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Joanne W. (Ossining, NY)
Good summer read
Well crafted story of old New England monied mixing with the people who work for them. Most of the story is wrapped around the life and loves of Miranda, Isobel, Joseph and Clay. Young adults full of passion maturing into adults with all
complications that life can bring. There are secrets hidden by the adults around them that influence their lives.
I definitely recommend this as a good summer read for anyone into romantic historical fiction with a dash of mystery thrown in!
Kathleene M. (Running Springs, CA)
Privilege and prejudice
1950s to 1960s, Winthrop Island, on the New England East Coast is where the wealthly spend their summers. The local Portuguese families earn their wages catering to the wealthy. The summer families and the local working class try to stay out of each others way, but two half sisters find their way into a young, aspiring college boys life that leads to catastophe and heartache. The struggles of class, society, race and status are prominent in this story of love and loyalty.
Cam G. (Murrells Inlet, SC)
The Summer Wives
I was excited to receive an ARC of The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams, and was charmed to realize the book was about a family of Portuguese descent, because I too am of Portuguese heritage. I don't live on the coast of Connecticut, but I was born on the coast of Southeast Massachusetts! I enjoyed reading about Miranda falling in love with a Portuguese fisherman, Joseph Vargas, and of the separation between the "haves" and the "have nots". Much more happens but suffice it to say that the book gets more and more interesting!
Lori H. (Puyallup, WA)
Beachworthy summer read
This is a historical novel filled with mystery, romance and intrigue. I found the writing to be quite good with descriptive language that allowed me to travel to Winthrop Island and smell the sea air. The relationships between the upper class and the working class made the story move right along. My only disappointment in this book came with the actual character development. I felt no real connection to the characters and found them to be one dimensional. That aspect of the novel did not deter me from enjoying the story and I certainly was interested in how things resolved. Overall, Summer Wives is an entertaining beach read that will keep readers turning the pages. Thank you BookBrowse for this advance copy!
Susan H. (Mount Kisco, NY)
she's written better
i usually love williams books but the last two have left me disappointed ... didn't particularly care for any of the characters, she lost interest in her people half way thru the book ... i kept waiting for something to happen. who was the summer wife? the book could have been 75 pages shorter.
Bev C. (Latrobe, PA)
The Summer Wives
There are 3 time lines in this historical fiction offering:
Summer 1930
Bianca Medeiro dreams of the elusive, wealthy Hugh Fisher.
Summer 1951
" Miranda Schuyler arrives on elite, secretive Winthrop Island in Long Island Sound as a naive eighteen year old, still reeling from the loss of her father in the Second World War." (book jacket)
Her beautiful mother is to wed Hugh Fisher and his daughter Isobel will attempt to draw her into privileged circles.
Instead, she finds herself drawn to the Portuguese working class.
Summer 1969
Estranged from her family, Miranda Schuyler Thomas , a now renowned Shakespearean actress returns to the island, scarred by a recent personal tragedy.
The time transitions were well marked but I did stumble a bit in reentering them.
A few events were not totally inconceivable but a bit far out.
And I had a few melodramatic moments but I am a definite Beatriz Williams fan.
This is perhaps not my favorite to date but I do recommend it as a good summer read.
Joanne V. (Towanda, PA)
The Summer Wives
This was my first Beatriz Williams novel and I did enjoy it. I didn't think it a historical novel or a mystery, but just a good romance set in a great locale. The author does a good job with her characters and I really liked the back and forth in different years. I figured out "the mystery" pretty early on, but it didn't ruin the story at all. I will probably read some of her other novels, but all in all I think this book was a fun and interesting read. Thanks for the introduction to Ms. Williams!!
Bess W. (Marlton, NJ)
Sun, sand and Summer Wives
This is the first book I've read by Beatriz Williams but it will not be the last. Lots of romance and drama as well as part mystery. A great book to get lost in at the beach. The description of summer life could be anywhere you have an influx of tourists. The characters come to life through the eyes of others. Definitely a page turner. Is it a summer romance or will it endure the test of time?
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