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#68: Summerland - Elin Hilderbrand (With Giveaway)

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A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. But what begins as a graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver of the car, Penny Alistair, dead, and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny's boyfriend Jake and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt - but the emotional damage is overwhelming, and questions linger about what happened before Penny took the wheel.
As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents - secrets kept, promises broken, hearts betrayed. Elin Hilderbrand explores the power of community, family, and honesty, and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow, new love can still take flight.
  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books (June 26, 2012)
  • ISBN: 9780316099837
Author Bio:
 Elin Hilderbrand: novelist, mother of three, sports enthusiast, avid fan of Bruce Springsteen, Veuve Clicquot, and four-inch heels. She sits on the Board of Directors at the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club and Nantucket Little League. Her resting pulse is 65.

My Opinion:
This was a fantastic book from start to finish. I read it in a couple of hours, no, devoured it.
It is a tragic tale surrounding friends in high school, though through tragedy, you watch them grow. You also feel like you are a bit of a sleuth, as you read, you can't help but try to figure everything out and draw your own conclusions. My conclusions, by the way, were slightly off. I like that the book wasn't predictable, and made you wonder. That to me is great writing, to get the reader so actively involved in the story.
Honestly, I hated when it was finished. I really could have kept reading about these people.
I am definitely going to recommend this book to mystery fans and contemporary fiction fans!

5/5

Recommend? Yes.

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy for review. I was not compensated for my opinion or this post.

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY....
Fill in the Rafflecopter form to enter.

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Comments

  1. Mary (Bookfan)June 25, 2012 at 10:10 AM

    I've read 3 or 4 of her novels and enjoyed them. This sounds like another winner! Thanks for the chance to win, Freda.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Literary ChanteuseJune 25, 2012 at 11:56 AM

    I've just recently read 3 of her books and am now a fan.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Carol N WongJune 25, 2012 at 4:49 PM

    I love the unpredictability that you talked about in your review. Also, I love Nantucket. I went there once and didn't want to leave!

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. ElizabethJune 25, 2012 at 9:19 PM

    Hello:

    Nice post...OLD FOLLOWER...NEW E-MAIL SUBSCRIBER.

    My review is up tomorrow...stop by if you like for the review and my giveaway.

    THANKS.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    http://silversolara.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. MargieJune 25, 2012 at 9:55 PM

    It would be interesting to find out how the characters are affected by this traumatic event. Thanks for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Carl ScottJune 26, 2012 at 1:43 AM

    Well it's summertime and this looks like a great book for the beach or the front porch. Not just fluff but something you could really get into. I'd love to read it and pass it around.

    ReplyDelete
  7. MisscrabbypantsJune 26, 2012 at 9:59 AM

    It leaves me wanting to know more. Haven't you ever seen something like this on the news and wondered about the family and how they are coping and then about the victim or victims themselves?

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownJune 26, 2012 at 10:16 AM

    Your great review, the story, and the author! Sounds like a triple treat :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. skkormanJune 26, 2012 at 11:10 AM

    I've read several of her books and loved them—thanks for the opportunity to win her new book!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  10. PoCoKatJune 27, 2012 at 10:19 AM

    Love this author's books.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anita YanceyJune 28, 2012 at 8:36 PM

    I think it would make a good summer read. I like that it has some mystery to it. Thanks for having the giveaway.
    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  12. TeaJuly 6, 2012 at 7:04 AM

    Thanks for entering me, Freda.

    ReplyDelete

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