One family learns that love is the greatest miracle of all—from USA Today bestselling author Bette Lee Crosby.Aspiring journalist Meghan Briggs has always been the responsible one in the family. So when her father passes away unexpectedly, leaving behind his at-risk business, she steps up to save his legacy—even if that means putting her own dreams on hold.Tracy couldn’t be more different from … couldn’t be more different from her sister. She’s always been the rebellious type, without much direction in life. But in the wake of her latest romantic disaster, she finds herself moving back home as a single mother.
As Tracy experiences the difficulties of new motherhood, Meghan faces her own struggle: trying not to fall for the stray puppy she rescued. This is no time for attachments—not to the adorable “Sox,” whose owner is bound to turn up any day, and certainly not to the handsome new vet in town. But as the summer unfolds, she discovers that, like Sox, she may need rescuing, too.
As both sisters navigate unexpected challenges and exciting new relationships, they’ll find that putting the past to rest can make way for beautiful new beginnings.
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I have totally fallen in love with Betty’s storytelling.
I love every book written by Bette Lee Crosby and this one is no different!
“Once again Bette Lee Crosby has created a heartwarming story about family, forgiveness, and the magic of new beginnings. A charming book that readers will savor to the very last page.”
Bette Lee Crosby never fails to write a story that goes straight to the heart. A true spinner of inspirational tales, this story involves complex family relationships and vivid characterizations. The amount of research Bette has done to bring the reader such detailed information around the issue of deafness and audiology is impressive. This is a story that entertains in every way and also educates.
I really loved this book . Betty writes such heartwarming stories and this was no exception Such an awesome book
Grieving the loss of her father, Meagan, always loyal and confident, chooses to set her dream aside and step in and take over her father’s business. Her sister Tracy’s free spirit pulls her away from her family just when she may need them the most. Bette Lee Crosby has written a heartfelt endearing novel of family love, loss, and finding your path when life gives you a fork in the road. Her characters are loving and warm and reading The Summer of New Beginnings feels like coming home.
The Summer of New Beginnings: A Magnolia Grove Novel is the love story of Lila and George Briggs. They raised their two daughters, Tracy and Meghan, in the small town of Magnolia Grove. The book essentially spans summer through the end of one year. Tracy is the self-proclaimed Wild Child while Meghan is more reserved. Tracy chose not to attend college; Meghan cannot wait to start. Then, George dies unexpectedly less than two months before Meghan is set to start college. She delays college entrance to run George’s publication, Snip ‘N Save until a buyer can be found. Tracy moves to Philadelphia with her boyfriend Dominic. All three women start learning how to go forward without George. Later, Tracy returns with her infant son Lucas. Soon after, Meghan rescues a puppy from the middle of the lake during a storm that came up quickly. Lucas and the puppy Sox become fast friends. Dominic tries to make Tracy and Lucas’ life as difficult as possible.
This is also the story of how these three women adapt to the curves that life throws at them. It is an intimate look into how changes start and come to fruition for the women due to different chapters which are devoted to one character’s thoughts and feelings. There are also places where a reader may pause and reflect on his/her opinion or views on a particular issue. Several important, relevant issues are effectively addressed here – loss of a spouse/parent, a child born with health issues, domestic abuse, and being true to one’s own talents and ambitions, sometimes without even realizing one has them.
A sweet and inspiring family story. And oh yes, there’s a dog I fell in love with!
Uniquely written. The style is fairly new to me and I’m not sure what it’s called, but it was very easy to follow. The characters had great depth and a storyline that at times was shared and other times just their own. Huge decisions were made by two daughters immediately following the death of their father. Should one go to college and the other change or embrace her wild ways? Both scenarios caused the girls to grow and grow up rapidly. And in the end, changes were made again in their chosen life paths that I did not see coming. Bette Lee Crosby is a talented writer. All of her books are enjoyable!
Just what I needed. This book is like a nice cool glass of ice tea on a hot summer day. I tend to not read women’s fiction because it can be over the top sweet for me but this was a perfect combination of a great story, southern charm, and just a touch of romance, oh and of course a dog (I am a sucker for a good dog book). The first few chapters were a little slow for me but I kept with it and was so glad I did. Looks like this might be a series and I will be checking into that for sure.
Where to start. The Summer Of New Beginnings is a beautiful story of family. You follow the Briggs family through heartbreak and fear and then hope and healing. This is also a story of miracles and love.
Though this is Book One Of The Magnolia Grove Series, I read it after Book Two. And even though I knew where the story went, it didn’t diminish the book at all having read them out of order.
Bette Lee Crosby has gift in telling a story that pulls you in and lets you feel what the characters are going through. Even though you know where the story is going you want to continue reading to get to where you want to go.
I loved this book and truly enjoyed reading it. It’s a book I know I can go back and read again when I want read a book that will make my heart smile.
A wonderfully written story with heart, warmth, betrayal and courage.
The story of The Briggs Family will have you wrapped up in it’s emotional journey towards a future of hope and promise while rallying against life’s little bumps in the road, and some, not so little……situations that lead to sacrifice and sheer determination.
Bette Lee Crosby has woven a narrative with her clear, precise yet sensitive storytelling ability, one in which flows easily and will capture your heart.
The Summer of New Beginnings is of the Contemporary Romance and Domestic Fiction genre as well as Book 1 in the Magnolia Grove Series. Although this story can be read as a stand alone, I truly believe you won’t want to miss Book 2, A Year of Extraordinary Moments, one which promises to be a memorable continuance too a very special beginning.
I would like to thank Bette Lee Crosby for her personal gift of this novel to me, one in which I had the pleasure of not only reading and enjoying but reviewing as well.
A resilient yet charming story that is not to be missed…….
5 Stars
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THE SUMMER OF NEW BEGINNINGS by Bette Lee Crosby is the first installment in her new Magnolia Grove series. It is a heartwarming and emotional story of family, love and chasing one’s dreams. When George Briggs dies unexpectedly, he leaves behind his grieving wife, Lila and their two daughters, Meghan and Tracy. The heart of this story is how this broken family comes together to mend their relationships and find happiness for the future. The author brings the characters and the Southern town of Magnolia Grove to life for the reader. I felt like I knew the characters personally and like I was a part of their lives. I loved Sox, the rescue dog! This book has just the right blend of family drama and romance to keep the reader captivated from beginning to end. I thoroughly enjoyed this touching book and I look forward to reading the next story in the Magnolia Grove series.
The summer of new beginnings is a story of a family whose lives were changed when George, Lila’s husband & Meghan & Tracy’s Dad suddenly passes away the day before Meghan was leaving for college ; Life as they all knew changed for ever. Meghan decides to put going to college on hold and run her father’s business snip and save, it was the one way to help financially and keep her father’s memory( while her sister Tracy runs off with a Dominic a boy who did not love her the way she deserved to be love. Life changed again for the whole when Sox the dog arrived in Meghan’s life; she was positive he was sent to her by Dad who was watching from above. I don’t want to give this beautiful story away, but the most important lesson Meghan learned and taught me is; sometimes when tragedies come and redirect our lives, how we react and move forward opens us up to a beautiful new life with people and opportunities that would of never come our way. I love how Meghan is certain that George really never left them; that he is watching from above and guiding them to find love & happiness. This once broken family has found happiness and moving forward even though it’s different from the original path they had planned. Betty Lee Crosby for sharing such a beautiful story.
Lindas Book Obsession:
Kudos to Bette Lee Crosby , Author of “The Summer of New Beginnings”, for writing such a heartwarming, captivating and intriguing story about the importance of family. I appreciate that Bette Lee Crosby stresses the importance of family, friends, emotional support , love and hope. The author magically tells her story with wonderful detail and vivid descriptions.
Life isn’t simple, and the ups and downs can be complicated and stressful. The genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. Bette Lee Crosby describe her characters as complex and complicated, possibly due to the circumstances that exist at the time. Her colorful cast of characters are flawed, quirky, mostly loyal, determined and mostly likable. One of the characters is mean-spirited and dishonest.
Meghan Briggs and her sister Tracy are as different as can be. Meghan seems to always be responsible, and Tracy is more of a party, let’s have fun type of person. When the Briggs family loses their father, the stresses and burdens seem to fall on Meghan. Meghan casts aside her dreams of going to Journalism school to take over her father’s local community journal. and advertising. Tracy takes off with her boyfriend. Their mother loves entertaining and preparing food, and wishes things as they once were.
Meghan loves writing in composition notebooks her thoughts and ideas. As she sits by the water, she sees a dog struggling in the water. It is very stormy now, but Meghan rescues the stray dog, and brings him home. Of course she hopes that no one owns him.”Sox’ the dog seems to be rescuing Meghan as much as Meghan had rescued him.
Tracy comes home unexpectedly with a baby, and this presents a new set of complications. There are new circumstances and new changes that occur. Can there be a “happily ever after”? How will the family come together? I love the way the author discusses the importance of communication, taking chances, doing the best you can, and willingness to learn and share. I would highly recommend this wonderful emotional book for readers of Women Fiction. I received An Advanced Reading ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
I loved this story! It is beautiful and heart-warming, and it made me smile. My favorite aspects of the story are the family & sister relationships and the way Sox came into their lives. Well worth reading and I look forward to the next book in the series!
This book talks about some very important issues like the loss of a spouse/parent, a child born with a disability, domestic abuse, and being true to your own talents.
The Briggs Family. Meghan Briggs had her heart set on being a Journalists but, the untimely death of her father happened. Her dad had an at risk business and Meghan didn’t want to see the business be lost/closed. Meghan decided to save the business Snip N’ Save and she put her career on hold. Then you have Tracy Briggs who was the rebellious one. She was dating a guy named Dominic and decides to move to Philadelphia with him and one day she calls her sister announces she’s pregnant. Then one day she shows up at her mother’s house with her baby and says that she left Dominic. Things get to be a bit much for Meghan and she goes for a walk to her special place where she ends up saving a dog that was drowning during a storm. Lucas and the puppy Sox [that is what Meghan decided to name him] become quick friends. One day when Meghan, Tracy and Lucas were at McDonald’s Meghan realized that Lucas might be deaf. Dominic tries to make life for Tracy and Lucas’ as difficult as he possibly can. They get Lucas tested and find that he is deaf and are told of a surgery that could help Lucas and end up talking to a friend they went to school with who has a school to help children to talk that had the surgery. In the mean time Meghan decides to get Sox checked for a chip [which would help locate the owner of a lost dog] but, Sox didn’t have one. Meghan really likes the new vet. If you want to know how this books turns out, you truly need to read it!! I truly loved this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union for the honor of reading this awesome book.
The Summer of New Beginnings by Bette Lee Crosby is a wonderful start to her new Magnolia Grove series. It’s a story of family fraught with grief and sadness, and yet it’s a story of love and loyalty as well. A story of two sisters who are so different and yet perhaps not as much as they once thought. Would Meghan ever be free to follow her dreams and not feel responsible to hold things together for the family? Would Tracy ever find it within herself to give up her so-called freedom and become a responsible adult? Will they have the courage it takes to survive, to forgive and move ahead with life? A powerfully emotional story of a family in need of healing and new beginnings. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series from a favorite author.
I received a copy of the book from NetGalley and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
First book I’ve read of Betty Lee Crosby very well written the sisters reminded me of my two younger sisters and their falling in love and every day life happenings buy it, read it, the book won’t disappoint.
A boy, a dog and family dynamics brought me to tears many times during the story. The characters are full of distinct personalities and opinions. When life changes drastically for each person, the ability to handle the changes and possible outcomes are found through major decisions and risks. Each story I read from this author is amazing. Tissues needed for this one. I received a copy of this story from the author and this is my own personal honest opinion.