Review of Summer Hideaway

Summer Hideaway
Susan Wiggs
Mira
421 pages
Welcome to Avalon New York, home to Susan Wiggs’ famous and sometimes infamous Bellamy family, in this installation we find a whole new branch of the Bellamy tree. George Bellamy has lived a long life and has regrets and now that his time is nearing the end he’s decided that it’s time to put things to right. Claire Turner has secrets, secrets that could kill if revealed and so she’s lived a life of solitude and service as a private nurse caring for the terminally ill. Ross Bellamy returns from the war zone of Afghanistan to find his grandfather dying. Claire and Ross are fighting a powerful attraction to each other both for different reasons and as George tries to match make watch out for the fireworks because even though these two might be perfect for each other, convincing them of that is another story..
There is no better storyteller than Susan Wiggs and when she uses that talent to further our journey with the Bellamy family, well, there’s just no words to describe it, but I’ll try. Susan has a way with words that puts her readers right on the page with the characters, you feel a part of the story as you meet and greet each of the cast members. And what a group of characters it is. The family is as large and larger than life then you could imagine and yet they are each so memorable in their own right. Let’s take her double heros of this story, George and Ross Bellamy grandfather and grandson who’s characters will make you weep with worry with joy and with empathy. Then there’s our heroine Claire Turner, who’s character you will feel emotions for all over the board. Then we have her supporting cast of characters that include most of the Bellamy clan. Susan will literally pull you into her story with her dialogue, it will amaze you how intricate her details become and while you’re reading the story comes together seamlessly. Her story line is an ongoing portrait of the Bellamy family and it amazes me how fresh she can make each installation while keeping us up to date on the members she’s previously headlined. Her love story is as always complicated and at times frustrating to her fans who know the right moves and unfortunately can’t convey that to the characters in the novel. Her love scenes are vivid and sensual and spicy and yet you see the innocence in them as well.
Summer Hideaway is another example of what an amazing talent Susan Wiggs is. There is no author I know of who can write a family biography with such finesse and tenderness. This novel could very well stand up by it self, but to get all the nitty gritty details of the histories of the Bellamy Family start from the beginning of the series, you won’t be sorry you did.