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Shelter Rock Cove #2
Girls of Summer
If home is where the heart is, then Ellen Markowitz might as well set up house in the delivery room of Shelter Rock Cove General. She loves being an OB-GYN--and she's fallen hard for the charming coastal village where she's lived for the last three years. That's not the only thing she's fallen hard for ... but her crush on Dr. Hall Talbot was supposed to remain a secret. And it did . . . until the morning after an unforgettable night with him. But Ellen just wants to forget about it . . . that is, if Hall, the town, and fate--in the person of her half-sister, Deirdre--will let her.Leave it to Deirdre to show up on Ellen's doorstep with a broken-down car, a harp, and a very large dog named Stanley. Deirdre is still looking for her Prince Charming, a man with the soul of a poet and a Bill Gates bank account. Until she finds him, Deirdre needs a place to crash, and that's where Ellen comes in. Ellen has learned the hard way that nothing is quite the way it seems--not family and certainly not love. But for one magical summer, the lessons of the past will be forgotten as Ellen finds out that sometimes hope and love have a way of sneaking back into the heart when least expected .. .
355 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2003
49 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Bretton
130 books598 followersBarbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries.
Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.
Her awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.
Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.
Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.
Her awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.
Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 12, 2015
I wasn't planning to read this book because Hall was not one of my favorite characters in the first Shelter Rock Cove book but I did like Ellen so I bought it. Now I'm angry. This book was so good, full of emotion and I was brought to tears several times. I loved Hall and Ellen's story as well as that of Deirdre and Scott. But now I'm angry? Why? Because the stories aren't finished! I want to know what happens to Deirdre and Scott and to Susan and Jack. The same thing happened at the end of the second Jersey Shore book. I wanted more. There were unfinished stories that could have led to a third and fourth book. I wish Barbara Bretton would continue both series and not leave us hanging after getting us emotionally invested in characters. Not every author is talented enough to do that but Barbara Bretton is. Her books are so full of emotion; I just want them to keep going.
April 29, 2017
My Musings
What an excellent romance. This book has wonderful characters, a great story line with plenty of emotion. I'm so glad I found this series. I hope there are more books in this series. Happy reading!
What an excellent romance. This book has wonderful characters, a great story line with plenty of emotion. I'm so glad I found this series. I hope there are more books in this series. Happy reading!
November 1, 2015
Best. Book. Ever. I love this story of love and families, friends and community. Ellen Markowitz and Hall Talbot were introduced in the first book of the Shelter Cove series (A Soft Place to Fall), and I was intrigued by both of them there. They star in this book, and it's a story that you'll remember long after you finish the book.
I've read this book 20 or 30 times, perhaps more, and every time I read it, the characters and story pull me in, so that it's difficult to put the book down. It's a great beach read, a great book to curl up with on a cold or stormy day, and a great book no matter the season or reason. Don't miss it!
I've read this book 20 or 30 times, perhaps more, and every time I read it, the characters and story pull me in, so that it's difficult to put the book down. It's a great beach read, a great book to curl up with on a cold or stormy day, and a great book no matter the season or reason. Don't miss it!
June 21, 2021
Finding your role with the new family
Ellen is partners with hall they were best 9f friends from the beginning and she also knew he was always in love with someone else. But one day Hall realized Ellen was the woman for him, but first he had to prove that to her after the biggest mistake he could possibly have made.
Ellen is partners with hall they were best 9f friends from the beginning and she also knew he was always in love with someone else. But one day Hall realized Ellen was the woman for him, but first he had to prove that to her after the biggest mistake he could possibly have made.
January 3, 2019
Excellent read.
Enjoyed the first book about Shelter Rock Cove. Excellent characters, I felt I knew them so I bought this second book. Equally as good. I hope there is a third and fourth book.
Enjoyed the first book about Shelter Rock Cove. Excellent characters, I felt I knew them so I bought this second book. Equally as good. I hope there is a third and fourth book.
February 19, 2020
Love and family
Apart from a few errors, this was a good read. I love the characters and the story and the emotional roller coaster it set me on.
Apart from a few errors, this was a good read. I love the characters and the story and the emotional roller coaster it set me on.
June 29, 2020
Shelter Rock Cove #2 - Have It - Read It 2003
August 16, 2021
Enjoyable read
January 14, 2024
Tolles Buch. Schön geschrieben.
August 30, 2012
Girls of Summer is the second contemporary romance novel in Barbara Bretton's Shelter Cove series.
Ellen Markowitz has been lusting over Hall Talbot for months. Ellen and Hall are both gynecologists who work for the same practice, so Ellen is usually faced with her heart's desire nearly every day.
After an impromptu and spontaneous drunken night on the town, Ellen and Hall have a steamy one-night-stand (which is actually how Girls of Summer begins). Ellen is then forced to confront her ongoing feelings for Hall, even as Hall continues to obsess over a childhood crush on another woman.
Ellen's very bohemian sister Deirdre also pops in unexpectedly for a visit, who actually helps Ellen loosen up and come to a few personal realizations about life in general.
Don't let this book's title and cover mislead you - although Girls of Summer qualifies as the perfect summer beach read, this contemporary romance is one of the best in its genre. Bretton never fails to let her readers down by crafting novels full of fun, happy, romantic stories that make you forget about your own life-problems (should they exist at all)!
The sleepy, New England small-town setting is perfect for this story, and the gossipy nature of the town's residents only adds spice to the novel. I thought Girls of Summer to be particularly unique because the story pretty much starts out backward, considering Ellen and Hall sleep with one another at the beginning of the novel before embarking on true romance. Of course, in most contemporary romance novels, the romance happens first!
Bretton writes Girls of Summer so tastefully that fans of general fiction and literature will also really enjoy this novel! This one is definitely a keeper to store on the bookshelf - guaranteed to please house guests, visitors, and probably your mother or mother-in-law!
The first novel in Bretton's Shelter Cove series is Shore Lights. Other great novels I've read by Barbara Bretton include Starfire, Somewhere in Time, Sleeping Alone, The Day we Met, and Forever in Time. Actually, who am I kidding? All of Bretton's novels are fabulous!
For more book reviews, visit http://dreamworldbooks.com.
Ellen Markowitz has been lusting over Hall Talbot for months. Ellen and Hall are both gynecologists who work for the same practice, so Ellen is usually faced with her heart's desire nearly every day.
After an impromptu and spontaneous drunken night on the town, Ellen and Hall have a steamy one-night-stand (which is actually how Girls of Summer begins). Ellen is then forced to confront her ongoing feelings for Hall, even as Hall continues to obsess over a childhood crush on another woman.
Ellen's very bohemian sister Deirdre also pops in unexpectedly for a visit, who actually helps Ellen loosen up and come to a few personal realizations about life in general.
Don't let this book's title and cover mislead you - although Girls of Summer qualifies as the perfect summer beach read, this contemporary romance is one of the best in its genre. Bretton never fails to let her readers down by crafting novels full of fun, happy, romantic stories that make you forget about your own life-problems (should they exist at all)!
The sleepy, New England small-town setting is perfect for this story, and the gossipy nature of the town's residents only adds spice to the novel. I thought Girls of Summer to be particularly unique because the story pretty much starts out backward, considering Ellen and Hall sleep with one another at the beginning of the novel before embarking on true romance. Of course, in most contemporary romance novels, the romance happens first!
Bretton writes Girls of Summer so tastefully that fans of general fiction and literature will also really enjoy this novel! This one is definitely a keeper to store on the bookshelf - guaranteed to please house guests, visitors, and probably your mother or mother-in-law!
The first novel in Bretton's Shelter Cove series is Shore Lights. Other great novels I've read by Barbara Bretton include Starfire, Somewhere in Time, Sleeping Alone, The Day we Met, and Forever in Time. Actually, who am I kidding? All of Bretton's novels are fabulous!
For more book reviews, visit http://dreamworldbooks.com.
April 11, 2011
I was hoping this was going to be more of a beach read, but it wasn't what I was expecting.
The first thing that bothered me was how quickly the author introduced a whole bunch of characters in the beginning of the book. It was kind of confusing.
Secondly, the story of the disconnection with Ellen and her family was kind of sad. It just didn't grab me in a way that I felt like I wanted to read on and find out more about the heartache of how she did not feel a part of either side of her family.
The storyline between Ellen and Hall was believable, but the way they kept bringing in the Annie byline, bothered me a bit. The Susan side story was kind of lame and I thought that didn't need to really be a part of the story.
It was not a quick read for me, but I am going to try reading another of her books called 'Shore Lights'. I'm hoping it was just this book that didn't catch my interest and maybe I will enjoy another of her books.
The first thing that bothered me was how quickly the author introduced a whole bunch of characters in the beginning of the book. It was kind of confusing.
Secondly, the story of the disconnection with Ellen and her family was kind of sad. It just didn't grab me in a way that I felt like I wanted to read on and find out more about the heartache of how she did not feel a part of either side of her family.
The storyline between Ellen and Hall was believable, but the way they kept bringing in the Annie byline, bothered me a bit. The Susan side story was kind of lame and I thought that didn't need to really be a part of the story.
It was not a quick read for me, but I am going to try reading another of her books called 'Shore Lights'. I'm hoping it was just this book that didn't catch my interest and maybe I will enjoy another of her books.
February 4, 2009
Revised review after reading "A Soft Place to Fall", the prequel to this book. I like this author. She's a lot of fun to read.
This book must be part of a series. There were so many characters that I kept having to stop and re-read just to place them. Even the dog had a person's name (Stanley)! Anyway, I'm excited to read more, I just want a little less overview of everyone in small-town Maine and more of the great love story she wrote. I liked these characters. It was fun to read about OB/GYNs' lives after having three babies myself.
This book must be part of a series. There were so many characters that I kept having to stop and re-read just to place them. Even the dog had a person's name (Stanley)! Anyway, I'm excited to read more, I just want a little less overview of everyone in small-town Maine and more of the great love story she wrote. I liked these characters. It was fun to read about OB/GYNs' lives after having three babies myself.
August 11, 2009
I picked this book because I so love Casting Spells and was having a hard time waiting until Aug. when Laced in Magic comes out. I enjoy this book. It's a GREAT summer read. Oh Julie the main characters are OB-GYNs who have worked together for several years and discover they have deep feelings for each other.
July 21, 2012
I enjoyed reading this book. I loved how it played on our interpretation of what family should be and what it truly is. I also loved how it showed how our assumptions of what others think or what they do actually think affect our decisions and our happiness. The enlightenment in the end proves OUR perceptions make a world of difference in OUR happiness.
September 2, 2015
I did not care for this story
I have read other stories by this author and loved them. This story had "way" too much of thoughts and regrets and descriptions of everything and everything. I skipped over many pages as I was sick of all the empty words.
I will not give up on said author. There are too many stories that I loved.
I have read other stories by this author and loved them. This story had "way" too much of thoughts and regrets and descriptions of everything and everything. I skipped over many pages as I was sick of all the empty words.
I will not give up on said author. There are too many stories that I loved.
August 12, 2009
Very good book about 3 sisters (2 were half sisters) and they all had the same father, Billy O'Brien. Dr. Ellen fell in love with Dr. Hall Talbot, became pregnant and then they were married with all the extended family in attendance. Very good!
June 5, 2010
i recived t his book a wahile back form a pen pal and missed placed
it and then found it i could not put the book down and read it in 2 day and i can say she catches the person and has fun doing it the sister go
through all hell and come out great freisnd at the the end
it and then found it i could not put the book down and read it in 2 day and i can say she catches the person and has fun doing it the sister go
through all hell and come out great freisnd at the the end
November 25, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The three women heroines were all so unique. They had problems relating to each other and understanding each other, but by the end a tragedy brought them together. The two love stories were well developed and satisfying. This is a very touching book.
October 2, 2015
Review for Girls of Summer (Shelter Rock Cove-Book #2)
I gave this 5 stars because I loved this book! It held my interest throughout the entire book. I love the happy ending no cliffhanger !
I gave this 5 stars because I loved this book! It held my interest throughout the entire book. I love the happy ending no cliffhanger !
November 3, 2015
I loved this two book saga.
Fun read about a small town where everybody knows everybody located in Maine. Three sisters who ended up closer to each other once they gave each other a chance.
Fun read about a small town where everybody knows everybody located in Maine. Three sisters who ended up closer to each other once they gave each other a chance.
May 18, 2016
Awesome series.
I loved both books. It's no wonder that Barbara Bretton is and always has been one of my favorite authors. I have already read most of her books and look forward to reading any I have missed!
I loved both books. It's no wonder that Barbara Bretton is and always has been one of my favorite authors. I have already read most of her books and look forward to reading any I have missed!
July 24, 2008
Lovely story.
September 25, 2009
Modern
November 15, 2009
Cute book.
April 1, 2016
If you haven't read "A Soft Place to Fall" yet, read THAT one first before reading this one. I mistakenly read this one first but either way, I'm enjoying both books.
January 4, 2012
I love Barbara Bretton - she's one of my favorite authors!
March 3, 2012
There is something old-fashioned about the writing, but I was willing to be drawn into the characters' lives.
June 9, 2012
It was okay ... definitely wanted to finish it!
August 3, 2012
Cheap trashy romance novel that someone gave Margie. OK, occupied two evenings.
December 9, 2012
First time with this author, and really liked the book. Great characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews