Kristina Barnes
The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston is a contemporary romance set in a homey, small tourist town in North Carolina. Brianna Porter struggles to keep her family’s resort afloat after learning of the resort’s amassed debt. Add in a couple of life-altering family changes, and Brianna is overwhelmed. Scott Gibson is a seasoned real estate investor and enters Brianna’s life at the wrong time. But as Brianna gets more desperate to save her home, they are forced to worked together to find a solution. This is my first novel by Amy Clipston, and I loved visiting Splendid Lake with her characters. The town is so unique and charming, I’d love to be able to walk its downtown shop district or watch the boats on the lake. It’s the perfect setting for this story, and for a late-summer read! Brianna goes through so much in the first few chapters of this book. I love her unique, tom-boy personality and her determination to do what’s best for her family. The relationship between her and Taylor, her long-time fiance, is often frustrating, but I know it’s part of her growth as a character. Her interactions with Scott, however, are flirty and fun. Scott’s genuine care for others--including Brianna and her family most of all--is incredibly endearing. I love how his humble, heart-breaking roots shaped him into a loving and hard-working man. He is 100 percent swoon-worthy. And his cars...double swoon! The Heart of Splendid Lake is an emotional story, but one of healing and growth. I enjoyed watching Brie and Scott learn to trust each other and work together. There were times I cried and many more times I smiled or laughed at Scott and Brie’s banter. If you enjoy contemporary romance, then you’ll enjoy this late-summer read. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Kristina Anderson
Brianna Porter loves working alongside her father at the family resort on Splendid Lake. After her father passes away suddenly, Brianna struggles to manage on her own while her mother deals with her grief. Scott Gibson, a real estate developer, arrives to make an offer on the place. Scott is just the first in a line of people who wish to purchase the Porter property. A set of circumstances threatens her family home and Brianna finds solace with kindhearted Scott. Brianna has been engaged to Taylor for three years and she is not one to back out on a commitment. What does the future hold for Brianna and the Porter resort? The Heart of Splendid Lake is Amy Clipston’s debut contemporary romance novel. I was drawn into this engaging story right away. I admit I was surprised because this is not the type of book that I normally read. I thought it was well-written (I would not expect less from Amy Clipston) with developed characters and a charming setting. It is an emotional story that will tug at your heartstrings. I could certainly relate to Brianna having to deal with her father’s death and her mother’s overwhelming grief. I thought all the characters were realistic and relatable. I enjoyed getting to know Brianna, Scott, Ava, Lois, and the other secondary characters. There is a friendly cat as well. Amy Clipston’s writing draws the reader in and holds them until the very end. The picturesque descriptions allowed me to visualize Splendid Lake, the town, and the resort. I could certainly understand Brianna and Scott’s desire to live there. The Heart of Splendid Lake is one of those stories that will have you staying up late to see how everything turns out. The Heart of Splendid Lake is a heartwarming, poignant tale with prodigious grief, moving memories, masses of maintenance, a mournful mother, a considerate developer, and an enthralling lake.
Sonja Nishimoto
Checking my blog for this author, I counted 28 reviews for her. But this was the first non-Amish book that I found. And she did a fantastic job! This is a contemporary romance set in North Carolina. The story revolves around Brianna who struggles with her father's recent passing and a resort that is in the red. The book is well developed and the author has woven an exquisite story of love, loss, family and friends, along with real-life struggles and joys. It was a very different book than any of the other books I have read from this author. I really loved it and found it to be excellent and totally enjoyable. I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
