I've had the privilege of reading all of Christine Nolfi's novels. What I've loved about them are the realness of her characters. They've made you feel as if they were your friends and neighbors. Sweet Lake was the same.
Linnie has the unfortunate circumstance of being born second into a family that values a son's lineage more than the daughter's. The problems, though, are that Freddie (Linnie's older brother) is a dreamer and is not interested in making a life in Ohio, especially when his dream is now reality and he has a successful film-making career. Now, Linnie feels as if she's stuck running the Wayfair Inn - her family's business from way, way back. Will she find the backbone to stand up to her parents, and her brother, for what she wants? And, if she doesn't get what she wants, will she be able to find another career in the small town of Sweet Lake?
Daniel has been in love with Linnie for 10 years. Linnie is oblivious and thinks Daniel is okay with being in the "friend zone" when, in fact, that's the last place he has in mind when it comes to Linnie. Now we cue the conflict - Freddie comes back into town and asks Daniel to help him with a private matter. The last time Freddie was in town, he caused a lot of damage and hurt feelings all the way around. Nobody has forgotten and Daniel is leery about jumping into a business deal with Freddie ... until Daniel makes Freddie promise to do something monetarily beneficial to help Linnie and the Wayfair Inn.
So, tensions arise and hijinks ensue with the Sweet Lake Sirens (a motley group of older women into spiritualism and good deeds done in secret) on the warpath. Will Freddie keep his word to Daniel and help Linnie? Will Daniel ever admit his feelings to Linnie? Will Linnie give up the Wayfair Inn and give romance a try?
This, like the other Christine Nolfi novels, is a feel-good story you can read in a day. The characters are quirky and likable. I only have one issue with this plot and if I tell you what it is may spoil the story. Overall, I'd give the novel 4 stars just for the enjoyment factor and character realism.