This book is part romance, part mystery, part suspense, and all fabulous! Josie gives away no details of her past, although there’s always a shadow hanging over her head about it catching up with her. Carter happens to arrive in her home, looking for answers to his own past. Together they find a connection, chemistry, and eventually trust and love. I found this to be a many layered, captivating read, and I highly recommend it!

"The thing is, it's probably best to remember you're here for Myra I don't make friends easily. And I honestly don't want to. I like my life that way."

Josie made her position clear to Carter. Carter was here to delve into his family's history with the Tea Garden's owner, Myra. Josie was not going to get involved. With the story or with Carter. Josie has a history that she does not want found out. Having a writer around makes her nervous.

Carter came for some answers about his grandfather. What he found is so much more. Things are definitely complicated. Little does he know how complicated things are about to get.

I LOVED this story. It wasn't what I expected, in a good way. There is a sweet story between Carter and Josie, but the flashbacks to Josie's past made it so much more than a "sweet" story. I loved the entire book!

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This book was just amazing. I just lost myself in this story and didn’t want it to end. It was really well written and just drew in you into these characters lives. I look forward to seeing what’s next from this author.

I can’t remember when I have read a more beautifully written story than Summer By The River. Every word on every page is like a beautiful brush stroke capturing the scene and the characters perfectly for the reader to be completely immersed in the story. Summer By The River is a captivating story of characters brought together by chance but find they have a connection through their mixed up, often miss stepped pasts. Set in Galena Illinois, a town with as rich of a history as each character in the story, the story takes place within a Victorian Tea House that provides both the perfect setting and the ideal launching point for each character to share their story through snippets of memories and events. Josie, Myra, and Carter may be the three main characters but through their memories and stories we get to meet and experience a rich and interesting list of characters and settings from L.A. to New York and everywhere along the way.

A contemporary story with a rich historical feel that is not to be missed!

I enjoy reading books written by Debbie Burns. This book does not disappoint. Josie is a single mom who moved to Galena, Illinois to escape from her old life. She moves into the tea house with her daughter Zoe. Myra is the owner and takes Josie under her wing. Carter comes to the tea house to find out what happened to his grandfather and his research takes him to Galena. This book has romance, a bit of mystery and of course furry animals. I enjoyed reading this story. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Josie did not have an easy childhood. She moved to Galena with her daughter Zoey to find work. She met Myra who owned a bed and breakfast. A journalist came to ask Myra questions about his grandfather. I enjoyed the cast of characters. Thi1s book was well written. I cant wait to read the next one.

Josie loves to bake. She has a daughter Zoe who is six years old. A journalist comes about murder and Josie is unprepared.The journalists name is Carter which I like. There was a lot of suspense and down home feeling.