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A Summer In Europe

by Marilyn Brant (Goodreads Author)

3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 · rating details · 259 ratings · 81 reviews

"On her thirtieth birthday, Gwendolyn Reese receives an unexpected present from her widowed Aunt Bea: a grand tour of Europe in the company of Bea's Sudoku and Mahjongg Club. The prospect isn't entirely appealing. But when the gift she is expecting--an engagement ring from her boyfriend--doesn't materialize, Gwen decides to go."--P. [4] of cover.

Paperback, 352 pages

Published December 1st 2011 by Kensington (first published November 29th 2011)

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International Chick Lit Books 2013

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Sep 29, 2011 Marilyn Brant rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Shelves: travel, europe

I'm so excited to share this novel with readers. It's been over a decade since I last visited Europe, but I remember the experience of exploring such amazing sites, meeting wonderful people and tasting absolutely superb food (!!) as if it were just last week... The book club rights to the novel were recently sold to the Literary Guild, the Rhapsody Book Club and BOMC2. I truly hope everyone who reads the story will enjoy it. It was a pure delight to write Gwen's adventure abroad!

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Dec 10, 2011 Eleanor rated it 5 of 5 stars

***Though the publisher provides the free book, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

In work, in love, and in life Gwendolyn Reese lives in a world that is as narrow as her focus, for her comfort level.

But what happens when the trip of a lifetime shakes up that orderly and predictable world?

Marilyn Brant's A SUMMER IN EUROPE is a tale as timeless as humanity. We watch Gwendolyn come to the realization that life is bigger than the box we often try to contain it in and that it offers more than what we t...more

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May 13, 2012 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I’m finding it difficult to put into words how truly beautiful this book is. We are taken on a journey through Europe, but we are also taken on a journey of discovery. As we learn about Europe, the main character, Gwen, learns about so much more. The book has complex characters and themes that are cleverly combined with humor. The end result is a book that is profound, moving, and entertaining. I have a copy of A Summer in Europe signed by the author, and I will always treasure it. This is most...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Chanpreet rated it 4 of 5 stars

I can tell you I enjoyed this book much more than Mariyln Brant's previous one, but not as much as According to Jane. Gwendolyn Reese turns 30, and instead of the engagement ring she's been expecting, her boyfriend of two years Richard, gives her pearl earrings to replace the ones her deceased mother had given her. A little unsettled and upset, Gwen accepts a surprise trip to Europe from her Aunt Bea. Not only is Aunt Bea going, but so is her wacky sudoku and mahjong group, also known as S&M....more

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Apr 17, 2012 Elvenjen rated it 5 of 5 stars

My goodness, I could've either written this book or starred in this book. I relate SO MUCH to the main character, Gwyn. So many of her thoughts and actions (or inactions) are my thoughts and actions, her fears are my fears, you get the picture. It's fun to see a main character go through what you want to go through and have her inspire you. I especially loved the Thoreau and Emerson quotes, because they are two of my absolute favorite writers/philosophers.

One of the most interesting parts of thi...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Jill Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: must-reads

A SUMMER IN EUROPE by Marilyn Brant is the perfect Holiday read. Wait a minute, you're saying to yourself. Did you just say "A Summer in Europe" is a perfect Holiday read?? Why, yes, my friends, I did.

Protagonist Gwen Reese likes things a certain way. From her bran cereal to her boyfriend to her exercise routine, she likes order and stability. Her Aunt Bea, however, does not. So when Gwen's straight-laced boyfriend suggests they take a break, Gwen reluctantly takes Bea up on an offer of a month-...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Julie Barrett rated it 5 of 5 stars

A SUMMER IN EUROPE Marilyn Brant
Starts out with Gwen who's a teacher and off for the summer, is celebrating her birthday with her boyfriend of 2years. She's thinking he's going to propose to her but he only gives her some other jewelry. The aunt that raised her, and her S&M (not what you are thinking) board game playing friends give her a treat as one of them can't go. a trip to see Europe 5 weeks.
I find the tour guide is super. He knows where to take them, off the beaten path but also the m...more A SUMMER IN EUROPE Marilyn Brant
Starts out with Gwen who's a teacher and off for the summer, is celebrating her birthday with her boyfriend of 2years. She's thinking he's going to propose to her but he only gives her some other jewelry. The aunt that raised her, and her S&M (not what you are thinking) board game playing friends give her a treat as one of them can't go. a trip to see Europe 5 weeks.
I find the tour guide is super. He knows where to take them, off the beaten path but also the major touristy sites. He gives them time to wander on their own if they wish or to stay as a group. Gwen does a bit of both. She describes the market place in detail that makes me want to
go just to experience the smells and colors. Her aunt tries to push her into going out more after dinner so she will forget her dull boyfriend and maybe have some fun.
Cool how one of the group is heavily into numbers and knows exactly how many steps a certain museum has, sometimes over 400. The views, gardens, parks and gondola rides sound like something I would want to do.
At a friends house yesterday and she showed me set of earrings made from
blown glass on the island of Murano=very fascinating design. In the book that is one of their stops=to see the glass blowers.
Love how knowledgeable the guide is. Would make this trip in their footsteps if I had him for a guide.
This book describes what a lot of places are like seeing them for the first time, very detailed.
You can tell the appreciation for the buildings, architecture, sounds, colors, traditions, and the story that goes along with the group on this adventure.
Between the guide and the England part of the group there is a wealth of knowledge as to what facts they know, astonishing!
Tragedy strikes on their way to play in the world wide tournament.
Gwen gets a shock when they arrive in England.
Love the ending and also the explanation of how to play the board game, thanks for adding that.
What I would have liked to have seen was the map of their journey.

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Dec 03, 2011 Amy Lignor rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reminding one a bit of Nia Vardalos movie roles, this is a tale of a lovely woman who suddenly comes to the understanding that life is short. And that even though you believe everything in life is set up as precisely as a business spreadsheet, there are aspects of adventure, thrills and romance that can come along out of nowhere and really open your eyes.

Gwen Reese is our main character. Gwen is one of those women who measures out what to put in her cereal bowl in the morning, she is that precis...more Reminding one a bit of Nia Vardalos movie roles, this is a tale of a lovely woman who suddenly comes to the understanding that life is short. And that even though you believe everything in life is set up as precisely as a business spreadsheet, there are aspects of adventure, thrills and romance that can come along out of nowhere and really open your eyes.

Gwen Reese is our main character. Gwen is one of those women who measures out what to put in her cereal bowl in the morning, she is that precise. Her boyfriend of two years has asked her to lunch on this, her thirtieth birthday, and Gwen has prepared herself to believe that this is the moment where he will propose. She expects a diamond. Unfortunately what she receives are pearl earrings (that she doesn’t want because she always wears the pearl earrings that belonged to her beloved mother who passed away), a drab lunch, and a so-so promise from her nerd boyfriend that perhaps they can think about marriage in the Fall.

Feeling more than a bit upset, Gwen heads to her Aunt Bea’s house - and this is a woman who is truly hysterical. She has a group of friends - locally, and abroad that she speaks to over the internet - and they all form the S&M Club (meaning Sudoku and Mahjongg). This group is absolutely adorable, and their jokes are something all readers will remember. They surprise Gwen with a birthday present - a whirlwind trip to Europe that will begin in just two days. With no time to think, Gwen heads to the airport with Aunt Bea and friends, hoping that by getting away from her boring, hum-drum life, she can make more sense of it.

Europe is truly stunning. From Rome to southern Italy; from Capri to the Matterhorn, to looking at the slightly ‘steamy’ art in Pompeii - Gwen does her best to enjoy the trip, although her elders seem to be having a lot more fun than she is. It isn’t until a set of brothers joins the tour that Gwen’s destiny begins to be unveiled.

The brothers are named Emerson and Thoreau and they love to boast and brag and ‘one-up’ each other as much as possible. One is a psychologist and one is a physicist, and they have incredible brains to go with their incredible biceps. As the lovely vistas go by, Emerson and Gwen find themselves getting closer, although Gwen knows that back home her boyfriend awaits.

This is truly a well-written romance that beautifully proves that time is fluid, and that no matter what, you can ALWAYS start on a brand new chapter of your life and find your soul mate in the oddest of places. An invigorating and inspirational plot blended with humor, fun and romance - a perfect recipe!(less)

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Nov 04, 2011 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars

On Gwen Reese’s 30th birthday, it wasn’t the expected gift from her boyfriend Richard (which she didn’t get) but the totally unexpected one from her eccentric aunt Beatrice that turned out to be the life changer for this disciplined and ordered person. Gwen suddenly finds herself the beneficiary of a vacation in Europe complete with scenic and historic sites and in the company of Aunt Bea’s quirky friends and members of her S&M (Sudoku and Math-jongg) club. But something profound happened to...more On Gwen Reese’s 30th birthday, it wasn’t the expected gift from her boyfriend Richard (which she didn’t get) but the totally unexpected one from her eccentric aunt Beatrice that turned out to be the life changer for this disciplined and ordered person. Gwen suddenly finds herself the beneficiary of a vacation in Europe complete with scenic and historic sites and in the company of Aunt Bea’s quirky friends and members of her S&M (Sudoku and Math-jongg) club. But something profound happened to this regimented life on this very free spirited journey and as Gwen travels a road she’s unfamiliar with she learns something about herself that was hidden beneath that façade of uniformity, even more surprising is that she’s not the only one on a path of discovery.
Emerson Edwards and his brother, Thoreau, meet the group in Italy and throw a wrench in Gwen’s well-oiled life with their intelligence and their irreverence.
There are consequences that come with discovery and it’s as these two very different roads connect that Gwen will find out if the fear of her past will dictate her future.
This is a brilliant piece of contemporary literature, it’s timeless in its essence. Ms. Brant brings us a rather later that usual coming of age in this story of a woman who’s life has been ruled by loss and fear, then she gives us the hope that this new woman can come out of her chrysalis in tact and ready to take on her whole new world. She does this with her customary prose like dialogue and a narrative that will take your breath away as she takes us through Europe that can vividly be seen in your mind’s eye. Her characters are superstars, every one of them from the 90 year old feisty Zenia to the 15 year old Ani and all the ones in between. But it’s Gwen who shines the brightest, who we will cry with and cry for, who we will root for and scold who we will want for most of all as we see her evolve throughout the novel. Is it a love story, yes it is, but not just a romance, it’s the love of one’s self, of familial and friend love and of course also that love that makes the world go round, the kind of love that heats the coldest of nights and fills the emptiest of rooms.
This is your first must read of December and you’ll want to share with the people who mean the most to you, a perfect stocking stuffer and yes it wraps beautifully. It’s also a read that will be enjoyed by multi-generations and both sexes. If this is your first trip with Marilyn Brant I know it won’t be your last.
Thank you Ms. Brant for another exceptional read.
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Oct 16, 2011 Virginia Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, romance, womens-fiction

"A Summer in Europe", by Marilyn Brant, is a beautifully written story of a young woman's self-renaissance. As Gwendolyn Reese turns thirty and contemplates her life experiences, she considers the orderly manner in which she goes through each day to be her safety net. Her mother's sudden death at age forty had left Gwen shaken and in need of the pedestrian reliability of a structured existence. With her mother's passing, Gwen assumed the responsibility of caring for her father and two younger b...more
"A Summer in Europe", by Marilyn Brant, is a beautifully written story of a young woman's self-renaissance. As Gwendolyn Reese turns thirty and contemplates her life experiences, she considers the orderly manner in which she goes through each day to be her safety net. Her mother's sudden death at age forty had left Gwen shaken and in need of the pedestrian reliability of a structured existence. With her mother's passing, Gwen assumed the responsibility of caring for her father and two younger brothers. Later, she finds some sense of satisfaction in her teaching career, and her love of music is a source of pleasure. Expecting her boyfriend, Richard, to propose, she is taken aback when he postpones making the commitment. Gwen's lively Aunt Bea, sister of Gwen's late mother, offers her a chance of a lifetime--to join her and the members of her S&M Club for a summer-long tour of Europe. "S&M" stands for sudoku and mahjongg, and Aunt Bea and her friends are die-hard devotees of the games. At first, Gwen feels awkward and out-of-place, intimidated by the timeless culture of her surroundings and the intellect and sophistication of some of the fellow travelers she meets along the way. However, as time passes, Gwen begins to absorb the sights and sounds and tastes and textures of each place that they visit. The more she takes in, the lighter she begins to feel, shedding the repression of her inhibitions. Her attention is captured and held by two charming and intelligent brothers, Emerson and Thoreau, whose main goal in life seems to be one-upping each other at every opportunity. It is Emerson to whom she is most drawn, and when he makes it clear that he returns her interest, her emotions take an unexpected turn. Still involved with Richard, she is not free to begin a relationship with Emerson, but her heart speaks a different language. When Richard unexpectedly joins her near the end of her grand tour, she must face her real feelings about life and love. Will she learn to let go and take a leap of faith, or will she return to the known comfort of the cocoon of her orderly world? The author's great love of Europe and her extensive travels there are evident in her delightful, irresistible descriptions of the beauty and bountiful offerings to be found throughout the European continent. The subtle, insightful way with which Marilyn Brant has crafted Gwen's story will make you feel as if you are experiencing everything right beside Gwen. You will breathe the air, inhale the intoxicating aromas, and be enchanted by the art and music and flow of languages. You will taste all the fantastic flavors of gelato, savor the linguine with meat sauce and the variety of quiches, and feel lust in your heart for the fabulous pastries and artisan chocolates. Perhaps the Sachertorte will be your undoing. A layered chocolate cake is filled with apricot jam, coated in chocolate ganache, and then finished with a chocolate glaze. The flavors are then immeasurably enhanced by the giving and receiving of forkfuls of said cake between two people caught up in the spell of the love of a lifetime. Like me, you may never see your travel dreams come to fruition, but thanks to Marilyn Brant, you will always have the pleasure of "A Summer in Europe".

Review Copy Gratis Kensington Books(less)

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Dec 16, 2011 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, fiction, europe

Oh this book is like sitting in the sun in the middle of a Roman piazza while eating a big scoop of gelato. It's lovely and something to be savored. Just about the only thing I didn't like about this book is that Gwen got to go to Europe for a month and I didn't. Yeah, I'm pretty jealous of this fictional character!

This book had so many of the elements that I love. There's travel. There's a character who is transformed. Gwen's transformation is so well written. At first, she's not really explori...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Mrsinserra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 10, 2011 Kathleen Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you ever wanted to take a tour of Europe and just never made it, this is the book for you to replace that urge. Summer in Europe takes the reader for an insightful ride, along with Gwendolyn Reese and the other members of her Aunt Bea's Sudoko and Mahjongg Club. For Gwen's thirtieth birthday her aunt has arranged for Gwen to go on the tour of Europe with her. At first Gwen does not really want to spend her time with a bunch of crazy senior citizens but after she thinks about it she decides, w...more

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Jan 26, 2013 GotMyReservations rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this book; I really did. It’s about traveling in Europe and learning who one really is. The author, Marilyn Brant, is local and knows people that I know. I’m likely to run into her someday and she’s an ex-teacher — all reasons that I should have liked this book better than I did.

Gwen is a thirty-year-old woman from Dubuque who has managed to become dull. She has a dull life and a dull boyfriend. She’s paralyzed by events from her past. She’s not a likely candidate for a romantic...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Jackie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think Marilyn Brant did a wonderful job of writing a story so complex with so many characters that I missed the beat of the book at first. And then I found it about 1/3 of the way through and what a wonderful beat that was.

Gwen is a 30 year old woman who teaches mathematics to middle school children. She has her entire life all planned out and she has decided who she will marry. But none of this is based on the part of Gwen who knows the true desires of her heart.

When Gwen's Aunt Bea invites...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Regina Spiker rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mah-jongg, sudoku, europe, love, relationships

Gwendolyn's aunt Beatrice, at 67, had more fun with her S& M Club (sudoku and mah-jongg)in one day than Gwen did in a year, and she was only 30. Gwen loves stability, reliability, and structure - in other words boring according to Aunt Beatrice. When Gwen's boyfriend of two years gifts her with earrings instead of the engagement ring she so desires, Auntie offers her a frolicking five week trip through Europe with her S&M friends and the fun begins. Although it takes awhile Gwen finally...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Katie marked it as did-not-finish

I feel kind of badly about not finishing this one, since I enjoyed the beginning of it. But then I put it down and just couldn't get back into and when I found myself skimming, decided it was time to give up.

I could deal with the quirkiness of the aunt and her friends, but the love interest and his brother felt like too much. And there were lots details, but they didn't seem to MEAN much?

And there's a touch of judgmentalness, which bugs me. (Her motivation for not liking the British women seemed...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Mauve7 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: expected-better, meh, cover-lies, annoying-heroes, annoying-heroine, frenemies, wtf-is-this

I'm the type of person who reads books to be transported somewhere far away. Paris? Yes, please. Italy? Good Lord, yes! Greece, England, etc.? Um, DUH! I can't afford to go to these places (yet!) so I rely heavily on writers to take me there. When I read the blurb of this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! Gwen is a Type A school teacher who has no life, is extremely organized, boring, smart, and pretty. Her aunt Bea is an eccentric older lady who belongs to a mah jogg (sp?)/sudoku clu...more I'm the type of person who reads books to be transported somewhere far away. Paris? Yes, please. Italy? Good Lord, yes! Greece, England, etc.? Um, DUH! I can't afford to go to these places (yet!) so I rely heavily on writers to take me there. When I read the blurb of this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! Gwen is a Type A school teacher who has no life, is extremely organized, boring, smart, and pretty. Her aunt Bea is an eccentric older lady who belongs to a mah jogg (sp?)/sudoku club with equally eccentric and bizarre members. She--Gwen-- has a boyfriend who decides not to propose because it's not the right season for it.

Long story short, she decides to take a leap of faith and join her aunt and her club to a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe where the club is competing in some championship of...somethingorother. Anyway, she meets the Edwards brothers and her trip takes on a whole other type of adventure.

Okay. I found the book interesting and though I really liked the secondary characters, I found myself extremely annoyed with Gwen. Emerson and Theraou (sorry my spelling is crap right now; it is 3:48am here) were interesting, but they got kind of boring. All of the explanations regarding the history of the countries they visited, the games the club was playing, Emerson's beliefs about music and physics being connected...ugh. I wanted the book to end. It got so wordy at times that I had to push myself to finish this book. I couldn't believe that I was contemplating making a book about a trip to EUROPE a DNF!!! I don't think that's ever happened to me. Books that feature Europe as the setting usually have me intrigued from the start without any interruptions. But, not this book.

Overall, it was okay. The ending was nice and Gwen really grew to be a more open-minded person who embraced her vulnerable side and saw it as something beautiful and something from which she could derive strength. So, it wasn't a complete waste, it just didn't keep me as interested as I was hoping it to. (less)

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May 29, 2013 Susette rated it 5 of 5 stars

Gwen really made me mad at the beginning of the book, I will be honest. I guess I align myself more with her aunt bea in temperament so she was super annoying until she got to the island if Capri. Then I saw she was a character worth investing in. I loved the character development and the description of her experiences in some of the cities. It was fun to romp with the tour group :)

Overall the end again annoyed me in some ways but made me happy in others so I suppose I shouldn't be too picky. Lo...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Edie Ramer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, women-s-fiction-mainstream-commer, romance, jane-austen

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of Brant’s books, but this is my favorite. I got to travel through Europe vicariously with Gwen, the main character, seeing the sights, eating the food, and interacting with her aunt and her aunt’s S&M friends (Sudoku and Mah-jongg). They’re colorful characters, and Gwen is the onlooker, taking everything in but not giving herself fully to life. The book is about Gwen’s transformation, and part of this comes about because of a man who’s the most colorful character...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-first-reads

DISCLAIMER: I won this as a First Reads giveaway.

A SUMMER IN EUROPE begins with this sentence: “The thing no one understood about Gwendolyn Reese was that she was three ages at once: thirty chronologically, forty-five intellectually, and fifteen experientially.” Once I read that line, I was calculating my own chronological, intellectual, and experiential ages, and I knew that Gwen and I were going to have a great trip to Europe together, which we did. Like Gwen, I’m hardly a world traveler, so I...more DISCLAIMER: I won this as a First Reads giveaway.

A SUMMER IN EUROPE begins with this sentence: “The thing no one understood about Gwendolyn Reese was that she was three ages at once: thirty chronologically, forty-five intellectually, and fifteen experientially.” Once I read that line, I was calculating my own chronological, intellectual, and experiential ages, and I knew that Gwen and I were going to have a great trip to Europe together, which we did. Like Gwen, I’m hardly a world traveler, so I enjoyed sharing all of her travel firsts (and I enjoyed reading my first Marilyn Brant book.

Pros of A SUMMER IN EUROPE:

* Brant’s kooky characters. I loved them all from the 90-year-old who wants to write a thriller and keeps sharing her murderous plots with her fellow travelers to the handsome Austrian tour guide suffering separation anxiety from his beloved pet hamster.
* On a related note, the book has a fair number of characters, which tends to be dangerous in fiction, but Brant pulls it off. Everyone is distinct enough that the reader is not left confused.
*The best heroes are English. This is not up for debate, folks.
*At times, laugh out loud funny.
*Armchair travel at its best. I especially loved the scenes in Italy.
*The book description sounds fluffy, but it’s actually a pretty thoughtful book.

Cons of A SUMMER IN EUROPE:
*Not the most original premise. We’ve all read about the woman who goes to Europe when a relationship doesn’t go as planned. The journey itself is wonderful, but it still begins in an expected place, and for that matter, ends in an expected place.
*Gwen is a little too uptight in the beginning, and it made her a little difficult to relate to initially.
*Sometimes the book (or Gwen?) tells the reader too much instead of letting the reader draw his/her own conclusions.

As you can see from my rating, the pros won out over the cons for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed this. Also, this review is cross-posted on my blog here - http://meowofthecat.blogspot.com/2011... - with some slight variations.(less)

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May 29, 2012 Jakki rated it 5 of 5 stars

For her thirtieth birthday, Gwendolyn Reese doesn’t receive the expected engagement ring from her boyfriend. Instead, her aunt and the Sudoku and Mahjongg Club present Gwen with a grand tour of Europe. With no ring, Gwen decides to go abroad, her first step in finding herself. Having rarely left the comfort of the Midwest, and uncertain as to whether she is up to spending a summer with her aunt’s crazy friends, Gwen is apprehensive. Yet, it is somewhere between Capri and Sorrento that Gwen has h...more For her thirtieth birthday, Gwendolyn Reese doesn’t receive the expected engagement ring from her boyfriend. Instead, her aunt and the Sudoku and Mahjongg Club present Gwen with a grand tour of Europe. With no ring, Gwen decides to go abroad, her first step in finding herself. Having rarely left the comfort of the Midwest, and uncertain as to whether she is up to spending a summer with her aunt’s crazy friends, Gwen is apprehensive. Yet, it is somewhere between Capri and Sorrento that Gwen has her great awakening. Everything now is vivid, vibrant, and alive; she is alive.

Helping her along is physics professor Emerson Edwards. However, the more time Gwen spends in Emerson’s company, the greater her struggle becomes, as her new passion for culture is not the only awakening Gwen is having. Even though things may be platonic between the two, there’s no getting around the sparks flying from all the sexual tension. From feeding each other linguini and chocolate cake to their unique understanding for each other, I was completely wrapped up in their story. But will Gwen’s renaissance take root enough for her to forget the safety and predictability of life back in Iowa with her boyfriend Richard or will she take a chance in her search for her own passions?

Adding to the amusement of the story was the S&M Club. It didn’t matter if Hester, Zenia and Aunt Bea were discussing The Bold and the Beautiful, which men are “fling-worthy,” or a new way to dispose of someone as a plot for a novel, they had me in stitches. I mean, who expects a sixty-seven year old aunt to encourage her niece to “lose” her hotel key so she will have no other choice than to spend the night elsewhere?

A Summer in Europe was truly an enjoyable novel. I found Brant’s storytelling supreme, her characters real, and Europe breathtaking. In addition to the lovable characters, it was the author’s picturesque language that had me experiencing Gwen’s awakening and Europe first hand. Brant’s ability to take the smallest details and tie them into the major themes and motifs, as well as her perfectly chosen descriptions, wove this story together like one of Zenia’s finely knitted scarves.

I was not ready to say good-bye to my new friends or to unpack my bags and put away my passport. In doing so, it would mean my summer in Europe was over, and while entertaining and introspective, A Summer in Europe was a journey I did not want to end.

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Dec 04, 2011 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Gwen and her boyfriend, Richard have been dating for a while, Gwen has a feeling that Richard is going to propose to her on her birthday. Instead of a ring, Gwen receives a pair of pearl earrings. After Gwen’s Aunt learns that Richard did not propose to Gwen, she figures that this is the best time to tell Gwen that she and Gwen will be traveling to Europe. There is just one catch. Gwen and her Aunt will be joined by Gwen’s Aunt’s S and M club members.

While in Europe, Gwen meets Emerson. Emerson...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Marianne Stehr rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: marianne-s-144

This is absolute chick lit. Written however for what I would consider a more advanced reader, this is not mindless fluff, not a beach read or a juicy romance. It is a deep love story, it researches all parts of relationships and in the end it does not give you the answer that you think is coming, it allows you to draw your own conclusion, which I will! The characters are deep, they work together in ways you think "brainy" mathematicians, elderly sudko players, siblings and a young teacher who by...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars

"No one person can complete me - that's just nonsense. I'm a complex woman. A full mosaic. I want every side of me to shine, not just one or two sides of me."

Brandt takes an ordinary plot device and turns it into a tapestry of tastes, sounds, smells, sights, love, life and discovery. She raises the bar of writing romantic stories by using poetic imagery to describe the cities words as rich as gelato, dense as black forest cake, and delightful as tea and scones.

Gwen's S & M travel companions...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Annalie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Description from the back of the book:

"On her thirtieth birthday, Gwendolyn Reese receives an unexpected present from her widowed Aunt Bea: a grand tour of Europe in the company of Bea's Sudoku and Mahjongg club. The prospect isn't entirely appealing. But when the gift she is expecting--an engagement ring from her boyfriend--doesn't materialize, Gwen decides to go.

At first, Gwen approaches the trip as if it's the math homework she assigns her students, diligently checking monuments off her must-...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kritter-reviewed-2011

A story that centers around a newly 30-year-old who didn't celebrate her birthday quite like she had thought - no jewelry meant for the left hand was received, if you get my drift. She ends up taking a trip around Europe with her Aunt and her wacky friends who find math, philosophy and history all interesting topics of conversation and debate.

Although the characters were definitely interesting, I didn't fall in love with them and couldn't connect with them. There was a quite a large ensemble ca...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Kristin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love how Marilyn Brant tells a story. It's a perfect, relaxing weekend read.

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Sep 15, 2012 Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

*yawns and stretches* Sorry, please excuse my sleepiness, I've just returned from a fantastic sojourn in Europe and I'm just a teensy bit jet-lagged...

During the summer she turns thirty, Gwendolyn Reese – an unsophisticated and inhibited middle school math teacher that passionately loves listening to musical soundtracks – expects to be trying on wedding dresses, picking out flowers, and planning a wedding with her boyfriend of two years. But instead she is being shanghaied by her aunt's S &...more
*yawns and stretches* Sorry, please excuse my sleepiness, I've just returned from a fantastic sojourn in Europe and I'm just a teensy bit jet-lagged...

During the summer she turns thirty, Gwendolyn Reese – an unsophisticated and inhibited middle school math teacher that passionately loves listening to musical soundtracks – expects to be trying on wedding dresses, picking out flowers, and planning a wedding with her boyfriend of two years. But instead she is being shanghaied by her aunt's S & M Club (S for Sudoku, M for Mahjongg – had you shocked there for a moment, didn't I?) to travel on their five week tour of Europe. Now, instead of viewing this opportunity as the once-in-a-lifetime experience it is, Gwen sees it merely as a chance to check off many historic sites and landmarks on her “must-see list.”

Because of her routine-obsessed, schedule-oriented, regulated way of living life, Gwen is unable to connect to the places she is seeing, she is unable to connect to her fellow travelers, to life in general...until she crosses paths with Ralph Waldo “Emerson” Edwards...

While traveling through Italy, France, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and England Emerson pushes Gwen out of her comfort zone, challenges her to be spontaneous and uninhibited, and teaches her how to experience life in a new way. Through shopping excursions, sightseeing detours, and many sumptuous meals readers (and Gwen) are taken on a tour of Europe filled with insight, sophistication, rebirth, and romance.

What an incredible journey! I truly love Marilyn Brant's style of writing – it's lyrical, descriptive, and magnetizing. Like a well-blended smoothie, Ms. Brant is always able to strike a perfect balance between the different components and elements of her story. Infusing travel, self-discovery, history, comedy, philosophy, psychology, and romance in her story, Ms. Brant capably whips together a tale that is as creamy and decadent as Italian gelato.

To continue reading, go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com... (less)

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Oct 15, 2012 Samantha Robey rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received a copy of A Summer in Europe in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
On her thirtieth birthday, Gwendolyn Reese receives an unexpected present from her widowed Aunt Bea: a grand tour of Europe in the company of Bea's Sudoku and Mah-jongg Club. The prospect isn't entirely appealing. But when the gift she is expecting -- an engagement ring from her boyfriend -- doesn't materialize, Gwen decides to go. At first, Gwen approaches the trip as if it's the math homework she assigns her stud...more

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About Marilyn Brant

Marilyn Brant is the national bestselling and award-winning women's fiction author of ACCORDING TO JANE, the story of a modern woman who receives dating advice from the spirit of Jane Austen (October 2009), FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE, a contemporary tale about three suburban moms who shake up their lives and their marriages when each begins to question whether she married the right man (October 2010)...more Marilyn Brant is the national bestselling and award-winning women's fiction author of ACCORDING TO JANE, the story of a modern woman who receives dating advice from the spirit of Jane Austen (October 2009), FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE, a contemporary tale about three suburban moms who shake up their lives and their marriages when each begins to question whether she married the right man (October 2010), and A SUMMER IN EUROPE (December 2011), which is in the vein of "A Room with a View" and "Before Sunrise," about a woman discovering who she is and who she wants to be while on a grand travel adventure. All are published by Kensington Books.

She's also a #1 Kindle bestseller and has written a series of fun and flirty contemporary romantic comedies, available exclusively as original ebooks. The first of these, ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE, was released in June 2011. It's hit both the B&N and the Amazon Top 100 Bestseller Lists. DOUBLE DIPPING, her second ebook, came out in September 2011 and was a 2012 finalist in the International Digital Awards. HOLIDAY MAN was released in November 2012 and PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MAN -- a Kindle bestselling title in "Humor" -- came out in January 2013.

As a former teacher, library staff member, freelance magazine writer and national book reviewer for Romantic Times, Marilyn has spent much of her life lost in literature. She received her M.A. in educational psychology from Loyola University Chicago, dabbled in both fiction and art at Northwestern University, studied the works of Austen at Oxford University and is an active member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Her debut novel won RWA's prestigious Golden Heart Award in 2007, as well as the Booksellers' Best, Aspen Gold Reader's Choice and Single Title Reviewers' Choice Awards. Her most recent women's fiction story was a Literary Guild and BOMC2 pick and a Barnes & Noble General Fiction Book Club read, in addition to being a Rhapsody Book Club Top 20 Bestseller in Fiction & Literature during 2012.

Marilyn lives in the northern Chicago suburbs with her family, but she also hangs out online at her blog "Brant Flakes." When she isn't rereading Jane's books or enjoying the latest releases by her writer friends, she's working on her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry. (less)

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Quotes from A Summer In Europe

“Humans were temporal. They aged and, eventually, died. And while she could have dwelled on her tendency to morbidly fixate on this quality, she chose instead, in that moment, to let it go . . . To let it rise like the sun. A dancing veil of light being lifted off the water.” — 1 person liked it

“She feared so many things. Too many to want to count them. Some she would not even want to try to justify.
But his touch?
Surprisingly, this was not one of them . . .” — 1 person liked it

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