Beatriz Williams’ books set on Winthrop Island are fabulous reads that can be enjoyed as stand-alone novels. WHEN YOU LOVED ME introduces Lucy Cooper, whose father has lived on the island his whole life. Bud was determined to find the legendary pirate's treasure that was rumored to be buried somewhere on the property.

The search has taken on mythical proportions. Lucy's great-grandparents looked for the treasure to no avail. Her father has filled the house with maps, historical books, documents and notes, and he always seems to be on the verge of success. In the meantime, the grand old Windward estate is falling apart. Repairs are sorely needed, but there are no funds. The Cooper fortune that Lucy's great-grandparents accumulated has been spent on the lavish lifestyle of their descendants.

"WHEN YOU LOVED ME has it all. There's plenty of action, romance and family drama, and readers are given a peek into the lives of the rich and famous. It's engaging, fascinating, moving and, above all, entertaining. This is Beatriz Williams at her best."

Lucy’s plan had been to visit her father on Winthrop Island. But when he died, she and her very precocious daughter, Elise, came to plan the funeral and take care of his affairs. Lucy's partner (Elise's father) had been murdered in France, and they were at loose ends. When Lucy was five, her mother had had enough of living without any source of income. Their finances were such that either the New York home or the Winthrop Island mansion would have to be sold, and Bud was determined to keep the one where there was most definitely buried pirate treasure. Lucy's mother left him and moved with Lucy to Paris. She has since lived in Europe with a succession of stepfathers, all of whom are quite wealthy.

Lucy returned to visit her father each summer until she turned 18. As she spent time on the island, she and Laura Peabody, the teenager next door, became best friends. Laura was obsessed with her older brother's friend, Ben Ressler, a Dartmouth football player who spent summers as a guest of the Peabodys. But while Laura fancied herself in love with Ben, Lucy and Ben struck up a friendship that slowly became more.

There are several storylines in this tightly crafted novel. By deftly juggling them all, Williams keeps us rapt, reading until late in the night to see what finally happens (I was up until 1:30am). There is the connection that Lucy makes with Ben, who is now living on the island after a tragic end to his brilliant professional football career. There is the question about the drowning death of her father, who disappeared with his clothes folded neatly on the beach, making it seem as if he had died by suicide. The problem is that Bud did not like to swim, and he never would get into the water naked. But without evidence, the police don't necessarily believe it's foul play. There are disturbing incidents that affect Lucy and Elise at Windward, such as strange plumbing issues and a fire. There are the mysterious clues about the pirate treasure that her father left her, including a safe-deposit key and a laptop left at a computer repair shop, as if he was worried something would happen to him. 

There are also chapters that are excerpts from “The Great Snow: A Romance,” which takes us back to the original inhabitants of the island, the Winthrops, and the two women who lived there. Beulah marries Silas Winthrop, who is more the age of a grandfather than a husband to the teenager. Her older sister, Hephzibah, accompanies her to the isolated island to live with her as she has no other option. Their parents had been killed by pirates, and they were left with nothing. Their story is told in bits and pieces, and the different typeface serves as an excellent method of separating the two plotlines.

When it appears that the story is almost over, we realize that there is still about a third of it left. There are surprising twists and beautiful turns. Williams excels in writing about non-traditional families, and Lucy's family fits that mold perfectly.

Estranged from Lucy since they were 18, Laura returns to the island, bringing back all the doubts that Lucy had about Ben. But overshadowing the problems with family and friends is the elusive danger that seems directed at Lucy and Windward. Is it connected to what happened to her father? Was he getting close to finding the treasure? Can she keep Elise safe? Can she trust Ben?

WHEN YOU LOVED ME has it all. There's plenty of action, romance and family drama, and readers are given a peek into the lives of the rich and famous. It's engaging, fascinating, moving and, above all, entertaining. This is Beatriz Williams at her best.