Under a Summer Sky (Follow Your Heart): A Savannah Romance - eBook

I recently finished reading Under a Summer Sky by Melody Carlson. This was a very enjoyable read, and I felt like I was on vacation while I was reading it! It was a great story, and all the characters were lovable. I especially found myself rooting for Nicole throughout the novel. However, with that being said, I did feel like the ending was jilted and short. It was almost as if a few more chapters were missing from the story. It gave a final impression of the book being rushed. However, I do still feel like it was a good novel, and I would recommend it if you're looking for a light, summer read. I received this book from the publisher, but I was in no way required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This book is so full of surprises. A couple of siblings rivalry. From childhood vacations to adulthood Nicole and friend meet for years.. Nicole's Mom gets her friend to have Nicole houseset and manage gallery while friend goes on a cruise. Strange noises in attic bring Nicole and Bernice, a teenager, together. Restoring homes, ghosts, and two brothers competing for Nicole's attention at same time. Who will win? or will either? Read to find out. Savannah, a time of believing houses are haunted and ghost tours part of read. Dare you to get it. It will capture you.

Under a Summer Sky, written by Melody Carlson, is book 3 in the Follow Your Heart series. Nicole Anderson is a high school art teacher who has recently broken up with her boyfriend and is feeling stuck in her job. Just before the end of the school year, her mother makes a visit to her classroom. Her mother has made arrangements for Nicole to go to Georgia and watch her friend Vivian's home and co-manage her art gallery while Nicole and her husband go on a long cruise. Nicole has just days to get everything ready.

Nicole and her family are friends with Vivian's family. They use to go on vacations together, so Nicole knows Vivian's boys. But they are all grown adults now and have not seen each other for years. Vivian's husband comes from old money and their home is beautiful and Nicole is looking forward to spending the summer there. What she does not expect is to find herself caring for Vivian's granddaughter as well.

Nicole has never worked in an art gallery before and finds herself struggling to work with Vivian's employee, Amyra. Amyra is an ex-girlfriend of one of Vivian's sons. Vivian's son's encourage Nicole to fire Amyra.

This is a great contemporary romance story. Set in the south, the story gives some background to the area as well as southern traditions. This is a fun book to read for enjoyment. This story can easily be read on a lazy weekend. Even though it is part of a series, it is a stand alone novel. The story line and characters are well developed. The story of a summer romance as an adult seems different to me. As well as having a parent make your summer plans to start immediately after school is over, for the majority of the summer. This is not realistic to me. But overlooking that, it was a fun read. This is also considered a Christian fiction story. The Christian aspect of the story is very light. This is more a good clean romance story.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing. I have chosen to write an honest review.

How many of you have ever picked a book to coincide with a particular time of the year or a season of your life? No? Just me? ;-)

Well, for the bookish nerds who do that from time to time - because sometimes we just do - then Melody Carlson's latest novel is for you!

Nicole is a high school art teacher who is stuck in life like paint under fingernails. When her mom arranges for her to house sit and manage an art gallery for a family friend, Nicole reluctantly agrees. However, it turns out to be just what she needed! As Nicole immerses herself into Savannah life, old friends resurface and long wondered "what ifs" are finally answered. And, boy, am I a fan of answered questions!

Under a Summer Sky is a light, sweet romance sure to give you all the fireflies! This is a clean romance that is perfect for the person(s) in you're life who are new to Christian Fiction. It's clean, sweet subtleness makes it a wonderful crossover book. Also, Melody Carlson does an excellent job of catching the flavor and history of Savannah; I felt like I was there!

Four Stars - A light, summer read! Under a Summer Sky is the third book in Melody Carlson's Follow Your Heart Series, but you do not need to read the first two books, Once Upon a Summertime and All Summer Long, since the stories do not build on each other.

I received a copy of Under a Summer Sky by Melody Carlson from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. All opinions expressed are my own.

About this book:

High school art teacher Nicole Anderson is looking forward to a relaxing summer in Savannah, house-sitting and managing an art gallery for a family friend. The house is luxurious in a way that only old money could make it, and the gallery promises interesting days in a gorgeous setting. Yet it isn't long before her ideal summer turns into more than she bargained for: a snooty gallery employee who's determined to force her out, a displaced adolescent roosting in the attic, and two of Nicole's close childhood friends--who also happen to be brothers--vying for her attention.

With a backdrop of a beautiful historical city, incredible architecture, and even an alleged ghost or two, combined with the opportunity for romance . . . anything can happen!

Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson invites readers to spend the summer surrounded by beauty and tantalizing possibilities for the future.

Series: Book #3 in the Follow Your Heart series. (Review of Book #1, Here! and #2 Here! But can be read as stand-alones.)

Spiritual Content- A couple Scriptures are mentioned & quoted; A few prayers & thanking God; A few talks about God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, & sermons; Mentions of blessings & being blessed; A few mentions of religious paintings; A mention of a godsend; A mention of a miracle;

*Note: Nicole goes on a ghost tour (up to semi-detailed, but not truly scary); Many mentions of haunted houses and places (but not like at an amusement park), ghosts (some believe there are ghosts, but Nicole doesnt), & ghost tours; A mention of feeling odd supernatural effects at a place.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a idiot and six form of stupids; Some sarcasm & eye rolling; A party with adults and alcohol, only some young teens get into the vodka & get sick (barely-above-not-detailed); Drinking champagne; Many mentions of divorces, going through one, & parents fighting; Mentions of wars, battles, & deaths; Mentions of slavery & slave labor; Mentions of a house party with alcohol, shots, & a girl who had alcohol poisoning; Mentions of alcohol poisoning & throwing up; Mentions of alcohol (beer, wine, vodka, & champagne), a pub/brewery & drinking; Mentions of a possible break-in, a robbery, & intruder; Mentions of teasing, bullies, mean girls, & hatred; Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of a murder & suicide with the son finding his parents bodies; A few mentions of a fire & deaths; A few mentions of injuries; A couple mentions of a suspicious murder; A couple mentions of thieves; A couple mentions of pierces & tattoos; A couple mentions of lies & lying; A mention of poison; A mention of horror films;

*Note: Going to & Mentions of Starbucks; Mentions of celebrities (Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Adele, & the Kardashians); Mentions of brands (Range Rover, Mercedes, BMW, Herms, & Ralph Lauren); Mentions of vampires; Mentions of the Munsters; A mention of Disneys Pirates of the Caribbean.

Sexual Content- two barely-above-not-detailed kisses and a semi-detailed kiss; Touches & Embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing & Smelling; a hot and two hussys; Many mentions of crushes, dating, dates, boyfriends, girlfriends, breakups, & exes; Mentions of noticing & attention; Mentions of falling [in love with] for someone; Mentions of flirting; Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of a couple who was pregnant when they got married; Attention from two guys; Love, falling in love & a bit of the emotions;

*Note: A few mentions of a skimpy nightgown & a mans whistling at Nicole; A mention of a young girl wearing a bikini.

-Nicole Anderson, age 29

P.O.V. of Nicole

300 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens- One Star

New Teens- One Star (and a half)

Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)

Older High School Teens- Three Stars

My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)

The beginning held my interest, but as the book went on I started not enjoying it as much. My main problem was that the romances felt forced. Especially with that endingit was very rushed and quite honestly just faded out as you read the last bit. No exciting big moment, at least, in my opinion.

I did liked Nicole at first, but during her interactions with the brothers, I was shaking my head at different parts. I dont feel like she had a connection to either of them, honestly. I enjoyed the art gallery parts and found myself wishing there was more of that.

It was a decently cute readthere were a lot of mentions of ghosts and haunting houses that some might not like howeverbut I didnt find it to be the authors best or anywhere near her best book(s).

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.