What do you think?
Rate this book
Butternut Lake #1
Up at Butternut Lake
Alternate cover edition for B00DB3D3AM
In the spirit of Kristin Hannah and Susan Wiggs, comes this debut novel-the first in an unforgettable new series by Mary McNear
It's been ten years since Allie Beckett crossed the threshold of her family cabin at Butternut Lake, Minnesota. Now, newly widowed after the death of her husband in Afghanistan, she's returned with her five-year-old son.
There, she reconnects with the friends she had in childhood-best girlfriend Jax, now married with three kids and one on the way, and Caroline, owner of the local coffee shop. What Allie doesn't count on is a newcomer to Butternut Lake, Walker Ford.
Up at Butternut Lake follows these four unforgettable characters across a single summer as they struggle with love, loss, and what it means to take risks, confront fears, and embrace life, in all of its excitement and unpredictability.
Allie Beckett could never have imagined, when she ran away from her old life, that she was running into a whole new life, up at the lake….
In the spirit of Kristin Hannah and Susan Wiggs, comes this debut novel-the first in an unforgettable new series by Mary McNear
It's been ten years since Allie Beckett crossed the threshold of her family cabin at Butternut Lake, Minnesota. Now, newly widowed after the death of her husband in Afghanistan, she's returned with her five-year-old son.
There, she reconnects with the friends she had in childhood-best girlfriend Jax, now married with three kids and one on the way, and Caroline, owner of the local coffee shop. What Allie doesn't count on is a newcomer to Butternut Lake, Walker Ford.
Up at Butternut Lake follows these four unforgettable characters across a single summer as they struggle with love, loss, and what it means to take risks, confront fears, and embrace life, in all of its excitement and unpredictability.
Allie Beckett could never have imagined, when she ran away from her old life, that she was running into a whole new life, up at the lake….
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2014
291 people are currently reading
4272 people want to read
About the author
Mary McNear
14 books265 followersMary McNear is the author of the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Up at Butternut Lake, published by HarperCollins. Up at Butternut Lake was the first book in the Butternut Lake series. The second Book, Butternut Summer, is now available. The third novel in the Butternut Lake trilogy, Moonlight on Butternut Lake, will be published in May 2015. A novella, Butternut Lake: The Night Before Christmas, was available in ebook form on December 9, 2014. The third book in the series, Moonlight on Butternut Lake, was published in May 2015. The fourth Butternut Lake novel, The Space Between Sisters, is due out June 2016.
Mary McNear lives in San Francisco with her husband, two teenage children, and a high-strung minuscule white dog named Macaroon. She writes her novels at a local doughnut shop, where she sips Diet Pepsi, observes the hubbub of neighborhood life, and tries to resist the constant temptation of freshly made doughnuts. She bases her novels on a lifetime of summers spent in a small town on a lake in the northern Midwest.
She can be found on Facebook at MaryMcNearAuthor
Mary McNear lives in San Francisco with her husband, two teenage children, and a high-strung minuscule white dog named Macaroon. She writes her novels at a local doughnut shop, where she sips Diet Pepsi, observes the hubbub of neighborhood life, and tries to resist the constant temptation of freshly made doughnuts. She bases her novels on a lifetime of summers spent in a small town on a lake in the northern Midwest.
She can be found on Facebook at MaryMcNearAuthor
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 429 reviews
January 5, 2017
A wonderful summer read! This is the book you would take with you on vacation. It brings out all the nostalgia of summer. A log cabin, a lake, a boat, a thunderstorm or two and a romance. I am more of a mystery read person, but this book really grabbed me and didn't let up till the end.
The main character Allie, has lost her husband in Afghanistan, from running up on an IED. She has a young son and decides to move away from the home her son has ever known to a cabin by the lake that belongs to her deceased grandfather, a place called Butternut Lake. She comes to Butternut to get away from people, places and things. Longing for privacy and peace, but that is the last thing she gets.
The book is full of situations a lot of people face in life. One thing Allie has to learn is whether to hide away and let the world go on without her or should she leave the past behind and face the world, learn to live again.
I highly recommend this book. Just a real to life, honest to goodness great read!
The main character Allie, has lost her husband in Afghanistan, from running up on an IED. She has a young son and decides to move away from the home her son has ever known to a cabin by the lake that belongs to her deceased grandfather, a place called Butternut Lake. She comes to Butternut to get away from people, places and things. Longing for privacy and peace, but that is the last thing she gets.
The book is full of situations a lot of people face in life. One thing Allie has to learn is whether to hide away and let the world go on without her or should she leave the past behind and face the world, learn to live again.
I highly recommend this book. Just a real to life, honest to goodness great read!
August 24, 2014
I had seen some nice reviews of "Up at Butternut Lake" and thought it would make a good end-of -summer read after a few heavier books I've read lately. I enjoy some chick-lit and this looked appealing. Sadly it did not meet my expectations. I found it slow as molasses with lots of repeated descriptions of how appealing, sexy, perky, etc. the main characters are. There is only one real plot twist, involving Jax, a secondary character. And even this plot twist is dropped as soon as possible. There is absolutely no tension about whether Allie and Walker will finally get together. Fifty pages could easily have been cut from this book.
It has been compared to works by Kristin Hannah and Susan Wiggs, neither of whom I've read. I think that I hoped it would be a bit quirkier, like Lorna Landvik's books set in Minnesota. I need more than just pleasant writing and mild sex scenes.
It has been compared to works by Kristin Hannah and Susan Wiggs, neither of whom I've read. I think that I hoped it would be a bit quirkier, like Lorna Landvik's books set in Minnesota. I need more than just pleasant writing and mild sex scenes.
August 15, 2014
Up at Butternut Lake was a story of finding love again and overcoming problems with the support of good friends. While the description makes it sound as if the story centers only on Allie, there are two other women with their own dramas that take up a good portion of the novel as well.
Allie Beckett has had a hard time moving on since the death of her husband, Gregg. He was killed in the line of duty two years prior. Staying in the town where she was married meant pitying looks and reminders everywhere, and it was just too much for Allie to bear. So she takes her five year old son to Butternut Lake to lead a simpler life where no one knows her history first hand, and where she has wonderful memories, staying at the family cabin. Allie finds a couple of good girlfriends, and the support she needs with Jax and Caroline. She also meets Walker Ford, a new resident and owner of the big, ostentatious (by her standards) cabin directly across the lake from her. They get off to a rocky start when he makes a few choice comments that come off arrogant, but there’s definitely a spark there, and it completely takes Allie by surprise, waking up a part of her that’s been long dead.
Walker has his own scars to bear as far as relationships go. He married a woman he barely knew out of obligation and they had a miserable, lonely time together. They parted ways, and Walker’s not sure he’s cut out for a relationship or marriage. That is until he lays eyes on Allie. She gets under his skin immediately and he can’t stop thinking about her.
Jax and Caroline factor heavily into the book as well. Jax is a native of Butternut Lake and when Allie would visit they would hang out and have fun together. Jax is now grown up and married to Jeremy, owner of the town hardware store, with three girls and another on the way. Jax loves and appreciates the happy family she and Jeremy have built, and she loves him to pieces. After being raised by two drunks with no inclination for parenting, she values her family like a treasure. But Jax is harboring a secret that could destroy it all.
Caroline factored a little less in the story because her story continues in the next book, but she still plays a large part. She’s a forty-something owner of the town coffee shop, and a single mother. She raised her daughter, Daisy by herself when her cheating husband took off. Caroline has basically put her romantic life on hold, choosing to focus on raising her daughter, but now that Daisy’s off at college, Caroline can’t seem to get out of that rut. When a nice customer starts visiting the diner and showing interest in Caroline she’s uncertain about starting anything. While she vacillates back and forth on that, Caroline is a caring friend to both Jax and Allie, providing a listening and supportive ear, and sage advice.
These three women bond and share strength, and it was lovely reading about positive female relationships, instead of women only being the source of competition and jealousy in a story. Of course, it was the romances that held center stage for me. Allie and Walker’s was the main one, and it was full of longing and passion. Allie did struggle with guilt at the thought of moving on, and Walker’s had a smidge of cold feet, but nothing that was drawn out or frustrating. For the most part, this was a satisfying story of two mature people falling in love.
I really enjoyed Up at Butternut Lake, but I have to say that I’d rather have my romance more focused on one couple rather than parceled out between three women. I like having well fleshed out secondary characters, but I wanted more time spent with just Walker and Allie. The ending was a little abrupt, but I have a feeling they’ll play a large role in the next book, just like Jax and Caroline did in this one. This is really, just a very small complaint. In the end Up at Butternut Lake was a lovely, easy read!
Allie Beckett has had a hard time moving on since the death of her husband, Gregg. He was killed in the line of duty two years prior. Staying in the town where she was married meant pitying looks and reminders everywhere, and it was just too much for Allie to bear. So she takes her five year old son to Butternut Lake to lead a simpler life where no one knows her history first hand, and where she has wonderful memories, staying at the family cabin. Allie finds a couple of good girlfriends, and the support she needs with Jax and Caroline. She also meets Walker Ford, a new resident and owner of the big, ostentatious (by her standards) cabin directly across the lake from her. They get off to a rocky start when he makes a few choice comments that come off arrogant, but there’s definitely a spark there, and it completely takes Allie by surprise, waking up a part of her that’s been long dead.
Walker has his own scars to bear as far as relationships go. He married a woman he barely knew out of obligation and they had a miserable, lonely time together. They parted ways, and Walker’s not sure he’s cut out for a relationship or marriage. That is until he lays eyes on Allie. She gets under his skin immediately and he can’t stop thinking about her.
Jax and Caroline factor heavily into the book as well. Jax is a native of Butternut Lake and when Allie would visit they would hang out and have fun together. Jax is now grown up and married to Jeremy, owner of the town hardware store, with three girls and another on the way. Jax loves and appreciates the happy family she and Jeremy have built, and she loves him to pieces. After being raised by two drunks with no inclination for parenting, she values her family like a treasure. But Jax is harboring a secret that could destroy it all.
Caroline factored a little less in the story because her story continues in the next book, but she still plays a large part. She’s a forty-something owner of the town coffee shop, and a single mother. She raised her daughter, Daisy by herself when her cheating husband took off. Caroline has basically put her romantic life on hold, choosing to focus on raising her daughter, but now that Daisy’s off at college, Caroline can’t seem to get out of that rut. When a nice customer starts visiting the diner and showing interest in Caroline she’s uncertain about starting anything. While she vacillates back and forth on that, Caroline is a caring friend to both Jax and Allie, providing a listening and supportive ear, and sage advice.
These three women bond and share strength, and it was lovely reading about positive female relationships, instead of women only being the source of competition and jealousy in a story. Of course, it was the romances that held center stage for me. Allie and Walker’s was the main one, and it was full of longing and passion. Allie did struggle with guilt at the thought of moving on, and Walker’s had a smidge of cold feet, but nothing that was drawn out or frustrating. For the most part, this was a satisfying story of two mature people falling in love.
I really enjoyed Up at Butternut Lake, but I have to say that I’d rather have my romance more focused on one couple rather than parceled out between three women. I like having well fleshed out secondary characters, but I wanted more time spent with just Walker and Allie. The ending was a little abrupt, but I have a feeling they’ll play a large role in the next book, just like Jax and Caroline did in this one. This is really, just a very small complaint. In the end Up at Butternut Lake was a lovely, easy read!
May 28, 2015
Up At Butternut Lake was a perfect read for my mood. It was a gentle story set in my home state which helped me to picture the sweet solitude of a cabin on a lake. Going through my own loss at this time, I could relate to Allie’s story of trying to find a new normal and all the while not wanting to let go of what was. For a time, in these pages, she and I were kindred spirits.
I enjoyed this book immensely. The writing style felt a little like the comfortable writing of Nicholas Sparks. Smoothly written, no big surprises, and an engaging read that left me picking up the second book in this trilogy as soon as I closed the last page. This is exactly what the type of book I look for when I am looking for good summer reading. I know that not everyone can find their way to Minnesota to a cabin on the lake, however opening up this book can be the next best thing.
My full review: http://bookjourney.net/2015/05/28/up-...
I enjoyed this book immensely. The writing style felt a little like the comfortable writing of Nicholas Sparks. Smoothly written, no big surprises, and an engaging read that left me picking up the second book in this trilogy as soon as I closed the last page. This is exactly what the type of book I look for when I am looking for good summer reading. I know that not everyone can find their way to Minnesota to a cabin on the lake, however opening up this book can be the next best thing.
My full review: http://bookjourney.net/2015/05/28/up-...
December 31, 2020
Een klein momentje gehad dat ik dacht: oké nu weten we het wel maar verder een leuk boek om te lezen.
April 6, 2014
Cute small town romance (I miss Virgin River series so much!)
February 22, 2018
A good, quick romance novel. I was in need of an easygoing, happy read. This fit the bill nicely.
July 9, 2014
Up at Butternut Lake is author Mary McNear's debut novel. It follows the lives of two women in the small town of Butternut Lake, Minnesota. The main character is Allie Beckett who is returning to her family's cabin in Butternut Lake with her young son after experiencing the loss of her husband. She is seeking solitude and privacy but she winds up reconnecting with her old friend Jax and making new friends. Jax's story is secondary but is just as heartfelt as she currently deals with the choices she made in the past. Up at Butternut Lake is themed with the concept that you cannot move forward until you deal with the past. It felt like a mix of contemporary romance and women's fiction/chick-lit. It's a light read with relatable issues and likeable characters. I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it to fans of women's fiction with an adult romance element. I give it 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 stars on goodreads.
This is the first installment in The Butternut Lake Trilogy.
#1-Up at Butternut Lake
#2-Butternut Summer: A Novel
#3-Not yet named as of July 2014
This is the first installment in The Butternut Lake Trilogy.
#1-Up at Butternut Lake
#2-Butternut Summer: A Novel
#3-Not yet named as of July 2014
April 25, 2014
I really liked this book. Up at Butternut Lake is the first book in a trilogy and its a great start. Allie Beckett has moved to her family's onetime summer cabin with her young son Wyatt. A widow for two years, Allie has survived but not participated in life since her husband's death. She comes back to Butternut Lake to get away from the memories and try to start over. She meets an old friend, Jax, and renews her acquaintance with Caroline, who owns the local restaurant Pearl's. She also meets Walker Ford, a good looking man who has built his own place on the Lake. Their initial meeting doesn't go well but things change and Allie has to decide if she really wants to put the past behind her or stay in a bubble of safety with no emotional danger.
I think that this book does a great job of portraying two people who have shut off their feelings for different reasons. Allie's loss was quick and brutal while Walker's marriage died a slow painful death. Neither of them have really come to terms with their feelings and how they are presently interacting with the people around them.
There is another story that weaves through the book about Jax and her husband which adds additional drama. There is also a hint of a future story with Caroline that could be interesting. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Butternut Summer.
I think that this book does a great job of portraying two people who have shut off their feelings for different reasons. Allie's loss was quick and brutal while Walker's marriage died a slow painful death. Neither of them have really come to terms with their feelings and how they are presently interacting with the people around them.
There is another story that weaves through the book about Jax and her husband which adds additional drama. There is also a hint of a future story with Caroline that could be interesting. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Butternut Summer.
March 29, 2014
Although I don't generally read romance novels, I read this book because I'm a step parent and it was recommended to me by a friend. The issues involved in step parenting a small child, especially one whose father has died, are complex. I thought the author handled Wyatt and Walker's relationship in a realistic and thoughtful way. I've also known a number of families who have lost loved ones in Afghanistan. I thought McNear depicted Allie's grief, and guilt, and ultimately her efforts to move forward, with compassion and insight. As a whole, I think the book was beautifully crafted, with good dialogue and interesting characters. I give it five stars.
January 15, 2023
Up at Butternut Lake is a contemporary romance by Mary McNear and is perfect for fans of womens fiction.
This book had a really picturesque setting in the form of a small town near the Butternut Lake and a close knit community. There were a lot of characters in this one and instead of completely focusing on one single love story, this book was more of an amalgation of different stories for the residents of the small town.
There were no surprises or sudden twists in this one and it was more of a calm comfort read. I found myself immersed into the story before I knew it and it was so soothing to read about this small town and the relationships it held within.
Jax and Jeremy and their girls, Caroline, Daisy and Buster, and finally Allie, Walker and Wyatt - all of them built their own spaces in my heart. I couldn't help but feel connected to them all and how their lives mixed together.
I do feel like the situation with Jax and Jeremy could have been handled better and I am not a fan of the particular turn their lives took in this one but I absolutely loved everything else this book had me feeling.
4 stars.
This book had a really picturesque setting in the form of a small town near the Butternut Lake and a close knit community. There were a lot of characters in this one and instead of completely focusing on one single love story, this book was more of an amalgation of different stories for the residents of the small town.
There were no surprises or sudden twists in this one and it was more of a calm comfort read. I found myself immersed into the story before I knew it and it was so soothing to read about this small town and the relationships it held within.
Jax and Jeremy and their girls, Caroline, Daisy and Buster, and finally Allie, Walker and Wyatt - all of them built their own spaces in my heart. I couldn't help but feel connected to them all and how their lives mixed together.
I do feel like the situation with Jax and Jeremy could have been handled better and I am not a fan of the particular turn their lives took in this one but I absolutely loved everything else this book had me feeling.
4 stars.
April 15, 2014
An author's ability to construct experiences, emotions, and personalities in characters that aren't even real, but are made real by something as simple and complicated as their imagination, is the reason I fall desperately in love with books like this one. It's always characters in a story that make a book worth reading. With Up at Butternut Lake, the lives of four people are explored across one summer in the small town of Butternut. Surprisingly, although the summary suggests otherwise, I found myself reading through four POV's. There was something incredibly convincing about these particular lives that made me truly believe in them and their stories. There is so much hope and fear that I could see these characters being actual people in real life, and it might also be because I've been reading too much science fiction but, nevertheless I loved the characters portrayed in this book.
Allie lost her husband two years ago in Afghanistan. After countless pitying glances and encouraging words to move on she's had enough of her old town. She decides to move her and her 5 year old son, Wyatt, to an old family cabin at Butternut Lake where she spent her summers as a young girl. Allie felt very straight forward for me until the last parts of the book. She was clearly conflicted with her growing feelings for a man who was not her husband. And even after two years had passed since her husband died I felt I understood her motivation for everything she did. She didn't want to get hurt and at the same time she couldn't let go of someone she will always love who passed too soon. Her motivation was clear but towards the end to me she acted foolish. However, I realize that she was doing what she was always doing - putting herself and her son before anything else. It was nice when she opened up to Walker and started to finally let go. Letting go felt like the obstacle she needed to face the most while Walker's was facing the exact same thing.
Walker ends up being someone much more interesting than I could have hoped for. He's supposed to be this dangerously handsome man who keeps to himself. He has a business with his brother selling boats which in the book is much fancier than you would think. It sounds like he's going to be a cliché but in fact he's got his own demons he's been living with - guilt being the main one. It was fascinating figuring out who he really is and the way he thought about Allie. He saw Allie as beautiful right away even if she didn't even seem to notice him. Their relationship was at times smooth sailing while at others times there was some tension. Overall their romance was sweet and patient. There was some moments where sex played a factor but it's a book geared towards adults so it's expected. I liked how Walker genuinely cared about Allie and her son. Wyatt was always very quiet, independent, and uncomplaining like his mother which Walker saw in him right away. He was quick to care about him and Allie as a whole which is nice since Allie is a single mother and all. She clearly wants her son to be happy so to have Walker care too really bumped him up in my mind.
The two other story lines are Caroline, a coffee shop owner and Jax, Allie's best friend when they were teenagers. Caroline is like the wise old woman that gives great advice although she isn't that old. Her daughter is leaving to college soon and she can't help feeling overwhelmed by it all. I loved their obvious bond for each other. The next book centers on them which should be fun especially since compared to the other story lines she was in the background. Jax's story is the one I was so surprised I ended up loving. Maybe because Jax has secrets she's keeping from everyone and they are about to come out. Also, Jax, her husband Jeremy, and her three daughters are all great people. They are all very kind that I couldn't help feel for her situation. And boy is she in trouble...
I really got invested in these characters and their lives. These great characters followed by such interesting plots and an awesome small town setting made me really enjoy reading Up at Butternut Lake. I plan to read the rest of the trilogy to see where McNear takes Caroline and her daughter's relationship.
Allie lost her husband two years ago in Afghanistan. After countless pitying glances and encouraging words to move on she's had enough of her old town. She decides to move her and her 5 year old son, Wyatt, to an old family cabin at Butternut Lake where she spent her summers as a young girl. Allie felt very straight forward for me until the last parts of the book. She was clearly conflicted with her growing feelings for a man who was not her husband. And even after two years had passed since her husband died I felt I understood her motivation for everything she did. She didn't want to get hurt and at the same time she couldn't let go of someone she will always love who passed too soon. Her motivation was clear but towards the end to me she acted foolish. However, I realize that she was doing what she was always doing - putting herself and her son before anything else. It was nice when she opened up to Walker and started to finally let go. Letting go felt like the obstacle she needed to face the most while Walker's was facing the exact same thing.
Walker ends up being someone much more interesting than I could have hoped for. He's supposed to be this dangerously handsome man who keeps to himself. He has a business with his brother selling boats which in the book is much fancier than you would think. It sounds like he's going to be a cliché but in fact he's got his own demons he's been living with - guilt being the main one. It was fascinating figuring out who he really is and the way he thought about Allie. He saw Allie as beautiful right away even if she didn't even seem to notice him. Their relationship was at times smooth sailing while at others times there was some tension. Overall their romance was sweet and patient. There was some moments where sex played a factor but it's a book geared towards adults so it's expected. I liked how Walker genuinely cared about Allie and her son. Wyatt was always very quiet, independent, and uncomplaining like his mother which Walker saw in him right away. He was quick to care about him and Allie as a whole which is nice since Allie is a single mother and all. She clearly wants her son to be happy so to have Walker care too really bumped him up in my mind.
The two other story lines are Caroline, a coffee shop owner and Jax, Allie's best friend when they were teenagers. Caroline is like the wise old woman that gives great advice although she isn't that old. Her daughter is leaving to college soon and she can't help feeling overwhelmed by it all. I loved their obvious bond for each other. The next book centers on them which should be fun especially since compared to the other story lines she was in the background. Jax's story is the one I was so surprised I ended up loving. Maybe because Jax has secrets she's keeping from everyone and they are about to come out. Also, Jax, her husband Jeremy, and her three daughters are all great people. They are all very kind that I couldn't help feel for her situation. And boy is she in trouble...
I really got invested in these characters and their lives. These great characters followed by such interesting plots and an awesome small town setting made me really enjoy reading Up at Butternut Lake. I plan to read the rest of the trilogy to see where McNear takes Caroline and her daughter's relationship.
October 20, 2019
Great read for summer. Great comfort read.
*
Up At Butternut Lake centers around Allie Beckett and her son Wyatt who are grieving the loss of their husband/father after he was killed in action in Afghanistan. This happened before the book begins. When the book opens, the mother and young son have just arrived at a small cabin on Butternut Lake, ready to begin a new life free from the sad looks and tones of voice that have plagued them in the year since Allie's husband has died. This is the cabin that Allie spent her summers as a young person so she has come to a place of some familiarity, but it is completely new for Wyatt. Allie is able to reconnect with her best friend from her teenage summers, Jax, and share some of the local venues that she loved when she was younger with Wyatt. It takes a long time for the two to feel at home, months actually, but eventually they do - and it is only with the help of some of the other locals.
Walker Ford owns the cabin across the lake as well as the local boatyard. Allie's good friend from when she was younger, Jax, is married and pregnant with three young children - perfect for helping Wyatt get settled in with friends. Local diner owner Caroline remembers Allie from when she ate at the diner as a child and is a near-constant source of advice, a babysitter, and just a dear sweet friend to her. Everyone in a this small town - everyone - has issues of their own that they're trying to live with and deal with. Nothing really too heavy, but this is something that is notable in this book (we're not the only one dealing with problems, we don't have to feel alone, etc). This is actually brought to Allie's attention at one point, and it really does help her to settle down a bit and feel a little more comfortable in her new place - like she doesn't stick out like a sore thumb because she's carrying around her grief. Everyone is carrying around something.
Besides the small-town Minnesota lake setting, which I loved, I adored the character-driven nature of this book. The synopsis reads like this is an Allie/Walker story, and in a way I guess it is. But I learned so much about Jax and Caroline and their own stories, and the author developed them so well that I feel like I have a pretty good handle on at least a portion of the town now, and I'm ready to jump right into the next book. Also, the author mentions in her note that this book has themes of confronting the past in order to move forward in life - this is something that pretty much all of the characters has to do in some way, and I love the way the author chose to write this into each character's story arc.
Small-town companion series are some of my favorites, and I'm glad that I chose to begin this one. I'm also glad that I waited until 1) several of the books are already out so that I can binge-read and 2) summertime to start this, because this first book begs to be read on the porch or by the water. I am such a huge fan of women's fiction/contemporary fiction with romance, and while this book falls firmly into this category, I think there is plenty in here for guys to grab it if they want to as well.
*
Up At Butternut Lake centers around Allie Beckett and her son Wyatt who are grieving the loss of their husband/father after he was killed in action in Afghanistan. This happened before the book begins. When the book opens, the mother and young son have just arrived at a small cabin on Butternut Lake, ready to begin a new life free from the sad looks and tones of voice that have plagued them in the year since Allie's husband has died. This is the cabin that Allie spent her summers as a young person so she has come to a place of some familiarity, but it is completely new for Wyatt. Allie is able to reconnect with her best friend from her teenage summers, Jax, and share some of the local venues that she loved when she was younger with Wyatt. It takes a long time for the two to feel at home, months actually, but eventually they do - and it is only with the help of some of the other locals.
Walker Ford owns the cabin across the lake as well as the local boatyard. Allie's good friend from when she was younger, Jax, is married and pregnant with three young children - perfect for helping Wyatt get settled in with friends. Local diner owner Caroline remembers Allie from when she ate at the diner as a child and is a near-constant source of advice, a babysitter, and just a dear sweet friend to her. Everyone in a this small town - everyone - has issues of their own that they're trying to live with and deal with. Nothing really too heavy, but this is something that is notable in this book (we're not the only one dealing with problems, we don't have to feel alone, etc). This is actually brought to Allie's attention at one point, and it really does help her to settle down a bit and feel a little more comfortable in her new place - like she doesn't stick out like a sore thumb because she's carrying around her grief. Everyone is carrying around something.
Besides the small-town Minnesota lake setting, which I loved, I adored the character-driven nature of this book. The synopsis reads like this is an Allie/Walker story, and in a way I guess it is. But I learned so much about Jax and Caroline and their own stories, and the author developed them so well that I feel like I have a pretty good handle on at least a portion of the town now, and I'm ready to jump right into the next book. Also, the author mentions in her note that this book has themes of confronting the past in order to move forward in life - this is something that pretty much all of the characters has to do in some way, and I love the way the author chose to write this into each character's story arc.
Small-town companion series are some of my favorites, and I'm glad that I chose to begin this one. I'm also glad that I waited until 1) several of the books are already out so that I can binge-read and 2) summertime to start this, because this first book begs to be read on the porch or by the water. I am such a huge fan of women's fiction/contemporary fiction with romance, and while this book falls firmly into this category, I think there is plenty in here for guys to grab it if they want to as well.
December 27, 2016
I desideri nascosti del cuore racconta la storia di Allie e del piccolo Wyatt. Allie torna al cottage di famiglia a Butternut Lake, in Minnesota, per iniziare una nuova vita insieme al suo bambino Wyatt. Dopo la tragica scomparsa del marito, morto in missione in Afghanistan, Allie spera di trovare a Butternut un po' di pace e di serenità. Accolta con affetto dalla comunità, Allie conoscerà ben presto uno dei nuovi arrivati nonchè suo vicino di casa, Walker Ford. Pian piano Allie affronterà varie sfide che la porteranno a scendere a patti con il suo passato e a pensare al futuro con rinnovata speranza.
Nonostante le premesse fossero buone, ho trovato questo romanzo melenso, buonista all'eccesso e particolarmente noioso!
La storia è una di quelle che sembrano scritte con lo stampino. Abbiamo una protagonista con un passato doloroso alle spalle e totalmente inconsapevole della sua avvenenza. Citando Ilenia (Ilenia Zodiaco di Con amore e squallore, andate a guardarvi qualcuno dei suoi video su Youtube!) Allie in casa avrà solo ed esclusivamente specchi di legno! Oltre ai personaggi, tutti ugualmente stereotipati, anche la trama stessa del romanzo è un miscuglio di elementi già visti e rivisti che conducono al solito finale da carie ai denti. Con questo non voglio affermare che il lieto fine non sia di mio gradimento in generale, ma piuttosto denunciare la totale mancanza di realismo di questa storia.
Credo che la pecca più grande di questo romanzo sia proprio l'estrema facilità con cui vengono risolte situazioni drammatiche legate sia alla vicenda stessa che alla protagonista della storia. Lo stile dell'autrice è scorrevole, semplice ed anche piacevole da leggere, ma purtroppo la storia è davvero noiosa, in certi punti ho avuto difficoltà a proseguire.
Oltre ad Allie, abbiamo anche Walker. Lui ovviamente è super bello, super intelligente, ha una carriera di tutto rispetto e un grande dolore che si porta dietro e che gli impedisce di legarsi a qualcuno. Dolore che in quattro e quattr'otto sparisce poco dopo aver incontrato Allie. La drammaticità della vicenda viene del tutto sminuita dal modo in cui vengono affrontati questi drammi, facendo cadere la storia nella banalità più totale.
Ho già letto il secondo romanzo di questa trilogia e purtroppo posso già anticiparvi che siamo sullo stesso livello di questo qui. Una storia che non ha nulla di originale, personaggi fatti con lo stampino e realismo inesistente, insomma non ve lo consiglio affatto!
Nonostante le premesse fossero buone, ho trovato questo romanzo melenso, buonista all'eccesso e particolarmente noioso!
La storia è una di quelle che sembrano scritte con lo stampino. Abbiamo una protagonista con un passato doloroso alle spalle e totalmente inconsapevole della sua avvenenza. Citando Ilenia (Ilenia Zodiaco di Con amore e squallore, andate a guardarvi qualcuno dei suoi video su Youtube!) Allie in casa avrà solo ed esclusivamente specchi di legno! Oltre ai personaggi, tutti ugualmente stereotipati, anche la trama stessa del romanzo è un miscuglio di elementi già visti e rivisti che conducono al solito finale da carie ai denti. Con questo non voglio affermare che il lieto fine non sia di mio gradimento in generale, ma piuttosto denunciare la totale mancanza di realismo di questa storia.
Credo che la pecca più grande di questo romanzo sia proprio l'estrema facilità con cui vengono risolte situazioni drammatiche legate sia alla vicenda stessa che alla protagonista della storia. Lo stile dell'autrice è scorrevole, semplice ed anche piacevole da leggere, ma purtroppo la storia è davvero noiosa, in certi punti ho avuto difficoltà a proseguire.
Oltre ad Allie, abbiamo anche Walker. Lui ovviamente è super bello, super intelligente, ha una carriera di tutto rispetto e un grande dolore che si porta dietro e che gli impedisce di legarsi a qualcuno. Dolore che in quattro e quattr'otto sparisce poco dopo aver incontrato Allie. La drammaticità della vicenda viene del tutto sminuita dal modo in cui vengono affrontati questi drammi, facendo cadere la storia nella banalità più totale.
Ho già letto il secondo romanzo di questa trilogia e purtroppo posso già anticiparvi che siamo sullo stesso livello di questo qui. Una storia che non ha nulla di originale, personaggi fatti con lo stampino e realismo inesistente, insomma non ve lo consiglio affatto!
July 13, 2014
This is what the book cover says about this book: And at the bottom, is my take of it.
It's summer, and after ten years away and the death of her husband, Allie Beckett has returned to her family's cabin beside tranquil Butternut Lake. She has promised her five-year-old son, Wyatt, that they will be happy there. But Allie is seized with doubts. Has she done the right thing uprooting her little boy from the only home he's ever known? Allie and her son are embraced by the townsfolk, and her reunions with old acquaintances are joyous ones. And then there are newcomers like Walker Ford, who mostly keeps to himself--until he takes a shine to Wyatt . . . and to Allie.
Everyone knows that moving forward is never easy, and as the long, lazy days of summer take hold, Allie must learn to unlock the hidden longings of her heart and to accept that in order to face the future, she must also confront--and understand--what has come before.
This is my take on it: It is all of the above but what they don't say it that this novel contains one almost steamy sexual encounter and then later on, another very steamy sexual encounter. There are no F-bombs (thank you) but there are a few other swear words. All the characters are people I would like as my friends, but I can do without the graphic sections of unmarried sex. Because of that, I won't be reading any more of Mary McNear's novels.
It's summer, and after ten years away and the death of her husband, Allie Beckett has returned to her family's cabin beside tranquil Butternut Lake. She has promised her five-year-old son, Wyatt, that they will be happy there. But Allie is seized with doubts. Has she done the right thing uprooting her little boy from the only home he's ever known? Allie and her son are embraced by the townsfolk, and her reunions with old acquaintances are joyous ones. And then there are newcomers like Walker Ford, who mostly keeps to himself--until he takes a shine to Wyatt . . . and to Allie.
Everyone knows that moving forward is never easy, and as the long, lazy days of summer take hold, Allie must learn to unlock the hidden longings of her heart and to accept that in order to face the future, she must also confront--and understand--what has come before.
This is my take on it: It is all of the above but what they don't say it that this novel contains one almost steamy sexual encounter and then later on, another very steamy sexual encounter. There are no F-bombs (thank you) but there are a few other swear words. All the characters are people I would like as my friends, but I can do without the graphic sections of unmarried sex. Because of that, I won't be reading any more of Mary McNear's novels.
January 11, 2015
This is Book 1 of a three part series and the author’s debut! It is a touching story about finding love again after suffering a devastating loss. The setting is a small town in Minnesota called Butternut Lake where Allie spent summers with her family in a cabin.
Allie bought out her brother’s share of the cabin and moves to Butternut Lake with her 5 year old son Wyatt after selling her home in the suburbs. Her husband was killed in the line of duty two years earlier and Allie cannot seem to move on; there are too many memories and too many kind-hearted looks of sympathy. She longs for a new start for herself and her son.
She immediately reconnects with her best friend from the holiday summers Jax who is married to the local hardware store owner and has three small children with one more on the way. Caroline, the owner of the small town diner also befriends Allie & Wyatt. She first meets Walker at the diner who is her closest neighbor that lives in a beautiful log cabin directly across from Allie’s old family cabin.
This was an enjoyable book and I look forward to reading the next two in this series.
Allie bought out her brother’s share of the cabin and moves to Butternut Lake with her 5 year old son Wyatt after selling her home in the suburbs. Her husband was killed in the line of duty two years earlier and Allie cannot seem to move on; there are too many memories and too many kind-hearted looks of sympathy. She longs for a new start for herself and her son.
She immediately reconnects with her best friend from the holiday summers Jax who is married to the local hardware store owner and has three small children with one more on the way. Caroline, the owner of the small town diner also befriends Allie & Wyatt. She first meets Walker at the diner who is her closest neighbor that lives in a beautiful log cabin directly across from Allie’s old family cabin.
This was an enjoyable book and I look forward to reading the next two in this series.
April 27, 2014
It was a nice read even if it was man see woman falls head over heals mumbling can't think in love at first sight with a woman he sees in a diner.
Now that I got that out of the way, let me tell you why I liked the book. It is set in a mall community on a lake. My high school years were spent up at the lake at Fishing Village. It was a small tight area at the lake, everyone knew all of the people who were regulars there. That means all the ins and outs, ups and downs. loves and ex loves were an open book. Still it was nice. Butternut Lake brought me back to Fishing Village.
Everyone had their inner demons of daily life they were working on, but they did not have to do it alone the community was there to help.
McNear's characters were clean and real. It is a good book to take to the beach or lakeside and read while in the sun. I don't think this is a book for too many males if any, but ladies go out and enjoy.
Now that I got that out of the way, let me tell you why I liked the book. It is set in a mall community on a lake. My high school years were spent up at the lake at Fishing Village. It was a small tight area at the lake, everyone knew all of the people who were regulars there. That means all the ins and outs, ups and downs. loves and ex loves were an open book. Still it was nice. Butternut Lake brought me back to Fishing Village.
Everyone had their inner demons of daily life they were working on, but they did not have to do it alone the community was there to help.
McNear's characters were clean and real. It is a good book to take to the beach or lakeside and read while in the sun. I don't think this is a book for too many males if any, but ladies go out and enjoy.
January 4, 2016
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the sequel Butternut Summer. I would have given 5 stars but there was a little bit of repetitive parts and a little dull/unnecessary part. Very quick, easy, and fun read. I would recommend!
I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the sequel Butternut Summer. I would have given 5 stars but there was a little bit of repetitive parts and a little dull/unnecessary part. Very quick, easy, and fun read. I would recommend!
August 1, 2018
I really enjoyed this and flew through it! The author left most of the would-be steamier parts up to the reader's imagination, which I always appreciate. I've already started the second book in the series.
March 5, 2020
This is an excellent feel-good story, with some hidden depths to it that make it all the more interesting. I am now hooked on this series and can't wait to read the next one.
October 17, 2018
Une petite romance toute douce et sans chichi que l'on apprécie le temps d'un été.
Nous découvrons au cœur d'une petite bourgade américaine la vie de ses habitants et les relations qui se créent. Chacun a son lot de tracas et essaie de garder la tête hors de l'eau tout en aspirant au bonheur. On y rencontre une veuve éplorée qui tente de se reconstruire avec son fils, une mère de famille qui est hantée par une erreur de jeunesse et une femme dont la fille unique vient de prendre son envol. Entre histoire d'amour, d'amitié et de pardon, chacun y trouve son compte.
Revivre à Butternut n'a rien d'exceptionnel en soi. La romance est rapide et les ressentis sont superficiels. Mais parfois ce n'est pas ce qui importe le plus. Ce qui m'a vraiment touché dans ce roman c'est le lieu. Butternut est cette petite ville chaleureuse où tout le monde se connaît et où il fait bon vivre, dont les habitants sont toujours prêt à vous venir en aide - ou à vous raconter les derniers potins. Une ambiance familiale et douce que j'ai pleinement savouré.
Nous découvrons au cœur d'une petite bourgade américaine la vie de ses habitants et les relations qui se créent. Chacun a son lot de tracas et essaie de garder la tête hors de l'eau tout en aspirant au bonheur. On y rencontre une veuve éplorée qui tente de se reconstruire avec son fils, une mère de famille qui est hantée par une erreur de jeunesse et une femme dont la fille unique vient de prendre son envol. Entre histoire d'amour, d'amitié et de pardon, chacun y trouve son compte.
Faire preuve d'honnêteté envers les autres était une chose. Envers soi, c'en était une autre. Nettement plus difficile.
Revivre à Butternut n'a rien d'exceptionnel en soi. La romance est rapide et les ressentis sont superficiels. Mais parfois ce n'est pas ce qui importe le plus. Ce qui m'a vraiment touché dans ce roman c'est le lieu. Butternut est cette petite ville chaleureuse où tout le monde se connaît et où il fait bon vivre, dont les habitants sont toujours prêt à vous venir en aide - ou à vous raconter les derniers potins. Une ambiance familiale et douce que j'ai pleinement savouré.
La foudre, les routes glissantes, un animal sauvage irritable, rien de tout cela ne lui avait inspiré la terreur qui le rongeait maintenant. Car maintenant, pour la première fois de sa vie, il était amoureux. Et ça, c'était terrifiant.
June 8, 2022
3 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
Weduwe Allie verhuist met haar zoontje Wyatt naar Butternut. Ze wil een nieuwe toekomst opbouwen. Haar huis in de stad is verkocht en ze gaat in het oude vakantiehuisje aan het meer van Butternut van de familie wonen. Dat er sinds haar laatste bezoek, lang geleden, nu een groot opzichtig huis verderop is gebouwd, daar had ze niet op gerekend. En die nieuwe arrogante buurman, daar wil ze niets mee te maken hebben. Ook al is hij best knap. En voelt ze vlindertjes.
Het boek begint op een rustige verteltoon die lekker ontspannen leest. De schrijfster laat je langzaam kennismaken met Allie en haar zoontje Wyatt. Iets te langzaam naar mijn smaak. Het kabbelt allemaal een beetje door. Die nieuwe toekomst opbouwen moet je er min of meer zelf bij bedenken. Jet komt niet goed uit de verf in dit boek. Ook de andere personages Walker, Caroline en Jax komen aan het woord net zoals de hoofdpersoon.. Er wordt eventjes een spannende Verhaallijn van Jax ingegooid, waar veel te lang niet verder op wordt ingegaan. Dus wat verwarrend en voor mij veel te veel uitgesponnen of juist onduidelijk. Ik ben me er eigenlijk niet zo zeker van wat het nu precies met me deed.
De personages zijn geloofwaardig neergezet, maar ik kon net iets te weinig meeleven, daarom geef ik het maar drie hartjes.
Weduwe Allie verhuist met haar zoontje Wyatt naar Butternut. Ze wil een nieuwe toekomst opbouwen. Haar huis in de stad is verkocht en ze gaat in het oude vakantiehuisje aan het meer van Butternut van de familie wonen. Dat er sinds haar laatste bezoek, lang geleden, nu een groot opzichtig huis verderop is gebouwd, daar had ze niet op gerekend. En die nieuwe arrogante buurman, daar wil ze niets mee te maken hebben. Ook al is hij best knap. En voelt ze vlindertjes.
Het boek begint op een rustige verteltoon die lekker ontspannen leest. De schrijfster laat je langzaam kennismaken met Allie en haar zoontje Wyatt. Iets te langzaam naar mijn smaak. Het kabbelt allemaal een beetje door. Die nieuwe toekomst opbouwen moet je er min of meer zelf bij bedenken. Jet komt niet goed uit de verf in dit boek. Ook de andere personages Walker, Caroline en Jax komen aan het woord net zoals de hoofdpersoon.. Er wordt eventjes een spannende Verhaallijn van Jax ingegooid, waar veel te lang niet verder op wordt ingegaan. Dus wat verwarrend en voor mij veel te veel uitgesponnen of juist onduidelijk. Ik ben me er eigenlijk niet zo zeker van wat het nu precies met me deed.
De personages zijn geloofwaardig neergezet, maar ik kon net iets te weinig meeleven, daarom geef ik het maar drie hartjes.
January 12, 2018
Bello con qualche ma. Troppo prolisso, troppo melenso nel finale, troppo buonista con tutti i personaggi, troppo moralista. Una favola dei tempi moderni dove la fata buona è impersonata dalle amiche della protagonista, sono loro a far ragionare chi ha bisogno di ragionare e a spingere chi ha bisogno di essere spinto.
Gradevole lettura in una realtà in cui niente è mai così semplice e soprattutto mai di così veloce soluzione... il personaggio migliore è certamente Wait, il bimbo di 5 anni di Ellie, un cosino molto reale, con momenti di inconsapevole saggezza e altri di assoluto, godibilissimo infantilismo, l’ho adorato.
Gradevole lettura in una realtà in cui niente è mai così semplice e soprattutto mai di così veloce soluzione... il personaggio migliore è certamente Wait, il bimbo di 5 anni di Ellie, un cosino molto reale, con momenti di inconsapevole saggezza e altri di assoluto, godibilissimo infantilismo, l’ho adorato.
July 11, 2020
I read this book for the Popsugar 2020 Summer Reading Challenge in the category of "a book with a body of water or pool on the cover" (the body of water being the lake from the title). It was a nice romance featuring a young widow (husband killed in Afghanistan) and her young son who move up to her family's lake cabin to live and get away from their old memories. Her neighbor turns out to be a very attractive man with his own personal issues. In addition, there is a nice group of females supporting each other which I thought added to the story. 3.5 stars
November 8, 2018
Een lief en niet heel verrassend verhaal. Ondanks wat de achterflap doet vermoeden, zijn er nog twee andere vrouwen die in dit boek gevolgd worden. Over het geheel genomen een fijne sfeer om een paar uurtjes mee te ontspannen.
June 11, 2019
As I needed something else to listen to while waiting on my next installment of Chesapeake Shores, I picked up this first in a series. Another small town with a namesake water body where relationships are falling apart, coming together and renewing. I will happily pick up the next when the time comes. An easy listen for the work commute, and easy fare for the summer.
September 28, 2018
Loved it!! Can’t wait to continue the series.
October 22, 2018
I love this type of book. Great characters that I’m anxious to read more about.
July 6, 2021
This was a nice romantic read.
October 22, 2014
Originally posted at: http://www.peekingbetweenthepages.com...
Anyone who reads my blog knows how much I love women’s fiction so it’s no surprise that I absolutely loved Mary McNear’s debut novel Up at Butternut Lake! This is an emotional and heartwarming tale that is sure to charm readers. It’s got that small town feel with great characters and a little romance thrown in. It’s the perfect comfort read! Even more exciting is that Up at Butternut Lake is the first in The Butternut Lake Trilogy, with the second one, Butternut Summer, out later this year and I can’t wait to read it!
Although it’s been a few years since Allie’s husband was killed in Afghanistan she and her five year old son Wyatt are still understandably reeling from the grief of it all. Allie decides to move them up to Butternut Lake where her family owns a cabin and where she spent many happy times. Maybe this will be a place of healing and starting over for her and Wyatt.
The town of Butternut Lake takes in Allie and Wyatt like they’d been there all along. There’s Caroline who runs the local coffee shop who is desperately missing her daughter since she left home. Needless to say she welcomes Allie and especially little Wyatt who takes to her like bees to a flower. Then there is Allie’s friend Jax who she has missed terribly. Jax has her own family now with kids of her own but they accept Allie and Wyatt into their circle in no time. Let’s not forget the gorgeous Walker who owns a boatyard who is stumped upon meeting Allie for the first time as she barely notices his existence.
As the months go on though Allie can’t help her attraction to Walker and Wyatt really likes him. Yet Allie feels guilty for being attracted to him and even for thinking of maybe having a relationship with a man. In order for Allie to move forward she has to face her past and finally say goodbye to her husband. The question is can she do that and does she even want to?
I can see this novel being chosen for book clubs because it would be a perfect choice. There is a wide range of subjects from losing a loved one to attempting to start over again and lots in between. While there is loss and grief in Up at Butternut Lake there is also the joy found in the renewal of spirit and in the hope of going forward in both life and love. Highly recommended!
Anyone who reads my blog knows how much I love women’s fiction so it’s no surprise that I absolutely loved Mary McNear’s debut novel Up at Butternut Lake! This is an emotional and heartwarming tale that is sure to charm readers. It’s got that small town feel with great characters and a little romance thrown in. It’s the perfect comfort read! Even more exciting is that Up at Butternut Lake is the first in The Butternut Lake Trilogy, with the second one, Butternut Summer, out later this year and I can’t wait to read it!
Although it’s been a few years since Allie’s husband was killed in Afghanistan she and her five year old son Wyatt are still understandably reeling from the grief of it all. Allie decides to move them up to Butternut Lake where her family owns a cabin and where she spent many happy times. Maybe this will be a place of healing and starting over for her and Wyatt.
The town of Butternut Lake takes in Allie and Wyatt like they’d been there all along. There’s Caroline who runs the local coffee shop who is desperately missing her daughter since she left home. Needless to say she welcomes Allie and especially little Wyatt who takes to her like bees to a flower. Then there is Allie’s friend Jax who she has missed terribly. Jax has her own family now with kids of her own but they accept Allie and Wyatt into their circle in no time. Let’s not forget the gorgeous Walker who owns a boatyard who is stumped upon meeting Allie for the first time as she barely notices his existence.
As the months go on though Allie can’t help her attraction to Walker and Wyatt really likes him. Yet Allie feels guilty for being attracted to him and even for thinking of maybe having a relationship with a man. In order for Allie to move forward she has to face her past and finally say goodbye to her husband. The question is can she do that and does she even want to?
I can see this novel being chosen for book clubs because it would be a perfect choice. There is a wide range of subjects from losing a loved one to attempting to start over again and lots in between. While there is loss and grief in Up at Butternut Lake there is also the joy found in the renewal of spirit and in the hope of going forward in both life and love. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 429 reviews