Summer at Castle Stone

This may look like a run-of-the-mill chick lit book, but I'd just call this one a novel. The main character, Shayla/Shiela goes on a journey to find herself and leave parts of herself behind. What she wants in the beginning of the book is not what she wants at the end. I could have read the descriptions of Irish life for days… the author drew the landscape and the people so vividly I felt like I traveled there. Tom O'Grady is a character who'll stick in my mind for a long time. He's not your typical 2-dimensional romance hero. Tom is a chef, and if you like eating and cooking, you are going to really enjoy the parts where recipes and meals are described in mouth-watering detail. There is more than one romance in the book, and the depth of the characters pleasantly surprised me. I'd like more by this author, maybe set in more places. I like reading about living in foreign lands, and this book fit the bill.

I picked up this book in an Amazon sale because I enjoyed Christmas at Thornton Hall by the same author. I have to say, the second book by Lynn Marie Hulsman is even better than the first and I am now a big fan. Christmas at Thornton Hall is fun and wacky, and I loved it for it’s Bridget Jones-ish slapstick humor and the hilarious situations.



This one is all that, but there’s added depth. Clever, comic, poignant, Summer at Castle Stone is a great novel that defies genre. It could be listed as romance, chick lit, women’s fiction, contemporary fiction or simply just a novel.



The author took me on a journey, one which I didn't want to end. The relationship dynamics, dating complications, and work/life challenges left me laughing at times, and soberly reflecting at other times. The characters are well-developed, and the story line and setting are fresh, unique, and called to me.



It’s not my usual kind of book, but I’m glad I got drawn in. Time well spent.

I read this book on a recommendation from a friend. It’s not what I’d normally pick up. I’m more of a Stephen King or Neil Gaiman person, but I’m a huge fan of comedy and humor.

The dialogue in this book reminded me of a movie. I could see this pm a screen with someone like Cameron Diaz, or Krisin Wiig, or Anne Hathaway playing the main character, Shayla.

I’d especially love seeing this as a movie, because I love Ireland and the descriptions of the country and life on a rural estate there made me want to visit.

The best part of this book was the heroine’s connection with her love interest’s mother. I could read an entire spin-off with that being the central theme.

I liked the descriptions of what it’s like to be a writer, and about the publishing world as much as I liked the portrait the author painted of rural farm life in Ireland.