Ladies of the Lake

by: Haywood Smith

Published by: St. Martin's Press

Reviewed by Andrea Sisco

If you’ve enjoyed The Red Hat Club or The Red Hat Club Rides Again, you’re going to love Ladies of the Lake. It’s a southern novel made for long, lush summer days filled with sunshine, iced tea and long walks around the neighborhood or even the lake.

Dahlia, Iris, Violet and Rose are sisters with a long and sometimes volatile history. They are women of a “certain” age who will inherit their quirky grandmother Cissy’s lodge, Hilltop on Lake Clare if they agree to spend the entire summer together on the property. Sounds simple, but the complicated history of the sisters makes it trying at best.
Dahlia’s husband and son left her, physically and financially bereft. Her home in Buckhead (Atlanta) is going into foreclosure and if she can last the summer, she can sell Cissy’s property and save her home. Violet is the sister with whom Dahlia has a strong relationship, and living with her for the summer will be no problem. Everyone loves the youngest sister, Rose so a summer with her is a dream. But Iris and Dahlia have never gotten along and the two will have their patience tried as tempers flare and old jealousies surface.

Add to the mix a man from Dahlia’s past, two mummified bodies that must be disposed of in a hurry and numerous secrets–and Haywood Smith offers up a rich history of a southern family life. Ladies of the Lake is a fun romp into the world of dysfunctional families who at their core love each other and know what is important.

Armchair Interviews says: Ladies of the Lake is a rewarding read that will leave the reader wanting more of Dahlia and her sisters’ adventures.

Author’s Web site: http://www.HaywoodSmith.com