Up at Butternut Lake: A Novel (The Butternut Lake Trilogy)

Two years ago, Allie’s husband Gregg died during a deployment. Now, tired of the constant pity and wariness from her friends and neighbors, Allie has decided to pack up her five-year-old son and move to her family’s summer cabin on Butternut Lake, where hopefully a new environment will enable them to start their lives moving forward again. Allie lucks out when she discovers some old friends are still living local: Caroline, an empty-nester who owns the town’s diner, and Jax, a mother of three whose past mistakes are coming back to haunt her. What Allie was not counting on was her new neighbor, Walker, who lives across the lake. Walker brings out feelings in Allie that she hasn’t felt since before her husband’s death, feelings she’s not sure she’s ready for. Is Allie ready to let go of the past and finally move forward?

Up at Butternut Lake is a pleasant little read, a mostly heartwarming story of moving on from painful parts of one’s past. Well-written with realistic characters, this novel is one that you will find yourself wanting to finish in one sitting if you can. And readers who enjoy this story will rejoice at the thought of more novels in the future set in this charming little town.