by Mary McNear
This last part is key. For Jane Austen was a deeply moral writer. I would clarify that morality, in Austen’s world, is not a rigid body of principles based solely on religious or cultural standards but is first and foremost grounded in the inner workings of the human heart. In her novels, it is the characters who are the purest of heart who embody decency. But despite being a writer interested in right and wrong, Austen is not judgmental, preachy or punitive. How does she accomplish this? Well, if an author is a kind of deity over his or her books, then Austen is a truly compassionate god. She can both love Emma and shake her head at Emma’s snobbishness. She can feel compassion for Willoughby—not because he chose money over love, but because he would suffer for that choice for the rest of his life. She can respect Captain Wentworth’s pain and pride even if she would prod him to declare his love for Anne. At the heart of this compassion is the knowledge that we are all hopelessly flawed. Morality tempered by compassion. It’s as though Austen is saying: we are destined to err, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t strive to be kind, thoughtful, honest, and good. For me, they are novels—and words—to live by!
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PRAISE FOR NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER MARY McNEAR AND HER AMAZING BUTTERNUT LAKE BOOKS. Her peers agree . . . BUTTERNUT LAKE is a special place!
“Butternut Lake is so beautifully rendered, you’ll wish it was real. McNear takes the reader on an emotional journey with this story of second chances, starting over, and the healing power of love. A book to relax, enjoy, and savor any time of year, but especially during the long, lazy days of summer.”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author
Susan Wiggs
“A great, emotional read for every woman who must face the past before moving forward.”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author
Sherryl Woods on Up at Butternut Lake
“A delicious setting and a heroine to cheer for, Moonlight on Butternut Lake is my favorite kind of book, one that treads that pleasurable line between romance and women’s fiction. Enjoy!”
—New York Times bestselling author
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
“The Space Between Sisters explores the complex relationship between sisters, their differences, their mirrored history, their love and support of one another. This triumphant story had me reading until the wee hours of the morning.”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author
Debbie Macomber
More praise for BUTTERNUT LAKE
Up at Butternut Lake
“(A) heartwarming love story.”
—Women’s Day (Best Book Club Pick)
“This charming debut should attract fans of Susan Wiggs and Luanne Rice.”
—Booklist
“The first in a homey, feel-good series, McNear’s small-town tale offers lakeside views and likable characters. . . . McNear has admirably crafted people worth following.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“McNear has created a sweet romance wrapped in several interesting storylines. It’s easy to root for the happiness of all the leads, and it seems likely that all will find peace and contentment.”
—New York Journal of Books
“Well-written with realistic characters . . . this novel is one that you will find yourself wanting to finish in one sitting. . . . Readers who enjoy this story will rejoice at the thought of more novels in the future set in this charming little town.”
—San Francisco Book Review
“Up at Butternut Lake is the perfect way to spend a day getting lost in a book. Once you start, you won’t be able to keep yourself from flipping through the pages. I was hooked from the very first page. Mary grabbed my heartstrings and never let them go until the very last page.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Up at Butternut Lake is charming and uplifting. . . . Readers will likely cherish and appreciate this romantic and refreshing debut.”
—RT Book Reviews (★★★★)
“Up at Butternut Lake is a well-written story with interesting characters and several plotlines. Be sure to get in at the start of a series that promises fine emotional and entertaining stories in a town you’ll want to visit.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“It would have been simple for McNear to tie up every plot line with a neat bow, but her writing proves more complex than mere vacation fluff. Still, if you’re packing your lakeside tote and hefting the canoe to the top of your vehicle, you might want to take along Up at Butternut Lake.”
—Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
Butternut Summer
“Butternut Summer by Mary McNear made me laugh at times, and it also brought tears to my eyes. This is a novel that makes you reflect on your own personal life and the changes it brings. . . . This is one of those novels that reflect life’s challenges. I highly recommend Butternut Summer!”
—Fresh Fiction
“Butternut Summer is a thoughtful examination of the pleasure and pain of love and the strength of the family bond and will leave fans eagerly awaiting the triptych’s final installment.”
—Booklist
“Engaging and true to life, Butternut Summer offers a story not limited just to a beach read.”
—New York Journal of Books
“This second book in the Butternut Lake trilogy, following Up at Butternut Lake, can also be read as a stand-alone and will appeal to fans of small-town contemporary romances such as those by Susan Wiggs and Debbie Macomber.”
—Library Journal
“I became a fan in her opening pages and by the end of the book she moved to one of my top reads. What an incredible story! . . . This is one book I would recommend to anyone, no matter what their favorite genre. It is a well-told story that will stay with you long after the last word is read.”
—Love Romance and More blog
“Kudos and a standing ovation to Mary McNear for her second Butternut story, which is a beautiful relationship narrative. Ms. McNear has created near-perfect characters that are flawed and sympathetic and believable. Her prose is smooth and mesmerizing and her storylines are credible and skillfully woven together. On a scale of one to ten, Butternut Summer truly rates, in this reader’s opinion, a fifteen.”
—NewAndUsedBooks.com
“This novel is destined to please all readers. Daisy’s young-love story will take readers back to their own romantic summers past, while those with tumultuous romantic histories will empathize with Caroline’s situation. McNear’s latest is the perfect getaway for those craving a fun escape.”
—RT Book Reviews (★★★★)
Moonlight on Butternut Lake
“A heartwarming story of love, family, and persistence against odds.”
—Michele Leber, Booklist
“Moonlight on Butternut Lake by Mary McNear is . . . a nuanced story of healing and second chances. . . . Suffused with all the magic of firefly-lit summer nights, this entry in the series is especially heartwarming.”
—BookPage
“Mary McNear’s Moonlight on Butternut Lake is an exceptional and highly-recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library romance novel collections.”
—Midwest Book Reviews
The Space Between Sisters
“The perfect book to bring on summer vacation, this stay-up-all-night novel . . . is one that readers will love. With well-developed characters who captivate and a deeply emotional subplot . . . this novel is one to add to your collection for keeps.”
—RT Book Reviews (★★★★)
“[Mary McNear] has mastered the art of the quiet romance. With funny characters, a charming Minnesotan setting . . . The Space Between Sisters will appeal to fans of Kristin Hannah or Susan Wiggs. Those familiar with McNear’s Butternut Lake trilogy are sure to be happy revisiting the town’s memorable faces and places. Readers looking forward to making some summer reading memories of their own or eager to reminisc
e about the golden summers of their youth need look no further than The Space Between Sisters.”
—Shelf Awareness
ALSO BY MARY McNEAR
The Space Between Sisters
Moonlight on Butternut Lake
Butternut Summer
Up at Butternut Lake
Butternut Lake: The Night Before Christmas (novella)
CREDITS
Cover design by Lex Maudlin
Cover photographs: © AZarubaika / Getty Images, © Nicolas Russell / Getty Images (dog)
COPYRIGHT
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
THE LIGHT IN SUMMER. Copyright © 2017 by Mary McNear. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
FIRST EDITION
EPub Edition June 2017 ISBN 978-0-06-239938-0
ISBN 978-0-06-239937-3
ISBN 978-0-06-269047-0 (hardcover library edition)
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