The Summer Kitchen

I absolutely love Lisa Wingate’s novels! I started with Tending Roses and have read and enjoyed each and every one of her books.I enjoy Lisa’s writing style, character development, unique story lines and the fact that there is always personal growth, reconciliation and redemption in her novels. Lisa always finds an interesting premise, location or historical reference that leads me to do further research on the topic presented. I also like that her books are written in series which gives me an opportunity to get to know the characters better as the story lines develop and to see how they are progressing or what they are up to once they aren’t the focal point of the current story.While I don’t always like the personalities of the characters (I’m sure that’s Lisa’s intent) at the onset, I do grow to love them and understand and appreciate their individual challenges and personalities as the story unfolds. I have sometimes felt uncomfortable as I was being taught lessons I needed to learn about how others might be challenged or struggling in their lives and the scenarios are realistic enough that you can certainly apply them to real life situations. At the end of the book, I am always loath to leave them and feel as if they are real people that I’ve grown to know and care about.I have been inspired by Lisa’s wisdom, challenged to become a better person, laughed, cried and fallen in love with the people and localities she writes about.I feel I am a better person for having read these books and always appreciate the measure of grace she brings to her writing. Each book leaves a great impression on me and my heart is full for a long time after the last page is turned.It is important to me that Lisa somehow manages to do all of this without feeling the need to use graphic language or sex scenes as I do not find that these add anything to a story.Don’t think that her books aren’t entertaining! Lisa adds wit to go along with the wisdom! There is always a little bit of romance, too!I hope you will take the time to pick up one of Lisa’s books. You won’t be disappointed.

I have read everything Lisa Wingate has written. This one is my favorite. The characters were so real; I expected to run into them in the grocery store. As an adoptive parent it was so refreshing for me to see a book with adoption as a part, but not being a huge deal. I loved that the adoptive mom did not refer to her son as adopted; he was just her son, just as loved as her biological son. That is how it is in my life, but so often that's not how fiction portrays adoption. I loved the interplay between her two very different characters. The young girl from the "wrong side of the tracks" so to speak, with the middle aged suburban mom. I had to wonder how one author did so well at getting inside both women's heads. A lot of wisdom is hidden away in this gem of a book. Lots to make you think.

Lisa Wingate always Write such interesting stories. Great story & ending.

I love Lisa Wingates stories, they are so inspirational and usually surprising in their outcomes. She was able to solve the problems of Sandra Kaye and Cass Blue in the story about a wonderful old house that belonged to a beloved uncle Poppy. I had never heard of a summer kitchen before. Lisa's ability to tell about friendships, hardships and get you, the reader, involved with her characters are so great. The story also brings attention to how children survive when their parents aren't around and how much it means to have God in your life.

Such a wonderful reminder of how people can come together and grow.