I love Laura Denton's stories. They are full of beautiful scenery and endearing characters. In this story we meet Lily and Rose. Both at different places in their life, but both learning from each other and from the other women in their community. I will say, these characters were just a little harder to connect with, and even a little unlikable, at first, but by the end they both found a way into my heart.

Wonderful book. Just cozy, Southern, characters to root for, characters that grow. If you want to escape and be entertained and feel good about life, The Summer House will do just that!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Denton's book - I did not want to put it down! It followed the lives of Rose and Lily, who had both had their lives turned upside down but they were able to overcome obstacles and challenges to rebuild themselves. This sweet novel about redemption has left me wanting more of these two and the charming little village of Safe Harbor. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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.

Although Lily and her husband of about a year have been struggling, she thinks it’s largely due to his particularly controlling mother. She knows things aren't great, but certainly doesn’t expect to wake up one morning to no coffee, a goodbye note, and divorce papers. It's readily apparent that a) Worth (the husband) has disappeared and does not wish to talk; and b) she needs to rapidly find a new place to live and a way to support herself.

Through a series of fun circumstances (some say chance meetings, others say God arranged…) Lily is hired as the hairstylist for Safe Harbor Village, a retirement community right on the water. Little does she know what the new community, friendships, and sense of renewed purpose will do for healing both her head and heart.

I loved the fun characters and it was inspiring to watch their transformations, especially that of Lily's employer, Rose Carrigan. I honestly want to live in Safe Harbor (not retired, don't care). I especially enjoyed reading "The Village Vine" segments that popped up periodically.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

I was rooting for Lily to make a new life for herself. I knew the second she met Rose, they would become great friends and help each other through their struggles. It is a perfect beach read that will make you feel as though you are down in the South on the water. I gave this 4 stars only because it was a bit predicable,

This is the fourth book Lauren K. Denton has written, and the fourth one I have read. I have really enjoyed each of her books!
>she is a great writer
>her book’s covers are beautiful. In fact, I read The Hideaway based first on the cover, then the description.
>her books include the South as a character.

I don’t have any trouble picturing her characters, as she really has a way of bringing them to life. The story in this book was enjoyable as well, but it’s the characters that drive the story for me.
Highly recommend, especially for fans of southern fiction with a strong sense of place.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

I've had the chance to read a previous book by Lauren K. Denton and thoroughly enjoyed it, so when I saw she had a new one coming out this summer, I was excited to check it out.

And I must say, this one was just as delightful! Right from the start, I was drawn in to the story as we meet Lily, discovering her husband of just one year had simply decided to up and leave her in the new town in which they had just moved, leaving a note and signed divorce papers. And the home that they'd just moved into? It was dependent on his job that he had likewise left. With no family and nowhere to go, Lily finds herself having to start over... and the small retirement village of Safe Harbor provides a great place to do just that. She wasn't the only one in need of a fresh start. Rose managed Safe Harbor, but had always kept herself at a distance. She-likewise- needed a fresh start with the relationships in her life... and to let go of past mistakes. Through this book we watch as both women are given that chance to move forward, and it truly was a joy to read. The community of Safe Harbor drew me in with it's quirky cast of characters. I found that I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to them just yet, and wished that this was part of a series so that perhaps we might get to catch up with them later.

I will say that parts did seem a bit slower than others, and there were parts that I wish would have gone into more detail... but overall, it was a quick and fun read that I truly enjoyed. If you're looking for a good beach read, this one would certainly be one worth checking out!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

I love those books you read when the story is over, but you are reluctant to let go of the characters and want to hang on just a little longer. That is what Lauren K. Denton gives us in, The Summer House.

Lily Bishop wakes one morning to find a note and divorce papers by the coffee maker left by her husband Worth. Lily is shocked to realize that her husband was so unhappy, but in retrospect realizes that the signs have been there for a while. Trying to decipher what she will do now with no friends in the area and little options, Lily finds a job notice for a hairdresser while visiting the grocery store. Having a hairdressing background thanks to her mother, Lily decides to take the plunge and calls Safe Harbor Village to inquire about the position. There she meets Rose, the owner and property manager of the retirement community. At first Rose is reluctant to give Lily the job. She has been considering selling her portion of the property and is not sure she necessarily wants another hairdresser or business on the premises. But something in Lily seems desperate and vulnerable and Rose can see beyond her exterior and decides to hire her on a trial basis.

As Lily is deciding how she will move herself and her belongings to Safe Harbor, Rawlins Willett, Rose's nephew, shows up to assist her move to the Village. Despite the confusion of her husband’s sudden departure, Lily moves forward with determination to begin a life of her own. When a little stagefright keeps Lily from opening the front door to the salon, Rose, with a little coaxing, helps Lily realize every task is accomplished with the first step. With that encouragement, Lily finds the same gift for hair that her mother possessed and begins to meet and style the women of the community that happily and readily accept her into the fold. As Rose and Lily become closer, she finds Rose has her own past she needs to confront and with a little encouragement from Lily finally gets involved with her own community of residents while trying a new style from Lily. It’s all about new beginnings and as Lily settles in and her heart begins to mend, she finds herself drawn to Rose’s nephew Rawlins. The more time they spend together, the more comfortable she feels. The only question remains is can she trust Rawlins and her heart to love again.

I loved this book and the characters Lauren K. Denton gives us in, The Summer House. You have the opinionated Kitty, flamboyant Janelle, the sensitive Tiny and Roberta and joy filled Coach. You have the reserved Rose who hides herself away and protects herself from every hurt. Then you have Lily and Rawlins, both sweet and loving, just waiting for a new start with that special someone hoping and wanting to take a risk. The story line moves along nicely and overall this book is like eating comfort food. It’s good for the heart and mind and leaves you feeling happy and satisfied. This book is great for anytime of year, but will make an excellent summer read. Enjoy now that the weather is getting warm with your feet up and a glass of iced tea or your favorite wine.

If you love stories about starting over with colorful and sensitive characters then The Summer House is for you! Sit back and enjoy and before long you will feel like a part of the Safe Harbor community. I want to thank Thomas Nelson - FICTION and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Lauren K Denton’s, The Summer House. ”Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own”.

A charming book about starting over. Lily's life gets turned upside down at but she finds herself landing on her feet with a new job at Safe Harbor, a community for active seniors. There she meets Rose, who is also looking for a new start. Rose's nephew Rawlins and his daughter Hazel are also endearing. I was immediately drawn to the characters in this book and absolutely loved the cozy setting. I can't recommend this one enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Lily Bishop wakes up one morning to find a note and divorce papers from her husband. Obviously, this is unexpected but life goes on and eventually person has to eat so off the grocery store she goes where she meets a couple of interesting ladies who live in a retirement community. She also spots a flyer advertising for a hairdresser which happens to be in the same retirement community. Lily interviews with Rose who runs the community and boy does she run it! Rose is a no-nonsense manager and she like to stay on top of everything. This is a perfect opportunity for Lily who needs an income and a place to live since the home she had shared with her husband was provided to them temporarily due to his job.

I was ready to pack my bags and move into one of the charming cottages in Safe Harbor. The residents are active, funny, and kind of nosy but deep down they truly care for each other. I loved the little snippets from the community newsletter where you could find what was being served in their onsite restaurant. It was so much fun spending time with Lily in her shop and getting to know the ladies as she did their hair and formed a close bond with her new friends.

The unexpected and welcome change in the lives of both Lily and Rose is truly heartwarming. If you’re thinking this book is only about senior citizens, no worries, the much younger Lily is soon befriended by a very helpful and age appropriate family member of Rose’s

Overall, all I thought this was a delightful book that was hard to put down once I started reading it. I started reading this one a little after midnight and was still reading it at 6:00 am. I finally slept for a few hours and then started reading it as soon as I got back up. It’s that good which is why I highly recommend it.
I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This story just touched my heart, from the beginning to the end. Lily Bishop awakens to divorce papers from her husband, with him nowhere in sight. Having lost her only family she is completely alone in Alabama where she and her husband of a year had moved for a new job. She has no source of income and no one to turn to. Enter Rose Carrigan who owns a retirement village Safe Harbor and who is in need of a hairdresser. As the lives of these two ladies intertwine we are treated to a lovely tale of the meaning of family and love. I will be getting other books by Laura K. Denton, she is just that good!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The small town community in Lauren Denton's THE SUMMER HOUSE is Safe Harbor, the perfect town for the many characters who feel lost and alone until their life paths cross. Each of them is looking for a new start while still trying to figure out where their lives went off track. The first chapter starts when a young woman must make major life changes in an unfamiliar town. She must use skills learned at her mother's home salon, using her memories of home and family to heal. This is a very good story that found this reader emotionally involved in the characters. The author paints the community and characters into a 3d picture of life and family.

I thought Lauren K Denton's The Summer House was a really good. I am giving it four and a half stars.

The ideal beach read, leaving the reader missing the characters once the book ends. There are 2 story lines that intersect in the book with one character aged late 20’s, and the second character aged late 60’s. I’ve heard readers mention they desire to read about older-aged protagonists, and this would be the perfect book (really, for any aged reader) for that. Perfect beach setting, sweet story of love and of friendship, a great Southern read. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review this book~

I so thoroughly enjoyed this well-written book by an author I had not heard of before that, once I finished, I immediately ordered two of her previous novels.

The story begins with Lily awakening to find a note from her husband, along with divorce papers, sitting beside the cold coffee pot. He is gone. Only married for a year and newly arrived in Alabama where they had moved for his new job, she has to figure out what to do.

We learn about Lily's mother, who died a few years previously, and raised her on her own in a ramshackle house north of Atlanta, GA, with a hair salon in the back. Early on, Lily began working alongside her mother, learning not only practical skills but also people skills. I don't recall it being mentioned that she actually went to school but later on we learn she still has her licence so she must have, right?

The ensuing story of Lily moving to a small retirement community on an island to work as a hairdresser and figure out her life parallels the story of the owner/manager, Rose, in her early 70s, who has been a stoic but lonely curmudgeon for a long time. The two of them are changed by and change each other as Lily works through her heartbreak and Rose comes to terms with past events that have been holding her back from enjoying life.

It's such a sweet story that is enhanced by the lovely southern Alabama bay setting, described so well. Both women meet men that captivate them, who in turn are smitten with the women. And, in Lily's case, there is also a young child that arouses maternal feelings that she had put on hold during her brief, odd marriage.

This is an inspiring, sweet tale of transformation, overcoming loss and the past, to be able to move forward and say yes to life and love. One of the only flaws for me was the incomplete character of the soon-to-be-ex-husband. Yes, he really isn't part of the story, though he does appear towards the end, but the backstory and that one appearance both seem rather wooden and unreal. There are just not enough believable details about who the guy is and what has motivated his behavior, although the circumstances of his life are related. We find out that they both married for the wrong reasons but it just didn't feel real to me.

I honestly didn't care enough to let that, or a few puzzling details, divert me from truly enjoying this light, but inspiring, book. With a pub date of June 2, this will be a great summer/beach read for those who enjoy a well-written happy story with likable characters, including several quirky older residents of Safe Harbor, all of whom contribute to Lily's discovery of her self and what she really wants.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and the author, for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was captivated by The Summer House after reading the first couple of pages. This was my first book written by Lauren K. Denton. Now I can't wait to go back and read some of her other books. What an ability for making a setting come to life. The Village of Safe Harbor sounds like such and fun and wonderful place. If it were real I would move there tomorrow. Lauren has a special way of carefully crafting her characters. You will genuinely care for them, like a friend or neighbor. This was a fun and sweet story. I would highly recommend it. I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a sweet story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Ms. Denton writes books with pleasant characters and beautiful settings. Just the book I needed while going through this world crisis. I've already recommended to many of my friends to put it on their TBR lists!

This is much like her other books . A small southern town with familial drama but I did enjoy the residents of the retirement village and feel the south is a character itself . Overall a good book but predictable

A very comforting story with lots of Southern charm. I loved the characters, Lily and Rose and especially the characters in the retirement community, Safe Harbor Village. Very relatable. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.