"Just a Fling" by Katherine Grace is a compelling exploration of love, loss, and second chances. Following Dawn Mathison, a bright law student, and Callan Marlowe, a charming British solar developer, the narrative is beautifully crafted with dual POV, oscillating between past and present timelines. While the change in perspective mid-chapter took some getting used to, it added a layer of depth to both characters and their struggles.

The romantic spark between Dawn and Callan is compelling and complicated, with a past summer fling turning into something more substantial when fate brings them back together. Grace's portrayal of Callan's past trauma was particularly poignant, adding a layer of complexity to his character that was both frustrating and endearing. His journey toward healing and acceptance was profoundly moving.

The characters' professional and personal development was seamlessly woven into the narrative, giving their romance a grounded and authentic feel. Dawn's strength and determination were admirable, and her evolution from a fling to a pillar of support for Callan was wonderfully portrayed. Grace doesn't shy away from the heavier aspects of life, deftly balancing the light-hearted banter and flirtation with more serious themes.

But what set "Just a Fling" apart for me was the depth of emotion and realism injected into the narrative. From the vibrant descriptions of Cambridge to the bustling energy of NYC, the settings were atmospheric and evocative. The thoughtful integration of mental health issues also added a unique dimension to the story without overshadowing the romance.

"Just a Fling" is a well-rounded and engrossing read that goes beyond the traditional romance novel. With endearing characters, an engaging plot, and a thoughtful exploration of deeper themes, it's an enjoyable journey. Thank you, NetGalley, Wild Rose Press, and Katherine Grace, for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love the cover - very discreet and caters well to romance book readers. As I began reading the book, my interest was peeked. I wanted to know more about Dawn and Callahan's history. I wanted to know what transpired within the two of them that led to the animosity readers are first introduced to. However, just as I was starting to learn more about the characters, the plot began to take a turn into a flashback of their relationship. Except, I felt all I was reading was cringey dialogue and being told what happened between the characters. I think most readers appreciate being shown the characters, their lifestyles, their personalities, and their thoughts. This felt more like telling the reader that "x happened, y was there, z looked like this." While this is not a negative aspect, it tends to become redundant for readers. Additionally, the flashback portion of the book did not entail much storyline, in my honest opinion. I felt that I was simply reading about their sex adventures instead of learning more about their relationship as a whole -- nothing wrong with this if you wanted it to be just a sexual relationship. However, I felt that the vibe I got in the beginning of the novel was that the characters are in love/falling for each other and want to explore that in more and better detail. I think that some scenes could have been cut in order to move the story along. Overall, I was excited for this novel and would love to read something else by the author, but think that it might help to tweak the flow of the plot, the content, and developing mature characters that are described, not told to the readers. I hope my feedback helps the author in the future and looking forward to reading more from them as I think they have a great opportunity to creating a story-line but just need to work on establishing and continuing that plot effectively.

I was instantly hooked to this book, from the beginning. Callan and Dawn have instant connection and fire.... then when her summer is up with a summer abroad things do not go as planned without any notes or explanation. Fast forward Dawn is in board room entering a meeting and comes face to face with Callan 1 year later. da da da......
The connection is still there but the hurt is lingering.... can Dawn continue with a fling or turn her back for good?
highly recommend!
4.5 stars

I personally feel like this book feel completely flat for me & that may be because the second chance love trope is not for me.

I did not enjoy the Callen or Dawn & feel that there just was not enough there redeeming either one of them. I was not rooting for either one of them to get together because I just don’t believe that it’s a real HEA. Possibly, if there would’ve been a change in Callen sooner I could say differently, but there were things about Dawn I didn’t like either. They were both incredibly selfish characters.

I also feel like at the beginning of the book, some of the dialogue was a bit stiff.

I loved bill white sr. He was the bright spot of the book, & I think that Gemma was also great.

I loved this book! Just a Fling far exceeded my expectations, and was a poignant story that skillfully navigated tough topics. I will definitely be recommending this book to others!

I really loved this book, the story was great and I really liked the characters. But there was also some things that I disliked, I didn't really like the way the past came into the story and I really wished Callan worked on his issues before doing all of this to Dawn.

"Summer Seduction" by Katherine Grace is a steamy second chance romance that will keep you hooked until the very end. Dawn Mathison and Callan Marlowe's summer romance was supposed to be just a fling, but they quickly found themselves falling for each other. However, Callan's commitment issues got in the way, and he broke Dawn's heart.

Fast forward to the present, and both Dawn and Callan have moved on with their lives. But when fate brings them back together, the chemistry between them is still as strong as ever. The author does a great job of building up the tension between the two characters, making the reader root for them to finally get together.

The characters are well-developed and likable, with their flaws and vulnerabilities adding depth to the story. The writing is descriptive and engaging, with plenty of steamy scenes to satisfy romance fans.

Overall, "Summer Seduction" is a fun and entertaining read that delivers on its promise of a sizzling romance. The story is well-paced, with just the right amount of drama and conflict to keep the reader engaged. If you're in the mood for a steamy second chance romance, this book is definitely worth checking out.

Okayyyyyy I'll admit I'm getting into contemporary romance and it's thawing my icy heart.

The cover art doesn't do it for me, but the description lured me in. I'm kind of a sucker for the second chance trope. Admittedly, this book took a long time for me to finish. I started off with the first 10 chapters and put it down for several weeks before I picked it up again. It was around chapter 18 when I finally got really interested.

Callan not explaining his situation to Dawn was incredibly frustrating, like I wanted to just grit my teeth and yell TALK TO HER.

But all in all, I'd give it a solid 3 ⭐

Many thanks to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The characters in this novel are well-written and relatable, and the chemistry between Dawn and Callan is electric. Their steamy romance is both believable and captivating, and the plot is well-paced, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish.

If you love second chance romance then this is the novel for you! It provides a flashback that allowed some context of the relationship. The characters were great but definitely could have gotten a little more detail about them. 3.5/5

-Second chance romance
-Then and now
-Light with darker themes

This was angsty and spicy! I loved the writing! Dawn and Callan were a hot couple. The ending felt a bit rushed. My favorite parts were the flash back of them in London.

I loved this book! I am glad it was a dual POV so we got both Dawn and Callan's perspectives.

Dawn Mathison was an American law student who was over studying in London for a few short months and Callan Marlowe was a solar developer. Dawn and Callan's relationship was steamy from the start when Callan accidently spilt hot coffee on her! Dawn and Callan had a wonderful summer romance. Dawn quickly fell in love with Callan and even tried to find a way to stay in London for longer. However, Callan wanted it to be just a summer fling and had deep issues he needed to work through and thought breaking her heart was for the best.

In a twist of fate, they are reunited a year later with Dawn working at a law firm and the same law firm is working with Callan's solar company. Dawn was understandably annoyed and angry seeing him again!

I am glad he ends up sharing his past with her. It's not smooth sailing but I was happy with the ending. The epilogue was beautiful and had me crying.

Would highly recommend this book! 4 star read from me

Thanks to Netgalley and Katherine Grace for letting me read this book to review. It is entirely my own opinion

I received an arc in exchange for my honest review.

3 stars

Dawn works at a law firm and as she's getting ready for a meeting when in walks Callan, her hot British fling. Callan

This book is Dual POV with alternating timelines. I usually like dual pov but this one would change in the middle of the chapter which took me a while to get used to. I kind of wish each chapter was just either Dawn or Callan and didn't change so frequently.

I like second chance romances, they're usually full of angst which I love. Callan and Dawn had to go on a long journey which I had a blast reading and really enjoyed.

The characters and we'll developed with their own things they needed to work through which I enjoy reading in a romance.

As for things I didn't love, when they meet its very instalove on Dawn's part. When Callan says he had trauma she just accepts it without him having to put it in the work to prove that he's grown as a person. She also has unrealistic expectations with Callan when they sort of get together. She thinks he loves her but just doesn't know it yet. Dawn, you deserve better but you also need to stop projecting things onto him and believe what he's telling you when he says he's not ready for a marriage. For a man that's 30 I expected him to be more mature and not just abandon her at an airport with zero explanation

Overall, this book was a fun read but I think it could have been improved upon.

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

Publication date: April 5, 2023

Just a fling is a second chance romance told from the main Female Characters POV from now and then perspective.

Dawn Mathison is a driven young woman spending her summer in England to study law at Cambridge University. This is an incredible opportunity for her to get ahead of her studies and focus on her future as a lawyer.

Dawn doesn’t have time for a relationship and certainly isn’t looking for one especially while she is England for a short period of time.

Dawn literally runs into Callan Marlowe at a coffee shop near campus. After spilling hot coffee all over her, Callan can’t seem to get Dawn off his mind.

Callan has his own dark past and has vowed never to get into a long term relation again, it’s not worth it. After all these years of feeling nothing, he can’t deny the spark between him and Dawn.

Dawn and Callan decide they will have a summer fling, no strings attached. They enjoy each other’s company, have incredibly hot sex and with Dawn leaving at the end of the summer, no commitments. Until one of them wants more than the other can give.

I really enjoyed Dawn and Callan’s story. Callan’s history and background story is sad and they way it was woven into the epilogue was really well done. The characters were well developed and I was really rooting for them to make things work. There was some spice but it was sprinkled within the story and was the right amount for what I would expect. This is a four star read for me!

#NetGalley #justafling #katherinegrace

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this book. I like how you jump right into the storyline! I really enjoyed getting to read back and forth between past and present. I understood that Callan had past trauma but I just felt like Dawn deserved better than him at times. I truly loved them together though and they definitely make me believe in fate. I loved how accurate the author depicted grief. This was a very intense romance that I enjoyed and would recommend! I went through a rollercoaster of emotions and loved that about it.

Dawn is an associate at a top-tier law firm in NYC after graduating from law school second in her class. She’s caught off guard one day during a firm meeting when who is there but none other than her steamy British fling from her semester abroad - Callan - a.k.a. the emotional unavailable one that got away. Do you believe in second chances?

This book is written very uniquely because it alternates POVs between Dawn and Callan mid-chapter, mid-scene. I’ve never read a book before that does that, and I absolutely loved it. I also loved how the conflict started early on in the book and it grasped me and drew me in then developed the backstory through dual timelines instead of a long lead up to establish the background which would have been *yawn* fest! As a lawyer, it’s sometimes very difficult to read books that depict law students or lawyers that aren’t accurate. This one was very accurate. It was also relatable and frickin’ hilarious. And don’t forget about steamy too!

Fantastic debut from Katherine. She is a very talented and humorous writer. Can’t wait to read more from her in the future!

Thank you to Katherine, Wild Rose Press, and NetGalley for the advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this book. It was such a fun heartfelt journey and the happy ending was perfect! I really enjoyed the characters and the development of the relationship. I would definitely recommend!

I didn’t want to put it down!


A second-chance romance with a splash of comedy that will no doubt pull at your heart strings.

Dawn… a first year law associate just trying to find her way in a job she hates has her world turned upside down when the one person who broke her heart returns unexpectedly. And I have to add that my girl is TALL! As a tall woman myself, I will always love a book that highlights the MFC being tall (5’10+) and that making her even more attractive!

Callan… the successful business man working to build his company with a dark spot in his past that has him hiding from any sort of love. That is until he runs into (literally) Dawn in a small London coffee shop (yes just like you imagine it playing out in all the rom com movies).

Throughout this book we see their past and present together. We are pulled into the future that could be. And we see how they both just can’t get it together 🤣. But of course this is a HEA so they get it together eventually.

Maybe I’m just a big ol sap but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Katherine Grace did a great job of really making me feel their emotions. Feel their pain, their joy, their struggle, and all the love. The moments that Callan and Dawn share are so stinkin cute and the spice 🥵 was just mmmmmm so good (not too much, not too little, jusssttt right). The drama between these two had me wanting to shake some sense into them both but it was a journey well worth going on. Although there was a moment that I wanted Dawn to go a little harder on Callan, that didn’t deter me from how I feel about this book.

Now I NEED to hear this in audio form with a good Brit to voice Callan (please see this and make it happen Katherine 👀👀)

I can not recommend this enough for anyone who loves second chance romances.


4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press for the early copy. ❤️

Law student Dawn Mathison’s steamy summer romance with solar developer Callan Marlowe is just a fling…until it isn’t. Swept off her feet–and into lots of different positions–by the sexy Brit, Dawn believes Callan is The One...right until he dumps her.

But that was last summer. Now, she is living her dream with a kick-ass job in New York City and couldn't care less about Callan. Not one bit. Truly.

Callan knows he left Dawn broken-hearted, confused, and pissed off. But, dammit, he doesn't do serious relationships. Not after his past. It doesn't matter anyway because he'll never see Dawn again. Which is for the best. Really.

When a twist of fate brings Callan back into Dawn’s life–and into her office–their sizzling attraction reignites. Maybe this time around, they won't get too serious. But fate has a sense of humor. Because Callan thinks Dawn is The One who can help him. And maybe turn their hot affair into something more?

I love this story. Perfect book palate cleanser. Will recommend this story to others.

Just a Fling was such a good second chance romance and the main characters Dawn and Callan are so relatable. It was a great read, with a lot of funny, cute and deep emotional moments.

The books is a second chance romance with a then and now timeline that includes deeper subjects and has a bit of spice! This story is deep and is not all fluff which made me like the characters even more. Both characters were well developed and has realistic flaws which makes you feel for and love both of them.

Dawn is a law student that decides to do a semester abroad in England. She has a funny meet cute with Callan and their relationship starts from there. They enjoy a summer romance, just a fling, right? But of course, they start developing feelings and just like that (out of nowhere) Callan dumps her!

A year later, fate brings them face to face as Callan is in New York for business and they have to face everything that happened a year ago...

If you love a second chance romance this is definitely a great one to read. I absolutely adored the cast of characters and believe that the author, Katherine Grace, wrote a great story with tons of heart, great friendships, real every day struggles, a bit of humor and spice and great character development.


Thank you The Wild Rose Press and NetGalley for my e-ARC.