Book Spotlight & Review- Robyn Carr's The Summer That Made Us

Robyn Carr delivers another wonderful story that has two sisters and their families find their way back to one another. See my review below and see why this author is on my autobuy each time they have a release.

Book blurb:

The brand-new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr that Kirkus calls "a blissful beach read." The Summer That Made Us is an unforgettable story about a family learning to accept the past, to forgive and to love each other again.

That was then… 

For the Hempsteads, summers were idyllic. The lake was a magical place, a haven where they were happy and carefree. All of their problems drifted away as the days passed in sun-dappled contentment. Until the summer that changed everything.

This is now…

After an accident turned the lake house into a site of tragedy and grief, it was closed up. None of the Hempstead women speak of what happened, and relationships between them are uneasy at best to hurtful at worst. But in the face of new challenges, one woman is determined to draw her family together again, and the only way that can happen is to return to the lake and face the truth.

Robyn Carr has crafted another beautifully woven story about the complexities of family dynamics and the value of strong female relationships.

Available at Amazon


My Rating for The Summer that made us: 4.5 Stars and a Recommended Read

My Book Review:

Once, the summer at the lake house for two Hempstead’s sisters and their families were magical and fun. Both sisters married brothers, had three daughters apiece and they would escape for the summer to the lake where the kids can frolic and play, where the sisters can relax and not worry about anything and for all of them to enjoy that perfect time there. Until a tragedy tore the two families apart and broke the bonds between them. Now many years have passed and the daughters are all grown up and have lives of their own. Now two of them will go back to the lake house and find that comfort and peace, healing the wounds so deep, some of them have no idea what to expect. But miracles can happen, forgiveness can be fought for and hearts can heal with the touch of the hand. When the secrets come out from that long-ago summer, it won’t change just the people involved but also the ones around them. Past, present and future are in play and as these two families find out, love has a way to heal even the hardest or wounded of hearts.

Wow, just wow! Reading the new book by Robyn Carr, THE SUMMER THAT MADE US, is deeply engrossing and emotional with me laughing one minute and the next, crying while I flip the pages to see what happens next. Ms. Carr delivers a powerful story of two sisters and their families who were once close until tragedy tore them apart in the blink of an eye.  What was once a cherished family tradition was now torn away from them and colored their memories of their one favorite place in the world. The story is moving and you definitely run the gauntlet of emotions while you read THE SUMMER THAT MADE US. This was a book I just could not put down. It left me reeling in places that had me flipping pages to see what would come next. I rooted for the families to find their way back to one another and cheered when some reconnected and when others were on the fence.

Ms. Carr is wonderful storyteller who tells of everyday people of all walks of life. Her characters are quite life-like and different as night is to day. I loved each and every one of them, even the tough nuts like Louise, Charley’s mother. She was bitter and stern yet in the end you got the glimpse of who she once was before the summer from hell and you couldn’t help but empathize with her. I don’t want to go into details about all the characters because I don’t want to reveal any plot twists but suffice to say, the reader will find all walks of life in THE SUMEMR THAT MADE US and I couldn’t help but root for each of them to get their happiness and renew their bonds with cousins, family and more.

With each book this author writes, the reader cannot help but fall in love with Ms. Carr and her wonderful stories. I know I am not the only one who finds her books quite entertaining and intriguing, either from the places they are set in or the wonderful cast of characters that populate them. With the broad stroke of her pen (or keys on the keyboard), Ms. Carr delivers a timeless tale that will thoroughly enchant you and steal your heart. At the end of the book, I just sat there with a smile on my face and a tear on my cheek. This story just hits you right in the heart and I for one can’t wait to see where this author goes next. I highly recommend THE SUMMER THAT MADE US if you enjoy captivating characters, a story that is set in the real world and with issues facing many people today and a climatic ending that will leave you breathless.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

About the author:

Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of almost fifty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series. Her highly anticipated new series, Thunder Point, will be released March 2013. Robyn and her husband live in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at www.RobynCarr.com.