Search - Summer By the Sea

I was surprised by this book. I figured it was just another fiction love story and I'd probably not really like it. As it turned out, the only thing I didn't like was having to wait SO LONG to find out some of the "secrets". I will say that I was totally wrong about what the secret was! :-)

I enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down.

Awww, this was sweet! It left me with a happy glow when I finished reading it. A lovely story of a innocent childhood friendship between Alex Montgomery, son of a wealthy couple who had a summer home at the beach, and Rosa Capoletti, daughter of the Montgomery's gardener -- a friendship that develops into something more as they grow older. They're seperated by circumstances, and then meet up again as adults, and carefully try to reconnect with each other.

This book is full of warm-hearted characters who I loved getting to know, as well as some scrumptious-sounding Italian recepies that I can't wait to try. All in all, it's the perfect summer read, sweet and satisfying.

This was the first book I've read by author Susan Wiggs and I was extremely pleased!

I was worried when I leafed through this book before reading it and saw recipes dispersed throughout it. I'm glad I didn't let that deter me because it was a fun and quick read and has made me a new fan of author Susan Wiggs.

I liked how 'Summer By The Sea' went back in time to explain things more in depth about Rosa and Alex's relationship. Some people may not like the switching back and forth from past and present, but I found myself wanting to read more and more to find out how things got to the point they did in the present time. It was a very fun and quick read. A great summer read.

I recently found a link online to all the recipes she puts in her books here:

http://www.susanwiggs.com/recipes.shtml

I loved this book! Read it twice. Copied the reciepes from the book to try for my family. Story was well told and very suprising! Wish there was a sequel to this book!

Susan Wiggs is a terrific writer. Her characters and situations are so real,
you can relate to them. I loved Rosa Capoletti....hope she appears again.

A story of second chances and hopes restored... along with some tantalizing Italian recipes.... this is a book that you can truly sink your teeth into.
Rosa is a romantic- always dreaming of her own 'happy ending' - while using her cooking talents and organizational skills to help her friends make their own romantic 'ever afters' at her restaurant. Voted as the 'Best Place to Propose', Celesta's by the Sea restaurant is a dream from the ashes of Rosa's youth.
As a skinny, wild-haired waif who must tag along with her father as he works when she's not in school, Rosa meets a sickly asthmatic boy... the son of one of the 'Summer People' at the shore. Bold, adventurous Rosa teaches Alex about life outside the confines of his 'house captivity' as the two kids hunt for shells, fly a kite at the beach and share dreams each summer.
Growing up means growing apart- but not for the reasons that most young adults expect. Rosa and Alex share a painful secret- one that neither of them discovers until many years later- and which, explained, gives each of them a new chance at trust and their old friendship bond.