That Camden Summer

Another winner from Spencer! I saw this book at a local library used book sale and snatched it up, given the great experience I had with Morning Glory. I was not disappointed!

First off, I adore Roberta! I find her fantastically independent, caring, and vulnerable when she needs to, as well as un-domestic, just like me. There were times where the claims to independence were a bit much with multiple stressing of the point, but I can forgive that with how much I love her character. I also loved Gabriel. He seemed like a truly caring man, who is mourning for his lost beloved wife, loving towards his daughter if a bit exasperated by her teenager-ness, and just trying to build a strong and steady life for his family. He’s the kind of man show more that truly seems to balance out Roberta’s wild ways.

And boy do I love the love connection between Roberta and Gabriel! They are perfect bookends for each other; high energy meets placid calm, fiery temper meets even keel. I adored the slow burn we got to the relationship, with the emphasis on emotions rather than the sexy times. But then from Spencer’s previous book, I’ve grown to expect that. Another point of awesome is the older age for the leads. I liked that they were more mature than your usual couple, which added a nice bit of difference to the book.

I also liked that the author wasn’t afraid to explore some very serious issues among the sweet romance. While not as emotionally fraught as the previous book I read, the issues in this book still make for some very heavy reading. The author doesn’t get explicit enough to be gratuitous, but the events have true weight with abundant consequences throughout the latter half of the book.

I was so thrilled to get this book and so engrossed by it, that I read the whole thing in 21 hours. Started as soon as I exited the book sale and read the whole way through. Sweet romance, fantastic characters, and some heavy material to balance out the fluff make this a winner historical romance. I look forward to more from this author and recommend the book highly. show less

An easy to read book that sometimes dragged a bit. I liked the characters and the way they developed. I still find it hard to believe how ostrasized a divorced woman was back in the early 1900's. Now adays divorce is everywhere and we don't think it's the womans foult (it was the man! haha jk)
I loved the spunk of the main character, how she managed a raggedy house, 3 kids and even her own motorcar!
I was surprised how quickly she fell into marriage again, but then she was miserable her entire marriage and hearing how wonderfull Gabe was as a husband lured her in. (Never believe them at 1st! They tell you what you want to hear!) hahaha
It was a nice, safe story with a bit of rough and tumble sex but only once. (dont want to be a show more spoiler)
I am not sure I would seek out this author again as her story was too slow and not as exciting as I like. show less

Knowing that I would be spending a week in Camden this summer, I picked this book up at a library sale for vacation reading. What fun to read it while camped at the foot of Mount Battie with the still-small town of Camden just a couple of miles away! The book is a quick and easy read, reasonably well-written and plotted and perfect for vacation. The characters are well-developed and you come to care about them quickly. Recommended.

rabck from bookstogive from abc bookbox; enjoyable book about a divorcee in the early 1900's, when divorce was taboo, who moves her & her girls to her hometown of Camden, Maine. The biddies of the town are having a hard time with a single woman, raising her children to "run wild" and have fun, she working as a country nurse, and - horrors - buying and driving her own car! I did read this before, but didn't remember much of it.

I had some trouble getting into this one, and usually Lavyrl captures me from page 1. Once I got a bit into it though, it was a great book, as she typically writes.

good story - had a hard time with the main character - just couldn't picture her - rest of story good

I usually don't read "chick lit," but this had a substantial plot to it, and I was able to overlook any sappiness.