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jennereads's review against another edition
3.0
This is a pretty good and entertaining book. It got a little too busy for me at times with a lot of minor characters and side stories. I think this is just the author's way of introducing a lot of the Bellamy clan for future books in the series. The characters are likable and the story is pretty good. There is a lot of repetition and I think the book could have been a bit shorter and still made its point. That said, it was interesting and fun and I will probably continue with the series at some point.
alexandrahughes's review against another edition
3.0
This isn't the first book I've read by this author, I really enjoyed the Bella Vista Chronicles. I liked all of the characters in this book. I felt that Lolly was a believable character who was easy to relate to, and Connor was easy to fall in love with. I liked their stories and watching them develop as characters.
However, I felt that there were too many characters and it changed perspective too often. It also jumped around in time too often: the 70s, the 90s, then somewhere around present day, but not in any order. I understand that it was necessary to talk about the past, but the way it was done just didn't flow for me. I hope the rest of the series doesn't jump around from character to character as often.
However, I felt that there were too many characters and it changed perspective too often. It also jumped around in time too often: the 70s, the 90s, then somewhere around present day, but not in any order. I understand that it was necessary to talk about the past, but the way it was done just didn't flow for me. I hope the rest of the series doesn't jump around from character to character as often.
beckymmoe's review against another edition
4.0
I pretty much went backwards here, because I read the Lakeshore Chronicles #8 (Marrying Daisy Bellamy) before I read #1, but I'm not terribly sorry that I did. I enjoyed both books, and by reading the newest one first I got rid of all that pesky "will they or won't they?" bit. (Not that there really is any, but still. You never know.)
Summer at Willow Lake introduces us to the Bellamys and to Camp Kioga, a family and a location that feature prominently in the rest of the series. This novel focuses on Olivia Bellamy, the only child of a wealthy but unhappy-until-they-get-divorced couple. Olivia spent summers at her grandparents' summer camp, Camp Kioga, of which she has mostly uncomfortable memories. Lolly, as she was called back then, compensated for her tense home situation by overeating, and this made her awkward and out of place at camp. She slims down in college, gains much needed self-esteem, and as a adult owns her own business in New York; her love life, though, leaves much to be desired. As the novel begins, Olivia is just about to be almost engaged for the third time...but gets dumped instead. Her grandmother asks her to oversee the renovations of Camp Kioga, which has been closed now for many years so that her grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary party can be held there. Olivia agrees, not realizing that by doing so she will come into direct--and near constant--contact with Connor Davis, local contractor and the boy who broke her heart so many summers ago.
A touching start to the series, Wiggs gives readers a nice introduction to the characters and locations that will feature prominantly in the next seven books. I'm off to check my library for #2!
Summer at Willow Lake introduces us to the Bellamys and to Camp Kioga, a family and a location that feature prominently in the rest of the series. This novel focuses on Olivia Bellamy, the only child of a wealthy but unhappy-until-they-get-divorced couple. Olivia spent summers at her grandparents' summer camp, Camp Kioga, of which she has mostly uncomfortable memories. Lolly, as she was called back then, compensated for her tense home situation by overeating, and this made her awkward and out of place at camp. She slims down in college, gains much needed self-esteem, and as a adult owns her own business in New York; her love life, though, leaves much to be desired. As the novel begins, Olivia is just about to be almost engaged for the third time...but gets dumped instead. Her grandmother asks her to oversee the renovations of Camp Kioga, which has been closed now for many years so that her grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary party can be held there. Olivia agrees, not realizing that by doing so she will come into direct--and near constant--contact with Connor Davis, local contractor and the boy who broke her heart so many summers ago.
A touching start to the series, Wiggs gives readers a nice introduction to the characters and locations that will feature prominantly in the next seven books. I'm off to check my library for #2!
kj_hollow3's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kellymannion's review against another edition
4.0
The book is an overall good romance novel. Being the first in the series, it felt a bit long as it was introducing people and delving into a few different stories. It still has the feel good, lovey-dovey nature of a good romance.
cubsfan3410reads's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful 1st of a series book. I am looking forward to reading more. Good characters and believable story.
cleocleveland's review against another edition
4.0
Part romance, part sprawling family saga. There are a lot of story lines going on here and they are set in three different timelines. The focus is as much on the family relationships as on the romance, but the main couple definitely get their time to shine. I know a lot of people are tired romances that are part of series but my favorite romances feature family/friend relationship as well as the love story so I enjoyed this one. Will look to read more in this seris.
kellymannion's review against another edition
4.0
The book is an overall good romance novel. Being the first in the series, it felt a bit long as it was introducing people and delving into a few different stories. It still has the feel good, lovey-dovey nature of a good romance.
jkh107's review against another edition
4.0
A woman in her mid-20s takes on the job of renovating her grandparents' summer camp in upstate New York for their 50th wedding anniversary, only to discover that the contractor she has hired was her first love from summers at the camp long ago. As the book progresses, we travel back in time to those summers at the camp--both hers and also her father's summer romances, and the way they echo into the present day. We also get to know the heroine's rebellious cousin, the hero's brilliant risk-taking brother, and various other friends and family members (who are well-developed in addition to being, I hope, sequel bait). This was very well done, not only a romance but also the story of a family and the story of the camp itself (which almost becomes a character in the narrative). I really enjoyed this book a great deal; solidly written, likeable, fully-developed characters, and interesting plot. This was my first book by Wiggs; it was given away free as an e-book and FULLY served its purpose as I now plan to read many other books by her.
pattydsf's review against another edition
2.0
Fun romance, I don't usually like contemporary romances, but Wiggs' books are fun reads.