I discovered a new-to-me author.
Apparently she's written several novels and if they are as good as this one, I'll want to take out more from our library.
STORY SUMMARY
Epy Pim saw Lost Lake for the very first time via a picture postcard. Somehow, by looking at that postcard, she knew it was her future.
But that was a long time ago, in the 1960s.
Now she is facing the possibility of selling the entire parcel of land, which includes the lake-side cabins and big house and all of the lake/woods to Wes's uncle Lazlo, a developer from Atlanta. Wes was a little boy who spent time at the lake with his little brother Billy. Their dad was Lazlo's brother and was drunk during most of Wes's childhood. Billy and his dad died in a fire in their woods cabin. Wes has remained in the area as a handyman and owns a pizza shop. His fondest memories of Lost Lake include his young friend Kate who just so happens to be Epy's niece. Kate and Wes were best friends one summer when Kate was 12. But her mother became angry at Epy and tore Kate away from that lake and Kate never saw Wes again.
Now...years later, Kate is back with Devin her 8 year old daughter. Her husband died a year ago and Kate has been under the control of Cricket her very ambitious and snooty mother-in-law. Kate decides on a whim to take Devin to Lost Lake to meet her great-aunt Epy and to think things through. She decides this when Devin discovers a picture postcard in an old trunk as they are preparing to move into Cricket's house. Lost Lake is just what Kate needs.
Kate is hoping that by returning to Lost Lake, Devin can remain a little girl a little while longer and Kate needs to learn to move forward. Can she discover what she's been looking for??
MY THOUGHTS
I enjoyed this story. It has a bit of mystery to it and some romance but it isn't a sappy kind of story. The setting is so well described and the character development is rich.
The book points out that there's magic all around us if we just look...and listen....and sometimes we can find peace and second chances in the unlikeliest of places.
Some of the themes in the book are loneliness, mother-daughter relationships, family bonds, renewal. The book points out the power of relationships that bind us together...sometimes for a life time.
I really enjoyed reading the back story of Epy and her sister Marilee and the cook Lisette from Paris. The author incorporates Epy and Kate's backstory seamlessly throughout the middle of the book. It's very enjoyable to read.
There were a couple of sentences worth quoting that jumped out at me:
"...no amount of love and no amount of money would change people who didn't want to change." ~pg 137 Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen c. 2014~
"When your cup is empty, you do not mourn what is gone. Because if you do, you will miss the opportunity to fill it again." ~pg 284 Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen c. 2014~
There were a few editing errors which bugs me....but overall this book is a huge delight and a nice summer read.
On a scale of 1-10, I rate this a 9.
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