Our Place on the Island: second chances, self-discovery and finding home again

Our Place on the Island by Erika Montgomery is a story of three women finding home and a new future on a familiar island. Many occasions have been celebrated at the Campbell family’s seaside cottage. The beloved matriarch, Cora, is getting remarried and the town gossip whispers that he was the one that got away. Her granddaughter, Michelle “Mickey,” is a renowned chef with a popular, successful restaurant with her boyfriend, Wes. However, she is hiding a secret. She has mismanaged the restaurant into the red. Cora’s wedding gives her an excuse to hide. She comes to the island to regroup and figure out a solution. Mickey’s mother, Hedy, is still mourning the passing of her beloved father and is having a hard time welcoming this new man in her mother’s life. Everyone knows a woman’s heart holds many secrets and Cora is about to reveal a story that will have the three women reevaluating their views on marriage, motherhood and the joys of following one’s heart. 

Two years ago, I read Ms. Montgomery’s debut novel A Summer to Remember and when I was offered a chance to read her newest novel, I took it! Our Place on the Island is a story of second chances, discovering your true passions and finding home again. It is a story that did not disappoint. I thought I had figured it out; however, as the story unfolded, it took a surprising, heartwarming turn. I enjoyed every character. However, my favorite character was Cora. Her words of wisdom and insights were spot on. Word of warning: DO NOT read this book on an empty stomach! Cooking and food is an important aspect as the women bond over food and you will be craving every delicious dish as you read! Even the descriptions of the ingredients made me wish I had them in front of me! Ms. Montgomery describes Cora’s garden so well, I swear I could smell the fresh herbs and produce. I highly recommend Our Place on the Island. 

Our Place on the Island is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

A Summer to Remember: a story of secrets, family and finding home

 A Summer to Remember is the debut novel by Erika Montgomery. For 30-year-old Frankie Simon, selling movie memorabilia in The Memory Shop on Hollywood Boulevard with her mother is more than a job, it is a connection to the only family and life she has known especially since the tragic death of her mother the year before. When a package arrives containing a photograph of her mother with famous movie stars Glory Cartwright and her husband, Mitch Beckett, at a coastal film festival the year before Frankie’s birth. She is left with so many questions, she journeys to the Cape Cod film festival to find the answers to those questions. There she meets Gabe Beckett, the adopted son of Glory and Mitch, and Russ and Louise Chandler, the couple’s closest friends. Soon the journey reveals buried family secrets, betrayals, and the bonds of friendships. Will the answers to her questions bring the closure that Frankie wishes? Or will the answers lead to more questions? 

A Summer to Remember is a story of the power of memories. The nostalgia we feel when we watch a favorite movie and the emotions tied to that movie. Some movies speak to us and stay with us long after the screen goes black. When we see a piece of that movie, whether is it a piece of a costume or a set location, those emotions and memories come rushing back and we remember. That is what Frankie and her mother sold. They sold more than just memorabilia, they sold important reminders for those fans. I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t overly dramatic but felt real and relatable. The questions, the regrets, and the doubts of the characters are ones we have all struggled with and dealt with. Switching between the present and the past, the events unfold as secrets are revealed and each character must come to terms with the decisions made and secrets kept.  I highly recommend A Summer to Remember. 

A Summer to Remember is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook.