Sisters of Summer's End

Lori Foster

Jun 2019 · Sold by HQN Books

About this ebook

As the summer ends, friendship begins…

When single mom Joy Lee abandoned her old life to take a job at a lakeside resort, she found something that her family’s wealth and influence could never buy: peace of mind. Not easy to come by for the once-burned divorcée who keeps everyone at a distance. But when her new friend, Maris, dares her to take a chance with the drive-in’s charismatic new owner, everything changes for Joy and her young son.

A difficult childhood has left Maris Kennedy with definite priorities. Her job running Summer’s End, the camp store and café, comes first. Always. Nothing could ever make her risk that hard-won security—especially not her free-spirited colleague. But the more she encourages Joy to open herself up to new experiences, the more Maris begins to wonder what she, too, might be missing.

Learning how to trust will bring Joy and Maris together. And soon they form a friendship that leaves them as close as sisters—and open to love where they least expect it…in Summer’s End.

Don't miss The Love Shack, an all-new heart-stirring romance from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster about Berkley Carr, who, while running her animal haven, must confront her past and the undeniable chemistry she shares with her neighbor in a small town determined to play matchmaker.

More charming contemporaries from Lori Foster:

• The Little Flower Shop
• The Honeymoon Cottage
• The Somerset Girls
• The Summer of No Attachments
• Sisters of Summer's End

Ratings and reviews

SISTERS OF SUMMERS END is the second instalment in Lori Foster’s contemporary, adult SUMMER RESORT romance series focusing on the men and women who live and work at the lakeside resort Cooper’s Charm in Woodbine, Ohio. This is thirty year old, single mother and recreation director Joy Lee, and drive-in owner Royce Nakirk’s story line. SISTERS OF SUMMERS END can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. There is also a secondary romance developing between camp store owner Maris Kennedy, and handyman Daron Hardy. Told from several third person perspectives including Royce and Joy SISTERS OF SUMMERS END follows the building relationship between single mother and recreation director Joy Lee, and drive-in owner Royce Nakirk, Six years earlier Joy Lee found herself pregnant and alone but hoping to make a new life she settled into Cooper’s Charm lakeside resort where she would become the recreational director and find a new family with the people for whom she worked and loved. Fast forward to present day wherein Joy will come face to face with the drive-in’s new owner Royce Nakirk that has her reconsidering her self-imposed life as a single mother. What ensues is the building friendship and relationship between Royce and Joy, and the potential fall-out as Joy’s past offers her a second chance- for a price. Meanwhile camp store owner Maris Kennedy is oblivious to the attention of handyman Daron Hardy. Always serving the customers and the people with whom she lives and works, Maris is blind to Daron’s attention including the subtle flirtatious jibs and jibes. The relationship between Joy and Royce is one of immediate attention but Joy tends to keep to herself as she is a single mother trying to make it on her own. Having been tossed aside by the father of her child, then her own parents, Joy struggles with opening her heart to another possible failed relationship. The $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied. The secondary and colorful supporting characters include Cooper Cochran and his wife Phoenix Rose, as well as Phoenix’ sister Ridley (Cooper’s Charm #1), as well as Joy’s son Jack, and her parents Cara and Wallace Reed. The friendships and camaraderie between the employees at Cooper’s Charm is sweet, loving and protective. SISTERS OF SUMMERS END is a story of family, friendships, romance and love The premise is entertaining and endearing; the romance is tender; the characters are energetic and spirited. SISTERS OF SUMMERS END is the perfect beach read for a lazy summer afternoon

This was more than just a romance. This was about friendships and family that aren’t related by blood. It’s about people with character flaws and backgrounds that influence their present day decisions and how they learn to let it go. And I loved it all. There are actually two relationships included in this book. The main couple is Joy and Royce who have recently met. With her son Jack as the center of her life, she’s been on her own since her parents disowned her. But when she allows herself to open up to Maris and a friendship develops between them, she also finds herself opening up to Royce. Royce has his reasons for wanting to remain unencumbered but after getting involved with Joy and Jack he’s quickly decided that he’s all for entanglements. ”How could Joy ever be a burden? Wasn’t possible. She brought laughter into his life, warmth and direction. All good emotions, with lots of sizzling physical need, too. Around her, he felt completely alive. Somehow, without obvious effort, Joy had drawn him from his sad, burdened past and focused him squarely in the positive present.” I loved Royce and the way he instantly connected with not only Joy but her son as well. A part of that is accepting an injured pup into his household that literally causes chaos. I have to admit, Chaos pretty much stole the story from the main characters but I’m not complaining. The other couple included here were Maris and Daron. They’ve known each other for years but she was always closed off to him until her friendship with Joy makes her stop and take a moment to just enjoy time with a friend. I actually felt the connection and chemistry between this couple more so than Joy and Royce. Daron was cute and charming and so very careful with Maris. He was pretty perfect as heroes go. This is a very low angst read, a bit slow because there wasn’t really anything driving the story onward. It centers on the various relationships and the growth of each woman as well as the development of their relationship with each hero. I loved watching these women open up to each other and evolve from that moment on. The culmination of the conflict between Joy and her family was satisfying but the lack of an epilogue left me wanting. I’m sure there will be more books to come and we’ll see these characters again, but that doesn’t curb the craving I have for more right now. Overall, this is a sweet read heavy on character development, rich with humor and great friendships and electric with sexual chemistry. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Harlequin. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sisters of Summer’s End by Lori Foster Summer Resort #2 What a delightful way to spend the day! I returned to Cooper’s Charm RV Resort in Ohio and visited with old friends while making a few new ones. I was able to watch two couples find happily ever afters and two women become closer than sisters. I had a smile on my face at various times in the story and have one on my face as I write this review. Joy Lee, recreation director, is a single mother that puts her son Jack first and gives him the type of childhood she did not have. When she meets Royce Nakirk for business to discuss cooperation between the campground and his drive-in theater they are both quite taken with one another. I absolutely loved the way this couple got together and pursued the relationship between them. Royce with Jack was a treat for the two of them and for Joy and also for me. When they found an abandoned injured puppy and added took it home...it added one more wonderful character to the story. Marisa owns Summer’s End store and diner located on Cooper’s Charm. Everyone stops in daily for coffee and her delicious cookies and as the story begins she and Joy begin to become better friends. She encourages Joy to step out of her comfort zone and pursue some fun with Royce but isn’t so sure about doing the same when the tables are turned and Joy suggests she pursue some fun of her own with Daron. Marisa and Daron so deserved to be together and watching it happen was another part of the story that had me smiling once again. Sure, there were some aspects of the book that were heavier…backstories and childhoods and dealing with parents but the strength the characters in the book derived from dealing with those hard times only made this story better. I actually hated having the book end. Why? I would really like to return to Cooper’s Charm for another story BUT didn’t see any characters mentioned that might show up in book three of the series...unless...if I am lucky...there are people that come to visit, vacation or work at the resort in a future book. Thank you to NetGalley, HQN and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review. 5 Stars

About the author

Lori Foster is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author with books from a variety of publishers, including Berkley/Jove, Kensington, St. Martin's, Harlequin and Silhouette. Lori has been a recipient of the prestigious RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Fantasy, and for Contemporary Romance. For more about Lori, visit her Web site at www.lorifoster.com.