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Lake Summers #3
The Lily Garden
She held the letter that she had found in the garden, and noticed the distinctive curls of her father’s handwriting etched on the worn paper. Her life had already been turned upside down by one family secret, would his last words force her to leave her childhood home forever?
When Caroline left Lake Summers thirty years ago, she thought she’d never go back to the place where she lost her parents. But when she finds out that the town’s lily garden lovingly built by her mother is going to be destroyed, she knows fate is calling. Dropping everything at her office in Chicago, she knows she is the only person who can save the garden.
Caroline and her daughter Lee are welcomed home by the warm smile of her mother’s best friend Maxine, and piles of pancakes at her cozy little restaurant in town. And Caroline soon learns that she isn’t the only person invested in saving her mother’s legacy, when she meets handsome historian Aaron . As she gets to know him, strolling along the sparkling lakeshore, she can’t imagine anywhere else she’d rather be.
But then Caroline learns a terrible secret about the day her mother died. And soon the real reason Aaron is in Lake Summers comes to light. Will the truth about the people she loves force her to give up a future with Aaron, and the beautiful town that has always been in her heart?
When Caroline left Lake Summers thirty years ago, she thought she’d never go back to the place where she lost her parents. But when she finds out that the town’s lily garden lovingly built by her mother is going to be destroyed, she knows fate is calling. Dropping everything at her office in Chicago, she knows she is the only person who can save the garden.
Caroline and her daughter Lee are welcomed home by the warm smile of her mother’s best friend Maxine, and piles of pancakes at her cozy little restaurant in town. And Caroline soon learns that she isn’t the only person invested in saving her mother’s legacy, when she meets handsome historian Aaron . As she gets to know him, strolling along the sparkling lakeshore, she can’t imagine anywhere else she’d rather be.
But then Caroline learns a terrible secret about the day her mother died. And soon the real reason Aaron is in Lake Summers comes to light. Will the truth about the people she loves force her to give up a future with Aaron, and the beautiful town that has always been in her heart?
250 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2021
878 people are currently reading
2283 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Josselsohn
14 books251 followersBarbara Josselsohn is a best-selling author known for her captivating contemporary and historical novels, including her latest, The Forgotten Italian Island. This sweeping, multigenerational story delves into the lives of two women bound by a fateful mistake made one night during the Nazi occupation of northern and central Italy. Barbara's work is marked by richly developed characters, intricate emotional landscapes, and immersive settings that transport readers to the heart of each story.
With a talent for blending history and human drama, Barbara’s novels explore complex themes of love, loss, resilience, and the enduring power of secrets. Her storytelling often spans generations, drawing readers into a tapestry of personal and historical struggles. Known for her lush descriptions and evocative prose, Barbara has garnered praise for her ability to bring history to life while crafting deeply emotional, character-driven narratives.
Her books resonate with readers who appreciate stories that combine rich historical details with powerful personal journeys. Currently, Barbara is working on a new World War II novel set in the mountains of southern France.
In addition to her writing career, Barbara teaches novel writing at Sarah Lawrence College and other prestigious venues. When not writing, Barbara enjoys ballet, yoga, reading, and relaxing on the beach. She loves spending time with her family, which includes her beloved rescue pup, Albie.
With a talent for blending history and human drama, Barbara’s novels explore complex themes of love, loss, resilience, and the enduring power of secrets. Her storytelling often spans generations, drawing readers into a tapestry of personal and historical struggles. Known for her lush descriptions and evocative prose, Barbara has garnered praise for her ability to bring history to life while crafting deeply emotional, character-driven narratives.
Her books resonate with readers who appreciate stories that combine rich historical details with powerful personal journeys. Currently, Barbara is working on a new World War II novel set in the mountains of southern France.
In addition to her writing career, Barbara teaches novel writing at Sarah Lawrence College and other prestigious venues. When not writing, Barbara enjoys ballet, yoga, reading, and relaxing on the beach. She loves spending time with her family, which includes her beloved rescue pup, Albie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
July 31, 2021
This book!!!!!! I am blowing it a few kisses, it really is amazing!
I am soooo excited to have read it.
I haven't read this author before but I will be definitely be looking up other books by her.
The story is sweet,sad and absolutely wonderful!
The author is able to so strongly convey what our main character is trying so hard to accomplish for her mother.
All about dreams and the continuation of them and discovering family bonds before it's too late.
Hope,love,self understanding and discovery play an important role in this book.
I can't recommend this women's fiction book enough so do yourself a favor and read this feel great book!
Pub Date 02 Jul 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
I am soooo excited to have read it.
I haven't read this author before but I will be definitely be looking up other books by her.
The story is sweet,sad and absolutely wonderful!
The author is able to so strongly convey what our main character is trying so hard to accomplish for her mother.
All about dreams and the continuation of them and discovering family bonds before it's too late.
Hope,love,self understanding and discovery play an important role in this book.
I can't recommend this women's fiction book enough so do yourself a favor and read this feel great book!
Pub Date 02 Jul 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
July 2, 2021
“A summer she’ll never forget”
Lovely cover art, for a beautiful story, wonderfully told!
An opening which sets the scene; leading to a storyline which is continually blossoming and evolving; and concluding with an ending which holds the promise of renewed hope going forwards, for those who dare to dream!
I read for four main reasons; enjoyment, entertainment, escapism and emotion. The Lily Garden definitely shines brightly in all of my ‘e’ ratings, despite women’s contemporary fiction being a genre I have only relatively recently reacquainted myself with, following a rather lengthy lapse in my engagement.
Part love story, part journey of self-actualization, and part unlocking and re-building of complex family dynamics; this multi-layered storyline is one which is immersive, indulgent and pure escapism. A lovely blended mix of storyline and characters make this the complete package.
When, in an effort to repair fractured relations with her daughter Lee, who she secretly wishes would re-consider her future education plans, Caroline decides to change their upcoming holiday itinerary and after what seems like a lifetimes lapse, to return to the small mountain town of her own early youth, in the hope that Lee can connect with her true roots, the consequences and reverberations are many, with the real potential to inflict more harm than healing.
Caroline hasn’t taken into account that the events and conversations she remembers from so long ago, would have been seen and heard through the rather rose-tinted perspective of a small child, complete with all the fairy-tale embellishments of a young and fertile imagination. Despite the warm welcome from those in the community who remember Caroline and had helped to raise her as one of their own, following the premature deaths of both her parents, long nurtured and deeply entrenched grudges against those she thought had betrayed her, inexorably bubble to the surface and threaten the long awaited reunion. Home truths however, will generally out, one way or another and once the emotional turmoil inflicted is overcome and the reality checks of the situation kick in, Caroline can at last begin to repair her shattered memories and to begin making new and much stronger connections for the future.
As well as opening the floodgates of emotion, the realization that much of what she had assumed about her family history hadn’t quite been as black and white as she had thought, also completely changes the perspective of Caroline’s relationship with her own daughter, as she soon realizes that Lee is a very well adjusted and mature young lady, who despite having felt the need to somewhat humour her mother, already has her future mapped out and a plan in place, without the coercion from her great-aunt, which Caroline had assumed was happening. When the honesty of their individual situations are brought to the surface, aired and dusted off, mother and daughter re-connect with an entirely new and much stronger bond than before, although Caroline realises that she has a very large portion of humble pie to eat, in front of her aunt Risa and uncle Rich, who it transpires, now she has had her heart and mind opened, have only ever had her best interests at heart and love both she and Lee equally, although they may not always be the best at outward displays of affection.
Talking about affection and exploring relationships – It seems as though Caroline herself might well be contemplating a permanent change in her personal emotional status, pace of life and choice of career, after meeting Aaron, a visiting college lecturer who is new to the area of Lake Summers. Their new and tentative beginnings as a couple, almost stall at the first hurdle though, when it transpires that Aaron has been keeping as many secrets and carrying around as much excess emotional baggage, as Caroline herself. However, when they both decide to face the future with a new found sense of purpose and maturity – well who knows what might happen in the fullness of time!
Written with total authority, consummate ease and complete confidence, by a born storyteller, this well structured, multi-genre, multi-layered story, is beautifully textured, at times desperately intense, yet has genuine heart and compassion, balanced with some real moments of ‘made me smile’ humour. Rich in detail, with some assured, observational and descriptive narrative, together with excellent conversational dialogue, the writing offers a tangible sense of time and place, making the dual location settings very much a part of the action.
An authentic and well developed cast of wonderfully defined and drawn characters, beautifully filled the pages with some larger than life actions, amusing anecdotes and complex dynamics. I found myself relating and investing in each and every one of them, despite, or maybe because of, their many raw and passionate vulnerabilities, which only added to their genuine and believable interactions, as they each explore the ever-evolving power, intimacy and responsibility of family, in all its many guises!
To find out more about the author and to share some memorable lines from the story, visit...
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
Lovely cover art, for a beautiful story, wonderfully told!
An opening which sets the scene; leading to a storyline which is continually blossoming and evolving; and concluding with an ending which holds the promise of renewed hope going forwards, for those who dare to dream!
I read for four main reasons; enjoyment, entertainment, escapism and emotion. The Lily Garden definitely shines brightly in all of my ‘e’ ratings, despite women’s contemporary fiction being a genre I have only relatively recently reacquainted myself with, following a rather lengthy lapse in my engagement.
Part love story, part journey of self-actualization, and part unlocking and re-building of complex family dynamics; this multi-layered storyline is one which is immersive, indulgent and pure escapism. A lovely blended mix of storyline and characters make this the complete package.
When, in an effort to repair fractured relations with her daughter Lee, who she secretly wishes would re-consider her future education plans, Caroline decides to change their upcoming holiday itinerary and after what seems like a lifetimes lapse, to return to the small mountain town of her own early youth, in the hope that Lee can connect with her true roots, the consequences and reverberations are many, with the real potential to inflict more harm than healing.
Caroline hasn’t taken into account that the events and conversations she remembers from so long ago, would have been seen and heard through the rather rose-tinted perspective of a small child, complete with all the fairy-tale embellishments of a young and fertile imagination. Despite the warm welcome from those in the community who remember Caroline and had helped to raise her as one of their own, following the premature deaths of both her parents, long nurtured and deeply entrenched grudges against those she thought had betrayed her, inexorably bubble to the surface and threaten the long awaited reunion. Home truths however, will generally out, one way or another and once the emotional turmoil inflicted is overcome and the reality checks of the situation kick in, Caroline can at last begin to repair her shattered memories and to begin making new and much stronger connections for the future.
As well as opening the floodgates of emotion, the realization that much of what she had assumed about her family history hadn’t quite been as black and white as she had thought, also completely changes the perspective of Caroline’s relationship with her own daughter, as she soon realizes that Lee is a very well adjusted and mature young lady, who despite having felt the need to somewhat humour her mother, already has her future mapped out and a plan in place, without the coercion from her great-aunt, which Caroline had assumed was happening. When the honesty of their individual situations are brought to the surface, aired and dusted off, mother and daughter re-connect with an entirely new and much stronger bond than before, although Caroline realises that she has a very large portion of humble pie to eat, in front of her aunt Risa and uncle Rich, who it transpires, now she has had her heart and mind opened, have only ever had her best interests at heart and love both she and Lee equally, although they may not always be the best at outward displays of affection.
Talking about affection and exploring relationships – It seems as though Caroline herself might well be contemplating a permanent change in her personal emotional status, pace of life and choice of career, after meeting Aaron, a visiting college lecturer who is new to the area of Lake Summers. Their new and tentative beginnings as a couple, almost stall at the first hurdle though, when it transpires that Aaron has been keeping as many secrets and carrying around as much excess emotional baggage, as Caroline herself. However, when they both decide to face the future with a new found sense of purpose and maturity – well who knows what might happen in the fullness of time!
Written with total authority, consummate ease and complete confidence, by a born storyteller, this well structured, multi-genre, multi-layered story, is beautifully textured, at times desperately intense, yet has genuine heart and compassion, balanced with some real moments of ‘made me smile’ humour. Rich in detail, with some assured, observational and descriptive narrative, together with excellent conversational dialogue, the writing offers a tangible sense of time and place, making the dual location settings very much a part of the action.
An authentic and well developed cast of wonderfully defined and drawn characters, beautifully filled the pages with some larger than life actions, amusing anecdotes and complex dynamics. I found myself relating and investing in each and every one of them, despite, or maybe because of, their many raw and passionate vulnerabilities, which only added to their genuine and believable interactions, as they each explore the ever-evolving power, intimacy and responsibility of family, in all its many guises!
To find out more about the author and to share some memorable lines from the story, visit...
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
July 3, 2021
Caroline is getting ready to take a two-week vacation with her daughter Lee so that they can tour several colleges. But when she hears that her deceased mother’s beloved garden is going to be torn down, Caroline adjusts their plans and returns with Lee to her childhood home of Lake Summers to save it. As she works to protect the garden her mother cherished, Caroline learns more about her parents, her other loved ones, and her daughter.
I really enjoyed this heart-warming story. Caroline is a relatable and well-developed protagonist, as are many of the other people introduced. Each is unique and interesting and adds so much to the plot. Several characters, including Caroline, Aaron, and Lee, go through such an emotional journey throughout the story. Caroline, for example, slowly learns the truths of the past, which are very different from what she has believed all of her life. She is a woman who felt like she had no choices, and she has steeled her heart so it couldn’t be broken again. Caroline has played it safe, emotionally speaking, and has kept people at a distance. It is only when she goes back home that she truly faces her feelings. She also comes to terms with being an almost empty-nester who wants more in her life. She finds this in Lake Summers with old and new friends.
Aaron, Caroline’s potential love interest, has his own journey to get through, and he has major life decisions to make. As he gets to know Caroline and her extended “family,” he starts to put things in perspective and realizes what he wants in life. Lee is a young woman preparing for college who fears disappointing her mother. I found all of these characters realistic and relatable, and I was wholly rooting for their happiness.
I also love the amount of food talk in the story. When Caroline returns to Lake Summers, she and Lee stay with her mother’s best friend Maxine, who runs a local restaurant. The food described sounds mouth-wateringly delicious, and I craved the chicken parmesan, brownies, pie, and other decadently described dishes. The small-town feel of Lake Summers is another great element of the novel. Local festivities and activities, friendly neighbors, and old friends reinforce the charming and inclusive nature of Lake Summers. One of my favorite locations in Lake Summers is the lily garden.
The garden, which is located behind the public library, has become unkempt and unsafe. Instead of repairing it, the town wants to get rid of it and expand the library, much to Caroline’s dismay. The lily garden has a special place in her heart, as it was her mother’s. The garden, which was the location of many marriage proposals and other special events, is symbolic not just of Caroline’s mother, but of the promises, dreams, and love within the community. There are memories in that garden that are hard to ignore and impossible to erase. I think that’s why Caroline works so hard to protect it. The garden is a treasure and part of her childhood. It is one of the few places where she felt complete happiness and love with her parents, and she’s not ready to let go of it.
The garden comes to symbolize other things throughout the story, including Caroline’s unwillingness to let Lee grow and change. On the cusp of adulthood, Lee is very different from Caroline, and her ambitions clash with Caroline’s hopes. I think returning to Lake Summers and confronting her past allows Caroline to be more aware of what is happening in her present, especially in regard to her relationship with Lee. Caroline has regrets, and she didn’t feel like she had choices, and she never wants Lee to feel that way. However, it takes returning to her childhood home to realize that she is not truly listening to and accepting her daughter.
The importance of family, friendship, honoring the past while living for the present and future, and staying true to yourself are all highlighted in this heart-warming story. I think readers who enjoy contemporary fiction with dynamically developed characters and a bit of romance will adore this book, and I am so thankful to Netgalley, Barbara Josselsohn, Bookouture, and Chick Lit Central for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this heart-warming story. Caroline is a relatable and well-developed protagonist, as are many of the other people introduced. Each is unique and interesting and adds so much to the plot. Several characters, including Caroline, Aaron, and Lee, go through such an emotional journey throughout the story. Caroline, for example, slowly learns the truths of the past, which are very different from what she has believed all of her life. She is a woman who felt like she had no choices, and she has steeled her heart so it couldn’t be broken again. Caroline has played it safe, emotionally speaking, and has kept people at a distance. It is only when she goes back home that she truly faces her feelings. She also comes to terms with being an almost empty-nester who wants more in her life. She finds this in Lake Summers with old and new friends.
Aaron, Caroline’s potential love interest, has his own journey to get through, and he has major life decisions to make. As he gets to know Caroline and her extended “family,” he starts to put things in perspective and realizes what he wants in life. Lee is a young woman preparing for college who fears disappointing her mother. I found all of these characters realistic and relatable, and I was wholly rooting for their happiness.
I also love the amount of food talk in the story. When Caroline returns to Lake Summers, she and Lee stay with her mother’s best friend Maxine, who runs a local restaurant. The food described sounds mouth-wateringly delicious, and I craved the chicken parmesan, brownies, pie, and other decadently described dishes. The small-town feel of Lake Summers is another great element of the novel. Local festivities and activities, friendly neighbors, and old friends reinforce the charming and inclusive nature of Lake Summers. One of my favorite locations in Lake Summers is the lily garden.
The garden, which is located behind the public library, has become unkempt and unsafe. Instead of repairing it, the town wants to get rid of it and expand the library, much to Caroline’s dismay. The lily garden has a special place in her heart, as it was her mother’s. The garden, which was the location of many marriage proposals and other special events, is symbolic not just of Caroline’s mother, but of the promises, dreams, and love within the community. There are memories in that garden that are hard to ignore and impossible to erase. I think that’s why Caroline works so hard to protect it. The garden is a treasure and part of her childhood. It is one of the few places where she felt complete happiness and love with her parents, and she’s not ready to let go of it.
The garden comes to symbolize other things throughout the story, including Caroline’s unwillingness to let Lee grow and change. On the cusp of adulthood, Lee is very different from Caroline, and her ambitions clash with Caroline’s hopes. I think returning to Lake Summers and confronting her past allows Caroline to be more aware of what is happening in her present, especially in regard to her relationship with Lee. Caroline has regrets, and she didn’t feel like she had choices, and she never wants Lee to feel that way. However, it takes returning to her childhood home to realize that she is not truly listening to and accepting her daughter.
The importance of family, friendship, honoring the past while living for the present and future, and staying true to yourself are all highlighted in this heart-warming story. I think readers who enjoy contemporary fiction with dynamically developed characters and a bit of romance will adore this book, and I am so thankful to Netgalley, Barbara Josselsohn, Bookouture, and Chick Lit Central for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
May 12, 2021
This is another uplifting, and heartwarming book about small-town life, families, and friendship. It’s perfect for a light summer read, and you’ll fall in love with the small town of Lake Summers and the townsfolk who inhabit it.
Caroline is content with the life she carved out for herself and her seventeen-year-old daughter, Lee, in Chicago, working for Caroline’s aunt and uncle in their textile business. Caroline had never gone back to Lake Summers, but has fond memories of living there with her parents, until their untimely deaths when she was a child. Her memories include living with her mother’s best friend, Maxine, and her two boys Jackie and Ben until her Aunt took her back to Chicago to live with her and her Uncle.
When Caroline receives a message saying the town of Lake Summers is going to destroy her mother’s Lily Garden in order to expand the library, Caroline knows she must return to fight for her Mother’s legacy. So, instead of the two-week college tour, she planned with her daughter, she takes Lee to Lake Summers to reunite with Maxine, and fight for the Lily Garden her mother loved.
This book is set in a delightful small town, full of quirky, but realistic characters. I like the way the author explores the mother-daughter relationship between Caroline and Lee, and uses Caroline’s surrogate mothers, Maxine, and Aunt Risa, as examples of motherhood. She explores the complex relationships of parent and child both by birth and parents by circumstance.
The story was well-paced, and the romance was sweet and realistic. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet summer romance with a mother-daughter relationship.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Caroline is content with the life she carved out for herself and her seventeen-year-old daughter, Lee, in Chicago, working for Caroline’s aunt and uncle in their textile business. Caroline had never gone back to Lake Summers, but has fond memories of living there with her parents, until their untimely deaths when she was a child. Her memories include living with her mother’s best friend, Maxine, and her two boys Jackie and Ben until her Aunt took her back to Chicago to live with her and her Uncle.
When Caroline receives a message saying the town of Lake Summers is going to destroy her mother’s Lily Garden in order to expand the library, Caroline knows she must return to fight for her Mother’s legacy. So, instead of the two-week college tour, she planned with her daughter, she takes Lee to Lake Summers to reunite with Maxine, and fight for the Lily Garden her mother loved.
This book is set in a delightful small town, full of quirky, but realistic characters. I like the way the author explores the mother-daughter relationship between Caroline and Lee, and uses Caroline’s surrogate mothers, Maxine, and Aunt Risa, as examples of motherhood. She explores the complex relationships of parent and child both by birth and parents by circumstance.
The story was well-paced, and the romance was sweet and realistic. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet summer romance with a mother-daughter relationship.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 8, 2021
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Lily Garden served as my introduction to the work of Barbara Josselsohn. Readers who enjoy heartwarming stories in a small town setting should pick up a copy of this wonderful story. Read on and see why it would make the perfect summer read.
The story introduces Caroline, a widow and single mom, to a seventeen-year-old. Caroline currently works in her Aunt’s textile company. The same aunt who raised her from she was twelve years old. She has accepted the life she had living in Chicago, but she wants more for her daughter. Although she had fond memories of her childhood home prior to and after losing her parents where she lived with her mom’s best friend for four years, she never returned to her roots.
Amid preparing for a two-week vacation, which included college tours with her daughter Lee, she received a heart breaking message. Her mother’s lily garden faced imminent destruction, causing her to change her plans and make an unplanned trip to the place she once called home. While there she meets Aaron, a history professor, who recently moved to Lake Summers to take up a professorship at the local university.
Aaron grapples with issues stemming from a recent discovery. However, meeting Caroline proved a welcome distraction.
Caroline exhibited immense growth as the story progressed. I enjoyed watching her leaving her comfort zone and embracing the challenges surrounding the lily garden. Also, I cheered for her when she began making decisions for herself. The secondary characters with their words and actions added to richness of the story.
I loved the relationship Caroline had with her daughter. It reminded so much of the one I shared with my mom. Also, I found the developing romance between Caroline and Aaron to be ok. It received little page time, making it difficult to connect with them as a couple.
The synopsis hinted at a terrible secret, one which I waited eagerly to be revealed. The big reveal occurred almost at the end, which I found sad rather than terrible. I must admit I teared up at the revelation. Also, several misunderstandings in relation to the past were cleared up which allowed for healing to commence.
One of my biggest peeves is a story ending without there being closure to the issues and leaving me to make my own conclusions. The story ended in such a fashion leaving with unanswered questions.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Despite my issue with the ending, I enjoyed this heartwarming and uplifting story of family, friendship and love. This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
The story introduces Caroline, a widow and single mom, to a seventeen-year-old. Caroline currently works in her Aunt’s textile company. The same aunt who raised her from she was twelve years old. She has accepted the life she had living in Chicago, but she wants more for her daughter. Although she had fond memories of her childhood home prior to and after losing her parents where she lived with her mom’s best friend for four years, she never returned to her roots.
Amid preparing for a two-week vacation, which included college tours with her daughter Lee, she received a heart breaking message. Her mother’s lily garden faced imminent destruction, causing her to change her plans and make an unplanned trip to the place she once called home. While there she meets Aaron, a history professor, who recently moved to Lake Summers to take up a professorship at the local university.
Aaron grapples with issues stemming from a recent discovery. However, meeting Caroline proved a welcome distraction.
Caroline exhibited immense growth as the story progressed. I enjoyed watching her leaving her comfort zone and embracing the challenges surrounding the lily garden. Also, I cheered for her when she began making decisions for herself. The secondary characters with their words and actions added to richness of the story.
I loved the relationship Caroline had with her daughter. It reminded so much of the one I shared with my mom. Also, I found the developing romance between Caroline and Aaron to be ok. It received little page time, making it difficult to connect with them as a couple.
The synopsis hinted at a terrible secret, one which I waited eagerly to be revealed. The big reveal occurred almost at the end, which I found sad rather than terrible. I must admit I teared up at the revelation. Also, several misunderstandings in relation to the past were cleared up which allowed for healing to commence.
One of my biggest peeves is a story ending without there being closure to the issues and leaving me to make my own conclusions. The story ended in such a fashion leaving with unanswered questions.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Despite my issue with the ending, I enjoyed this heartwarming and uplifting story of family, friendship and love. This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
May 22, 2021
3.5 Stars
The Lily Garden was created by Caroline’s mother more than thirty years ago. After her mother’s death, followed by her father’s accident, Caroline leaves Lake Summers and goes to live with her aunt in Chicago.
The story starts with Caroline working in her aunt’s successful business empire. Her daughter Lee is ready to graduate and has her future decided for her as the heiress of the business. Caroline and Lee have a two-week summer break to look at other options and travel to Boston.
A message from Maxine, the woman who cared for Caroline like a mother, forces her to change her plans. The Lily Garden would be demolished, and they need to find a way to stop it somehow.
Then we have Aaron, a historian and a professor who moves to the town for a year. He has his own past to deal with. When paths cross, Caroline has to decide if she wants to play it safe or take a plunge and see where things go. She also has to face her past, and things are not what she thought them to be.
The premise is great, and I love the cover. After reading The Bluebell Girls last year, I had high expectations from this one.
A young widow with a teenage daughter going back to her childhood town to fight for the last memory of her mother was enough to make me pick this book as soon as I could. The writing was easy to read, and the setting was wonderful. The author can create vivid imagery of the landscape and its people. The side characters are well-etched and added a lot to the book.
So what made me give it just 3.5 stars?
I was looking for the ‘terrible secret’ that was supposed to be revealed in the book. The ending of the blurb goes-
“But then Caroline learns a terrible secret about the day her mother died. If she continues fighting to save the garden, she may uncover more painful truths that will affect her whole family. But if she leaves now, she will have to give up a future with Aaron and the beautiful town that has always been in her heart…”
But the secret doesn’t get revealed until almost 82-85% of the book. And when it’s done, it’s underwhelming because the scenes rush by one after another. Things get sorted in the last 15% of the novel, though we still don’t know the answer to some questions. There’s a hint, and guess we’ll have to make do with that.
For someone with so many lovely memories of the place, it seems odd that Caroline didn’t want to go back even once. Yeah, she has created her own version of some of the past incidents. However, it doesn’t really change the story.
Caroline is pretty much a hesitant and tentative character, prone to panics for the slightest of issues. It does make her real, but it also makes her a weak character to carry the weight of the story.
I felt Lee was better etched for her age, and Caroline’s character shadows her in many places. I think it’s the limited third-person narrative that resulted in this.
There are a few chapters from Aaron’s perspective (limited third person), but they leave us with more questions than answers. We get a gist of what would happen soon to tie up the loose ends, but it left me dissatisfied. I wanted more from the book. The relationship between Aaron and Caroline was okay. It wasn’t explored enough for me to root for them.
The side characters are the strength of this book. They bring color and life and make the story more interesting. The relationship between Caroline and Maxine was great. It was one of the positives of the book.
Overall, the story is sweet and heartwarming, but it needed better treatment to shine. The author did a better job with other book(s), and I hope to read that kind of magic from her again.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheLilyGarden #NetGalley
The Lily Garden was created by Caroline’s mother more than thirty years ago. After her mother’s death, followed by her father’s accident, Caroline leaves Lake Summers and goes to live with her aunt in Chicago.
The story starts with Caroline working in her aunt’s successful business empire. Her daughter Lee is ready to graduate and has her future decided for her as the heiress of the business. Caroline and Lee have a two-week summer break to look at other options and travel to Boston.
A message from Maxine, the woman who cared for Caroline like a mother, forces her to change her plans. The Lily Garden would be demolished, and they need to find a way to stop it somehow.
Then we have Aaron, a historian and a professor who moves to the town for a year. He has his own past to deal with. When paths cross, Caroline has to decide if she wants to play it safe or take a plunge and see where things go. She also has to face her past, and things are not what she thought them to be.
The premise is great, and I love the cover. After reading The Bluebell Girls last year, I had high expectations from this one.
A young widow with a teenage daughter going back to her childhood town to fight for the last memory of her mother was enough to make me pick this book as soon as I could. The writing was easy to read, and the setting was wonderful. The author can create vivid imagery of the landscape and its people. The side characters are well-etched and added a lot to the book.
So what made me give it just 3.5 stars?
I was looking for the ‘terrible secret’ that was supposed to be revealed in the book. The ending of the blurb goes-
“But then Caroline learns a terrible secret about the day her mother died. If she continues fighting to save the garden, she may uncover more painful truths that will affect her whole family. But if she leaves now, she will have to give up a future with Aaron and the beautiful town that has always been in her heart…”
But the secret doesn’t get revealed until almost 82-85% of the book. And when it’s done, it’s underwhelming because the scenes rush by one after another. Things get sorted in the last 15% of the novel, though we still don’t know the answer to some questions. There’s a hint, and guess we’ll have to make do with that.
For someone with so many lovely memories of the place, it seems odd that Caroline didn’t want to go back even once. Yeah, she has created her own version of some of the past incidents. However, it doesn’t really change the story.
Caroline is pretty much a hesitant and tentative character, prone to panics for the slightest of issues. It does make her real, but it also makes her a weak character to carry the weight of the story.
I felt Lee was better etched for her age, and Caroline’s character shadows her in many places. I think it’s the limited third-person narrative that resulted in this.
There are a few chapters from Aaron’s perspective (limited third person), but they leave us with more questions than answers. We get a gist of what would happen soon to tie up the loose ends, but it left me dissatisfied. I wanted more from the book. The relationship between Aaron and Caroline was okay. It wasn’t explored enough for me to root for them.
The side characters are the strength of this book. They bring color and life and make the story more interesting. The relationship between Caroline and Maxine was great. It was one of the positives of the book.
Overall, the story is sweet and heartwarming, but it needed better treatment to shine. The author did a better job with other book(s), and I hope to read that kind of magic from her again.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheLilyGarden #NetGalley
July 13, 2021
I have never read a Barbara Josselsohn novel before, but I’m sure glad I read THE LILY GARDEN! What a beautiful story! I’m very excited to read her previous books now. This absorbing story combines both the beautiful sensory details of a summer lake town with heartfelt characters, a moving plot, and a story with so much depth. THE LILY GARDEN is a lovely read with characters I rooted for, and some lovely sensory details that brought the town of Lake Summers to life. I highly recommend this story if you need a complete escape from life.
THE LILY GARDEN explores family dynamics, loss, secrets, and a new romance! Barbara Josselsohn handles difficult topics and has the reader cheering for everyone to succeed. When I started reading THE LILY GARDEN, I didn’t know I’d come to love it this much. Where to start? Caroline is such a great character, full of life and warmth. I loved how she didn’t let her past tragedies destroy herself completely. Her decision to come back to Lake Summers is a turning point in her life. I am so happy for that she made this choice. She grew and learned a lot about herself and life itself while being there. The interactions between all the characters in this small town, where everyone knows everyone else, are vividly told and enjoyable to read. Love, hope, second chances and the importance of community are the threads that bind this book together beautifully.
I enjoyed the language, the conversations and the very real feel of THE LILY GARDEN. Caroline goes back to a very special place from her childhood to save her mother’s garden. The town is ready to mow it over and expand the library that sits in front of it. It’s been thirty years since Caroline left Lake Summers and she fears she is too late to stop the garden from being destroyed.
I don’t want to say too much for fear of giving away too much of THE LILY GARDEN, but once I started reading this beautiful and heart breaking story, I could not stop! Everyone should have this unforgettable book on their summer/fall reading list. The dialogue between Caroline and Aaron is sometimes funny and other times frustrating! They both have secrets and without letting them out, they will not be able to move forward. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters from page one and I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
THE LILY GARDEN explores family dynamics, loss, secrets, and a new romance! Barbara Josselsohn handles difficult topics and has the reader cheering for everyone to succeed. When I started reading THE LILY GARDEN, I didn’t know I’d come to love it this much. Where to start? Caroline is such a great character, full of life and warmth. I loved how she didn’t let her past tragedies destroy herself completely. Her decision to come back to Lake Summers is a turning point in her life. I am so happy for that she made this choice. She grew and learned a lot about herself and life itself while being there. The interactions between all the characters in this small town, where everyone knows everyone else, are vividly told and enjoyable to read. Love, hope, second chances and the importance of community are the threads that bind this book together beautifully.
I enjoyed the language, the conversations and the very real feel of THE LILY GARDEN. Caroline goes back to a very special place from her childhood to save her mother’s garden. The town is ready to mow it over and expand the library that sits in front of it. It’s been thirty years since Caroline left Lake Summers and she fears she is too late to stop the garden from being destroyed.
I don’t want to say too much for fear of giving away too much of THE LILY GARDEN, but once I started reading this beautiful and heart breaking story, I could not stop! Everyone should have this unforgettable book on their summer/fall reading list. The dialogue between Caroline and Aaron is sometimes funny and other times frustrating! They both have secrets and without letting them out, they will not be able to move forward. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters from page one and I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 23, 2021
This was a wonderfully refreshing book. I loved the fact it was so different but also another new author that I've discovered. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
June 29, 2021
This was a heartwarming small town romance with a touch of mystery.
Caroline was a sympathetic character who is trying to uncover a family secret. The secret itself wasn’t as big as I thought it would be, but it did add a little mystery element to the story.
The romance between Caroline and Aaron, the handsome historian, was a pleasure to read. I wanted more chapters of Caroline and Aaron.
All in all a pleasant book that makes for some easy, breezy summer reading.
Caroline was a sympathetic character who is trying to uncover a family secret. The secret itself wasn’t as big as I thought it would be, but it did add a little mystery element to the story.
The romance between Caroline and Aaron, the handsome historian, was a pleasure to read. I wanted more chapters of Caroline and Aaron.
All in all a pleasant book that makes for some easy, breezy summer reading.
July 11, 2021
This book was such a delight. It was a perfect summer read. It was both driven by the characters, but also the setting! Filled with themes that the reader will relate to, which allows the reader to get lost in the story! I cannot recommend this book enough if you want a story that warms the heart and keep you fully engaged cover to cover!
June 12, 2021
I loved this lovely read about a beautiful garden that connects people from past to present .Caroline has a chance to go back to her childhood roots , save a piece of her family , and to find her true self. The garden itself holds many memories for so many people , I really like books like this ,that has meaning for everyone rather its to find inner strength , beauty , love or finding your self , this garden in a sense has the magic to pull it out of you .
November 10, 2021
The Lily Garden.
By Barbara .
Caroline
Was only 12 when she lost her parents. Then The family she knew soon gets ripped out of her life.
But Many years Have Gone by.
Before she Returns to Lake Summers..
Were nothing has changed. Except her.
Carolina
believes, she never had a chance at Making her own choices. Living with Her Aunt.
Wants different things for her daughter.
But Things Aren't always as they seem. Finding out what Really happened..can change a lot.
Aaron a college professor,
now he's a nice guy.
Caroline seems to like .
But he's got a few things to get worked out..wating on the house he rented to be done. But there's more to his story.
A story that brings people Together. 💜❤
This is a wonderful Story about Family. Some Romance. ❤
I truly enjoyed this Book..
Thank you. Barbara Josselsohn.
T
By Barbara .
Caroline
Was only 12 when she lost her parents. Then The family she knew soon gets ripped out of her life.
But Many years Have Gone by.
Before she Returns to Lake Summers..
Were nothing has changed. Except her.
Carolina
believes, she never had a chance at Making her own choices. Living with Her Aunt.
Wants different things for her daughter.
But Things Aren't always as they seem. Finding out what Really happened..can change a lot.
Aaron a college professor,
now he's a nice guy.
Caroline seems to like .
But he's got a few things to get worked out..wating on the house he rented to be done. But there's more to his story.
A story that brings people Together. 💜❤
This is a wonderful Story about Family. Some Romance. ❤
I truly enjoyed this Book..
Thank you. Barbara Josselsohn.
T
July 6, 2021
Caroline lost both her parents by the time she was 8 years old. She was taken in by her mother's best friend, Maxine and lived with her and her family until she was 12, when her Aunt Rissa, a woman she had never met, came to claim her and take her to Chicago to live with her and her husband. Caroline never felt that she belonged there, but for the sake of her daughter, Lee, she made the best of it. When she finds out that her mother's garden behind the library in her home town is going to be torn out and the library expanded, she changes the plans that she and Lee had made for two weeks of college tours and heads home to Lake Summers.
I really enjoyed this story and getting to know Caroline. She had let her aunt run her life and that of her daughter Lee, and she has finally decided it it time to let Lee make her own choices. She is confused about what she wants out of her life, but she is determined to save her mother's garden. She is a mama bear when it come to Lee. Lee is only seventeen, but she knows what she wants for her future. I really like her as well. She was raised a rich girl but she was not spoiled. She and her mom had a great relationship, most of the time. The people in Lake Summers are those small town folks that are caring and friendly to everyone and I want to go there for a holiday. And then there was Aaron. He was a guest professor at the small college in Lake Summers and he has his own issues to deal with. He and Caroline become friends and open up to each other sharing their stories. This was an enjoyable story with a well-written plot, great characters and enough emotion to have me loving this story, but not bringing me to tears. There are themes of family relationships, grief, secrets, following your dreams, some romance, community, friendship, and finding out what is important to you. I really enjoyed this story and will be looking for more books by Barbara Josselsohn. The publisher provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
I really enjoyed this story and getting to know Caroline. She had let her aunt run her life and that of her daughter Lee, and she has finally decided it it time to let Lee make her own choices. She is confused about what she wants out of her life, but she is determined to save her mother's garden. She is a mama bear when it come to Lee. Lee is only seventeen, but she knows what she wants for her future. I really like her as well. She was raised a rich girl but she was not spoiled. She and her mom had a great relationship, most of the time. The people in Lake Summers are those small town folks that are caring and friendly to everyone and I want to go there for a holiday. And then there was Aaron. He was a guest professor at the small college in Lake Summers and he has his own issues to deal with. He and Caroline become friends and open up to each other sharing their stories. This was an enjoyable story with a well-written plot, great characters and enough emotion to have me loving this story, but not bringing me to tears. There are themes of family relationships, grief, secrets, following your dreams, some romance, community, friendship, and finding out what is important to you. I really enjoyed this story and will be looking for more books by Barbara Josselsohn. The publisher provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
May 20, 2021
The Lily Garden by Barbara Josselsohn is a delight for peaceful summer reading. The story is set in Lake Summers, a slow-paced small town with friendly people, a beautiful lake, and an end-of-summer concert, festival, and romance.
Caroline Rantzen lived in Lake Summers as a child. When she was seven her mother unexpectantly died and the evening before her eighth birthday her father is killed in a work accident. The description of little Caroline waiting for her father to come home, and the expectancy of her birthday surprise is heartbreaking! She goes to live with her mother's best friend, Maxine. Her aunt Risa had taken her from Lake Summers when she was twelve to live with her in Chicago.
Now it is thirty years later, and Caroline is preparing to take a two-week vacation with her daughter Lee. It is time to visit colleges even though Lee is adamant she wants to attend Alvindale university. While in her office, Caroline receives a message from Maxine, her mother's best friend from Lake Summers. The town needs to expand the library and the lily garden that Caroline's mother had designed, planted, and loved will be destroyed to make room for the library addition. Caroline has not been back since she was a child. The garden has not been maintained and the scenic bridge is failing. The garden has developed a steep slope that has become a hazard. Caroline decides to change some plans and take Lee to Lake Summers and try to save the lily garden.
I won't post spoilers, but the story is filled with bittersweet emotions dealing with family, friendship, and memories. Caroline's memories of her mother's death and the later move to Chicago with her aunt are the memories of a grieving child and could be an incomplete truth. There are many wonderful characters, and they interact with Caroline and Lee to make them feel like family.
Publication Date: July 2, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Caroline Rantzen lived in Lake Summers as a child. When she was seven her mother unexpectantly died and the evening before her eighth birthday her father is killed in a work accident. The description of little Caroline waiting for her father to come home, and the expectancy of her birthday surprise is heartbreaking! She goes to live with her mother's best friend, Maxine. Her aunt Risa had taken her from Lake Summers when she was twelve to live with her in Chicago.
Now it is thirty years later, and Caroline is preparing to take a two-week vacation with her daughter Lee. It is time to visit colleges even though Lee is adamant she wants to attend Alvindale university. While in her office, Caroline receives a message from Maxine, her mother's best friend from Lake Summers. The town needs to expand the library and the lily garden that Caroline's mother had designed, planted, and loved will be destroyed to make room for the library addition. Caroline has not been back since she was a child. The garden has not been maintained and the scenic bridge is failing. The garden has developed a steep slope that has become a hazard. Caroline decides to change some plans and take Lee to Lake Summers and try to save the lily garden.
I won't post spoilers, but the story is filled with bittersweet emotions dealing with family, friendship, and memories. Caroline's memories of her mother's death and the later move to Chicago with her aunt are the memories of a grieving child and could be an incomplete truth. There are many wonderful characters, and they interact with Caroline and Lee to make them feel like family.
Publication Date: July 2, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
July 7, 2021
Caroline is heartbroken that the lily garden her mother created in Lake Summers has been slated for destruction, so she goes home to do what she can to prevent that from happening. She returns with her daughter Lee, who is currently checking out different colleges, and they receive a very warm welcome. One of the people that Caroline runs into is a historian named Aaron, who is also interested in saving the garden.
Caroline, Lee and Aaron are at different places in their lives. For Caroline, there are missing pieces to her past that she is exploring as well as dealing with the situation with the garden. For Lee, deciding on a college and her future is what she is facing. Aaron finds that this job has so much more meaning to him, more than he expected. What is more is that he finds himself quite drawn to Caroline and it is clear that she feels the same.
I really loved the relationships in this wonderful story. Caroline and Lee were quite close. Also, I enjoyed the developing relationship between Caroline and Aaron, and the slow burn romance was done quite well as other issues played biger roles in this story. This story had quite an emotional edge as Caroline got closer to the secrets of her past and this is where some of the town's members came in. The Lily Garden was a well-crafted, emotive book that would make an excellent beach read. Utterlly hearwarming and memorable, this book comes highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Caroline, Lee and Aaron are at different places in their lives. For Caroline, there are missing pieces to her past that she is exploring as well as dealing with the situation with the garden. For Lee, deciding on a college and her future is what she is facing. Aaron finds that this job has so much more meaning to him, more than he expected. What is more is that he finds himself quite drawn to Caroline and it is clear that she feels the same.
I really loved the relationships in this wonderful story. Caroline and Lee were quite close. Also, I enjoyed the developing relationship between Caroline and Aaron, and the slow burn romance was done quite well as other issues played biger roles in this story. This story had quite an emotional edge as Caroline got closer to the secrets of her past and this is where some of the town's members came in. The Lily Garden was a well-crafted, emotive book that would make an excellent beach read. Utterlly hearwarming and memorable, this book comes highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
June 29, 2021
Small town “livin' is the life for me.” This reference to the popular sixties/early seventies television sitcom Green Acres is a feeling I never had. I grew up in the city and I live in a city now. Small town living isn’t anything I had ever wanted until I read Barbara Josselsohn’s The Lily Garden.
The book keeps its promise to be “a heartwarming, feel-good summer romance,” but it’s not a simple love story between two people. It’s a story about love between parents and children and friends and family, the ones we choose and lose, and find again, but at the heart is the story of this place where true love lives, the kind that makes your stomach hurt and your head spin, and where you willingly sacrifice everything for it. The garden, Lily’s Garden, is the center of this magical place where money takes a backseat to family meals of macaroni and cheese and eggplant parm that taste like no other you have ever had. This book will make your mouth and your eyes water.
All I know is that I found myself running to the pages of Lily’s Garden to escape from the frustrations of summer ant infestations, broken AC units, interrupted WIFI signal, and a dog with a urinary tract infection. Then I found myself not running away from the drudgeries of daily life, but running to the town of Lake Summers because it was a place where its characters come alive on the page, and though there is tension and turmoil that keeps you turning the pages long into the night, what keeps you going back to read for a second and a third time, wanting more, is through the beauty of Josselsohn’s writing, one is transported from wherever they live to this place where one becomes a part of this beautiful, messy, life affirming story, falls in love and small town “livin’ in Lake Summers is the life for me.
The book keeps its promise to be “a heartwarming, feel-good summer romance,” but it’s not a simple love story between two people. It’s a story about love between parents and children and friends and family, the ones we choose and lose, and find again, but at the heart is the story of this place where true love lives, the kind that makes your stomach hurt and your head spin, and where you willingly sacrifice everything for it. The garden, Lily’s Garden, is the center of this magical place where money takes a backseat to family meals of macaroni and cheese and eggplant parm that taste like no other you have ever had. This book will make your mouth and your eyes water.
All I know is that I found myself running to the pages of Lily’s Garden to escape from the frustrations of summer ant infestations, broken AC units, interrupted WIFI signal, and a dog with a urinary tract infection. Then I found myself not running away from the drudgeries of daily life, but running to the town of Lake Summers because it was a place where its characters come alive on the page, and though there is tension and turmoil that keeps you turning the pages long into the night, what keeps you going back to read for a second and a third time, wanting more, is through the beauty of Josselsohn’s writing, one is transported from wherever they live to this place where one becomes a part of this beautiful, messy, life affirming story, falls in love and small town “livin’ in Lake Summers is the life for me.
July 1, 2021
A heartwarming and delightful novel about love and family! The author excels in writing about the nuances and complications of families, mothers and daughters especially. I genuinely liked (and wished I could be friends with) our heroine, Caroline, and enjoyed the slow burn type romance with her new love interest, Aaron. The small town setting was lovely, and the details Ms. Josselsohn provided about sights, smells, tastes and feelings the characters experience made Lake Summers seem very real. This is the perfect sweet, summer read. I highly recommend.
I received a NetGalley ARC of this book, and this is my honest opinion.
I received a NetGalley ARC of this book, and this is my honest opinion.
December 26, 2021
Heart warming story with great characters where the protagonist rose to save her mother's lily garden. The writing was smooth and kept me engrossed for a great many hours.
October 2, 2021
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Blog: https://nanasbookreviews.wordpress.co...
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Lily Garden by Barbara Josselsohn is a sweet summer romance.
Caroline Rantzen lived in Chicago with her teenage daughter Lee and worked at Rantzen Enterprises which belonged to her aunt. Caroline had scheduled a late summer vacation with her daughter. They were going to Boston and visit colleges. That plan changed when a person from her past sent her an article about the demolition of her mother's garden. Lake Summers was the place she was born but she hadn't gone back there since she was twelve. It was going to be difficult to face the people she left behind but she had to try and save the Lily Garden. Everyone welcomed her there and tried to help her with her cause. She only had two weeks to create a plan. She made research and found ways to be heard from the right people. She had almost given up but Aaron Weldon, the man who captured her heart and showed her how it was to be loved in the same way her parents did, helped her understand what truly mattered in life...
It's such a heartwarming story. It's about family, forgiveness, second chances, and new beginnings. It's well written with good descriptions that gave the words life and created beautiful sceneries you wish you could visit. The plot has an easy flow, it's understandable and gives you food for thought. It covers subjects every person faces at least once in their lives and dilemmas that we all struggle with. The romantic part was sweet and the characters amazing. They didn't seem like fictional characters but as the people, you see in your home town. After reading a story like this one there is always something that stays with me. This time it's the thought that there is no right or wrong way to live your life, as long as you are healthy and happy you can do whatever you like...
The Lily Garden is a book that will fill you with happiness.
Blog: https://nanasbookreviews.wordpress.co...
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Lily Garden by Barbara Josselsohn is a sweet summer romance.
Caroline Rantzen lived in Chicago with her teenage daughter Lee and worked at Rantzen Enterprises which belonged to her aunt. Caroline had scheduled a late summer vacation with her daughter. They were going to Boston and visit colleges. That plan changed when a person from her past sent her an article about the demolition of her mother's garden. Lake Summers was the place she was born but she hadn't gone back there since she was twelve. It was going to be difficult to face the people she left behind but she had to try and save the Lily Garden. Everyone welcomed her there and tried to help her with her cause. She only had two weeks to create a plan. She made research and found ways to be heard from the right people. She had almost given up but Aaron Weldon, the man who captured her heart and showed her how it was to be loved in the same way her parents did, helped her understand what truly mattered in life...
It's such a heartwarming story. It's about family, forgiveness, second chances, and new beginnings. It's well written with good descriptions that gave the words life and created beautiful sceneries you wish you could visit. The plot has an easy flow, it's understandable and gives you food for thought. It covers subjects every person faces at least once in their lives and dilemmas that we all struggle with. The romantic part was sweet and the characters amazing. They didn't seem like fictional characters but as the people, you see in your home town. After reading a story like this one there is always something that stays with me. This time it's the thought that there is no right or wrong way to live your life, as long as you are healthy and happy you can do whatever you like...
The Lily Garden is a book that will fill you with happiness.
June 22, 2021
Caroline works in Chicago for her aunt Risa at a world-renowned textile company and her teenage daughter Lee is on the path to earn a business degree and eventually take over the family business. All that changes when Caroline learns her deceased mother’s beloved Lily Garden, located in the small New England town of Lake Summers, is set to be destroyed in the next few weeks to make room for an expansion to the community’s library. Caroline impulsively decides to save her mother’s legacy and proceeds to turn her planned mother-daughter summer trip to tour colleges into a longer sojourn in the quaint idyllic spot she left at age twelve after her parents died.
This sets the stage for a touching reunion with her mother’s best friend and her own surrogate mother figure Maxine and her boys Jackie and Ben, and also with a potential love interest, Aaron, a new history professor at the nearby college who is carrying secrets of his own and looking for a fresh start.
As in her two previous books, Josselsohn weaves a seamless tale of family drama with just a hint of romance, placing her squarely in the women’s fiction genre with its themes of second chances, new beginnings, character growth, and family secrets. She weaves it all together in an uplifting, heartfelt way, leaving the reader longing to find a Lake Summers of their own with its concerts on the square, ice cream parlors, and historical sites. This is an idyllic summer story sure to melt the heart of the most cynical urban dweller.
If you’re looking for a summer read that not only delivers a well-paced story but also deeper reflections on what constitutes a good life, the forks in the road we all encounter, and the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters, this is the book for you.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This sets the stage for a touching reunion with her mother’s best friend and her own surrogate mother figure Maxine and her boys Jackie and Ben, and also with a potential love interest, Aaron, a new history professor at the nearby college who is carrying secrets of his own and looking for a fresh start.
As in her two previous books, Josselsohn weaves a seamless tale of family drama with just a hint of romance, placing her squarely in the women’s fiction genre with its themes of second chances, new beginnings, character growth, and family secrets. She weaves it all together in an uplifting, heartfelt way, leaving the reader longing to find a Lake Summers of their own with its concerts on the square, ice cream parlors, and historical sites. This is an idyllic summer story sure to melt the heart of the most cynical urban dweller.
If you’re looking for a summer read that not only delivers a well-paced story but also deeper reflections on what constitutes a good life, the forks in the road we all encounter, and the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters, this is the book for you.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2021
I was immediately drawn to this book by the absolutely beautiful cover 😍 Perfect summer read!
So I struggled to get into The Lily Garden, some parts are the beginning I just felt a little meh about 🤷 But once you got past that and into the story it was much easier to read 🙂
I did feel that some parts were made to be a huge deal when in reality they weren't, that might just be me...
Saying all that, I still actually really enjoyed this one. I loved all the descriptive writing about the garden and it made me think a lot about how I feel when I go back to my old hometown, reminiscing in the past!
I enjoyed the sub plot going on, how even though we were on the quest to stop the destructive of the garden we had lots of other things going on to keep us interested!
So I struggled to get into The Lily Garden, some parts are the beginning I just felt a little meh about 🤷 But once you got past that and into the story it was much easier to read 🙂
I did feel that some parts were made to be a huge deal when in reality they weren't, that might just be me...
Saying all that, I still actually really enjoyed this one. I loved all the descriptive writing about the garden and it made me think a lot about how I feel when I go back to my old hometown, reminiscing in the past!
I enjoyed the sub plot going on, how even though we were on the quest to stop the destructive of the garden we had lots of other things going on to keep us interested!
July 7, 2021
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Lily Garden' by Barbara Josselsohn.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Barbara Josselsohn, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 2nd July 2021.
This is the second book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Bluebell Girls' which I highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is '.Perfect for fans of Carolyn Brown, Debbie Macomber and Mary Alice Monroe.' I am a huge fan of Debbie so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Barbara and if this is half as good as 'The Bluebell Girls' it is sure to be an epic read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 22 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in the USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Caroline and Aaron. The benefits of third person perspective with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
Well done Barbara on yet another gorgeous heart warming novel!!
This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions that suck you straight into Lake Summers. The title, cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly. A beautiful storyline filled with love, family, hope and romance. I loved visiting Lake Summers again after discovering it in Barbara's 'The Bluebell Girls'. I love the realistic community vibe, the friendships, the whole atmosphere is just so relaxing and friendly. I was devastated when I came to the end and had to leave Lake Summers again. This is an absorbing page turner that will keep you hooked until the ending. I hope your busy writing your next book Barbara as I'm already missing Lake Summers. There was plenty going on between Caroline, Lee and Aaron and I loved seeing what they were all getting up to and following Caroline's fight for her mums Lily Garden.
I loved meeting some of Lake Summer's residents again along with meeting the new characters. I really connected and invested in Caroline, Lee and Aaron's characters and enjoyed meeting them. Caroline and Lee are such strong women which is always a bonus for me on books. I enjoyed watching Caroline and Lee's relationship grow and develop as mother and daughter along with Caroline and Aaron's relationship and I am hoping there will be another book to see where it all leads too. I recognised some of the characters from 'The Bluebell Girls' straight away such as Maxine, Gull and the 'Smoothie Dudes' Stan and Trey. Every character is unique and well developed and I was really invested in each of them. I really hope to meet them all again!!
Congratulations Barbara on another success and here's to your next Lake Summer page turner!!!
Overall an addictive, heartwarming romance that will sweep you away.
Some of my favourite quotes in this book include the following:
📖 "A river flows from Eden to water the garden."
Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, Contemporary Fiction and Domestic Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Debbie Macomber, JoJo Moyes and anyone looking for a heart warming romance.
205 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheLilyGarden #Bookouture #BarbaraJosselsohn #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@BarbaraJosselsohn @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
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Review for 'The Lily Garden' by Barbara Josselsohn.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Barbara Josselsohn, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 2nd July 2021.
This is the second book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Bluebell Girls' which I highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is '.Perfect for fans of Carolyn Brown, Debbie Macomber and Mary Alice Monroe.' I am a huge fan of Debbie so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Barbara and if this is half as good as 'The Bluebell Girls' it is sure to be an epic read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 22 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in the USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Caroline and Aaron. The benefits of third person perspective with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
Well done Barbara on yet another gorgeous heart warming novel!!
This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions that suck you straight into Lake Summers. The title, cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly. A beautiful storyline filled with love, family, hope and romance. I loved visiting Lake Summers again after discovering it in Barbara's 'The Bluebell Girls'. I love the realistic community vibe, the friendships, the whole atmosphere is just so relaxing and friendly. I was devastated when I came to the end and had to leave Lake Summers again. This is an absorbing page turner that will keep you hooked until the ending. I hope your busy writing your next book Barbara as I'm already missing Lake Summers. There was plenty going on between Caroline, Lee and Aaron and I loved seeing what they were all getting up to and following Caroline's fight for her mums Lily Garden.
I loved meeting some of Lake Summer's residents again along with meeting the new characters. I really connected and invested in Caroline, Lee and Aaron's characters and enjoyed meeting them. Caroline and Lee are such strong women which is always a bonus for me on books. I enjoyed watching Caroline and Lee's relationship grow and develop as mother and daughter along with Caroline and Aaron's relationship and I am hoping there will be another book to see where it all leads too. I recognised some of the characters from 'The Bluebell Girls' straight away such as Maxine, Gull and the 'Smoothie Dudes' Stan and Trey. Every character is unique and well developed and I was really invested in each of them. I really hope to meet them all again!!
Congratulations Barbara on another success and here's to your next Lake Summer page turner!!!
Overall an addictive, heartwarming romance that will sweep you away.
Some of my favourite quotes in this book include the following:
📖 "A river flows from Eden to water the garden."
Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, Contemporary Fiction and Domestic Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Debbie Macomber, JoJo Moyes and anyone looking for a heart warming romance.
205 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheLilyGarden #Bookouture #BarbaraJosselsohn #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@BarbaraJosselsohn @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
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July 31, 2021
The Lily Garden
by: Barbara Josselsohn
Publisher: Bookouture
The quaint resort community of Lake Summers, a town across Peek Inlet in the Adirondack Mountains, has captured my heart. The Lily Garden is third in the Lake Summers Series, and Josselsohn's writing is beautiful, soft, and engaging. Mother Caroline and daughter Lee leave Chicago and their jobs at Rantzen Enterprises, the family textile business, for a while to visit Caroline's childhood home of Lake Summers. Although their goals for the trip are quite different, the strong bonds of family will guide their journey.
Caroline needs to start an effort to keep Lily Garden in bloom. The garden that her late artistic mom Lily founded three decades ago, now somewhat neglected, sits behind the Lake Summers Library. Caroline recalls its charming footbridge and blooming lilies, daisies, zinnias and poppies in vibrant shades of yellows, pinks and orange. Lee plans to visit business colleges on the trip, as she wants to be head of Rantzen one day, although her mom feels she should explore her artistic side as she preps for a college choice.
Caroline and Lee search separately yet together for clarity and direction in their lives as they immerse themselves in Lake Summers. Aaron, a smart, visiting history professor with dazzling brown eyes adds some romantic spice to the story for Caroline.
Although the culture of Lake Summers is relaxed, it is also academically and artistically stimulating. Residents and visitors can savor a big grilled cheese at The Lakeshore Grill and a raspberry drink at Smoothie Dudes, and then enjoy a stroll to the local bookstore or a concert on the green. A dance/ballet shop offers lessons, and nearby Gorson College provides art, history, and literary academic endeavors.
This book is third in the wonderful Lake Summers series. It is also a stand-alone book. Having read the first one, The Lilac House, I will finish the series next with the second one, The Bluebell Girls. I need to rent a cottage in Lake Summers for the summer, or better yet consider a permanent move here!
Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for an Advanced Reader's Copy and the opportunity to read and review The Lily Garden.
#TheLilyGarden #NetGalley
by: Barbara Josselsohn
Publisher: Bookouture
The quaint resort community of Lake Summers, a town across Peek Inlet in the Adirondack Mountains, has captured my heart. The Lily Garden is third in the Lake Summers Series, and Josselsohn's writing is beautiful, soft, and engaging. Mother Caroline and daughter Lee leave Chicago and their jobs at Rantzen Enterprises, the family textile business, for a while to visit Caroline's childhood home of Lake Summers. Although their goals for the trip are quite different, the strong bonds of family will guide their journey.
Caroline needs to start an effort to keep Lily Garden in bloom. The garden that her late artistic mom Lily founded three decades ago, now somewhat neglected, sits behind the Lake Summers Library. Caroline recalls its charming footbridge and blooming lilies, daisies, zinnias and poppies in vibrant shades of yellows, pinks and orange. Lee plans to visit business colleges on the trip, as she wants to be head of Rantzen one day, although her mom feels she should explore her artistic side as she preps for a college choice.
Caroline and Lee search separately yet together for clarity and direction in their lives as they immerse themselves in Lake Summers. Aaron, a smart, visiting history professor with dazzling brown eyes adds some romantic spice to the story for Caroline.
Although the culture of Lake Summers is relaxed, it is also academically and artistically stimulating. Residents and visitors can savor a big grilled cheese at The Lakeshore Grill and a raspberry drink at Smoothie Dudes, and then enjoy a stroll to the local bookstore or a concert on the green. A dance/ballet shop offers lessons, and nearby Gorson College provides art, history, and literary academic endeavors.
This book is third in the wonderful Lake Summers series. It is also a stand-alone book. Having read the first one, The Lilac House, I will finish the series next with the second one, The Bluebell Girls. I need to rent a cottage in Lake Summers for the summer, or better yet consider a permanent move here!
Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for an Advanced Reader's Copy and the opportunity to read and review The Lily Garden.
#TheLilyGarden #NetGalley
June 7, 2021
The Lily Garden is billed as a feel-good summer romance–and it certainly is that–but it is so much more. The novel is an insightful meditation on memory, family, loss, and love that will have you thinking about how you view your own past. Do you integrate the significant events of your personal history in a healthy way, a way that informs your values and lets you move forward? Or do you get mired in secrets, wallowing in your disappointments and repressing the pain?
Caroline is a successful woman nearing 40 with a 17 year-old daughter and a prominent position in the family business, living in Chicago. We learn early on in the book that she spent her first 12 years living in an idyllic little town called Lake Summers, first with her parents, and later with her mother’s best friend and her family. When Caroline learns that a garden that had been her mother’s pet project in the town is about to be destroyed, she decides to go back–after 27 years–and fight the town’s decision. She also wants her daughter to meet the people with whom she grew up.
Family relationships can be murky and complicated, and the novel doesn’t shy away from death, loneliness, and even betrayal. But underneath everything is a powerful undercurrent of love which triumphs over all and pulls the characters along toward greater understanding of themselves and others. There are some questions that are left unanswered, but that seem appropriate, because that’s the way life is. There are some things we will never know, we can still come to trust and give ourselves full to others.
So yes, this is an uplifting book and a great summer read, and the romance is lovely, but also expect to be engaged on a deeper level.
Caroline is a successful woman nearing 40 with a 17 year-old daughter and a prominent position in the family business, living in Chicago. We learn early on in the book that she spent her first 12 years living in an idyllic little town called Lake Summers, first with her parents, and later with her mother’s best friend and her family. When Caroline learns that a garden that had been her mother’s pet project in the town is about to be destroyed, she decides to go back–after 27 years–and fight the town’s decision. She also wants her daughter to meet the people with whom she grew up.
Family relationships can be murky and complicated, and the novel doesn’t shy away from death, loneliness, and even betrayal. But underneath everything is a powerful undercurrent of love which triumphs over all and pulls the characters along toward greater understanding of themselves and others. There are some questions that are left unanswered, but that seem appropriate, because that’s the way life is. There are some things we will never know, we can still come to trust and give ourselves full to others.
So yes, this is an uplifting book and a great summer read, and the romance is lovely, but also expect to be engaged on a deeper level.
July 2, 2021
A phone call caused Caroline’s seemingly perfect life to take an unexpected turn. Watching her teenage daughter prepare for college and position herself to take helm of Rantezen, the family successful corporation, Caroline begins to questions her choices.
Is she living the life she’s meant to live or assimilating into her aunt’s world? Growing up in Lake Summers, Caroline’s mother, Lily create a secret garden behind the library. Christened Lily’s Garden, it was a beloved fixture in the community. Hearing the shocking news that the garden was to be destroyed sets Caroline into a tailspin. Changing their college itinerary, Caroline knew she had to see the Garden one more time.
Barbara Josselsohn pens a tale of returning home to face the past. While Caroline assumed the Rantezen’s lifestyle, her heart remained in Lake Summer. Getting the opportunity to introduce Lee to her adopted family allows hope to blossom.
As children, we understand truth at face value. As adults, pulling back and revealing layers of our memories, we final realize what was hidden during the past. Reexamining shelved dreams, the library doors swing open to unlock a new future.
Is she living the life she’s meant to live or assimilating into her aunt’s world? Growing up in Lake Summers, Caroline’s mother, Lily create a secret garden behind the library. Christened Lily’s Garden, it was a beloved fixture in the community. Hearing the shocking news that the garden was to be destroyed sets Caroline into a tailspin. Changing their college itinerary, Caroline knew she had to see the Garden one more time.
Barbara Josselsohn pens a tale of returning home to face the past. While Caroline assumed the Rantezen’s lifestyle, her heart remained in Lake Summer. Getting the opportunity to introduce Lee to her adopted family allows hope to blossom.
As children, we understand truth at face value. As adults, pulling back and revealing layers of our memories, we final realize what was hidden during the past. Reexamining shelved dreams, the library doors swing open to unlock a new future.
June 30, 2021
The Lily Garden is another wonderful read by Barbara Josselsohn whose books I have started to enjoy reading. It’s a sweet heartwarming story which has everything from romance, family, the relationships, secrets, complexities and second chances. The author has a gift of transporting readers to the small town of Lake Summers with her minute details and descriptions. Being from a city I love to read books set in quaint towns. The characters are well developed and I was particularly fond of Maxine and Caroline. I could relate very well to Caroline and the relationship she had with her daughter Lee as I am a mom of two daughters myself.
A refreshing summer read which one will definitely enjoy as much as I did. Thanks Barbara for the ARC in return for my honest review. I am looking forward to reading more books by you.
A refreshing summer read which one will definitely enjoy as much as I did. Thanks Barbara for the ARC in return for my honest review. I am looking forward to reading more books by you.
July 2, 2021
What a wonderful gift Barbara Josselsohn has and it shows in her new novel The Lily Garden. I was completely enthralled in this well paced heartwarming story. Josselsohn takes you on an inspiring ride to a small town that will make you feel that you are part of the families and friends that live and or lived there. The characters and storyline are realistic and very believable! This beautifully written novel deals with mother-daughter relationships, family, loss, betrayal and secrets that have been kept intentionally and unintentionally! I totally loved this charming novel that will show you to follow your heart no matter the risks involved. I highly recommend this excellently written novel and let yourself be swept away to this wonderful place!
Thank you NetGalley, Barbara Josselsohn and Bookouture for a copy of this inspiring novel in exchange for my honest review.
#thelilygarden #barbarajosselsohn #bookouture #arc
Thank you NetGalley, Barbara Josselsohn and Bookouture for a copy of this inspiring novel in exchange for my honest review.
#thelilygarden #barbarajosselsohn #bookouture #arc
July 2, 2021
It is time again for our summer getaway to Lake Summers, an idyllic retreat full of warm and quirky characters. In the Lily Garden we meet Caroline, who is grappling with the emotional fallout of family. As in Barbara Josselsohn’s previous two Lake Summers books, the protagonist delves into the meaning of past and future relationships. Through Lake Summer’s Lily Garden, which brings people together in peace, Caroline struggles to find her authentic self and connection to her daughter Lee, and to her past and future selves. Caroline discovers what misunderstandings happen when “kids make things up to fill the gaps in their lives”, and how those assumptions can alter one’s feeling of self and how one relates to others. I enjoyed revisiting my old haunts in Lake Summer and enjoying my summer vacation with Caroline, Lee and the Lake Summers crew.
July 21, 2021
Don't bother
If one isn't a fan of unresolved endings with more loose strings than a pair of cutoffs, best give this book a hard pass. The blurb is also misleading as this book is about 95% women's fiction and 5% romance. And don't get me wrong, I've no quibble with the former genre, but the romance aspect is what drew me to the story and in reality there were two kisses in the book and those came well past the halfway mark.
It's a shame. The book is technically well written and the writer has talent both for creating characters and world-building. There was even plenty potential for a solid and interesting storyline. But there were too many plot bunnies hopping around and out of all that there wasn't a single resolution for any of them.
Without a sequel anywhere on the horizon that I could see, this book was a frustrating and rather disappointing read.
If one isn't a fan of unresolved endings with more loose strings than a pair of cutoffs, best give this book a hard pass. The blurb is also misleading as this book is about 95% women's fiction and 5% romance. And don't get me wrong, I've no quibble with the former genre, but the romance aspect is what drew me to the story and in reality there were two kisses in the book and those came well past the halfway mark.
It's a shame. The book is technically well written and the writer has talent both for creating characters and world-building. There was even plenty potential for a solid and interesting storyline. But there were too many plot bunnies hopping around and out of all that there wasn't a single resolution for any of them.
Without a sequel anywhere on the horizon that I could see, this book was a frustrating and rather disappointing read.
July 7, 2021
A feel good beach read about 40 year old Caroline going back home. She explores the idea of finding herself after 27 years of not being very happy with the life she has.
A story about family dynamics, second chances and finding happiness.
There are many engaging and wonderful characters to get to know.
Overall, a nice summer read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
A story about family dynamics, second chances and finding happiness.
There are many engaging and wonderful characters to get to know.
Overall, a nice summer read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
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