Cover Image: The Summer Cottage

The Summer Cottage

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Member Reviews

The premise of this book was okay, but I just didn't really care about the story. I'm a mood reader and discovering that there are some genres and storylines that are just not for me and this was one of those. I didn't want to pick this up or read it. I ended up DNFing it.

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The Summer Cottage draws from memories of the past to build strength for the current struggle. When nothing goes as planned, the main character Adie, heads to her families cottage in Saugatuck, Michigan to try and catch a break. The "rules" were a wonderful piece of the storyline, as well as the rooms at the cottage. All in all this is an inspirational story of friendship, courage and strength!

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A sweet read with a setting you want to visit. If you want to feel good and filled with hope, this one’s for you.

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Adie Lou Kruger decided that her divorce was the perfect time to start defying her husband. Her husband, Nate, told her that she needed to sell her family's summer cottage in order to afford life as a single woman in Chicago. Thankfully, Adie Lou came to her senses before it was too late. The summer cottage on the shore of Lake Michigan has been in her family for generations. The traditions established for decades. The "Rules of the Cozy Cottage" have been ingrained in Adie Lou for so long, it is just nature. The first rule is to "Leave your troubles at the door." And as much as Adie Lou would love to do that, her troubles are plentiful. She wants to turn the cottage into an inn and pass those traditions on to all of her guests. But she has to deal with thousands of dollars in renovations, a militant local historian, and her own self-doubts. Will she be able to accomplish her dream and keep The Cozy Cottage in the family?

Adie Lou Kruger is the kind of character that the reader can really get behind. From the first time you meet Adie Lou and her husband, you immediately get the sense that their marriage is not built to last. So it is no surprise when it gets to the present day and she is in the process of divorce. She seemed to have a lot of self-doubts - about the divorce, about keeping the cottage, about the work that needed to be done on the cottage, about her old friend, Scooter, and more. As the book progresses you can see Adie Lou become a more self-confident woman and you can't help but root for her. As is true with most "Beach Reads" the reader is pleased with the outcome of the book.

The Summer Cottage is a charming beach read that will have you longing for your own cozy cottage. A nice easy read for the upcoming lazy days of summer.

Details:
The Summer Cottage by Viola Shipman
Viola Shipman is the pen name for Wade Rouse (his grandmother's name) and you can connect with Wade on social media here.
Pages: 416
Publisher: Graydon
Publication Date: 4.23.19
Buy it Here!
Thank you to Netgalley for the book in exchange for a review.

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Do you ever have a book that just sits around? You keep meaning to pick it up and start reading. But for some reason don’t. And when you finally do read it, you’re like WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG??? That was my feeling about The Summer Cottage. I took this picture back in May and I finally got around to reading it! The Summer Cottage by @viola_shipman gave me all the summer nostalgia feels, which is honestly perfect for the end of the summer. We never had a family cabin, but we definitely have our favorite spots that evoke all the memories and feelings for me.
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This was my first @viola_shipman book but it definitely won’t be my last. I loved following Adie Lou’s journey of self discovery and growth. And her son Evan was lovely! And let’s talk about the cottage for a second. I totally fell in love with the cottage and wish it existed. It was definitely its own character in this book. This book is the perfect mix of romance and women’s lit. If you are wanting to experience a little summer nostalgia check out the Summer Cottage 💖💖💖

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

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Viola Shipman's previous novels The Charm Bracelet, The Recipe Box and The Hope Chest, have been among some of my favorite summer reads, filled with family, tradition and touching stories. The Summer Cottage takes its place among them with good standing.

Adie Lou Kruger has so many fond memories of her days at her family's cottage on Lake Michigan but she finds herself in the midst of a divorce and pressure being placed upon her to sell the property to settle her recently deceased parents estate. Adie Lou finds that she can't part with the property that easily and sets a course to renovate the Cottage and her life in the process as she tries to leave her old life behind and start new.

The Summer Cottage follows the journey that Adie Lou and the Cottage itself take. There are many wonderful nostalgic pieces to the novel and it truly does make you wish for a summer on the lake. Without giving away any spoilers, I did struggle with some portions of the storyline that dealt with unearthing historic items from the home, as I felt those were a little outside of the plot line, and there were times that I felt the book didn't flow as well as some of the previous books that I have read by Viola Shipman. That being said, I did enjoy the cottage rules and how those were incorporated into the book. Adie Lou is a very memorable character and it was interesting to watch her evolve and grow over the course of the novel.

I received this book courtesy of Graydon House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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What I thought was going to be a chick lit book turned into a very touching story about Adie Lou finding herself post painful divorce and the death of both her parents. Adie Lou quit her job and returned to her beloved family summer cottage intent on turning it into a bed and breakfast. Her tenacity among setbacks and life are admirable, and Shipman's writing conveys Adie Lou's tenacity and strength. There's romance, reality, and family tradition. What more do you want?

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I had an epiphany while reading this book. The thing I really like in books, the thing I need, are relationships. I need dialogue, I need people interacting. And for the first 30 percent of this book, it was mostly the heroine talking to herself and reminiscing in her head. It made the story drrraaaaggggg. I wasn’t sure I’d keep reading.

Thankfully, things picked up!

Adeleine Kruger is starting a new life. In her early 40s, with her only child in college, she’s divorced her cheating husband and has a plan to turn the cottage that’s been in her family for generations into a bed and breakfast. But first it needs massive repairs, and then renovations, to turn it into a luxury retreat along the shore of Lake Michigan. It’s a crazy idea, but with the encouragement of her best friend, son, and the support of her contractor, and the man she spent many summers with growing up, it all comes together.

This was a sweet, cute story of self discovery. Of a woman learning to find herself after years and years of being a wife and mother, and having a career that wasn’t fulfilling. Of making a plan B, and finding greater happiness than you ever expected.

However, it took me three weeks to get through this book. And I read three others between starting The Summer Cottage and finishing it. Because of the issue mentioned above, it just didn’t pull me in. But once the other characters were more present and more involved, I found the book delightful and amusing. The dialogue was entertaining and I laughed out loud several times. At the end, I even got teary.

It’s just that those deep, intense, emotional scenes were with her son. And when a book is labeled as a romance, I’m anticipating a more prevalent relationship between the hero and heroine. As it was, that storyline left me wanting far more than the reader is given.

Another thing that kept me from really connecting with the story is that just when you think the author is ramping up to get into details about the renovations...or Adie Lou’s new love…or the day-to-day challenges and joys of running a B and B...a new chapter starts and we’re on to something new. There was a lot of quippy wisdom Adie Lou remembers from her parents and grandparents, and a lot or ruminating about what those wise words mean for her today - and it was cute - but again, I want to see what’s happening with her today and her interactions with those she’s with in present day.

I ended up liking this book more than I thought I would. And I’m glad I finished it. But my to-read list is soooo long, I can’t afford to hang with books very long if they don’t draw me in and keep my interest. Would I read another Viola Shipman book? Maybe. Probably. I’m an eternal optimist when it comes to giving books (and new-to-me authors) a chance. But I will probably also move on more quickly next time if the story doesn’t quickly compel me to keep reading. With so many books, and so little time, a busy reader has gotta keep reading!

* thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Graydon House Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

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Better than ever expected. Not the usual newly divorced empty nester mother starts a B & B. Great scenic descriptions. Heartwarming story with lots of wonderful history. If you don’t relate to any part you will wish you did. I thought ‘The Recipe Box’ was wonderful, this matches or equal to the quality of Viola Shipman’s writing and story lines. 5 Stars.

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This book is about a woman having to start a new life after 40. Her husband cheats on her, they divorce. He wants her to sell the family beach cottage, but she decides to open a b & b. Through the struggle of opening a business, second guessing herself, and finding love, she grows.

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I so enjoyed this novel and meeting Adie Lou. This is my first Viola Shipman novel but definitely will not be my last. The story follows recent divorcee Adie Lou as she remodels her parents old summer cottage and takes on the challenge of turning it into a thriving bed and breakfast. Of course along the way Adie Lou finds herself, love and a back bone. I found myself constantly picking this one up to see what would happen next and read about the character's antics. It was a heart warming read while also being funny and entertaining. Thank you to Harlequin/Graydon and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

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Enjoyed this book. Kept me interested all the way through. Would recommend to a fellow reader. Love the cover.

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Any time I pick up or listen to a book by Viola Shipman, I know I'm in for a treat of a comfort read. This time around, I was transported to Saugatuck, Michigan, which had a cozy, small-town feel.

In each of Viola's novels, the story is carried along by some element (i.e. in The Charm Bracelet, each part of the story centered around a charm). This time, the rules of the cottage were used for each part. And these rules were good ones, like "take a nap," "jump in the lake," "leave your baggage at the door," etc. The story started out with the rules being read, with a sparkler being used as a timing device for how quickly they had to recite them.

The Summer Cottage was a sweet story throughout. I even got teary-eyed at the end, as I usually do from Viola's novels. I enjoyed the entrepreneurial aspect of Adie putting together the B&B and all the elements that had to go into it. The summer feel of the story was great, even though it started out in the winter. There was a dog featured in this novel, which I loved. She took on a life of her own and became an integral part of the story.

This is the third of Viola's novels that I listened to (I read The Recipe Box in print). The first two were narrated by Andi Arndt, and I enjoyed hearing her narrate them. This time around, the narrator was Tanya Eby, whom I had previously heard narrating The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande. While Tanya had a pleasant voice and did good characterizations, I am not sure she was a good fit for Viola's novels. I also felt like she emphasized words in a strange way. This wouldn't keep me from listening to future novels by Viola if she were to narrate them. I feel like her novels are even more enjoyable in audio format.

The Summer Cottage is great at capturing the feel of those carefree and lazy summer days of our childhood. Definitely pick it up if you're looking for an enjoyable escape!

Movie casting suggestions:
Adie Lou: Linda Cardellini
Trish: Courtney Henggeler
Scooter: Johnny Whitworth
Evan: Dylan Minnette
Iris Dragoon: Susan Sullivan

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Holy moly! Be still my heart. Can someone pass me the tissues, please? My heart melted so many times in this book. I can't remember what made me pick up this book (I had never read this author before) but I am so dang happy that I did! A beautiful story of 40 something woman, finding herself again after her marriage falls apart, her parents die, and her son is off to college. The biggest shocker?! This gloriously wonderful women's fiction book....was written by a man (using his grandmothers name as a pen name. Dagnabit! How awesome is that!) Why I had a preconceived notion that a man couldn't write a women's fiction book, I don't know. But he did it expertly and I CANNOT wait for his next book. Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2881744816

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Adie Lou Kruger is at a crossroads in her life, in the process of finalizing her divorce from her unsupportive, cheating husband she decides to renovate her parents Summer Cottage into a B&B, Adie Lou’s journey while making this life changing decisions is more than her drive from Chicago to Lake Michigan.

Adie Lou will touch you with her determination, kindness and her will to change her life to be happy while honoring her family.

I enjoyed this story and the unique perspective of following the rules while reading. The character description was brilliant and the self journey of Adie Lou was enjoyable to follow.

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Graydon House and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Summer Cottage. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

The Summer Cottage is not my first Viola Shipman novel, nor will it be my last. The author strikes just the right balance between character development and plot, giving the main character a very realistic feeling. Adie Lou Kruger is embarking on a new stage in her life, after a very painful divorce from her cheating husband. When Adie decides to keep the inheritance from her parents, the summer cottage that is the site of her fondest memories, can inspiration spark a change in career for the newly single woman?

The author does a great job of bringing the characters to life and many readers will be able to identify with Adie. Her strength and determination is inspiring, showing how it is possible to move forward in a positive way after the rug is pulled out from under your life. I especially like how the romantic aspect of the novel is in the periphery, giving readers a chance to go on a journey with Adie as she changes her life view. Overall, the novel has a good flow and a smooth pace, with Adie evolving gradually and realistically. For these reasons, I would definitely recommend The Summer Cottage to readers who like novels about relationships and family.

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This will be the perfect book to read as Summer 2019 begins. It's about starting over despite adverse circumstances and its about love and family. The setting is beautiful Saugatuck Michigan, one of the resort towns along the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline.

Adie Lou is facing middle age with her only son in college when her husband decided to leave her for a much younger woman. She decides to leave Chicago and move back to the small lakeshore cabin that her parents owned in Michigan and turn it into a bed and breakfast. When she starts out, she has no idea of the work and the costs involved. Her belief that her parent's cabin can successfully be turned into a B&B is met by problems all around - from the unexpected repairs to the Historical society of the town who don't want the home modernized. Along the way, Adie Lou has to find inner strength that she didn't know she had, she has to learn to rely on others and to accept the help of her son and her friends to make a success of her plans.

Adie Lou was a wonderful character. She loved her cottage and she had strength and determination to make her plans a success. Her goal was to move on with her life and be a success instead of thinking about her husband's betrayal. The other star of this novel was the location - the author described it all so well that you'll feel like you've been to Lake Michigan when you finish it.

Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

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What a great book. I enjoyed the story of Adie Lou renovating her family's summer cottage and how her life mirrored the renewing of the cottage. This is the first book I've read by Viola Shipman but won't be the last. Highly recommend for a great fun read.

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Read my full review here:

I knew that I would love The Summer Cottage from the very first lines. “There it is! I said, rolling down the car window and sticking my head out. Even though I was a grown woman. . .there was nothing like seeing my family’s summer cottage again.” The setting for The Summer Cottage is the beach and community of Saugatuck/Douglas Michigan, about 50 miles south of our family cottages near the Lake Michigan community of Pentwater, Michigan. Saugatuck/Douglas is an awesome, artsy community with magnificent white sand beaches, trendy bars and restaurants, and great shopping. The setting is as much a part of the magic of this sweet book as are the many characters that tell the story.

Adie Lou Clarke has been coming to Cozy Cottage for all her life, so when she and her cheating husband divorce, she returns to Cozy Cottage for solace and to gain strength. Although the cottage has seen better days, Adie Lou, who has just quit her job, looks at the cottage with new eyes, wondering if she could turn it into a bed and breakfast and make a new life for herself. Encouraged by her best friend Trish, and her college son, Evan, Adie Lou sets out to reconstruct the cottage and reconstruct her life.

This is the story of her journey, the friends she makes, the local personalities that seek to confound her endeavor, and the love interest who returns from her teenage years. One of the delightful aspects of the book are the cottage rules that Adie Lou incorporates into the design of the remodel and into the inspiration for the way she will engage with the people who come to visit Cozy Cottage. The author uses those rules to guide the chapters, as well. They are:

"1. Leave your troubles at the door.
2. Soak up the sun.
3. Nap often.
4. Wake up smiling.
5. Build a bonfire.
6. Go rock-hunting.
7. Dinner is a family activity.
8. Ice cream is a requirement.
9. Be grateful for each day.
10. Go jump in the lake.
11. Build a sandcastle.
12. Boat rides are a shore thing.
13. Everyone must be present for sunset.
14. Shake the sand from your feet, but never shake the memories of our summer cottage."
Board by board and room by room, Adie Lou creates this new dream for her life. The narrative takes us through the first year--from the construction to the first months of the bed and breakfast, and the reader finds herself rooting for Adie Lou, hoping that she can make this new part of her life successful.

The book is a simple, sweet read. I found myself wishing that I were reading it on the deck of the cottage we visit on Lake Michigan every year, pausing and looking up from my reading to listen to the children playing on the beach, riding their bikes up and down the road, climbing on the huge sand dune behind the cottage, or gathering to watch the sunset. I felt very connected to the story and the vivid portrayal of cottage life.

I have visited Saugatuck many times over my years in Michigan, and I felt that the author was very much in touch with the pace of the community and the joy of cottage life. Imagine my surprise when I found that the author is a man named Wade Rouse. His pseudonym, Viola Shipman, is actually his grandmother’s name, and he writes to honor his grandmother. He obviously knows the territory because he lives in the Saugatuck community. Not only did he understand well the setting for the book, but he also did a remarkable job of telling a story from a woman’s point of view.

I am not usually a fan of beach reads, but because of my connection with West Michigan beaches, I felt very much in tune with The Summer Cottage. We are all waiting to return. As a matter of fact, my twin granddaughters, who are graduating from high school in a few weeks, made sure to find out which weeks were cottage weeks so that they could make room for Pentwater during their very busy summer. We all find our peace at the cottage.

Wade Rouse is going to make several appearances in West Michigan over the next few weeks, promoting The Summer Cottage. His appearances will culminate at the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival in Dowagiac Michigan on Friday May 17. I hope to meet him there.

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Four and a half stars: An inspirational feel good read about a woman who finds a new beginning in her family history.

Adie Lou is feeling lost. Her marriage is ending, her parents passed on, her son is in college, and she is trapped in a job she doesn’t love. Her soon to be ex husband is pressuring her to sell her family’s beach cottage on Lake Michigan. Creaky Cottage is the place where Adie Lou always remembered being happy. She throws caution to the wind and decides to restart her life. Adie moves to Saugatuck, Michigan in the middle of winter in order to begin the lengthy and expensive task of restoring the cottage and turning it into an inn. Along the way, Adie encounters plenty of obstacles, history, old friends and a new beginning. Will she realize her dream?
What I Liked:
*After reading The Recipe Box last year, I was eager to read more from this author. The Summer Cottage didn’t disappoint. I found this to be a charming pick me up read with a wonderful setting, fantastic characters and plenty of hope and motivation. If you are needing a lovely book for summer reading, or for anytime you need a happy read, this is one to grab.
*The highlight for me with this one was the outstanding setting of Saugatuck, Michigan. I adored the small town setting on the shore of Lake Michigan. The author did such a tremendous job with the town, I was ready to pack my backs and head to Michigan. The Creaky Cottage was especially wonderful with all of its history. It was a joy to read about it’s transformation.
*This is a chick lit read, but I found it to be so much more than your average chick lit read. I appreciated that this book was about family roots, history and also new beginnings. It was brimming with hope and courage. I loved watching Adie Lou not only transform the cottage but also herself. This was in some ways a tremendous motivational novel.
*Adie Lou is a character that many middle aged woman will be able to relate to. Adie spent most of her adult life seeing to other’s needs, so much so that she lost sight of herself and what made her happy. When she returns to her roots, she starts her transformative journey. I loved Adie Lou. I liked her optimism, her spunk and her determination.
8There is a touch of romance in this one. I appreciated that the romance was not the main focus of the story. Instead it is a light side plot. The romance is easy and genuine as it is born from a long time friendship. It fit perfectly with the story.
*I liked the way the chapters were all modeled after the rules of the cottage, it added a touch of whimsy to the story.
*I appreciated that a couple of the characters did a turn about a surprised me. I especially enjoyed Adie’s stand with the town’s dragon lady, and I loved how it turned out. I also liked the way Adie’s ex husband changed.
*The ending was lovely. I loved that it ended on a high note. I also enjoyed reading the author’s note at the end of the story. Definitely read it!
And The Not So Much:
*Adie discovers a time capsule in the cottage during the restorations. In the capsule is a letter from a young woman in the 19th century. I was excited at first regarding this story line, but then I was disappointed. I was expecting to learn so much more about Sadie, but there is only a tiny snippet about what happened to her. I wish that more of her story was uncovered. To me, this part of the story felt underdeveloped and unfinished.
*I know this is chick lit, but I have to be honest there were a few times in the book where I felt like it got a little cheesy.

The Summer Cottage is a light, feel good read that will transport you to the shores of Lake Michigan. I loved that this was a story about renovation not only of the cottage but also of the main character. There is plenty to love in this one. It was fluffy and left me smiling. This is the perfect book for summer reading!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

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