Book Summary from Publisher: Bestselling author Viola Shipman delights with this captivating summertime escape set along the sparkling shores of Lake Michigan, where a woman searches for clues to her secretive mother's past
Devastated by the sudden death of her mother—a quiet, loving and intensely private Southern seamstress called Miss Mabel, who overflowed with pearls of Ozarks wisdom but never spoke of her own family—Sutton Douglas makes the impulsive decision to pack up and head north to the Michigan resort town where she believes she’ll find answers to the lifelong questions she’s had about not only her mother’s past but also her own place in the world.
Recalling Miss Mabel’s sewing notions that were her childhood toys, Sutton buys a collection of buttons at an estate sale from Bonnie Lyons, the imposing matriarch of the lakeside community. Propelled by a handful of trinkets left behind by her mother and glimpses into the history of the magical lakeshore town, Sutton becomes tantalized by the possibility that Bonnie is the grandmother she never knew. But is she? As Sutton cautiously befriends Bonnie and is taken into her confidence, she begins to uncover the secrets about her family that Miss Mabel so carefully hid, and about the role that Sutton herself unwittingly played in it all.
My Review
Sutton Douglas’ life comes crashing to a halt when her beloved mother passes away. Led to believe she had no other family, Sutton is shocked when reading a letter her mother left behind. Perhaps she’s not as alone as she thinks. Sutton is on a mission to discover the truth and heads to Michigan for answers.
This is a poignant, touching story of a woman all alone in the world and searching for clues about a family she never knew existed. It’s well written with realistic characters. Each one is crafted to perfection. The storyline keeps you guessing and wondering what lies ahead for Sutton in her search for the truth.
The story takes place during the pandemic and does deal with Covid to a degree, which might make this difficult for some to read. I found it both intriguing and heartbreaking.
This is only the second book I’ve read by this author but I will definitely be on the lookout for more.
Literary Escapes Reading Challenge 2022 (Michigan)
NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2022
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Buy Links:
Author Bio: VIOLA SHIPMAN is the pen name for internationally bestselling author Wade Rouse. Wade is the author of fourteen books, which have been translated into 21 languages and sold over a million copies around the world. Wade chose his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman as a pen name to honor the woman whose heirlooms and family stories inspire his fiction. The last Viola Shipman novel, The Secret of Snow (October 2021), was named a Best Book of Fall by Country Living Magazine and a Best Holiday Book by Good Housekeeping.
Wade hosts the popular Facebook Live literary happy hour, “Wine & Words with Wade,” every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. EST on the Viola Shipman author page where he talks writing, inspiration and welcomes bestselling authors and publishing insiders.
Social Links:
Facebook: Author Viola Shipman
Instagram: @Viola_Shipman
Goodreads
That looks interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a lovely read and this is an author I've really been wanting to read!
ReplyDelete