Review by Booklist Review
Evie Drake Fortescue adores Merchant's House, her deceased husband's ancestral home. Nestled in a seaside English village, the estate is a weekend city escape for Thomas' son, Charlie, and nephew, Ben, and their families. Because she was Thomas' second wife, however, there are those who think Evie doesn't deserve possession of Merchant's House. Charlie's gold-digging wife, Ange, feels it should have been left directly to them, while Ben is just glad to have a place to stay while he goes through a divorce. As Charlie, Ben, and Evie gather for the town's annual regatta, a fourth player complicates things when both men meet and develop feelings for Jemima, a local real estate agent whose bright demeanor stands in stark contrast to threatening undercurrents. Echoes from Evie's past as Thomas' mistress play out as Charlie and Ben vie for Jemima's affections, and the future of Merchant's House hangs in the balance. Willett (Indian Summer, 2017) once again creates an engaging coterie of characters whose feelings are familiar and whose problems readers will gladly adopt as their own.--Carol Haggas Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Summer at Evie's riverside house should be a relaxing getaway and an opportunity to cherish family memories. The beautiful house should be a place for her to remember her late husband and reminisce with her stepson, Charlie. Charlie looks forward to a respite from his unhappy London home as well. While he visits Evie, he meets a woman with whom he feels an instant connection, which is sure to cause distress in his rocky marriage. Evie, too, has a secret, and as it comes to light, scandal looms. The family's future is threatened, and Evie and Charlie must keep this from being their last summer at the river. Setting is just as important as plot in Willett's (A Week in Winter) tale of summer and intrigue. The story gets off to a slow start, but the pace picks up slightly as secrets begin to be revealed. Verdict Though Willett's writing is strong overall and the setting is beautifully described, there are an overwhelming number of characters, which can be difficult to keep straight; furthermore, the story's conclusion may leave readers with more questions than answers.-Kristen Calvert, Marion Cty. P.L. Syst., Belleview, FL © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
