A sexy three book enemies to lovers romance with a dirty dancing twist! Spoiled Princess is what he used to call me.We were an inferno of hate and passion wound up with a dash of chaos.For four years I watched him mow my lawn.For four years I watched my friends make fun of him.For four years I hated myself for wanting him, but even more for the way I treated him.And then I had him.For one night, … him.
And then I had him.
For one night, we put all labels away and I spent the best night of my life in his arms.
Then the next day, with my secret night under lock and key, I looked the other way while my friends shamed him.
But now the jokes on me, because the scrawny lawn boy who I secretly loved from afar is now the director of Hollywood’s most exclusive summer camp.
And I’m on his staff.
Now it’s his turn to punish me.
His turn to make me pay.
His turn to take his revenge after years of humiliation.
He’s no longer a boy you can ridicule.
But a college graduate who can have any woman he wants.
I want him to look at me the way he did that one night we had together, but right now
the look in his eyes tells me he’s going to enjoy having me under him for two straight months.
I don’t know where his hatred ends, his passion begins.
All I know is he wants revenge.
And I’m his lucky target.
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4.5* Ray and Marlon (Marlo) had been friends with each since they were children but the older they got, the lines were drawn. Her the princess, him the pauper. She was Homecoming Queen and he was the nerd that everyone picked on.
He felt that things had changed after their one night together but she proved him wrong in another humiliating experience to add to his huge list of them. Could he ever forgive her? Did she want him to?
Only when she gets to camp does she realize who her new boss is. He still has feelings for her but he wants the hate, the revenge of turning the table on her. What happens though when the things that you thought you knew may not be right?
So glad I don’t have to wait for part 2!
Rachel Van Dyken has hit it out of the park with this amazing start to a new series. From the very first word, I was emotionally attached to the amazing characters she quickly develops. I had to know what would happen next, so much so I read this entirely in one sitting. I laughed out loud, cried and felt each and every emotion displayed between Marlo and Ray.
Rachel created a world I never wanted to leave. It starts out as the Princess and the Pauper type of scenario, but looks can be deceiving. Especially, if it is only in the perception of jealousy. But as we experience this story – we learn there is so much more to Ray, than just a girl who has everything money can buy.
I am dying to know what happens next. Rachel left it at the ultimate cliff-hanger with this incredible story. I felt such loss, betrayal (for the characters – not Rachel) and I seriously need my hands on the next installment of Ray and Marlo’s story. Seriously – when I finished the book, I just sat there and stared blankly at the wall thinking to myself… did that really just happen? Well Done Rachel. You took me for a ride and I never wanted to get off!
3.5*
Summer Heat was an angsty, but easy, read. It’s building to a true frenemies-to-lovers story, but for now we’re really just getting to know Marlon and Ray, and their history. Although we do get a bit of a pay-off at the end, we’re left hanging just as things are about to get good! Or bad, really bad.
Marlon has such a deep-seated hatred for Ray, it’s making me sad for him. But she isn’t the spoiled little rich girl he once thought, her life is not all sunshine and rainbows as he’s assumed.
Things really aren’t what they seem with these two, and I’m very interested in learning more about both of them. I want to know more about them as teens, what happened in the time between them graduating high school, what led them to where they are now. I can’t wait to get more answers!
I loved this book from start to finish. It’s the perfect story of falling in love with someone that has a completely different background. Love comes at the strangest times. It has no prejudice. It doesn’t matter if you are rich, poor or from mars you can’t control who you fall in love with. The writing was perfect and I loved the pace of the book. I can’t wait to read the next installment to see what path these characters take in their lives.
You can cut the sexual tension with a knife in this one. Marlo and Ray are enemies with a complicated past. Summer camp seems to be a place to find yourself, and that seems to be the point for these two. How do you let go and then come together to trust when your heart has been broken by those you love?
I don’t know about you guys, but I love getting lost in an RVD read. And Summer Heat needs to be added to your TBR asap, it’s part 1 of her Cruel Summer series, they’re all short reads and you’ll devour every single one.
RVD’s Cruel Summer series is finally making its way to Kindle Unlimited, when she first released these to iBooks, I was a bit bummed out about it. And snagged my mom’s ipad for a day to get through this series. Now that they’re on KU, I’m doing a re-read and just loving Ray and Marlon’s story even more this time around.
I know that it’s being categorized as a bullying romance, but it didn’t feel like one to me. Or maybe I just have my definition of a bully romance all wrong. It’s definitely a strong enemies-to-lovers. These two have a lot of history stemming from when they were just kids. She grew up with the silver spoon in her mouth and lived the life many would dream about. And he was their lawn boy … and none of Ray’s friends made it easy for him. But they shared the best night together, only to have things go wayward not long afterwards.
I remember seeing this in a previous review, but their history is essentially “young kids doing stupid things”, the hate and regret carried on for years. And these two are thrown back into each other’s lives again.
No matter what they currently feel towards each other, I’ve never seen so much hate coming off of Marlon like it does whenever he runs into Ray. Seeing her again, he just wants to make her life a living hell. And we all know that love and hate are strong feelings, which just fuels the indefinite passion between them.
Yes, Ray may have grown up getting everything she wanted, but when it comes to someone to truly love and cherish her. It was something she never had, not even from her parents. And Marlon is in for a rude awakening when he realizes revenge isn’t so sweet after all, especially when it comes to obliterating someone’s heart.
I can’t recommend this read enough and it’s definitely one of my favorite series from RVD! So, are you ready for a little enemies-to-romance and a whole lot of angst?! And of course, the crazy fire blazing between these two? Totally worth the read!
Rachel Van Dyken
Wow! One minute I’m frustrated as hell at Marlo and Ray and the next I am swooning and can’t get enough. These two could start their own forest fire with their chemistry or their need for revenge. They make me want to be a camp counselor. I also love that Rachel always writes the best group of friends or enemies in her stories and this one did not disappoint. You can feel the anger, pain, heartache, hope and love burn through the pages as you wait to see what happens next! This book is a perfect summer read and it definitely bring the heat!
Tracey, Life Reads With Friends
So I went into this book without really paying attention to what it was about, I just know I love everything written by RVD. I started this book and was instantly sucked in, as in I started reading and stayed awake until it was over. A book about revenge over wrongs committed as teens and hot summer nights. I can’t wait until the next two books come out. I need to finish this series.
This story broke my heart from the very first page. What Marlon (or Marlo) went through as a kid was so horrible.
A poor boy that was bullied for just existing, Marlo’s one dream was to leave everything behind and go to college on a drama scholarship, but the rich girl of his dreams, Ray, took his future from him. Now years later, Ray is at the summer camp he is now running and he has the power to take her dream away from her.
I love when a book makes me hate then absolutely love a character by the next page. Ray is closed off from not only others but herself. Her home life looks like it’s ten times worse than Marlo could ever dream of. Marlo, on the other hand, has every reason to be resentful towards Ray, but his inner goodness slowly starts to come through. That ending had me mentally screaming that this story was a cliffhanger. Ugh! Now I’m going to be impatiently waiting to read the next book.
This is book one of three in the Cruel Summer Series. You will need to read this before the other two books. There is a smallish cliffhanger.
These were originally an ibooks exclusive but now they’re being released elsewhere. I’m not an apple girl, so I’m so happy I finally get to read them. Rachel is a must read author for me, so waiting has been hard.
Now Ray and Marlon’s story isn’t finished. This is just the beginning.
I do like both characters. But there is still a lot of below the surface things we don’t completely know yet.
There is a fine line between love and hate. And things aren’t always the way they look.
I can’t wait for the other two books!
This is the first installment in a series that will prove to be a favorite! In Summer Heat, you meet Marlo and Ray, enemies since forever, thrown together as staff in a summer drama camp. True enemies they are not-just warring should be loves. His rage at her maltreatment of him in high school boils over but the love he has for her takes control. He sees her as a favored princess but in reality her life was hell.
I cannot wait for the next installment!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Revenge is a dish that is best served cold. That is the reality that Ray is facing in her current situation. Repercussions from her teenage years are coming back to haunt Ray’s situation today. Years ago – Marlon was the handyman for Ray’s family. After one night together, the two found their lives spiraling out of control. The direction that both planned for the future didn’t quite work out as either planned.
Seeking employment at a local summer camp, Ray finds herself answering to a boss that definitely holds a grudge against her. Nothing could have prepared Ray for discovering Marlon would be the one that held her life in his hands for the summer. Determined to seek revenge for all the heartache that Ray cause, Marlon begins to find that it’s harder to hate the one that held his heart all those years ago.
What happened all those years ago to make Marlon have such intense distain for Ray? As the two are pushed into the day to day operations of this drama camp, their past begins to unravel in the most unexpected ways. Will the two find a way to overcome the hurt and heartache?
Tainted love is always an interested twist on a love story. Ray and Marlon will take you on a journey of teenage crushes and society expectations in Summer Heat. Rachel Van Dyken will lead readers on this journey with a little heartbreak and a cliffhanger that will definitely leave you wanting to uncover more about the characters. Summer Heat adds just the right touch to your summer reading list.
Super short, full of tension and a very steamy end!
I really want to read more to find out what happens after Marlo and Ray’s story finished here, I have so many questions and I NEED ANSWERS!
An easy read and my first of Rachel Van Dyken’s – I will definitely be reading more.
Summer Heat is one of those reads that just draws you in. I loved this one. You know you are in for a treat with this being a Rachel Van Dyken book if you have even just read one of her books in the past. Summer Heat you will feel the heat, the passion, the drama as everything place out between Marlon and Ray. Both have assumed something about each others life just by the appereance as they grew up together. You feel the instant attraction yet that bitterness from the moment Marlon and Ray come face to face at the summer camp. You are given just enough to keep you sucked into the book and yet dying to see what happens next. This is a series that you wont want to miss out on. One that will heat up your summer nights one way or another. I can’t wait to see where Rachel Van Dyken takes Marlon and Ray in the rest of the Cruel Summer series.
RVD, why are you doing this to me?!? A Cliffhanger!!! I don’t think she had ever been so cruel. She does make it up with this delicious read, though. She is the Ultimate Momma when it comes to knowing how to bring two characters together to get the most sexual tension and chemistry possible from any situation she writes them in. It’s no different with these frenemies, Marlon and Ray. It sizzles off then in this summer “must read”. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait too long at this cliff ’cause I need the next book, like ASAP.
*** I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
This book was hot. I really loved it and def need to pick up where it left off in book 2.
It’s a cruel, cruel summer
Ray gets into summer camp at the last minute as a replacement teacher for the campers. When she arrives she learns that the one person who has always been her arch enemy is at the camp as well. Not recognising him straight away, Ray learns she is teaching dance choreography which isn’t her strongest suit. When she later learns that Marlo is the camp director for the summer, she knows she’s in for a summer of hell.
Marlo is the camp director and immediately recognises the girl who broke his heart, even though he’s still attracted to her. He knows she a spoiled princess but as events start unfolding he learns he might’ve been to harsh in his judgement of her. Any attraction she has for him though, is put through it’s paces, when she learns he has something else in mind for her
A great story I picked up via Netgalley that I will definitely continue to read when the final two books in this series come out. The story was fast paced and holds all sorts of drama one would expect, looking forward to the rest of Ray and Marlo
4.5 stars!!
Gah!! Holy cliffhanger!
Marlon and Ray grew up together… sorta. She lived in a huge house and came from money, while he was the one who mowed their lawns. High school can be a cruel place, especially when you come from the “wrong side of the tracks”. And Marlon has held on to this hate for a very long time.
So imagine his surprise when Ray shows up to work at the summer camp he is leading. He is determined to see her fail, but there are undercurrents of attraction. And Marlo is starting to understand that maybe everything he saw wasn’t the actual truth growing up.
Every time these two take a step closer to each other, they take a few steps back.
Buckle up as you navigate through summer camp, old grudges and old attraction.
Can’t wait to see what comes next!
Well hello campers. This was just getting good and then it ended on a cliffy. I like the whole idea of theater camp and then throw Dirty Dancing in there as the musical…sold! I’m going to need to check out the other two books to see how everything goes down.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher**
This is the first book in Rachel Van Dyken’s Cruel Summer series. This is an enemies to lovers story and it is set at summer camp. How could anything possibly go wrong?!
Ray and Marlon have known one another since they were kids. He used to mow her parent’s lawn and he always saw her as a spoiled princess and someone who always got her way. In Ray’s eyes, Marlon was always a nerd, but there were times when she softened toward him.
Now four years later, they are both working at a summer camp and in a twist, Marlon is the boss and Ray is working for him. Marlon is dead set on revenge against Ray for things that she did to him in the past, but it is impossible to ignore the sparks that are flying between them. The sexual tension was SO thick!
This was an enjoyable start to this series and I look forward to reading the other two books in the series!