Well, it’s finally here, her first summer of retirement. Grace Harkins, a muffin-baking, bike-riding, newly retired teacher has a long list of things she wants to do, but somehow things don’t seem to want to work out as she planned. Before she can get started, there’s the excitement of being an extra for the movie filming in her small hometown of Cherryvale. But everyone living there is unhappy. One in particular is her outspoken friend Maggie, who protests that the movie people are invading and disrupting the community. Suspicious fires break out, dark strangers lurk about, then threatening phone calls, and more... As time goes by, it looks as though Grace may have to choose between her cheerfully long-awaited retirement and saving a long time friendship.

I wanted a change of pace from my normal reading routine so I choose this book. I’m glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to a little town called Cherryvale. Fresh Start Summer is a simple tale for all ages to enjoy. The main character, Grace Harkins, somehow ends up as the center of all the action in Cherryvale, as well as her very outspoken friend Maggie. Along with them is an outstanding cast of characters that bring small town living to life. The dialogue was very well done. However, Maggie's completely negative attitude can be a tad annoying at times. The setting for the story is great. Anyone that grew up in a small town can envision this locale very well. I invite everyone to visit Cherryvale. You won't be disappointed.

Open the pages of this delightful book, Fresh Start Summer by Beverly Nault, and prepare to be entertained. Small-town Americans are proud of their roots and even more so of their hometown. When a movie company chooses the town of Cherryvale for its next movie production location, it affects residents in a variety of ways. Maggie does not approve. She loves Cherryvale just the way it is and does not relish movie-making hordes invading it. She envisions corruption of her beloved hometown, as well as the morals and ethics of the residents. No, she foresees only bad coming of it. She owns an animal sanctuary and has enough to handle without outside interference. Sam and Abby Madison are quite excited at the prospect and anticipate being a part of the production – acting and assisting. Carolyn and her twins Cassie and Carson long for the excitement the company will bring to sleepy Cherryvale, and other residents such as Grace and her husband and their Pastor take it all in their stride. What’s to get anxious about - these intruders will only be with them a short while?

When you put all these folk together and add two shady characters from the town, and a spoiled teenage film diva who has known nothing but success, you have the ingredients for an out of the ordinary story. Throw in greed, envy, kidnapping and arsonists, and the story turns from interesting to attention-grabbing. Initially, I wondered when the many characters would be brought together and what would the catalyst be? People and attitudes are changed radically as the intrigue unfolds; even people you’d never think of as friendly become changed beings when their ‘normal’ is tossed inside out. I finished the book loving the differences that had come about as the tale developed. Worth the read.