Jennifer W. (
GeniusJen) from BLOOMINGTON, IL wrote on 7/21/2008...
SUMMER OF ROSES is the perfect sequel to last year's SUMMER'S CHILD. The relationships that began in that first book--that between Lily and Liam; the health of young Rose; the fleeing of Marisa and her daughter, Jessica; the culmination of former detective Patrick's search for Maura; the ending health crisis of Maeve; the horrors rendered by abuser Edward Hunter--are all beautifully brought to a conclusion.
I loved SUMMER'S CHILD, but was sometimes irritated at the slow pace of the storyline starring Liam and Lily. Although the abuse she'd suffered at the hands of her first husband, Edward, forced the progression to be a slow one, nine years is a really long time!
Thankfully, things move faster in SUMMER OF ROSES, and I treasured each scene as it unfolded. Although the book can stand alone, I highly recommend reading SUMMER'S CHILD first, because the background information you'll gain on each character will make you appreciate this current offering even more.
Kathy S. from DARTMOUTH, MA wrote on 7/7/2006...
This book continues the tale of characters met in Luanne Rice's "Summer's Child". The book can be followed without having read "Summer's Child", but there is certainly more depth to the characters, setting, and plot if you have experienced the first book. I loved both of them! I am sad to let these characters go. Rich description, beautiful setting, sensitive and believable characters are the highlights of this book. Although there is a bit of "magic" to the plot, which is somewhat contrived, it is the story of family love and ties that bind....definitely a great summer/beach book!