All Mary Bloom ever wanted was to celebrate her 60th birthday at the beach. The extended Bloom family converges at the Rising Tides Inn, where their slightest whim is catered to.

Forty something Iris is the perfect suburban mom, holding her four kids and husband on a tight leash. 36 year old Hyacinth is single, successful and the self-proclaimed brains of the family. At 26, Poppy is a top travel blogger, wandering across countries most people only dream of visiting.

The rivalry among the sisters is as strong as ever, and each sister is dealing with it in her own way. They are on vacation after all, and they try to keep the peace for their mother. Soft shell crabs and salt marshes are forgotten as shocking secrets are revealed. Everyone seems to be guilty of hiding something.

Real life drama turns surreal as the siblings tackle one hurdle after another. Will the love that binds them triumph?

The Rising Tides Inn is the perfect foodie destination, and the friendly town of Cape Harriet keeps the troubled family grounded. The group faces one setback after another with unexpected plot twists that will leave the reader wanting more.

Wicked Summer tells the story of four women and their struggles to follow their chosen path in life. Various aspects of family life are interwoven with challenges and aspirations of contemporary women in diverse settings.

Wicked Summer is set in Cape Harriet Virginia.

The book opens with the prologue setting the scene of where the book starts and finishes in a white sandy cove.

The story is about Mary and her three daughters Iris, Hyacinth and Poppy. Iris is a mum of four, Hyacinth teaches at a university, and poppy is a travel blogger. They visit Cape Harriet in Virginia to celebrate their mother Mary’s 60th birthday.

They stay at a Inn run by Zadie and Pete who treat the family so well throughout their stay that they become like family to them. Mary and her children all have hidden secrets that they reveal whilst staying at Cape Harriet.

I have mixed feelings about the book. one moment I was liking what I was reading, the next I was a little bored. It was poppy’s travel scenes that did unfortunately bore me the most, all that is but her last one. I reached a point that I eventually wanted to, and did begin to skip them.

Three of the family secrets did not have me saying wow. What keep me interested and finishing the book was the family dynamics and Mary’s secret.

Given my mixed feelings about the book I can only give it 3 stars.

Roma Brooks is the author of the much loved Cape Harriet series, set on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Her stories feature real life characters, the kind you might come across in your own family. Her books will make you laugh, cry, love, hate and bite your nails. The recipes in her books will have you drooling.

@romabrooksauth
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