Review: A Summer in Europe by Marilyn Brant

A Summer in Europe by Marilyn Brant

Publisher: Kensington

Pages: 352

Format: paperback

Buy the Book:Amazon

Goodreads: It's not where you go.  It's what you take back with you . . .

On her 30th birthday, Gwendolyn Reese is given an unusual gift by her eccentric aunt: a summer grand European tour arranged through her aunt's Sudoku and Mahjongg Club.  Gwen recluctantly leaves her "almost fiance"  and heads to Europe with her aunt and a collection of offbeat club members. 

Abroad, Gwen is slowly but surely transformed.  She has conversations she'd never expected, is spellbound by London theater, touches a glacier, races through the Louvre, and shares a passionate kiss with a wild young physics professor.  And when her old life comes calling again, she must choose between the practical choices she's always made, and a world open to infinite possibilities.


Kritters Thoughts:  A story that centers around a newly 30-year-old who didn't celebrate her birthday quite like she had thought - no jewelry meant for the left hand was received, if you get my drift.  She ends up taking a trip around Europe with her Aunt and her wacky friends who find math, philosophy and history all interesting topics of conversation and debate.  


Although the characters were definitely interesting, I didn't fall in love with them and couldn't connect with them.  There was a quite a large ensemble cast to keep straight, it required a post it note!  The characters may have been off, but the location was spot on.  The way the author described the different tourist stops in Europe made me want to book a trip immediately.  I loved exploring the city along with the main character Gwen.


A great story concept that at times had me enjoying this one, but in the end the wordie philosophical aspect of the characters had me turned off.  If you are a reader who likes a little more wordiness to your women's fiction, this book would be the perfect one to add to your holiday wish list.


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author and Crazy Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.