Cute clean romance! I loved the forced proximity between ivy and Dax! The banter was perfect!

It is heartfelt and I really liked it. I loved the setting and felt like it was a character in the book.

Wow! So to start off, I did not realize that this was book 7 in a series before requesting the audiobook from Netgalley but honestly, it did not matter. It felt as much as a standalone as needed with the feel of being part of a series.

The story was funny, sweet, and had just the right amount of romance. It had me laughing and smiling the whole time I listened to it. I now want to go back and read the previous 6 as I enjoyed this so much!
It was the perfect end of summer listen and can't wait to read/listen to more by this author.

I really liked the Narrator and would listen to more by them!

Rebel Summer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Cindy Steel

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: I wasn’t supposed to be in Sunset Harbor for more than a weekend. But thanks to, let’s just call it—an unforeseen act of stupidity on my part—I’m here for the whole summer. And for the first time in my life, I’m in a whole lot of trouble. The sentence? Community service paid toward the person I accidentally wronged.

The problem? That person happens to be Dax Miller. The guy who always spent more time fighting the law than obeying it. He's also the guy I once told to have a nice life amounting to nothing.

So…it’s been fun being court-ordered to serve him now. Except the more time I spend with Dax fighting and fixing what was broken, the more I remember that sizzling…something…that’s always been between us. Or that smile of his that can get me to do just about anything. Let me be clear, with a politician for a father, I don’t do trouble. But what happens when the temptation to embrace that inner rebel becomes too strong to resist? And what do I do when the guy who has only dated trouble his entire life, has his sights set on me?

My Thoughts: This is the seventh and final book in the Falling for Summer Series. What an amazing, fun, and heartfelt series. Ivy was only to be in town for the weekend. An accidental miscue with her medications caused her to DUI with a golf cart, right through Dex’s mechanic’s shop and through the lego full sized car that has been there for years. Her sentence is 200 hours of community service to rebuild the lego car. As Ivy works her sentence, while keeping up with the sparring with Dax, she realizes that there was something between them. Will that temptation to embrace his trouble become overpowering for Ivy? Or will Dax, who has lived his life in trouble, set his eyes on Ivy? This follows the tropes of small town romance, forced proximity, opposites attract, bad boy/good girl, friends to lovers, and closed door romance.

This is narrated by Ivy, through her perspective, in first person. There are also flashbacks embedded into the story from when they were in high school, which was a nice touch. Ivy is an adult with a PhD and has parents who pull at her strings, thinking she is incapable of making her own decisions, warning her off of getting involved with Dax. Dax is perceived trouble, but once you get through the tough exterior, you get a kind and compassionate soul. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, angst/tension, mad chemistry, and engaging. The chemistry between them really was amazing and when they stood up to her father, it made my heart grow 10x and even a few tears. The supporting characters, some have their own books in this series, really do elevate this story to another level. The author’s writing style was complex, closed door, funny, heartwarming, and really touched my heart. The plot was fantastic and the ending was chef’s 💋.

TW from the author: parental manipulation, narcissism, sibling abandonment, and a brief glimpse/scene with sexual assault. The story is narrated by Marli Watson, she does an amazing job with voice variation through character distinction. The flow and pitch of her voice is smooth and easy to follow at 2x speed. The audiobook is almost 11 hours and it goes by so fast. I cannot state how much I loved this series. When a group of authors come together to write a series of different characters in the same small town, I know it can be a little challenging. This group of authors have really pulled it off. The books flows seamlessly together but each could be a standalone. The stories run concurrently but no story spoils the other (for the most part). I highly recommend this entire series, as well as this book. I have not read much from Steel but will be rectifying that by picking up some of her back stories.

This cover is my favorite of the series and the culprit is... the tattoos. I'm a goner!
Ivy makes a silly mistake and has to pay for her crime with community service to none other than Dax, the guy with a not-so-great reputation. Her weekend visit turns into weeks of taking orders from and mildly irritating Dax.
The glimpses into their past helped round out their characters and the chemistry between them was adorable. I really love a good bad-boy-gone-good especially over the one girl they struggle to resist. The setting is fun and I liked how Cindy incorporated the cameos of the characters from the rest of the series.
I'm a big fan of listening to an audiobook when I can - it's just the perfect way for me to read more while doing life. Marli Watson's narration was decent. She's not a favorite narrator but Cindy's story shines through.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the alc. All thoughts are my own.

I have enjoyed this series, each is a standalone even though we get a glimpse of the characters throughout. This one has Ivy and Dax. We are treated to flashbacks to high school up to present day. Ivy is a professional, however, her father is a politician and controlling. Dax is a mechanic and he makes it a priority to bring some joy and rebellion into her life. I think my favorite part was when Ivy told off her father. I digress. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and could have continued listening if it was longer.

3.5 stars! I like it! I didn't read this series in order, and I still enjoyed getting to know the characters in Sunset Harbor.

Dax and Ivy had a really good vibe going on. I enjoyed their banter, the slow burn, the flirting, and everything else that goes on between them. This is worthy of the bad boy/good girl trope, with the added bonus of it not being cheesy or way over the top. This book also touches the slow burn and second chance at love tropes. The slow burn is slow and a long wait, but when the kiss finally happened, I'm glad the author took her time getting there.

The narrator for this book did a great job. Her voices for the characters are distinctive and I can easily tell who was talking.

I think I'd look into more works by Cindy Steel, and by Marli Watson, too.

I ran out of time to read this whole series this summer but I snagged this one anyway because I saw the tropes and knew with as going to want to read it. Don’t ask me why December in the middle of a cold-snap was the time I needed some sun okay? 😆

Expect 👉🏼 Summer, Small Island Town, Opposites Attract, Secondish Chance, It’s Always Been You, Forced Proximity, Sweet Romance

This book was so good! 😍 all the feels. From the past and present perspectives giving you a full picture, to both narrators doing a wonderful job, I flew through this book. They were so sweet and swoony and so much fun.

Dax was the island’s bad boy, ivy’s high school lab partner and the one guy her father forbade her from spending time with. Now, he’s not nearly as much trouble. It seems that good-girl Ivy is the one in hot water when a mistake sends her into trouble. These two are back together and their friendship is as natural as breathing.

I’m still smiling when I think about this book. If you need a touch of sunshine, this is it.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the alc!

4.5/5

This is part of a multi-author series adn I liked seeing the characters from other books show up,but this one just didn't do it so much for me.

Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Sizzling Summer Romance

Rebel Summer is a delightful conclusion to the Falling for Summer series. This heartwarming romance follows Ivy, a rebellious spirit, and Dax, a charming mechanic. Ivy and Dax's chemistry is undeniable, and their banter is both sharp and charming. As they navigate community service together, their forced proximity sparks a slow-burn romance that is both heartwarming and exhilarating.

This heartwarming story is filled with summer nostalgia, second chances, and personal growth. Dax's bad-boy charm and Ivy's rebellious spirit make them a dynamic duo. The author's exploration of family dynamics and the pressures of societal expectations adds depth to the narrative.

The audiobook narration is exceptional, bringing the characters to life and immersing the listener in the story. The narrator's performance captures the essence of the characters and the summery atmosphere perfectly.

If you're looking for a romantic escape with plenty of swoon-worthy moments, Rebel Summer is the perfect choice.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #dreamscapemedia #rebelsummer #cindysteel #fallingforsummer

Mini review:

Rebel Summer by Cindy Steel is book seven in the (Falling For Summer) Series.
I really enjoyed Dax and Ivy’s love story. Dax used to be the town bad boy but deep down he’s got a heart of gold. This story was beautifully written with fun banter, a protective hero, & small island town moments. I especially loved how these two characters helped each other heal from their past hurts. I also loved how we get glimpses from Dax and Ivy back in high school. It added an extra layer to the story. Be aware of the trigger warning which will be posted below. I was a little hesitant at first after hearing the trigger warnings and you should definitely use your own judgment. But seeing as I trust the author’s writing and I have read every single Cindy Steel book thus far I decided to go ahead and I am so glad I did. The story & any conflicts in the book were well written. I feel like I would have missed out on such an amazing story if I had decided not to listen to it. I loved the narration and it is definitely worth the listen. I can’t wait to add this one in paperback to my bookshelf.
TW: (From the book) Though this book is a lighthearted and comedic closed door romance, there are a few heavier themes woven throughout. Namely—parental manipulation, narcissism, sibling abandonment, and a brief scene of an attempted sexual assault

Dnf at 15%. Didn’t love the premise and it just wasn’t working for me. I didn’t like how the book was set up. I think I’m just not the right audience for it. The narrator was fine.

Rebel Summer is a fantastic summer read for any romance fan. Dax, our swoony leading man, is a bad boy with a soft side. Ivy is good and determined. Not wanting to stay on the Island, she's in for it when she accidentally runs in Dax's shop with a golf cart. Ordered to community service, Ivy starts serving her time and that's when the fun starts. We've got banter galore, moments that will make you sigh, and sweet kisses.
The narration was fantastic. The narrator did a fabulous job at giving this story a voice.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audio. These thoughts are my own.

Love, love, love this series! I’ve listened to them all on audio- they are fantastic. I loved the “bad boy” aspect of this one and enjoyed getting to know Dax on a deeper level. These all work as standalone and have been fantastic to listen to! Engaging, witty, and sweet with a side of small town charm. Highly recommend!

I liked this book a lot. I liked that he wasn’t such a bad guy but that he brought so much fun, light, and a little danger to her life. It was fun to watch their relationship from when they were kids to the end and I loved the banter! The scene where he protects her was really good too! All in all a great book!

A politician's perfectionist daughter crashes a golf cart into the island bad boy's storefront and Lego display, how could that get any worse? Oh, it definitely can, and it's so much fun! This one is easily my favorite of the series. Steel is sooooo effortlessly readable. The banter was delightful, the conflicts were believable and heartwarming, the characters had depth and nuance. The audiobook was great and easy to listen to at a fast speed, my favorite!

Audio arc from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media. All opinions are my own.

4.5

Another super cute romance by Cindy Steel. I have a great track record with loving her books and this was no different.

Poor Ivy accidentally makes a mistake that leads to a court sentencing of helping her old rebel lab partner from high school. Ivy has been a rule follower her entire life, just hoping to earn her father’s love and respect, so this was the last thing she needed.

The tropes of this cute rom-com:
Rebel guy/ Good girl
Dad issues
Slow Burn Romance
Second Chance Love


Bonus- this is a clean romance, which is so hard to come by

Narrator: Excellent job and very engaging.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to preview this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This author always knows how to give us a heart punch in the middle of laughing. I enjoyed getting to know Dax since we see him in the other books in the series. He has so much more depth and it unfolds throughout all of the funny interactions in this seaside town. Ivy is fun even though she gave me a bit of whiplash. The entire last part of the book is simply swoony. Another win by this author.

Rebel Summer is the final book in the multi-author Falling for Summer series. All books in the series can also be read in any order as stand alones. I have had so much fun listening to each book in this series and although I am excited to have completed the series, I’m also a bit sad to be leaving Summer Harbor. However, I do plan to return someday…

The audio book was beautifully narrated. I adored listening to this story! The narrator did a great job with the voices and I found myself completely immersed in the lives of Ivy and Dax.

The story is told from Ivy’s point of view and I absolutely loved that we experienced what she was experiencing step by step, whether it was in the fun flashbacks to high school or her current situation of serving community service hours for Dax in his mechanic shop.

The banter was strong with these two and although there was definitely an enemies to more vibe, it was clear that when Ivy needed Dax, whatever the reason, he was there for her. He also helped her to stand on her own and finally let go of the intense need to please her father.

This story had lots of fun and quirky moments, definitely some wonderfully swoony moments, and a forced proximity situation with the service hours Ivy had to complete, but it also had some deeply emotional family situations for both Dax and Ivy. I loved that they were both so supportive of each other when it really mattered. I loved this story from start to finish!

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book, however, I also purchased the ebook. All opinions are my own.

Rebel Summer by Cindy Steel and narrated by Marti Watson was really cute. It was maybe a little heavier than the other books in the Falling for Summer series.

I really enjoyed the narrator. She threw off Julia Whelan vibes, which is an excellent quality to have.

I also really enjoyed misunderstood Dax Miller. This is a very sweet story with no explicit content.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advance audio listen in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you @Dreamscape_Media and @netgalley for a #gifted copy of this audiobook.

"But when it comes to matters of your life and your heart, it shouldn't be you that's disappointed."

Summary: Ivy was only supposed to be on the Sunset Harbor for the weekend. But after an unforeseen circumstance, she is suddenly forced to stay on the island and give community service back to Dax Miller, the guy most likely to be running away from the law while in high school. After a court-ordered service to Dax, Ivy sees the fire between the two of them that's been there since high school. Being with Dax has the bonus of driving her politician father nuts.

Thoughts: And this is my second favorite book in this series!! I love how Cindy Steel writes and this book had top-tier banter and antics. I loved the flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter to Ivy and Dax's time together in biology to help set up how their relationship evolves present day. Ivy and Dax had amazing chemistry both in their flashbacks and in the present day. The confidence that Dax gives Ivy to question what she wants to do in life was so fun to watch unfold. Marli Watson did a wonderful job with the audio of this book. I usually found ways to prolong my chores so that I could keep reading.

Read if you like:
🔥Enemies to more
💖Healing and growth
🤩Reformed rebel
😇Sweet rebellion