The friendship between the Shepherd and Coleman families was as well worn and comfortable as their summer homes and shoes in Cape Cod. Starting with a friendly rivalry between Nate Shepherd and Samuel Coleman over who made the best clam chowder, the two families have a long standing tradition of supporting each other through their respective joys and tribulations as well as starting each summer with their annual gathering for gin and tonics and loads of freshly made clam chowder.

The summer started off well with Samuel and Sarah's two sons, Isaac and Asa, getting ready to head off to their respective universities in the fall and Nate happily in love and married to Noelle, a young nurse who had been a godsend to his first wife when she was terminally ill. As the old friends kibitzed together and enjoyed their drinks, none noticed the growing tension and attraction between Noelle and the athletic college bound Asa.

Despite all the values his parents had transmitted to him, the romantic poet inside Asa became headstrong in his growing passion for Noelle and didn't want to pay attention to the young girls that flocked to Cape Cod. While full of disdain for Isaac's balancing act with his girlfriends, he feels his own passion to be purer and stronger. Heedless of the consequences, he makes his feelings known. What harm could come of that?

Well known for her children's books, THE GIN & CHOWDER CLUB is Nan Rossiter's first adult novel and, hopefully, it will be the start of many more. This wonderful story of family and friendship is lovingly built with a strong plot, thoughtful character insights, and a great attention to the details of life that reflect both the ordinary as well as their far reaching consequences. Her depictions of Noelle's feelings of being torn between two lovers as well as the intensity of emotion felt by Asa as a young college student are so accurate that you just want to keep reading to find out how it will end. It is a great summer read and with its Discussion Suggestions, it is sure to provide lots of conversational fodder for a book club selection. Enjoy!