Summer's Heart

Zane x Summer gave me so much life. Zane’s heartbreaking backstory and fear of finding love again felt so real; it was really well developed. Summer’s war with herself and who she really wants to be also felt very realistic to me. I grew up in a small town and always said I wanted to move away, I did, and now that I’ve moved back, I don’t want to go anywhere else. So I really related to Summer walking that path. The epilogue had me squealing. I can’t wait to see what is next for Sweetwater Cove.

Summer's Heart is the first book in a new Sweetwater Cove Series by Ciara Knight. It is listed as an “enemies to friends” story but actually Zane Whittaker and Summer Morgan are not true enemies. There have been many misunderstandings between Summer and her family which has spilled over into the community. Zane has just gotten caught up in the situation, trying his best to hold on to his home and buy back land he has sold.

All have made mistakes, all need forgiveness, all need healing, and all need love. Summer is a woman of action so as clarity comes so does her working on solutions. Underhanded dealings along with illegal activities is thwarting any attempt that she makes. Meanwhile Zane and she become friends, then more than that but the future is so uncertain for them. You can’t help but be rooting for these two, even Daisy, the horse is pulling for them.

The big mystery of who is working against Summer combined with will the family farms be saved is completely solved in the end. No cliffhanger but a little teaser of what might could be the next book in the series. Great beginning book for this new series.

4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lovely short book and the love behind it all and the suspense oh had me at the edge of my seat honestly amazing

Summer's Heart by Ciara Knight was a sweet story.
SH has that small town vibe which I love.
The characters were entertaining they kept me engaged and flipping the pages.
I thought Knight’s writing was very well done here. I never once felt bored and stayed up late finishing. The author's attention to detail brought this book to life.
A light-hearted and wonderful story.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Author Collective 20 for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Such a cute, quick summer read. This book kept me invested from the very first page; I couldn't put it down. One can never go wrong with the enemies to lovers trope.

Jen’s BookNook Review

Book: Summer’s Heart
Author: Ciara Knight

First thought: Great read! A sweet romance and a good life lesson of being true to YOURSELF while finding how to fit into your family and community.

Summer escaped her fate and went to college and then built her family farm into a cooperation that is very successful. She took the company public and banked even more money, she just wished her family saw her success. Now she’s forced to take a few weeks off due to a medical issue and she has gone back home, however what she left behind is not what she just came back to.

Zane has experienced nothing but loss in life, one after another everyone he loves leaves him behind. He risked everything he had to pay for him mom’s medical treatments and she lost the battle. Now he has to lease back his own family farm. He works as the football coach, makes specialized apple butters and works his land and is barely scrapping by.

Now after a hostile takeover at Summer’s company Zane and Summer’s families farms are in danger along with the rest of the towns. This book navigates the complexity of family relationships, small town community and teamwork. Plus mix in some sparks between these two and this is a fun wholesome beginning of fall read.

Tropes you’ll find:
* Small Town
* Closed Door
* Hidden Illness
* Family Expectations

Summer's Heart by Ciara Knight is a heartwarming small-town romance that blends family drama, corporate intrigue, and the slow-burning romance between Summer Morgan and Zane Whittaker. Summer, determined to turn her family farm into a thriving business, faces a health setback, while Zane, struggling with loss, aims to revive his family's legacy. When a hostile takeover threatens their dreams and their town, they join forces, leading to a charming romance.

The story navigates family complexities, hidden illnesses, and small-town dynamics, offering a satisfying conclusion while leaving room for future installments. While some characters may frustrate readers at times, the book's endearing qualities make it a delightful and heartwarming read for those seeking a mix of romance and community charm.

I loved the small town vibes in this book as well as the farmland setting. Summer & Zane make a great team & face their challenges admirably. I feel like there are other characters (such as Summers brother) who I would like to know more about & I loved the epilogue - which hopefully has paved the way for a sequel that I would happily read.

Summer had big plans for her family business when she left home, but a devastating virus damaged her heart, and she's driven back to help keep the company afloat when another company threatens to gobble up her dreams. Zach is trying to honor his late mother by creating an organic preserves company to restore his family's legacy. Can the two work together to hold on to what's important to them?

Summer and Zach start off with some misunderstandings, but pretty quickly, they're on the same side, fighting for the same things. Their slow burn romance is adorable, the story is short and sweet, and the whole thing gave me warm fuzzies. ❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

I will say the beginning of this book had me thinking ‘are these two literally ever gonna get along?’ but they got over it pretty quick which was a nice change of pace. I loved the slow burn of romance and it felt like the kind of book that would be perfect for a roadtrip. The plot and characters were well balanced and I do hope that there will be more books within to meet the others. Everyone in the story was just pretty likeable from the start and I really like the way you detailed and visualized the small town for the readers to feel like they were part of it.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity! and thank you for letting me read it early! :)

This small town enemies to love is more like a bushel full of misunderstandings, a touch of greed, and a pocket full of failures.

Summer left town in hopes of making a name for herself and keeping her family's farm afloat. Some health issues bring her back to her small hometown, where things have drastically changed, especially since she's almost estranged from her family. Zane did what he had to do for his mom and now times are tough. While he is a solid, stand-up character, Summer has some maturing to do and it was a interesting to watch the developments. I loved how homey and entrepreneurial Zane is and watching the two of them, with Summer's business sense, work out problems and issues creatively was satisfying.

This romance is sweet and cute, but I wanted just a little bit more. The smatterings of interactions and the zings of chemistry were appetizing, but I wanted to experience the romantic tension a bit more. And I did love the dash of mystery that surrounded the circumstances of the land.

This is a fun story for those enjoy heartwarming, small town farm life with homegrown characters.

Content: mild romance; brief mentions of health issues; moment of peril