Skinny Dipping

November 19, 2007
Set once again in Minnesota and chock-full of eccentric characters, Brockway's latest (following Hot Dish
) centers around the fate of Chez Ducky, the Olson family's century-old summer retreat on the shores of Fowl Lake. With Chez Ducky in desperate need of repair, property taxes rising and palatial homes defiling the once pristine shoreline—like the one next door built by millionaire whiz kid Prescott Tierney—the family decides to sell. Mimi Olson thinks selling is a bad idea, but 40 years of skirting responsibility, organization and commitment of all kinds keeps her from getting it together, despite fond memories of the family's annual skinny dipping. During her farewell visit to Chez Ducky, Prescott and his dad, Joe, have a run-in with a Minnesota snowbank, and suddenly Mimi's in charge of two injured men, three dogs and her pregnant half-sister, who shows up unannounced. While the book moves along at an entertaining pace and the narrative is lively, readers might have a tough time empathizing with the apathetic heroine, even as she discovers her purpose in life.

Starred review from December 15, 2007
Noted primarily for her award-winning historicals, Brockway ("Hot Dish") continues her successful foray into the contemporary market with this funny and quirky yet poignantly touching story that takes an obligation-averse, second-sighted heroine with an unstructured, chaotic life, pairs her with an analytical, orderly hero with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and adds a cast of delightfully offbeat characters. From the cute meet (the heroine is naked, dripping with weeds, muck, and twigs after skinny-dipping; our hero is impeccably dressed) to the satisfying conclusion, this heartwarming tale sparkles with humor and love as an extended family finally discovers the real importance of their shared lakeside vacation home. An exquisitely rendered setting, an abundance of complex family dynamics, a story that explores what it means to belong, and a beautifully developed romantic relationship guarantee the appeal of this well-crafted tale for both romance and women's fiction fans alike. Brockway, who lives in Edina, MN, has penned another winner.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2007
Mimi Olson believed in a no-commitment and obligation-free kind of life, but that changed the day her relatives decided to sell Chez Ducky. Of course, it should not have come as a big surprise that a few Olsons wanted to cash in the family compound on Lake Fowl, but Mimi isnt about to let some wealthy upstart outsider buy up the land just so they can build a McMansion. Much to her surprise, Mimi not only becomes the voice of opposition but her simple life also quickly becomes very complicated when she agrees to temporarily take care of her twentysomething millionaire neighbor Prescott Tierney and his three dogs, and then realizes she just might be falling in love with her perfect foil: Prescotts logical-to-a-fault father. Spiked with her addictively acerbic wit, Brockways latest beguiling blend of womens fiction and romance slowly unfolds into a richly nourishing tale of family, friendship, love, and laughter.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)