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125th out of 131 books
—
42 voters
The Summer Hideaway (Lakeshore Chronicles #7)
by
Susan Wiggs (Goodreads Author)
Never get attached—Private nurse and protected witness Claire Turner lives by this motto. Fleeing a treacherous past, she knows no other way.Never give up—In the twilight of his life, George Bellamy makes it his final wish to reconcile with an estranged brother. He and Claire journey to Willow Lake—where it all went wrong for him fifty years ago.
Never let go—George's grand...more
Never let go—George's grand...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
February 23rd 2010
by Mira
(first published February 1st 201)
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Apr 01, 2010
Rossy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Wiggs/contemp. romance/ Carr fans
Recommended to Rossy by:
Series continuation
I have never been happier about my OCD, than while i was reading this book. I'm glad i followed the pull and read the books in order, even if it's not necessary to follow this story, since every book stands on its own in the series. Just the mention that the setting would be Willow Lake had me giddy with anticipation for this book.
Out of all the other books, i think this was the best yet. The underlying mystery was fascinating. I kept trying to guess and although sometimes i was right, i was als...more
Out of all the other books, i think this was the best yet. The underlying mystery was fascinating. I kept trying to guess and although sometimes i was right, i was als...more
Feb 19, 2010
Mollie *scoutrmom*
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Contemporary Romance fans
Recommended to Mollie *scoutrmom* by:
nobody
George Bellamy has lost the cancer battle, and decides on palliative care instead of going down swinging. His one regret, that his favorite grandson has not found a woman to love. George interviews private duty nurses for his final weeks, and selects the one he thinks is right for his grandson. George and the nurse leave for beautiful Camp Kioga so he can fill some final life list items and make peace with the brother from whom he has long been estranged.
Private duty nurse Claire Turner is hidi...more
Private duty nurse Claire Turner is hidi...more
This was the very first audiobook I listened to on my car's CD player. I love listening to books on my way to and from work! It makes even traffic jams delightful. :) Listening takes much much longer than reading for myself, but that's OK.
In this particular story, a dying George Bellamy hires a young private nurse, Claire Turner, to take care of him in his final days...and to fall in love with his grandson, Ross. George's family thinks Claire abducted him, since they don't understand why he is...more
In this particular story, a dying George Bellamy hires a young private nurse, Claire Turner, to take care of him in his final days...and to fall in love with his grandson, Ross. George's family thinks Claire abducted him, since they don't understand why he is...more
My first Susan Wiggs book; enjoyed subplot more than main romance
[Present day - Ulster County, New York:]
[Summers 1944, 1945, and 1955 - Ulster County, New York; Autumn 1955 - New Haven, Connecticut:]
This is my first Susan Wiggs novel and although it didn't rate very high with me, I do think she is a talented author and skilled storyteller and will read one or two more books before I decide she's not for me. Much of my complaints about this book are the same as those mentioned by other reviewers...more
[Present day - Ulster County, New York:]
[Summers 1944, 1945, and 1955 - Ulster County, New York; Autumn 1955 - New Haven, Connecticut:]
This is my first Susan Wiggs novel and although it didn't rate very high with me, I do think she is a talented author and skilled storyteller and will read one or two more books before I decide she's not for me. Much of my complaints about this book are the same as those mentioned by other reviewers...more
Ms Wiggs has a way of getting under the skin of things. In this book, she describes the end of a life, and brings an understanding and bittersweet look at what it is like to love and lose, to father a large family, to have one's life changed irrevocably at the age of 13 and again at 23, and to have regrets as well as gratifyingly deep connections with others. The relationship between Claire and Ross is secondary but beautiful. Both are somewhat needy but very strong characters, who gradually com...more
3.5 stars
George Bellamy has a terminal disease and after waging a heroic battle against it at the Mayo Clinic, he has decided to spend the remainder of his days his way. He hires a nurse, Claire Turner, to travel with him to the site of his childhood summers, there he plans to make amends with his past and his long lost brothers, reconnect with some family, and make a dent in his list of things to do before he dies.
Ross Bellamy is returning to his Grandfather George's side after two years spen...more
George Bellamy has a terminal disease and after waging a heroic battle against it at the Mayo Clinic, he has decided to spend the remainder of his days his way. He hires a nurse, Claire Turner, to travel with him to the site of his childhood summers, there he plans to make amends with his past and his long lost brothers, reconnect with some family, and make a dent in his list of things to do before he dies.
Ross Bellamy is returning to his Grandfather George's side after two years spen...more
1 like · like · see review
I like all of the Lakeshore Chronicles books by Susan Wiggs. She is very good at delving deep into the emotions of all her characters. So much so, that some times, it can be a little repetitious. I missed a few books between the this one and the last I read, and I feel like I missed out. But the story is heartwarming, along with a little suspense because of the situation of the characters. It is about so many things, most of all, about seizing life while you have it, and not being afraid to take...more
This one was very hard to read for me as part of the story line hit a little too close to home. Anyone that has had a family member that realizes there comes a time when a choice needs to be made about life will understand, the whole quality versus quantity of life becomes an important one. Do you keep fighting just to have a few more miserable days or months, or do you accept your fate with dignity, look back at your life and do what you have always wanted, righted those wrongs, and just live i...more
I was really disappointed in this story. It started out with a lot of promise. I liked the initial characters and their problems. Then it started to go downhill. Especially once the reminiscing on the past started. That made it choppy and it totally lost momentum. By the end it felt more like George's story than Ross and Claire's. The story mostly tells what is going on, rarely showing us. For example, Ross and Claire continue to get closer and closer, but we see very little of their interaction...more
This opens with Ross Bellamy, a young helicopter pilot in the army just rounding up his tour of duty in Afghanistan. He comes home to learn that his beloved grandfather George Bellamy, a retired journalist and the closest thing to a father he has ever known, is terminally ill with brain cancer.
George has opted to stop all treatment, live his last few months doing whatever he wants (with a bucket list of sorts) and dying in his place of choice, Willow Lakes Camp Kioga, where he spent the happiest...more
George has opted to stop all treatment, live his last few months doing whatever he wants (with a bucket list of sorts) and dying in his place of choice, Willow Lakes Camp Kioga, where he spent the happiest...more
This book has three distinct, somewhat linked plots: 1. George Bellamy is an old man dying from a brain tumor. He hires a young nurse to see him through his final days as he tries to reconnect with a brother he hasn't spooked to in 55 years. 2. Claire is a nurse with a secret past that is getting harder to keep secret. She witnessed a murder as a 17 year old girl and has been in hiding ever since. 3. Ross Bellamy, grandson to George, is a war vet/helicopter pilot who is leaving the military as h...more
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The only reason I'll keep reading LsChronicle books after this one is for closure to the Daisy Bellamy story.
Frankly, Wiggs seems bored with these books and this setting. The romances have grown perfunctory and dull. The characters are not at all engaging and there is far too much Tell Me without a lot of Show Me.
Worst of all, Wiggs has grown pedantic with the last few. We readers are treated to parenthetical lectures about weight management, dress sense and the perils of reclusivity. It's lik...more
Frankly, Wiggs seems bored with these books and this setting. The romances have grown perfunctory and dull. The characters are not at all engaging and there is far too much Tell Me without a lot of Show Me.
Worst of all, Wiggs has grown pedantic with the last few. We readers are treated to parenthetical lectures about weight management, dress sense and the perils of reclusivity. It's lik...more
The always-right, has-it-together heroine, added no flash or color and verged on preachy at times. The "predicament" held no suspense - because it was used as background more than plot development. Wiggs never thrills me, but for some reason, I keep hoping she will.
I'm not sure how I ended up reading Daisy's story before this one - I never read series out of order! But, now that I have bashed myself about the head and ears with a fish I can carry on. This is a touching book about family, about the choices we make, and about letting go of old hurts. As in most books of this genre, the ending was never in question. We know George will die, know that Claire and Ross will end up living happily ever after, this isn't a mystery for Pete's sake, but the beauty is...more
This is a tough review for several reasons. I liked George a lot and I enjoyed getting to know him, but it was a given from the beginning that he would pass away at some point. I don't like reading sad stories. There was not enough of Ross and Claire and I thought the book was supposed to be about them. Also, way too many things were left open. Case in point.....Philip. Don't get me wrong, Susan Wiggs tied her loose ends with conversation and the reader was given a sense of understanding, but.....more
The Summer Hideaway is a story about the bonds of family and of the things that bind and divide. These things, love and relationships can manifest themselves in the unlikeliest of people and places, often transcending through social classes and time. They can be enduring, endearing or evoke painful memories that all make up a life that has come full circle, even if not necessarily fulfilled.
At the heart of the story, is the life of George Bellamy presented as a legacy of the love he has culmina...more
At the heart of the story, is the life of George Bellamy presented as a legacy of the love he has culmina...more
I enjoyed the book. The Summer Hideaway is a great story about George Bellamy, long, in depth, and very emotional. It had the power to make me tear up more than once, and it held my interest. It was less about the actual romance between Ross and Claire than I would have liked to read. That part of the story was a little flat. Not a lot of the building anticipation and expectations of a budding romance. I don't consider it to be as much of a romance novel as it is a great portrayal of a family's...more
Between Susan Wiggs and Catherine Anderson its hard to choose with both historical romances and contemporary romances. This story was about an old man with a list of needs before his imminent death, one of which was to find a perfect bride for his grandson who had been in Afganistan fighting. He finds the perfect woman and his grandson agrees but she has some dangerous baggage of her own which adds excitement to the story. The grandfather is reunited with his family especially his brother; there...more
Claire Turner, private nurse, fleeing from her past, takes on the assignment of helping George Bellamy make the most of the time left him. They travel to Willow Lake where George has fond childhood memories but also some secrets.
Returning from service, handsome Ross Bellamy, discovers his beloved grandfather is about to die. Not quite trusting the private nurse, he nonetheless is attracted to Claire.
You can probably guess the rest.....this was a "feel good" read despite George's outcome. What h...more
Returning from service, handsome Ross Bellamy, discovers his beloved grandfather is about to die. Not quite trusting the private nurse, he nonetheless is attracted to Claire.
You can probably guess the rest.....this was a "feel good" read despite George's outcome. What h...more
This was the first story of the Lakeshore Chronicles that I read. I loved it. It got me completely addicted to them and I've been checking them out of my local library right & left this year. I love everything about Wiggs' writing. It's so easy to read without that feeling that it's been "dumbed" down for a wider audience. It doesn't pretend to be anything it's not - it's just good, easy entertainment. I like that I can read a "romance" novel with plenty of suspense and and story line... and...more
I absolutely love this series and couldn't wait to read #7. I was disappointed that Daisy wasn't in it, because I love seeing how her character is growing and maturing, but she will be the main topic of #8, so I can't wait.
Wonderful story about George Bellamy and the Bellamy clan. Once again bringing most of the main characters together. Loved the addition of Ross Bellamy and Claire. Hopefully we will hear more about them in the future.
As always, Susan's writing really touches you and makes you...more
Wonderful story about George Bellamy and the Bellamy clan. Once again bringing most of the main characters together. Loved the addition of Ross Bellamy and Claire. Hopefully we will hear more about them in the future.
As always, Susan's writing really touches you and makes you...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I have enjoyed this book about a girl who had witnessed double murder by a trusted adult while in the foster system. From that day on she had to disappear and learn to live on the run if need be. While her motto was not to get attached to anyone so that they will not get hurt she chose a profession that would allow for that as well - working with dying patients. When taking on another assignment she was not aware that her patient had other plans for her and his grandson. And the real story begin...more
Another good read from Susan Wiggs. I do, on the whole, like this Lakeshore Chronicles series. I like the added depth of a character living out the last few months of his life. It was a nice difference from most romances.
The characters are interesting and generally the story develops in reasonable ways based on the characters' history and current events. I just wish that Wiggs would spend less time just mucking about in the heroine's head and more time having the characters *doing*. Less tell,...more
The characters are interesting and generally the story develops in reasonable ways based on the characters' history and current events. I just wish that Wiggs would spend less time just mucking about in the heroine's head and more time having the characters *doing*. Less tell,...more
This book had a lot of promise and I really liked all the characters, however as it went on it got more and more rushed and in the end the whole thing was wrapped up in just a few short scenes. I haven't minded the flashback chapters in the previous books in this series but they really distracted and took away from the current stories in this one and totally stopped the flow, it would have been much more interesting for the past to come out in other ways, reliance on the flashback is getting dul...more
George Bellamy’s brain tumor keeps recurring, so he discontinues treatment, and travels with nurse Claire Turner to upstate New York in an attempt to mend fences with his long-estranged brother Charles. Spending the summer at Camp Kioga also allows him to matchmake for his beloved grandson Ross, newly returned from a two-year Afghanistan tour of duty as an Army air medic, while he himself reconnects with Millie Darrow, an acquaintance from his youth.
But Claire’s secrets threaten the entire Bell...more
But Claire’s secrets threaten the entire Bell...more
A delightful story of the Belamey family. George has a serious brain tumor that can't be cured and he sets out to do all the things he wanted to accomplish in life before he dies -- including finding a fiance for his grandson Ross who just returned from Afghanistan. It is a very touching story and reminds us that we don't get days back. At the end, it doesn't matter if our floor is shiny and the curtains pressed. Use each day like it is your last. I think the best line in the book is "don't trad...more
This is the kind of book that makes you think about the impact of your life. George Bellamy had a falling-out with his brother more than 50 years ago but now he's dying and he doesn't want to die with a rift between them. He's hired a nurse, Claire Turner, with the hope that not only will she help him, but that his grandson might find her attractive. Ross is an medevac chopper pilot just coming off rotation in Afghanistan and his grandfather is his closest friend. George knows he was in the wron...more
She certainly doesn't pull any punches as she writes about characters you've grown to like. I was a little disappointed by the Jane Bellamy implications since I've really liked her since the first in the series. Nice to see closure on the family rift between Charles' family and him. The brief shift into action/thriller story was a bit jarring when a legal solution had presented itself so early on. Nonetheless, a quick, heartwarming read that returns us to Avalon.
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| "Read with Me" The Summer Hideaway by Susan Wiggs | 16 | 21 | Mar 19, 2010 03:11pm |
Susan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org...more
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