Quick Summary: A love, loss, and life after loss story

My Review: Just a Fling by Katherine Grace is a 2023 release. It is a women's fiction novel.

About the Book: "Law student Dawn Mathison’s steamy summer romance with solar developer Callan Marlowe is just a fling…until it isn’t."

In My Own Words: A chance encounter between an American and a Brit leads to more than either expected. After an intense whirlwind of a relationship, the two experience heartbreaking separation. As fate would have it, their paths cross again. Are they strong enough to move on from one another a second time?

My Final Say: Callan and Dawn found something special with each other. Their story was heartwarming and bittersweet. Circumstances made it so. Still, in facing their challenges, they were finally able to realize true happiness. That will always be a win.

Other: Triggers are associated with this story.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 👍💬
Warning: Triggers may be associated with depression, death, survivor's guilt, and trafficking.
Special Note: Book club recommendation

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (The Wild Rose Press), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review this work. The words I have shared are my own.

Just a Fling is a second chance romance for the girls left brokenhearted by boys who only wanted a fling - this time, though, the boy realizes his mistake.

A cute and spicy read!

This book had a good plot but the characters were very unlikable. So many of the situations seemed incredibly unrealistic. Overall though the book was entertaining.

I recently finished reading "Just A Fling" by Katherine Grace, and I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, the chemistry between Dawn and Callan is palpable and really draws you into their second-chance romance. I loved how their respective careers provided an interesting backdrop, adding depth to their characters and the overall story.

The pacing of the novel is fast and engaging, which kept me turning the pages. There's a good blend of romance and a bit of spice that adds to the excitement. However, I couldn't help but feel that the plot was somewhat predictable. There were moments when I guessed what would happen next, which took away some of the thrill.

Character development was another area where I felt the book could have been stronger. While Dawn and Callan are likable, I wanted to see more depth and growth in their personalities and relationships.

Overall, "Just A Fling" is a quick and enjoyable read. It has its flaws, but if you're looking for a light romance with a bit of drama and heat, it's worth picking up. Just don't expect too many surprises along the way.

Grace’s seductive tale sweeps you into the intoxicating whirlwind of Dawn and Callan, two souls whose fiery connection transforms their pasts, dreams, and future. Dawn, a captivating law student studying abroad in Cambridge, meets Callan, a charming British CEO of a cutting-edge solar tech company, and their chemistry ignites like a summer storm. Their initial encounter crackles with passion, quickly evolving from a steamy summer affair into something profoundly serious. However, as Callan grapples with the haunting guilt over the loss of his ex-wife and daughter, he retreats, leaving their hearts in limbo.

As fate would have it, the two part ways, returning to their separate lives, only to be drawn back together by a serendipitous twist of destiny. A chance encounter rekindles their smoldering passion and opens the door to a tantalizing possibility of a shared future.

Grace masterfully delves into the intricate dance of love, capturing the intense will-they-or-won’t-they tension that pulses through Dawn and Callan’s journey. The story thrives on their emotional and professional upheavals, as they use their work as a distraction from their undeniable longing. But destiny has its own plans—Callan’s company engages Dawn’s firm, forcing them to confront the truth of their irresistible attraction. This pivotal moment breathes new life into their relationship, sparking a renewed determination to overcome their pasts and embrace their future together.

The vulnerability they both show is deeply moving, especially as Callan’s trauma both challenges and is soothed by his magnetic connection with Dawn. Grace’s writing is a symphony of wit and rhythm, perfectly pacing their passionate dance, making each twist and turn compelling and earned.

For readers who crave undeniable chemistry, rich character development, and intimate passion, this romance is a masterpiece. Dawn and Callan’s journey from a fiery attraction to a deeply rooted connection is portrayed with a relatability that resonates with the heart. Grace’s storytelling is a knockout, leaving you yearning for more with every turn of the page.

2.5
It wasn't for me.
It started out good. Then it got really boring. The first time they met, it was an instant click, no tension, not much banter. I couldn't connect to them at all. The characters were good with their depth and ambitions, but I couldn't root for them. I liked the overall plot, the struggles with mental health issues, but still I couldn't justify the actions of the MC. It more felt like ego and acting out of anger than due to the mental health issues.
And it's kind of a third chance romance, I actually felt they shouldn't be a couple due to the actions of MMC.

i don't know how else to say this but this book was kind of meh. Dawn shouldn't have taken Callan back no matter what he said because of how he left and i couldn't really get past that.

This fun a quick read for me and while I enjoyed reading it I didn’t love it. I was wanting something else from this book I guess so it fell a little short for me. However I think others will enjoy this book.

This was a very good book. I enjoyed reading it. The characters and plot kept me interested. I would read another book by this author.

Dawn and Callan are supposed to just have a fling but as they go their separate ways they can't seem to take their thoughts off one and another. The mental health rep as well as the healing felt true as it lasts for most of the book and is not just figured out neatly in one chapter. Just as in real life healing is a long, messy process.

Dual POV, Dual Timelines, Spicy, Second Chance, Tragic Past, Summer Fling, Lawyer FMC

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This was a fun second-chance romance read! This story is an enjoyable funny, steamy, and heartfelt romance read.

💕 Second-chance romance (summer fling turned lover)
💕 Swoon-worthy
💕 Rom-Com

I liked this book! Written in 2 timelines from the perspective of both Dawn and Callan, the 2 MC. I really loved getting to know them, and really enjoyed their banter and the way they worked through the issues they each had in order to be together. I am typically not a fan of 2nd chance romance books, but this one pulled me in! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This cover is beyond adorable and screams valentines day! I love second chance romances SO MUCH and I enjoyed this one so very much! I also really enjoyed the little bit of mystery we got, too! The meet cute was SO SO swoon worthy and I loved Dawn and Callum! The writing was engaging and made this read so enjoyable! Oh - and the spice was spicin'! :)

4/5 stars.

Thanks to net galley for this ARC.

It took me a while to get into this book solely because at the beginning don’t get a good understanding of how Dawn and Callan meet. While I usually don’t mind second chance books, for me the backstory needs to be introduced first so there is a solid foundation we are building the story off of. Once I got into it, I got sucked!! It was very good

Grace has crafted quite an undeniably beautiful book with imperfect characters you will both relate to and root for. Plus, I so loved the second chance trope in it, made it so angsty!

I zoomed through this book and for good reason! It was such an easy read filled with the perfect amount of angst and romance that kept me flicking pages until I had reached the end.

I’m not normally a fan of second chance romances but I’m so glad I gave this one a chance, and I recommend others to give it a go too!

Thank you to netgalley for sending me this arc and allowing me to read it and review it.

This was so cute and i feel in love with the plot, characters and overall vibe. I will be gifting this to friends as of 2024 so we can all gush over how cute this book was.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The potential was there but this book wasn’t really for me. I didn’t connect with the characters in this book unfortunately.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! Unfortunately, I had to put this book in the DNF pile. The female lead of this book, Dawn, is 25 years old and every bit of her age shows when she interacts with the male lead Callan. Callan is a man with deep scars and terrible resolve when it comes to Dawn and whether he can accept having a committed relationship with her. I think Dawn could do better and Callan needs to see a therapist ASAP to address his emotional pain. The sex scenes were alright, but I think had Dawn been a little older and wiser, this story would have been more appealing to me.