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Winslow, Rhode Island is one of those seaside towns that have sleepy winters and booming summers. For Rosa Capoletti, the booming summers were her livelihood. She’d taken over the pizza joint she’d grown up working in and transformed it into the premiere romantic restaurant of Rhode Island, Celesta’s-by-the-Sea. Her biggest clientele were the affluent visitors the balmy summer months brought to her small town. It was also one of those affluent visitors that had broken her heart ten years ago, Alexander Montgomery. They’d been summer friends since grade school and as the years went by their friendship grew into that wonderful teen romance. But as with all first loves, theirs was bittersweet. Just when Rosa needed Alex the most, he left her.
In the ten years since Alex Montgomery has been to Winslow, he’s only returned once before now. Two years after he left Rosa without an explanation he’d come back to explain and try to pick up the pieces. She’d sent him packing. His mother’s recent death has brought him back to Winslow and once he sees Rosa again, he knows that she is the only woman for him.
Rosa can’t deny that her feelings for Alex flared up again as if he’d never broken her heart, but she’s not ready to trust him with it again just yet. They may be living in the same town again but they are worlds apart in society. When tragedy strikes yet again, can their recently repaired love survive?
From the Montagues and Capulets to Lancelot and Guinevere, love across the boundaries has been a subject of romance for centuries. SUMMER BY THE SEA revisits this theme with Rosa and Alex. Susan Wiggs has brought to life these two wonderful characters, Rosa using food to heal the hurt-as most women do-and Alex, desperately wanting to fill the void he caused. Not only is the book tempting enough as it is, but Ms. Wiggs has added some fantastic recipes at the beginning of each chapter. Captivating reading and terrific recipes, what more could you ask for in a SUMMER BY THE SEA?
Reviewed by Tina Burns
for The Road to Romance
August 24, 2004
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