Sunflower Rising — Julia James

In the country town of Siloah, where no one leaves, and everyone knows your "business," Summer Hayes wants nothing more than escape. Escape from the monotony and daily life of her hometown. Summer dreams of a life beyond the town limits. Hell, she wants out of the Country, County, and into the gleaming magnetic life that awaits her in university.

However, Siloah has a gravitational pull on its people and Summer is no exception. Like most American Teens, Summer experiences all the tribulations of adolescents. In a town that opposes change at all costs. Summer fights "tradition" with tenacity. Summer's ambitions and various opinions, in a backwoods town like Siloah, make her the black sheep and social pariah. Summer easily embraces the simmering hostility like she does the scorching Floridian sun.

Summer is a master of running away from her troubles. She does take after her runaway Grandmother, Norma Jean, after all. Summer and her spitfire Grandmother are always stirring the Siloahian pot with their ferocity, independence, and love for escapism. Norma Jean has taught Summer everything she knows about being a woman "made of stronger stuff." Norma taught her how to never melt under the heat of pressure, but instead mold herself into something unbreakable.

Trouble has its sights on Summer. Trouble comes in the form of boys. Yes, boy's plural. The golden-haired, human golden retriever, and town football hero, Jameson "Jamie" Graham is determined to win Summer's heart. However, Summer doesn't want a boyfriend. She refuses to be trapped in Siloah in the name of "love."

Double Trouble is Jamie's best friend, Kayden "KC" Campbell. Summer finds herself thinking more and more about the brooding, mysterious, 6'4" Adonis with hound eyes, who loves reading Classic Literature, and writing poetry when he's not defending Running back Jamie on the football field as his O-Lineman. Summer finds herself tangled in the webs of these best friends. Falling in love is out of the question. It's not part of Summer's "Plan."

However, Summer will discover coveted secrets that will upheave her entire life and all her goals. Will she pull another Norma Jean and hop on the next train out of town? Or will she stay? Will she dare to fall in love? And if so, then with who? Will Siloah sink its teeth into her like all the others before her and become another Siloah captive?