One Perfect Summer

March 15, 2020
An ancestry test brings together three half-sisters to make connections with one another despite their differences. Investigative reporter Serenity had a perfect childhood in Northern California with devoted parents, but digging into the truth about her sisters could upend everything. Reagan is a New York executive who was raised by a high-powered single mother but has recently made a mistake that could derail her career and life. Lorelei grew up in foster care and is trying to be the perfect wife and mother to forget her troubled past, but her philandering husband has shattered her careful effort. The three women and Lorelei's young daughter spend an idyllic summer on Lake Tahoe. Prolific romance author Novak writes a sentimental novel about trust, family, and making amends. Though some plot twists and romantic interludes veer toward the soapy, the sisterly affection at the heart of this novel will make it resonate.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

April 1, 2020

DNA tests reveal that three strangers--Serenity, Reagan, and Lorelei--are half sisters. Although initially shocked, they become friends and decide to meet in person. Serenity's family cabin in Lake Tahoe provides the perfect locale for the sisters to bond and try to solve the mystery of how they are related. Each woman is dealing with her own life-altering drama. Serenity is recovering from finding out her now ex-husband is a criminal; Reagan recently had an affair with her married boss. And Lorelei must decide if she should divorce her husband, who has been cheating on her with her best friend. It becomes clear that one week is not enough time even to begin to find solutions, so their spring getaway turns into spending the whole summer together. But will their newfound familial connection provide the support they need to move on, or will it create even more damage? VERDICT Filled with intense life conflicts that avoid being over-the-top, this heartwarming story of sisters who bond as adults is sure to please the many fans of Novak ("Evelyn Talbot" series; Before We Were Strangers) as well as those who enjoy books by Susan Mallery and Debbie Macomber. [See Prepub Alert, 10/14/19.]--Karen Core, Detroit P.L.

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2019

With a simple cheek swab from 23andMe, Serenity Alston discovers that she has two half-sisters. Now she's getting to know them during a sojourn at the Alston family's Lake Tahoe cabin, as all three adjust to their new reality and sort out personal problems of their own. With a 75,000-copy paperback and 10,000-copy hardcover first printing.

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.