Butterfly Summer by Arlene James

Butterfly Summer Reviews

• 
  Kate

  I really enjoyed this start to the 'Davis Landing' series. I appreciated the bits of 'backstory' we got with regards to patriarch Wallace Hamilton's health, and why things were so topsy-turvey for the Hamilton clan.
  I absolutely adored Heather. I really identified with her thoughts that she didn't want to compete with her sisters, and how that might have kept her from being who God created her to be. I loved her faith . . . how she knew God was trustworthy, even in horrible, no good, very bad situations.
  I also really enjoyed Ethan. He had wanted to get to know Heather for a while, but when circumstances 'threw them together', he finally got the opportunity to not only get to know her, but ultimately, to be needed by her. His moment of clarity towards the end was just lovely to read about as well.
  I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series. (Also, I think this may be the first time I've ever rated a Love Inspired book 4.5 stars!)
• 
  Dawn

  It's been a long time since I read the books in the Davis Landing Series. In fact, I'm pretty sure I gave them all away. Anyway, I was looking for a cover with a butterfly on it for Bingo, and this one fit, so I reread it.
  
  It was an easy read. I didn't love love love it, after all I'd given away my copies. But I didn't hate it either. Since it had been so long since I read this book, I'd forgotten most of what happened in the story. The Hamilton siblings are fiercely loyal and the strong personalities of three of them really over shadow Heather's gentle spirit. I did love Ethan and how he brought out Heather's personality and helped her to shine on her own instead of in the shadow of her siblings. Overall, it was an ok read. Took me about 2 hours to read it.
  
  I'd like to reread the rest of the series, but only if I can rent them or find them cheaply.
• 
  Beth

  My grandfather liked to read contemporary Christian romances and when he passed away my grandmother gave me a box filled with these little romance novels. This isn't my usual genre, but I did enjoy the light-hearted tone to this novel. Heather Hamilton was a very relatable character and I enjoyed watching her develop from a "plain jane" to a gorgeous and confident character. As far as cheesy romances go, this would have 5 stars but since it's a very simple storyline and predictable, I'd give it a 3.5.
• 
  Heidi

  I liked the story. So far so good. I'm just not into bible verses and it took me by surprise that the Hamiltons were not the usual rich family I read and watch. I like how Ethan's character really developed in the story. From the "temporary" guy that he was to the "permanent" guy for Heather.
  
  Can't wait to get my hands on the other books.
• 
  Marlene

  Butterfly Summer by Arlene James is a sweet contemporary Christian romance. It's the first book in the Davis Landing series, a six-book, multi-author series. It's stand-alone if you don't mind that there will be loose ends for the secondary characters at the conclusion.
  
  Heather is the middle daughter of a well-to-do close-knit Christian family that owns and runs a publishing company just outside of Nashville. Heather is the features editor of the magazine, and firmly rooted in her hometown.
  
  Ethan is a top-notch photographer for the magazine, but doesn't stay anywhere for long. He's long admired Heather from afar because of her beautiful character. He isn't a Christian, though.
  
  What I liked :
  
  *I enjoyed seeing the progression from acquaintance to friendship to romance. Well done!
  
  *Heather and Ethan are both very likable! Ethan is extremely sweet. Heather is a great peacemaker.
  
  What I didn't like:
  
  *I was so excited about trying more of Arlene James that I was disappointed to learn the following books in the series are written by other authors.
  
  *The background plot seems slightly soap opera-ish to me. Not enough to make me dislike it, but enough that I didn't want to give it 5 stars.
  
  I'd recommend this book to fans of extremely clean contemporary Christian romance.
  
  I plan to try more Arlene James books and will be trying the second in the series, By Her Side by Kathryn Springer.
• 
  Jill Twigg

  This is the first story in the Hamilton series each written by other authors. I love a good makeover story and this one did not disappoint. Heather, thinking she is the ugly duckling was made over in an emergency-last minute save at her job when the candidate did not show. Ethan, the company photographer has admired and cared for Heather as she was when he first started with the Hamilton's paper and magazine.
  Their story enfolds as Heather thinks she's not pretty enough for Ethan and his wanderlust ways and Ethan thinking he's not good enough for a "Hamilton" girl. The story has a few twists which are always good in a story. Looking forward to reading the rest of the children in the series.
• 
  Angela Anderson

  This book was a cute little romance, a little too much religion for my tastes, but not so much that I couldn't get through the book. There is a series about this family, but I think the Christian angle was enough that I won't read anymore.....
• 
  Pam Flora

  I really liked this book, and did anticipate reading book 2 to find out answers. But book 2 did not answer my questions about book 1. Book 2 was not as good as 1. I guess because I was wondering what happened with 2 or 3 of the people in it, but never found out.
• 
  Kaitlynn Engel

  Wow. I didn't expect this book to be so good! It's a sweet love story but it's more than that, too. It has such a strong emphasis on faith, on trust, and on being who God meant us to be.
• 
  Judy

  Excellent story.
  
  1st in a series of 6 books called Davis Landing.
  
  The books are the stories of the 6 Hamilton children.
  
  This was about Heather Hamilton and Ethan Danes.
• 
  Jan

  I loved the entire series and couldn't put it down.
• 
  Heather Hart

  Other than being a little wordy, this was a really good book.
• 
  Lysa Marie

  it is great