My Review of “The Summer of New Beginnings” by Bette Lee Crosby

My Review of “The Summer of New Beginnings” by Bette Lee Crosby

Kudos to Bette Lee Crosby , Author of “The Summer of New Beginnings”, for writing such a heartwarming, captivating and intriguing story about the importance of family. I appreciate that Bette Lee Crosby stresses the importance of family, friends, emotional support , love and hope. The author magically tells her story with wonderful detail and vivid descriptions.

Life isn’t simple, and the ups and downs can be complicated and stressful. The genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. Bette Lee Crosby describe her characters as complex and complicated, possibly due to the circumstances that exist at the time. Her colorful cast of characters are flawed, quirky, mostly loyal, determined and mostly likable. One of the characters is mean-spirited and dishonest.

Meghan Briggs and her sister Tracy are as different as can be. Meghan seems to always be responsible, and Tracy is more of a party, let’s have fun type of person. When the Briggs family loses their father, the stresses and burdens seem to fall on Meghan. Meghan casts aside her dreams of going to Journalism school to take over her father’s  local community journal. and advertising. Tracy takes off with her boyfriend. Their mother loves entertaining and preparing food, and wishes things as they once were.

Meghan loves writing in composition notebooks her thoughts and ideas. As she sits by the water, she sees a dog struggling in the water. It is very stormy now, but Meghan rescues the stray dog, and brings him home. Of course she hopes that no one owns him.”Sox’ the dog seems to be rescuing Meghan as much as Meghan had rescued him.

Tracy comes home unexpectedly with a baby, and this presents  a new set of complications. There are new circumstances and new changes that occur. Can there be a “happily ever after”?  How will the family come together?   I love the way the author discusses the importance of communication, taking chances, doing the best you can, and willingness to learn and share. I would highly recommend this wonderful emotional book for readers of Women Fiction. I received An Advanced Reading ARC  from NetGalley for my honest review.