Customer Reviews

That Summer Place: Old Things\Private Paradise\Island Time

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Putting authors Jill Barnett, Susan Wiggs and Debbie Macomber together at Rainshadow Lodge was a brilliant idea - and what a gift for readers. For three women, Catherine Winslow, Beth Graham, and Dr. Rosalinda Galvez, the old Victorian summer house on a remote island in Puget Sound is a sanctuary, a place to draw a deep breath, rest, re-evaluate their lives, and heal. None of them expected to find love. For Catherine, love comes packaged in the shape of her first love - and wow, have the years been good to him! Rosalinda discovers a workaholic boss that needs shaking up - so she teaches him the Macarena and raises his blood pressure. Beth finds a man whose teen-age daughter just may give them both grey hairs before they get around to saying "I love you".

These may be stories set in a summer place, but they'll keep you awake, smiling, any time of the year.

This book includes three stories all revolving around one location, San Juan Islands in Washington State. One author started the stories by setting the scene, then two other authors continued with Debbie Macomber's story in the middle. I have enjoyed much of Macomber's work, so I selected this novel to a quick summer read. I truely enjoyed the combinations of the three authors, and all three stories were enchanting.

What's better than reading a book by your favorite author? Reading one by your favorite, your second-favorite, and your other second-favorite! I laughed and cried over these three delightful novellas, marveling at the breathtaking setting. If you've ever dreamed of falling in love in a perfect spot, during a perfect summer, this book is for you.

This was a great summer read. The wonderful descriptions of the Pacific Northwest had me going online to research my dream vacation! If magical, serene, outdoorsy settings are important to you, this is the book for you! I especially enjoyed the stories by Jill Barnett and Susan Wiggs.

The San Juan Islands in Washington State come alive in That Summer Place, an anthology set on fictional Spruce Island. In "Old Things" by Jill Barnett, California divorceé Catherine Winslow seeks to recreate the magic of her childhood with her two daughters on the island where her family spent many happy summers. She has no idea that she is about to revive a teenage romance as well.

In Debbie Macomber's "Private Paradise," widow Beth Graham is invited to stay on an island with friends. But when a last-minute accident keeps her friends from the island, Beth and her son end up sharing quarters with a handsome single father, John Livingstone, and his teenage daughter. Close quarters cause tempers to flare, but Beth and John just may manage to find love before the trip is over.

"Island Time" by Susan Wiggs finds workaholic Mitch Rutherford and Dr. Rosalinda Galvez busily conducting an environmental impact study of the island, although Mitch wonders if he will ever get anything done with the beautiful doctor around.

Barnett's trademark humor, Macomber's poignancy, and Wiggs's expert storytelling all combine to create the perfect summer beach book.

This review is for the Audio version. I would not recommend this tape to anyone! The narrarators are soooo dramatic - for instance in the first story ( I can't even remember the title, it was so bad) the person reading the story emphasises every last word of the sentence, whispers and has to take a breath every few words. It is very annoying. I couldn't listen to any more than 20 minutes of the story - that's how bad she got on my nerves. The second story was not much better - she should have skipped the accent and I was disapointed in the storyline - Susan Wiggs is usually much better.

Maybe reading the book instead of listening would make a difference. But I will never know because there is no way I would waste more money on these short stories.

On a remote island off of the state of Washington lies an old Victorian summer house. It is just what it seems except for the fact that visitors seem to fall in love with one another under its magical roof.Three of the romance genre's most talented superstars take readers on a vacation to this magical Rainshadow Lodge.

San Francisco businesswoman Catherine is burned out and desperately needs a vacation. She decides to return to the place where she spent many happy moments as a child. When she arrives with her two children, the single mother meets Michael, the local handyman and Catherine's first love.

That old familiar feeling returns in Jill Barnett's beautiful contemporary, "Old Things." Beth and her son travel to the island to meet some friends on her first vacation since her spouse passed away. To her chagrin and fate, Beth is forced to share her lodging with John, an uptight, dead-serious business man and his angry daughter. Only Debbie Macom! ber could find a way for two obvious opposites to fall in love in her particularly palpitating "Private Paradise."

Mitch is a classic workaholic who disses people who spend their life being mellow. However, he has a lobotomy of the soul when he meets Rosie, a laid- back scientific consultant. They can teach each other about what they professionally do best, but can they learn how to love in spite of all that ISLAND TIME they have to share? Susan Wiggs knows how to entertain her readers in a most exciting way.All three stories are top rate and readers will want to spend more time at mystical house.

Harriet Klausner

Great summer reading. All three stories captivating from beginning to end. Made me want to visit and vacation on Puget Sound!!!!

I love Debbie Macomber's books and this was just another easy reading, pleasant experience... love her books

I did not want these books to end. I now want to visit the Pacific Northwest.