Families and sisters can be complicated…Jill Conroy is tricked by her sister into becoming the housekeeper and cook for the summer at Seashell Cottage where Greg Campbell and his nephew, Brody, have been hired to do maintenance projects on the house. Annoyed at first, Jill soon realizes how wonderful it is to be away from her home in New York and the memories of her deceased, emotionally … emotionally abusive husband.
Soon the magic of the beach heals Jill enough for her to decide to move to Florida permanently to make a new life for herself. Her part-time work at a summer camp and the promise of a new job as a third-grade teacher in the fall make it seem as if her future is set. But a visit from her sister, followed by her mother, reveals secrets that surprise them all. Jill learns to accept the idea of love not only from Brody but from his daughter, Kacy, as the summer brings even more surprises.
This book is a standalone novel that is one of others based at the Seashell Cottage on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Different stories, different characters, same location.
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SUCH A JOY TO READ
A SUMMER OF SURPRISES is the third book in the Seashell Cottage series. Each is a stand-alone sweet romance that takes place at the Seashell Cottage on Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast.
The oldest child sets the example, is the peacemaker, and is bookish. The baby of the family is cute, flighty, and coddled. This develops sibling rivalry in their younger years and if not addressed it can stunt their adult relationships with one another and with their parents… Oh, boy do I relate with this! I am the oldest of three. I’m just glad I made friends with my siblings before they earned their wings.
This story was such a joy to read as Jill gained the confidence she needed to be able to tell people about the past she had lived and the future she wanted. She became the person that made her happy so that she could make others happy.
In the beginning her sister is shown as manipulative, but even she grows by the end of the book; I’m glad of that. Perhaps a future book will show more of her journey. The seeds have been planted, and it could be a good harvest.
Narration: Angela Dawe has a sweet voice. Though her voice does not reflect the New York accent that Jill would have, and in fact sound like upper New England, I could listen to it at any time. She has beautiful enunciation, pronunciation, and diction. She would be a reason to pick up an audiobook.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: A SUMMER OF SURPRISES
Series: Seashell Cottage #3
Category /Genre: Clean Romance
Recommended for: 16+
Listenability: OK for most ears
Received from: Judith Keim (as an Audible gifted copy)
Well-Done Summer Family Drama and Romance
I have read several of Judith Keim’s books, and she always manages to imbue her books with such a sense of family and place. This book is no exception. Having grown up with four sisters, I appreciated the brief and intermittent look at the relationship between the heroine and her spoiled older sister. The main character had far more going on than that, though. Widowed for two years, she suffered mental cruelty from her husband, and so was not too displeased by his passing. But because of the long-term hurt she sustained, she not only keeps herself from men who might treat her well but also shies away from much interaction with anyone, even other women and family. That is not the only family dynamic going on in this book. Though her sister appeared to be offering the use of a Florida cottage while she and her friend were away, they actually had told the workers who were going to be at the cottage that she would be their cook and housekeeper! She was just hoping for a quiet summer off; she is normally a kindergarten teacher. One worker brought his very spoiled daughter. Dad and daughter certainly have a lot of work to do, and this was certainly not what our heroine signed up for. But there are also happy surprises, as you might imagine, but I will leave those for you to discover yourself. I did think that the author did a good job of showing the complex web of family dynamics without making the story feel heavy because of it. She has an easy, breezy writing style that is such a pleasure to read. As you can tell, I enjoyed this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
The only downfall to this story is that it will be 2021 before I can get Book 2. This is a story of complicated family interactions and co-dependency. Jill, her mother and sister have a lifelong history of verbal abuse and dependency. Brody, his daughter and ex-wife have a history of a power struggle and control. I love that Judith Keim has portrayed these characters so realistically. I totally enjoyed this book.
A Summer of Surprises is Judith Keim’s third book in her Seashell Cottage series. Jill Conroy has been struggling. Her school year is just about over with only needing to close out the year and shut down her kindergarten classroom when she receives a call from her sister, Crystal, with whom she has a contentious relationship. Crystal is offering Jill a free summer at a gulf front cottage to housesit for a friend of hers. Wondering what the catch is but needing a getaway, Jill agrees to leave for Seashell Cottage as soon as her school commitments are fulfilled.
Upon arrival, Jill is quickly enlightened when she meets Greg Campbell, an older contractor staying at the cottage while doing repairs, who asks Jill if she is the one they hired to cook, clean, and do laundry for the summer. He then discloses that his nephew, Brody, and his 8 year old daughter Kacy will be arriving soon. Although immediately furious, Jill takes a beachside stroll and decides that she doesn’t mind the tasks in exchange for a summer in paradise.
But the tasks keep building when she is also asked to help with Kacy, a troubled and angry girl. However, Kacy is the key that opens doors for an unsure Jill to make the life changes she needs. Having been put down by her controlling mother and sister, then falling into an abusive marriage until her husband died in an auto accident a couple of years ago, Jill is ready to make a lot of changes in her life, and her time at Seashell Cottage is the impetus to begin these changes.
This is a lovely story of a young woman finding her way, standing up for herself, making big changes, and beginning to write the next chapters of her life in a manner that will bring contentment and happiness. Ms. Keim has a way of bringing the reader in to her stories, feeling the environment, and becoming friends with her well drawn characters. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
This book is so good!! It is well written and hooks you on the first page. The author makes the book come to life with with her words. You can see all the scenery and feel all the emotions. I highly recommend this book. Thank you Wild Quail Publsihing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own
Absolutely love this story of Jill rebuilding her life after an abusive husband and hurt from her family. I love her journey of making the big leap to start her life over and find her happiness in a new place. The love, new life and friendships she finds are uplifting. This story hit for me as I’m contemplating changes myself. It’s such a positive distraction from all the pain in the word right now. So grateful to the author for being a member of her review team by reading an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A new beginning and a chance at really peace and happiness falls in her lap when Jills sister convinces her to house sit for a friend in Florida for the summer. Her life has not truly been her own since she married her husband, even if he has now passed on. Her trip may not be exactly what she was told, but it could not have turned out more perfect and satisfying and the changes she finds herself makinh are for her and her alone. It’s an easy summer read with depth and feeling and I enjoyed every minute of it.
The publisher has provided an excellent summary, I will give my opinion.
A Summer of Surprises by Judith Keim is a story of discovery, healing, family relationships, and love. It is a moving story that struck many emotional chords for me. I identified with trials and tribulations of Jillian Conroy. I got angry for her, I cried for her, and rejoiced with her. She warmed my heart with her actions.
I have read several novels by Judith Keim and she has never let me down.
Like her other novels, A Summer of Surprises is well written story. The story flowed easily and held my interest. The characters are well developed and extremely relatable. Their stories are told through reflections of past events, events that shaped them. The interactions between the characters caused them to experience highs and lows, conflict and resolution.
I highly recommend this book. Its genre is listed as romance but it is more, it is women’s fiction. Thank you #JudithKeim and #WildQuailPublishing for approving my request for an ARC of this book. All the opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
Judy Keim did it again! If you like beach settings with a little eye candy, then this story is for you. Jill, the main character, reminds me of both myself as well as the mouse that accepts change and goes with it in the management book, “Who Moved My Cheese” by Dr Spencer Johnson. Jill is the epitome of a positive person. You can’t not like Brody as he’s your eye candy, but with incredible heart and soul. Then there’s Kacy. All I’m going to say there, is prepare to fall in love with her. Judy is able to transport you to the beach with her descriptions of the feel of sand between your toes and the feel of the gulf waters rushing past your legs. No, we can’t be in Florida right now; however, let Judy take you there in her latest novel “A Summer of Surprises”. I’m so ready to go!!!
“A Summer of Surprises” is a poignant novel in the “Seashell Cottage Series” that tells us all about Jill starting her life over and starting fresh on many levels.
Judith Keim has given us a charming, whimsical & emotional romance. I found myself teary-eyed a few different times while reading.
My heart broke for Jill during some of these difficult decisions that she had to make.
This was my first book in the Series and can be read as standalone.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for fair and honest review.
“A Summer of Surprises” by Judith Keim is a wonderful story which drew me right in, making me forget everything else and did not let me go until I turned the last page. I really love stories written by this author. The story was very well written the characters were well defined, likeable and realistic. PI love how in this story the main character is able to to change the direction of her life. Once I started I did not want to stop reading until I had turned the last page. It was a quick and delightful read. It was a breath of fresh air in this time we are living in.
This book hits all the right spots.
It has suspense, humor, building relationships, love, and romance.
The characters are so well written and real.
The plot is full of surprises and emotions.
I really liked how at the end everything worked out for the best.
A Summer of Romance and Growth
This book is part of the Seashell Cottage Series which is a spinoff of the Salty Key Series. This is a lovely story of growth and romance on Florida’s gulf coast. All of the main characters are going to experience major personal growth during this summer. Some will also find romance. It is a lovely story set in a lovely area. This author knows how to spin a story that is so realistic that the reader can truly grasp the emotions flooding the characters.
I received this ARC book for free from the author and this is my honest review.
I really enjoyed this amazing book. It has many wonderful characters that adds to the central story. This is more than a romance, it’s also about opening up and forgiveness. Jillian thinks she’s going on a relaxing vacation at the Seashell Cottage in Florida. When she arrives, she learns she’s expected to cook and clean for the uncle and nephew who are doing repairs on the cottage. The nephew also has an eight-year-old daughter. Her sister, Cristal, failed to mention that. Grab your copy and see what all Jillian decides while she’s in Florida.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Jill Conroy needs a get-away from her life in New York state. When her sister Cristal offers her the chance to spend the summer at her friend’s beach house, Seashell Cottage, in Florida, Jill doesn’t think twice. She should have. Cristal has a history of not always being totally honest and this time she’s hidden a major component – two men and a little girl.
Greg Campbell and his nephew Brody are doing renovation work on the Cottage and are expecting Jill to be their housekeeper/cook. Fortunately, the men are easy to please, Brody is definite eye candy, and his daughter Kacy, while a challenge even for a third-grade teacher, is a cute kid.
This story was a twist on vacation-at-the-beach novels. No stereotypical construction men, bratty kids, manipulative sister, stressed teacher here. Each of the characters was multifaceted, with strengths and weaknesses that made them realistically human. As a former teacher I could really understand Jill’s struggle with her decisions and with her relationship with Kacy. It would have been easy for the Jill to “solve” Kacy’s problems but the way the author handled their interaction was more true-to-life than expected – no straight line to perfection. This is the first book I’ve read by Judith Keim, but it won’t be the last – I’ve already downloaded her Chandler Hill series.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. The opinion is my own.
A Summer of Surprises is a wonderful, heartwarming, romance that shows emotional abuse can be as devastating as physical abuse. I loved watching Jill learn to stand up for herself and blossom as she took charge of her life. Jill blossoms as she decides to move to Florida, works with the summer camp and develops a new family with Greg, Brody and Kacy. This book has marvelous character development and a plot that kept me reading far into the night! I highly recommend this book!
Entertaining and enchanting story of moving forward and finding romance. Witty and fun characters to follow along a bumpy at times journey. Good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Widow Jill Conroy gets tricked into going to Seashell Cottage where her sister and Mother want her to do all the work. I was getting upset that she would not stand up for herself, and then when she did this story became one that I was not putting down. I enjoyed seeing her bloom into the woman she was meant to be. I am glad that Brody Campbell and his daughter Kacy came into her life. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Summer of Surprises is another winner from Judith Keim. I have enjoy each of this authors books that I have had the pleasure to read, this one was no exception. Jill is a widow with plenty of unhappy memories, once again she does a favor for her sister Cristal and in the process her life will be changed forever. This is a excellent summer read, action packed and full of emotions and self-discovery. I would most definitely recommend this book to others.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, and the publisher and this is my fair an honest review.
A Summer of Surprises is a wonderful story of a woman who has had a strained relationship with her mother and sister. She goes on to marry and is emotionally abused by her husband. She is determined to change her life for the better. She spends the summer at a cottage in Florida and meets some wonderful people that help her in changing her life. The story addresses many issues that people deal with and was done so in a very encouraging way. I would recommend this book to all that is looking for a great summer story.
I was given an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.