After her husband was killed in Afghanistan in the line of duty, Allie Beckett's numbing all-consuming grief only lessened as she knew she had to love and care for Wyatt, her cute and now wise beyond his five year old year son. With too many memories and tired of seeing the compassion in her friends' eyes as they tried to support her, Allie just knew she has to make a fresh start. Since no one had used their family cottage on the shores of Butternut Lake in Minnesota, Allie decides to pull up stakes and move to a place where she only had happy and peaceful memories. Arriving there in the dark night, Allie has some misgivings, but hopes for the best. That is all she can do.

As the young widow and her son go into town the next day for breakfast and groceries, Allie feels the first tugs of optimism on her heart. Pearls, the restaurant she had loved as a child, is still there and is open. Soon, she finds out that many people remember her, especially Caroline, the owner of Pearls and Jax, her old best friend, and now the proud mom of three girls and who is happily expecting another baby.

Despite some glitches, Allie begins to believe that she has found her safe haven. As she is welcomed into the small and friendly community, her path soon crosses with Walker Ford, the co-owner of a group of boatyards and the owner of the only other residence on Butternut Lake. Despite a rocky start, there seems to be an attraction, but that causes Allie more concern than happiness. Wyatt has been through too much already with losing his dad. What would happen to Him if things didn't work out with Walker? Has his earlier experiences of love made him too commitment-adverse to give Allie what she needs?

Fans of inspiration contemporary romance will definitely not be disappointed by this start to a new trilogy by debut novelist Mary McNear. UP AT BUTTERNUT LAKE is set in the fictional, yet so very authentically rendered small town of Butternut Lake in the northern woods area of Minnesota, it will remind others of their time spend near cool lakes and their adjoining small towns.

While UP AT BUTTERNUT LAKE may be based in a small town, the novel is lovingly populated with interesting and very likeable characters of varying ages dealing with what life has brought to their door. In addition to the main story of Allie, Wyatt and Walker, NcNear has nicely interwoven in other differing stories of loss, redemption and how friends can help bring healing and/or realistic insights into their situations.

Caroline is a sage older, but not old woman who, as a single mom, has raised her daughter well and now is missing their closeness as her daughter enjoys her new life at college. Jax also faces her own share of emotional turmoil as her family life is threatened from past secrets. Can hearts be open to new possibilities?

UP AT BUTTERNUT LAKE is a lovely heartfelt story of resiliency, compassion and emotional pain, filled with inspiring optimism. With friendly nudges and insights, one can get through the storms and in the right direction for safe harbours! While the story line is complete enough to be a wonderful stand-alone read, thank goodness, there are two more books coming to find our more about what happens to these well-crafted characters UP AT BUTTERNUT LAKE. Enjoy!