I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book is a typical contemporary romance novel about loving the ones you left behind. There's nothing overly special about it and it doesn't stand out as one of my favorites, but it was an okay read.

I really love second change romances and the setting of Firefly Lake was perfect. We meet Sean and Charlie who were childhood sweethearts. A lot has changed since then but not the spark they still have. Charlie has been through a lot, she watched a friend die and was injured when she was on the field reporting and Sean is now divorced.

Other than the divorce Sean is still as she left him. He is running the his marina business. The lake is his livelihood and now Charlie is back with her sister and they are going to sell the cottage to a developer which would change the entire town, and not for the better.

This was a nice relaxing read and I'd like to read the second book in the series.

The Cottage at Firefly Lake is a great second-chance romance featuring a picturesque small town on a Vermont lake, full of summer vacationers and the townies who cater to those who fill the area for the busy season. Over twenty years ago, Charlotte and Sean met in just this way when Charlie’s family would summer at their cottage on Firefly Lake, which happened to be close to Carmichael’s, where Sean’s father made and rented canoes. Their relationship was best friends as kids, but it turned hot and heavy as they grew into teenagers, finally ending in a difficult breakup when an 18-year-old Charlie left Sean heartbroken and their family never returned to Firefly Lake. Now it’s eighteen more years later, and Charlie has returned to the cottage to get it ready for sale after their mother’s death. But Charlie and her sister Mia plan to sell it to a company that will build a hotel, and this doesn’t sit well with the locals, especially old-flame Sean whose business and livelihood is right next door.

Charlie thought she left everything behind her, from who she used to be as a teenager, to the old resentment that she held for how her mother seemed to like her perfect sister Mia better, to her intense love for Sean as well. But all it takes is one chance meeting with Sean for her old feelings to come bubbling back, and it’s not long before her loyalty to her family is being tested–no matter how their actions seem to make sense. Charlie knows she’s stronger now after leaving Sean was the hardest thing she’s ever done, and she’d gone to college and become a very successful field journalist to prove it. Although her job is a dangerous one and she’s got the scars–both internal and external–she’s loved every minute of it, but she’s not so sure she can do it anymore.

Sean was left bewildered and hurt when Charlie abruptly walked away all those years ago, but he moved on like he had to do. He got married, had a child, took over the family business, got divorced… While he’s been content, he’s not exactly happy with his life. He loves his teenage son with all of his heart, but he knows he’s missing something–and that hole has always been Charlie. When she walks back into his life and becomes a threat to his entire world by selling their mother’s property, he can’t believe she’d hurt him all over again. And he also can’t help the attraction that’s still buried deep within him. He just needs to get to know her again, and maybe she’ll remember all that she loves about Firefly Lake, and more importantly, maybe she’ll change her mind about selling the cottage to a foreign corporation.

I really loved the small town feel and the homey atmosphere of this book. The pacing was a bit slow sometimes, and time does seem to move a lot more leisurely in places like these when the sun is hot over the water. The overarching stories of family, forgiveness, redemption, and rekindling an old love were very enjoyable to read here. While Charlie’s family is very small now–consisting of her sister and her two nieces–Sean has a large and very charismatic family, and the ones who took a prominent place in this book were so well-developed and fleshed out. I also really enjoyed the sense of community that was woven throughout the book, and it’s something that I don’t see very much anymore since I’ve lived in a suburban area for the last twenty years after I graduated high school and moved from my small rural town.

I give The Cottage at Firefly Lake a 4.5 out of 5. Charlie and Sean’s slowly rekindled romance was so nice to read. They had such a painful history full of so many happy memories that were covered over with such a bad goodbye, they just couldn’t find a way to meet each other halfway to have an adult, respectful relationship. The secondary romance between Sean’s son Ty and Charlie’s niece Naomi was sweet, and it paralled Sean and Charlie’s romance enough to scare the parents. Overall, this is a fun, sweet, and enjoyable read with sisters getting to know each other better, family history coming to light, old romance rekindling, and a strong community coming together. I’m definitely looking forward to the next two books.

This did not hold my interest. I had a hard time getting into the story and ended up quitting.

Sweet and Beautifully Written

I completely did this out of order but after reading book 2 Summer at Firefly Lake I had to go back and read Book 1 and now I am eagerly awaiting book 3.

Jen Gilroy sure does know how to weave a tale of love and all the obstacles that comes with it. Jen Gilroy has wrote yet another second chance novel that will make you swoon rather than cringe (like I sometimes do on second chance books). I absolutely loved Charlotte and Sean’s story. The characters are complexed yet flawed and completely lovable. The setting is so realistic it is like I am in the small Vermont lake town right along with the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I want so so much more.

Favorite Quotes:

Words were her business. Why was it sometimes so hard to find the right ones?

Uncle Trevor said you were all over her like a bad case of poison ivy.

You ever think you’re telling other people’s stories because you can’t face your own?

My Review:

The Cottage at Firefly Lake was a fairly realistic and thoughtful story with real-life issues and small town family concerns familiar to many. The characters were relatable and not always likable and sometimes frustrating, just like most people I know. The storyline see-saws between hopefulness and angst and was packed to the brim with old and new secrets, lies, missed opportunities, distrust, greed, cowardice, regrets, small-town thinking, betrayals, clouded family histories, a second-chance romance, young love, and meddlesome family members. I was quickly enveloped in Ms. Gilroy’s narrative and was soon emotionally invested in the characters. I remained curious and eager for each tidbit I learned about their back-story as it was slowly revealed layer by layer to the very end. I kept flip-flopping in my opinion about the motives and intentions of several characters; Ms. Gilroy is a cagey one and I would bet she would be an ace poker player. I am even more impressed when I realized this was her debut novel. I was hopeful for a positive result while holding my breath throughout for Sean as, by their history, Charlotte and her family had proven themselves to be untrustworthy. I am looking forward to a return visit with book two, Summer On Firefly Lake.

A story about family, loyalty, forgiveness, and falling in love, learning to make compromises, and building up the kind of life that suits you despite the circumstances and expectations from others.
Charlotte Gibbs has faced tragedy and loss several times during her life, not only as a reporter but in her personal life as well. She is tough and resilient until her cup runs over, and she needs time to heal, not only from the wounds in her body but in her mind and nightmares as well. Charlotte never felt that she was enough for her parents, and to prove that, to get the acceptance and approval she pushed herself hard to be the best, to show that she can.
Sean Carmichael has worked hard to make the family business the success it is today. He is looking after everyone in the family, keeping it going, keeping them employed, safe, and happy. His heart was broken by Charlotte long time ago, and those wounds are still sore, the doubts, the mistrust, and hurt still linger in his mind.
The story has a large cast of characters, and it is told from several points of view. Even Sean's son and Charlotte's niece gets their time in the limelight with the teenage crush. There are secrets that shatter hearts and minds, trust is not easy to come after being stretched and abused so many times. The characters are likable, yet far from perfect. I grew to care for them and wanted them to succeed, but they also frustrated me several times. I missed a little spark in the dialogue, little more depth with the characters, to connect with them on an emotional level as well. Charlotte had had to make some difficult decisions during her life, that still had the power to hurt others, and it was not always easy to like her or accept her choices.
There are lots of happening in the story, the small town events and life decisions weighing the characters minds making the plot move forwards on a leisurely tempo.
The activities made me remember the childhood summers and the fun to be had at the lake, making me smile. I think this is a great novel for vacation, or if you want to escape to the hot, unhurried, summer days with a little romance, family drama, and life troubles on the side.
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

This book follows Charlotte Gibbs whose is back at Firefly Lake to sell her mother's cottage after her death. The girls Charlotte and Mia need the money. What Charlotte wasn't prepared for was seeing Sean her boyfriend from when she was younger.

Sean Carmichael is doing the safe thing not taking many risks and helping everyone in the family achieve their dreams but at what cost? Sean hadn't seen Charlotte in so many years after they broke up. Which left him with questions. Why Charlie left and what happened?

This book was a great love story to read which reminds me of authors like Jill Shalvis, Kristin Higgins, and many more. It brought you on a great adventure as we watch Sean and Charlie weave their way around each other seeing how they will work out their issues to get their happily every after. Can't wait to read the next book!

Second chances is the theme of this book. It's a well-written love story about family, forgiveness & overcoming fears, with characters you can relate too.

DNF. I had a hard time connecting with the characters.

Thank you for letting me receive an early copy of this book. I am not reviewing it at this time as I has some trouble staying connected with the storyline and the characters. I will however advertise it on my blog. I understand that just because I didn't love it, doesn't mean others won't love it.

I did not finish this book as I did not engage with this story at all.

Charlotte and Sean's rekindled romance was the center of the book and was wonderful to read. The side plots in the book, however, fell a little short. The romance between the teenagers and the money/cottage sale were not believable however. Overall, I enjoyed the setting and the story.

Unfortunately this book was not for me and I was not able to finish it. I got to about 33% but I honestly could not get into it. The writing didn't flow easily for me, making it very difficult to get into the story. I love second chance love stories but this one fell a bit flat and didn't hold my attention. Despite that, I do look forward to reading a different book from Jen Gilroy at some point.

The Cottage at Firefly Lake is a book about second chances. Not just the second chance at love that forms the backbone of the story, but also a second chance at family, and a second chance at life. Or perhaps that last would be better referred to as a “do over” at life. You be the judge.

Charlotte and Mia Gibbs have returned to Firefly Lake to sell their late mother’s cottage. It’s the place where they spent their summers, and it’s all they have left of their mother. It’s also a place they both love and resent, and now it represents a chance for both of them to get some financial security at the cost of losing their last connection to their mother.

And possibly their last real connection to each other.

Charlotte and Mia were “summer people” in the community, but for Charlie it was much, much more. Charlie didn’t feel like she fit in with her family, with her perfect homemaker mother and her seemingly equally perfect sister Mia. Instead, Charlie wanted adventure, and she spent those childhood summers with her best friend, local boy Sean Carmichael.

Their intense childhood friendship matured into an equally intense teenage love. But Sean was tied to Firefly Lake and the boat crafting and marina business that had been in his family for generations. Charlie was off to college and a career as a foreign correspondent. And even though she didn’t know exactly where she would end up, she knew at 18 that what she wanted was to travel and explore, not tie herself to the tiny Vermont lake town, no matter how much she loved it, or Sean.

But instead of a natural breakup over time and diverging interests, Charlie left Sean suddenly and inexplicably, and neither of them ever got over it. They’ve never gotten past the intensity of that teenage love, even though Charlie has had a terrific and exciting career, and Sean has been married (now divorced) and has a son turning 16.

There’s too much unfinished business between them.

Charlie and Mia need to sell the cottage. Badly. Mia fears that her husband is about to leave her with their two daughters and no career to fall back on. And she’s right. Charlie recently survived an IED attack while on assignment, and her insurance didn’t cover all the resulting medical bills. Her savings are tapped, and she is all too aware that she has no one to rely on in a crisis except her current shaky self.

But the only offer on the table is one that will change Firefly Lake forever, and not in a way that anyone wants. It’s up to Charlie to find a way to make things work – for the town, for her sister, for herself, and most of all, for any possible future she might have with Sean.

If he can get his head out of his ass long enough to finally figure out that he has to meet her halfway – wherever that might be.

Escape Rating B+: It was terrific to read something a bit light and fluffy after yesterday’s much more serious book. The Cottage at Firefly Lake was a great little pick-me-up.

It also felt more than a bit familiar.

Separated by several states, Mary McNear’s Butternut Lake series (start with Up at Butternut Lake) has the same feel as Firefly Lake. It is also a small town with a lake at its center and heart. And it is also a place where people get a second chance at love, and where sisters get a second chance to find each other, particularly in the most recent book in the series, The Space Between Sisters. Anyone who loves Butternut Lake will also enjoy Firefly Lake, and very much vice versa.

Meanwhile, back in Vermont at Firefly Lake, this story is a lovely introduction to the place and to the series. It’s a story with several threads, and they blend together pretty well.

The big story isn’t the romance, it’s the relationship between sisters Charlie and Mia. They’re sisters, and they love each other, but they are also distant and don’t know each other. There’s also a whole lot of sisterly envy going on, as each of them believes that the other has the “perfect life” and each of them believes that the other had a happier, or at least easier, childhood and adolescence with their late parents.

And there’s a whole lot of family history bound up very interestingly in this story. Not just the Gibbs’ family, but also Sean’s family. And let’s just say that the late Dr. Gibbs was a real piece of work, with all of the negative connotations of that phrase. He’s still messing up everyone’s lives, even from the grave.

One of the great things about this story is the way that the romance develops. Even though Sean and Charlie never really got over each other, they also both recognize that they are not the same people they were half a lifetime ago. They don’t exactly take it slow, but they also don’t gloss over the fact that if they want to have a relationship, it has to be in this present and not the past. Nothing about this is easy.

There’s a lot to love at Firefly Lake. I’m looking forward to a return visit in Summer on Firefly Lake, appropriately scheduled for this summer.

Regardless of where life takes you and what it may throw at you when you are meant to be with someone- you will always find your way to one another. The cottage at Firefly Lake takes us on a journey of two lovers who were separated only to be given a second chance at love. Growing up and having separate lives doesn’t always mean growing apart, sometimes fate steps in and pushes love where it is suppose to be.

Charlotte Gibbs spent her childhood summers at her family cottage on Firefly Lake and now she wants nothing more than to put the past behind her. Now that her mother has passed away she has returned to firefly lake to sell the cottage. Being back has stirred up old memories and reminds her of what she has been missing.

Seeing Sean Carmichael from the marina next door has also brought forward the feelings she has been trying to bury for a long time. Sean Carmichael has no idea why Charlotte just disappeared all those years ago. Many years later he is divorced with a teenage son, and when he sees Charlotte again he realizes he is still in love with her.

Can he convince her to stay, and figure out what drove her away from Firefly Lake? I enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what happens next in Firefly Lake.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***

In my quest of looking for new authors and different kind of stories, I found The Cottage at Firefly Lake, the debut novel of Jen Gilroy, a beautiful love story about family, forgiveness, overpassing fears and of course, true love. This book features two stories, Charlie and Sean’s as the main couple and Naomi and Ty’s as secondary couple. These romances are entangled between family secrets, pride, mistakes, lies, open old wounds, and the future of a whole traditional town. This mix had me glue to this book and as the story was progressing, I was more intrigued about how it would end up and I can say I’m very satisfied with the ending.

Charlie and Sean loved each other madly and truly when they were teenagers, but once they were 18, Charlie broke up with Sean and left him without giving a real explanation about her decision. They took different paths. Sean stayed in Firefly Lake, run his family business, got married and had a kid, but that marriage ended up in divorce and now he is only devoted to his son and Carmichael’s. Charlie, on the other hand, went to college and became a successful journalist and traveled all over the world. She was fully dedicated to her career and herself. Eighteen years later they were reunited, but they couldn’t be together without opening old wounds, breaking hearts all over again, forgive, but most importantly, understand that they would have to meet each other halfway in order to finally be together.

Naomi and Ty’s story was more lighthearted than their aunt’s and dad’s story. Yes, just like Charlie and Sean fell in love when they were teens, Naomi and Ty fell in love at first sight the day Naomi and her family arrived to Firefly Lake to deal with the family cottage deal. This romance was young and full of teenage drama—just how I love teens’ love stories—and I loved every second of it. *sigh*

All in all, The Cottage at Firefly Lake was a good debut novel, well written, slow paced but with a storyline so greatly developed that intrigued me enough to keep reading until the end, crying like a baby and falling in love with all these characters that are now in my collection of book boyfriends and book girlfriends.

This book was ok. It kept me reading but it wasn't one I couldn't put down.