Review: Tempting Cameron by Karen Erickson

Tempting Cameron
by Karen Erickson
Series: Lone Pine Lake #2
Publisher: Entangled: Bliss
Publication date: April 8, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon
ARC received in exchange for unbiased review
*purchase through buy links supports this blog

The girl next door never looked so good... For Cameron McKenzie, Chloe Dawson has always just been his younger sister Jane’s best friend—a pesky annoyance who followed him around and acted like he hung the moon. It isn’t until Jane’s wedding to her firefighter beau Chris that Chloe reappears in his life…and she isn’t pesky or annoying anymore. In fact, the beautiful Chloe tempts him beyond reason. But Cam knows he’s damaged goods—not nearly good enough for Lone Pine Lake’s resident good girl. Chloe’s always dreamed of a future with the dark, brooding Cam, and after they share an explosive kiss, she wonders if her dream could be coming true. Cam’s never stuck around his hometown for long, though, so she makes him an offer: one sweet summer romance with no strings attached. This good girl’s ready for an adventure…one that just might end up lasting a lifetime.

Tempting Cameron is the second book in the Lone Pine Lake series and since I had no idea it was a second book I feel confident that you can read this as a standalone. Karen Erickson delivered an old fashioned romance that was a delight to read.

Cameron McKenzie left town after high school and has not been back since  but his baby sister is getting married and how could he miss it? At the wedding he is shocked to see that Jane’s pesky best friend Chloe Dawson is all grown up and in all the right places. Chloe has had a secret crush on Cam forever and when he kisses her it’s like fireworks on the fourth of July. An old-fashioned summer romance might just lead to something more.

I enjoyed the characters Erickson created. They are flawed, genuine and you cannot help but care for them. Chloe has never left Lone Pine Lake; she is a local teacher and has set down roots with close knit friends and a cabin near the lake. Cameron took off after high school and has made his career in photography. He has been hurt emotionally and physically and shut people out; giving this teddy bear a bad boy persona. The interaction between them was sweet, hot and feed the romantic inside me. I loved the secondary characters interaction with the couple and how everyone swept in to protect Chloe from big bad Cameron.

I consumed this in a single afternoon and found it entertaining. While  predictable the characters felt genuine and the race to get my HEA made it delightful. The heat was relatively low but the chemistry was smoking, making this the perfect read for a large audience. The lake-side town and its residence made me want to pack up my bags and spend the summer. 

Looking for a sweet romance, with loveable characters to tug at your heartstrings Tempting Cameron is the perfect rainy day or beach read. I look forward to trying more of Karen Erickson’s books. Jane’s Gift is book one in this small lake-town series.

Four cups of coffee out of five  

This weekends Clean Sweep Challenge Schedule

 Saturday May 4th
9am (EST) Barbara @ Basia's BookShelf
4pm (EST) Thuy @ Nite Lite