Marcia Willetts' British charmer Summer on the River (St. Martin's Press, digital galley) centers on a large family house in the picturesque village of Dartmouth. Recent widow Evie Fortescue inherited the house from her late husband, somewhat to the consternation of her London stepson Charlie's wife. Charlie and his family still come for holidays, like the annual regatta, and this year, his cousin Ben, a photographer going through a divorce, is also in residence. When Ben introduces Charlie to a new friend, and Evie confides a secret to her old pal Claude, things get complicated. For fans of Willett's Indian Summer and Rosamunde Pilcher's The Shell Seekers.

from On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever

I really wanted to like this book but it was a very very slow read. It got my attention in the first chapter and seemed to go down from there. I tried very hard to like the book but it just didn’t click for me. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Marcia Wilett. I am so happy I read this. I fell in love with her way of storytelling. I can´t wait to read more from her! This was not a typical love story. There were so many secrets and twists I didn´t see coming and I loved it!!! I love when I can´t figure out things. It makes me want to not put the book down. And this book I needed to know what happened. I felt like I was right along side Charlie and Evie at the beautiful summer house. I love when an author can do that to me!!!

I found Summer on the River to be a very slow moving read-almost too slow for me. It seemed to lack any spark of excitement or enticing to keep me involved in the story. Even the accompanying sinister plot felt nonessential to the whole.

Summer on the River was a relatively light summer read. Marcia Willett has a gift for describing the setting. I felt as though I was actually attending the regatta, smelling the flowers on the estate, and looking out over the water. I was hooked on her visuals by the third paragraph on page one! The story opens a short while before the regatta, and Evie is fretting about her relatives coming to visit… Or rather her husband’s relatives. After Evie’s husband passed away and left her the house, the family became quite rude toward her. Now everyone is coming for the regatta, and there will no doubt be drama. When individuals from Evie’s past show up unexpectedly secrets must be kept. All the while, romances are brewing. I enjoyed this story, but the build was slower than I would typically like, and the large number of characters made the plot hard to follow at times.
I would recommend this novel if you are looking for a read filled with secrets, mild romance, and a well described English summer setting. I wish I had read it on the water with a glass of wine!

This book will be released August 7th 2018! I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another classic Marcia Willet about a group of people, some related, not some, in a lovely English town keeping secrets from one another. Not awful destructive secrets, but secrets nonetheless. In this case, Evie, who inherited the house everyone thought was meant to go to her step son Charlie, knows something the envious others do not. And Charlie, well, he steps out on his wife with Jemima. There's a couple of plot lines and at times it's a tad confusing but then it all pulls together. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is light family drama (compared to most) which, fair warning, remains somewhat unresolved at the end.

Enjoyable and easy read.I did, at times become confused by some of the characters, and had to go back to earlier chapters to refresh my memory. Not much a plot. Read this on a flight from Tampa to Denver, it is that type of book. A bit too descriptive. I tend to shy away from this type of chick lit. Not enough to keep me interested?

This book was a dud for me. I struggled to be interested in the story and could never find the chord. None of the characters were appealing and I found the story just dull and dry.

I really enjoyed this novel!! The author is so eloquent with her writing, some parts are almost poetic. An audio version of this story would almost be magical.
This story is unique in that it follows the lives of several characters during a short period of time. As the reader we are given a window into the lives of these heartwarming eclectic characters. We discover how they are all connected and watch as their lives are forever changed inside a week.
The setting is the quaint English village of Dartmouth at the start of the village’s week long regatta festivities. During the festivities the character’s lives intersect, some through familial relations and others through spontaneous, fated run-ins, forging intriguing friendships. As the reader, we get to enjoy their gatherings, hearing stories, learning secrets, and finding love. The author continually vacillates between characters points of view, allowing us to see events and issues from various angles. I quickly grew fond of several of the characters with equal dislike for the more annoying antagonists. During the week their stories and lives unfold, showing unhappiness, family secrets, sadness, and comfortable joy.
After the week fades and time wears on many characters try desperately to recapture and/or hold on to all that was gained during regatta week. However blissful the week was, they all know it will never be the same and it is time to answer some hard questions. The Fortescues’ beautiful merchant house overlooking the river, has been in the family for generations. A shocking secret could disturb all of that history and change the future. Should the secret be revealed? What do you do when you meet your soulmate, but they’re already married? Should you pay into blackmail because of guilt?
The author’s interesting and captivating style of writing, gives us a voyeuristic view into the here and now with no real beginning or end. I truly enjoyed the characters, their appreciation and support of each other. I was a bit frustrated with the ease with which some seemed to be able to compartmentalize their feelings and those of others to allow themselves to have affairs. I was pleased with how the story ended with the realization for the need of accountability and not allowing history repeat itself. Despite my lack of support for extra-marital affairs, I did truly enjoy this well written story. The characters were so likable and the pacing comfortable.
All in all it was a captivating, pleasurable story.

Overall, a fair book, but at times the story got a little muddled, and made me skim a bit. Maybe it was just me, but struggled a bit with this one. Still, I was interested to see how it progressed and ended, and would therefore recommend it. Not a light book that is easy to put down and pick up later, but interesting if you have the time.

Summer on the River is a story about how a family interacts at their beloved family estate in Dartmouth. Evie, the stepmother, has stumbled upon a family secret that she is trying to keep hidden but also rectify. A very married Charlie, Evie's step-son, has fallen in love with a woman and has a magical week at the river house during regatta. This should be a recipe for a summer read filled with suspense & romance. There were moments where I really enjoyed this novel and then moments where I was scratching my head. There is a second story line brought in with a few more characters relating to a past romance Evie had that really didn't need to be part of the book. Overall it was a good read, albeit a little muddled. The book abruptly ends too, with some ends not tied up.

Thank you to both NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the free digital copy for my unbiased review.

Reading a book by Marcia Willett is like putting your pyjamas on and snuggling into your favourite armchair. This one did not disappoint.it centres around Evie who has recently lost her husband and his family.it is a warm novel set in Devon..you can feel the soft Devon air and the lovely warm summer days. A must for fans of Mary Wesley and Joanna Trollope.

Summer on the River by Marcia Willett may very well end up on my Favorites of 2018 list. I loved it. What a lovely, interesting group of characters Ms. Willett has given us. Full of love for one another, making their own family with Evie at the helm - protective as any mother cat would be - and doing a fine job of it.