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Title details for A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand - Wait list

A Summer Affair

#1 in series

by Elin Hilderbrand
Isabel Keating
Audiobook
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The perfect wife and mother finds the perfect temptation in this "perfect summer cocktail of sex, sun, and scandal" (Kirkus Reviews).
Claire has a problem with setting limits. All her life she has taken on every responsibility, assumed every burden, granted every request. Claire wants it all—and in the eyes of her friends, she has it: a devoted husband, four beautiful children, even a successful career as an artist. So when she agrees to chair the committee for Nantucket's social event of the year, she knows she can handle it. Claire can handle anything.
But when planning the gala propels her into the orbit of billionaire Lock Dixon, unexpected sparks begin to fly. Lock insists on working closely with Claire—often over a bottle of wine—and before long she can't ignore the subtle touches and lingering looks. To her surprise, she can't ignore how they make her feel, either. Claire finds the gala, her life, and herself spinning out of control.
A Summer Affair captures the love, loss, and limbo of an illicit romance and unchecked passion as it takes us on a brave and breathless journey into the heart of one modern woman.
"Think you know where this is going? Think again. Hilderbrand is way too smart to give away the whole story in her title." —Elisabeth Egan, New York Times

  • Creators

  • Series

    Nantucket

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    July 9, 2008

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781600242335
      • File size: 423156 KB
      • Duration: 14:41:34

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Claire Danner Crispin's sweet nature gets her in trouble when a guilty conscience prompts her to accept the leadership role in a huge charity fund-raiser. Before long, Claire's already overbooked life has spun out of control, emotionally and logistically. Isabel Keating provides the perfect voice for Claire--young, fresh, and sparkling. She gives Claire's Irish sister-in-law a realistic accent and offers believable portrayals of all the story's female characters. Keating's males come across less convincingly, particularly Claire's husband, who receives a thick but unidentifiable accent. On balance, however, the story flows as gently as a summer breeze, carrying the listener to its refreshing conclusion. R.L.L. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      April 7, 2008
      You know summer's on the way when the beachy jacket art starts showing up. Here are two by Nantucket writers set on the island, where you can't throw a lobster roll without hitting a Claire or a Clare.
      A Summer Affair
      Elin Hilderbrand
      . Little, Brown
      , $24.99 (416p) ISBN 978-0-316-01860-9

      Hilderbrand's seventh novel delves into the psyche of a guilt-ridden mother/artist who embarks on a self-destructive path. Nantucket glass artist Claire Danner Crispin has pieces in private collections and one in the Whitney, but is overwhelmed with the needs of her husband and four kids (she gave up full-time glassblowing to take care of the family). Her troubles worsen when Daphne, a friend she'd been drinking with, is severely injured in a drunken car wreck. Claire is convinced that Daphne's husband, Lockhart, holds her responsible, so she's surprised when he asks her to co-chair a charity gala and create a new piece of glass art for auction. The plot mushrooms as Claire and Lockhart begin an affair; Claire rethinks her priorities; a slew of gala-related complications arise; and Claire's ex-boyfriend turned rock star comes into play. Hilderbrand keeps a lot of balls in the air, and if she pays too much attention to event-planning minutiae, there are still enough conflicts to keep readers entertained.

    • Library Journal

      June 15, 2008
      Characters are as complex and fragile as glassblowing artist Claire's creations in Hilderbrand's ("Barefoot") latest Nantucket tale. Planning a massive summer fundraiser, complete with rock star and high-end art, takes its toll on Claire's very Irish, very Catholic soul. With a hunky husband and four children, how does a lover fit in? Glassblowing details make this mom-lit novel stand out from the pack.

      Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      May 1, 2008
      After the extreme heat of her Nantucket studio causes her to go into early labor with her youngest son, renowned glass artist Claire Danner Crispin now devotes her life to her four children. Part of her charm and part of her problem are her perpetual feelings of guilt. When asked to cochair the Nantucket Children Summer Gala, she agrees, adding an impossible burden to an already busy life. She also agrees to create a museum quality piece of artwork when the head of the charity, Lock Dixon, asks her to because Locks wife suffered a serious accident after going out drinking with Claire and her friends. Truly, Claire hasnt a free moment, what with caring for her children, working with the elitist cochair from Manhattan, asking her teenage rock-star boyfriend to play the event for free, and creating a masterpiece, all while conducting a clandestine affair with Lock. A gem of a summer read with a glamorous location, elite lifestyle, and Hilderbrands appealing take on the constant stress that fills the lives of women everywhere.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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