The Summer of You and Me
Maggie Reynolds is finally ready for love again—until the past shows up in the form of someone who may or may not be the late husband she thought she'd lost.
Five years after her husband's death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.
Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie's heart, and Josh's unrequited love has ruined all his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.
But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan's twin. But he disappears into the amusement park crowd before she can confront him.
The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man's true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers—and soon Maggie isn't sure she wants those answers after all.
My Thoughts
The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter has Maggie Reynolds and her daughter returning to Seabrook Island, South Carolina for the summer. I found the premise for The Summer of You and Me interesting, but the book failed to draw me in. The story was overly dramatic in places and unbelievable in others (I rolled my eyes more than once). It is an emotional story. Maggie’s feelings ran the gamut as she deals with the grief over her husband’s death (he has been dead for five years) and the new feelings for Josh, her brother-in-law and friend. I wanted to tell her to pull it together (she has a daughter who needs her and knows when her mother is upset). I felt the drama with Maggie’s mother was unneeded (there was enough going on). Maggie’s mother behaved like a child, and I do not know why Maggie fell for her mother’s schemes each time.
The storyline with the deceased husband’s
double was predictable thanks to a tidbit the author tossed in that did not
flow with the rest of the story. I tried
but I was unable to connect with the characters and it did not help that the
story moved at a leisurely pace. The Summer of You and Me is a clean, Christian
story (attending church, prayer, no swearing or intimate situations). I did not
feel that the title fit the story because it was not just Maggie and Josh. There was Maggie’s daughter and Josh’s family
(Maggie is staying in her in-law’s home). I have been branching out to try different
authors and genres to get me out of my reading rut. Unfortunately, The Summer of You and Me was
not my cup of tea. While it did not suit me, if the premise appeals to you, I
encourage you to download a sample to check it out for yourself.
The Summer of You and Me is available from Amazon. You can find Denise Hunter's other novels here. The images today are of Seabrook Island, SC where The Summer of You and Me was set. Denise Hunter has The Second Story Bookshop coming out October 7. Thank you for joining me today. I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter. My mother and I had a quiet day. She loves her Snoopy Easter Bunny that does the bunny hop and the little woodstock in a decorated egg costume. Tomorrow, I will be sharing my thoughts on Written in Stone by Paige Shelton. It is the tenth novel in A Scottish Bookshop Mysteries. I hope that you have a an uplifting day. I am heading out to run a couple of errands. Take care and Happy Reading!
The
Avid Reader
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. I am not required to leave a review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
