Lakeside Cottage

If you're looking for a sweet, contemporary romance to add to your summer reading, then Lakeside Cottage by Susan Wiggs should definitely be on that summer list.

Kate Livingston is a single mom trying to raise a ten-year old boy who has anger-management problems. Aaron, her son, is afraid of swimming and desperately wants a father. Callie is a runaway teen who is trying to stay under the radar. And JD Harris is an accidental hero trying to hide from the intrusion of fame into his life. All of them come together at The Lake, seeking to find solace and a summer of renewal. After several stalled attempts at happiness, each of them learns to let down their guard and open themselves to the possibilities offered by the world - overcoming fear show more and disappointment, acceptance, honesty, and most of all unconditional love - that will lead them to happiness if they are open to it.

There were times when I found myself rooting for each of the characters in turn and then times when I wanted to simply shake some sense into each of them. Although Kate and JD are the main characters here, I found myself drawn to the deeply introspective teen Callie mostly because her views on life were shaped not by her own actions but by external forces. Her life was a consequence of the world around her. This is an easy to read book. The descriptions of the lake and the secluded cottages dotting its banks bring a sense of sublime serenity to the reader. show less

I believe I read this book a few years ago when it was originally published as this is a re-issue (with a beautiful new cover which draws you in). I enjoyed it just as much again. (A sucker for girls and guys escaping for some solitude to a lakeside cottage or cabin) as one of my favorite things to do.

Kate returns to her family’s lake cottage with her shy son Aaron, and meets a frightened teenager Callie (who has been living in the summer cottages which she cleans.) True meaning of everyone is put in your life for a season or reason.

Kate invites her to stay with them and then another surprise - a new neighbor JD Harris; however, he is very secretive yet exciting. He is private due to escaping the media for his heroism saving the show more President from a gunman. These four souls find solace in one another with some secrets, and they face many obstacles and challenges along the way to happiness during this summer journey by the lake.

A sweet contemporary romance, and as usual, Susan knows how to write romance with a twist! show less

I haven't been to the part of Washington where this book takes places, but it sounds wonderful. I enjoyed the children more than the adults, and found the writing repetitive at times, but otherwise it was an okay romance.

LC is set in Lake Crescent, Wash. which I visited years ago. It is sort of fun to read a book set in a place I live near. Hero has saved the President's life from an attempted assassination and is hiding out from the press. Heroine is a single mom and a writer. It was pretty good but after finishing it I have decided I like her historicals better. (Grade: B-)

This story starts with Jordan Donovan "JD" Harris who worked as a special force medic. On Christmas Eve as the President of the United States is coming to visit the wounded. Before JD can blink in a moment everything for him changes, when he puts his life on the line for the President. Overnight JD becomes a true American Hero and his life is no longer his own.

The media exploits him in every light from his saddened childhood with his reformed alcoholic mother who has a relapse due to the meida. Also, with his good looks women are calling 911 and committing stupid acts to be saved by him, that actually lands one woman in the hospital on her death bed.

JD cannot take this anymore, so his friend Sam has a cottage up on the lake that is show more remote and out of the way so JD turns to solitude for the summer hoping the media will lose interest in him.

Kate Livingston single mother to nine year old Aaron has recently been fired from her job as a fashion editor and with school out for the summer heads to her family vacation cottage to escape life herself.

I was actually enjoyed the story until these two meet up immediately there is no chemistry between Kate and JD, the interactions with Aaron are more real. The book is to long and spends to much time on everyday happenings that don't mean anything to me.

This is my first contemporary by her, but I will give her others a try.

http://historicalromancemel.blogspot.com/ show less

The summer at the lake is supposed to be a time of healing for Kate, but the handsome and intriguing JD plus the wounded teen-aged Callie make the summer more of a challenge, and more rewarding, than could ever have been expected.

Your typical love story. Easy listening. Great Recipes at the end a Susan Wiggs signature.