Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: One Hot Summer
AUTHOR: Annabella Michaels
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 159 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 25, 2025
BLURB:
There’s no rule against falling in love… unless it’s with your best friend’s dad.
When a scorching heat wave hits New York City, Adam Ramsey’s summer plans melt away. With temperatures soaring and his apartment air conditioning broken, his college roommate’s family cabin seems like the perfect escape. But the last person he expects to spend his summer break with is Griffin Price, his best friend’s father. Wealthy, single, and dangerously attractive, Griffin is a tantalizing distraction Adam never saw coming.
Nearing burnout from years of tireless work, Griffin heads to his Smoky Mountain cabin for a little R&R only to find the cabin already occupied by his son’s best friend. But Adam’s presence sparks something within him that he thought was long gone.
As they navigate awkward small talk that quickly deepens into meaningful conversations, the simmering tension between them becomes impossible to ignore. One heated kiss ignites a passionate affair that neither of them can resist—a connection that feels so real yet so forbidden.
They know they’re playing with fire, but walking away might hurt more than the fiery desire that pulls them together. Still, there is one question hanging over both of their heads. What would Dalton say if he found out?
REVIEW:
I’m a huge fan of Annabelle Michaels. I discovered her The Swap series while at GRL a few years ago in Virginia. Then I read her Souls of Chicago series and I was hooked for life. Now I have give me hands when ever there is a new release of hers.
Adam has to get out of New York City STAT! The 100+ degree heatwave is brutal and now the AC for his and his best friend Dalton’s apartment building is broken and parts won’t be here for weeks!!! With Dalton down in Honduras on a mission trip he remembers him offering Adam their family cabin in Kentucky. At least there he won’t melt. Maybe eaten by bears Dalton learns by text but not melt. One look at Dalton’s family cabin and Adam is in heaven. Gorgeous two-story log house complete with infinity pool and hot tub! The master bedroom is bigger than their apartment for goodness sakes! As Adam settles in to finish his summer school work early he is surprised by Griffin Price, Dalton’s gorgeous and very single father, showing up unexpectedly. Both men skate around the budding attraction to each other. But Griffin is Dalton’s dad and Adam is Griffin’s son’s best friend and roommate. Soon though the temptation is too much and neither man can resist the other. But what happen’s after that One Hot Summer?
I love close proximity and best friend’s dad forbidden romances. But this one has an extra layer. Poor Adam has been an orphan all his life, abandoned and discarded by foster families. Dalton is the closest thing to family and permanency he has ever had. Losing his best friend would be devastating. But the chemistry between Adam and Griffin is explosive and they just can’t fight the magnetic pull. Both these men are lonely and need each other desperately. They are finally happy and enjoying life. And they are meant to be with each other.
Everything is going lovely until Dalton showed up to surprise them at the cabin. His Dad and his best friend at his cabin…what could be a better way to end the summer. But when he finally discovers what’s happening between Adam and Griffin he shattered their hearts as he walks out of both their lives. And I get it. He was blindsided and shocked. And needed time to grasp what’s happening. And Griffin’s reaction to Dalton’s dismissal was understandable but even more heartbreaking. But poor Adam doesn’t have anyone anymore and that worried me the most.
Thankfully Annabelle doesn’t leave me hanging in heartbreak too long and gives me my much needed HEA.
This is the perfect read for a hot summer day that I truly enjoyed.
RATING: 
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