The Lost Summers of Newport by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White

 

What type of books do you like to read on vacation?

The Lost Summers of Newport was the perfect vacation read for me.  It had an engaging plot with great characters that kept me enthralled.  Even my 11-year-old daughter kept asking me for updates on what was happening in my book. 

This novel is set at a mansion in Newport in three time periods:  1899, 1957, and 2019.  A mystery runs through all of the timelines.  Each timeline was a strong story and there were great cross connections.  I loved it!

In 2019, Andrea “Andie” Figuero is working on the reality show, Mansion Makeovers.  The show has traveled to Newport, Rhode Island, to focus on the lavish mansions that were built in the area during the gilded age.  The filming of the show does not go as planned with her boss constantly missing and not all of the family on board with the show.  When Andie starts digging into the house’s history, she discovers that there are many secrets that may be unearthed.

In 1957, Lucky Sprague grew up in Italy, but returned with her grandmother to Sprague Hall during World War II.  She married her handsome cousin Stu, but he has a wandering eye.  Will Lucky be able to find happiness?

In 1899, Ellen has escaped her past to teach music to young heiress, Maybelle Sprague at Sprague Hall.  Her brother wants Maybelle to catch a prince with her song.  As Ellen tries to keep the household together, she helps Maybelle to prepare for her big debut.  Will Maybelle marry her prince?  Will anyone find out about Ellen’s past?

I loved all three stories equally and really enjoyed the mysteries.  I love old homes and live in a National Historic Registry Home myself.  It was the home of a Wisconsin lumber baron and is pretty cool, but reading the size of the Newport Homes, my home pales in comparison.  I enjoyed the Mansion Makeovers show too, although I was on the side of Andie having a historical makeover of the home and not just a glitzy update.

This book is also perfect for fans of the great TV show, The Gilded Age, or of any of Edith Wharton’s novels.

Favorite Quote:

“That was the trouble with this family, wasn’t it?  Like Sprague Hall itself, you never knew what kind of rot lay behind the façade.”

Review Copy from William Morrow Books.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams

The Summer Wives is a story set on a mysterious small island where the elite vacation each summer on the East coast served by the working-class inhabitants.  Everyone lives seemingly in harmony until one fateful day when murder invades their small community.

The Summer Wives is a historical fiction romance set in 1930, 1951, and 1969.  I am a fan of historical fiction novels that use flash backs and Williams employed the flashbacks seamlessly in this novel.  It was very easy to follow as the story was divided up in chapters for 1930, 1951, and 1969 and the chapters went in order.  The fateful decisions of the past and how they impact the future are masterfully unveiled throughout the three time periods as the novel progresses.  The three plots of the three time periods is as follows.

1930 – Bianca is a young Portuguese girl who lives with her aunt and uncle on the island.  The island has two distinct social classes, the wealthy who come in the summer, and the locals who cater to the wealthy.  When Bianca falls in love with a wealthy young man, will their romance be able to live beyond summer?

1951 – Seventeen-year-old Miranda is going to the island as her widowed mother is marrying the rich and glamorous Hugh.  Miranda meets her new stepsister and is intrigued by the mystery of her step-sister being engaged to one man while secretly meeting the lighthouse keeper’s son.  The ramifications of this summer change her life forever.

1969-Miranda is now a successful movie star and has come back to the island to escape a dying marriage.  What secrets will she uncover?

I enjoyed this novel.  I did wish there was more historical detail.  The Summer Wives seemed a lot like a soap opera set during a historic timeline with it seemed like many different people sleeping together and one surprise or revelation after another.  I loved soap operas as a kid, so I enjoyed it, but for those looking for history with their historical fiction, this is not the book for you.

I thought Williams did a wonderful job of really putting the storyline together and having it all seamlessly work as one cohesive story.

Overall, The Summer Wives was a good summer historical romance drama.

Source:  Review Copy from William Morrow.  Thank-you!

A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

Title: A Hundred Summers


Author: Beatriz Williams

Read by: Kathleen McInerney

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Length: 11 hours, 35 minutes

Source: MP3 Audio Review Copy from Penguin Audio – Thank-you!!

Lily Dane is a young socialite spending the summer of 1938 in the Rhode Island Beach town of Seaview as her family has done for generations. Her mother is more concerned about society events and orphans than her own children, so Lily spends her time taking care of her much younger sister, Kiki. Lily’s world is shaken when she learns that her ex-best friend, Budgie Byrne, now Budgie Greenwald will be visiting with her husband Nick. Nick Greenwald was the love of Lily’s life and she has not seen him since he married her best friend.

The novel alternates between 1938 and 1931 when Lily first meets Nick and they fall in love. Nick is Jewish and this causes much angst for Lily who is sure her old-school family will not approve of her relationship with Nick. Things seem to go that way when Nick finally meets Lily’s father, but are things all that they seem to be? What happened to Lily and Nick’s relationship? Is Kiki Lily’s sister or her daughter? These two central questions intrigued me at the very start of the novel and kept me listening with fascination throughout.

A Hundred Summers is the perfect beach read (or listen). It reminded me a lot of one of my favorite books from my teenage years, Colony by Anne Rivers Siddons. An exclusive Northeastern beach front community, family deception and intrigue, and a great ending made this book similar to Colony and a good read.

I loved the characters in A Hundred Summers. Budgie Byrne is the anti-Lily, a friend that is truly out for herself, but also has a vulnerable side. Lily’s Aunt Julie tells it the way it is and loves to live life large. Yankee’s pitcher Graham Pendleton is a handsome famous man that is seemingly picture perfect for Lily. Kiki is a sweet younger sister, although at times, I thought she was a pre-teen from the way she talked and not a six year old girl.

My only complaint about the novel (besides Kiki’s speech) was that Lily really seemed very clueless. I didn’t understand by the end how she couldn’t have put certain pieces of the puzzle together before she did. I wanted to smack both her and Nick. Their love story seemed too syrupy sweet at the beginning. I will admit to being happy that it became a love story filled with intrigue.

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook version. Kathleen McInerney was a good narrator with a soothing voice. The chapters alternated between past and present and it was great to listen to while working on chores!

Overall, A Hundred Summers was an entertaining book full of intrigue and great characters. If you are looking for a great beach read – I recommend this book!