Series: Southern Eclectic (Book .5)
Carl and Marianne were high school sweethearts, loving
the way only teenagers can—with no thought to logic or pride, just a
bone-headed, optimistic frenzy of unicorns and hormones. That was all they
needed. Or so Carl thought.
Scared of being stuck in Lake Sackett, Georgia, like so
many of her friends—without a real shot at a future or achieving her own
dreams—Marianne panicked and bolted to college after stomping Carl’s heart into
the high grass. But when she returns to Lake Sackett for the summer with her
family after years away, she and Carl are drawn together like moths to a flame.
As they rekindle their old romance and remember what it was like to be in love,
they have to wonder: is this, finally, their real chance at happiness?
Sweet second chance story. Carl and Marianne were high
school sweethearts until Marianne panicked at the idea of being stuck in Lake
Sackett before she had a chance to fulfill her dreams. She broke off her
relationship with Carl with no explanation and high-tailed it off to college
and the big city. After four years away and infrequent visits home, Marianne is
back in town for the summer before starting law school. She isn't thrilled with
the plan, but family pressure finally won out. The last thing she expected was
for a close encounter with a deer to lead to seeing Carl again so soon.
The first meeting between Carl and Marianne was awkward
at best. Marianne still feels guilty about the way she ended the relationship.
Carl is still a little bitter about how it happened. But one thing was always
clear - the sparks between them were still there. With Lake Sackett being a
very small town, and Carl being best friends with her brother Duff, frequent
encounters were a given. Some meetings were contentious, as they worked through
the issues that broke them apart. I liked the way that Marianne owned up to her
mistakes and sincerely apologized. Other meetings were far friendlier, as the
sparks between them continued to snap and grow. But having been burned once,
Carl wasn't in any hurry to risk his heart again when Marianne would leave
again at the end of the summer.
Meanwhile, Marianne is at a crossroads in her life. She
is well on the way to fulfilling the plans she had since she was a little girl.
Law school, city life, and all the amenities are within reach. But she has
discovered that those same plans don't excite her the way they used to. Plus,
life, family, and friends don't irritate her nearly as much as they used to. I
loved seeing her reconnect with her family and friends in some pretty funny
scenes. I loved the whole kidnapping scene with her cousin Frankie and her
brother Duff, which had me laughing out loud. While home for the summer, Marianne
was also roped into helping with the family funeral business, where she used
her stellar negotiating skills to solve an unusual issue. All of which have her
rethinking her plans. A long talk with her dad and some devastating news gave
her the motivation to reconfigure those plans. I loved the ending, as
Marianne's plans came together. Her big moment with Carl was sweet.
No comments:
Post a Comment