Summer's Child

By: Diane Chamberlain

Narrated by: Carla Mercer-Meyer

Length: 12 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Early on the morning of her 11th birthday, on the beach beside her North Carolina home, Daria Cato receives an unbelievable gift from the sea: an abandoned newborn baby. When the infant's identity cannot be uncovered, she is adopted by Daria's loving family. Now, 20 years later, Shelly has grown into an unusual, ethereal young woman whom Daria continues to protect. But when Rory Taylor, a friend from Daria's childhood and now a television producer, returns at Shelly's request to do a story about the circumstances surrounding her birth, something precarious shifts in the small town of Kill Devil Hills.

The more questions Rory asks, the more unsettled the tiny community becomes, as closely guarded secrets and the sins of that long-ago summer begin to surface. Piece by piece, the mystery of summer's child is being exposed, a mystery that no one involved - not Shelly, Daria, not even Rory - is prepared to face.

©2000 Diane Chamberlain; revised text copyright 2010 by Diane Chamberlain (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Chamberlain creates a captivating tale populated with haunting characters." ( Publishers Weekly)

Fantastic !!!!!

I have a few Diane Chamberlain's books. I am glad I didn't read "THE ONE SHE LEFT BEHIND" and Before the storm. They were terrible, I read this book and it gave you the twist and turns, just like her trilogy. I loved it!!!!!!

But don't take my word for it I tried "The one she left behind ' hoping it would get better but after 28 chapters I called it quits, so I am not going to waste my time listening to the sequel.

let my know what you think. [e-mail]
Robyn Collins

Review of Summer’s Child

I enjoyed this book tremendously and was very sorry when it concluded. Highly recommend it.

Loved

I found myself not able to put this one down. If I did not have work, I would have read it in one day. Loved it and feel like it's pretty a pretty remarkable story.

Re print

Felt like it was slow to me . Just know this is a re print and is an old book

Love the plot twist!

I don't usually write reviews but this story is worth the effort! I loved the imperfections in all the characters...... A clear reminder that life isn't perfect and can be messy BUT interesting and absorbing! Highly recommend this story to those who like reading a book that has a BIG surprise ending! Enjoy!

Story Good Narrator Not So Much

The story was a decent listen, nothing I would suggest but good enough to finish. Getting past the narrator was painful. Narrator couldn't get the voices she sounded the same no matter if it was man or woman, flat,paused to much (I think that was for effect) I listened to this on the train just for something to listen to. I believe I would have gotten into the book better with a better narrator.

Disappointing ending

This was a long book with lots of twists and turns. Really interesting characters whose lives intertwined in ways not expected. With that said, the ending was very disappointing. Grace’s story was never even finished and shelly’s story was just “it all worked out. The end”. I don’t understand how so much effort and detail can be put int the story to finish so poorly. It’s like the author got tired writing and just said the end.

Really enjoyable.

Fun book, enjoyable to listen to. Kept me wondering to the end. The reader did a really good job :)

Occasional reader

This story captured my interest from the start. It portrayed emotions from all sides of the adoption triad. It had several different storylines going on, but learning how they all intertwined made for an exciting book. I have not checked yet so maybe they do, but I would to see the characters continue in a series.

Great story. Horrible narration.

Narration was much more mechanical than natural. I kept listening because the story held my attention, but had a hard time with the robotic monotone of the narrator.