The Gin & Chowder Club

Coleman and Shepherd Families #1

by Nan Rossiter

The friendship between the Coleman and Shepherd families is as old and comfortable as the neighboring houses they occupy each summer on Cape Cod. Samuel and Sarah Coleman love those warm months by the water; the evenings spent on their porch, enjoying gin and tonics, good conversation and homemade clam chowder. Here they’ve watched their sons, Isaac and Asa, grow into fine young men, and watched, too, as Nate Shepherd, aching with grief at the loss of his first wife, finally found love again with the much younger Noelle.
 
But beyond the surface of these idyllic gatherings, the growing attraction between Noelle and handsome, college-bound Asa threatens to upend everything. In spite of her guilt and misgivings, Noelle is drawn into a reckless secret affair with far-reaching consequences. And over the course of one bittersweet, unforgettable summer, Asa will learn more than he ever expected about love—the joys and heartache it awakens in us, the lengths we’ll go to keep it, and the countless ways it can change our lives forever…

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Book Club, Family, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Womens Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nan Rossiter loves to weave together stories about the complicated relationships to which all readers can relate -- motherhood, sisterhood, friendship, marriage and romance. She draws from her own life experiences to create authentic situations that mirror the trials and triumphs we all face. Compassionate, real, and funny, her books take readers on emotional journeys that often include heartbreak and joy, but also include threads of faith, a furry friend or two, and uplifting endings. Nan's books have been highly acclaimed by reviewers from Publisher's Weekly to Booklist. Her novel, SUMMER DANCE, was the 2018 winner of the Nancy Pearl Award.

Nan is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and began her writing career in the world of children's books. Along with her many contemporary fiction novels, Nan is also the author/illustrator of several books for children, including RUGBY & ROSIE, winner of Nebraska's Golden Sower Award, and THE FO'C'SLE: Henry Beston's Outermost House. 



Nan lives on a quiet country road in Connecticut with her husband and a solemn black Lab named Finn, who diligently watches their every move and can be roused from a nap in a distant room by the sound of a banana being peeled or a cookie crumb hitting the floor. Nan and her husband are the parents of two handsome sons who have struck out on life journeys of their own and are pursuing careers in aviation.

For more information, visit
nanrossiter.com/
facebook.com/NanRossiter/
instagram.com/nanrossiter/
twitter.com/NanRossiter
bookbub.com/profile/nan-rossiter

Reviews

[Kwoomac · Rating 1 out of 5]

The nicest thing I can say about this book is that it was a fast read. Not quite sure why I picked it up. The protagonist, whose name I've already forgotten, is a 19 year old summering on the Cape with his family. His father's best friend and his much younger(spoiler alert) second wife also summer on the Cape. Of course the husband spends the weekdays working in Boston, leaving his lovely wife alone down the Cape. Protagonist and second wife realize they love one another and have a brief affair before protagonist goes off to college. It's beautiful! Then something sad happens. I suppose this is supposed to be a tear jerker but I remained dry-eyed throughout. I didn't like any of the characters. Sorry. Finally a neatly wrapped up conclusion to leave you with a good feeling.

In the book's defense, I was not the intended audience. I guess I was hoping for a mindless mystery with recipes. Mmmm, chowder. If you like romance novels with a bit of heart wrenching conflict and a happy ending , then by all means pick up this book.

[Christi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so lame. The best thing about it was the cover photo. Once again, I was lured in by great cover art that disguised a sucky read.

It's called the Gin and Chowder Club but the group of adults who host these gatherings are rarely mentioned in this book. I expected to learn more about Samuel and Nate in this book through their weekly get-togethers. Instead, we get one gathering at the beginning of the summer and one at the end. That's it.

I also would have liked more details about the chowder. What parts from which family made it into the final recipe? What makes it so different?

Instead it's an awful attempt at a romance novel. There are too many self-gratifying shower scenes, I guess to convey the longing of the teenage boy in lust with the young second wife of his father's best friend. You know, the guy he calls Uncle Nate.

Asa and Noelle are not in love. They are in lust. That's all. How she can claim with a straight face that she loves Asa is beyond me.

I really kept hoping that they would get caught. I thought when Uncle Nate went to buy paint and found out Asa already did, that he'd go home and catch them in the pool or something. But no. THAT would have made an interesting book. What do you do when your best friend's marriage is wrecked by your 17 year old kid?

I did not enjoy the 2 paragraph chapters toward the end of the book as a story-telling mechanism. I take that back, I did like it because it meant I'd finish the book faster.

And the ending? Huh?? The author just rushes through a couple of years in a page or two. What happened to Nate after Noelle died? Did Asa's parents get custody of the baby and then just give him to Asa? And what was the deal with not giving out the baby's name until the end. Oh, and just POOF! Asa hooked up with that girl from the library? Where did that come from?

Finally, the mother brings hydrangeas in from the yard in May. Which is way too early for hydrangeas to be in full bloom. Then weeks later at church there are lilacs on the altar from someone's garden. There is no way lilacs would still be blooming in June/July. The other one that bothered me was people drinking sweet tea on the porch. In New England, people drink iced tea. It may be sweetened but it's just called iced tea. I dislike when details like that slip by an author and a team of editors.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Oh the guilt in writing a difficult review. This was selected by my in-person group from what was available in our public library's club packs. Gah!! I will keep my mouth shut when we meet. Honestly the writing was good and had a decent flow, good descriptive sections. I couldn't buy in to the characters or the plot. The sex itself was not offensive and not poorly written, BUT I can't fathom how a 30 something, educated nurse, who married someone well her senior, would find a relationship with a high school senior even remotely alluring. Especially when she is the wife of his long time family friend. Lust yes, but surely not love. Intersperse that with scripture/prayer and it became an indigestible dichotomy. Oofdah!!

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally drawn to The Gin & Chowder Club for several reasons, first the gorgeous cover art, second the name and third is the review I read by Ti at Book Chatter which totally sold me on this book. There are many more reasons to tell you why I loved The Gin & Chowder Club. It includes the total package for me on what is a good book...cover art, title, solid story that sweeps me away to the setting, engaging characters, food...I swear, I could smell the chowder simmering and the salt air on the beach of Cape Cod. That is another reason I was drawn to this book. I love Cape Cod and have been there many times on vacation as a teenager and adult and every time I fall in love. The accents of those who live there and their welcoming nature, the ocean, the ferry that I took to Martha's Vineyard and the food! Gosh, I wish that I was there now...I would love to be on the sandy beaches looking at a lighthouse. You see, this book truly took me to Cape Cod!

This is a tender story of two families and their friendship and connection to one another. The Coleman and Shepherd families have been friends for several generations. The men were childhood friends as were their fathers and they each took over their father's family business in the city (Boston) and have summer homes on Cape Cod. A family tradition started with their father's who started having get-togethers enjoying a good gin & tonic and homemade clam chowder. The novel is set in the 60's which gives the story its gentle pace and rhythm. If it was set in the current time period it would not have the same gentleness and flow and would have been much more fast paced due to our electronic age. I grew up in the 60's so I am showing my age a bit, it was a time that was a bit more carefree and less fast paced.

The Coleman's are raising their sons Isaac and Asa and the summer this story is told, Isaac is returning to college and Asa is set to go off to his first year of college. Nate Shepherd lost his first wife a few years ago and she was like an aunt to both Isaac and Asa as they did not have children of their own. Nate found new love with a much younger wife Noelle who has been welcomed into the fold of the Gin & Chowder club. There is a growing attraction between Noelle and Asa which ends in a secret relationship that results in great yearning, guilt and passion that unfolds as they both realize the consequences of their actions. The author did a wonderful job in describing the emotions and feelings of both Noelle and Asa as well as the guilt and remorse that can wreak havoc on their lives. There are strong elements of faith that challenge them both, the love and bond of family that can be strong and help us to survive. The elements of faith and the storyline of forbidden love may appear contradictory but it is written in such a realistic way that makes one realize that we are all human, flawed and not perfect. There are repercussions to our actions and love does not heal all...we can make mistakes that will stay with us, effect those around us and we must learn from them and take responsibility for those actions. This is a book that will raise questions and it would be a great book to discuss with a book club. There is a reading group guide at the end of the book that will stir up some great conversation, add some gin & tonic and some chowder and you'll be all set to have a heated discussion!

[Ti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Short of It:

Looking at this gorgeous cover you might dismiss it as pure chick-lit, but let me tell you… this one is different. With a male protagonist, a Cape Cod setting, and the tight bond between two families, this one is a winner.

The Rest of It:

The Coleman and Shepherd families have known each other for quite some time. Each year, they head to Cape Cod where they are neighbors for the summer. Samuel and Sarah Coleman have been busy raising their two sons, Asa and Issac, whereas Nate Shepherd has weathered some heartache with the loss of his first wife. However, his second marriage to a much younger woman has brought him happiness and the entire Coleman family is happy for them both. Their time together is spent enjoying gin and tonics and clam chowder and they all look forward to this special time together.

The story is set in th early 60′s and this particular summer happens to be the last summer before Asa goes off to college. The Colemans worry whether their son is ready to embark on such an adventure, and admittedly, Asa has some doubts of his own, but he has no idea how complicated life really is until he finds himself drawn to Noelle, Nate’s younger wife.

At its heart, this is most certainly a love story, but it’s also a story of about trust, betrayal, friendship and the ability to forgive. Rossiter does an amazing job of describing the angst…the yearning and the horrible guilt that results from Asa and Noelle’s relationship. There is a taunting, teasing quality to it, but also a good dose of remorse. These are good people being tested. That’s how I felt while reading it.

There are other things that won me over. The decision to set the story in the early 60′s, was an excellent choice. It had a completely different feel because of it and gave the story the tenderness it required. Think about it, a story like this set in the present day would be filled with gadgets and cell phone conversations and texts between the two of them. The magic would have been lost.

Additionally, there are references to two of my favorite books of all-time. To Kill a Mockingbird is often mentioned in books, so although I was pleased to see it here, I wasn’t surprised by it. However, I gasped out loud at the mention of A Separate Peace because it’s one of my faves and has been since I read it in college. I love it when an author can reference another book within her own story, and have it mean something.

I knew this book would be a pleasant read but I didn’t expect it to raise so many questions. This would be a wonderful book club book because there is just so much to consider. The reading guide that is included in my copy, asks some really tough questions and the message from the author, which includes a story about a cardinal (poor bird!), will prove to you that authors can find ideas just about anywhere.

You might buy the book for the cover but read it for the story.

Visit my book blog: Book Chatter

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this one! And I was so excited, but was so disappointed. I would call this Christian fiction. Way too many Bible passages, prayer and the story focusing on a family that was very religious. AND they are quite the lushes, with drinking a strong thread throughout the entire story. And on top of that a high school senior having a summer affair with a married woman. The cover of the book drew me in and the location was also a summer draw. I am not religious and I don't drink. I just thought everything around this story was too contradictive.

[Angelique Simonsen · Rating 1 out of 5]

too much religion and hypocrisy for me

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads Description- Set against the beautiful backdrop of Cape Cod, "The Gin & Chowder Club" is an eloquent, tender story of friendship, longing, and the enduring power of love...The friendship between the Coleman and Shepherd families is as old and comfortable as the neighbouring houses they occupy each summer on Cape Cod. Samuel and Sarah Coleman love those warm months by the water; the evenings spent on their porch, enjoying gin and tonics, good conversation and homemade clam chowder. Here they've watched their sons, Isaac and Asa, grow into fine young men, and watched, too, as Nate Shepherd, aching with grief at the loss of his first wife, finally found love again with the much younger Noelle. But beyond the surface of these idyllic gatherings, the growing attraction between Noelle and handsome, college-bound Asa threatens to upend everything. In spite of her guilt and misgivings, Noelle is drawn into a reckless secret affair with far-reaching consequences. And over the course of one bittersweet, unforgettable summer, Asa will learn more than he ever expected about love - the joys and heartache it awakens in us, the lengths we'll go to keep it, and the countless ways it can change our lives forever...

As I began this book, I definitely had preconceived notions that the book would be about two sets of couples who regularly meet for dinner on Cape Cod and much of the story would revolve around those dinners. I didn't expect the story to focus on the affair between the college age son, Asa, of Samuel and Sarah Coleman and Noelle, the second wife of the Coleman's close family friend Nate whose first wife died of cancer several years earlier. I think because I had such preconceived ideas that I was pretty disappointed as to where the book went plotwise.

I thought both Asa and Noelle were pretty petty and selfish to deceive Nate and their families for their tryst. They both were reckless with their behavior and then when they couldn't see each other they were often whiny and depressed. I was especially annoyed with Asa. Everything about him annoyed me. He was jealous of Nate and actually angry that Nate got to have Noelle instead of him. Hello....Nate was older and MARRIED to Noelle. Asa had no claim to her. And the fact that he let his obsession with Noelle ruin his freshman year of college was really immature. I just couldn't stand Asa and his actions. He just needed to get over her and move on. He was in college...surely there were girls that he could have found if he hadn't have been so obsessed with Noelle.

Then tragedy after tragedy happened and Asa was angry with and blamed God. He was just so selfish. He didn't think how others felt during these awful times. Ultimately this book was a tragedy but did have a good outcome that brought Asa out of his selfish funk. I have read other books by this author but this just wasn't up to par when compared to her other books. 3 stars.

[Kylene · Rating 1 out of 5]

So a young nurse with no family of her own marries a much older (18 years difference, to be exact) man WHO so happened to be the widowed husband of a patient that she was taking care of. She becomes friends with his friends, including his best friend's family and younger sons. A few years pass, and yet somehow she can't contain herself as the youngest son gets older, and at the age of 18-ish (when she's 32) they have an affair. (Ew.) She gets pregnant, he doesn't realize the baby is his and gets mad, and despite being a nurse she dismisses her (and her baby's well-being) to see him and ends up dying. Her old husband, by the way, figures things out, has a heart-attack a few years later and dies. The baby survives and (I assume) ends up having a father/son relationship with his bio-dad.

I rolled my eyes so many times while reading this book. I am a 30-something myself; I do not find 18 year olds attractive, and I would never have an affair with one. Noelle has some major issues. I am surprised that she lets things continue, even though repeatedly throughout the novel she says how wrong this is and that she needs it to stop. For some reason, there is something in her life that was unfulfilled that lead her to continue to make absolutely horrible choices. I also disliked Asa, especially his moody personality and his angst about life. When in your right mind is it okay to have an affair with your father's best friend's wife?

This book is just dumb. I pretty much had to speed read the last half. Thank goodness it was a relatively quick read.

[Laurie · Rating 1 out of 5]

With a title and jacket cover like this,I was looking forward to a light summer read. I was wrong. The characters are cold and stiff. The conversations reminded me of the old "Davy and Goliath" programs of the 1960's.I also did not like "religion" pushed in my face on almost every page.I have read the Phillip Gulley Harmony series,those books are funny and filled with quirky characters and scripture is woven in at times,but done well and not preachy.Gin and Chowder club is too preachy,cold and stiff, detached.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book and can't wait to read more of Nan's writings.

[Dominique Sudduth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book.. I just finished & literally today was telling a good friend about it. The end..had me in tears. I was soooo annoyed the entire book but the last say 5 chapters wrapped it sweetly! The first half…a teenage boy in love with s 30something…they have a back in forth. I was annoyed how in love with her (age difference was annoying me lol), but the end…GAH. Tear jerker. I don’t have Asa as much as I told my friend Lindsay!

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize until I started reading this book that I have read it before. That's ok because I enjoyed it just as much the second time as I did the first. I've read a couple of Nan Rossiter's books and I enjoyed them as well.

[Jennifer Rayment · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, just a little too much faith stuff for this girl. Not saying that is a bad thing. just not my cup of tea ... or Gin lol. Lovely setting and fantastic Chowder recipe at the end. Also I would say probably would appeal to a more mature reader as it is a tad old fashioned. Also please remember my review has nothing to do with the talents of the writer, as she is a good writer, they are just based on my enjoyment of a book.

[Judi Asdell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author had me at go...I've read all her books and am waiting for her newest release this month. I have started collecting her books as well. The covers are all enticing and the books themselves take you from this world into a sensitive caring place of Nantucket with endearing and likeable characters. As I finish a book I find myself yearning for more stories and details of the future of the characters "people" / "family" that she writes about.

[Jennifer Sulc · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of The Gin and Chowder Club
is fun, and the setting is described well. The story takes place on Cape Cod beginning in 1960. It will resonate with anyone who has spent time on the lower Cape.

But the book is not so much about “the lasting bonds of family,” as Ann Leary’s blurb states on the back cover. Rather, it is the story of lust between 19? year-old Asa and 32-year-old Noelle, the wife of Asa’s father’s best friend. Truly, just... so much lust! So much longing! So much trysting! (I think I just made up a new word.)

I may have been able to forgive the characters their first transgression, but as their affair continues, I can’t find any impetus to root for Noelle and Asa.
The book would have been much stronger had it devoted more time to other nuanced characters and less time on the duplicitous love affair.

FYI, I did not read the second half of the book in depth but skimmed it to see how it ended.

Strengths: lots of literary references, bird references, historical references (Cape Cod and Dartmouth College)

Weaknesses: a few small details:
Not sure why, but I find it odd that a married woman would be drinking beer out of a bottle all the time in 1960. No one drinks sweet tea on the Cape (I don’t think I ever even heard of it until about five years ago) and hydrangeas aren’t in season in May/early June. While peaches do grow in Massachusetts in July, desserts made with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are more common.


Final Thought: Less sin - More chowder and gin!

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the characters in this book, and the story, but it wasn't what I was expecting. Just an ok read for me.

From Amazon:
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Cape Cod, The Gin & Chowder Club is an eloquent, tender story of friendship, longing, and the enduring power of love. . .
The friendship between the Coleman and Shepherd families is as old and comfortable as the neighboring houses they occupy each summer on Cape Cod. Samuel and Sarah Coleman love those warm months by the water;the evenings spent on their porch, enjoying gin and tonics, good conversation and homemade clam chowder. Here they've watched their sons, Isaac and Asa, grow into fine young men, and watched, too, as Nate Shepherd, aching with grief at the loss of his first wife, finally found love again with the much younger Noelle.

But beyond the surface of these idyllic gatherings, the growing attraction between Noelle and handsome, college-bound Asa threatens to upend everything. In spite of her guilt and misgivings, Noelle is drawn into a reckless secret affair with far-reaching consequences. And over the course of one bittersweet, unforgettable summer, Asa will learn more than he ever expected about love--the joys and heartache it awakens in us, the lengths we'll go to keep it, and the countless ways it can change our lives forever. . .

[Cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

As many have already stated, I was looking forward to this book based on the cover art and title. I was so deeply disappointed, and sad I didn’t read the reviews before I started. :(

Spoiler:

There is zero lead up to the love affair between an 18 year old boy and a 32 year old woman, who is his “uncle” Nate’s new wife. All of a sudden they just have feelings for each other, and then it’s 50 pages of the two of them quoting bible passages on why they shouldn’t feel the way they do, but ultimately sleeping with each other a couple times? Ugh. It’s gross and both are so unlikeable. Hard PASS.

[Katherine Nally · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book about a New England family who spends summers at the beach with other families. A family friend's wife recently died, he married a younger woman who somehow gets tangled up with the main family's younger son.

They have an affair, he goes off to college at Dartmouth, she gets pregnant and dies in childbirth. Eventually the husband dies too and the college affair kid finds out that the child is actually his, he takes care of the son with his new girlfriend and they walk off into the literal sunset together?!

It was weird.

[Irene Bjerky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too full of religious claptrap for me. Didn't realize this when I bought the book. If her others are like that I won't be buying any more. Not keen on preaching stories. This reminds me of Summer of 42 but with a tedious religious bent. Sorry Nan! There was no mention of a church romance when I bought the book. So disappointed before chapter 19. Will try to speed read for something interesting. Thanks anyway!

[Kmt1944 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Morally challenged

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up at a library book sale. As far as I know, I've not read anything else by this author. I think I saw the Kensington logo and thought it was a cozy mystery (rather than just fiction).

The book centers around two families: the Colemans and the Shepherds. The title comes from gatherings both families host that feature clam chowder (a combination of the two families's recipes) and the fact that the elder men of both families drink gin and have a toast that combines the two.

The negatives on this book far outweighed the positives for me, thus the lower than average rating.

I did like Martha (the dog). I liked the friendship between the two families and that Asa and Isaac used to visit Nate and Annie and were treated like their own children. Both boys seemed to have good memories of the house and their childhood.

Though painful to read about, I do think the author did justice to Asa's depression (resulting from a series of life events).

The negatives:
* everybody in the book tends to drink--some seeming to excess.
* Despite Asa's mother insisting he attend church and Noelle being a preacher's kid, neither seems to consider fleeing from temptation. I understand that to some extent, we may not be able to control who we're attracted to/who we have a crush on. But we can control our actions. We can choose to not put ourselves in situations where adultery will have a chance.
*Isaac juggles two girlfriends for a good part of the summer--not that he ever said he was exclusive to either one, but he also didn't tell either of them about the other.
*We're never really told what happens after Asa finds out Noah is probably his son. Is there a paternity test that proves it? Did Nate name Asa's parents as Noah's guardians (which would have made it easier for Asa to claim him or have a relationship with him)? Where did Noah live: with Asa, with the elder Colemans, with some other relative of Nate's or Noelle's?

[Butterfly_Kiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a very light read, almost like one of those "beach reads", except that it's not really a happy ending story. I enjoyed her writing style: very simple, with lots of details, yet very pleasant. I had no idea that the action took place in the late 50s, beginning of the 60s until they mentioned that "To kill a mockingbird had just come out". I'm sure there were many details that gave away the time frame, but I must have missed them. With that being said, that explains how boys younger than 21 and even 18 were allowed an occasional drink (some of them drank quite a bit.... not with the parent's approval though). There were different times. It was also very normal for them to drink a few beers (sometimes even in the car) and then drive. The story seems full of paradoxes. They appear to be a very nice Christian family who goes to church every Sunday.... boys who were raised well. Until you realize that they are not exactly perfect. Other than the fact that they like to drink, one of them has two girlfriends at the same time and the other one is sneaking around with somebody else's wife. Halfway through the book, I read somewhere that it was a story of love and loss and I kept trying to figure out how it was going to end and who was going to die. It might have been predictable, but I didn't see the ending coming until very late. All in all, it was a good read. I bet it would make a really good movie.

[Janette · Rating 3 out of 5]

-3 stars. Okay this is not my typical books so sorry if I sound harsh. My work mate passed this on to me and yeah I felt like I HAD to read it. It started off very slow, very ,very slow. It took me so long that my power in my house went out for more than a couple hours before I picked this up again; months later. Okay so it does get better and picks up, but I find most of the characters 1 dimensional, 2 are 1 and 1/2 dim... and 1 character is a bit more but she didn't have a big enough part. Ugh. So it was a bit predictable and has a bit more religious under tone than I care for, but not too preachy in the sense that you must listen or die (jk). And surprisingly enough a few of the characters cross over the line of what their morals would usually allow them to do. Oohhh. Anyway it's a basic read or a beach book, as some might call it. I don't hate my work mate for passing this to me either, so none of that. Just know it for what it is. And enjoy it if this is your thing.

[Heather Bridson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not what I expected it to be. I liked it, but it just wasn't what I expected. Anyway, well written, but the sometimes just a paragraph long chapters were a bit irritating. I understand why the author did it, but I still think it could have been written in a bit more reader friendly, with less breaks. Anyway, the characters are well written, and the story is good. now, I don't condone adultery..or a relationship between a young adult and his aunt-in-law..but the story works. Anyway, interesting, loved the imagery of Cape Cod and the beautiful areas around it. I love lighthouses, so I sould so love to see these areas! Anyway, interesting story, beautiful imagery and a quick read.

[Cathie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was disturbing. It is sold as "nostalgic and tender" but is little more than a book about a woman who can't resist a young man, and basically becomes a pedophile. Ok, technically the deed happened after the young man turned 19 - might have been his birthday actually, but really...she should have known better. She knew this kid since he'd been 14 or 15 and was basically like his aunt.
Did she lust after him the whole time? If it was a man with a young girl it wouldn't be so "nostalgic and tender" - it would just be creepy. I tried to look at this differently but just couldn't see it. In the end I felt they were both absolute morons and couldn't believe they were willing to risk everything for a few horribly inappropriate stolen moments.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impulse buy because of the title (gin and chowder), setting (Cape Cod), and cover art, in that order. I knew nothing about the author, so I was pleased with how readable it was. Good level of suspense about how an affair would affect the two individuals involved and their families, which had been close for generations. Believable descriptions of how they felt about the affair and no excess detail about the intimate times they were together.

Written in 2011, but set in the early 1960s, which for some reason I didn't realize until well into the story.

[Jennifer Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, I really did. I was conflicted as to the genre - Christian Fiction, women's fiction, men's relationships, love, loss, general relationships? Maybe a little of all of it, but didn't fit well into any of it. I struggled with the plot and I struggled with the story line. I feel this could have gone so many places, but it became angsty and predictable, and so it went no where.

[Barbara Ryba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in 4.5 hours with few interruptions. My family was out of town and this was on my shelf. This book was interesting. Half way through, I wanted to stop reading it because the two characters were making a dangerous choice. I keep reading because I wanted to find out the consequences.
This was an easy read, the chapter length moved the book along. I will look into other books by Nan Rossiter.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book is a bit misleading. There is talk about drinking Gin and eating clam chowder. The main character is an 18 year old young man who is still finding his way - in love, life, religion, and education. He comes from a priviledged family who loves and supports him, so how does he stray so far from his morals?

I gave it 4 stars since the writing was good, the story was somewhat plausible, but troubling at the same time.