I really liked the sound of this book but I'm afraid that it was difficult for me to actually invest in the story as it was about three couples who have been friends for a long time and what happens to the dynamic of their friendship when one of them die.
All of the characters are living a very good lifestyle and as such, I found them all hard to care about.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it quite slow to begin with but I’m really glad I persevered to the end.

The twist as the book came to a close was fantastic and you had to be on your toes to remember the characters and events early on,

Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review #sallowtailsummer #netgalley

Three friends Simon, Danny and Alastair have been friends since school. Every summer they would visit Alastairs aunt Coras house in the Norfolk Broads for a summer of unquestioned adventure throughout the huge house, gardens and along the river. Once aunt Cora died she left the house Linston End to Alastair in her will. This is where Alastair came to live with his childhood sweetheart Orla and Alastair would soon replicate the unquestioned adventure during the summer for his two friends children. However Orla tragically comes to her death in her favourite Norfolk Broads. Will Alastair ever be the same again? And is Alastair and his friends lives actually what they thinks it is?

I had heard many good things about the authors, Erica James, therefore was drawn to read her most recent book.

The 3 friends and their wives bring a warmth to the story showing how true longstanding friendship should be. That you are by each other's sides through thick and thin without any judgment. The characters are all very different but their lives are made to wrap around each other with compliment making their friendship one of ease and no suffering something nice to read when their are few long standing friendships with such strength written about.

However i feel that the story was slow for most of the book not making me feel compelled to pick it up to read but more like I had to to finish it. Their were many tragedies in the book which should have brought about lots of suspense and emotion however the only time I felt suspense building and emotion flowing was when Rachel was drowning. The other tragedies came and went without much of a mention, suspense or emotional builder.

Furthermore this book includes some difficult but pressing topics such as adultery, suicide, grief and illness. All of the characters have their own difficulties and this allows the topics to be broached in a way that does not make the book too heavy and shows the characters working through these problems as opposed to giving up and quiting their lives, relationships and moe. It is great that this can be included in a 21st century read to normalise this and get everyone speaking about these taboo topics.

An epilogue would have added a great deal to the ending of the story. I did not feel that it was truest finished and wanted to know the characters definitely got a happy ending.

The book started well but somehow as the story evolved the characters became less believable.
It held my interest sufficiently to finish the book but I found the conclusion unsatisfactory - it was as if the writer had run out of steam and didn't know how to pull the loose stands to a close.

This was my first Erica James book and it certainly won't be my last. What a wonderful heart-warming tale set in my home county on the Norfolk Broads.
Highly recommended, thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

This is a new author for me and after finishing this book, I feel like I have discovered a secret gem and look forward to finding her other books ASAP!!

The book is set in the idyllic village of Linston on the Norfolk Broads. Alistair Lucas has returned home to Grebe House, he has been away for 9 months following the tragic death of his wife Orla. Now he is back he wants to gather his closest friends together as he has something important to tell them, that will affect them all!!!

Alistair, Simon and Danny met at school and have been close friends ever since, they and their partners have spent many a summer at Grebe House which he inherited after his Aunt Cara died.

Alistair has met and fallen in love with Valentina, he wants to sell his house, but his friends are worried that he is on the rebound and will regret selling up and moving away. This new addition to their circle could change their friendship forever.

I was addicted to this wonderful story of friendships, with a few secrets revealed along the way. I was not expecting the ending which came as a bit of a shock!!

I couldn’t help but fall in love with the Norfolk Broads and this close circle of friends, that have been there for each other, through illness and grief. Their children have grown up as one large extended family.

If you like a book about friendship with a touch of mystery, then this is the book for you.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

I am a big Erica James fan and thoroughly enjoyed this book, loved the setting of the Norfolk Broads.
Great story of friendship and betrayal. Clearly demonstrates how new people joining a group can cause major disruption and suspicion.

As always, you can't go wrong with an Erica James book and this is no exception. It doesn't quite match up to my ultimate favourite of 'Love and Devotion', but to be honest, not many books do. Recommended as usual!

Since he was a child Alistair has spent his summers at Linston End, the beautiful old thatched house on the Norfolk Broads but since his wife died two years earlier he hasn't been there but now with news to impact to his best friends he invites them back to spend the summer holidays there with their families. The shock announcement and the fact that he is leaving Linston End certainly sets the cat amongst the pigeons with his friends but what will the outcome be at the end of the summer?

Another lovely book by Erica James I have read all of her books and love them. This one is set in a great setting on the Norfolk Broads and is full of secrets and twists from a group of friends who have all known each other for years but have had so many secrets and insecurities that they have kept from each other that suddenly all come to the forefront in this summer. Plenty to keep you guessing and keep your interest.

This is a well written book, it took me some time to get into, but there were times I couldn’t put the book down. I have not given the book a 5 star as I never really warmed to the characters. They were likeable enough, but I think the story jumped a bit too much between them all to really get to know them.

I love Erica James and I love her books. They are sweet, romantic and true, which I feel was shown well in this book. I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend to fans of Erica James and Jenny Colgan and Lucy Diamond. Much enjoyed!

Three men, very close friends for years and their families have come for their annual holiday in a cottage in the delightful Norfolk Broads but things are about to change when the owner (one of the men) has news for the others which will shock them all and age old secrets will be revealed. Erica James is one of my favourite authors, but this particular book isn’t destined to be one I’d reread. It took me over 60% before I could say I was getting into it. Most of the characters are petty with some very unlikeable traits and it was also very predictable. I found myself not caring very much about what happened to any of them as they were all just a bit lifeless. Pretty cover though.

I have not read Erica James before so have nothing to compare it with. I quite enjoyed the story but I am not sure whether it was drawn out too much. It was a story based on long term friendships and the dramas that exist beneath the surface and I felt that more could have been written about the intervening years. Valentina was a force to be reckoned with and she definitely played a dangerous game which she would regret. Can one person change the dynamics of very strong and long term relationships – yes they can. I did not take to her character at all and I think that was the point. The house were they holidayed sounded idyllic and I was pleased with the end result of that. I feel I would like a sequel to see how all the characters are doing now after the dramas but that might be a step too far

Another beautifully crafted novel with the background of the Norfolk Broads as the setting and a thatched house called Linston End is at the centre and here a group of three pals and their families have congregated over the years to enjoy summer parties and time together. After the owner Alastair looses his wife he has been off exploring the world for the last two years and now he asks them all to reunite again as he has news to share. His news and the person he brings into the mix is the beginning of a testing time for each of them - his two friends, their wives and their children. Erica James manages to weave a poignant tale and brings the story to a surprising end!

I found this book a bit heavy going to start with but as I got to know the characters and the plot, I started to enjoy it more. I liked the setting in the Norfolk Broads and did not foresee the events towards the end. In all I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend.

A summer that shakes out the memories of old friendships and relationships, with a newcomer that threatens to break everything apart. Once our group of friends actually delve into the past they realise it was not all as sweet and loyal as they portrayed. Should Alastair break the ties from the last and go away with the lovely Valentina, or is she there with her own agenda?

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I struggled a first with so many characters to keep track of! The story is told from the perspective of the characters. I didn't find it as much of an easy read as I'd expected. However, once I really got in to the book I enjoyed it. The setting of the Norfolk Broads added interest to the story. A good read which I can recommend.

I’ve started this and dipped in a few times but am really struggling, don’t want to give a bad review so I will not, I will go back to this again

I had read and loved every one of Erica James’ books and this one was no exception.
It had all the usual qualities that I like in her books. It was funny, entertaining and a very enjoyable read, it kept me reading right through until the end.
I always look forward to any of her new books coming out so I will keep looking for the next one. My thanks to NetGalley and Orion for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I really struggled to get into this book and for the majority of it, it felt like it was more background information on the characters rather than moving the story forward.