their outlook. It is engaging, sexy, witty, and downright swoony.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. It Happened One Summer is a fun, vibrant, and romantic take on the poor little rich girl/fish out of water trope, and Tessa Bailey rocked it. Piper is based loosely on Alexis Rose (with fewer kidnappings and outlandish stories), and she is such a complex character. After getting arrested for an after hours pool party, she was banished to her long-lost hometown, and given 3 months to learn to rely on herself. With the help of her sister, and a big, grumpy sea captain, she began to learn to see herself as capable of being more than perceived, and her journey was pretty amazing.
(Not a spoiler, but I do hate both of her living parents. Giving someone everything they want, not teaching them any life skills, and then taking everything back as a lesson is not good parenting. ) As a couple, despite their initial antagonism, Piper and Brendan are very sweet together. Tessa Bailey is pretty good at the banter, and they have a lot of very good chemistry. I believed in them, rooted for them, and wanted to shake them both at times. Hannah was also a great deal of fun, and I can't wait to read her book. This piece was an enjoyable read, and I loved nearly every minute of it- and then had to go re-watch some Schitt's Creek.

“That sparkle was positivity and life and promise of better things, and she always, always had it, glowing within the blue of her irises, lighting up the room.”

This was the Schitt's Creek inspired rom-com I never knew I needed! I love that Tessa decided to write a HEA for Alexis, and the execution was simply the best.

It Happened One Summer is a super steamy rom-com with the perfect chemistry. I absolutely loved every second of this book and flew through it in a single day. From being set in a small fishing town in the Pacific Northwest, to the unapologetic socialite, Piper, this rom-com was full of heart, snark and laugh out loud moments. I highly recommend this to any typical rom-com lover as well as anyone who just loved the Roses and needs more of their antics in your life.

And I can't wait to see more of Hannah's story!

Admittedly, the first 10 percent of the book I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue. I wasn’t sure if I could see Piper redeem herself. But she did, quickly. And then I was sucked in.
I loved the setting, a small coastal town in Washington State. I thought Bailey did a great job of explaining what it would be like to live in the area, I could picture it.
Both Piper and Brendan needed to step outside their comfort zone and see what else the world had to offer. They were great at helping each other with this.
I’m not used to reading in third person, but after the first couple chapters I no longer noticed.
This was a fun book and I’m glad I read it!

Tessa Bailey did it again! I loved this book! Lots of steam and humor in addition to balancing out a great story line. Perfect summer read.

This was a lot of fun! As someone who isn't always a huge fan of "spoiled rich girl learns to be a better human by spending time with regular people" concept, I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed It Happened One Summer! I particularly enjoyed how Piper and Brendan's personalities clashed but ultimately worked without the other having to change who they are just for the relationship to work.

Also, this book is stupid steamy. Like LOL this has an illustrated cover and is somehow even hotter than Tessa's Hot & Hammered series steamy. If you like her signature dirty talk, you will be very happy with this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this ARC to review.

“All Piper could do was stare at the spot he'd just vacated. Goose bumps. He'd given her goose bumps.”

I. LOVED. THIS. SO. MUCH.

I literally ate this novel up in one day because I could not stop reading. I absolutely adored every single thing about this novel. The characters were so strongly defined that I became attached to them immediately and was rooting for them the entire time. Piper is a socialite with a big heart, who really blossoms when she moves to Westport. Brendan is a gruff fisherman who has been closed off for years. His world is shaken when Piper moves to Westport.

This book is for anyone that is a fan of character driven romances, witty banter, and steamy sex scenes. This might be one of my favorite romances of the year because it had it all - complex characters falling in love, an amazing setting, great supporting characters, and the perfect spice level. A perfect summer rom com!

Influencer, socialite, party-girl Piper Bellinger has definitely garnered quite the reputation for herself, but lately she's coming to realize it might not be the reputation she wants to have. When her current boyfriend unceremoniously dumps her at an event, Piper decides to get even by throwing the most over-the-top party LA has ever seen.

When that party lands Piper in jail, Piper's stepfather decides it's time for some tough love and maybe learn a little about their late biological father in the process.

So, Piper along with her sister Hannah, head to Westport, a small town that pretty much makes its living off fishing. Being such a small town the sisters immediately gain a lot of attention. Add to the fact that they're the daughters of a beloved, lost member of their community and the scrutiny is real. Especially when Piper comes up against sea Captain Brendan Taggart.

Brendan thinks he knows Piper and he's not here for someone coming to his town and messing up the routine. But as they really get to know one another it's clear that maybe they both need a change.

I think this is my favorite book by Tessa Bailey so far. I mean, Piper is presented as the quintessential spoiled, rich, party-girl, but I really loved that Tessa Bailey makes the real Piper with her kind-heartedness and caring come through. It makes the idea of people only seeing her on a superficial level stand out even more and makes it all the more heartbreaking because we see, throughout the course of the story, how people want to exploit her privilege and really only want to be her friend for the status.

When she comes to Westport those preconceived ideas about her follow her for a bit, but it quickly becomes apparent that the people of Westport don't really care how many followers one has. I loved getting to see Piper take a break from that side of her persona and really come into her own, but also the fact that it doesn't mean she has to give up her love of fashion or nice extravagances.

Brendan is immediately kind of on the defensive when he sees/meets Piper and through their first couple of interactions. Honestly, I kind of liked the initial animosity between the two because it clearly masked the attraction that Brendan was feeling for Piper. He hasn't allowed himself to feel any way towards a woman since his wife died a number of years ago, so I liked that immediately Piper threw him for a loop.

Once Brendan admitted that's where his initial bad attitude was coming from, he turned it around and became determined to make it work between them. I loved seeing his character acknowledge the differences between Piper and himself and instead of wanting to change the way she is, he just wanted to figure out how they could intertwin their lives together. Of course, intentions are easier said than done and Piper's self-consciousness when it comes to people believing in her and taking her seriously (as more than an airhead) are serious things that she needs to work through.

Overall, I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I wanted to live in this book world for so much longer. The steam and popping chemistry between Brendan and Piper just added so much to the story, and I thought that the pacing was absolutely perfect. I'm excited that it seems we'll get Piper's sister Hannah's story and there's a lovely secondary setup happening for her in this story that I can't wait to see how Tessa Bailey brings to fruition.

Piper Bellinger life as a socialite influencer is full of fancy clothes, rich friends and lots of parties. When one of her crazy ideas lands Piper in hot water with her stepfather, he tells her she needs to figure out her life and in order to do that she needs to go to Westport, Washington where her natural father was from and run his old bar. Piper's sister Hannah volunteers to keep her sister company for the three months she is required to be in Westport. As soon as they arrive, Piper is confronted by Brendan Taggart, the sexy, bearded captain. Brendan may think this "barbie doll" won't last a day in Westport but he can't deny the attraction that is sizzling.

As Piper reconnects with her past, she can't help the connection developing with Brendan. She starts to think that maybe she has finally found a place that has given her purpose. While Piper and Hannah and restoring their father's bar, things with Brendan really heat up. Just when Piper realizes that Brendan is her happy ever after, things blow up in a big way. It will take a lot of digging deep down by Piper and Brendan but these two will both finally realize that what they want most in life is each other.

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey is a steamy, hot romance that was wonderful. I loved watching Piper turn from a spoiled, rich girl into this down to earth sweet woman. As for Brendan....YUM! This gruff sea fairing captain was just going through the motions in his life until he met Piper. She brought the "sparkle" back into his life that he never realized he was missing. I just adored these two opposites and they complemented each other perfectly. This was a fun story that I highly recommend and I can't wait for Hannah's story.

Oh my heavens! The fires are burnin'!
I loved this book! Opposites attract, self discovery and so much steam! Yes please! I cannot wait to read book 2 about Hannah!