The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Williams; 4 stars

[Amy]

First up, let me say a thing about Beatriz Williams. Rather by accident, she is my author of the year. Often I like to pick an author I like and finish their canon for anything I have not yet read. She has been one I have considered very closely for the close decade I have taken on this personal challenge. However, I didn't choose her for the year... Somehow fate did. For whatever the reason, challenges, monthly tag, I find myself squarely in her corner and worlds. I am on like the 6th or 7th book of hers I have read since January, and for the second time since then, I am listening to a Beatriz Williams in audio, precisely at the same time as I am reading her in print. Although I have just finished up the print book. And the Audio, the Wicked Redhead, is the second of a Trilogy.

Let me digress... I am a little annoyed about the title of the triquel in the trilogy. Its called the Wicked Widow. The Wicked City stars a particular redhead during the Jazz Age, Gin Kelly, who is the obvious heroine of the series, despite the present day counterpart in a dual timeline story. Clearly the Wicked Redhead refers to her. And now for the second book, we are wrapped up in her love story. So for those of us reading it from the start of the series, I do not like hearing that she will be a widow, when I am still wrapped up in her current love affair. You have revealed where this is going, and I do not care for it one bit. Why would the third title ruin hearts for the dear readers?

But back to Beatriz, Summerly did something I just hadn't pulled together. It made me see that the majority of Beatriz's books, they are all connected. Something I never would have picked up if I hadn't read seven of these in a row. It made me wish somehow that I had read these in order. I remember about 10 to 15 to 20 years ago, I had started to read Philippa Gregory's books, and I started with the Queen's Fool. I then read the Other Boleyn Sister which preceded that one, but I read second. I soon realized I should start at the beginning of the series, which I did - all the way from the Plantagenet beginnings, all the way through her Canon. She was my very first Canon author and it really took me years to do it. As I was reading through the Tudors, she was writing and she filled in my gaps as I went. The timing was spectacular. And as I finished that era of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Starz followed my path. The Red Queen and White Princess and the White Queen, and then the Spanish Queen. Every time just after I would finish and era, Starz came through for me. By the way, Starz has also followed my reading path with Outlander, or rather I am following theirs....

Back to the connectedness of Beatriz's books, I noticed that in Our Woman of Moscow, that she (our heroine) had an Aunt Violet. Since I have so often listed her Canon, I see that there is a two parter perhaps, Secrets of Violet Grant. I even checked the title, this must be the niece of the Violet in that book. The synopsis of that not yet read book confirmed that for me. In Husbands and Lovers, which I listened to at the same time as I was reading Our Woman in Moscow, our lead hero and heroine is Ben Monk and Mallory. Recently, Lyn (from my main goodreads group) read her most recent book, Under the Stars, and there are Ben and Mallory again, she tells us.

So, Summerly. It takes place on Winthrop Island, which I later realize is the home of Ben Monk and his family, and the setting of Husband's and Lovers. In fact 50 years later, he lives next door to the Peabody's which is the surname of our current hero, and their home is the setting of the book. In fact the Peabody's throw a dinner party and invite the grandparents Ben and Isabella Monk to join. But wait... Sumner Fox shows up. Who is he? Why he is the hero in Our woman in Moscow, and this book takes place two or so years after that one concludes. What is he doing here on Winthrop Island? Trying to catch a spy. One who is connected in plot to a prisoner in Russia, one Sasha Digby, who is also featured prominently in Our Woman in Moscow. It kind of makes your head hurt. But to add to this, Cocoa Beach is mentioned, and since I read that one a super long time ago, I didn't catch the reference. But I do know for sure.... That whatever was happening with the FBI ad CIA at that time, that it was connected to this exact time in history...

I can't say for sure if Wicked City (and the rest of the series) is connected to A Certain Age, which is the first of hers I have read.... But it sure feels like it. I am going to go out on a limb and say that the bar Christophers is featured in that novel as well, as well as the housing for women above and next door. For all I know some of the characters are the same as well...

But, back to Summerly. I liked it, but really got into it more in the second half and it really picked up in the end. It went from a three to a four by the end, as it was Three-Ing in the first half... It was a fun ride and the perfect summer read... But it was the connections that really got me going. Once I realized this book tied all the others together, I was somehow into it more. But that I am aware is a quite unique experience.

I would be curious to hear other's thoughts on this book, as compared to some of the others. I still think she is a phenomenal writer and I continue to love her and her work.

[Hannah]

Amy wrote: "First up, let me say a thing about Beatriz Williams. Rather by accident, she is my author of the year. Often I like to pick an author I like and finish their canon for anything I have not yet read...."

I think Beatriz Williams is the perfect author for summer reading!