Monday Give Away: THE SUMMER WIVES
As the weather gets frosty, who else could use a bit of summer? This Monday’s give away is my writing sister, Beatriz Williams’s, The Summer Wives
Here’s the official blurb:
New York Times bestselling author Beatriz Williams brings us the blockbuster novel of the season—an electrifying postwar fable of love, class, power, and redemption set among the inhabitants of an island off the New England coast . . .
In the summer of 1951, Miranda Schuyler arrives on elite, secretive Winthrop Island as a schoolgirl from the margins of high society, still reeling from the loss of her father in the Second World War. When her beautiful mother marries Hugh Fisher, whose summer house on Winthrop overlooks the famous lighthouse, Miranda’s catapulted into a heady new world of pedigrees and cocktails, status and swimming pools. Isobel Fisher, Miranda’s new stepsister—all long legs and world-weary bravado, engaged to a wealthy Island scion—is eager to draw Miranda into the arcane customs of Winthrop society.
But beneath the island’s patrician surface, there are really two clans: the summer families with their steadfast ways and quiet obsessions, and the working class of Portuguese fishermen and domestic workers who earn their living on the water and in the laundries of the summer houses. Uneasy among Isobel’s privileged friends, Miranda finds herself drawn to Joseph Vargas, whose father keeps the lighthouse with his mysterious wife. In summer, Joseph helps his father in the lobster boats, but in the autumn he returns to Brown University, where he’s determined to make something of himself. Since childhood, Joseph’s enjoyed an intense, complex friendship with Isobel Fisher, and as the summer winds to its end, Miranda’s caught in a catastrophe that will shatter Winthrop’s hard-won tranquility and banish Miranda from the island for nearly two decades.
Now, in the landmark summer of 1969, Miranda returns at last, as a renowned Shakespearean actress hiding a terrible heartbreak. On its surface, the Island remains the same—determined to keep the outside world from its shores, fiercely loyal to those who belong. But the formerly powerful Fisher family is a shadow of itself, and Joseph Vargas has recently escaped the prison where he was incarcerated for the murder of Miranda’s stepfather eighteen years earlier. What’s more, Miranda herself is no longer a naïve teenager, and she begins a fierce, inexorable quest for justice for the man she once loved . . . even if it means uncovering every last one of the secrets that bind together the families of Winthrop Island.
Since now is a time to daydream of warmer climes and the sort of summer vacations that no one really seems to have anymore, here’s my question for you: if you had a long summer to spend anywhere in the world, where would you go?
The winner will be announced on Wednesday.
Ooooh I soooo want to read it!! I’m still waiting for my copy at the library!!!
I guess, if I had a long summer to spend anywhere, I’d choose to go to the sea. I’m in dire need of some time by the sea, it’s all I can think of right now (and has been for some time now!). Maybe in Brittany, France, because I love that part of France!!!
I think I would just love to travel around the states. Drive, take my time and visit where ever I want to. The Tennessee mountains. Drive around lake Michigan and stop at the waterfalls. Take in as much as I can.
If I had a long summer to spend absolutely anywhere, I think I’d go to the Canadian Rockies. I love to travel in general, but that has been one of my very favorite places – even in the middle of winter.
A summer in France (a la Madam Will you Talk? but without the murder and intrigue) sounds just the ticket 🙂
Madam Will You Talk! 🙂
Despite the heat I would take a trip to Egypt. Hands down the place that holds the top spot on my bucket list.
Sounds like an awesome read
Love to read and review!
what a great book, my sister has one but is passing it around with her friends, and I want to read it
I would spend a long summer in Hawaii, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Thank you for this chance as your book is on my TBR list!
I would go to Florida. I used to live there and I still consider it my home. My son and daughter inlaw live there as well. I miss the walks on the beach. The peaceful and calming ocean. Watching little children playing in the sand. Picking up seashells. If it wasn’t so expensive there, I would move back.
Any beach in SC! Our week’s vacation did not happen this year due to the hurricane that flooded many areas and roadways to get to our place. We may have gotten there; but were concerned that the one way out could have been breached with flooding; as areas of Conway SC were terribly flooded nearby.
I love the coast of Maine – the rocky coastline and the crazy New England weather than can be sunny one day and totally fogged-in the next. I’ll be adding this one to by TBR! Thanks!
I would finally, finally explore all of the UK. I’ve been to London and Oxford, and have always wanted to go back. I’m not a warm weather person (despite having been born and raised in Hawaii), so this would be my idea of heaven. 🙂
If I could go anywhere for the summer I would pick Finland. It’s where I was born and it is lovely on the summer. I’m not a warm weather or beach person.
I would want to spend the summer in Scotland—hiking, reading, exploring, etc. I have never been abroad so I spend my time reading about it 🙂
Either the FL panhandle or SC shore. Water, sand, a breeze, and a beach house.
Tuscany … I love Italy!
Scotland. In a village.
Aaaand the winner is SCOTLAND! Oh. . . I’m sorry. . . that wasn’t the contest, was it? I would love to spend the summer exploring the UK, especially. . . (wait for it). . . Scotland! I’ll just stop typing now.
Without a doubt…..London!!! Favorite city!
Right now my answer would have to be Hawaii! Trying to plan our vacation next year to Hawaii, and it is soooooo difficult to only choose 2 islands. So a long summer to hit all the islands would be great!
Thanks for the opportunity to win! Summer Wives is on my wish list at the library to read.
Maui, Hawaii. I visited one time for 7 days. Loved it. Also, of like a day or two visiting Honolulu to see Pearl Harbor Memorial again.
Without a doubt, Paris! An entire summer would be mesmerizing!
I live in Florida so I won’t choose a beach even though I love any beach. I’ve always wanted to go to England, Ireland and Scotland. I would love a summer to explore all three and find the places where my ancestors called home.
Michigan in a cottage by the Lake, maybe Traverse City. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
England and Scotland would be at the top of my list.
If I could go anywhere in the world, a summer in Egypt sailing the Nile would be the trip of a lifetime!
The Amalfi Coast of Italy. Gorgeous!
Ireland is number one on my bucket list. I would love to spend a summer exploring with my little family.
If I had a long summer to spend anywhere in the world I would probably go to Donegal Ireland to visit my dad’s cousins and explore my grandpa’s childhood home.
I would go to a Paris, France. I would love to see the Eiffel Tower, go to the Louvre and walk along the Seine.
I would travel to Italy and enroll in cooking classes in different provinces to learn as much as possible. My last stop.would be Tuscany where I would stay at a vineyard to study wine and cook for my host family all that I have learned that summer.
I would go back to Hawaii, it’s been a long time since I have been there & I would to hike & explore and see all the beautiful waterfalls & bathe in the warm blue water. Thanks for this amazing giveaway.
I would love to go to France, and travel the cities and countryside. I can’t wait to read this book, and would love having my own copy!
I would love to go to Hawaii. I have been dreaming of Hawaii ever since I watched Elvis’s Hawaii based movies with my mom when I was just a kid.
I would love to visit Paris, France. Never traveled abroad and this would be my destination pick. I mean, who wouldn’t enjoy Paris !
I would love to read this book
California or Hawaii! These are two destinations that I’ve never been to but would love to spend time there.
Italy is on my list! It seems like there are so many amazing places to visit, it might take a whole summer to appreciate the history.
A loooong summer? I think I’d like to go explore England. It would be fabulous to go visit in the countryside, take in pubs, walking paths, food!
I’d travel anywhere. I’ve hardly been through the U.S. and would love to travel cross country by car to as many places as possible.
I’d love to go to Hawaii. I’ve always wanted to go there.
I would spend my time by the sea in cape cod, reading elin hildenbrand and Beatriz Williams books!
I’d love to explore Australia and New Zealand – during their summer, of course.
I’d love to spend a long Summer in Italy eating my way around the countryside. Gelato, cheese, fresh beef…… You see where I’m headed with all that. Wine lets not forget the vino. 🍷 🍷 Cheers!! 🌞
This one is on my list along with traveling the world.. lol I can only dream..
If it were all summer, I’d love to spend it in Greece!
I’ve wanted to visit Eastern Europe ever since reading the Zion Covenant series in high school. (Each titles includes a different European country: Vienna Prelude, Prague Counterpoint, Munich Signature, Jerusalem Interlude, Danzig Passage, Warsaw Requiem, London Refrain, Paris Encore, Dunkirk Crescendo.) Between these stories and Rick Steves/ Samantha Brown travel episodes set in Eastern Europe, it sounds amazing! 🙂
I would take my dream cruise from NY to Europe on the White Star line. I would visit all those countries I only ever read about and then cruise back to NY at the end of it.
A peaceful island with a white sand beach. And a maitai.
Meanwhile, reading this book would be a nice vacation from reality! Thank you for the chance.
A long summer anywhere in the world? I’d go to Paris and enjoy living in such a beautiful city!
Definitely London. I’ve only ever been to Heathrow and there’s so much I want to see abs explore!
I would love a copy of my own to keep. I read this when I was waiting for my friend in the Cancer Center. Then I donated it to the nurses staff library.
I would LOVE to go to Ireland! there is so much history there and it looks like a beautiful place! I would spend my days out touring museums, looking at landmarks and exploring all the historical places it has to offer! Maybe exploring some pubs as well! I would love to take a mini vacation to my summer vacation and tour France and Scotland as well!
Next summer I plan on visiting Paris but only for a week. I would love to stretch it out for a summer and explore the entire country ❤️
New Harbor Maine, I know just the house I would like to spend it in to.
I think I would like to spend a summer in San Diego at my company’s beach house, Every time I’ve gone I’ve only had a week or ten days to enjoy and relax with girlfriends. Would love to have a whole summer on Mission Beach.
Oooh, this looks good! I’d have to say, in the states it would be somewhere on the coast of Maine, overseas would be Scotland/Wales or maybe a Scandinavian country! Hard to decide!
Italy for sure.
Yay!! I would love to spend the summer in Switzerland, Italy, or Bali. I’ve been wanting to go to all three of them because Switzerland seems beautiful (the mountains 😍), Italy seems fun, and Bali seems peaceful.
That’s really a good question. After much thought because I love the beach so much I’ve gone in the other direction. I think I’d spend the summer in Switzerland.
I would spend the summer on the Oregon Coast, traveling along the most beautiful beaches, cliffs and bucolic little beach towns I’ve ever seen!
I would love to visit Denmark & England, where my husband’s family & my family, respectively, came from. Any place I go, I go with a new book to read in down times.
This summer I have been discovering new authors (new to me), & have been reading some if my favorite author’s buddies. You are one of them! I would love to have my “starter book” be this one! (Once I find an author I like, I tend to read them all & spread the word to my friends!)
I am fortunate to live in Delaware, only 1 hour from the beach, and we will still have warmer days before winter sets in – although some snow was in Maryland mountains last weekend. I would love for fall temps to last longer, but not the hot summer days!
I would spend a summer in Florence Italy. I went there cor a week a few years back and loved how comfortable I felt while there.
Scottish moores, farm house 🙂
A whole summer in Croatia exploring where my ancestors lived. The Adriatic Sea is so beautiful, I could not imagine leaving there!
I love the crisp, cool, fresh air of the mountains. An Adirondak chair, with flashes of sunlight through the forestry ceiling. Warm by daylight, yet the necessary warm knitted socks, keeping within nature’s everchanging moods. I hear the birds symphonize with no concern for the impending changes of the season. I with my book, invited by it’s characters, joining them in their world, just for a while.
Thank you for this great opportunity. I love all thing Beatriz Williams.
Bar Harbor,Maine where I could kick up my feet by the sea and delve into novel after novel.
I would love to tour Italy!! There is so much history around every corner, and so many different and beautiful areas!
I would love to spend the summer on The Isle of Orleans, near Montreal. This is where my first relatives who came to North America settled.
This sounds like a gripping story! I would absolutely love to get this!
I would be happy to spend the summer in Amsterdam! Its a city that I came to Love with the canals and great history… wonderful shopping and beautiful vistas! Its also a real fascinating blend of people!
🙃💕📚
Hawaii. So much nature to explore, great food to eat, and the beaches!
I would go to Europe. I’ve never been and there’s so much to see that I would hope I would get to see all the countries in that time. Thanks for the chance to win!
Well, if I had such a chance I would love to spend it in a small, quintessential town for I have always loved to soak in culture a place has to offer.
If I had a long summer day, I would go wake up super early to watch the sun come up and hear the morning come alive. I would love to see some historical sites like in Germany or in Washington. I would love to not have to worry about driving/traffic or time and just enjoy my day. I would finish my day by having a simple supper outside watching the sun go down and people watching. Ahhh..
I would actually love to go back to New York and explore more of the city. I visited back in June and I loved it. Also, I want to visit Europe.
I would go on a Mediterranean cruise for an extended time visiting a different port every day.
Cruising the Greek Islands.
Paris! So much to see and do!
I would love to visit all of the National Parks, National Seashores and State Parks up and down the East Coast.