The Summer of You Book Review *Kate Noble*

Lady Jane Cummings, who made quite the impression in Revealed, is the star of her own book, The Summer of You by Kate Noble. Jane is a very admired and sought after single lady of the Ton. She has only just come out of mourning after the death of her mother, who passed away after a sudden illness. Jane assumed she would enjoy all the sights of London, but with her brother, Jason away gallivanting with his friends, she has the sole responsibility of keeping watch over her father, the Duke of Rayne, whose mind is slowly deteriorating. Jason left Jane at their ancestral estate where their father was supposed to recovering. Jane hated being there because it was so cold and lonely. Jason is all set on going on his grand tour of Europe, where he can have some relaxation before he presents a paper in hopes of being admitted in the Historical Society. Jane is fed up and refuses to be sent back to the castle. Jason is a bit ashamed by his father and he doesn’t want the Duke to be seen acting strange while in London. Jane decides they will take the household and retire to their cottage in the village of Reston in the Lake District.

Jason is adamant in not going, but Jane being that resourceful woman that she is, uses blackmail on her brother to get her way. Reston is all in a tizzy once they hear the Duke and his children are staying for the remainder of the summer. The moment Jane arrives at the cottage, she steadies her nerves as almost every family comes for a visit and catches Jane up on every bit of gossip she missed in the last five years. Jane is even more annoyed because Jason was able to slip out through the back door and head off to a local tavern where he proceeds to get drunk. He doesn't return home until the next morning and although Jane is happy to see him alive and in one piece, she is beyond enraged with him. It's bad enough she had to grin and bare it as her welcoming neighbors kept bringing up the well known story where she ran through the town square at the age of five. Jason isn't sympathetic and tells how he is suffering from an incredible hangover and spent the night at the Widow Lowe's House. The fellow who brought him there to sleep off his drinking is some sort of war hero, but also a hermit. The town isn't too keen on this mysterious man because they also think he maybe responsible for a rash of highway robberies, regardless of the fact he has a bad leg injury.

Jane goes off to thank the war hero hermit and is shocked to find him swimming naked in the lake. It is Mr. Byrne Worth, who she has met on occasion in London. Byrne's brother, Marcus just married a former nemesis, now turned friend of Jane's. Byrne isn't too pleased at seeing a familiar face because he wants to be left alone in his solitude. Unfortunately for him, Jane enjoys his company and is on a mission for him to be welcomed into Reston's polite society, as well as prove that Byrne cannot possible be the highway man.

The Summer of You is a delightful historical romance I cannot give enough praise to. The charm of this story is because of the characters' interactions. Not only do we have Jane, who is a spitfire, takes the bull by the horns go getter, but also has a big heart. We see this in the way she handles her father with loving care and even with Jason, who drives her up the wall. But at the same time she can't help but forgive him even as she rolls her eyes or stamps her feet over the way he behaves. Jane comes across spoiled at certain times, but because of her mother's death and her father's illness, she has become more mature and understanding to those around her. Unlike Jason, who at twenty-four, should act like the man of the house and take on more responsibility. Jason is in need of a reality check, and Jane is the one to give it to him.

Byrne, at first, comes across as brooding and full of self imposed guilt. But, his own reasoning and opinions about himself quickly changes because of Jane's influence. These two are so playful together, especially when Jane decides to go for a late night swim in the lake. Byrne comes upon her, and that is the big moment in both their lives where they must made a decision about the future of their relationship.

The mystery regarding the highwayman didn't really bring all that much to the plot as a whole. The enjoyment in reading The Summer of You is because of Jane and Byrne's romance and Jason's journey into becoming a man. There is also a nice secondary story regarding Victoria Wilton, the sister of Jason's old sweetheart, and the young town doctor, Andrew Berridge, who thinks of her as more than just a friend.

Third time's a charm with this latest from Kate Noble. Sharp, clever and adorable come to mind when I think of a Kate Noble romance. Those who are big fans of Julia Quinn, Laura Kinsale and Tessa Dare will want to pick this one up.

I look forward to Jason's story to see the man he has become, as well as a few laughs and another wonderful romance. (Berkley)

Final Grade: B+

A few other The Summer of You reviews:
Book Smugglers
Dear Author
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books