Very enjoyable summer book. Well written and thought provoking ...
936764
Very enjoyable summer book. Well written and thought provoking insight to the life and times of a young girl growing up in difficult circumstances.
4385322
Well, written and very good.  Interesting, thought provoking story line.  Really enjoyed it!
3803871
Great easy summer reading!  Good character development that explores the gamut of interpersonal relationships.  Ididn't want it to end.  Hopefully there's a sequel in the works!
3640413
Over the years I have read a number of Janes books and enjoyed them. Summer Secrets was eminently readable and thought provoking.

Set in London and Nantucket, the story weaves between 3 generations. Audrey the American who came to the UK and married an Englishman. Audreys daughter Cat, her husband Jason and their daughter Annie.

As a young married woman, Audrey visits her aunt in Nantucket. During her visit she meets with a local artist Brooks who is a neighbour. After the death of the man that Cat thought of as her father, her mother tells her that he was not her biological dad. She discovers who is, and visits him and meets her two half-sisters. Personalities clash and secrets develop.

One of the facets that makes the book so thought provoking is the way the author delves into the world of what is acceptable and not acceptable in terms of drinking. Cat has a problem and she has to face that demon. Her journey to sobriety is not without mishaps and again secrets.

Although that may sound a bit much, in actual fact the book is skilfully written so the reader is able to empathise with some of the characters and their issues. In particular the way that common traits within families manifest themselves in different ways.

I really enjoyed the gay character Sam. Who else would have thought of making a rather dull holiday house exciting by buying up the local interior store and placing cushions, throws and scented candles around the house to make it more chic?

Nantucket is now on my bucket list after reading the descriptions of the area. It sounds lovely with a different pace of life to that of nearby cities such as New York City and Boston. Definitely Ralph Lauren with a hint of Boden thrown in.

Dont be put off by the subject matter in the book. Enjoy the complexities of relationships within families and the journey that Cat undertakes to understand herself.
4481625
Karen Kingsbury's book Summer, is an exceptionally well-written book with three story lines that will keep you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next.  The most pivotal story of the three focus around Ashley Baxter Blake and finding out there is a problem in her pregnancy and how her faith as well as her extended families faith is stretched.  I found myself literally crying at the resolution of the story and silently praying that it  would end differently.  Karen Kingsbury has a remarkable way of writing that captures the reader,draws them in, causes them to reflect on their own beliefs and trust in God and leaves them being touched spiritually.
4942081
Excellent summer read for when you are in the mood to enjoy a book without having to think a lot. Characters are believable and like-able. Can't wait for the next installment.
754370
Lake Surrender was a delightful read.

The basic story is of Ally Cervantes, a children's book editor with a rising star career cut short by forces outside her control. The economy slowed down, her son is diagnosed with autism, and her husband cannot deal with the diagnosis so the family breaks up. Without her husbands income she cannot finance her home and sells it at a loss. It is a sudden, very rapid downward spiral. She and two children drive from San Francisco Bay, California to live with an aunt in Travers City, MI--a favorite childhood summer retreat.

Travers City is something of a slow backwater town in comparison to the high pressure, high speed living of California coastal cities. It allows for time to think, re-evaluate and make new choices...like transitioning from a book editor to cook for a summer camp!

Lake Surrender is a book about values, family, forgiveness, faith, and the choices we make. It deals with the stuff of life very even handedly and without getting on a soapbox. The characters,very well developed, are all like people we know. (I loved Ally, her Aunt Nettie who was always in the background praying, and Will.) It is also a sympathetic treatment of autism and dealing with a family member who suffers with that condition.

I found myself pulling for the good guys and hoping the bad guys got what they deserved. The plot twists kept me reading! Very well written; I was not distracted by spelling or punctuation errors. The action was steady throughout; I never felt it bogged down. There was just the right balance of surprise, angst and Christian worldview.

The ending contained a plot twist that was unexpected but at the same time the ending was what I was hoping for!

I would recommend Lake Surrender to Christian readers in general, but since the main character is female, I think women will enjoy the book more than men.

I was given a book in exchange for a review but there was no pressure to make it a positive review.  I give it five stars.
1819765
My best read this summer. I thoroughly enjoyed every page. I highly recommend this book for book clubs. It would promote great discussions
3632377
Really enjoyed this book!  It was a mystery although a bit predictable.  There were changing relationships throughout the story and a lot of humor that kept it it very entertaining.  A great summer read not too heavy.
4819559
I really enjoyed this book.  Amy Chua is a good author.  Well written and definitely thought provoking.
1226574
Good summer beach read. An interesting style of writing, as different characters thoughts are in and out.
The family goes to Spain with baggage, and comes home with reasonable resolutions.
I liked it, and recommended it to others.
2194133
I enjoyed this book very much.  I also found the common ground between a Jewish mystical being and a Arabic one to be extremely delightful.  I look forward to reading more from this author.  Good summer read.
2316150
Probably the best book I've read  this summer.  It's a page turner, full of suspense, thought and surprises.  Many different venues all meshed together well.  Glad to read a whole book without the gratuitous use of profanity, especially the "f" word.  Authors, take note.  It can be done without sacrificing the story.
1806886
I enjoyed this book. It kept me thinking the whole time. There were two issues going on that were related so figuring out the mystery through the legal stuff was enjoyable. I liked this style of writing because I didn't get confused by too may characters but there was plenty of mystery to keep me reading. I also like that there isn't any writing about the sun, grass, sky, weather, and other irrelevant page skipping stuff.
4780220
Such a well written book! It's a great summer read to kill some time. I definitely found myself but I g the next book with no hesitation.
2130145
This book was very thought provoking, in a good way.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and wished it had lasted longer.
777893
I really enjoyed this book.  It is a little beach, a little crime, and a little spy story.  A great summer read.