"entertaining contemporary romance"

Former mayor of Avalon, New York, single mom Nina Romano realizes her dream is close to being fulfilled. She needs to obtain a bank loan to restore and convert the historical Inn at Willow Lake into an upscale retreat.

However, to her chagrin, she learns her long time rival Greg Bellamy has decided to do just that to his family owned historical Inn; he begins the restoration. Divorced, Greg, the father of two including a pregnant teen, wants to hire Nina to manage the facility, but she refuses. As they continue an argument that they started twenty years ago when they were teens, the two continue to ignore the attraction they always felt, but feared pursuing. However, this time around they have teenage children and the inn to contend with besides their not so secret anymore feelings of love.

Returning to the Lakeshore Chronicles (see SUMMER AT WILLOW LAKE and THE WINTER LODGE), Susan Wiggs writes an entertaining contemporary romance. The lead combatants battle their inner attraction that they hide from the other out of fear of ridicule and they assume from their offspring. The story line focuses on their second chance at a permanent relationship if either would take that gigantic fearful first step.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 24, 2007

Summary

With her daughter grown and flown, Nina Romano is ready to embark on a new adventure. She's waited a long time for dating, travel and chasing dreams. But just as she's beginning to enjoy being on her own, she finds herself falling for Greg Bellamy, owner of the charming Inn at Willow Lake and a single father with two kids of his own.

Greg lost his first marriage to a demanding career. Now he's determined to make a new start before it's too late. Juggling work, raising his young son and helping his nearly grown daughter face life's ultimate challenge, he has no time to fall in love. Still, with Nina Romano, love feels just right this time around.