A young man’s journey out of the depths of despair leads to summer adventures of self-discovery and essential relationships. The exotic surroundings of the Florida Keys provide a catalyst for the healing power of a smile and touch of a beautiful young woman with a secret, an off-shore natural wonder, and the insightful poems of a troubled young girl. Through emotional ordeals he wrestles with the … the paradox of being supportive and supported. An attraction turns into a deeper bond. Can commitment equal endurance? Young lovers will discover if they can triumph together. Is together enough?
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A Vivid & Picturesque Destination Romance With A Twist!
Overview: A young man’s journey out of deep despair leads to self-discovery and summer romance in beautiful Key Largo.
Right from the start of “Key Largo Summer”, Author Alan Vandervoort sets the stage for a truly vivid and picturesque destination romance with a twist. With brief passages of poetry opening each chapter, including incisive imagery and flowing prose that bring his scenes alive, Vandervoort leads readers on an emotional journey through the life of recent college graduate, Alex, who is plagued by symptoms of severe depression. Throughout the read, Vandervoort explores the effects of clinical depression and treatment via his main character, Alex, and he successfully captures the trepidation and expectations that patients and their families experience when treatment for a psychological issue is applied.
After successfully completing treatment for his mental health issues, Alex makes his way to Key Largo when he accepts a job offer to work as a tour guide on a small cruise ship with his college roommate and buddy, Ramon. There, he’s introduced to Jeannie—a cute and perky young woman with a raucous sense of humor who instantly captures Alex’s heart from the moment they meet. Packed with fun times and adventures as Alex courts Jeannie while performing his job as a coral reef tour guide, “Key Largo Summer” also provides an opportunity to learn about the local history, culture, and residents who call this exotic location home.
“Key Largo Summer” is a heartfelt and poignant story of two young people facing life’s challenges who are irresistibly drawn together by Fate. The author confronts a difficult subject head-on and treats it with a blend of humor, honesty, and candor as Alex reveals his past struggle with mental illness to Jeannie and she responds in kind with a grave secret of her own. This romance stands well as an examination of the core values that bind two people together in a relationship that has the potential to last a lifetime.
Despite the focus on depression, “Key Largo Summer” does well as a feel-good read. The author successfully handles some heavy topics, like mental illness, suicide, and physical challenges with clarity and finesse while taking readers on a journey through nature’s wonders and young romance. This story contains adult language and sexual situations. I highly recommend this novel to anyone, ages 15 and up, who loves destination romances, falling in love, and truly happy endings.
A Novel with Impact
This novel in the category of Romance is far from “breezy” as the tropical title might suggest. In fact, it packs a wallop powerful as Calico, the fictitious hurricane which barrels through Key Largo with the might of a freight train, toward the end of the story.
Indeed, Calico strikes me as a metaphor for its main characters who are young adults struggling to survive by coping:
Alex – depression; Jeannie – multiple sclerosis; Tallin – suicidal.
To this reader, more important than the story itself, filled with interesting information as that may be—it’s the dynamics between characters. This is achieved through the author’s use of dialogue: Snappy, profound, and brutally honest.
In my opinion, ‘Key Largo Summer’ stands apart from the typical Romance novel due to its stark realism, gray as the ominous sky before a hurricane strikes.
On that basis, this novel is a must-read!