Lost Lake, by Sarah Addison Allen

Food, family and a sense of a fairy tale are the hallmarks of Sarah Addison Allen’s work. Lost Lake adds grief and ghosts to the mix in a tale of widowhood and beyond. The Morris women tend to get lost in love and can’t recover from its aftermath. A year after her husband’s death Kate suddenly snaps back to reality and realises she has lost control of everything that matters in her life. Reconnecting with her great aunt at the dilapidated holiday resort of Lost Lake helps Kate realise she can choose her fate and that of her daughter. In the process ghosts are laid to rest, alligators are soothed and futures are settled. The destination is usually fairly clear early on in Allen’s books, but the journey always has a few interesting twists and turns and it is very enjoyable getting there.