I won this book from Chick Lit Central. This was the first time I read a book written by Christine Nolfi. I doubt it will be my last! Totally enjoyable read, with engaging characters, small town love, friendships, and family drama. The story was entertaining and fun. I want to be a Siren! Read the book and see why! Looking forward to the next book!!!! ( )

I really enjoyed this book. My favorite characters maybe the Sweet Lake Sirens. I would love to have a group of women to interact with like this when I am older or even now to go to for advice and wisdom. Linnie and Daniel are so good together. I loved watching their relationship change and grow through out this book. If there was anything I didn't enjoy, it was the way Linnie's family took her for granted. I realize that this was an essential part of the book so that you see just how strong Linnie is, but I wanted to throttle her brother and mother. I guess that should be a complement to Christine Nolfi as I had a physical reaction to her written words. I am still not sure as to how I feel about Freddie Wayfair, but I feel he did try to redeem himself....well a little.

I highly recommend this book. ( )

Like the populations of so many other small towns across the country, the residents of Sweet Lake, Ohio, pride themselves on knowing everything about their neighbors' business. Sometimes they even know more about their neighbors business than their neighbors do. However, the town of Sweet Lake certainly lives up to its name - it's a close-knit, caring community that takes care of its own. Such is the case with Melinda Wayfair.

The most prominent family in Sweet Lake is the Wayfair family; who have been the sole proprietors of the Wayfair Inn for generations. While the inn has been passed down from father to son for as long as there have been Wayfairs living in Sweet Lake, the Wayfair Inn has recently fallen on hard times. After her father suffers a serious medical crisis and is forced to retire, her scoundrel of a brother suddenly decides to run off and make movies in California. Linnie Wayfair is absolutely livid.

Freddie may believe that he's only fulfilling a lifelong dream and not harming anyone else, but Linnie would respectfully disagree. In her opinion, not only did Freddie leave when he was needed most - essentially deserting the family business to go do his own thing - he left without telling his family anything about where he was going. Linnie is also horrified to discover that Freddie has left all his responsibilities to the Wayfair Inn behind him - and squarely on her shoulders.

She knows that there are so many people depending on her, but realizing that the entire population of Sweet Lake is expecting her to become the savior of the Wayfair Inn is truly daunting. Everyone in Sweet Lake is looking to Linnie to employ all of her business acumen - mustering every ounce of her good business sense to restore the Wayfair Inn to its former glory. Her parents hope that she will find it in her heart to forgive her prodigal brother and reconcile the family. The eccentric Sweet Lake Sirens want Linnie to open the inn - and her heart - to new possibilities.

Meanwhile, her lifelong friends Jada and Cat continue dropping not-so-subtle hints for her to ignite something with Daniel Kettering, the sexy attorney who has been pining for her for years. Her friends might not be able to wait to see Linnie in a romantic relationship, but she feels that she just has way too much on her plate at the moment. Now, a shocking turn of events will open old wounds and flip Linnie's world totally upside down; threatening everything that she has worked so hard to make her own. She finds herself having to make alterations to her plans for the future - and to make those changes quickly - and the results, while not quite what she might have expected, just might be exactly what she has needed and has been yearning for all along.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Ms. Nolfi creates such loveable and funny characters - characters that I found myself really connecting with and caring about in a fundamental way. In my opinion, this was a beautiful start to a wonderful new series, and I'm avidly waiting to see where the story will go from here. I give this book a definite A+! ( )

MY REVIEW OF "SWEET LAKE'' By Christine Nolfi

"Sweet Lake" by Christine Nolfi is such a feel good read. The author's descriptions of the characters and the Wayfair Inn are told in such a charming way. The genres of this story is Women's Fiction, Fiction with a touch of Romance.

Linnie Wayfair has been trying to keep the Wayfair Inn from failing. The Inn has been in the Wayfair family for years. Linnie's father had a stroke, and recovered but has retired with her mother. Linnie shoulders tremendous responsibilities in running the business. Her brother had taken money from the family and has run off to make movies, leaving Linnie in debt and with the responsibility to run the Inn. Linnie's parents have forgiven her brother and in their will are,some disturbing surprises.

I enjoyed the quirky "Sweet Lake Sirens", middle age plus women who had rituals of "sisterhood" and eccentric meetings to provide support and believed they had "magical" powers, or powers of suggestion. They also took action in different ways , that I found quite amusing.

The author describes the importance of support and love of friends and family. Christine Nolfi also discusses the simple act of kindness , believing and standing up for yourself and having hope. I would highly recommend this novel as an enjoyable and delightful novel. Happy Reading! ( )

I just love Christine Nolfi and have enjoyed everything she's ever written. She has a very unique way of telling a tale that is hard to describe, but it's one that can't be duplicated. For sheer enjoyment and storytelling magic, you can't go wrong with one of her novels. I was thrilled to start "Sweet Lake," the first book in her new series and found it to be thoroughly enjoyable. It was one of those books that you just never wanted to end. There are so many crazy, unique and lovable characters in this book that it's hard to know where to begin. She's one of those rare writers where the plot, although superb in every way, is actually incidental to the magic of the setting and the characters. This is a wonderfully enthralling book you won't want to miss. ( )