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Learning To Swim
Hannah Sullivan is not looking to have her beliefs challenged. She is not looking to fall in love, either. Her only ambition, when she and her daughter, Lily, take their first summer trip to New Hampshire’s Squam Lake, is a restful, scenic vacation. But she will soon learn that the world has another offering. Within minutes of their arrival that first summer, they meet a man named Aidan Heron. His is a gift that will teach them both, with an easy humor and a nearly fearless penchant for adventure, that life has more to offer than they'd ever understood. Shaped by tragedy in her youth, Hannah has learned to live a timid, closed life. And without realizing it, she has taught her daughter to do the same. But Aidan, a man who has experienced his own tragedy and responded very differently, will show them both a new way. Through ten years of shared summer vacations, Hannah will experience enthrallment, love and heartache. She will be challenged and will learn to challenge herself. And in the course of meeting these challenges, she will learn how to truly live.
- GenresRomance
Nook
First published February 6, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 11, 2012
I really enjoyed the story & got swept up in the love story. I read the book in a day, so it was difficult to put down, but I do believe that the switching from past to present could have been better executed.
September 1, 2011
***This is a Total Spoiler but what the hey! It's more for me so I can recall what the book is about.***
Okay, I'm a sucker for books on New Hampshire even though only one was somewhat worth the read (and this wasn't it.)
Hannah, her lover Richard, and Hannah's 8-year old daughter travel to NH for a summer vacation. Aiden and his 3 children are there along with Aiden's wife who doesn't go on adventures with the family. Right from the start you can tell there's trouble in Paradise between Aiden and his wife. Also the reader starts to discern discontent between Hannah and Richard. When Aiden's wife is around, she wastes no time in promptly criticizing Aiden in front of anyone and everyone and he gives it right back.
Hannah, right away, starts comparing Aiden and all that he is, to Richard and all that he's not. She's basically hero-worshipping when it comes to Aiden. Aiden's wife can see right through it but it takes Richard a bit longer. He spends his time away on business or wherever it is he goes. He does, however, comment on Hannah's lack of response in bed, to which she gives lame answers to when he asks about it. Hannah spends much more time with Aiden and his kids and her Lily than either Richard or Aiden's wife spend with their respective units. Hannah is thinking about Aiden when she's not with him and she wants more from him.
Aiden sits and stands way too close to her so it's apparent he's flirting as well. And. Then. You know he wants more after the little episode when she scratches herself on a fence. After bandaging it up, he has her leaning back against him on a lounge chair back at one of the cottages and only do they move when they hear someone approaching from a distance.
It's much later in the story that the two of them do have sex and I spent time trying to find the end of that session. (Apparently the author wants the reader to experience the sex along with them???)
I read a bit more after that then gave it up. Glad it was a cheap read. The end and alleluia.
Okay, I'm a sucker for books on New Hampshire even though only one was somewhat worth the read (and this wasn't it.)
Hannah, her lover Richard, and Hannah's 8-year old daughter travel to NH for a summer vacation. Aiden and his 3 children are there along with Aiden's wife who doesn't go on adventures with the family. Right from the start you can tell there's trouble in Paradise between Aiden and his wife. Also the reader starts to discern discontent between Hannah and Richard. When Aiden's wife is around, she wastes no time in promptly criticizing Aiden in front of anyone and everyone and he gives it right back.
Hannah, right away, starts comparing Aiden and all that he is, to Richard and all that he's not. She's basically hero-worshipping when it comes to Aiden. Aiden's wife can see right through it but it takes Richard a bit longer. He spends his time away on business or wherever it is he goes. He does, however, comment on Hannah's lack of response in bed, to which she gives lame answers to when he asks about it. Hannah spends much more time with Aiden and his kids and her Lily than either Richard or Aiden's wife spend with their respective units. Hannah is thinking about Aiden when she's not with him and she wants more from him.
Aiden sits and stands way too close to her so it's apparent he's flirting as well. And. Then. You know he wants more after the little episode when she scratches herself on a fence. After bandaging it up, he has her leaning back against him on a lounge chair back at one of the cottages and only do they move when they hear someone approaching from a distance.
It's much later in the story that the two of them do have sex and I spent time trying to find the end of that session. (Apparently the author wants the reader to experience the sex along with them???)
I read a bit more after that then gave it up. Glad it was a cheap read. The end and alleluia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2012
This was a nice, light read. I downloaded it to my kindle for $1-$2 so it was cheap too. It's a basic romance novel with a few scintillating moments but that part wasn't overpowering. The characters were interesting and I liked how the story showed different ways characters handle early trauma. There was a nice message but if I'm going to read a trashy romance I'd want a completely happy ending.
November 17, 2011
easy read, sweet story
July 20, 2016
I had chosen this book on a lark mostly because of the Squam Lake, New Hampshire setting. The book was okay for a quick read, but alot of the story felt expected and slightly cliche and predictable.
January 27, 2012
Shared summer vacations at the lake bring two families close enough to expose the strengths and flaws of the relationships that once appeared perfect.
February 15, 2012
I liked it but I'm not a fan of jumping around in time.
February 8, 2012
I thought the first half of the book was ok. I read it all in one sitting but the second half I didn't care for. I read it just to finish it but didn't really care about it.
March 16, 2012
great story; sad ending; worth reading
August 11, 2012
Quick summer read.
January 21, 2013
Sappy sweet love story with few happy moments and an unhappy ending. Transistions from/ to past/present awkward. If there was a lesson here I missed it.
May 23, 2013
Read July/August 2012
April 15, 2014
Nice, easy read!
November 11, 2014
Heart warming!
was a warm and inspiring story. It had many real life examples of love and heartbreak. But it also had some life lessons learned.
was a warm and inspiring story. It had many real life examples of love and heartbreak. But it also had some life lessons learned.
October 1, 2015
A nice read. The book review sums it it exactly.
October 2, 2016
This was a good book. It held my interest. That said, I found a lot of it to be extremely unrealistic.
Still it was an enjoyable escape, & isn't that why we read?
Still it was an enjoyable escape, & isn't that why we read?
May 3, 2012
Beautiful story...I sobbed like a baby at the end.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews