Slow Summer Heat by Renae Kaye – Warmest Wishes

Geoffrey Saxon is in his forties, a bit plump, a lot fuzzy, and rather boring in bed—and thanks to a very public breakup, everyone in his street knows it. However, what they don’t know is that Geoffrey sometimes watches his hot young neighbor, Vaughn, in the pool. Vaughn has invited Geoffrey to join his pool parties, but Geoffrey knows it’s only pity.

As if things can’t get worse, Geoffrey’s air conditioner breaks during a heat wave in Western Australia—and just before Christmas. In search of some relief, he camps out in his backyard, where he also has a prime view of Vaughn swimming… naked. When Geoffrey’s injured falling from his spying post, Vaughn comes to his rescue and Geoffrey doesn’t think he can be more horrified.

But he could be in for a sweet holiday surprise. Is he ready to take the dive?

Advent Calendar Day 21

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆
This short story is funny, sweet, and slightly bizarre. As erotica or the start to an old school porn film, the older guy perving on his young neighbour while he swims naked in his pool at night is a great start. I’m not so sure it works as the prelude to a soulmate happily ever after romance.

I found the cheesy porn elements of this story hilarious. Did I mention the conveniently broken air conditioning? However, I found the romance elements of this story somewhat laughable. I liked Geoffrey, even with all of his anxiety and hang-ups. I’m not sure Vaughn ever becomes more than sexy eye candy – but he’s sweet and pretty and way too confident. Despite the insta-love, I’m not sure I see a convincing happily ever after between these two. So, the sexy bits are highlights... which is slightly confusing because this is actually a relatively low heat read. Anyways. There were entertaining moments here.


Veronica – ☆☆☆
Geoffrey has been perving over the fence at his young, hot neighbour, Vaughn, but says no every time the hot neighbour asks him over. The situation that sees Geoffrey finally going to Vaughn’s place is funny, embarrassing and, if this wasn’t a romance novel, a little wrong (the perving over the fence bit).

When Geoffrey stays at Vaughn’s place to escape the Perth heat, it become obvious that Vaughn is just as interested in Geoffrey as Geoffrey is in him. I kind of expected them to jump straight into bed together but things go more slowly, and I think it was more fun that way. I enjoyed the few days they spend together in normalcy. It was really sweet. They make a cute couple. I had a good time reading Slow Summer Heat.


Angie – ☆☆☆
This was a super short read which made it a good lunch hour read for me. This book was so cheesy and sweet. I liked Geoffrey and Vaughn and how their relationship built even though I would have loved more, but for such a short read, you got a lot in it.

RENAE KAYE is a lover and hoarder of books who thinks libraries are devilish places because they make you give the books back. She consumed her first adult romance book at the tender age of thirteen and hasn’t stopped since. After years—and thousands of stories!—of not having book characters do what she wants, she decided she would write her own novel and found the characters still didn’t do what she wanted. It hasn’t stopped her, though. She believes that maybe one day the world will create a perfect couple—and it will be the most boring story ever. So until then, she is stuck with quirky, snarky, and imperfect characters who just want their story told.

Renae lives in Perth, Western Australia, and writes in five-minute snatches between the demands of two kids, a forbearing husband, too many pets, too much housework, and her beloved veggie garden. She is a survivor of being the youngest in a large family and believes that laughter (and a good book) can cure anything.

Her first novel, Loving Jay, was voted the Best Book Debut 2014 by the member’s choice awards in the Goodreads M/M Romance Group.

Connect with Renae

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  Instagram

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Warmest Wishes: Slow Summer Heat by Renae Kaye to read and review.