Summer by the River by Debbie Burns is a story of romance layered with some mystery. It takes place in the 
pleasant small town of Galena and has such charming characters. It was an amazing and emotional book and was so beautifully written. The author uses flashbacks to slowly reveal Josie’s past as the book progresses, which keeps the plot intriguing and entertaining. They also introduced us to some wonderful side characters that played a significant part in her life.
Josie Waterhill was a single mom of six-year-old Zoe. Five years ago, she fled from home and showed up in Galena where she met and made friends with Myra Moore. Helping Myra turn her historical family home into a tea garden became Josie’s new purpose in life. It had become Josie’s sanctuary over the years and the arrival of journalist Carter O’Brien and his curiosity threatened her peace of mind. She was afraid he will uncover her past and expose her whereabouts to the enemies she ran from.
Carter’s grandfather had disappeared after the birth of Carter’s dad. Carter’s interest in finding out the truth of his grandfather’s disappearance has led him to Galena and Myra. He has just gone through a breakup of a long-term relationship and has no interest in a new relationship, but something about Josie drew him in. He went to Galena to find answers and ends up finding an aunt and a family.
This was such a heartbreaking and beautiful story with charming characters that will touch your heart. The peeks into Josie’s past were gut-wrenching but showed how strong she truly was to have survived it and start a new life. Carter was so compassionate, charming, and so loveable that I could not help but cheer him on with his difficult task of getting Josie to open up to him. The ending to the story was surprising but so worth all the tears and sadness experienced while reading the book. This is one of those books where I ended up crying but also smiling at the end.
Book Info:
Publication: March 2nd 2021 | Sourcebooks Casablanca |
Making a fresh start in a new part of the country is challenging, but fate and good fortune lead young single mother Josie Waterhill and her six-year-old daughter to a cozy Midwestern town right on the river. There, Josie can raise Zoe away from the violence of the life she once knew, and make a new home in the historic tea house where they’ve been invited to stay.
The tea house seems too good to be true, until Josie’s elderly landlord Myra welcomes more guests—journalist Carter O’Brien and his giant rescue dog, Buttercup. Carter is charming, compassionate…and way too curious. Carter’s interest in Josie deepens and he inadvertently stirs up trouble when he uncovers things that Josie would rather not have known. Ready or not, Josie has to let go of her painful past so she can create a glorious future.
