The Second Summer

The Last Route, Book 7

Some summers change everything.

Now available.

Summer arrives while Wren isn’t paying attention — the hedgerows bright, the air thick with wildflowers, the route humming under her feet.

With the Last Route under review, the villages begin to gather their voices. Not stories of heroics — stories of what the post means when you live at the edge of the map.

Wren is used to carrying letters, not being the reason people speak. But this time, the message is for the Guild… and it might change everything.

What readers are saying

★★★★☆

“I love Wren and Rowan. It was so great to see them make things official. They're an absolutely wonderful couple. As for that route, I was glad to see everyone come together.”

— Michelle Shamy (Goodreads, 27 Apr 2026)

What to expect

  • Cozy fantasy with found family and gentle magic
  • Quiet stakes with meaningful change
  • The villages speak — and the Guild listens
  • Slow-burn sapphic romance (fade to black)
  • No cliffhanger. Warm ending guaranteed.

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Perfect for readers who loved:

Legends & Lattes · The House in the Cerulean Sea · Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea

At a Glance

  • Title: The Second Summer (The Last Route, Book 7)
  • Author: James Heppe-Smith
  • Genre: Sapphic cozy fantasy
  • Series: The Last Route (20 books)
  • Season: Summer | Year 3
  • Setting: Aeldra — coastal cliffs, highland moors, ancient forest
  • Tropes: Found family · Grumpy/sunshine · Slow-burn sapphic romance · Quirky familiar
  • Content promise: Low stakes, warm endings, no graphic violence, closed door
  • Format: Kindle ebook and paperback
  • ISBN: 979-8255855070

Reader ratings

★★★★★ 4.0 / 5 from 1 ratings across Goodreads and Amazon
Goodreads: 4.0 / 5 (1 ratings) · View on Goodreads