Lorna Seilstad
Revell
© May 2012
ISBN 10: 0800734475
e-book $5.38
Print $4.42 (currently
offered as a bargain book on Amazon)
Third in a trilogy Lake Manawa Summers series
From the back:
She's
planted firmly on solid ground.
He's ready to sweep her off her feet.
The only man pragmatic Lilly Hart needs in her life is a six-year-old. Widowed for three years, Lilly has decided to leave the home of her intrusive in-laws to stand on her own. However, her in-laws find her new life as a cook at Lake Manawa utterly unsuitable for their grandson. When an argument ensues, a handsome stranger—who designs roller coasters, of all things—intercedes on her behalf. But Lilly is not about to get involved with any man, especially this cocky gentleman. Little does she know she is about to begin the ride of her life.
He's ready to sweep her off her feet.
The only man pragmatic Lilly Hart needs in her life is a six-year-old. Widowed for three years, Lilly has decided to leave the home of her intrusive in-laws to stand on her own. However, her in-laws find her new life as a cook at Lake Manawa utterly unsuitable for their grandson. When an argument ensues, a handsome stranger—who designs roller coasters, of all things—intercedes on her behalf. But Lilly is not about to get involved with any man, especially this cocky gentleman. Little does she know she is about to begin the ride of her life.
My review:
I’d read the second
book in the series for review and received this copy as a gift. This absolutely
delightful story follows the progression of years of family fun and
get-togethers at the Lake Manawa, Iowa, resort, around the twentieth century.
Like the others, Seilstad presents a new delight of Americana: in this case, it’s
the development of roller coasters.
Lilly had been raised in the house of a wealthy family who
hired her mother as a cook. Lilly learned to be a ladies maid and a good cook,
but when she and the son of another prominent family fell in love and married,
she was caught in a strange place as not quite accepted by the high society,
and discomfort in front of her former friend, whom she served as maid. This story
takes place three years after Lilly is widowed, and raising her son on her own.
When the parents of her husband want to send her son away to
boarding school, she takes him and sets off on a quest for independence. That
quest is quickly challenged by a handsome roller coaster designer and builder.
Through circumstances contrived and self-fulfilling, Lilly and her beau, Nick,
along with Lilly’s delightful son, find and fight love.
Seilstad’s third book in the Lake Manawa Summers series is a
spot-on charming historical story, with excellent research, that brings back a
simpler time of life, when spending summers in a resort setting was all the
rage, when roller coasters were the latest entertainment. Told from the point
of view of both Lilly and Nick, with occasional narrations from their friends,
The Ride of Her Life is a sweet, simple read that will take you away for a few
very pleasant hours.
