Butternut Summer

I was a little reluctant to begin reading Butternut Summer by Mary McNear after I found that it is the second novel in a trilogy. I'm a read a series in order type of gal, but once I began reading I couldn't stop.  And, Butternut Summer is great as a stand alone novel, although I have already downloaded the first in this series to my kindle.

This novel focuses on Caroline and Daisy, mother and daughter who live in Butternut, Minnesota, a small town located on one of Minnesota's lakes.  Caroline runs a restaurant, Pearl's, where Daisy helps out during the summers when she is home from college.

Both characters have their own stories: Caroline tries to deal with the financial difficulties her restaurant is facing, while Daisy meets and falls head over heels in love with Will, a former bad boy who is trying to reform his ways. To add a little more drama, Daisy's father, Jack, who deserted his daughter and wife has come back to Butternut after nearly two decades of no contact, planning to win his ex-wife back.

There are other characters who contribute their stories to Butternut Summer. We again meet Caroline's friends, who were the focus of the first novel, Up At Butternut Lake, and the various members of this small community are developed a bit further.


I absolutely loved this novel.  I raced through every page, enjoying the romances of Will and Daisy, and Jack and Caroline.  I loved the small town feel, and couldn't help but feel as though I knew the characters that McNear created.  The only downfall was the ending which left me hanging a little, wanting more.

I can think of many readers who will enjoy the Butternut Trilogy, especially those who have liked the Mitford series by Jan Karon or the Cape Light novels by Thomas Kinkade.

I'm already counting down for the final novel, and wish that McNear had plans for more than just three books in this series.

This novel was sent to me to review by TLC book tours.