// Courtney Cole

I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring.
Until this year.

And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:

1. I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes.
2. If I hear the phrase, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.
3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.
4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.
5. See number four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them.

Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference?

But hearts don’t care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl.

My heart just might be crazy.

This is very much like the teen romances I read back in the day.  Which isn't a negative thing at all, but refreshing.  There's a slightly deeper mystery, that's easy to puzzle out once the player(s) are revealed, but this was just a fun, relaxing read perfect for the beach.

I wasn't always a fan of Dante or Reece honestly.  Dante was just too polished one moment and too angst-ridden the next.  Reece spent what seems like a good chunk of book convinced she is far too inferior to even LOOK at Dante, never mind think about being with him.  The other characters (Mia, Elena, Gavin, Nate, Becca, Quinn) are given broad strokes for characterization.  This wasn't bothersome until the end when the 'villain' of the piece feels very cookie-cutter.

Cole did a good job at sweeping the reader away though, she has a way with words that made me almost feel like I was at the fictional island of Caberra, which is nestled fairly close to Greece. The story was just predictable at times and that detracted from my enjoyment.

Instead of wondering what would happen next I could almost guess.  Oh things are going well so toss in a sophisticated, but bitchy female who lays claim to Dante.  Okay that angle is used so let's now add some home troubles.  It got to the point where I was able to guess, with about 95% certainty what 'obstacle' would happen next two obstacles before it happened.

As I said however, this was a breezy, easy and enjoyable read for a day at the beach or a lazy summer day when you want to feed your romantic side.  I'm looking forward to the second book, which features a couple of characters introduced here (and who I think will hit it off fabulously...I kind of hope for book 3 that two other characters get together...but I guess I'll just have to wait!