This was a well-written, sweet book. Meghan has always been the responsible sister, and when her father passes away, she changes her plans to become a journalist and takes charge of the family business. Tracy has always been considered the rebellious sister, but when her romantic relationship does not work out, she moves home, a single mother. Meghan has no time for attachments, but then she comes across a stray puppy. It was heartwarming to read about these sisters and the relationships they develop, and the puppy was adorable. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books by this author.

Crosby's characters are always so real and captivating. I like the fact that her books are about family, hope, love. Her descriptive writing style help the reader to feel the surrounding and emotions of her characters as if you were there. She dealt with social issues that are sometimes hard for authors to deal with but Crosby does it with such ease and caring. Loved this book and always look forward to reading anything she writes. .

I can never ever fault this authors work in 100% bringing out emotions in me that I actually “feel” for real long after I close the book.
It soon became apparent to me that I was going to be drawn right in, I was right. I read a lot of psychological thrillers/thrillers and some of those reads have kept me from putting the book down but for different reasons to this one.

I felt I couldn’t close the book on these all too real people, George who had such a brief journey in this story but impacted greatly and was always there in spirit.

Lila, Mother to Megan and Tracy.

Tracy is what you’d call the noisy one of sisters, the independent won’t listen to reason child.
She goes her own way. Her experience of love and loss was something no mother would want her daughter to experience but hey, sometimes it’s how we learn. Tracy learnt. And she learnt to value her family more.

Megan was the quiet stronger sister. Calm and less hot headed.

When her father died she took over the small business and felt closer to him for doing that.

There’s a gorgeous little dog mentioned who plays a huge part in this story. A dog Megan rescues. But who does he belong to?
The bond between Megan and Sox the dog was amazing to see grow.

Tracy returned to the nest with a child.
The way the sisters communicated about a problem with the little boy was dealt with in such a realistic human family way that could happen in any of our families.
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That’s what I love about Bette Lee Crosby’s books.
It could be any one of us.
It could be someone you know.
Every day people from every day lives.
Family drama at its best.

Yes there’s some romance in here that was so cleverly interwoven that it was a delight to read.

Personally I don’t like the sort of “romance” that is in today’s kind of reads.
Old fashioned, yes I maybe.
And I neither like the “soppy mills and boon” stories of years ago.
Yes I’m realistic and that’s how I love to read love stories in books.
This author has my personal balance right and that’s why I look forward to her next releases.
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The Vet Tom.
Gabriel.
Dom.

All these play an important part.

All these characters have become a family and an extension of family or real people to me.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
I really can’t.

If you love family drama with emotive issues, with rollercoaster rides, with tears of not just sadness but happiness, if you love reading trials and tribulations that can occur within any family, then this is the read for you.

Bette Lee Crosby has long been one of my favorite authors. Her Southern voice comes through in all of her books and lends a believable element to everything she writes. THE SUMMER OF NEW BEGINNINGS is no exception.
The main characters all had depth which is what made them so believable. They navigated, each in their own way, through the trials and tribulations of a family who lost their husband and father. This is the story of Meghan and Tracy and their mother Lila, each taking different directions and ending up at the same place, though stronger and more resilient. You will fall in love immediately with Megan and Sox, her dog. Lila adores her family but lacks the strength to pull them together, which is sure to frustrate you. Tracy’s rebelliousness will have you pulling your hair.
Yes, there is some romance in this story, but it is well balanced with the underlying plot – a story of love and forgiveness, and the importance of family. No, I am not going to discuss the plot except to say that like all of Crosby’s novels, it is well executed and follows in the tradition of her other wonderful books. THE SUMMER OF NEW BEGINNINGS is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a cozy story, whether lazing on the beach or at the pool or cuddled up at home in your favorite reading nook. Anyone who loves a well-crafted book with an expertly developed plot and true-to-life characters you feel you know will love this book.
My thanks to Bette Lee Crosby, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I have read nearly all the author’s books and look forward to reading more. My honest review is my own opinion.

HEARTWARMING!

Fantastic start for this new series! The best compliment I can give an author is when I’ve finished the last word, I immediately say, “How long do we have to wait until your next book?” This is one of those books! The Summer of New Beginnings has it all - an imperfect family that loves unconditionally, a crazy ex that continues to stir emotions, a new baby and all the joy and challenges that brings, a precious stray dog that ties everyone’s hearts together and brings with him hope for new beginnings of love, growth and healing, old friends and new love. You will love the characters because they are so REALISTIC! I was provided an ARC by the Publisher and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

When a father dies his family must make some choices. Meghan his youngest daughter gives up her dream of pursuing a journalism degree to take over the family business. Tracy the oldest daughter leaves the comfort of home and goes to Pennsylvania with her boyfriend to live. Their mother is at wit's end because she no longer has a family to take care of. As time goes by life has changed and they begin to reap the rewards of their sacrifices and hard work. They have found love, family, companionship, and purpose. A hopeful and uplifting read.

Be a part of loss, responsibility, suffering for a bad choice, new technology for the deaf, and miracles, one in the form of a drowning dog.
Lila misses her husband, taken from her suddenly, and cooks to help fill the void. Tracy suffers repercussions from having a child out of wedlock and Meghan hangs on to her fathers memory. But change is in the air and one summer will profoundly affect each member of this family.

A boy, a dog and family dynamics brought me to tears many times during the story. The characters are full of distinct personalities and opinions. When life changes drastically for each person, the ability to handle the changes and possible outcomes are found through major decisions and risks. Each story I read from this author is amazing. Tissues needed for this one. I received a copy of this story from the author and this is my own personal honest opinion.

The Summer of New Beginnings by Bette Lee Crosby. A Magnolia Grove Novel. A heartwarming story about family, conflicts, and romance. A little bit of everything. The author pulls you in from the first page and it's a book you keep going back too. Great characters, dialogue and storyline. I've read other books by Bette Lee Crosby and she never disappoints I look forward to reading more books by her.

My Review of “The Summer of New Beginnings” by Bette Lee Crosby

Kudos to Bette Lee Crosby , Author of “The Summer of New Beginnings”, for writing such a heartwarming, captivating and intriguing story about the importance of family. I appreciate that Bette Lee Crosby stresses the importance of family, friends, emotional support , love and hope. The author magically tells her story with wonderful detail and vivid descriptions.

Life isn’t simple, and the ups and downs can be complicated and stressful. The genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. Bette Lee Crosby describe her characters as complex and complicated, possibly due to the circumstances that exist at the time. Her colorful cast of characters are flawed, quirky, mostly loyal, determined and mostly likable. One of the characters is mean-spirited and dishonest.

Meghan Briggs and her sister Tracy are as different as can be. Meghan seems to always be responsible, and Tracy is more of a party, let’s have fun type of person. When the Briggs family loses their father, the stresses and burdens seem to fall on Meghan. Meghan casts aside her dreams of going to Journalism school to take over her father’s local community journal. and advertising. Tracy takes off with her boyfriend. Their mother loves entertaining and preparing food, and wishes things as they once were.

Meghan loves writing in composition notebooks her thoughts and ideas. As she sits by the water, she sees a dog struggling in the water. It is very stormy now, but Meghan rescues the stray dog, and brings him home. Of course she hopes that no one owns him.”Sox’ the dog seems to be rescuing Meghan as much as Meghan had rescued him.

Tracy comes home unexpectedly with a baby, and this presents a new set of complications. There are new circumstances and new changes that occur. Can there be a “happily ever after”? How will the family come together? I love the way the author discusses the importance of communication, taking chances, doing the best you can, and willingness to learn and share. I would highly recommend this wonderful emotional book for readers of Women Fiction. I received An Advanced Reading ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Lila and George Briggs have a wonderful life with their two daughters Tracy and Meghan.
When George Briggs die his family has to move forward without him. Meghan takes over her father's newsletter instead of going to college. Tracy is the wild child that decides to move with her boyfriend to another state.
Conflicts, mistakes, domestic abuse, are all issues that could pull this family apart, yet they grow stronger. The child with a disability really hit home for me. This story made me laugh and cry (keep tissues close). A beautifully written story with well developed characters.

Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Bette Lee Crosby for the opportunity to read this wonderfully heartwarming story.

I enjoyed this book because it had 3 main women characters all in different stages in life in the same family. I thought they all were very strong women though I believe they didn't think so. Meghan the youngest daughter on the cusp of going to journalism school has to put it on hold to run the business Snip and Save that her father created after he suddenly passed. Tracy the wild child up and moves to Philadelphia with her boyfriend wanting nothing to do with the business. Lila (Mom) who has to figure out how to help her daughters while she too is struggling. The author does a great job in showing the strength they have in tough situations.
I was provided with an ARC by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have to thank NetGalley and Lake Union for the honor of reading this awesome book.

I never expect anything but the best from Bette Lee Crosby and she has never let me down.
This is a very sweet, emotional story of loss, love, laughter and family.
It starts out a bit on the sad part then it gets better and better all the way through.
Meghan has plans to go to college to be a writer/journalist but when her father dies she puts her plans on hold to continue running his small business, Snip N Save. It’s a way to keep her father alive. She works hard and is a very capable and dependable daughter.
Tracy, Meghan’s sister, is a bit unreliable. She up and moves away with her boyfriend, Dominic who is really just a big jerk. She ends up coming back home after several years with her baby boy, Lucas.
Lila, the mother of the girls and widow of George. She just wants her girls to be home, happy and get along.
Sox, a dog that Meghan rescues from the lake is one very smart dog. He loves Meghan and Lucas dearly. He has ways that made me fall in love with him. We should all have such a good dog. Smart, loving and has a way of getting Meghan to see things that she might not have seen without him.
Will these young ladies find love and happiness. Will Tracy stay home and make a good life for herself and her son?
Bette outdid herself with this book. It was wonderful from start to finish. I truly loved it so so much. I always know I’m in for a good read when Bette writes a new book. Look forward to hearing more about this family.

What a refreshingly, sweet book! I loved all of the characters. Especially Meghan and Tracy, the sisters, and their mom Lila. You can’t help but love Lucas, Tom and Gabriel either. Of course Sox was a big hit too! Needless to say I loved this book. It made me tear up a little, and smile a lot. Bette did a great job in helping us to know and fall in love with the people of Magnolia Grove. I was lucky enough to get to read this book before release through Netgalley.

#TheSummerOfNewBeginnings #NetGalley

Bette Lee Crosby writes such wonderful stories and I think this is my new favorite! It tells the story of the Briggs family and the many things that each family member has to deal with. The story immediately drew me in, I felt like I knew them all personally. I felt their love, happiness, sadness and fears. I hated to see the story end. I do hope that Bette Lee writes more stories with these characters. I want to follow them some more and see where life takes them all.

Thank you Bette Lee Crosby, Lake Union Publishing and #NetGalley for the advanced ebook to review.

I would like to say thank you to Bette Lee Crosby, BFF Clubhouse, Lake Union and Netgalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this awesome book! This book just like the author’s other books that I’ve read is a very enjoyable read. Bette has a way that makes you feel a real connection. Even though the book starts out very sad, Bette’s wonderful way of writing changes that very quickly. It is a story of loss, love and hope. It touches on death of a family member, giving up dreams to keep that person close, it is about coming to grips with a disability and a family sticking together. Many life lessons to be learned in this book. I loved how this book showed me that even though things look bad there is always something around the corner to change it. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it.

I received this book "Summer of New Beginnings" from Netgalley for my honest review.
Awesome Book! I love the way the book sounds like someone is telling the story "to me". I feel like someone's voice is just telling me a great story. I do love the cover but I don't picture the dog on the cover as "SOX". I must have a different image in my mind of the dog. The story flows smoothly and the characters are interesting and likeable. I have loved all the books that I have read so far by Bette Lee Crosby, she is a wonderful storyteller. This story is about what happens after the father of the family dies suddenly. No ones life goes as they have planned. One daughter, Meghan was about to go off to college, this was a dream come true. Tracy is the other sister who really doesn't have any plans. She is very rebellious and doesn't have a care in the world. Tracy's life is turned upside down when the man she was with isn't who she thought he was. He doesn't care much for their son, Lucas. This book has me wondering if some outside force is involved in our lives. Was it the father who passed? Things started to change when Meghan rescued sox. Lots of things to think about. Loved Lucas! so precious.

This book talks about some very important issues like the loss of a spouse/parent, a child born with a disability, domestic abuse, and being true to your own talents.

The Briggs Family. Meghan Briggs had her heart set on being a Journalists but, the untimely death of her father happened. Her dad had an at risk business and Meghan didn't want to see the business be lost/closed. Meghan decided to save the business Snip N' Save and she put her career on hold. Then you have Tracy Briggs who was the rebellious one. She was dating a guy named Dominic and decides to move to Philadelphia with him and one day she calls her sister announces she's pregnant. Then one day she shows up at her mother's house with her baby and says that she left Dominic. Things get to be a bit much for Meghan and she goes for a walk to her special place where she ends up saving a dog that was drowning during a storm. Lucas and the puppy Sox [that is what Meghan decided to name him] become quick friends. One day when Meghan, Tracy and Lucas were at McDonald's Meghan realized that Lucas might be deaf. Dominic tries to make life for Tracy and Lucas' as difficult as he possibly can. They get Lucas tested and find that he is deaf and are told of a surgery that could help Lucas and end up talking to a friend they went to school with who has a school to help children to talk that had the surgery. In the mean time Meghan decides to get Sox checked for a chip [which would help locate the owner of a lost dog] but, Sox didn't have one. Meghan really likes the new vet. If you want to know how this books turns out, you truly need to read it!! I truly loved this book.

I would like to say thank you to Bette Lee Crosby and to Lake Union for allowing me to get an advance copy of this awesome book to read!! #TheSummerOfNewBeginnings #NetGalley

The Summer of New Beginnings is the best book I've read in ages! Not a typical romance or mystery, this story is about a family and how they deal with the loss of their husband/father, career choices and raising a child who has hearing loss..
Meghan always wanted to be a journalist, and is about to start college to begin a career when her father suddenly dies. Her father had a business called Snip "N' Save. When he passes away, she puts off college to keep his businesss running. Her sister Tracy is more of a free spirit. She doesn't really have any goals except to marry her boyfriend Dominic.
Tracy & Dominic decide to move away, later discovering she is pregnant.
bIn the meantime Meghan saves a dog one day in a lake during a storm. When no owner comes forward, she goes to the loval vet to have him checked out & immediately is smitten with the new vet.
As the story continues, Lila is dealing with the loss of her husband and concern for her daughters.
Meghan struggles with continuing her dad's business while giving up her dream of becoming a journalist. She also has her new dog Sox to comfort her and the new vet, Tom, holds her interest also.
Bette Lee Crosby weaves a story filled with the love and concerns we have for family members, our pets, our choices we make and our relationships.. The characters are so realistic, they remind you of people you've known. The situations they find themselves in are normal everyday occurrences, yet they hold your interest because you become to care for the people and want things to work out for everyone.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good story about family relationships and decisions we all have made in our own lives.

I really enjoyed the book. Bette is a wonderful storyteller. Loved the characters and the addition of the dog in the story. Great education about hearing therapy.