What do you think?
Rate this book
Loon Lake Series #1
Summer of Firefly Memories
One summer. One cabin on a lake. Four thirtysomething sisters. Anything can and does happen.
Imagine spending an entire summer in a cabin on a lake - simply because you can. That’s exactly what Samantha McGreggor, a thirtysomething eco-journalist, does in SUMMER OF FIREFLY MEMORIES. She trades Arizona’s summer heat for Minnesota’s cool lake breezes by spending her summer at the same resort her family used to go to when she was young.
Her summer agenda - relaxation, beach reads, soul-searching, bonding with her three grown sisters.
Her concerns - she and her sisters haven’t been back to the resort since their parents’ death twenty years ago when they were all practically teenagers, and, well, they tend to act like emotional teenagers when they’re all together.
Her summer reality – fun in the sun, secrets, sibling rivalries, lost memories, new love, hope. If you enjoy feeling nostalgic any time of the year, then you'll enjoy SUMMER OF FIREFLY MEMORIES! Come dive in!
Imagine spending an entire summer in a cabin on a lake - simply because you can. That’s exactly what Samantha McGreggor, a thirtysomething eco-journalist, does in SUMMER OF FIREFLY MEMORIES. She trades Arizona’s summer heat for Minnesota’s cool lake breezes by spending her summer at the same resort her family used to go to when she was young.
Her summer agenda - relaxation, beach reads, soul-searching, bonding with her three grown sisters.
Her concerns - she and her sisters haven’t been back to the resort since their parents’ death twenty years ago when they were all practically teenagers, and, well, they tend to act like emotional teenagers when they’re all together.
Her summer reality – fun in the sun, secrets, sibling rivalries, lost memories, new love, hope. If you enjoy feeling nostalgic any time of the year, then you'll enjoy SUMMER OF FIREFLY MEMORIES! Come dive in!
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2009
422 people are currently reading
1959 people want to read
About the author
Joan Gable
3 books21 followersJoan Gable writes contemporary women’s fiction that is nostalgic yet rings true to life. She’ll have you wondering if her stories are really fiction.
When she’s not writing or learning the business of being an author-preneur, she’s trying to be a kind and loving wife, mom, role-model, sister, friend, aunt, daughter, and housekeeper (she’s having a very challenging time with the last one!).
When she’s not writing or learning the business of being an author-preneur, she’s trying to be a kind and loving wife, mom, role-model, sister, friend, aunt, daughter, and housekeeper (she’s having a very challenging time with the last one!).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
March 16, 2014
Simply put: NOTHING HAPPENS. It's a story about sisters reconnecting at the lake house and that's it. Each sister had some sort of drama with each other and this was the summer they decided to settle everything once and for all. And they did. Add a little bit of flirtation with the guy who owns the vacation spot with the lakehouse and that's it. The End. Nothing even happens or comes out of the relationship with the main character and the owner. You read the whole book hoping something would happen. It does. Slightly towards the end. But they leave it alone in the end until they meet again.
A simple and quick book if you have nothing better to read but not something that keeps you up at night, anxiously waiting to see what happens in the next page.
A simple and quick book if you have nothing better to read but not something that keeps you up at night, anxiously waiting to see what happens in the next page.
June 28, 2013
The title should have stopped me from going down this trite path! Anything that is part of a series and involves a bunch of sisters is going to be predictable. One thing that struck me about this book is that the sisters (except for the pregnant one) spent the majority of the book drunk and this book wasn't at all about alcoholism. But in my opinion, those sisters definitely woke up hungover and slept off their lunchtime binges way too often to make it realistic. I certainly won't bother with the rest of the series but this was free from Book Bub.
June 23, 2012
This book was a disappointment. The characters were very one dimensional and the dialogue was boring and predictable. The book was very poorly edited! The use of shuttered for shuddered, stocks for stalks made me cringe! The potential for a good story was promising, but when I finished the book, all I felt was relief. I would not recommend this book.
July 9, 2014
This book had a good plot and story but it was too wordy and over explaining for me.
June 12, 2015
Nice pool read!
Story line was good....dragged a bit but enjoyed the story. Suggest to anyone who wants to read something that does not take TONS of brain power.
Story line was good....dragged a bit but enjoyed the story. Suggest to anyone who wants to read something that does not take TONS of brain power.
March 13, 2020
This book brought back childhood memories of family reunions on loon lake in Minnesota!
June 1, 2015
In Joan Gable's Summer of Firefly Memories, the first installment in the Loon Lake Woman's fiction romance series, she told us a beautiful tale about family and second chances in love. For Samantha McGreggor and her two sisters, they lost their parents, twenty years ago. They had dealt with the loss in their own way and haven't seen each other since. That's why Samantha decided to reunite them to Loon Lake in Minnesota. For Sammy, she was an environmental writer who met the Hunter siblings who owned their cabins from the previous writer. It was a magical summer, when she found new love for writing and with Jake, and learned about reliving old memories while making new ones with her sister Cassandra, who's the oldest and newly pregnant, while worried about her marriage, Alexandra, the youngest who finally graduated from college and starting a new career, but had a lot of angst about her sisters, and Gabriella, a mother of three boys, who had something new to share with the sisters. It had brought them closer together than before.
October 22, 2015
Imagine spending an entire summer in a cabin on a lake just because you can.
That’s exactly what thirtysomething, eco-journalist, Samantha McGreggor does in SUMMER OF FIREFLY MEMORIES. She trades Arizona’s summer heat for Minnesota’s cool lake breezes by spending her summer at the same resort her family used to go to when she was young.
Her summer agenda - relaxation, beach reads, soul-searching, bonding with her three grown sisters.
Her concern - she and her sisters haven’t been back to the resort since their parents’ deaths twenty years ago, when they were all practically teenagers and, well, they tend to act like emotional teenagers when they’re all together.
Her summer reality – fun in the sun, secrets, sibling rivalries, lost memories, new love, hope.
ONE CABIN ON A LAKE. FOUR GROWN SISTERS. ANYTHING CAN AND DOES HAPPEN.
What a beautifully written book. Great plot, keeps you coming back for more. 5 stars.
That’s exactly what thirtysomething, eco-journalist, Samantha McGreggor does in SUMMER OF FIREFLY MEMORIES. She trades Arizona’s summer heat for Minnesota’s cool lake breezes by spending her summer at the same resort her family used to go to when she was young.
Her summer agenda - relaxation, beach reads, soul-searching, bonding with her three grown sisters.
Her concern - she and her sisters haven’t been back to the resort since their parents’ deaths twenty years ago, when they were all practically teenagers and, well, they tend to act like emotional teenagers when they’re all together.
Her summer reality – fun in the sun, secrets, sibling rivalries, lost memories, new love, hope.
ONE CABIN ON A LAKE. FOUR GROWN SISTERS. ANYTHING CAN AND DOES HAPPEN.
What a beautifully written book. Great plot, keeps you coming back for more. 5 stars.
February 4, 2015
This was good but the ending almost trashed this one for me. It ends in the middle of a phone conversation which is not an ending at all. It smacks of a sequel and goes on to promote the next book which is actually a book written by the main character of this novel. It is not an ending at all and leaves you with a feeling of "why did I just bother to read this if there's no ending". I'm okay with abrupt endings but this one is not okay. They at least needed the main character's reaction to the revelation or some thought to sum up her feelings.
May 22, 2012
Being the oldest of four sisters myself, I thought that I'd be able to relate well to the main character and her sibling relationships. But I felt like the author didn't get into them enough. Or any of the relationships really. It was an OK read, but I was expecting more depth.
August 2, 2018
I couldn't even get through the first couple chapters of this book. That's unusual for me, because I can read most everything and anything. I don't know exactly what turned me off, but I think mostly it was the dialogue. It felt very forced. I'm sure that some would enjoy this, not me.
July 13, 2011
We read this for book club - Joan came to our group for the discussion. A great first book for a new author.
March 5, 2012
reunion of four sisters whose parents were killed in an auto accident while the girls were in their teens.
wise exploration of the relationships.
wise exploration of the relationships.
June 19, 2012
It was ok. A lot of fluff and an almost teenage approach to summer loves. Not a page turner for me.
June 7, 2012
Eh. An ok summer read. Pretty cliched.
June 9, 2012
A light fun book to read.
June 12, 2012
I only gave this book a one rating because of the typing. To be fair the book was kind of interesting I just coudn't do it with the long run on sentences and never ending paragraphs.
June 15, 2012
What a great book about sister and memories.
June 15, 2012
I thought this was a darn fine debut novel. It would be appropriate for just about any woman who has sisters. I enjoyed the characters & the overall sweetness of the writing.
May 12, 2017
I'd really give this book 2.5 stars. I didn't hate it, didn't like it really, but in the end it was an ok book. It's definitely one of those "no thinking required" types of books which is always welcome, in my opinion. Not a literary work of genius by any means, but the author herself mentions this in her note at the end.
What I liked about this book:
Honestly, it was a touching story. 4 sisters still dealing with the effects of their parents' death 20 years before and how they rekindle their relationships with one another. They're also dealing with all sorts of things in their own current lives that a lot of adults deal with. Together, they remember old, sometimes forgotten memories of their time together during the summer with their parents at Loon Lake. The youngest sister, Alex, is also able to face her anger and pain at having been the youngest when their parents died and the feelings of abandonment, fear, and sadness she felt at her oldest sister not having claimed responsibility for her. Mostly I liked the way the sisters were able to begin salvaging their relationships with each other. Sammy helps her sisters through the doubts they have in their mind while also working out some of her own questions by talking to them. You can definitely feel the close bond they share despite their strained past.
What I didn't like about this book:
1. The dialogue, mostly. The way these characters conversed with each other was rather odd and unlike any conversation I've ever heard between siblings or friends. I'm honestly not sure how to explain it. All that was left was for someone to say "golly-gee, willagers!"
2. At points it seemed that rather than all of the sisters having some sort of issues with each other, or that they had never really worked through their parents' death (like it was made to seem throughout the book, at least to me), that it was really that they all had a problem with the way Alex behaved towards them. There really didn't seem to be a problem with Sammy, Gabby, and Cassy. The problems all surrounded Alex and her petulant, irrational, and impulsive ways, it seemed.
3. I also felt that the book dragged on a bit. It would've been nice to have more character development for their parents and Aunt Kathy, and more in-depth recalling of their memories rather than just random stuff about Sammy and her traveling and her watching a deer, at one point. Their Aunt Kathy just showing up to their little reunion also felt like it was out of no where. Let me not even start on the random "cowboy" accent that she apparently appropriated somewhere in her life and became stronger after marrying her current husband. The relationship between Vince and Alex was also unnecessary, in my opinion. That relationship was explored for whatever it was worth and yet the relationship between Sammy and Jake was left hanging in the wind. Trust me, I don't expect there to be happy endings where everyone goes riding off into the sunset together, also summer romances can be exactly that - brief, and beautiful for what they are, but absolutely nothing happened with their relationship. It went no where deeper than it was at their first meeting. So he kisses her at the end, big whoop! Why bother adding that in there?
Anyway, although I liked the story line I felt that it could've been developed differently. All characters, whether they played a major or minor role, could've had more depth and all relationships could've evolved a little deeper. I'm not sure if anything I mentioned is "fixed" in the second book but I'm not sure if I will even read it.
What I liked about this book:
Honestly, it was a touching story. 4 sisters still dealing with the effects of their parents' death 20 years before and how they rekindle their relationships with one another. They're also dealing with all sorts of things in their own current lives that a lot of adults deal with. Together, they remember old, sometimes forgotten memories of their time together during the summer with their parents at Loon Lake. The youngest sister, Alex, is also able to face her anger and pain at having been the youngest when their parents died and the feelings of abandonment, fear, and sadness she felt at her oldest sister not having claimed responsibility for her. Mostly I liked the way the sisters were able to begin salvaging their relationships with each other. Sammy helps her sisters through the doubts they have in their mind while also working out some of her own questions by talking to them. You can definitely feel the close bond they share despite their strained past.
What I didn't like about this book:
1. The dialogue, mostly. The way these characters conversed with each other was rather odd and unlike any conversation I've ever heard between siblings or friends. I'm honestly not sure how to explain it. All that was left was for someone to say "golly-gee, willagers!"
2. At points it seemed that rather than all of the sisters having some sort of issues with each other, or that they had never really worked through their parents' death (like it was made to seem throughout the book, at least to me), that it was really that they all had a problem with the way Alex behaved towards them. There really didn't seem to be a problem with Sammy, Gabby, and Cassy. The problems all surrounded Alex and her petulant, irrational, and impulsive ways, it seemed.
3. I also felt that the book dragged on a bit. It would've been nice to have more character development for their parents and Aunt Kathy, and more in-depth recalling of their memories rather than just random stuff about Sammy and her traveling and her watching a deer, at one point. Their Aunt Kathy just showing up to their little reunion also felt like it was out of no where. Let me not even start on the random "cowboy" accent that she apparently appropriated somewhere in her life and became stronger after marrying her current husband. The relationship between Vince and Alex was also unnecessary, in my opinion. That relationship was explored for whatever it was worth and yet the relationship between Sammy and Jake was left hanging in the wind. Trust me, I don't expect there to be happy endings where everyone goes riding off into the sunset together, also summer romances can be exactly that - brief, and beautiful for what they are, but absolutely nothing happened with their relationship. It went no where deeper than it was at their first meeting. So he kisses her at the end, big whoop! Why bother adding that in there?
Anyway, although I liked the story line I felt that it could've been developed differently. All characters, whether they played a major or minor role, could've had more depth and all relationships could've evolved a little deeper. I'm not sure if anything I mentioned is "fixed" in the second book but I'm not sure if I will even read it.
August 1, 2017
If you are looking for a book full of drama and suspense then you are highly likely to be disappointed with this book. Summer of Firefly Memories is rather a gentle tale more tailored toward relaxed holiday reading, a place where reality can be suspended and the story can be enjoyed for what it is. I will be honest and say Sammy's character annoyed me a little at first, however I am glad that I stuck with the story, it was a sweet tale of family re-connection that I could relax and enjoy. I am even quite tempted to read the second book in the series as I feel there is more of this tale to be told.
November 14, 2019
Very cheesy but nice for something light and easy
I liked this for when I needed something much lighter than real life, but it was overall too cheesy and unrealistic for my liking. I won't get into it all, but I have to comment on the pregnancy. Even with twins, no one shows at 6-8 weeks. That doesn't happen til the 4th month. And how could Cass have been off caffeine for weeks due to her pregnancy? She was supposedly 6 weeks along and no one finds out they're pregnant til 6-8 weeks. I'm sorry, but just a bit too unrealistic.
I liked this for when I needed something much lighter than real life, but it was overall too cheesy and unrealistic for my liking. I won't get into it all, but I have to comment on the pregnancy. Even with twins, no one shows at 6-8 weeks. That doesn't happen til the 4th month. And how could Cass have been off caffeine for weeks due to her pregnancy? She was supposedly 6 weeks along and no one finds out they're pregnant til 6-8 weeks. I'm sorry, but just a bit too unrealistic.
January 22, 2019
A home coming..
A story of the made up & memories recreated. Twenty years in the making. This return to a childhood haunt & a place their parents loved & loved.
A remembering of good times, forgotten in the 20 years of simply surviving. A reconciliation when myths were despatched & honest recall healed the wounds & misunderstandings of 20 years. Each faced & resolved a dilemma, but all came through happier & stronger & more connected. What's not to love?
A story of the made up & memories recreated. Twenty years in the making. This return to a childhood haunt & a place their parents loved & loved.
A remembering of good times, forgotten in the 20 years of simply surviving. A reconciliation when myths were despatched & honest recall healed the wounds & misunderstandings of 20 years. Each faced & resolved a dilemma, but all came through happier & stronger & more connected. What's not to love?
August 13, 2020
The love of family
I could hardly wait to turn the page! Each day with these beautiful sisters was a gift to my heart. The dynamics of each person brought together at Loon Lake left me anticipating the next day in their life. I can't wait to start book 2, and hope there are more to come. What a joy to be part of the amazing healing and love between the McGregor sisters and their newly formed friendships..thank you Joan...
I could hardly wait to turn the page! Each day with these beautiful sisters was a gift to my heart. The dynamics of each person brought together at Loon Lake left me anticipating the next day in their life. I can't wait to start book 2, and hope there are more to come. What a joy to be part of the amazing healing and love between the McGregor sisters and their newly formed friendships..thank you Joan...
July 13, 2022
All the characters are beautiful and handsome! Four sisters meet at a cabin in northern Minnesota to rekindle their relayionships, 20 years after their parents died in a car accident. Each sister has their share of drama.
Every day is a typical day at a cabin. The days just go on and on. Believe it or not, there is a sequel!
Every day is a typical day at a cabin. The days just go on and on. Believe it or not, there is a sequel!
May 6, 2017
Good Chick Book
For sisters who don't really get along very well end up at their childhood cabin twenty years later. Learn a bit about each sister and if spending time together can really bring them together despite all their differences!
For sisters who don't really get along very well end up at their childhood cabin twenty years later. Learn a bit about each sister and if spending time together can really bring them together despite all their differences!
August 15, 2017
Positive Novel
I loved the realness of the sister bounds. I have three sisters so I could relate to the relationship tensions, challenges and closeness among the sisters. I look forward to reading the next books about the sisters and their lives.
I loved the realness of the sister bounds. I have three sisters so I could relate to the relationship tensions, challenges and closeness among the sisters. I look forward to reading the next books about the sisters and their lives.
January 11, 2018
Great read!
I loved this book. It was well written and mostly clean and sweet. Good story line of 4 sisters who lost their parents in a car accident when they were young and how this affected them, I could relate having lost my parents at a young age.
I loved this book. It was well written and mostly clean and sweet. Good story line of 4 sisters who lost their parents in a car accident when they were young and how this affected them, I could relate having lost my parents at a young age.
October 12, 2019
Amazing!
Thank you, Ms. Gable for sharing this magnificent story. This reminded me of the song "A Little Good News" by Anne Murray.
A must read for anyone who has ever questioned their life or purpose.
Thank you, Ms. Gable for sharing this magnificent story. This reminded me of the song "A Little Good News" by Anne Murray.
A must read for anyone who has ever questioned their life or purpose.
December 10, 2019
Summer of firrefly memories
Wow,I don't normally give 5 stars to a lot of books,but I just loved your story of four sisters and how they progressed .thank you.On my way to book two!
Wow,I don't normally give 5 stars to a lot of books,but I just loved your story of four sisters and how they progressed .thank you.On my way to book two!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews