Summer by the River
by Debbie Burns

Josie and her daughter Zoe go to Galena to out run her troubled past where she meets Myra who becomes her mentor and to get her they set up up a Tea Garden in her home. Their life is just nicely settled when Carter and buttercup his rescue dog come to the B &B - his is a journalist investigating a mystery. Josie is now in a tailspin as she thinks it’s about her past but his investigating the mystery of his grandfather.

Lovely story a bit slow in parts but the stories of past and present thread together very well. Good mix of suspense mystery and sadness and hopefully romance. You have to read the story to find out. Enjoyable read.

Josie Waterfield emerges as an incredibly captivating heroine in Summer by the River by Debbie Burns. Her character is a tapestry woven with a huge heart, unwavering strength, and a deep understanding of her roots. Yet, beneath it all, she aspires for a brighter future, especially for her beloved daughter, Zoey. However, the looming specter of Josie’s hidden secret threatens to upend their lives once more, forcing them into the shadows.

Carter O’Brian, a tenacious journalist drawn to the quaint town of Odessa in pursuit of answers about his family’s enigmatic past. What transpires in Odessa exceeds his expectations, as Carter effortlessly charmed his way into my heart from the very beginning. His unrelenting quest to unravel the mysteries that haunt him and his family resonates deeply.

The tantalizing question remains: What is Josie concealing? Be prepared with a box of tissues, for the intricate plot of Summer by the River by Debbie Burns will tug at your heartstrings. Debbie Burns skillfully interweaves Josie’s past through compelling flashbacks, seamlessly blending it with the unfolding narrative of her life. This masterful storytelling technique ensured my profound connection with all the characters in this captivating tale as the enthralling story unfolds.

Rated 4 Stilettos by Deb!

After leaving a bad situation Josie Waterhill is ready to make a new start and she and her young daughter find it in Galena, Illinois when they move into a historical mansion serving as a tea house run by an elderly woman. There is a mystery I enjoyed exploring surrounding the connection between a newcomer journalist and an old cold case. Slow-paced and leisurely story I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially the elderly woman. If a story includes a slow burn sweet romance, animals and a charming small town such as this one I'm all in for it. This was a great read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Enjoyable story if you're sinking down with it for an afternoon or day at the pool, for example. It was okay, but it's also not a story that's going to stay with me after reading it. The characters felt a little too 'perfect' and polished and, while it told a story, and the mystery of the Great Depression time was catchy, the rest just...happened, for lack of a better word

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I enjoyed this story a lot. If you are into cozy romance drama this is perfect before you. I really enjoyed the author's writing and I can't wait to read more books from her.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this wonderful book. This book is part romance, part mystery, part suspense, and all fabulous! An enjoyable novel taking readers into the sweetness of summer and intrigue into the past.

Loved reading this book and author. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend her books. Hope you enjoy the book also. Happy reading

Sweet romance for those tame at heart! A great fireplace read with lots of feels. The mellow nature of finding yourself when all else is lost brings this story to life.

This is a Women's Fiction with a bit of suspense put into it. I have to say this book took me forever it get into it, and that is because the flash backs of the past I feel was done wrong. The flash backs was not done where you do it was a flash back, and it took me a little bit to figure out what was happening. I think that took away for the book. The suspense part was good. I enjoyed the characters after I figured out what was happening. Overall, I liked the book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Sourcebooks Casablanca) or author (Debbie Burns) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Debbie Burns never disappoints, and Summer by the River is no exception. I love the fierce relationships between Josie, Zoe and Myra - found family is so important! And oh my gosh - I never expected that ending! Sheer perfection!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Summer-River-Debbie-Burns-ebook/dp/B08DHHD1LX/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Summer+by+the+River+by+Debbie+Burns&qid=1626182285&sr=8-1
On sale now for $1.99.
We begin this book with Josie drying blueberries in the oven and we meet her six- year-old daughter, Zoe. The next thing we know, Josie is passing out and Carter is there to catch her. Myra comes in just in time.
Carter, a journalist shows up looking for more information regarding his grandfather. We quickly find out that Josie and Zoe have forged papers from Chicago- DRAMA, SCANDAL. …. OOH this started out with a bang! Josie goes into a panic thinking that Carter is there to investigate her. Carter divulges his grandfather’s name- Myron O’Brien, interesting that the homeowner’s name is Myra, hmmmm..things are getting interesting. Apparently, Myron was a carpenter that worked at the house eighty years ago. The place is such a nice B&B with homemade cookies and wine delivered at night. I need to find this place and hook up with this treatment!
We are then taken back to Josie and her past and what formed her as a person. We are then lead on an adventure with Zoe starting school for the first time, a mystery uncovered, a past unraveled and maybe a romance?
This was such a great book! I cannot wait for her next book!

Josie has started a new life for herself and young daughter, Zoe in a small midwestern town on a river. She has a home and a job in the tea house run by Myra. When Myra rents a room to Carter and his large rescue dog Buttercup their who world changes. He's a writer investigating an old missing person case and stirs up trouble for Josie. As their romance deepens, Josie knows she must stop running and confront her past. A few twists and turns i didn't expect. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. I found it to be a very pleasant love story and a very easy read. It was a nice way to pass some .

This book was such an unexpected surprise of a romance. There was a good amount of mystery for both main characters but Josie's really swept me away. I was trying to guess at the missing details of her whole story all the way up until it was truly revealed. With each new revelation I was surprised and excited to keep reading. One of my favorite characters was Zoe who was an extremely well written 6 year old. I think that sometimes authors find it difficult to create a three dimensional character for a child but this was extremely successful!

The chapters were mostly told in the present with a few sprinkled in from Josie's past to help give context and add to the mystery. I loved how the author braided the present and the past and showcased how in both settings good people can be found willing to help one another. For a while I wasn't sure which way this romance was going because although I new who the characters were in Josie's present, I was also completely drawn into her past and the love story it told. The level of emotional heartbreak and agony the author created on the page was riveting and the total sweetness of the happy ever after was so perfect. There were so many bright spots throughout the story that it is hard to put into words without spoiling the story.

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

After reading the blurb, I was intrigued about Josie's story. This was a new-to-me author so I didn't know what to expect from the story and/or characters.

Josie and Carter's story was sweet with a bit of mystery and suspense thrown into the mix. Although the story started slow, I was still intrigued by Josie's story and was glad to discover her past and everything that it entailed. There were some moments when the story definitely dragged, especially in regards to the mystery Carter was investigating, but the author made a great effort of keeping things interesting and tying everything together in the end.

I wish I could have gotten a little more insight into Carter himself instead of all the mystery behind his family's past. What was brought to the page was good, but it seemed like the story focused more on Josie's past and how it shaped her. As for the romance, although it was slow to come, it read a little bit insta love-ish for me. I would've liked to see more of a connection between Josie and Carter. Sure, the attraction was there, but I think their connection was lost in the shuffle amongst the mystery and the flashbacks.

Summer by the River is a romance layered with mystery. It was an amazing book and was beautifully written. The characters were charming and heart-warming. Josie Waterhill was the single mom of six-year-old Zoe. She fled with Zoe from home after a brutal gang shoot-up. By chance she arrives in Galena where she met Myra Moore who became her best friend and mentor. They turn Myra’s family home into a tea garden which become Josie’s sanctuary over the years. Journalist Carter O’Brien arrival and research threaten to expose her past and her enemies. Carter’s interest in finding out the truth of his grandfather’s disappearance has led him to Galena. He hopes to find answers to his questions. He ends up finding an unknown of aunt and a family to love. This was such a heartbreaking and beautiful story with an ending where I ended up crying but also smiling.

Great story! I've read Debbie Burns before and I was looking forward to reading another story by hers. This one is a little different than the others but I did really enjoy it. The story was well written and the characters were well-developed and relatable. Highly recommended!

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the electronic copy of Summer by the River by Debbie Burns. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this heartfelt story. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced them.

Summer by the River is quite different the other books I’ve read by Ms. Burns. The pacing pulled me in from the first page and kept my attention to the last. This amazing novel had a great deal of substances and plenty of deep emotion.

Josie Waterhill is an endearing heroine with plenty of depth to her character. Her protective nature comes through from the start. Her care for her adorable daughter Zoe and her elderly landlord and friend touched me deeply.

Carter O’Brien is an amazing hero. I loved his patience with Josie and his deep affection for Zoe. He has all the characteristics I love most in a male leading character. He uses such a gentle approach in getting Josie to open up to him.

The romance between Josie and Carter is strong from the beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed the love that develops between them. He’s keenly aware that Josie is a package deal, and his love for Zoe is easily seen early on. The love scenes are not graphic and very well done, and I really wanted them to find their happy ending.

If you enjoy novels with plenty of depth to the characters and a plot with substance beyond the usual romance, then you will love Summer by the River as much as I did. Ms. Burns has fast become an auto-buy author for me. I don’t see that another book is planned, but I hope she writes Sam’s story. I’m sure it would be outstanding. Happy reading!

A lovely story with many twists and turns along the way. Josie grew up in a neglectful, abusive neglectful home surrounded by violence all around her. When it all comes to a head she runs. Far and fast with Zoe, an infant that she takes on as her own so she could create a safe and happy life for them both that would be the opposite of the life she lived and imagined. Through a twist of fate she makes her way to Galena, Illinois. There she meets Myra, who after only a short chance meeting knows that she needs to take them home and give them a soft safe place to land. It is truly a gift for Josie who wants nothing more than to create the best life she can for Zoe. Myra is a wonderful woman who under it all needs Josie as much as Josie needs her. Josie is understandably quiet, keeps to herself and dedicates her life to both Zoe and Myra while mourning the loss of her brother and the life she had hoped for. Unbeknownst to both of them, they are each harboring secrets that they never thought they’d ever share. Enter Carter, a journalist who is a bit lost emotionally, harboring a broken heart that he thinks is beyond repair and on a find a missing person and solve a murder. Through current times and flashbacks beautifully written we learn all about how everyone got to where they currently are and where the future will lead them. I enjoyed this book immensely.