Book Review for SISTERS OF SUMMER'S END by Lori Foster

29/5/2019

As the summer ends, friendship begins…

When single mom Joy Lee abandoned her old life to take a job at a lakeside resort, she found something that her family’s wealth and influence could never buy: peace of mind. Not easy to come by for the once-burned divorcée who keeps everyone at a distance. But when her new friend, Maris, dares her to take a chance with the drive-in’s charismatic new owner, everything changes for Joy and her young son.

A difficult childhood has left Maris Kennedy with definite priorities. Her job running Summer’s End, the camp store and café, comes first. Always. Nothing could ever make her risk that hard-won security—especially not her free-spirited colleague. But the more she encourages Joy to open herself up to new experiences, the more Maris begins to wonder what she, too, might be missing.

Learning how to trust will bring Joy and Maris together. And soon they form a friendship that leaves them as close as sisters—and open to love where they least expect it…in Summer’s End.

I adored visiting in Summer's End. I loved every moment and scene while I read the story, every character touching my heart in a special way, connecting with each of them on some level.
Joy Lee - the ultimate superwoman of a single mom who is doing all she can that her son will never feel the kind of burn from the hurt Joy's parents caused her.
Maris Kennedy - the other superwoman, working her knuckles bloody in the tough business of food service to make a life to her self, climbing up from the poverty she experienced as a child, determined to make it, make something of herself, to stay independent, to stay above the waterline. She is resilient, she is successful, she has talent, and she has the guts she needs to make it happen every single day.
I loved the friendship developing between Maris and Joy, they had that connection one needs to their soul sister, and even though they seemed so different at the first glance, they are more similar than one would think, with the strength of mind and spirit.
Daron - the hard working, always smiling, flirt of the resort, who has more depth and layers than Maris was willing to admit. He turns out to be just a solid good guy, a person Maris, and his friends, could trust, who was not afraid to say how it was, and who adored Maris.
And then there is Royce - the new guy in town. The one who seems almost too good to be true, who says he wants to just heal and chill and recuperate after taking care of his mother with dementia for years. I wanted to hug Royce silly, cause I know what a tough, all-consuming lifestyle being a caretaker for a person with dementia is. Royce has kindness, goodness, and sexiness that's palpable, he was so perfect with Jack, Joy's son, and together with Joy, they made the perfect unit, one within two.
The different relationships and connections between the friends are tested in the obstacles life throughs at them, with their own issues, pain, and past hurts.
The story balances between serious character development, heartbreak, and growth from life lesson to fun banter, sexy flirting, and love scenes that left me all swoony and smiling. The story wasn't only vastly entertaining, it took a look at life from several different angles, and showed how the past and prestige does not matter if people are willing to find the common ground and make a life together.
An inspiring and uplifting tale about friends, life, learning to trust, and daring to love. The smoothly flowing, well-written story engaged my emotions, I connected with the characters, and I wanted to be part of the gang at the cafe. I found the book to be unputdownable from the moment I started to read it until the oh, so satisfying 'the end'.
This summers 'must read' in my opinion!
~ Five Spoons

Lori Foster is a New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author.
She has received the Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy and for Contemporary Romance;
Amazon’s top-selling romance title for Too Much Temptation;
Amazon’s Top Ten editors’ picks in romance for Causing Havoc;
Waldenbooks’ second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance for Say No To Joe;
BGI group’s “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance for the The Secret Life of Bryan, “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” for Jude’s Law, and “Bestselling Romantic Suspense” for Back in Black;
Plus Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance for Servant: The Acceptance.
Lori has been featured as a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle, and the USA Today “Quick Cross” puzzle.
To give back to the community, Lori does an annual “benefit” book where all advance and royalties go to a charity: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/
She also hosts the annual “Reader & Author Get Together,” facilitating major interaction between readers, authors, and industry professionals while also donating all proceeds from raffles to local charities. http://readerauthorgettogether.com/