Friday, April 4, 2014

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

The first time Eby Pim saw Lost Lake, it was on a picture postcard. Just an old photo and a few words on a small square of heavy stock, but when she saw it, she knew she was seeing her future.
Now Lost Lake is about to slip into Eby’s past. Her husband George is long passed. All that’s left is a once-charming collection of lakeside cabins and an assortment of faithful misfits drawn back to Lost Lake year after year.  It's not enough to keep Eby from relinquishing  Lost Lake to a developer with cash in hand . . . until one last chance at family knocks on her door.
Lost Lake is where Kate Pheris spent her last best summer, before she learned of loneliness, and heartbreak, and loss. Now she’s all too familiar with those things, but she knows about hope too, thanks to her resilient daughter Devin, and her own willingness to start moving forward. 
One after another, people find their way to Lost Lake, looking for something that they weren’t sure they needed in the first place:  love, closure, a second chance, peace, a mystery solved, a heart mended.  Lost Lake illuminates the secret longings and the everyday magic that wait to be discovered in the unlikeliest of places.              (Condensed from publisher blurb)

In 2007, I decided to present my own "Book of the Year" award, although - since that was pre-blog - no one knew about it except my sister who was sharing "favorite things" lists with me.  That premier award went to Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen.  In 2008, Ms. Allen's Sugar Queen took top honors - hands down, no contenders!  In 2009, she didn't make the cut - but only because she didn't publish a book that year.

In 2010 I blogged my first top ten list, and of course The Girl Who Chased the Moon, by guess who, was on the list.  As was The Peach Keeper in 2011.  2012 and 2013 were long, fallow years for her fans.  Unbeknownst to me, Ms. Allen was using that time to battle breast cancer.   Hallelujah, she is now two years cancer-free and has returned to writing.  

When I reviewed Peach Keeper, I wrote, "Every time I read {a Sarah Addison Allen book] I struggle for words to describe her writing other than "magical", but no other word captures her stories."  She has not lost her touch.  She once again weaves bits of magic into the story so seamlessly that you never question them.  

The setting of Lost Lake will appeal to other children of the 60's who spent family vacations in cottage-style motels like Lost Lake.  It added a nostalgic touch for me.  Lost Lake is another 5-star, enchanting tale from Sarah Addison Allen.  May she write many more!


1 comment:

  1. Sounds like really good books! I can't wait to get the April book club selection - plan to take it with me this weekend! Good book review!

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