Secrets of the Lost Summer

Olivia Frost moves back to her hometown in New England and sets about working on her historic home. When she writes to the owner of the run-down house next door, Dylan McCaffrey, an ex-hockey player turned multimillion-dollar executive, shows up, hoping to discover why his late father bought the house. Susan Boyce lends a clear and expressive voice as narrator. She deftly moves from one main character to the other, bringing the nuances of their personalities to life in her dramatizations. Standout characterizations include the timid voice of Olivia's anxiety-ridden mother and the outspoken but unmistakably elderly voice of Grace, a neighbor who may know the secrets behind the house. Boyce's adroit handling of pace and timing makes an intriguing plot even more seductive. M.F. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

December 5, 2011
Bestseller Neggers (The Whisper) spins a tale of stolen jewels, long-lost love, and other secrets in this engaging contemporary romance. Olivia Frost has returned to Knights Bridge, Mass., to turn a historic home into a getaway destination. A neighboring house is in disarray, so Olivia writes to the owner, Dylan McCaffrey, asking him to clean it up. Dylan has no idea his late father left him the property until he gets Olivia’s note. Curious, he travels to Knights Bridge, where he and Olivia hit it off. Soon they are digging into the past, trying to find out why Dylan’s father bought the house and what secrets its previous owner might have had. Lovely descriptions of the countryside add plenty of New England charm, but the romance between Olivia and Dylan is overshadowed by the more interesting flashbacks, secrets, and experiences of a secondary character. Agent: Writers House.