Three Complete Novels: Home Song / That Camden Summer / Small Town Girl

by LaVyrle Spencer

A trio of romantic novels--Home Song, That Camden Summer, and Small Town Girl--presents a poignant tale of family and unconditional love, a story of love set against the backdrop of the Nashville country music industry, and a saga of romance in small-town Missouri.

835 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 1994

About the author

LaVyrle Spencer is an American best-selling author of contemporary and historical romance novels. She has successfully published a number of books, with several of them made into movies. Twelve of her books have been New York Times bestsellers, and Spencer was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame in 1988.

Spencer is known for creating realistic characters and stories that focus on families rather than only the relationship between a man and woman. These "ordinary" men and women are warm and vulnerable and are always portrayed sympathetically.[1] Her heroines tend to be a mix of fire and warmth, strength, savvy and soft–heartedness who must overcome some sort of adversity, such as pregnancy, divorce, a lengthy separation, the loss of a loved one, and then undergo a catharsis. The stories center on themes of abiding love, family ties and strength in difficult times.

In the 1980s and 1990s Spencer wrote 12 New York Times Bestsellers. Her books have been sold to book clubs worldwide, and have been published around the world. Condensed versions of many of her novels have appeared in Reader's Digest and Good Housekeeping.

She retired from writing in 1997.

Reviews

[Sonal · Rating 4 out of 5]

coutryside stories make me dream............

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed all three of the stories in this book. The author did a super job making you feel as though you were right there with the characters. The first story Home Song is about a father that never knew he had a son with a one night stand at his Bachelor party until his son Kent moves back to town with his mom and enrolls in school where his dad is the principal. This story follows Kent’s dad Tom and his family and how they handle the news. The second story That Camden Summer is about a divorced mom of 3 girls moves back home where it is frowned upon and unheard of of divorcing. This story follows the life of Janet and her struggles of dealing with the townspeople, her sisters slimy husband and of Gabriel the contractor who is hired to repair her house. The last story is Small Town and this follows the life of Tess who is a famous country singer who has to return to her hometown to take care of her mother who is gonna have hip surgery. While Tess is taking care of her mother she begins to grow feelings for the neighbor man who she used to pick on in high school when they were kids. Kenny has been helping Tess’s mom for all these years by mowing her lawn and other odd jobs. At first Tess feels threatened by the relationship that Kenny has with her mom but as the story goes on Tess helps Kenny’s daughter who wants to be a famous country singer star just like Tess. So Tess takes her under her wing and helps her become a star but at the same time Tess falls in love with Kenny. But how can they be together with her famous and hectic life in Nashville and Kenny lives in Missouri with his job. Must read!!

[Susan Laine]

have

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern