I had high expectations of this book even though the only books I have read from this author are her older "historical" romances ones and I remember loving them, however I don't think this matched them.

I expected the story to be a bit more in depth to what it really was.
It starts of with Olivia (Lolly) hating Connor over what happened one summer when she was 17 and years later asking him for help on renovating their old camp.
The story took a while to get started and it consisted of one chapter being the present and the next one being in the past, either back to Olivia's father's past or hers and Connors past.
It just didn't flow right for me...and I really don't know what the point was in having the side story with her father in...it didnt really add anything to the story.
I also think the "wrong" that Connor did to Olivia wasn't explored enough and when you realise what he did...it was a bit silly especially as he didnt have anything to do with it.

It also didnt feel that they had been around each other an entire summer. They seemed to fall in love incredibly quick. Nothing seemed to be explored fully in this and it all happened very quickly without much explanation of things and then ended just as quick.

I do have Just Breathe on my TBR so I reserve full judgement on the author and her contemporary romances until I have read that one. But I didnt really enjoy this one.

Love this author, perfect summer read!

Author: Susan Wiggs
Title: Summer at Willow Lake
Description (source): Real estate expert Olivia Bellamy reluctantly trades a trendy Manhattan summer for her family's old resort camp in the Catskills, where her primary task will be renovating the bungalow colony for her grandparents, who want one last summer together filled with fun, friends and family. A posh resort in its heyday, the camp is now in disarray and Olivia is forced to hire contractor Connor Davis—a still-smoldering flame from her own summers at camp. But as the days grow warm, not even the inviting blue waters of Willow Lake can cool the passions flaring or keep shocking secrets at bay. The nostalgic joy of summers past breathes new promise into a special place and people…a promise meant to last long after the season ends. (Amazon)
Review source: free for my kindle
Plot: There was lots going on in this book that was first of a series (that now has 8 titles). I counted four romances: the main couple, a couple of friends, a couple of teenagers, and flashbacks of an earlier romance set at the camp. Flashbacks throughout the book reveal the protagonists’ earlier relationship and how it went wrong. I found the various story lines interesting, even though it was a bit much to keep straight. Most of the secondary story lines were not resolved, as the author heads into book 2 of the series.
Characters: Most of the characters come across as sympathetic, especially the heroine, Lolly/Olivia, who was damaged by her parents’ divorce when she was a young adolescent and struggled to keep her footing through her teen years, and Connor, who had his father’s alcoholism and his family’s own breakup to deal with.
Writing style: I tend to like elaborate plots like this one, although I would have liked a little more resolution; while the main couple’s relationship was resolved, none of the other story lines were.
Audience: This book is fairly straightforward chick lit, which I like every once in awhile. I read it in one long, quiet day at the beach.
Wrap-up: I’ll be looking for book two in the series, just to see if any of the plot lines are tied up. But I won’t be looking urgently. This book gets 4/5*.

Hero : 3 stars
Heroine : 4 stars
Sexual tension : 2 stars
Sex scenes : 2 stars
Plot : 3 stars
Dialogue : 3 stars
Storytelling : 4 stars
Ending :3 stars

Total: 3 stars

Would I recommend this book: Yes
Would I re-read this book: No
Would I read future books by this author: Maybe

After a another failed romance Olivia goes back to her grandparents' summer camp to renovate it for their 50th wedding anniversary, and reconnects with her first love.

Probably more of a 3.5 and more for those who enjoyed summer camp.

This was a fast and an enjoyable read. Just finishing a very dry read, I enjoyed how the author made the story flow from one event to the other, and from one time line to the other seamlessly. I really liked the character development and I liked how the author showed both sides of the story, without overdoing the "he said/she said". I also liked that there were subplots int he story...it added to the main characters' personalities and stories.

Loved the setting - summer camp by a lake in the Catskills.

The love story was cute but the constant fat shaming of Olivia’s teen self was completely unnecessary.

What a fabulous book! This isn't just a romance novel, it's a story of an entire family and its complexities, as well as plenty of coming of age flashbacks for both main characters. Great secondary characters, and while not everyone's life wraps up happily and neatly, characters grow. Fabulous start to a series.