Publication
Don Mills, Ont. : MIRA Books, 2006.
Collection
Call number
Fiction W
Physical description
534 p.; 17 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
Fiction. Romance. HTML: Susan Wiggs's Lakeshore Chronicles series has captivated thousands of readers with its relatable characters, warm humor and engaging stories. Summer at Willow Lake is the story that started it all. Meet Olivia, Connor and the families and friends of Willow Lake that make these emotional romances a must-read. Real estate expert Olivia Bellamy reluctantly trades a trendy Manhattan summer for her family's old resort camp in the Catskills, where her primary task will be renovating the bungalow colony for her grandparents, who want one last summer together filled with fun, friends and family. A posh resort in its heyday, the camp is now in disarray and Olivia is forced to hire contractor Connor Davis--a still-smoldering flame from her own summers at camp. But as the days grow warm, not even the inviting blue waters of Willow Lake can cool the passions flaring or keep shocking secrets at bay. The nostalgic joy of summers past breathes new promise into a special place and people...a promise meant to last long after the season ends. Don't miss Candlelight Christmas, the latest story in the Lakeshore Chronicles series by #1 New York Times Bestselling author Susan Wiggs..… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member hammockqueen
lost interest although premise could have been good
LibraryThing member beckymmoe
I pretty much went backwards here, because I read the Lakeshore Chronicles #8 (Marrying Daisy Bellamy) before I read #1, but I'm not terribly sorry that I did. I enjoyed both books, and by reading the newest one first I got rid of all that pesky "will they or won't they?" bit. (Not that there
Summer at Willow Lake introduces us to the Bellamys and to Camp Kioga, a family and a location that feature prominently in the rest of the series. This novel focuses on Olivia Bellamy, the only child of a wealthy but unhappy-until-they-get-divorced couple. Olivia spent summers at her grandparents' summer camp, Camp Kioga, of which she has mostly uncomfortable memories. Lolly, as she was called back then, compensated for her tense home situation by overeating, and this made her awkward and out of place at camp. She slims down in college, gains much needed self-esteem, and as a adult owns her own business in New York; her love life, though, leaves much to be desired. As the novel begins, Olivia is just about to be almost engaged for the third time...but gets dumped instead. Her grandmother asks her to oversee the renovations of Camp Kioga, which has been closed now for many years so that her grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary party can be held there. Olivia agrees, not realizing that by doing so she will come into direct--and near constant--contact with Connor Davis, local contractor and the boy who broke her heart so many summers ago.
A touching start to the series, Wiggs gives readers a nice introduction to the characters and locations that will feature prominantly in the next seven books. I'm off to check my library for #2!
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really is any, but still. You never know.) Summer at Willow Lake introduces us to the Bellamys and to Camp Kioga, a family and a location that feature prominently in the rest of the series. This novel focuses on Olivia Bellamy, the only child of a wealthy but unhappy-until-they-get-divorced couple. Olivia spent summers at her grandparents' summer camp, Camp Kioga, of which she has mostly uncomfortable memories. Lolly, as she was called back then, compensated for her tense home situation by overeating, and this made her awkward and out of place at camp. She slims down in college, gains much needed self-esteem, and as a adult owns her own business in New York; her love life, though, leaves much to be desired. As the novel begins, Olivia is just about to be almost engaged for the third time...but gets dumped instead. Her grandmother asks her to oversee the renovations of Camp Kioga, which has been closed now for many years so that her grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary party can be held there. Olivia agrees, not realizing that by doing so she will come into direct--and near constant--contact with Connor Davis, local contractor and the boy who broke her heart so many summers ago.
A touching start to the series, Wiggs gives readers a nice introduction to the characters and locations that will feature prominantly in the next seven books. I'm off to check my library for #2!
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LibraryThing member punxsygal
A pleasant, but not outstanding romance.
LibraryThing member honeydew69862004
Summer At Willow Lake is the first book in the Lakeshore Chronicles. It is about Olivia who is going back to her family's camp to revamp it for her grandparents wedding anniversary. While there she sees Conner, once her summertime boyfriend who broke her heart. It is a reread for me but a really
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good book that kept me smiling and lauging and getting that flutter of emotion during the romance scenes. Show Less
LibraryThing member halo776
Connor and Lolly come from different worlds. Connor grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, the product of a selfish mom and an alcoholic father. Lolly has attended the best private schools, experienced exotic overseas vacations, and has grown up with the best money could buy. As outsiders
This is a very romantic read, and I enjoyed every minute of it. It's mainly about Connor and Lolly, obviously, but there are other interesting characters as well. I enjoyed the style; it shifts from present time to the past--before Lolly's parents were married, when Lolly & Connor first met at camp, and their last summer together as counselors nine years ago. The effect is a well-rounded story that's absolutely enjoyable and romantic. The only problem for me was the lack of conflict. It's very predictable, and there's no real opposition for Lolly and Connor this time around. However, all in all it's extremely well-written, and the characters are so well-drawn that it is a delight to watch them fall in love. Highly recommended for lovers of romance.
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attending Camp Kioga summer camp, however, they somehow became friends and a bond was formed through years of summers together, finally culminating in an intense summer romance after graduation. Now, nine years later, Lolly has returned to Camp Kioga, which has been closed for years. Her grandparents (who own the camp) have hired her to restore the overgrown wilderness to its former beauty so they can host a 50th wedding anniversary party/renewal of vows ceremony at the end of the summer. It just so happens that the only contractor in town is Connor Davis. Connor and Lolly are going to have to work together to transform the camp where they fell in love. Along the way, they uncover deep family secrets and confront their feelings for each other. This is a very romantic read, and I enjoyed every minute of it. It's mainly about Connor and Lolly, obviously, but there are other interesting characters as well. I enjoyed the style; it shifts from present time to the past--before Lolly's parents were married, when Lolly & Connor first met at camp, and their last summer together as counselors nine years ago. The effect is a well-rounded story that's absolutely enjoyable and romantic. The only problem for me was the lack of conflict. It's very predictable, and there's no real opposition for Lolly and Connor this time around. However, all in all it's extremely well-written, and the characters are so well-drawn that it is a delight to watch them fall in love. Highly recommended for lovers of romance.
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LibraryThing member Pheonix
This was the third book I have read by Susan Wiggs. I love her writing style. It's the perfect type of book to curl up and read on a lazy day or a rainy one.
She does a seamless job of telling the historical stories of some lead characters in the book, but doesn't lose the plot or reader in how she
This book is based in upstate New York with a main upper class family running a summer camp for their family members' children and other upper class families. The story revolves around old love and new love and all the adventure and summer steaminess a good fictional romance drama can deliver.
The only unfortunate thing I find all too common in Ms. Wiggs' writing is, that her endings are rushed. the pace of the book changes at the end after a steady climax, the story drops off and wraps up. I would really like to see her expand the endings in her books into another chapter or two. It would give the reader a bigger picture of how happy the ending and how the characters future life holds up to expectations built as you read the novels. Other than that, flawless story writing.
I rate this book with a 4/5, with my likes and dislikes in mind.
P
She does a seamless job of telling the historical stories of some lead characters in the book, but doesn't lose the plot or reader in how she
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goes back and fourth in time. I enjoyed knowing the back story to some of the characters. It gave me a better understanding of what their relationships really were like throiughout their lives and situations.This book is based in upstate New York with a main upper class family running a summer camp for their family members' children and other upper class families. The story revolves around old love and new love and all the adventure and summer steaminess a good fictional romance drama can deliver.
The only unfortunate thing I find all too common in Ms. Wiggs' writing is, that her endings are rushed. the pace of the book changes at the end after a steady climax, the story drops off and wraps up. I would really like to see her expand the endings in her books into another chapter or two. It would give the reader a bigger picture of how happy the ending and how the characters future life holds up to expectations built as you read the novels. Other than that, flawless story writing.
I rate this book with a 4/5, with my likes and dislikes in mind.
P
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LibraryThing member njmom3
A fun easy vacation read.
LibraryThing member denisa.howe
I enjoyed this book, the characters, the story line, the middle and the ending. I wish it had been a bit longer but maybe that is because I wanted the characters to live forever and keep on...
LibraryThing member LaCello
I'm not finished yet, but so far, I'm not very impressed. I think I would like it alot more if there weren't quite so many 'flash backs.' The first 2 or so pages were in present time, and than the next like 200 were all a variety of confusing flashbacks varying from 1977, to 1991, it was a
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nightmare trying to keep track of it all, and to be honest, I just didn't care. I ended skipping a whole bunch of pages because the past was not what I a.)wanted to read about and b.) what the book advertised as being about. Show Less
LibraryThing member lrobe190
When her grandparents request one last summer with the whole family in the Catskills, Olivia hires contractor Connor Davis to fix up the camp, but gets more than she bargained for when the renovations unearth shocking secrets and searing passion. Wiggs sets her romance in a picture-perfect setting
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in the Catskill Mountains. Wiggs has a way of making you care about her characters. I look forward to meeting more of the Bellamy family. Show Less
LibraryThing member wareagle78
Oliva Bellamy doesn't have fond memories of her grandparent's summer camp - but out of love for them gives up her summer to restore it for their anniversary. The story really starts when the contractor she hires ends up being her old summer flame.
Nice story, lovely characters.
Nice story, lovely characters.
LibraryThing member lonepalm
A Very Enjoyable Read: Olivia Bellamy is a three times loser in the romance department. Reeling from her latest breakup, she decides to go to her grandparents' camp in the Catskill Mountains. The camp holds a lot of painful memories for Olivia because she was always the fat unpopular kid.
This is a romance without getting all mired down with bodice ripping writing. The characters are likable and we see both Olivia and Connor's sides of the story. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery and wished I could visit.
This is the first of a series and I plan to read the following books.
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Determined to disassociate her past from her present, she decides to renovate the camp for her grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration. It has been closed for a long time and she has her work cut out for her. She didn't count on running into her first love, Connor Davis. They had been at camp together as kids and both had walked away from their relationship with broken hearts. The story goes back and forth between their past days at camp and the present work being done. Working together causes them both to remember the past and their feelings for one another. This is a romance without getting all mired down with bodice ripping writing. The characters are likable and we see both Olivia and Connor's sides of the story. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery and wished I could visit.
This is the first of a series and I plan to read the following books.
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LibraryThing member jendoyle2000
Started out verrrryyy slow for me, but picked up after about five chapters. Felt a little more chick lit than romance (although, yes, that is a fine line) for most of the book. The pairing itself was good -- I did like Olivia a lot, and I loved Connor. The thing that I didn't like was that,
[DEFINITE SPOILER ALERT]
I was glad that at the end I got my romance HEA, but I wanted a little bit more togetherness there as well. Especially because the build-up was so much more thorough than in more conventionally sized romance books. Overall, however, I did enjoy the book and am looking forward to the next in the series.
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[POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT] throughout the whole book we keep hearing about how Connor was the behind the most humiliating experience of Olivia's life -- and experience that has haunted her since it happened -- and then, after about 500 pages, it was resolved in two, and even those were partially indirect due to a conversation Olivia had with someone else. I wanted the resolution to cause sparks and tension between Olivia and Connor, not anyone else. And I wanted the making up that came with that. [DEFINITE SPOILER ALERT]
I was glad that at the end I got my romance HEA, but I wanted a little bit more togetherness there as well. Especially because the build-up was so much more thorough than in more conventionally sized romance books. Overall, however, I did enjoy the book and am looking forward to the next in the series.
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LibraryThing member vivaval
Better than I thought it would be.
LibraryThing member StephLaymon
Summer at Willow Lake is a promising start to a series, but an awkward start all the same. The author seemed to have her hands full with the plot, multiple sub plots, and introducing the characters for the series and the flow and character connection suffered for it. The story line itself was good
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and I loved the secluded New York camp setting. This is one of those books that I have had in my eReader for a long time and am glad to have read it. I am hoping that now that the introductions have been made, the series will improve from here. Show Less
LibraryThing member cubsfan3410
Wonderful 1st of a series book. I am looking forward to reading more. Good characters and believable story.
LibraryThing member ladypembroke
Not really into contemporary romances anymore, but since I really loved Wiggs' historical work, I thought I would give this series a try. I -almost- did not like the heroine, and I'm still troubled by the "weight loss made me beautiful" trope. BUT I really loved the chemistry, the hero, and the
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interwoven story lines. Clearly, the rest of the series is going to be interesting. Looking forward to catching up. Show Less
LibraryThing member SteveLindahl
Summer at Willow Lake is a fun romance novel that touches some serious themes. The story is set at Camp Kioga in the Catskills. The camp has been owned and operated by the Bellamy family for multiple generations, but it has been shut down for the past nine years. When the novel begins, Olivia
Olivia is good at her work, so her business is very successful. However, she's not very good at her relationships with men. Something always goes wrong. Shortly before Olivia's Nana approaches her, Olivia suffers her latest breakup. Although renovating a camp that's been shuttered for so long is a project that will be challenging, an opportunity to get out of the city for the summer is just what she needs. She agrees to handle the project.
One of the first things Olivia needs to do when she arrives at the camp is to hire a contractor. Of course, there's only one contractor in the small town and he turns out to be the person who broke her heart one summer when they were both counselors at the camp.
The plot of Summer at Willow Lake is centered around Olivia's relationship through what is happening in the present as well as flashbacks to her time as a teenager. Yet the story also branches off to touch other romances, including events that happened to Olivia's father back when he was at the camp. I liked way these other stories were woven into the main narrative.
Although the book has some very humorous sections, it also deals with some serious topics such as alcohol addiction and the effects of divorce on children.
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Bellamy, a twenty-seven-year-old business woman who owns a company that prepares (or fluffs) homes to be put on the market, is approached by her grandmother, Jane Bellamy. Jane's plan is to hire Olivia to renovate the camp so that she and her husband, Charles, can hold their golden anniversary party there.Olivia is good at her work, so her business is very successful. However, she's not very good at her relationships with men. Something always goes wrong. Shortly before Olivia's Nana approaches her, Olivia suffers her latest breakup. Although renovating a camp that's been shuttered for so long is a project that will be challenging, an opportunity to get out of the city for the summer is just what she needs. She agrees to handle the project.
One of the first things Olivia needs to do when she arrives at the camp is to hire a contractor. Of course, there's only one contractor in the small town and he turns out to be the person who broke her heart one summer when they were both counselors at the camp.
The plot of Summer at Willow Lake is centered around Olivia's relationship through what is happening in the present as well as flashbacks to her time as a teenager. Yet the story also branches off to touch other romances, including events that happened to Olivia's father back when he was at the camp. I liked way these other stories were woven into the main narrative.
Although the book has some very humorous sections, it also deals with some serious topics such as alcohol addiction and the effects of divorce on children.
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Awards
AAR Annual Reader Poll (2007)
Language
ISBN
9780778323259