SUMMER HEAT is the second book in the “Wildflowers” series by Jill Sanders. This is a great book for readers who enjoy a series built around a group of tightknit friends. SUMMER HEAT’s prologue gives the reader an introduction to the friendship that formed between Elle, Hannah, Scarlet, Aubrey, and Zoey – “The Wildflowers”, as well as the bond between Elle and her grandfather Joe. In SUMMER HEAT, Elle Saunders shares ownership with River Camp with her BFFs and creates a snowbird retreat camp. The friendships in SUMMER HEAT are reminiscent of the ones in Nora Roberts’ wonderful “Bride Quartet” series.

River Camp is a realized dream for Elle, but Liam Costa and his brothers wander into camp and shake up her world. Liam and his brother have secrets and a hidden agenda when it comes to Elle and her camp – nothing sinister, but things they feel must remain hidden. Thankfully, since there are so many secrets, Jill Sanders tells this story from alternating perspectives so that the reader gets some insight into the main characters. Elle is reluctant to get involved with Liam because, initially, she can tell he’s hiding something and because of her relationship in the past with her abusive ex. For Liam, his complicated relationship with his father makes him cautious about having something long-term with Elle. The sexual tension between Elle and Liam is through the roof, and the flirtations eventually lead to some steamy encounters. I like how the relationship between this couple evolves over the course of SUMMER HEAT. The building of trust leads to a deeper connection as Elle and Liam get to know each other better.

SUMMER HEAT is summer love at its finest with terrific character-driven storytelling. I love the characters and their complex relationships in this book. Although this is the second book in the series, this is the only book I’ve read so far. After reading SUMMER HEAT, I look forward to reading the next book in the series as well as going back for the first one.