It’s never too late to start over. The Summer House weaves Lauren K. Denton’s inviting Southern charm around a woman’s journey to find herself in a small beach town–with a little help from the local retirement community. Lily Bishop wakes up one morning to find a good-bye note and divorce papers from her husband on the kitchen counter. Having just moved to Alabama for his job only weeks before, … weeks before, Lily is devastated. New to town and knowing no one, Lily finds herself in desperate need of a job and a new place to live. When Lily hears that a hair stylist is needed at small retirement community, she decides to apply.
Rose Carrigan built the small retirement village of Safe Harbor years ago–just before her husband ran off with his assistant. Now she runs a tight ship, making sure the residents follow her strict rules. Rose keeps everyone at arm’s length, including her own family. But when Lily shows up asking for a job and a place to live, Rose’s cold exterior begins to thaw.
Lily and Rose form an unlikely friendship, and Lily’s salon soon becomes the place where the colorful residents share town gossip and a few secrets. Lily soon finds herself drawn to Rose’s nephew, Rawlins–a single dad and shrimper who’s had some practice at starting over–and one of the residents may be carrying a torch for Rose as well.
Neither Lily nor Rose is where she expected to be, but the summer makes them both wonder if there’s more to life and love than what they’ve experienced so far.
The Summer House is a:
- Cozy novel full of charm and heart that’s perfect vacation reading
- Celebration of new beginnings, friendship, and family
- Sweet, clean romance set on the Gulf Coast
“The perfect summer read! Situated on the Alabama Gulf Coast, you’ll feel the sun, taste the salt, and linger with new friends–you won’t want to leave. And with lyrical prose and rich characters, The Summer House is a beautifully poignant reminder that we are never too young to find a good place to stand nor too old to start over.”–Katherine Reay, bestselling author of The Printed Letter Bookshop and Dear Mr. Knightley
more
Lauren K. Denton’s books are always fun to read and this one is no exception. The characters are well written and the scenery on the Gulf Coast is beautifully described and makes you feel like you are in Alabama with the characters in the book.
Lily wakes up one morning and finds that her husband of one year is gone and left behind a note – that’s all just a note with no explanation of why he left or how she could find him. They had only lived in Alabama for 2 weeks and she had no friends or family so she had nowhere to turn. She realized that she needed a job and replied to a flyer that she found at the grocery story to be a hair stylist in a local retirement community. Her mother, who had died several years earlier had a hair salon in her home and taught Lily everything she needed to know. When Lily first meets Rose, the owner, at her interview, it looks like things may not work out but after Lily explains what has happened in her life, Rose feels a strong urge to help her out. Rose is the other main character and after losing her husband years earlier, she became a rule maker at the village and ship avoided getting involved with any of the residents. So as the novel starts out, we have two main characters,, both in need to change and struggling to find happiness in their lives.
The retirement community was full of fun and quirky people. They were all in the end stages of their lives but they were full of life and loved to have adventures and parties. Once Lily is accepted as their hair stylist, she begins to enjoy having fun with them. Also, she and Rose’s nephew begin to be more than a little interested in each other and there may be romance in their future. Will Lily and Rose be able to find happiness and contentment in their lives with a little help from the residents of the community?
The Summer House is an uplifting book about love and friendship, loss and starting over. It’s a charming book that is a bit predictable at times but is still fun to read and enjoy. It will definitely put a smile on your face.
As always Lauren K. Denton shines in a multi-generational story about women who find themselves and their place in their world after experienced tragic loss. For fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Mary Alice Monroe, or Kristy Woodson Harvey, the diverse cast of quirky characters and moment tinged with both sweet and bitter will satisfy.
This is a story of starting over which takes place in a retirement community in Florida. Lily is on her own after her husband abruptly leaves her and she answers an ad for a hairdresser. Her late mother, Lillian, was able to create a wonderful atmosphere in her salon and had told Lily that she also had the gift. The story proves that it is true!
As this is the 4th book written by Lauren that I have read, I expected to enjoy it. I wasn’t disappointed in the quality of her characters or the great interaction between them. Part of the charm of Lauren’s books are the locations of the story that are all in the state of Alabama (my home state) and places I have visited. She chooses some really lovable people for her books and I always feel they are realistic as well as people I would love to meet. Looking forward to her next book already in the making.
This book was so good. I read HURRICANE SEASON by this same author and just knew this would be another good one. I was not at all disappointed.
Lily woke to one of the worse days ever. Her husband was gone and all he left was a note and divorce papers. What a way to start the day. She has no choice but to move on. Move out of their place and get a job. She’s a very strong young woman and picks up her life and moves on. She’s a very likable person. I admire her for many things. She gets a job in a retirement village as a hairdresser. Makes new friends and does great. She’s a very resilient young woman even when she is afraid of what lies ahead in her life.
Rose runs the retirement village and is a divorced woman who doesn’t take much off of anyone and doesn’t get to close. Her and Lily seem to hit it off great though. I liked Rose and her nephew and her great niece. Rose has some tough choices to make.
This book is a very light read and will keep you interested in the lives of all the characters. They are all so likable and you will feel like you are on the beach, in the hairdressers shop or in Rose’s office. It’s told in such a way that you have lots of feelings. It made me laugh in places and cry in others. It was truly a joy to read.
Thank you #NetGalley, #LaurenKDenton, #ThomasNelson
A true 5/5 stars and a very high recommendation.
Everyone else is gone, but I’m here. I’m still here.
– Lily
Delightful story surrounding the lives of Lily and Rose generations apart but united by the life experiences and the drive to make something good out of it. The camaraderie between them was amazing and beautiful.
First of Lauren Denton I am reading.
Beautiful story and even amazing settings.
The Summer House is the first book I have ever read by Lauren Denton, but it most certainly will not be the last. I absolutely devoured this magnificent story of starting over and rediscovering yourself.
Lily Bishop, barely past celebrating her first anniversary, wakes up one morning to find a note from her husband that he has left and their marriage is over. Although devastated, Lily knows she needs to find a job and a place to live. She meets quite an interesting pair of ladies at the grocery store who live in a nearby retirement village who Lily just happens to see an ad is in need of a hairdresser.
When she shows up for the interview, she meets Rose, the owner and manager of the retirement village. Although hesitant, Rose gives Lily a chance and allows her to move in the apartment above the shop. Rose herself is also in need of learning how to live again due to her own circumstances. Together, they move past their grief and learn to live and love again. I just love that the name of the place where they live is called Safe Harbor as it serves as a refuge for Rose and Lily in the storm of their lives.
This is the perfect summer read. It has a gorgeous southern Alabama coastal setting complete with some fabulous, quirky, characters whose banter is hilarious. I laughed out loud at the ladies debate over which mayo is the best to use in deviled eggs because it was so realistic. I think I have actually witnessed one of those mayo debates myself. 😉
I know the old saying goes that you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, but I would say it would be just fine to do in this case. It is an absolutely perfect cover to house the beautiful words inside.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Lauren Denton understands the heart in pain and writes with eloquence, poise and sass. I was immediately drawn to each of the characters and loved how their stories converged to draw out the other’s. Lily needs a safe place to start over and Rose needs someone to help draw her out of her self-imposed isolation and they are perfect for each other. Rawlins is a great neutral party who has an expressed interest in both women, though for very different reasons. The coastal descriptions will transport you and the small community will capture your heart. New starts, family, and redemption are explored in this perfect summer read. Highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
“This life is a beautiful thing – it’s precious and fleeting, and we’d all be crazy not to reach out and grab it with both hands and hang on tight.”
From the first page of this story, I felt like I was transported to the small village called Safe Harbor on the Alabama coast. With her signature Southern charm and grace, Lauren K. Denton has written a beautiful story about starting over, taking chances, and becoming who you were meant to be. Rose and Lily couldn’t have done that without the community around them, and there are definitely some some fun, slightly eccentric characters who add both lightheartedness and depth to the story! Besides the beautiful setting, which could be a character itself, my favorite part of the story was seeing Lily’s transformation from a betrayed, hurting woman to one who has found her purpose and is ready to open her heart again. When I finished the book, I wished I could stay in Safe Harbor a little longer – that’s a sign of a great story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I am not sure that the “Summer House” could completely qualify as a beach read since it is not completely lighthearted. But I did enjoy the premise – a young woman named Lilly Bishop getting a fresh start on an island that is primarily a retirement village. I did like the fact that not only did Lily learn to cope and to have a new life, but her presence also awakened Rose and helped her to right some wrongs and move forward as well. Having a little girl also be a key character was fun – she was precocious. My only disappointment was the fact that the importance of marriage being for life was dismissed rather easily. But I think this time that was the theme of the author – to start over with one that you are truly meant to be with. The characters are likable. This is an overall uplifting clean read – kind of a romance, kind of women’s fiction. I would read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and to Thomas Nelson for letting me preview this book. All opinions are my own. Note: Thomas Nelson often publishes Christian fiction – I would not quantify this book under that category, but there was definitely not anything really objectionable about the plot. There just was not really a spiritual element found in the plot.
This was a lovely book! Lily is a young woman who is married and thinks everything is fine. She wakes up one morning to find her husband gone and a note at the coffeepot. She has no clue what is happening or what to do about it but she pulls herself together and decides to move forward instead of backward. As she searches for her future, she runs into (literally) two older women at the grocery store. They tell her of their community at the end of the island and of a possible job opening and the rest is a perfectly wonderful adventure. All of the residents are very welcoming and Lily seems to fit right in even though she’s about 40 younger than everyone else. Rose, the owner of the community, is a little brusque but for some reason she takes a liking to Lily and their journey to new lives and new possibilities is very sweet and very moving. Seems that age is not a barrier to change or reinventing yourself. There is even some very sweet romance too. I will definitely be looking for more of Ms. Denton’s work.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
In her latest inspiring, uplifting novel, Ms. Denton gives readers a great summer read (would be a great beach read). This is an inspirational novel that examines the past and present of several characters. Their past has shaped their present and each presents a facade that they are afraid of letting others see. The book begins with Lily whose husband has just left her unexpectedly. Lily finds herself alone and in need of a home and a job. Circumstances leads her to a prospective job in a retirement community in Alabama at the gulf. Lily interviews for the job with Rose. Rose has run the Safe Harbor Village for many years. She is predictable and very closed off. However, Rose sees something in Lily to give her a job. Lily has skills in helping break down barriers and mend fences. As Ms. Denton leads readers to the conclusion of this book, they will be inspired and uplifted. This novel shows readers how the hope of pushing against our fears and allowing God to change us and work through us is possible. I highly recommend this book and know you will not be disappointed!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Lauren K. Denton, and Thomas Nelson-Fiction publisher. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this Southern novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Denton’s characters are fully developed, her portrayal of the bumps of life honest and well-considered, and her story hard to put aside. I am happy to add Lauren K. Denton to my list of favorite authors and to recommend her work enthusiastically to friends and family.
The majority of this novel takes place in 2018, in Safe Harbor Village, a planned community catering for the most part to retirees on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. Our main protagonists are Lily and Rose, ladies easily understood by most of us who didn’t find true love the first pop out of the box. They represent the two options one has with the death of a relationship – isolation, and a mental and physical reversal to a happier time. The Summer House is an excellent read for that lazy day at the beach or hammock. I am pleased to have found another Southern author to follow.
A Summer of Second Chances and New Hope
This book is a heartwarming story of healing, second chances, and new growth. It is primarily women’s fiction, but there are several romances in the background. The story is well done with believable characters reacting to hard situations in a believable manner. This book was so well written that I am going to check out more of this author’s books. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Author Lauren K. Denton has a special gift for writing evocative Southern fiction and she is on the top of her game in THE SUMMER HOUSE! This is a story of love and loss. A story of Lily and Rose, from different generations who share similar ways of dealing with hidden secrets over their broken hearts. A story of Coach and Rawlins, from different generations (only the younger one has the cutest little daughter) who also know a thing or two about broken hearts but instead of it making them BITTER, it has made them BETTER men. A story of the two men pursuing the two women in order to show them what it feels like for someone else to want to protect and provide for them. A story of a community that comes together to support Lily’s beauty salon and in doing so, it becomes the center of activity. Mainly, it is the story of a spectacular summer that gives hope to the broken-hearted that there may be more to life and love than they have experienced so far. One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Sometimes the hardest step is the first one. After that, it can only get easier.” What a great insight!
I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
Are you a person that can bounce back from what life throws at you? If so, you may can relate to Lily. I think she is a little of many of us or we are a little of her. I loved getting to know her. Another character I loved getting to know was Rose. I think we all may have something in our past that maybe we wish would have happened a different way. I hope you enjoy your trip to Alabama and meeting all these wonderful folks. I think you’ll really enjoy Coach, Rawlins, Kitty, Shirley, Edna, Tiny and the rest of the folks who hang around Safe Harbor Village. I received the book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Lily Bishop wakes up to find her husband, Worth, is not in bed next to her. They recently moved into a rental home in Alabama so Worth can start a new job working for his wealthy family. Then she sees a note from him saying he can’t do this anymore, along with a complaint for divorce. Now, she must move out of the rental home, find a new place to live, and find a job. When she sees an ad for a hairstylist at a retirement home called Safe Harbor Village, she immediately applies.
Rose Carrigan built Safe Harbor Village and runs it. She has lived there for many years and knows all of the residents and their quirks and personalities. The characters of the Village are welcoming to Lily and bring her into their lives.
This story is like sitting in your yard in the summertime sipping a glass of iced tea and chatting with good friends. Safe Harbor Village sounds like a nice place to live filled with good people. I would be delighted to have neighbors like this. I really loved Lily’s character and found her to be a very strong woman. So, come to Safe Harbor Village this summer and have a fun, wholesome time. Enjoy!
.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My first book by this author. Wonderfully written book about loss and starting over. With hope and determination you can succeed. Ms. Denton weaves a fabulous, engaging story with phenomenal characters. A must read! Enjoy!
Lauren K. Denton has become one of my favorite authors, and I look forward to each of her books. I love her lyrical descriptions of the south, and even though I am not older like the other members of the community in this novel, I could picture myself living there happily. I loved this quirky group of residents of Safe Harbor Village. I loved seeing how both Rose and Lily transformed throughout the book. I appreciated the slow, sweet development of the relationship between Lily and Rawlins and that it didn’t seemed rushed or sappy like a typical romance novel, which I wouldn’t categorize this book as being. I would highly recommend this novel by Lauren K. Denton and look forward to reading her books in the future.
Lily wakes up one morning to a note from her husband, saying he can’t do this marriage anymore. So she must now make a life for herself. She applies for a job as a hair stylist in Safe Harbor, AL. Safe harbor is a retirement community, filled with loveable characters. Rose Carrigan is 68, divorced and unhappy. She tells herself she’s happy, but deep down she’s not. But the future might be beginning to brighten for both Lily and Rose. I loved the quaintness and preciousness of this book. I even wouldn’t mind a visit to Safe Harbor. These characters just wormed their way right into my heart.
*My thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.