The Willow Lake Group

By: Kelly Proudfoot

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

Gavin Ramsay, a 42-year-old man with a checkered past, travels to Willow Lake - a sleepy town somewhere in New England - to complete a carpentry contract. On the way he meets Liam Strindberg, a 27-year-old hipster who is reeling after his fiancé left him on the morning of their wedding day.

When they arrive at Willow Lake, they go their separate ways - only to be reunited at the Willow Lake Bookstore - where they meet the colorful characters in the bookstore's literary group.

Finally, Gavin has found the family he's been searching for his whole life. The icing on the cake is the love that soon develops between Gavin and Sondra - the enchanting witch who does all the cooking for the group.

As for Liam - he never expected to fall in love with a woman's handwriting - which leads him through a dark path of obsession and soul-searching.

As all their lives become entangled - the Willow Lake Group find it more and more difficult to retain the peace.

All Sondra wants is Gavin - and the successful completion of her Wiccan cookbook.

All Gavin wants is Sondra - and for Liam to disappear.

All Liam wants is Sondra - at any cost.

©2016 Kelly Proudfoot (P)2016 Kelly Proudfoot

Colorful and Entertaining Characters

I had read the book and then when I was able to listen to the Willow Lake Group, I realized that it would bring them to a new level. I already had pictures of the characters in my head, now I have voices to go with the, The story was filled with love, friendship, obsession, and secrets. When the narrator took on the voices with such skill it was amazing.

Kelly Proudfoot has written a beautiful story about a group of people that meet to read poetry and each person in the group was as different as they could be. When Gavin and Liam come into town, having only met on the train into town, they ended up at the same poetry group. They both met the people in the group at that time and both were attracted to Sondra.

With poetry and drama in each meeting there were humorous situations. There was also heart. So much heart and affection between the members of the group. The book allowed me to touch that affection, but listening to the different personalities being portrayed in the narration, It bloomed.

The members of the group were all ages. It was interesting to see how the older members parented the younger. There was also the beautiful relationship that Sondra and Gavin. Lightening fast and deeper than either of them would have believed. It was really a lovely relationship.

This is a book you should read or even better, listen to. It is such a beautiful well told story.