I’ve read a lot of Mandy Baggot’s books and thoroughly enjoy them, but this one didn’t do it for me. I nearly gave up half way through the book, I didn’t like Robyn’s character at all. She’d been away for 9 years and came back taking everything over being bossy to everyone. I didn’t like the way she spoke to her best friend, I’d never speak to mine like that. I enjoyed the underlying storyline, just didn’t warm to the female lead character. I’d still look out for her next book. Thank you for accepting my request.

Sadly, not for me. The cover and blurb didn't lead to the story they were supposed to portray - it was very hard to remember this was set on a lake throughout, and the vibe just wasn't fun and chick-lit. Having the hero's POV drop in for 3-5 lines every now and then also made it feel off, like did the story really need it?
But what really did me in was the character of Robyn. Sadly, to me, she was an utter a**hole throughout and it was hard to root for her.

Baggot creates a real sense of place, she even had me rooting for the ice hockey players!

Another enjoyable gem.

Robyn Matthers has been away from home for a long time. And coming home is very rarely ever easy. 

When Robyn comes home to a sick father that has left his business in shambles and his hockey team the same--she knows she has to do what she can to help him. 

The story and arc between Robyn and her father is enough to make this a wonderful read. Add in the sweet love story--and this author caught me with an amazing story.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

Another brilliant book from Mandy. Always a massive fan of her work.

Robyn returns to her home town after 9 years because her dad is sick. She meets Cole at the airport on her way after her bag handle breaks. Little did she know when she met him that he has relocated to her home town. Cole changes Robyn’s life for the better. A brilliant book of love and loss.

Another great story by Mandy Baggot she draws you in from the first pages with characters you care about, plenty of fun and laughter and a good storyline. The main characters were lovely with a depth to them so that you were really rooting for them. A real page turner that I read in one session

The perfect summer romance novel! This book was lighthearted, funny and makes you catch yourself smiling when you least expect it.

Summer by the Lake by Mandy Baggot

Cole and Robyn met on a flight from Chicago to Pontage. She’s returning home after 9 years as her father is gravely ill and he’s taking on a new position at the pharmaceutical company in the town. The story starts out as a fun loving woman trying to get everyone back into shape.

It is fun with humorous characters but there is a heart wrenching underlying storyline that just pulls at every heart string and is handled really well by Mandy Baggott .

A well written can’t put down novel with a wealth of characters.

Ice hockey players, need I say more, especially good looking, talented, sexy ice-hockey players!

And a determined woman, Robyn who is back in town after 9 years, to help her father out while he undergoes a bypass.

Robyn has a taken no prisoners approach to revamping both the roadhouse and also the ice-hockey team her father, Eddie, coaches.

I loved how Robyn was speaking to Eddie and his ward mate Max, in the hospital scenes. She is determined that both men will improve!

And then there is Cole, incredibly intelligent, kind hearted and just there, from a chance meeting on the way to a plane, he is in Robyn's life.

Neither of them want to date though for their own reasons and the reasons Robyn hasn't been back to her hometown in 9 year is traumatic.

This is Mandy Baggot at her finest with characters you care about, a budding romance and a real sense of place. I was rooting on the ice-hockey team, and loved seeing the changes in the Roadhouse.

A delightful and enjoyable story to read.

Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Nice feel hood book to make you smile. Well written and good plot. Nice to read on these cold dark nights and imagine your there with the characters

Mandy Baggot really excels at this type of crazy, fun rfilled omance but what sets her apart from many other writers of this genre is the way she handles sensitive subjects. Outwardly Robyn is a real feisty girl who tunelessly sings Reba McEntire songs and thinks nothing of playing ice hockey with the men but she has a past she prefers to forget. Cole is tall, dark and handsome and is trying to find a cure for cancer, what's not to like but what is he trying to escape. . When these two come together it's electric but can they find happiness or will their pasts destroy any chance of a lasting romance. I laughed and I cried my way through this book and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

This book was so refreshing to read! I loved the complex backgrounds of the characters, and the ways in which they grew throughout this book.
I really loved the fact that the author paid so much attention to setting the scene throughout the story, as it really helped me get a better grasp of the characters too.

I truly enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from Mandy Baggot in the future!.

I struggled to get into this book. I’m not sure why as I usually love Mandy Baggot’s writing, but this just didn’t grab me in the same way as her other books have done in the past. I think it was perhaps the American setting, nothing against America but I prefer UK-based books (and UK spelling, the American spellings in the book are definitely annoying).
That said, I’ve still given it 4 stars as it was a well-rounded book with interesting and at times challenging themes within the story.
I can’t say I warmed to the main character, Robyn, as she was too forward & bossy for my liking, but hey, I’m certainly not anti-female empowerment and there is no reason why women shouldn’t be like that, I like strong female leads, and Robyn is certainly this, but perhaps I just like my characters a bit more pleasant & easy-going than Robyn.
A good summer read, but just not my cup of tea.

I was so happy to read another book by Mandy Baggot as i love her writing style and her romances! But unfortunately this time I didn't really enjoy this book "Summer by the Lake" only because I didn't really like the main character Robyn. She was way too boyish, too vulgar and straighforward for me and so I just couldn't relate to her and wasn't very attracted by her. So I had a hard time enjoying this book. But I am sure a lot of people will like her way to be and will enjoy this book much more that I did because Mandy Baggot is a brilliant author. It just didn't do it for me this time. I am sure I will enjoy her next book much more!

I really enjoyed this book, in fact I read it in one sitting. The chemistry between the main couple is so well written and the pace of the book is excellent. The story unfolds carefully and beautifully, allowing you to guess ahead and sometimes you're right - but sometimes you're wrong!

It has a good cast of characters, all well shaped and described. I also loved the descriptions of places, none of which I have been to but I could easily imagine anyway. This is the second Mandy Baggot book that has impressed me, she's now on my 'must read' list.

I thought that this a really great story - it has everything I look for in a book, it was funny, heartfelt and romantic - definitely a book to brighten your day!

I thought that the characters were very good, they were well developed, they were genuine, amusing and caring and I really loved getting to know them, they were so well developed and their interaction was perfect - this story was one that really captured the feelings!

The writing style was perfect for me, the detail was very good and I felt like I was with them throughout their journey.

It is 5 stars from me for this one, another excellent release from Mandy - very highly recommended!!

Good storyline. great charcters, the story flowed really well, and it was a fun read. I sat and read this in the garden and it was a great way to while away an afternoon.

I absolutely loved the story of Robyn and Cole. A whirlwind romance and a back story of some serious issues.....for both of them. Perfectly told, with humour, tender moments and a bit of spice. I love a Mandy Baggot book and this one is fabulous!

I love rom-com with a bite! This novel had this in spades and kept me from sleeping, and I couldn't have been more pleased! Ms Baggot has delivered a novel full of wit, charm, twists, turns and shocks. Not easy to read because of that, but all the more gripping and unputdownable because of that. Made a nice change and I can't wait to read more of this author.

My thanks to Netgalley and Aria for the reading copy.