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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

3.5 stars

Viola Shipman is actually the pen name for male author Wade Rouse, who writes under his grandmother’s name as a way to honor not just her, but also all of the elders in his family. In addition to the pen name, all his novels are inspired by both of his grandmothers’ heirlooms as well as the lessons they taught him and the lives they led. At its core, his books are all “feel-good” stories that pay homage to family. In his latest novel The Summer Cottage, Shipman finds inspiration in his grandparents’ log cabin in Missouri where he spent countless summers, a place where there was “nothing but an outhouse, fishing poles, inner tubes, books and each other.” Despite the cabin’s simplicity, it was a “magical” place where the only rule his grandparents had was “to be happy.” Though the log cabin was eventually sold after his grandparents’ deaths, Shipman later came across a cottage in Michigan that reminded him of that cabin and immediately fell in love with it, which prompted his decision to quit his job and move to Michigan, eventually settling there and becoming a writer.

In the book, Shipman expands upon this through the character of Adie Lou Kruger, a 40-something divorced mother whose affection for her parents’ summer cottage – dubbed the Creaky Cottage – draws her back to the happy place of her childhood where she eventually decides to start over and rebuild her life. Armed with plans to convert the dilapidated old cottage into a bed-and-breakfast, Adie Lou encounters one obstacle after another, but through it all, she rediscovers the joy and strength that the freedom of pursuing her dreams brings.

This is the third of Shipman’s books that I’ve read and while I found the story heartfelt and charming, I will admit that I didn’t love this one as much as I did his previous novel The Recipe Box. Perhaps it was because that book had checked all the right boxes for me, from its endearing characters and heartwarming story to its engaging narrative revolving around food and the bonds of family, I had felt a connection to the story almost right off the bat. With this book, I never really connected much with the characters and to be honest, the story felt like it moved a tad bit too slowly at times. I also felt there wasn’t as much emotional depth to the story that his previous novel had and that I’ve come to expect from his works. With that said though, I did love the descriptions of the cottage and its surrounding scenery, which Shipman did a great job of bringing alive for me, almost as though the cottage itself was a character in the story. This is one of the things I actually enjoy most about Shipman’s novels – his way of storytelling that is able to bring the inanimate object at the center of the story to life.

Overall, I would say that I liked this book, but didn’t love it. Out of Shipman’s 3 books that I’ve read, The Recipe Box is so far still my favorite. I have yet to read his first novel, The Charm Bracelet, but hope to do so at some point, preferably before his next novel comes out. This is an author I will definitely continue to read, as I appreciate the fact that with his books, I always know what to expect -- a light-hearted, feel-good story that is at times a bit too saccharine and maybe even too simplistic, but a comforting read that celebrates family, love, hope, friendship, and, most important of all, happy memories! With the world we live in currently, sometimes we need books like this to escape into and to remind us (even if only for a brief moment), the important things in life and that it’s possible to find joy even in the small moments.

Received ARC from Harlequin / Graydon House Books via NetGalley

The Summer Cottage by Viola Shipman
Source: NetGalley and Graydon House
Rating: 5/5 stars

For as long as she has been alive, the Creaky Cottage has been a place of refuge, of comfort, and of family fun for Adie Lou Kruger. As a recently divorced adult, Adie Lou has never needed the Creaky Cottage more and for the first time in the refuge’s history, Adie Lou is considering sharing the space with others. With nothing but a dream, a set of plans, a willing contractor, and a pile of cash, Adie Lou sets out to convert her beloved Creaky Cottage into a Bed and Breakfast.

As Adie Lou embarks on a brand-new life with her B&B, she discovers so much about her life, her place in the world, and what she truly wants to accomplish with her home and space. What’s more, with each new bit of renovation, Adie Lou discovers some bit of history about the cottage she was previously unaware of. These discoveries allow Adie to do some digging into her own past as well as the past/history of the site and the community. Each new discovery and each new revelation allow Adie to become even more committed to her endeavors and more connected to the community around her.

To be sure, Adie Lou’s efforts aren’t always met with ease and acceptance. In fact, the further she digs into history and the more remodeling she approves the more resistance she meets one a few fronts. For example, the head of the local preservation society seems hell bent on making Adie Lou’s life miserable and if Adie Lou can’t find a way around her or through her, her dream is going to die before it ever gets a chance to really live. On the flip side of the cranky old lady is a most welcome surprise in the form of an old friend with the potential to become so much more to Adie Lou. As with everything in life, Adie Lou is discovering that the bad is always tempered by the good and if you keep to your path and follow your heart, all will work out as it is meant to work out.

The Bottom Line: I found so much to love about this book from the setting to the characters to the message. Every element of this story is tied to the Creaky Cottage and the rules of the cottage which guide Adie Lou in her pursuits. Adie Lou isn’t just about making money and forging a new path for herself but honoring the life she has lived, the struggles she has endured, and sharing her strength and wisdom with others. By sharing the Creaky Cottage and its rules with others, Adie Lou is also honoring the history of the site and the community it is a part of. Ultimately, this is a book about discovery, healing, helping others, and sharing and providing comfort for those not quite certain of their decisions or their path. Love and friendship factor heavily into this read as well. I found Adie Lou to be a wonderful leading lady, a woman who doesn’t have all the answers, is somewhat battered and bruised by life, but not at all willing to give up. Her strength and her determination fuel her dreams without making her an overbearing character. At every level, Adie Lou Kruger is just who she needs to be! Every element of this book reflects what is so good and so very welcome in women’s fiction which makes it an recommendation for lovers of this genre.