I thought this is a real "feel-good" story. Nothing earth shattering here. I enjoyed it, but for me it was fluff. ( )

I enjoyed this book. It made you realize how fragile life can be, how people are taken advantage of every day and how you just need to love life and not take it so seriously. I love the childlike wonder of Teddy who just loves life and flowers. The struggles Hannah Beth has with her recovery and the struggles Rebecca experiences pulls at the heart. An enjoyable book. ( )

I read this book because I was attratcted to the cover of the sequel, Beyond Summer. This was a very good book, told from alternating points of view of several of the characters. The story is about Rececca, a woman who, along with her mother, was 'abandonded' by her father when she was a young girl. He left he family for 'another woman' who had a young son. Though the son considered Rebecca his 'sister' she never returned the feelings and would have nothing to do with her father. Her mother encouraged this attitude. Fast forward many years....Rebecca is contacted by the police in the city where her father now lives. He has been found wandering the streets, diagnosed with Alzheimers. Her wife, Hanna Beth, is hospitalized, recovering from a stroke. Her grown son, Teddy, is no help, as he is mentally a child. It is left to Rebecca to come in and pick up the pieces. When she arrives, she learns there had been a housekeeper to care for her father, who has now disappeared. The story continues as Rebecca learns in order to settle things and escape back to her life she must stay and develop a relationship with her estranged family. As the relationship develops, she learns some things about herself, her father, her mother, and her stepfamily. Very interesting ( )

Not my favorite by this author.

Usually she has wonderful characters, but I just couldn't connect with anyone in the story. It seemed contrived and predictable to me. ( )

first rate writing. Rebecca a-becca must go to her dad and his new wife after 30 yrs. of avoiding them. She finds out they are nice as is Teddy, the mind handicapped but loving son. Strokes, dementia, caregiver stealing, its' all here. ( )