• Summer at Willow Lake

  • The Lakeshore Chronicles, Book 1
  • By: Susan Wiggs
  • Narrated by: Joyce Bean
  • Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (295 ratings)

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Summer at Willow Lake  By  cover art

Summer at Willow Lake

By: Susan Wiggs
Narrated by: Joyce Bean
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Publisher's summary

Susan Wiggs's Lakeshore Chronicles series has captivated thousands of listeners with its relatable characters, warm humor and engaging stories. Summer at Willow Lake is the story that started it all. Meet Olivia, Connor and the families and friends of Willow Lake that make these emotional romances a must-hear.

Real estate expert Olivia Bellamy reluctantly trades a trendy Manhattan summer for her family's old resort camp in the Catskills, where her primary task will be renovating the bungalow colony for her grandparents, who want one last summer together filled with fun, friends and family. A posh resort in its heyday, the camp is now in disarray and Olivia is forced to hire contractor Connor Davis - a still-smoldering flame from her own summers at camp.

But as the days grow warm, not even the inviting blue waters of Willow Lake can cool the passions flaring or keep shocking secrets at bay. The nostalgic joy of summers past breathes new promise into a special place and people...a promise meant to last long after the season ends.

Don't miss Candlelight Christmas, the latest story in the Lakeshore Chronicles series by #1 New York Times Bestselling author Susan Wiggs.

©2006 Susan Wiggs (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

What listeners say about Summer at Willow Lake

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Finding Love at Summer Camp

The bus would arrive at summer camp and lots of kid's would hop down the steps of the bus, eager to start their summer vacation. The camp was owned by Olivia's grandparents.

Olivia and Conner had sat next to each other on the bus. Therefore, as a team of two, they climbed up a hill, stopping now and again to look around and talk. Olivia was over weight, wore big glasses, her hair was braided into pig tails and thought that no one liked her. She would be having a tougher time this year because her cousin's were going on a road trip with their parent's to California. Olivia felt lost without them because now she wouldn't have anyone to hang around with. Olivia wasn't good with stranger's. She didn't know what to say and when she did speak, her words were unkind.

The camper's would reunite each summer and that was how Olivia and Conner made a connection. However, the last summer they spent at the camp there was a misunderstanding about their feelings towards each other. Each went their own way and found their themselves away from one another.

The camp had been closed for many years. Olivia's grandparent's had been married at the camp and wanted to renew their vows on the same spot as they had done fifty years before. However, there was a huge problem. The camp needed someone to orchestrate refurbishing it, due to its lack of use. Olivia was called by her grandmother and asked if she could spend her summer doing just that.

Olivia now owned her own business, Foundations. The purpose of Foundations was to refresh homes to look nicer than they actually were, for a quick sale. Olivia and her employees would buy furniture and such to inspire those who were looking to purchase a home. They may buy a painting, antique tables or rearrange things that were already in the home and the homes sold faster because Foundations had renewed the spirit of the home. Therefore, knowing this, was why Olivia's grandmother told her she'd be the perfect person to get the camp in shape for renewing their vows.

The language was fairly tame. The word f#### seems to appear in every book that I've been reading lately and the lead character, man/woman, has red hair. The book was a smooth and easy listen. The character's were not very developed. The story was calm and predictable, it was a gentle love story. This genre of book is enjoyed by many and they would not be disappointed if they purchased this book. The narration was very good and that always makes for a good read.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Please, please, PLEASE get a new narrator!

What did you like best about Summer at Willow Lake? What did you like least?

I could not get through the the first chapter so I am totally unqualified to give an opinion about the story. The reason? The narrator was HORRIBLE.
I just finished wiggs' Bellavista books on Audible and they were great! Loved the stories, the characters and the narrator. I felt like a found a new favorite author to listen to-- perfect for my gym sessions. I couldn't wait to start the Lakeshore Chronicles. But, sadly, that's not going to happen because it looks like they all have the same narrator.

What didn’t you like about Joyce Bean’s performance?

Her voice was just not right for this story.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So good!

I loved this book. Small town setting, by a lake, second chance romance, large family with great relationships - it had so many of the things that I love in romance series.

I love Olivia and Connor as characters. I love that their relationship grew steadily while I was able to find out about their past history thru flashback chapters. They had a Big Major Event that happened years ago that left them disconnected, but they have coincidentally reconnected to work together on a huge summer-long renovation project. Of course, they grow closer throughout the duration of the project, and due to their past history, this is sort of a second chance romance.

The secondary cast, comprised mainly of Olivia's family, is great and I'm excited to continue with this series and read the stories featuring each character.

The narrator is okay. I see mixed reviews but I really did enjoy this audiobook. The male voices aren't the best but this won't keep me from continuing this series on audiobook. I already have several of the titles in my library.

I would recommend this one and, yes, I think it's totally worth a credit. I'll for sure be re-listening when I revisit my "summer reads" lists in the future.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

"Beach" Book

Good book to read at the beach - you loose yourself reading this book -
Easy reading - keeps your interest. I think that this book would interest - high school age to Grandmother age - most women can relate to at least some of what the characters have gone through in life.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Just couldn't finish it...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I really liked the Apple Orchard by Wiggs. I purchased another one of her books but it was by a different narrator and I simply could not stand her slurring S's and voice for the male character. I had to return the book. I will purchase a copy for my Kindle and read it on the beach this summer.

If you’ve listened to books by Susan Wiggs before, how does this one compare?

I couldn't get through it. Not the author's fault.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Joyce Bean?

Anyone but Bean! I cannot listen to slurry S's.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Nice Story, poor narrator

Having hard time finishing this book. Narration was poor! Trying to finish book because Susan Wiggs books are usually pretty good.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Summer at Willow Lake

Listening to the story was good except when the narrator did the voice of the I’m thinking the good looking man. Could hardly stand it and almost sent the book back because of it!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Start & Stop

I’m listening to this in between other books. The narrator is not good. If she was better, I would not have such a hard time getting through the book. The only reason I am putting forth the effort is because it is apart of a series. I may just give up & read the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Took me back to times I loved

Thoroughly enjoyable. Having grown up in camp right where this is set, it was especially delightful. This is my third Susan Wiggs book and I look forward to others. A great compliment to more intense books.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Filed under terrible purchase

The narration is not good. I wanted to like this book. I loved summer camp, but it wasn’t happening. I left it unfinished with a couple hours to go. I filed in my folder called terrible purchase. Sadly it has company. I need to review better before purchasing! Not the light summer read I needed.

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