Kim Finley’s life is in turmoil!  Her son, Luke, has recently been diagnosed with diabetes while his twin sister, Lydia, wants to grow up too quickly; she thinks she’s ten years old going on fifteen.  And now, to top it off, her mother-in-law, Miranda, has come to visit!  Kim wants to discuss things with her husband, but will he actually hear what she is saying?  How will Derek handle the conflict between Miranda and Kim?  And just what else is going on in Deep Water Cove with Patsy Pringle, Cody Goss, and the rest of the Tea Lovers’ Club?

Catherine Palmer has created a story in which the town itself is a character.  One can’t help but love the small town feel of Deep Water Cove where Patsy Pringle’s hair salon is a hotbed of town information.  Only in a small town like Deep Water Cove could a homeless man of unknown origins like Cody Goss become such an integral and beloved member of the town.  Catherine Palmer draws the reader into the setting and makes one feel as if the setting is real and the characters are truly alive.

Kim Finley’s situation really hit home with me.  Her anger and frustration over the insidious comments of Miranda had me ranting for her.  How could she remain silent when every single aspect of her life was questioned by this woman?  And yet, I understood.  On a very personal level, Kim’s situation had a huge impact on me as I could see some correlations in my own life.  I’m not sure I totally agree with some of the issues of faith as I almost felt like Kim was a doormat at times.  Regardless, and more importantly, SUMMER BREEZE made me think, both about my own life and my faith.

Catherine Palmer interjects moments of humor that keep this tale from having too much angst.  Cody’s character lightens the tone quite a bit as this very straightforward young man tells things exactly as he sees them without the usual tact or “little white lies” dictated by society.  Catherine Palmer also does an excellent job at showing a scene from both the male and female perspective, a technique that is not only effective but also made for some humorous moments.

SUMMER BREEZE is a thought provoking tale.  The small town atmosphere of the novel lulls the reader into this very deep tale that examines both issues of faith and the relationships between people.  I am unfamiliar with Gary Chapman’s nonfiction book on marriage which apparently this fictional series is based on.  However, after reading SUMMER BREEZE, it is a guarantee that I will be reading both that book as well as more books by Catherine Palmer!

Reviewed by Debbie

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Posted January 2008