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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book. The plot was everything I could have imagined and more. I hope to read more on Claire and Ross. But I want to know more about Jane and if she’s going to admit to her husband and her oldest son the truth!!
She certainly doesn't pull any punches as she writes about characters you've grown to like. I was a little disappointed by the Jane Bellamy implications since I've really liked her since the first in the series. Nice to see closure on the family rift between Charles' family and him. The brief shift into action/thriller story was a bit jarring when a legal solution had presented itself so early on. Nonetheless, a quick, heartwarming read that returns us to Avalon.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Basically a romance, it did address some important issues: the trauma of war, facing a terminal illness and police corruption. Likeable characters and setting.
The Summer Hideaway by Susan Wiggs is the 7th book in the Lakeshore Chronicles series.
I wasn't thrilled that the main character in this book is dying of a brain tumor,
as I had just read a few books with characters dying from
cancer, car accidents or childbirth. When I read in the summer I like the
storylines to be fun beach reads, not serious, sad and dour.
That said, I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book!
The story focuses on George Bellamy, who has an inoperable brain tumor.
George decides he wants to spend his last days at Camp Kioga on Willow Lake, where he attended camp as a child. He places an ad on Craigslist for a private care nurse to stay with him while at the camp. He also has an underlying desire to fix up his grandson, Ross Bellamy, who is returning from Afghanistan as a military med-evac. George also wants to reconcile with his brother, Charles Bellamy, after being estranged from him for over 50+ years.
There are a few side stories going on within the book itself.
The first of course is focused on George's limited time and reconciling with his brother. In order to learn more about the 'why' they've been estranged for so long, Ms. Wiggs takes us back to when the brothers were young and attended Camp Kioga. I enjoyed these flashback chapters more than I expected to.
The second storyline is about Claire Turner, George's nurse.
She has a secret past she's been hiding for many years and hasn't let
herself get close to anyone. She's finding herself caring too much for the Bellamy family and letting her emotions get in the way of protecting her
past life.
Thirdly is the story of Ross Bellamy dealing with returning from war after being away for two years, facing the fact that his grandfather is dying and the unexxpected attraction he begins to feel for Claire.
My favorite part of this book was the storytelling of George's past and second to that was the secret that Claire is keeping from her past. I didn't feel any real connection between Ross and Claire, so that storyline seemed a bit forced to me.
I didn't finish this book, but that's my own fault. I am one of those people who CANNOT read ahead. To do so spoils the book and drive to read it. And then.. I accidentally read ahead. My book mark slipped a good hundred pages, right in time for a flash back so I didn't catch myself for quite a bit, and once I realized what I had done like the goof I am, I had already spoiled too much. So this book has to be put aside because I lost all interest. Too bad.
I've really loved the Lakeshore Chronicles books. The Summer Hideaway was no exception. I actually discovered this book first and when I realized it was a part of a series I put off reading it to go in order. I'm so happy I did because I've loved the character development over the course of all the books and being able to see where certain characters are now even when they are not the center of the given book.
I thought the storyline of this book was great - although I will admit I feel like the relationship between the brothers was not fully resolved - and there is one major secret that apparently will be taken with them to the grave, which kinda annoyed me. But I was able to look past that plot hole at the overall story of family and love and missed opportunities.
I thought the storyline of this book was great - although I will admit I feel like the relationship between the brothers was not fully resolved - and there is one major secret that apparently will be taken with them to the grave, which kinda annoyed me. But I was able to look past that plot hole at the overall story of family and love and missed opportunities.