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A summer camp. A family secret. A night no one talks about.
Ten years after an accident that forced her family to close Camp Feather River, Brooke must return to the ranch to care for her grandfather and face the repercussions of their decision. Brooke once loved spending every summer at Feather River, riding horses, swimming in the lake, and helping her grandfather, Charlie, run the youth camp. But she has not set foot on the property since she and her mother abruptly left that night. Once back at the ranch, Brooke discovers that her family has been hiding more than she knew. While struggling to come to terms with what happened—and her part in it—Brooke realizes the accident might not have been an accident at all.
Part coming-of-age, part suspense, and part a story of redemption, The Last Summer at Feather River is a novel about damage done, secrets kept, sacrifices made, and whether everything can be put back together after it all unravels.
Praise for The Last Summer at Feather River: A Novel
“... you feel the dust on your boots and a horse’s sweet alfalfa breath, all while the emotional riptide of the story pulls you into places where memory is unreliable and guilt runs deep. A seductive, satisfying read.”
— Samantha Dunn, author of Not by Accident:Reconstructing a Careless Life
About the Author
Karen Nelson is the author of the novels The Last Summer at Feather River and The Sunken Town, and she is the co-founder of the nonprofit Writing By Writers where she hosts writing workshops taught by nationally-known, award-winning authors. Her travel writing has appeared in Coast Magazine, Premium, The Orange County Register, and various other publications nationwide. She holds a degree in creative writing from Colby College and teaches writing at the local high school. When not organizing writing workshops, she can be found hiking with her dog, reading, traveling, experimenting in the kitchen, and hosting dinner parties. She lives in the Silicon Valley.
Wednesday, May 20, 7 PM | Kepler's Books, Menlo Park, CA
Book Launch! Join Karen Nelson in Conversation with Pam Houston at Kepler's Books in Menlo Park
Join us to celebrate Karen Nelson’s thrilling new novel, The Last Summer at Feather River which has been described as “a genuine page turner, driven by a galloping sense of suspense and delivered in deft and assured prose.”
Thursday, May 28, 7 PM | Leigh's Favorite Books, Sunnyvale, CA
Join Karen Nelson at Leigh's Favorite Books in Sunnyvale, CA
Join Karen Nelson, author of The Last Summer at Feather River at Leigh’s Favorite Books on May 28th at 7pm to learn about her new novel. Books will be available to purchase at the event. RSVP is recommended.
Join Karen Nelson in conversation with Sam Dunn at Arvida Book Co.
Join Karen Nelson in conversation with Journalist and author Samantha Dunn at Arvida Book Company, about her thrilling new novel, The Last Summer at Feather River. Books will be available to purchase at the event.
Publishing the Brilliant Work of Women Authors Over 50
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