Summer of Roses: A Novel

The book was exactly as advertised(new condition). Pleased with my purchase as well price charged.

I have recently become aquainted with Luanne Rice as a writer, picking up "Cloud Nine" one day in the store. What a fantastic book, although so sad, I had tears streaming down my face at the end. But that is what makes a good writer, in my opinion, one that can make you feel as I did. After that, I put Ms. Rice at the top of my list of authors to read and I started looking for more books by her. I came across Summer's Child recently. I had just started reading it when I found out that this sequel was due out in a week. The day after I finished Summer's Child, I started reading Summer of Roses. I loved it. Ms. Rice's writing bring her characters to life. Lily, Marisa, Anne, Liam, Patrick, Maeve.......they become your friends. Ms. Rice has a way of writing that makes you feel as if you have met those people in real. I devoured this book just like another reviewer did. I will wait another couple of weeks and read both books again, slower, now that I know what happens. My only complaint is that the book wasn't longer. I am hoping maybe she will write a book about another Nanouk Girl so that we can catch up on the new lives of Lily, Liam, Marisa, Patrick, Sam and all their friends.

I have enjoyed Luanne Rice since I first read "Cloud Nine". Each book since then has been equally as enjoyable.

Shortly before I read Summer's Child, I learned a second book by Luanne Rice was to be published a couple of weeks later. And much to my happiness I also learned that the second book, Summer of Roses, was going to be a sequel to Summer's Child. Since Luanne Rice is one of my very favorite writers, I ran to the store the first day Summer's Child was on the shelves and immediately began reading it. Unfortunately I literally gulped down the book. And what a shame since this book was so very good I should have savored each page. But I hardly had the chance because it was as it the pages turned themselves till the end which found me sobbing. And again when Summer of Roses was available I wasted no time but again bought it and almost immediately read the second title. I wouldn't want anyone to misunderstand what I am about to say because I did enjoy Summer of Roses and it would be hard not to coma pre the two books, but I do think that Summer's Child was the better of the two reads. And now I seriously wonder why the two books were published when it might have been possible to write one longer book. Lily Malone, along with Liam Neill and her daughter return home to hubbard's pint, Connecticut, to care for Lily's ailing grandmother. Lily continues to be wary of her ex husband who knows nothing about the birth of Rose. But when he learns that Rose is Lily's child and the dates match, he begins legal proceedings to find out if in fact she is his daughter. And while this is happening in Connecticut,, at Nova Scotia, Marisa is reunited with her sister Sam. And it seems as though Patrick Murphy, who unrelentingly searched for Lily, is falling in love with Marisa and she with him too. In recent years Luanne Rice's books feature some of the same characters from previous books in minor roles. Its always nice to revisit with these people and also become involved in Rice's new characters as well. Summer of Roses was a worthwhile read and perhaps it suffered because I loved Summer's Child so much and few sequels ever live up to my first read if I have loved the first one. When it comes to Luanne Rice's books, I often say that even a so so read from Luanne Rice is better than most. Now once again I am looking forward to the next Luanne Rice book since I have read all of them. But now I don't have to wait too long to revisit a book which I loved since one of Rice's books, Beach Girls, has been adapted as a TV movie for cable and will be on this weekend. I do hope that all who read this review will have an opportunity to read Lane Rice if they don't already. She hardly ever fails to entertain me with her settings and characters who I feel after reading one of her books are my good friends.

Nine years have passed since a then pregnant pixie nee Mara Jameson fled her Hubbard's Point Connecticut home and the abuse of her spouse Edward Hunter for the sake of her unborn child. She changes her name to Lily Malone, relocates to remote Cape Hawk, Nova Scotia, opened up In Stitch, and raised her ailing (heart condition) daughter Rose by herself until Dr. Liam Neill entered their lives. Now Mara has come home accompanied by her child and her beloved Liam because her ailing granny in Shoreline Hospital needs her though she knows Edward will find out and probably come for her with hatred in his heart. When Dr. Kirkland informs her that the unconscious granny suffers from carbon monoxide poisoning, she concludes Edward tried to kill her. She knows Edward will come for Rose using legal means, manipulating the media as the deserted hurt spouse who is whispered by many as wife killer and other deadlier methods at his disposal to achieve what he wants, the destruction of Mara. This terrific suspense sequel to the SUMMER'S CHILD continues the tale of Lily returning to the life she fled almost a decade ago courageously knowing the risk she takes. The story line is character driven by brave people not just the heroine and Liam, but others to include a surprising courtroom twist. Though Edward is a tarnished loser, something in his gene pool allows him to select intrepid women and sire brave offspring. SUMMER OF ROSES is a terrific thriller that can be read alone, but is enhanced when perused back to back with its delightful predecessor. Harriet Klausner