Getting Wet with the Mountain Man: Mountain Man Summer

by Alana Gray

94 pages, Paperback

Published July 9, 2026

Reviews

[kymagirl]

She lives for freedom. He survives by staying in control.

Skye comes to a lake chasing photographs and a deadline. Aaron comes to disappear into the mountains, far from rescues and responsibility. Then her camera hits the water, her adventure cat turns the shoreline into chaos, and his escape ends before it begins.

She’s reckless by his standards, stubborn enough to challenge every warning, and more capable than he expects. He’s gruff, vigilant, and determined to keep his best friend’s sister off-limits. But when Skye needs a guide for the trail, each clash pulls them closer and strips away another reason to resist.

A destroyed cabin forces Skye, Aaron, and Kyle together, where teasing turns intimate and restraint becomes harder to defend. Their attraction is undeniable, but Aaron’s loyalty leaves Skye wondering whether he sees her or only the boundary she represents. As feelings deepen, both must face what they’re willing to risk for something real.

Distance sharpens the ache. Aaron’s ordered world feels empty without Skye’s laughter and Kyle’s trouble, while Skye realizes independence doesn’t have to mean facing everything alone. When life pulls them together, they must choose between fear and a new future neither expected.

Skye learns that sharing her life doesn’t diminish her freedom, while Aaron discovers that love isn’t another responsibility he has to control. Their playful friction grows into a partnership built on desire, trust, and meeting each other halfway.

A hot, brother’s best friend, opposites attract, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, small town mountain romance filled with playful tension, vulnerability, and hard-earned connection. It’s about balancing freedom with stability, letting go of fear, and finding a love that feels less like surrender and more like home.

The Elevator Pitch: A free-spirited travel writer arrives in the mountains chasing a story and finds herself colliding with a search-and-rescue officer who treats every risk like a personal responsibility. As playful clashes turn into undeniable attraction, both must decide whether freedom and stability are really opposites or two halves of the same future. Along the way, a chaotic adventure cat, one shared cabin, and a growing connection force them to reconsider what home can look like.

Heat Level: 🔥🔥 Hot

[Carolee]

I absolutely had a blast with Getting Wet with the Mountain Man! From the very first lake-side mishap, this short romance dives right into the good stuff: grumpy protective mountain man energy, a fearless travel journalist who refuses to be managed, and the kind of banter that makes you grin while turning the pages.

Aaron and Skye are such a fun opposites-attract pairing. He wants control, quiet, and probably a very sensible hiking plan; she brings deadlines, determination, and Kyle the adventure cat—who deserves his own fan club immediately. Their chemistry has that perfect “please stop annoying me” sparkle that quickly turns into “oh no, I like you,” and I ate it up.

The mountain setting adds a cozy, outdoorsy charm, and the brother’s-best-friend setup gives the romance just enough extra tension to keep things deliciously messy. I loved that Skye isn’t waiting to be saved—she’s adventurous, capable, and gloriously chaotic in the best way—while Aaron’s slow unraveling makes every moment between them feel extra satisfying.

If you enjoy quick, upbeat romances with rugged heroes, spirited heroines, forced proximity, playful sparks, and one very memorable cat in a harness, this is an easy five-star read. It’s sweet, flirty, funny, and full of summer-romance energy—I finished it smiling and would happily hike back into this world again.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie]

A guide to combining order, chaos and cat care into a life!

Aaron was planning for a quiet, relaxing holiday, but he arrives to find Skye and Kyle staying next door. She's not quiet and Kyle's not well behaved!
And Aaron's peaceful break suddenly has the potential for bad decisions, but bad decisions don't have to lead to regrets, they could lead to a future he never thought he wanted but suddenly cannot live without.
Aaron is stuffy, upright and a little too attached to plans and rules, but seeing him ruffled and disconcerted by Skye's chaotic but effective planning and itinerary is sweet and entertaining. His care for and acceptance of Kyle is endearing and amusing, his willingness to sideline some of his rules and embrace her freedom....safely...is surprisingly sexy. And whilst they are not a couple that you would expect to see together...they are perfect for each other.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited.

[Tasha]

Getting Wet with the Mountain Man by Alana Gray is a fun, fast-paced mountain romance that delivers a rugged, protective hero, sizzling chemistry, and a lighthearted summer setting. In this novel, we are introduced to the FMC Skye, a traveling journalist, and the MMC Aaron, her brothers best friend. While reading this novella, I enjoyed reading about the chemistry between the main characters. While it might have been immediate and entertaining, the story was full of flirtation, banter, and romantic tension. Overall, Getting Wet with the Mountain Man was an enjoyable addition to the Mountain Man Summer series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reader_for_LifeTLG]

Aaron, Skye and the menace - He wanted to relax from the stress of his job; she was working on a travel article. Their paths weren't meant to cross, but when they did, sparks flew. The flirting was cute, the dirty talk hot. But she's his best friend's little sister and he doesn't want to make waves. A fun short story with great characters whose chemistry is obvious from the first, the fire of their passion hot. They are opposites in so many ways, but perfect for each other. That Kyle likes Aaron is a feather in Aaron's cap.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Danee]

Review of an advance copy received from the author.



This was a delightful story that takes us into the lives of Skye and Aaron. The way they initially pretend they have no feelings for each other, but it simmers under their skin, and when she rents a cabin next to his one day, it becomes harder for them to hold back their feelings. Things start moving faster when a bear pays a visit to her cabin and she moves in with him; it doesn't take long before feelings surface and they finally confess their feelings for each other. I enjoyed their story and it is definitely highly recommended!



I received an Advance Reader copy of this series and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kate Smith]

This was one of the cutest instalove stories I've read in a while. I really loved the grumpy/sunshine aspect between these two.

After discovering he was going to be close to his best friend's sister while on vacation, he tried to stay away, but ultimately, their worlds collided and it was impossible to stay away from each other.

Add in a menace of a cat called, Kyle, and you got yourself a winner.

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 1/5
Storyline: 4/5
Darkness: 0/5
Book hangover: 0/5

Character: Aaron

[Donna]

Aaron becomes the Mountain Man / Cat dad

Skye rented the cabin beside Aaron but she's in the off-limits zone because of her brother Clint. Clint is his best friend and fellow SAR team member. Skye and her cat Kyle are a menace to Aaron's peaceful holiday plan. The bear who tore up her cabin just gave them the push to have them ignore the taboo. When Aaron returned to work the team noticed he was grumpy till he checked Skye's posts and cat pics. Clint gave his approval and a fire warning brought them back together!

[Sandy]

I like this fun short story with opposites clashing but meanwhile getting attached. A great night, after which one usually runs away because of inner turmoils and fears, or is brave and stays. Which version is in this story?
The cat is a very important character in the story, so it's impossible not to mention him.
I like the mutual fast attachment between cat and human, despite its uncharacteristic nature for this grumpy human.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna]

'Can these two make it work or are they too stubborn to fall in love? Find out in this short, brother's best friend, man in uniform romance, featuring a quirky adventure cat and two opposites who definitely attract.'

The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandy Dillon]

I really like this one. The FMC is a journalist/photographer and her cat is a social media star. She travels frequently for both. The MMC is a member of the same search and rescue team as the FMCs brother. He pulls into his vacation destination, hears a scream, training kicks in and pulls the FMC and her cat out of a lake. There’s lots of banter. It’s funny in places. The spice is good. The HEA is great.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Crystal]

The best thing about multi-author novella collections is that I get to find a lot of new to me authors. This was my first time reading one of Alana Gray's romances and it won't be my last. Her characters, Aaron and Skye, were so loveable. Skye's kitty Kyle definitely stole the show. Alana's writing was fun and spicy. I had a blast spending time in her character's world. Must read more soon!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jean]

Love these light instalove summer reads. Aaron is a Search and Rescue officer trying to take a little vacation from the stressful job. When he get to the lake he is surprised that his best friend’s sister in the cabin next door. Skye is a travel blogger and influencer. Her cat, Kyle, is a social media star. Being thrown together is not going to the worst vacation ever.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Val]

A wonderful story of an adventurous woman with a menace of a cat and an uptight SAR man.
A rescue, a hike, a missing cat, a bear and a single bed. Aaron realizes that Skye and Kyle are what he needs.Skye realizes that no matter who her brother is she is lonely for Aaron. He chooses her and the adventures they have, building a life of love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenia Tortora]

Aaron and Skye have met before she’s the sister of his friend. Aaron is all about caution and control while Skye and her adventure cat Kyle are about embracing the adventure. It’s fun and flirty with steamy fun and brings two unlikely souls together. She is what he needs and he wants her despite her chaos. Loved it!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joanne]

He is her brothers best friend. So, she is off limits. But they are stuck together after a bear tears up her cabin. He is on vacation and wanted alone time. But that does not happen. Now will they go their separate ways? Will they tell her brother. I enjoyed their story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather]

A great addition to the series by multiple authors, I enjoyed Aaron and Skye's story, They have been fighting their feelings for a while and when she rents a cabin next door. And when a bear breaks into her cabin she stays with him and they quit fighting their feelings, I loved her cat,.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda Ricchio]

Getting unnecessarily rescued from drowning was not how Skye planned her afternoon. Aaron has a habit of save first ask questions after. Pulling his buddy's sister from the lake was not how he wanted to start his vacation. Lots of grump teasing, yearning, hiking, and steamy camping spice!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[JM G]

Getting Wet with the Mountain Man is a great romance. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down. The characters have great chemistry and were a perfect match. I couldn't help but want to see them get to their HEA. Well worth the time spent reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah Freilinger]

Skye and Aaron

Skye and Aaron have circled around each other for a couple of years, ever since he met her brother. You know, bro code. But a bear has other things in store for them. Add a menace of a cat and you have this fun story.

[Debbie Benson]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how Aaron and Skye fall for each other despite being opposites. I'm glad they found a way for things to work out for them with her brother's blessings. I adored Kyle.

[Carrie Kelley]

This romance is a opposites attract sweet, steamy and funny story . With great character's, banter and an adventure cat with attitude. That I would absolutely recommend adding to your TBR list.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel]

Overall this was a really good book. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters. I liked the little bit of spice too.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy Hutchins]

This is such a great fun summer read. You get hot instant chemistry, tension, and banter. I just couldn't get enough of Skye and Aaron. Highly recommend for a sweet summer read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michele]

Enjoyed this opposites attract as Sky has a crush on her brother’s best friend Aaron. Liked how he was uptight but caring with her wild free spirit, nice that she learned from him and he from her.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Simone]

3.5 stars

[Zondra.Hallyahoo.Com]

Loved it.

[Isha Coleman]

Aaron and Skye are emotion that breaks every rule. Gray takes the heart on bold dance with temptation. With heat and heart, the senses are in for a treat.