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    Up at Butternut Lake: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Up at Butternut Lake: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Up at Butternut Lake: A Novel
    Ebook411 pages7 hours

    Up at Butternut Lake: A Novel

    By Mary McNear

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    New York Times and USA Today Bestseller!

    In the tradition of Kristin Hannah and Susan Wiggs, Mary McNear introduces readers to the town of Butternut Lake and to the unforgettable people who call it home.

    It's summer, and after ten years away, Allie Beckett has returned to her family's cabin beside tranquil Butternut Lake, where as a teenager she spent so many carefree days. She's promised her five-year-old son, Wyatt, they will be happy there. She's promised herself this is the place to begin again after her husband's death in Afghanistan. The cabin holds so many wonderful memories, but from the moment she crosses its threshold Allie is seized with doubts. Has she done the right thing uprooting her little boy from the only home he's ever known?

    Allie and her son are embraced by the townsfolk, and her reunions with old acquaintances—her friend Jax, now a young mother of three with one more on the way, and Caroline, the owner of the local coffee shop—are joyous ones. And then there are newcomers like Walker Ford, who mostly keeps to himself—until he takes a shine to Wyatt . . . and to Allie.

    Everyone knows that moving forward is never easy, and as the long, lazy days of summer take hold, Allie must learn to unlock the hidden longings of her heart, and to accept that in order to face the future she must also confront—and understand—what has come before.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateApr 8, 2014
    ISBN9780062283153
    Unavailable
    Up at Butternut Lake: A Novel
    Author

    Mary McNear

    Mary McNear, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Butternut Lake series, writes in a local doughnut shop, where she sips Diet Pepsi, observes the hubbub of neighborhood life, and tries to resist the constant temptation of freshly made doughnuts. Mary bases her novels on a lifetime of summers spent in a small town on a lake in the northern Midwest.

    Read more from Mary Mc Near

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    Reviews for Up at Butternut Lake

    3.5/5

    45 ratings12 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      I enjoyed the book, but I felt it was predictable. You know from the start who would get together and why. I felt the one character, Jax, was a throw in. She had a great story, but it was just put in the book and never really developed. I don't think her backstory was necessary to having her in the book as Allie's friend. So....it was ok.
    • 5/5
      This was a very good book and an eay read. It dealt with a problem common today. A soldier was killed in Afghanistan. His widow and five year old son move to her familyl's cabin on Butternut Lake. There was a divorced man living across the lake. They were attracted to each other but their relationship was rocky. She felt quilty about loving him even though it had been over two years since her husband's death. Read the book to see if they were able to work out their problems.
    • 4/5
      After ten years away, Allie Beckett has returned to her family's cabin beside tranquil Butternut Lake, where as a teenager she spent so many carefree days. She's promised her five-year-old son, Wyatt, they will be happy there. She's promised herself this is the place to begin again after her husband's death in Afghanistan. Allie and her son are embraced by the townsfolk, and her reunions with old acquaintances—her friend Jax, now a young mother of three with one more on the way, and Caroline, the owner of the local coffee shop—are joyous ones. And then there are newcomers like Walker Ford, who mostly keeps to himself—until he takes a shine to Wyatt . . . and to Allie. (Amazon Desc.)McNear easily draws the reader in with likable characters, a beautiful setting, and an interesting plot. The romance between Allie and Walker is hot and problematic given the past issues both must overcome. The glimpse we see into Jax's life and Caroline's, leaves the reader wanting to know more about this interesting little town and the people who live there.
    • 4/5
      What a wonderful story about moving on and finding your heart again. With an amazing setting (that makes me wish is was warm out) and characters that you want to root for, get to know and engage with. It was an easy read and great for Spring.
    • 4/5
      Very Good read! I felt a connection to this book right away. This story takes place on a lake in Minnesota, but it could have taken place right near me in the Adirondacks. The author did an excellent job setting the scene. I felt like I was right back at my cabin overlooking the lake, going for a ride in our canoe. This story really took me there. It really gives you that small town cozy feeling.The character development is great. I got a good feel for all the characters. For a minute I thought whoa, why is the author telling these side plots about the other characters? Then I remembered - this is book one of a series. she she is introducing them for future books - smart! I really liked all the people. The main couple Allie and her son Wyatt and new love interest - Walker were like right out of a movie. I really loved Caroline who ran the coffee shop (of course I would like her) and Allie's friend Jax. They both have stories to tell and troubles to overcome.I wouldn't really call this romance, I would call it Woman's fiction with a love story. If you are looking for a unique, interesting, easy to get into kind of book - this is it! I love stories like this - takes place on a lake, cottage, great characters, and a coffee shop! This is going to be a great series. I can't wait to read the next book.
    • 4/5
      Title: Up at Butternut LakeAuthor: Mary McNearPublisher: William Morrow & CompanySeries: The Butternut Lake Trilogy #1Reviewed By: Arlena DeanAge Recommended: AdultRating: 4.5Review:"Up At Butternut Lake" by Mary McNear was a wonderful told contemporary inspirational romance novel. I will say this was a rather hard read for me but since I had asked to read it I chartered on. This author did a marvelous job with presented to us a story of Alice Beckett who was trying to pick up the pieces of her life now that she was a widow, she goes to a place looking for safety. Now she is with her son Wyatt on Butternut Lake. I enjoyed the read of this author's novel of showing how Alice is trying to make it from day to day and meets up with a friends and even a newcomer. I enjoyed reading how these four characters ...Alice, Jax and Caroline and Walker all connecting so well together but also showing how each did struggled with love, loss risk taken, fears that were confronted and a new embrace on life. I liked seeing this new life as it was seen coming to Alice and to even her son Wyatt. This author did a brilliant job in this presentation of a healing process and seeing it helping others from death of a love one, deception, failed marriage and even darker parts of the past that in the end that each of the four characters had to go through. I really enjoyed this part of the read even though it had been a hard read for me. It gives us hope for all who are in the need if it and I would definitely recommend it as a good read.
    • 4/5
      Trilogies that start a wonderful journey for a small town on a lake are an ideal way to spend the day or two reading! The second book of this trilogy is out so I will immediately go right out and buy it. The author did a great job developing the characters, leaving room for the other books to add on to their lives, and for us to join them again. The shops, the summer activities, the little cafes, anyone would want to spend time here, good read!
    • 3/5
      Nice summer read. Liked the characters and back stories./Little Wyatt was more of an adult than his own mother.Loved him.This was a predictable story from Chapter 1. BUT it was enjoyable.Butternut would be a wonderful place to live. I just wish more authors,especially female authors could write a story abt a woman that has survived her life struggles,is strong and independent and can have a man in her life, a companion without his sweeping her off her feet and rescuing her!
    • 4/5
      This was an enjoyable book to read. The writing flows nicely, and keeps you reading to see what happens next! Set in a small town, on Butternut Lake, it is homey, the characters warm, and there is a sense of community. It's just what hurting war widow Allie needs when she and her young son return to live in her grandfather's cabin on the lake, hoping to start a new life away from places that hold too much memory of her husband. Of course, there is an aloof handsome bachelor, who has his own issues, and romance blossoms although neither he nor Allie initially welcomes it. Her confusion as she struggles with holding on to the memories of her much loved husband and her growing attraction to another man is little wrenching....you feel her sorrow at her loss, but smile as she slowly allows herself to experience love again. There are other characters in the story who are also struggling with their own hurts and painful memories: Jax, Allie's friend from the past, now raising her own family but there is a secret in her past that is about to explode ; Caroline, the owner of the coffee shop who is a new lonely empty-nester. And Frankie, the gentle giant, an ex-con, who was given a job and a second chance by Caroline. Each character has their own story, their own pain, but still reach out to help each other. The relationships all blend to create a warm environment to help Allie heal, and to allow herself to consider the possibility of love again. This was a good read...and since the book here is listed as part of 'The Butternut Lake Trilogy, I will look forward to visiting these characters again soon!
    • 4/5
      Allie Becket has returned to the family cabin after her husband's death. She has a five-year-old son, Wyatt, and she hopes he will be happy living in Butternut Lake. The cabin is run-down and Allie is unsure of her decision to uproot Wyatt. She is happy to reconnect with her old friend Jax and becomes friends with Caroline who owns the local coffee shop. She also meets her neighbor, the handsome and aloof Walker Ford.I enjoyed this book. It was a comforting story with likeable characters. I'd read another book of hers!
    • 4/5
      "Up at Butternut Lake" is woman's fiction at its finest. The author, Mary McNear took her inspiritation from a television interview of a widow whose husband died serving his country. The protagonist of this novel, Allie, starting a new life as a widow. She leaves in previous life behind in Eden Prarie, MN and travels with her five year old son Wyatt to Buttnut Lake where her family has a home.She renews friendships for her many summers spent in the idyllic lake community and meets a man, Walker Ford, is still in pain over a broken marriage. Allie and Walker have many ups and downs on the road to creating a beautiful relationship. Rebuilding a broken heart is never easy.
    • 4/5
      Enjoyable quick light read, a little sorrow, a little joy. Grieving the loss of her husband in Afganistan, the main character, Allie, moves to her family cabin to escape from all the memories.