2nd Edition

David McIntyre has been enjoying the heck out of his current assignment: touring the Hawaiian Islands in search of the ideal shooting locations for a series of film-company projects. What’s not to like? Stunning scenery, great food, sunny beaches… and Rick Sutton, the hot, ex-Air Force pilot who is flying him around.

Everything changes when a tropical storm and engine failure force a crash landing on a deserted atoll with a WWII listening post. Rick’s injuries and a lack of food and water mean David has to step up to the plate and play hero. While his days are spent fighting for survival, and his nights are filled with worrying about Rick, the two men grow closer. David’s research for his next movie becomes intertwined with his worst fears, and events on the island result in a vivid dream about the Battle of Britain. On waking, David realizes Rick is more than just a pilot to him. The obstacles that prevented a happy ending in 1940 aren’t present today, and David vows that if they survive this stranding, he will tell Rick how he feels.

First Edition published by Createspace, 2013.

Second Edition published by Dreamspinner Press.
Buy links:
Ebook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7221
Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7222

When I was offered a review copy of Boys of Summer by Sarah Madison, I jumped at it for two reasons. Firstly Sarah Madison is an author I’ve had on my ‘want to read’ list for ages, and secondly part of the story is set during WWII. I’m a sucker for anything set around that time period.Although this is really a contemporary story, the author has incorporated the WWII part of it into the plot in a very cool way, so it’s really two stories, about the same characters. Or is it? I really hope Sarah plans to write a sequel, as there’s a bit toward the end of the story concerning something David discovers—sorry no spoilers—that I want to find out more about.

A couple of chapters into the story, and I found myself wanting to read ahead—always a good sign—to find out what happens to David and Rick. I was invested in their story, and needed to make sure they were going to be okay. Not only that but I wanted them to have a future together.

It was interesting reading the 1940 section of the story from a modern point-of-view as it gave a unique perspective, hindsight being 20/20 and all that. I loved all the WWII references and especially those to Turing and the work of those at Bletchley as I’ve seen a few movies and TV series set either during or after those events. I kind of guessed what would happen to the 1940 characters, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story or keep me from turning the page to find out what happened next. This story is also a good hurt/comfort read, which is also one of my favourite genres.
Boys of Summer might be my first Sarah Madison, but it won’t be my last. I’m now hooked and need to read more.

I’d recommend this story to readers who love stories that go between two time periods, especially when one of those is WWII. It’s a page turning read in which the characters need to use their ingenuity to survive, and there’s plenty of hurt/comfort.