Tamara Tilley

Summer by Karen Kingsbury
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

SUMMER, book two in the third Baxter saga was definitely filled with emotion, and a little disillusionment.

The joy of two Baxter sisters expecting within weeks of each other is quickly doused when we find out Ashley’s pregnancy could be a difficult one. This storyline had a lot of emotion packed into it. But, what I found disappointing with SUMMER was the storyline surrounding Dayne and Katy Matthews.

Fresh off of the highly anticipated wedding of Katy and Dayne in SUNRISE, Kingsbury barely lets them get feet out of the Bahamas sand of their honeymoon before she is setting them up for disaster. Up to this point, even though we traveled through highs and lows with Katy and Dayne, I felt Kinsgbury had painted them to be a little stronger and deeper than the characters that continue on in SUMMER. Immediately, their marriage is put to the test as they star in both a love story and a reality show. And just as quick it seems Katy and Dayne forget the struggles and hard times they have overcome and the strength of their love for each other, and begin to allow seeds of doubt to be planted in their hearts and minds regarding each other’s faithfulness and commitment to their marriage. I found this about-face in their relationship to come out of leftfield. Now granted, I knew with them being a Hollywood couple this would eventually become part of their storyline. But within the first month of their marriage? Come on . . . give them more credit than that. Katy has been portrayed as solid and practical, and Dayne has just had a brush with death. I really feel Kingsbury kind of insulted the characters she had spent the last series fleshing out for the readers. The ending was bittersweet, and with Katy and Dayne walking such a fine line, I don’t know that I am looking forward to reading SOMEDAY.


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