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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
Started slow for me but enjoyed it more as I got in to it. Had a hard time liking Linnie :/
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was an ok book, but the newly blinded character is so dreadfully written that it negatively impacted my experience with the rest of the book. At one point, she uses the phrase "life of darkness" to describe his pending experiences. No sighted privilege here on the part of the author, nope! I thought the brother's character was too villainous and two dimensional. The narration was curiously muffled, too. Thirty years ago, I'd have chalked that up to dirty tape heads, but today, who knows? I don't think it was my earbuds or hearing; my current read sounds fine.
I liked this sweet story set in a quirky small town. All the family dynamics and the resolution of those was well done and I could related. I particularly liked the Sirens - they brought a mirth to the story that made me smile or laugh on several occasions.
*Note: I was given this book for an honest review.
She's done it again! [a:Christine Nolfi|4811669|Christine Nolfi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1470168119p2/4811669.jpg] has yet again created a town that anyone would want to at least visit if not live in filled with characters that anyone would be happy to call friends. The town of Sweet Lake is incredibly picturesque through the eyes of the reader, assisted by the main characters, Linnie, Jada, and Cat. The Wayfair is the central location for the town of seasoned locals as well as the hundreds of vacationers that flock to the inn every summer. I could easily picture myself in the inn's various common rooms enjoying one of Jada's sweet treats. This book, like the ones in the Liberty series, was heartwarming and sweet. If you are unfamiliar with the kooky characters and small town feel found throughout the Liberty books I highly recommend the entire series even though they can all be read as standalone novels with [b:Second Chance Grill|26201860|Second Chance Grill (Liberty, #1)|Christine Nolfi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1441054632s/26201860.jpg|21910080] being my personal favorite. As a fan of Ms. Nolfi's work, I was thrilled to find myself in the midst of what I have come to expect from her novels. It was great to have a few laughs along with a few tense moments to keep the story interesting. If you're anything like me you're going to love the romance woven throughout the story and find it perfect match for the upcoming beach read days of summer. I'm definitely looking forward to [b:The Comfort of Secrets: A Sweet Lake Novel|33987797|The Comfort of Secrets A Sweet Lake Novel|Christine Nolfi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490709414s/33987797.jpg|54982501] coming in July 2017.
She's done it again! [a:Christine Nolfi|4811669|Christine Nolfi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1470168119p2/4811669.jpg] has yet again created a town that anyone would want to at least visit if not live in filled with characters that anyone would be happy to call friends. The town of Sweet Lake is incredibly picturesque through the eyes of the reader, assisted by the main characters, Linnie, Jada, and Cat. The Wayfair is the central location for the town of seasoned locals as well as the hundreds of vacationers that flock to the inn every summer. I could easily picture myself in the inn's various common rooms enjoying one of Jada's sweet treats. This book, like the ones in the Liberty series, was heartwarming and sweet. If you are unfamiliar with the kooky characters and small town feel found throughout the Liberty books I highly recommend the entire series even though they can all be read as standalone novels with [b:Second Chance Grill|26201860|Second Chance Grill (Liberty, #1)|Christine Nolfi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1441054632s/26201860.jpg|21910080] being my personal favorite. As a fan of Ms. Nolfi's work, I was thrilled to find myself in the midst of what I have come to expect from her novels. It was great to have a few laughs along with a few tense moments to keep the story interesting. If you're anything like me you're going to love the romance woven throughout the story and find it perfect match for the upcoming beach read days of summer. I'm definitely looking forward to [b:The Comfort of Secrets: A Sweet Lake Novel|33987797|The Comfort of Secrets A Sweet Lake Novel|Christine Nolfi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490709414s/33987797.jpg|54982501] coming in July 2017.
You will want to while away the sweet summer days at the Ohio lake hotel of the Wayfair. Sweet Lake is that great summer read. Christine Nolfi’s opening line “Coconuts bouncing down a bowling lane.” The auditory imagery right on.
This read will fill you with empathy for not only the main character Linnie but the entire town. You get a great sense of Linnie’s problems, her mindset, the millstone around her neck. I could identify with Linnie, her daily life, the way she takes care of the people who work for her and her friends. I am a home healthcare worker and can see how she feels about the Wayfair in her decisions.
Her cast of characters fill the town with life and vibrancy. I love her inner circle of friends Jada and Cat are awesome support characters. When are you going to share Jada’s recipe for brownies? I long to read their individual stories. I can see these three women grow into amazing pillars of the community. Quite like the reigning Sirens. The Sirens are a great addition the way they mentor the town. Their behind the scenes schemes are “I love Lucy” perfect. I love the differences between the two leaders of the Sirens and how they complement each other.
Within the first chapter, the world of this small Ohio lake town is so real. I couldn’t help but immerse myself into these lives and want them to succeed. Christine does an amazing job setting up the goals and desires of the whole town.
Linnie’s arc is cleverly presented. You long to help her through her struggles and empathize with Daniel as he does his best. Her struggle to find a place inside her own family is both heartbreaking and triumphant. The greatest journey can often be to find ourselves.
Buy Sweet Lake today and slip into a story worth reading.
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
What a fantastic start to a new series! Sweet Lake was part romance, part family drama, and had a whole heaping helping of quirkiness thrown in to keep things absolutely entertaining.
‘The best lessons come when our hearts are broken open.’
I’m actually new-ish to Nolfi’s writing but so far I’m loving everything of hers I’ve picked up. And with Sweet Lake, not only did I enjoy the offbeat characters–with their variety of personalities–but I also liked that this truly had a charming small town feel to it. Sweet Lake itself was tied to our heroine Linnie’s family since it was founded and the ups and downs of the family’s inn greatly affected the town. So it was interesting to see how Sweet Lake and its townsfolk handled the turnaround Linnie was starting to make after seven years of hard work to build the inn back up to its former glory.
Full Review on HarlequinJunkie Blog:
Read More
What a fantastic start to a new series! Sweet Lake was part romance, part family drama, and had a whole heaping helping of quirkiness thrown in to keep things absolutely entertaining.
‘The best lessons come when our hearts are broken open.’
I’m actually new-ish to Nolfi’s writing but so far I’m loving everything of hers I’ve picked up. And with Sweet Lake, not only did I enjoy the offbeat characters–with their variety of personalities–but I also liked that this truly had a charming small town feel to it. Sweet Lake itself was tied to our heroine Linnie’s family since it was founded and the ups and downs of the family’s inn greatly affected the town. So it was interesting to see how Sweet Lake and its townsfolk handled the turnaround Linnie was starting to make after seven years of hard work to build the inn back up to its former glory.
Full Review on HarlequinJunkie Blog:
Read More
Family Drama, Good Friends, and everything in between! What a joy to read!
In "Sweet Lake," Linnie know that it is up to her to pick up the pieces after her brother, Freddie, leaves devastation in his wake, taking down their family-owned inn and deeply injuring the economy of the small town of Sweet Lake. It falls to Linnie to make things better for everyone even if it means giving up what she really wants to do for herself. The up side to returning to Sweet Lake is that her relationship with Daniel the lawyer may finally take off. This is a good start to a new series by Christine Nolfi that is as sweet as its title.
The characters in this book are great and I am excited to see what happens to them in future books (this is only the first in a series). Linnie is driven. She doesn't want to let anyone else down and will take on being disappointed herself if it means that she makes everything better for everyone else. It is a tough load to carry. I really felt for her because she is trying to clean up some pretty big pieces for something that she did not even have a hand in. Reading about the difficult relationship between her and Freddie was fascinating. You can see how their past has bled into the future. I thought that the author did a really good job of showing the tension between them.
I also thought that she did a good job of showing how appearances can be deceiving. Freddie in particular is not what he seems at first. I loved seeing how the perception of him changes as we get to see who he really is and that his situation is more complicated than it seemed at first.
The romance in the book is good. There is a great deal of chemistry between Linnie and Daniel. As with many romances in books, the love doesn't come easy and Linnie and Daniel's relationship is certainly a ride.
Overall, this is a good book if you like family drama, small town settings, memorable characters, and sweet romances!
The characters in this book are great and I am excited to see what happens to them in future books (this is only the first in a series). Linnie is driven. She doesn't want to let anyone else down and will take on being disappointed herself if it means that she makes everything better for everyone else. It is a tough load to carry. I really felt for her because she is trying to clean up some pretty big pieces for something that she did not even have a hand in. Reading about the difficult relationship between her and Freddie was fascinating. You can see how their past has bled into the future. I thought that the author did a really good job of showing the tension between them.
I also thought that she did a good job of showing how appearances can be deceiving. Freddie in particular is not what he seems at first. I loved seeing how the perception of him changes as we get to see who he really is and that his situation is more complicated than it seemed at first.
The romance in the book is good. There is a great deal of chemistry between Linnie and Daniel. As with many romances in books, the love doesn't come easy and Linnie and Daniel's relationship is certainly a ride.
Overall, this is a good book if you like family drama, small town settings, memorable characters, and sweet romances!
I won this book from Chick Lit Central. This was the first time I read a book written by Christine Nolfi. I doubt it will be my last! Totally enjoyable read, with engaging characters, small town love, friendships, and family drama. The story was entertaining and fun. I want to be a Siren! Read the book and see why! Looking forward to the next book!!!!