The Perfect Summer

The reader slides easily into the lives of Bay and her children and longtime friend, Tara. Bay's unease, at the cracks running through her marriage, rings true. The waterside, flower-bedecked cover led me to expect a pleasant romance, so I was surprised by the mystery, the family trauma, the return of a long-forgotten love. Well done! The viewpoint shifts from Bay to her daughter Annie, to Tara, to Dan and also the emotionally-fragile Eliza. The story unfolds through their eyes and at times I wanted it to hurry up a bit. Mostly though, I savored the development of the characters and the flavor of the Connecticut seaside life. If you like this author, I'd also recommend Wanda Ryder's Free To Go.

Perfect Summer by Luanne Rice is another heart warmer by one of my favorite authors! Rice manages to immediately draw the reader into the very depths of all of her characters, so that one can feel all of their emotions, all of their struggles and all of their dreams. Rice weaves magic into all of her stories, filling them with the reality of life, but also with hope and love. Her characters in this story were complete and the relationships portrayed were intense, believable, and amazing. Her characters come alive and fill your imagination so that you really don't want to put the book down!This book not only had a romantic twist to it, but it also had a great mysterious and intriguing element to the story. Rice skillfully led the reader through twists and turns and one did not know until the very end, which character was the perpetrator. Rice's books are not icky sweet romantics, where all the characters live in a fantasy world. Instead, her books are so filled with life; the realities of life and the messages of love are indeed heartwarming. Elements of romance and intrigue are woven throughout, interlacing all the incredible relationships.After reading one of Rice's books, one comes away feeling uplifted! I absolutely love all of her books!

I had run out of things to read while on vacation and picked this up at the hotel giftshop, never having read anything by Luanne Rice and only having the expectation that it would be a light romance. What a pleasant surprise! Sure, the romance was there, but there was mystery, intrigue, great friendships between Bay and Tara, as well as Bay and Danny and their daughters. The mystery surrounding Sean's death was well drawn, and there were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing til very near the end of the book. I loved Rice's vivid descriptions of the town, the beach, and the characters...everything came alive! I'll be sure to check out Rice's other books!

I can just imagine and wish I lived in a place like Hubbard's Point. Having a lifelong friend like Tara and Bay, to share summer love and bliss. The book was thrilling and calming. So glad everything turned out. (Don't want to give anything away) It also gives great insight into the trials and tribulations of a child who has lost a parent. Ms. Rice really knows how to keep you turning pages!! Can't wait until the next one.

I've come to depend upon Luanne Rice's books to always be riveting, romantic and well-written and this one did not disappoint me. She writes about broken families with compassion, warmth and sensitivity. The subplot in this one of Dan's daughter's anorexia and 'cutting' was timely and handled with care. I highly recommend this and all of her books.