My Thoughts on On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

 

About:

Cora Matthews's life is a mess. A broken engagement and the unexpected death of her mother have left her wondering if things will ever return to normal. Whatever "normal" is.

It certainly isn't what she finds at Moonberry Lake. After she receives her family's dilapidated lakefront lodge as an inheritance--with a surprising condition attached--Cora finds her life overrun by a parade of eccentric neighbors who all have something to say and something to teach her.

As Cora works to put her life back together, she must decide if she is willing to let go of the past, open her heart to love, and embrace the craziest version of family and home she could ever have imagined.

My Thoughts:

Moonberry Lake was an interesting place to visit. It sounds quite lovely and tranquil. Cora Matthews spent many summers with her grandparents there. She loved the freedom that she felt. Till one day a horrible rift opened between her mother and grandparents. Her mother never let her go back to visit them while they were still alive and never told her what was so monumental that she cut all ties with her own parents. Now Cora's mother has passed away and Cora finds herself back at Moonberry Lake for the funeral.

Life continues to get interesting as she finds out she has inherited her grandparent's lodge on the lake. It needs a lot of work, but it does hold some cherished memories for her. Also, Cora's mother has left a list of stipulations for her to do and keep, if the lodge is to remain hers. Cora is never one for staying around, not for jobs nor for fiancés even. But she figures she can stick around the lodge for a bit.

As Cora begins to bring the home back to life, she has an ally in Sam a neighbor. He introduces her to many of the townsfolk. They are quite an eccentric and quirky lot. I found myself chuckling at the oddities of all of them and wondered how Cora was going to quite fit in. Cora is determined to finish what she started this time, and then things really go south.

Filled with highs and lows, family secrets, and a town of assorted odd characters, Cora is going to maybe find the meaning of family that she has so long searched for. For some reason this story really surprised me. There is a thread of romance, but I think this story is about a woman falling in love with a town and its people.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Holly Varni is a native Minnesotan of strong Norwegian descent, who was raised in the Lutheran Church that Garrison Keillor made a career depicting. Between the lutefisk, grumpy grandparents, and crazy neighbors who mowed their lawn wearing pajamas, the seed to becoming a storyteller was planted. Though she, her husband, and their three sons live along the Central Coast of California, her beloved Midwest roots continue to haunt everything she writes. She hosts the Moments from Moonberry Lake podcast where she shares more stories of her beloved characters. Learn more at www.hollyvarni.com.