Tempting Cameron is the second book in her Lone Pine
Lake
series which opened with raves. If you haven't read
anything by Karen Erickson then let me suggest Tempting
Cameron as your foray into her writing. It's that good.
This book could be a study about living with guilt and
dreading the day when dawn awakens to the truth.
First crushes can be lovely or actually crushing to one's
ego and self confidence as well as possibly leaving a
gaping hole in a young heart. These holes and woes
generally heal or fade away to distant memories as we age,
but sometimes they linger. There's no good reason for why
they hang in there but sometimes the pull is so strong as
to be a bind to the heart and soul.
For Chloe her crush for Cameron was equally sweet and
bitter. He never really gave her the time of day. Just saw
her as his kid sister's friend who kind of friendly stalked
him when they were kids. Chloe wore her heart on her
sleeve. Cam wore his disdain for anything remotely warm and
loving just as evident.
Two very different people. One with strong ties to hearth
and home and the other a runner. Cam fully admitted his
shortcomings. But his reasoning was questionable,
especially to those who knew and loved him. Just why he
harbored feelings of inadequacy around his family and the
wide circle of friends in their little town.
In his mind Cameron thought he would never measure up to
their standards, a continual disappointment to family and
all. His family just thought he marched to his drummer and
of course missed having any sort of relationship with their
mostly absent son.
Chloe's life went on minus Cam. He remained in her memory
as this hero, you know young girl stuff. But as often
happens people fail to live up to our memory. Buried deep
in Chloe's mind is a memory of a dreaded moment. The moment
that nightmare resurfaces it will forever change her life.
It will obliterate any pleasant notions of a future with
the one man who had won her heart so many years ago. The
nightmare will be her new reality.
Karen Erickson takes you on an intriguing journey through
the lives of these two characters. She writes about dreams
unfulfilled and new doors opening. Her philosophy is simple
and yet very rewarding. Erickson's book is a look into the
window of life and brims with optimism even when that is
difficult to believe in. The dialog is wondrous and real.
The characters running dialog is captivating. All this
makes Tempting Cameron a winner, definitely a page turner
that is surely going to win Erickson new fans and keep her
current ones very satisfied.
For Cameron McKenzie, Chloe Dawson has always just been
his younger sister Jane's best friend—a pesky
annoyance who followed him around and acted like he hung
the moon. It isn't until Jane's wedding to her firefighter
beau Chris that Chloe reappears in his life...and she isn't
pesky or annoying anymore. In fact, the beautiful Chloe
tempts him beyond reason. But Cam knows he's damaged
goods—not nearly good enough for Lone Pine Lake's
resident good girl.
Chloe's always dreamed of a future with the dark,
brooding Cam, and after they share an explosive kiss, she
wonders if her dream could be coming true. Cam's never
stuck around his hometown for long, though, so she makes
him an offer: one sweet summer romance with no strings
attached. This good girl's ready for an adventure...one
that just might end up lasting a lifetime.