I had only previously read a book written by Priscilla Oliveras before, but after reading these three novelas, both Sarah Skilton and Lori Wilde are now on my radar! I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the entire book.

Instalove is a trope that I'm not the biggest fan of and unfortunately the first novella really wasn't my cup of tea however, I loved the last two novellas and would have loved to read more from them!

Summer in the City is a great collection of three novellas that make for a great summer read! Read one at a time or the whole book! Three best friends - Ria, Vanessa and Alison - are all ready for a girls' weekend when all of a sudden the lights go out in New York City! The city comes alive with what happens when everyone has to endure the same experience but in very different ways. I really liked all three stories. There is something for everyone in this book!

Synopsis: When three different friends all find themselves in the city during a random power outage they all learn that they have more stories to tell after their evening adventures than they would have had before their pre planned girls weekend getaway.

Thought: I really enjoyed how each author got to write their own many love stories. At first I was wondering how it would all tie together. I loved getting to know the characters and having the different romance stories in one story that was all tied together. I was wishing there was a wrap up chapter or part where it talked about the girls' weekend and their recap but here's hoping that is just around the corner. I highly recommend this book for those looking for a chance at romance and interested in learning a little more about the writing style of each of these authors.

I am not a big anthology kind of girl nor am I a novella kind of girl but this book was great. I picked this book up after Priscilla Oliveras reached out to me after I fell in love with her book Anchored Hearts, and I am so glad that I did. These were all such sweet and easy-to-read, beachy novellas. All three stories were great. Normally, when I read an anthology, I end up liking some stories less than others but I really enjoyed every story in this book. I was in love with how each story was connected which is something I don't see in anthologies and it was refreshing.

I would absolutely recommend this to anyone wanting to read a quick and cute beachy read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars

Thank you to Priscilla Oliveras, Lori Wilde, and Sarah Skilton for giving me an eARC in return for my honest opinion.

This is a collection of novellas tied together by three friends who each have different romance experiences on a night when the lights go out in NYC. We never see the 3 friends together, these are simply their individual stories. I have give it 3 stars overall but rate the stories very differently:

3 stars Lori Wilde, Night at the Museum - a fated mates, instalove novella that hit all the beats for some attraction and chemistry. The two main characters have been seeing each other in the city and now suddenly are in the same space and have a chance to finally meet. And then the lights go out. It worked fine, was enjoyable. Sex happens quickly in the dark, the one place I felt their chemistry lacking. The black moment was obvious and they quickly overcame it, A quick read, pleasant, no complaints.

5 stars, Priscilla Oliveras, Lights Out - rivals to lovers, not quite a second chance romance but almost. Two theater kids grow up and now one's a Broadway star, one's a critic. I completely bought the tension between them, the history that led to where they are now. As always with Oliveras, there are pieces of community and family that add depth to the characters, even in a novella. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

2 stars, Sarah Skilton - second chance romance. Two characters who used to be in love but then she finds out something about him and they break. In the now times, she's out to get back at him. I don't love a revenge story so this didn't work for me. Other readers may enjoy the snark and getting back at each other. I couldn't like the characters, though, so the quick "sorry and I forgive you" in a black out was not for me. Your mileage may vary. Sexy times are high and on the page, for those looking for higher heat.

All three stories take place on the same night in New York during a summer black out. The first and last stories were the best. Lori Wilde did not disappoint., Priscilla Oliveras's story was just "Okay", and Sarah Skillton was enjoyable. Each woman is trapped in some way with the man of their dreams during a total Black out in New York.. The last two stories involve previous relationships and how the woman / men must forgive each other for past disagreements. Cute quick beach reading stories. .

This novella anthology provides everything you want in a summer read: steamy relationships, complex characters, and sweet romance! I picked up this book because I love Priscilla Oliveras and Sarah Skilton and it did not disappoint! Each short story had some amazing tropes (love at first sight, enemies to lovers, and second chance romance). This is a quick read that I highly recommend!

Interesting interlocking anthology about three best friends and the events that take place during a blackout one summer night in NYC.
Ria and Vic’s story, Night at the Museum, was my favorite. I thought they were an interesting couple, especially how their paths crossed like it was karma that they’d meet.
Lights Out features two old rivals, Vanessa and Mateo. I really liked him, her not so much. She was very bitter, which wasn’t very attractive.
The last story, Mind Games, was the least interesting, story-wise, as he is a magician and I honestly hate magic! It distracted me from whatever connection Nick and Allison had. And frankly, he wasn’t all that likable as the story went on.
Overall, a combined rating of 3.5, but Ria and Vic get a solid 4 from me.

This anthology was a delightful read to start off summer. I enjoyed the way the stories were tied together by the 3 friends, but yet were all incredibly different in their writing styles and storylines as well. I thought the authors all did an excellent job of establishing a shared history between each of the couples (some more intimately than others), so that the love story did not feel rushed or unbelievable, which can happen easily with novellas. I also enjoyed how the history between each couple was varied enough that it wasn't just 3 second-chance stories. Everyone always remembers where they were in a blackout, but these stories are standouts and I thoroughly reading all three. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Mind Games by Sarah Skilton; I just really loved the relationship between the two and thought it was a super unique premise; I don't think I've ever seen a magician featured in a romance novel before!

Three quick novellas about friends planning to meet on Saturday in the Hamptons to escape the heat in the city. Friday night they all have separate plans which go awry when a blackout affects NY city.

Cute short and quick reads that were light entertainment. Characters were judgemental and snobby in my opinion, especially Vanessa but worth reading.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions on a review.

Three best friends in NYC have separate big evenings planned before they head to the Hamptons together for the weekend. Each novella tells one of the women's stories, and they weave together seamlessly.

Night at the Museum
After months of seeing each other and being interested, but never speaking, Ria and Vic both attend an evening event at the Met. I enjoyed the history of encounters around NYC before they met at the museum. I loved the way the story tied together paintings and Ria's art restoration work with the symbolism of their relationship. This fun novella got me thinking about fate and destiny.

Lights Out
I love Priscilla Oliveras' writing, and it's what first attracted me to this collection. Right from the start, the story was immersive. Vanessa and Mateo have a history back to high school. And her negative review of his last Broadway role caused lots of bad press. But now, it's opening night of his new musical when the power goes out. Reading both their perspectives and how they are drawn to each other was phenomenal. This novella is proof that it's possible to fit a whole complex story with complicated characters into a short novella.

Mind Games
Nick and Alison were a couple in college until he hurt her so much she transferred. So now she seeks revenge by undermining his magic show. The chemistry between them is hot, and the antics are amazing. I am so pleased to have learned about Sarah Skilton through this anthology.

If you are looking for hot summer reads, this is a great collection!

Thank you to Priscilla Oliveras, Kensington, and NetGalley for this book.

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories about various romances during a blackout in a summertime in NYC. Each were light and yet kept me engaged the entire time wanting to see these characters get their happy ending. I'm new to each of these authors but was impressed with the quality of each short story, and they each left me with a light heart. Just a great pick-me-up to read and enjoy when you are short on time but desperate for some romance (and I can't neglect to mention the steamy action in each story. WOW!) #summerinthecity #netgalley

Whether you are lounging by the pool, on the beach, or ferrying back-and-forth between two virtual classrooms at home all day long, Summer In The City is sure to satisfy your perfect beach read craving. It’s sweet, sizzling, and magical. I loved all three of these stories so much I devoured them all in one day. There are three interconnected novellas featuring three friends who each separately experience a blackout in NYC.

𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢 𝙗𝙮 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙞 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚
We meet Ria and Vic who have been spying on each other around town for months without acting on their impulses to meet face-to-face. That is, until they finally connect at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and things heat up quickly…

𝙇𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙊𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙮 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖 𝙊𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙨
Broadway hotshot Mateo and critic Vanessa rekindle an old flame that, when sparked, is bright enough to heat a city already sizzling. I love, love, LOVED the scorching chemistry between these two and the back-and-forth between their past together and their present.

​𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙎𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙝 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙩𝙤𝙣
She’s a new-to-me author, but I will absolutely be checking out more of her work. Alison and Nick's story had me laughing out loud more than once. It was so funny and full of magic. Their connection truly sparkled.

If you were looking for a collection of short sweet and sizzling summer reads, Summer in the City is exactly what you need. Even though each of these Novellas comes in at about 100 pages, I didn’t feel slighted with the stories in the least. I think they were exactly what I needed to kick off summer and style this week. Thank you so much thank you so much to Kensington Books, and especially Priscilla Oliveras, for inviting us to be part of her book tour this week.

This rom-com anthology is the perfect book to kick off summer! Ria, Vanessa and Alison's plans to escape NYC on a hot summer weekend are thwarted when a blackout hits the city but this surprise may come with unexpected benefits...

Each novella in this book is written by a different author and focuses on how one of the women deals with the night the lights went out. In Night at the Museum, Lori Wilde sets the action at the MOMA where Ria and her Wall Street bigwig neighbor get trapped for the night. Priscilla Oliveras tackles enemies-to-lovers in Lights Out where theater critic Vanessa and Mateo, an actor and her former rival, are stranded in his apartment. Mind Games, by Sarah Skilton, is a second-chance romance when Alison's attempt to get revenge on her magician ex, Nick, is ruined by the blackout. I wish there had been an epilogue where we find out what happens after the blackout but that's only because I got so invested in the characters.

This is a quick read that's a lot of fun and bring some steam! If you're looking for something to read at the beach or wherever you relax in the heat, grab SUMMER IN THE CITY.

Thanks to Kensington Books, the authors and NetGalley for a copy to review.

A blackout in NYC. Three friends with three stories of their night the lights went out in the city.

Night at the Museum: This story was absurd to me. Ria was childish and Vic was pretentious arriving with a condom. Did he hope for any women at the high society Museum event and just got lucky because Ria was there? So many things wrong with this relationship.

Lights Out - Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope so I enjoyed this story much more. The constant interruptions as they drew closer and closer made this story fun. The emotions when they finally talk was heartfelt and endearing.

Mind Games - The hurtful games of college destroyed Alison and Nick's relationship, but for the past five-years each as thought about the other. Second chances romance with humor, and who doesn't love a good magic trick.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the complimentary copy of Summer in the City.

I picked this up solely for the Priscilla Oliveras story, but I ended up enjoying the other two novellas as well. This anthology follows three friends as their summer Friday night plans get derailed during an all-boroughs-wide blackout in New York City.

“I don’t know why I was afraid to take a risk. That’s what I do for a living. Why should I be afraid of a risk?”
“Because,” Ria said, feeling philosophical, “those are monetary risks. They’re much easier to calculate. Math is indisputable. Relationships, on the other hand…”
“Are a whole new level of risk.”


“Night at the Museum” – Lori Wilde – ★★★★

Ria’s spent all her time the last few months restoring a romantic painting of love in the city, and that’s the only explanation for why she seems to have fallen head-over-heels with a complete stranger. It’s serendipity, then, when she spots him at a gala celebrating the completion of the restoration, except “Mr. Gorgeous” is not at all what she expected. Vic is a very goal oriented financial advisor. He’s had a plan since he was a young teen for how to get out of his farming town, and so far he’s checked off every item on his list. The latest? Attending a gala at the Met and helping a set of prospective clients pick out a painting as an investment piece. He can’t let the fact that his mysterious “Red” is there and that he might get a chance to finally meet her. When the blackout strands them both in the depths of the museum over night, can two people with very different attitudes towards life paint a new picture for themselves?

This was quite sweet. Both Ria and Vic are passionate about their careers… and, eventually, passionate about each other. The misunderstanding was a bit predictable, but I liked the way Vic solved it.

“Ooh, he wasn’t quite ready to admit his long-held infatuation with Vanessa. Although after having spent tonight with her, not the poison-pen reviewer or even the cute teen of his past, but the quick-witted, competitive, captivating woman he found easy to talk to, even about topics he didn’t normally share with others, he found his infatuation had deepened.”


“Lights Out” – Priscilla Oliveras – ★★★★

Mateo has spent the past eight years grinding to get to this opening night. Clemente, a musical about the famous baseball player, is a true passion project for him, and spotting Vanessa, his once time crush turned kinda nemesis, in the audience shouldn’t dismay him. Attending the Broadway premier isn’t exactly how Vanessa wants to spend her Friday night, especially as her review of the show is already written. But after she wrote a viral – and vitriolic – review of the last show Mateo starred in, she can’t quite tell if she’s overcompensating with this one. But Vanessa has a history with cheaters and womanizers, and she’s sure Mateo is one… even if her heart wishes it were otherwise. But when the lights go down on Broadway – and the rest of the city – can the two old acquaintances reconnect and write a new ending?

Vanessa, like many of the author’s heroines, is focused, competent and competitive, and she’s not afraid to tell it like it is, even if the person she’s telling it to is the super-hot Mateo. Naturally, I couldn’t help comparing Mateo to Lin Manuel Miranda, and the author does tongue-in-cheek name-drop In the Heights. I mean, her name is Vanessa and there’s literally a blackout in the musical, too! As with everything she does, the author’s wit and love of her Puerto Rican heritage shines through. This delightful second chance story had me smiling the entire time.

“The problem wasn’t that she hated him. The problem was she couldn’t forget how much she’d loved him. How much she’d wanted him. How she used to hold her breath whenever he entered the room, couldn’t relax until he took her hand in his, confirming that, yes, he was here for her; he wasn’t a fantasy; this gorgeous, kind, sexy guy was hers.
Except he hadn’t been hers. He hadn’t been kind. Misleading her about both those things had been his greatest magic trick.”


“Mind Games” – Sarah Skilton – ★★★★

Magician Nick is slated to take over his mentor’s residency, if only he can prove himself with a show to the management. He’s worked years for this so it should be easy… and then his ex walks into the room. Alison has waited years for this moment. She’s studied, she’s planned, and now she’s finally going to get revenge on the man who broke her heart in college. And if bantering with him again as she tries to derails each of his tricks makes her have some conflicting feelings, well, that’s to be expected. And then, the lights go out… Could the greatest magic trick be resurrecting their old relationship?

And this gem is exactly the reason why I keep reading anthologies! It’s an amazing second chance story, and the action that led Alison to breakup with Nick made me absolutely gasp in outrage. Now that’s not to say that there wasn’t a reason behind it, or that Alison didn’t jump to conclusions herself, but it was easy to understand why she’d held on to that rage for so many years. She’s magnificently vicious and ferocious, and the best part was that Nick, after some initial nerves, absolutely rose to the occasion and challenged her back. I wouldn’t be surprised if the chemistry between them is what caused the blackout! I am such a sucker for second chance romances, though, and this is definitely a stellar example of the “we had to break up so we could find ourselves” genre.

Overall, this was an amazing anthology and I’m glad to have found a new author to look up as well!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘦... 

𝙉𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏 𝘼𝙏 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙈𝙐𝙎𝙀𝙐𝙈 𝘽𝙔 𝙇𝙊𝙍𝙄 𝙒𝙄𝙇𝘿𝙀
Art restorer Ria Preston knows a thing or two about beauty. And when she discovers her neighborhood crush, gregarious Wall Street advisor Vic Albright, is stuck overnight in the Metropolitan Museum of Art with her, she can't resist taking him on a very private tour...

𝙇𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏𝙎 𝙊𝙐𝙏 𝘽𝙔 𝙋𝙍𝙄𝙎𝘾𝙄𝙇𝙇𝘼 𝙊𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀𝙍𝘼𝙎
Back in high school, Vanessa Ríos and Mateo Garza were theater troupe rivals. Now Mateo’s a rising Broadway star and Vanessa’s his most scathing critic. Cue a plot twist straight out of central casting: the two end up alone in his New York City apartment during the blackout, setting the stage for what could be their second act romance . . .

𝙈𝙄𝙉𝘿 𝙂𝘼𝙈𝙀𝙎 𝘽𝙔 𝙎𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙃 𝙎𝙆𝙄𝙇𝙏𝙊𝙉
What happens in college stays in college--unless you never get over it. In fact, Alison has been waiting to take her revenge on Nick, once the hottest guy on campus, now the hottest guy on the rising magician's circuit. But her plans to sabotage his first show are upended by the power outage. That's when the real magic happens...

𝘍𝘶𝘯, 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭!
Summer in the City is a collection of three fantastic novellas set during a blackout in New York City.
I loved all three of them, there were so fun to read, the characters were great and they were easy to read.
It’s a perfect summer read!

Thank you Priscilla Oliveras , Lori Wilde, Sarah Skilton , Kensington Publishing and NetGalley netgalley for this copy.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

4.5 stars-rounded up to 5
Summer in the City is a great collection of novellas revolving around the experiences of three couples on a hot New York City night. When a blackout occurs, emotional walls fall and possibilities seem limitless.
The book starts with Lori Wilde's story, Night at the Museum, where an are exhibit brings together a couple that has been exchanging glances for months. I loved the communication between Victor and Ria, two very self-aware people. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the Soul Mates Seasons in the City exhibit, and would happily read more stories centered around each painting. 4 stars

Next, in Lights Out, Priscilla Olivares delivers a great second-chance romance between a theatre performer and a journalist who's reviews haven't always been kind. I loved what this story had to say about how our past experiences can color our perceptions about our present and future relationships. Of the three novellas in this collection, Lights Out is my favorite. The author has a gift for telling a story that fully engages all of my senses. I loved the nods to the couple's culture, shown in their love of music, food, and shared stories. The sights and sounds of both the theatre and the city came alive for me. Every scene plays out like a movie in my mind, a rare thing for me as a reader. *For fans of Priscilla Olivares' Keys to Love series, there's even a nod to a certain health guru we've come to know and love. 5 stars

Mind Games, the final novella in the collection, introduced me to author Sarah Skilton. This novella introduced me to the world of magicians in a fun, approachable way. It's the first time I've ever read a book with a hero with such an "untraditional" job and I honestly want more from this world! The special gifts Nick gave Alison really cemented for me how much he valued her. 4 stars

In all, this collection was a really great escape. I have to add that I really love how each story normalized therapy and the importance of mental health/self awareness.

3.5 stars rounded up!

When I recently read and enjoyed Priscilla Oliveras’ newest romance Anchored Hearts, I jumped at the chance to read Summer in the City, a collection of connecting novellas that included a story by Oliveras. I was intrigued by the idea of three friends’ separate stories set during a summer black-out one night in New York City, each written by a different author. Oliveras’ story was definitely the standout for me, but I enjoyed this quick summer escape.

Let’s take a look at what I thought about each one!

"Night at the Museum" is the first story by Lori Wilde. Who isn’t intrigued by the idea of a romantic tryst in a museum overnight!? Ross and Rachel, anyone?? While I enjoyed the plot of this one, I was never completely sold on the leading man. I found myself cringing at his words and actions—never a good sign when you’re trying to enjoy a romance. It might have also had something to do with the fact that they’d just spoken to each other for the first time, too. It’s hard to make an instant connection work. I would give this one 3 stars.

I immediately recognized Oliveras’ witty and capable writing style in "Lights Out", the second novella in the collection. She quickly established her characters’ history and made me believe in their connection. I enjoyed their banter and sizzling chemistry. This is also the only one of the three stories that takes the reader out on the streets of NYC, and I enjoyed that glimpse. Oliveras is also really good at writing love scenes that are believable. They’re not overly wordy or awkward, and they make sense with the story—they don’t seem to be added in out of necessity. Once again, I’m looking forward to reading more by her. I would give this one 4 stars.

The final novella is "Mind Games" by Sarah Skilton. I have to admit, this is the story I was least interested in. The magician aspect didn’t really grab my attention, but I’m happy to report that I really enjoyed it! It’s written well with enigmatic characters who have a compelling back story. And it’s the only one of the collection where I found myself laughing out loud. However, once again, there was a love scene that didn’t work for me. I found myself taken out of the story and thinking, Wait, what?? But overall, I was charmed by "Mind Games". I would give this one 3.75 stars.

Summer in the City was a fun escape! I wish more collections were done in this connecting manner. I only wish at the end we could have seen all the friends back together, sharing the tales of their eventful evenings.

🎆3 novellas, 3 friends, 3 sexy guys, 1 all night blackout… what could happen?! ;)🎆

📖 Thanks to the authors sending me a free eARC copy via netgalley, I got to find out!!

Summer in the City 
by Lori Wilde, Priscilla Oliveras and Sarah Skilton 
Published by: Kensington  
FICTION / ROMANCE / CONTEMPORARY 
Release Date: May 25, 2021 
Can be found on: Kensington’s website, Amazon, B&N, Apple, Kobo and Google

Blurb: 
This book includes 3 connected novellas: 
   Night at the Museum by Lori Wilde 
   Lights Out by Priscilla Oliveras 
   Mind Games by Sarah Skilton 
 
Each connected novella in this fun, fresh Rom-Com anthology follows a different woman from a group of NYC friends whose plans to escape the summer heat with a fabulous girls-only weekend suddenly lose steam when an unexpected blackout cuts off power to all of Manhattan. But while the lights are out, enemies become lovers, acquaintances find they have more in common than a pack of matches, and the city really heats up! 
 
There's nothing like summer in Manhattan. The days are long and the nights are even longer. But when the lights go out in the city, fireworks explode...

Thoughts: 
This was definitely a fun quick read with quite a few LOL moments. You will definitely enjoy this book of connected novellas if you enjoy strangers to lovers, enemies to lovers and 2nd chance romance tropes!  There is a little bit of something for everyone is this fun summer read!  It was a fun one to kick start the summer!

I do wish there was an epilogue of some sort to tie the three stories together a bit more at the end, maybe a girls weekend scenario?  Overall I gave it 3 stars! Thanks for letting me read your book Lori, Priscilla and Sarah!

⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 stars