Today we welcome author Corinne LaBalme to Andi's Book Reviews. She has taken one of my favorite tropes and made it all her own. Read an excerpt and my review of Summer People. You can also read her thoughts on making her book into a movie. Let her know what you think in the comments! And be sure to follow the tour for more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!
Read an excerpt:
“To you...” he began.
Jessica leaned forward, both hands cupping her wineglass.
“To you and...” Wait a second! Where was that humongous gem she had on her left hand ring finger this morning? What kind of crazy game was this woman playing with him?
“Yes...?” prompted Jessica.
“To you... and to the unexpected,” said Rick slowly.
“To unexpected pleasures, at any rate,” said Jessica brightly after the pause threatened to become uncomfortable. “Like this marvelous homemade chili. I think the toast should be to the chef.” She raised her glass and took a sip.
Plan B. What the hell is Plan B? wondered Rick as he watched her intently. He didn't detect any come-hither in her straightforward gaze. In fact, her smile conveyed nothing except neighborly concern that he might have been struck deaf and dumb all of a sudden. He raised his glass again, took a long swallow, and turned to his plate. Plan B is all hers, he decided.
(affiliate link included)
**My thoughts**
I admit I am a sucker for these books where a woman decides to start over on an island and finds true love. But this one is just a little different.
Jessica already owns this charming old house on Cape Cod and rents it out during the summers. This summer, for fun, she decides to switch things up and finally open an antique store featuring the Americana pieces she loves and her hoity-toity husband won't allow in his fancy Boston gallery.
She knows there's something off in her marriage, but can't quite put her finger on it.
And as long as she believes she has a real marriage, she is not pursuing the hottie across the street.
And oh, how I love the first time they meet.
Rick as as you'd expect - the gorgeous friendly and helpful guy who is doing his own do-over and was badly hurt in a previous relationship. And he can't help but be attracted to Jessica, even though he can't quite figure her out.
They do strike up quite the friendship, which is necessary for the stable foundation, especially after being so badly burned. And Jessica is able to find some inner strength that has been stifled for years.
Throw in a conniving little weasel of a man and you get a hint of a thriller as well.
Kudos to the author for taking this trope and making it all her own. I was thoroughly entertained on a cold and rainy evening.
I received a requested review copy from the publisher via Goddess Fish. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If SUMMER PEOPLE was made into a movie…
Oh, Andi! Let me day-dream – just a little – about the money! Oh my goodness… would it be enough to buy my own dreamhouse on Cape Cod? Enough to buy…? Oh heavens! Be still my heart! (Is there a defibrillator in the house?) Breathe deeply… breathe deeply…
OK, let’s take this fantasy seriously. Shall we say ‘TV movie’ since Hollywood films seem to take forever to get made? I’d like to get this story into our imaginary living rooms soon. SUMMER PEOPLE was conceived as a ‘happy pill’ and people need some happy right now.
Settings?
Can anyone find more photogenic beaches than the sandy shores of Cape Cod? Wait… don’t answer that. Remember Dawson’s Creek? That was supposed to be Cape Cod but they shot the whole show in North Carolina and I hate to say, it kinda fooled me now and then. NO… not this time! I’ll enlist the entire Massachusetts Tourist Board and INSIST on ‘authentic’ Cape Cod.
Now… bigger question: Who’s gonna star in it?
Well… I’d definitely want a Jennifer Aniston ‘type’ as Jessica. (Type? What I mean is ‘less expensive’.) And for Rick? He’s gotta be a total hunk with Native American roots. Adrian Grenier? Nope… cute as hell but retired. If we could dig someone out of the distant past… why not Elvis Presley circa 1961? He had Cherokee heritage. If time machines fail, no need to worry. The 2022 Rick heart-throb is out there somewhere and a brilliant casting director will find him. (This guy doesn’t even have to sing or play guitar.) And you’ll see a lot of him in the future. SUMMER PEOPLE will make him a huge bankable star.
OK… I’m going to pour myself a glass of wine and wonder if my dreamhouse will be in Yarmouth, Hyannis, or Harwich Port.
And when Rick will visit…?
Sweet dreams!
The setting for SUMMER PEOPLE is founded on childhood memories of vacations on Cape Cod and based on my mother’s (very real) house in Brewster.
The romantic hero of SUMMER PEOPLE -- Rick Martell -- is the kind of guy who exists only in our sweetest & beachiest dreams…. sigh!
Twitter: @corinnelabalme
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corinnelabalme/
Website: https//corinnelabalme.com/
Corinne LaBalme will be awarding $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteHello Andi, Thanks so much for the lovely review. It's so nice to wake up in the morning and find out that someone has enjoyed the story! Wishing you a very happy day and many delightful reading adventures, Corinne
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rita!
DeleteThanks, Rita!
DeleteThis sounds like an incredible read.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy it! Let me know!
DeleteSummer People sounds like a delightful read and I like the cover...oh and by the way... your t.v. fantasy sounds great, Corinne! Thanks for sharing your book with me!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andie for sharing your thoughts!
Have a sunshiny day!
Yes, the cover by Diana Carlile totally captures windswept dunes of Cape Cod. (She also did the cover for my cozy ghost-writer mystery French Ghost.. . I'm a total fan!) And yes, crossing fingers always for tv!
Delete