That Certain Summer

5 Stars

Book Description

Karen and Val are family--yet they're anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her gorgeous sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had darker reasons for leaving town--as well as a secret to keep--and coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke.

Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with their past mistakes, their relationship with each other, and their issues with a mother who is far from ideal. When a physical therapist raising his daughter alone and a handsome but hurting musician enter the picture, the summer takes on a whole new dimension. As their lives intersect and entwine, can each learn how to forgive, how to let go, and how to move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love?

With her trademark compelling characters and heartwarming hope, fan favorite Irene Hannon offers her readers an inspiring true-to-life tale of complex family relationships, transgressions revealed and forgiven, and the complicated process of finding love.

My Review

This is essentially a story about a family in crisis.  I have always enjoyed Irene Hannon's stories, but this one takes on a new dimension.  I loved the storyline.  Essentially the story revolves around two sisters, Karen and Val,  who have never been really close, but must work together to care for their mother after she suffers a stroke. Karen is recently divorced and grieving the loss of her marriage.  Val fled her hometown after her high school graduation to New York in hopes of becoming an actress.  When Val receives the phone call about her mom's stroke from Karen, she makes up her mind to not only to go home to help with her mom's recovery, but to also face her past.  As Karen and Val work through their relationship issues with each other and find they not only like each other, but that their mother instigated a lot of their misunderstandings.  This story takes the reader on a journey of fixing relationship issues between not only sisters, but also with their mother.  As Val is working through her relationship issues she keeps putting off the real reason she left her hometown. 

This is a wonderfully written story and will quickly draw the reader in.  The characters are looking for not only the courage, but the strength to let go of the past so they can move on with their lives.  I would recommend this book to anyone. 

Meet the Author

Irene Hannon is the best-selling author of more than 35 novels. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine and the Daphne du Maurier Award for mystery/suspense. Irene and her husband make their home in Missouri, USA.

http://www.irenehannon.com/