Summer at the Lake by Erica James

Summer at the Lake by Erica JamesDear Reader,

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

It was a wedding invitation that changed everything for Floriana. If she hadn't been so distracted at the thought of having to witness the one true love of her life get married, she would have seen the car coming and there would have been no need for elderly spinster Esme Silcox and local property developer Adam Strong to rush to her aid. If she hadn't met them she would never have had the courage to agree to attend Seb's wedding in Lake Como. For Esme, Lake Como awakens memories of when she stayed at the lake as a 19-year-old girl and fell in love for the first time. So often she's wondered what happened to the man who stole her heart all those years ago, a man who changed the course of her life.


MY REVIEW:

What a superb novel - Erica James never disappoints.

This story is partly set in Oxford and in the beautiful Italian Lakes.
Floriana, a tour guide, while walking home is knocked down by a car. This traumatic event leads her to finding two new friends. Property developer Adam and elderly Esme who go to her aid and despite all three being very different, they find a connection in each other and stay in touch following Floriana’s accident.

Summer at the Lake, had a great cast of characters and I loved all three of the main characters, they each brought something different to the book– the bubbly Floriana, Adam, serious but kind hearted and the wise Esme who dishes out great advice. I was so engrossed in their stories that I was unable put the book down.

Esme's story really tugged at the heartstrings. It was a part of the story that captured me. She never married and lived with her cat Euridice. In the 1950’s as a young woman, she and her father travelled to Hotel Margherita at Lake Como. This journey would have life changing consequences for Esme and decades later, she returns to Lake Como with Floriana and Adam. Not only is it a chance for Esme to put the past to rest but Floriana also faces the heartache of watching her once best friend and love, marry someone else.

Floriana, Adam and Esme's story is wonderfully linked together with such detailed descriptions of the Italian lakeside that you feel you are there with them. I was sad to come to the end of the book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1290475853?book_show_action=false


Enjoy!

Kind regards,
Ailish

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