First, thanks to #netgalley for this opportunity to read another Lauren K. Denton book.
Another inspiring book by Lauren K. Denton. If you have read the other Lauren K. Denton books, you know how they flow.

With this one, you get to see how the characters help each other out to get past issues they are dealing with in their lives. I love that the books take place in the south, and also that the author helps you know the people during the story.

Totally recommend #TheSummerHouse

I picked this book because I wanted an uplifting, gentle read and this didn't disappoint. This new book is set in and around a coastal retirement community in southern Alabama with believable characters spanning the expected (quirky) personalities to a few solid thirty-somethings. Angst, regret, love and new beginnings all drive the story and have you pulling for the new beginnings to take root and blossom into love. It's good to be reminded that love and acceptance does not have an age limit, and especially in a book that you'd feel comfortable giving to an older relative to read.

This book is enjoyable. It’s a quick, fun read perfect for the beach or by the pool.
The story flows well and is pretty predictable.

The story follows a young woman as her short marriage falls apart shockingly. Without notice she has to build a new life for herself while she learns about herself and does some healing. The characters are so fun. They are delightfully well developed and each ones makes you want to move into this special place!

If you are looking for a fun summer read this one will not disappoint.

The Summer House is a delightful read! Parallel characters face the task of starting over. The main character accepts the talent she instinctively learned from her mother to become self-sufficient. She finds her place as a cosmetologist in a small coastal community, and as her business grows, her confidence increases, allowing her the freedom to be happy and content. As hairstyles are reshaped, lives are transformed. Decades of guilt and self-imposed penance shift and finally are addressed as truths are uncovered. The simplicity of activities purely organized for fun and social opportunities refresh the beauty of face-to-face personal interactions too often missed in today’s social media world of communication. Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed with laughter and camaraderie where each person feels value and self-worth, recognizing the unique talents of people working together for the good of a community is a treasure these characters celebrate!

This was a heart warming story about starting over that I really enjoyed! This was my first read by this author but not my last. She created an enjoyable setting with enjoyable characters!

This is yet another captivating read by Lauren K. Denton that was engrossing from the first page and kept me turning the pages until the last.

Lily wakes up one morning to find that her husband left in the middle of the night, leaving a note of apology with divorce papers on their favorite coffee maker. In the aftermath she winds up as the hairstylist for a senior living community and winds her way into the heart of the owner, Rose, who is nicknamed the Ice Queen.

I really was drawn in by these realistic characters who both had stories that kept me interested and the fun that fellow neighbors brought to the story.

My main downside with this novel is that I felt that it wrapped up way too quickly and could have been expanded upon.

Despite this I think it's a great read and I loved my time spent in this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I had not read this author before but I really loved this book. This is the story of Lily Bishop who wakes up with her husband gone and divorce papers on the table, then finds out from her husband's job that since he left the rental they have is for the person who is taking the job. Following a job lead Lily ends up in Safe Harbor, a retirement community running her own salon. Read the story to see how things work out for Lily and the community owner Rose. See how the whole community supports each other. A Good Read.

A warm, relaxing fresh air of a book, such an enjoyable experience for these hectic, unsettling times life hands us.

It feels weird to say that I really liked this book, when it started on such a rocky note. But, if you can get past the opening of a woman's husband leaving her out of the blue, there's a lot to gather here about second chances and opening up to the people whom you find in your life. Between Lily's fresh start, and Rose's path to forgiving herself and letting people in, the characters in this story were heartrendingly realistic, and down-to-earth, yet colorful and engaging. I loved watching the interplay between the members of this community who had lived among each other for years, yet with the fresh perspective of 28-year-old Lily becoming part of them. I could see a series set in this community of Safe Harbor, delving into the rich histories of those who live here, and perhaps interacting with and passing on their wisdom to the next generations.

I give this book 4 stars. Lily and Rose were traveling separate paths, yet both needed forgiveness, healing, and fresh starts, and I loved watching how their journeys affected each other and the community they were a part of.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lily Bishop left behind a life in shambles and wondered into Safe Harbor Village. She was looking for somewhere that wasn't where she had been. Somewhere to work and live. That’s it. She didn’t want to think about what just happened or what happened before that. She found the perfect place to bring her skills back to life. Lily found a job styling hair for some very unique people that would become her family. Lily also found Rose Carrigan. A woman with a tough exterior and a kind soul. Then we have Rawlins Willett. With a name like that how could I not mention him. Rawlins is Roses nephew and the village handyman. This story is filled with so many interesting, lovable characters and lets not forget the best gossip newsletter around. The Village Vine the residents go to for all information large and small. For example what time the tide will be in and the best time to take a walk. Lily will learn though that spending a lovely summer in a quaint, quirky village won’t erase the past. The past still wants to be dealt with. Lily will have decisions to make about herself and her future.

Laura Denton has become a new favorite author after I devoured her latest book. The main character starts out as a meek and oblivious wife who is deserted in the middle of the night by her coward of a husband. However, as she makes a new home among st the members of a retirement community, she finds her voice and passion in life. The supporting cast was good as well and there were few surprises. One thing that always bothers me in these type of books is how no one seems to be able to communicate with each other and problems seem to fester for far to long. However, this did not take away any from my enjoyment of the book. Thank you Netgalley!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I need to start off by saying that I am a sucker for a good starting over book. Woman who has lost everything and starts over.

This book was a really cute read. I was completely invested in the lives of the characters. At one point I could almost picture the little community and I thought oh how much fun this must be to live there.

This is a great beach read. If you are looking for something nice and light to read - definitely give it a chance.




#TheSummerHouse #NetGalley

This book was great! The characters were all so likeable and it was really a heartwarming story about women supporting each other and finding themselves-and love-in the process.
This was a quick and fun read.

In this story of change and growth, I appreciated that Lily ended up in a village filled with retirees. I found the setting refreshing. So often people forget that folks over fifty-five live interesting lives. Lauren K. Denton explores not only rising up after losing everything, as Lily does, but also letting go and enjoying life as we watch Rose bloom (pun intended.) I love how the author captures the endearing personalities of the folks in Safe Harbor. I can't forget to mention Rawlins. He's a single dad and a sweetheart with a touching story. The only thing I don't like about the story is the presence of alcohol. Otherwise, The Summer House is a charming story. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was given to me by Netgalley for an honest review.
Well this is definitely one of those books you want to curl up on a beach with your sunhat and just enjoy the stories being unraveled. I enjoyed the comradrie between the senior woman...although a few more jokes and fun between the fellow neighbors would've been nice. Besides the two main woman characters Rose and Lily, the other woman residents seem to have the same voice. Perhaps instead of having so many extra characters, maybe just a couple different ones showcasing their personality more.
The book however, has a very light reading feel, it's not heavy at all. And even the heavy moments seem to really not be that big of a deal. It is definitely a light summer read!

I received an advance copy of The Summer House by Lauren K Denton, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley to review. I was ready for a relaxing easy read and this was perfect for that. Lily wakes up to a note and divorce papers. She finds a place to live and a job in a retirement community. Loved all the characters and characters they are. Friendship and a new start come in unexpected places. This book will release in June 2020.

A simple story about starting over. Lily Bishop's husband leaves her by leaving a note on the kitchen counter, and divorce papers in an envelope by the coffee maker. A chance encounter leads to a hairdresser opening in a small seaside village nearby. Rose, the village manager, takes a chance on Lily and employs her. Soon Lily is learning to be part of the small community and comes out of her shell.

I do mean a very simple story. Not a huge fan of the coincidence factor of Lily finding not only a job but also a place to live exactly when she needed it, but that fact didn't derail the whole story for me. I did find the back and forth between Lily and Rose's stories slightly confusion (both flower names?? odd choice), but I read until the end. Looking forward to the next one by this author.

I just finished this wonderful book by Lauren Denton. This was my first novel by Ms Denton and oh what a wonderful journey it was! Lily finds herself starting over rather suddenly, as I’m sure a lot of us have. She lands in an Active Living Community with so many characters. You will love them all! Being from the south myself, I felt her descriptions of the land, people and mannerisms were perfect. This is a fun book and beautiful story of starting over, forgiving yourself and others and new friendships. I will definitely read more by Ms. Denton. I received this book as an advanced reader copy for an honest review. Definitely a great book!

Lily wakes up to a missing husband a divorce papers. Lily is no stranger to having to make ends meet and isn’t afraid of hard work. In fact that is what she needs to heal from her husband’s betrayal.

Rose runs the community where lily applies for a job.

I enjoyed this book. I found lily to be a strong character and this community to be one I would like to visit.

The Summer House by author Lauren K. Denton is a wonderful story about life, disappointments and second chances. The characters are all likable and I wanted to know their secrets. It starts with Lily waking one day in Foley, AL and finding her husband has left her a note telling her goodbye and a stack of divorce papers for her to sign. Her reaction was a bit mild, I thought, but as you read further Lily admits there were problems with Worth's ability to totally commit. The fact that Worth left her with no financial support or a home was horrible! Lily sees an ad for a hairdresser in a little village of Safe Harbor. She goes there to seek a job and she finds so much more! This is written with insight into the mistakes people can make which let old hurts linger far too long in life.
Publication Date: June 2, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.