Alyse Johnson is a young attorney leading a successful yet simple life. She has everything she needs but feels that something is missing and that something might be a relationship with the one guy who is off-limits. Alyse has vowed to make this summer, her first as a single woman, different. She has decided to play the field but has the lingering feeling that there is more to her friendship with Christian. As a hurricane approaches, Alyse is fortunate to take shelter with her friend’s family. Riding out the storm together, they soon learn that their neighborhood has a new danger on the horizon.

Summer (With Collateral Damage) is the fourth book in a series by Denise Ann Stock. Stock’s series follows the Connor family, and in this exciting fourth installment, the action centers around Alyse Johnson and her experience riding out a category 4 hurricane and the madness that follows. Two parallel storylines are running throughout Stock’s novel. Romance fans will appreciate the internal struggle Alyse experiences as she fights the feelings she has for her best friend’s brother. Tension and anxiety run high as Alyse and Christian deal with being in close proximity while they shelter in place. The threat of criminals skulking around the abandoned neighborhood provides mystery fans with the thrill they seek.

Stock does a beautiful job of building an air of mystery. Alyse shares that she has spotted suspicious vehicles in the neighborhood; readers will enjoy letting their imaginations run wild as they wait for the subsequent development. The evacuated neighborhood is the ideal backdrop for a dramatic buildup and gives ample opportunity for character development. I felt invested in Alyse’s plight, her romantic woes, and the danger building around her.

I appreciate the immersive first-person perspective and the use of present tense, which adds depth to the narrative of Summer (With Collateral Damage). While some moments in the plot lean towards introspection, they provide a unique diary-like charm rather than detract from the action and mystery elements. Fans of thrilling novels with a hint of romance should definitely explore Denise Ann Stock’s Connor family series.

Pages: 210 | ASIN : B0CBTWHCRS