A Month of Summer

By: Lisa Wingate

Narrated by: Johanna Parker

Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Lisa Wingate has been favorably compared to authors Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans.

In A Month of Summer, Hanna Beth has been caring for her aging husband - who suffers from Alzheimer's - and her developmentally challenged adult son for years on her own. But when she suffers a stroke, estranged stepdaughter Rebecca must take the reins. As she cares for her father and the step-brother she's barely met, Rebecca slowly begins to heal both herself and her family.

©2008 Wingate Media,LLC (P)2008 Recorded Books,LLC

An Enjoyable Listen

I honestly don't feel this title should be considered a Romance, but I'm glad it was included in my package because I really enjoyed the listen! While parts of the storyline are not too realistic, that was compensated by the performance and heartfelt meaning behind the story. It felt honest and, while certainly not perky chick lit, the subject matter wasn't overly sad. For me, this is a surprisingly solid credit worthy listen.

Truth, Lies and Tangled Lives

When Rebecca has to return to her childhood home to care for her aging father who has dementia, as well as her mentally challenged step-brother, she is not prepared for what lies ahead. Her step-mother is in a skilled nursing facility after having suffered a stroke, and she's on her own to deal with an unbelievable mess at her father's home: rotting food, the utilities cut off, and her step-brother wandering off into dangerous areas and situations, even though he is an adult. And always at the back of Rebecca's mind is her husband and young daughter back in California. Is her husband cheating on her? Is he unreliable, the way her mother warned? A year after Rebecca's mother's death, Rebecca still hears her mother's voice in her head, a bitter woman since her husband chose the other woman, Hannah Beth, over her and Rebecca, more than thirty years earlier. This is one of the most realistic stories of caring for a person with dementia AND an adult child with mental disabilities. It clearly portrays the sweet, kind heart of those children who see only the good in others, despite having grown up with others laughing at and treating them unfairly. I couldn't stop listening as Rebecca fought with her past and her present, intermittently questioning what was true and what was not. I've listened to many of Lisa Wingate's books and series and this is one of her best. I've already downloaded the next in the series.

Good Story and interesting characters—a bit heavy emotionally.

The author does a great job of helping the reader experience the weight of all that the main characters are experiencing, but it would be good to have a bit more levity. The characters are well developed and have some interesting growth along the way. Might be especially heavy for people who are dealing aging parents.

I loved the characters and their voices. A very uplifting story of family.

I enjoyed this story of redemption and love. When everything seems to be falling apart, there is goodness in spite of the greed and unfairness. Everything is going to be alright… words I say often.

A touching story

The author and reader brought the story to life! I loved hearing Teddy’s excitement around every corner. Touching story of reconnecting.

Absolutely Beautiful!!!

Very seldom do I leave book reviews because I have a terrible time of expressing myself. But, this book is too amazing not to at least try. This book could easily be a true story. So many life lessons in this book I hope readers will open their hearts to.

A month of summer

Another great book by Lisa Wingate with life lessons as people travail through various challenges in life.

best book I've read all summer

I loved this book. The narator did a great job also. I will listen to this more than once.

Wonderful story

The book was a little slow at first, but stay with it turned out to be very worth listening to to.

Good listen - lackluster ending

Lisa Wingate is one of my favorite wordsmiths. Her ability to depict the human condition is exceptional. The reader was good, but some of the voices sounded similar and the accents weren’t always believable. Not crazy about the ending. Overall, an uplifting book.