I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I loved the book because I am in my 60's also. Rose Carrigan built the small retirement village of Safe Harbor and we get to see the things going on there. Rose ran a tight ship but the people at Safe Harbor were learning new things, excited about exercise, celebrating and having parties.
Lily Bishop woke up one morning to divorce papers and a note that he couldn't do it anymore. She had just moved to Alabama because of her husbands job so she didn't know anyone. She saw an ad for a hairstylist at Safe Harbor Retirement Home. She got the job and moved there. She met Rose's nephew, Rawlins, and his daughter and it was nice to see them forming a friendship. Lily and the residents of Safe Harbor also created a wonderful bond which was so nice because Lily truly was alone in the world. her mother who had taught her to cut hair had passed away and that was her only family.
We learn why Rose is the way she is and she has choices. She can continue on the way she has been or she can take a chance of letting people into her life and correct some mistakes that were made along the way. read the book because if you are in your 20's or your 60's, there is so much community spirit that comes through the book and makes you a part of it. Reading the book, I decided I should be learning new things and enjoying life just like the people at Safe Harbor. For me, it was a reminder that at any age you have to live and enjoy life. Take chances and see where the journey leads you. There were many wonderful friends and neighbors in this book. They inspired me.

"The Summer House" by Lauren K. Denton is a fantastic southern romantic novel.

"She realized she'd been waiting for this, probably since the day he slipped a ring on her finger and asked her to marry him."

Usually reading a book, I find characters that I don't like, but not this one. I loved them all!
Sweet, sad, romantic all around wonderful book.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson, author, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own

This is the cutest little story and the perfect little town to start over! This was well written and the character development was excellent.

Lily Bishop's husband leaves her one day out of the blue. She wakes up to find a note and divorce papers on the counter. He has left, leaving all his belongings behind. Lily is devastated but by chance sees a flyer at a local grocery store advertising for a hair stylist

Rose Carrigan runs the retirement community where Lily applies for the job as being a hair stylist. She is known for running a tight ship, keeping others at arm’s length, and yet she sees something in the younger woman and knows she must hire her and allow her to live over the salon. She even enlists her nephew and his friend to help Lily move.

Soon, Lily becomes a part of the "active" community and learns about the community members, their lives and is told all the local gossip. She also begins to heal after being left high and dry and begins to form a friendship with Rose's nephew.

Both women in this book are on their own path of growth and along the way make friends, form relationships and begin to see that no matter how old (or young) you are, you can always start over and begin again.

I really enjoyed Lauren K. Denton's book [book:The Hideaway|30649413] and was hoping that this would be just as good. Sadly, it fell a little short of that book but was still charming and enjoyable. Sure, it was predictable, but I didn't mind that at all. One issues that I had was the changing back and forth between the two women's stories was a little choppy and it interrupted up the flow of the book for me.

Overall, I think fans of Lauren K. Denton will be happy with this book. The book does have some romance but no graphic scenes or language. I also appreciated that the relationships in this book did not feel rushed - including the friendships that are started in this book. I found this to be very realistic.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
This was a feel good book, I finished reading it filled with emotion. Lilyand Rose, two women with history, with loss, searching, and trying to start over in some aspect. Change can be hard, but change can also be necessary, when Lily finds herself alone after her husband leaves her she’s left to make some big changes. Rose is the owner of Safe Harbour Village, thinking about making some changes of her own, takes a risk on a young women who needs a fresh start. From there the story ensues, you meet charming characters each with stories and secrets to hide. It’s story to remind us that life is beautiful, and that growth at any age possible; life doesn’t always go the way we planned, but it finds its way of working out.

This is a sweet, slow moving southern story. Lily finds herself alone after her husband of one year walks out on their marriage. She finds a job and a home at Safe Harbor Village, a retirement community. The story also follows Rose who owns and manages the Village. Over the course of a summer she comes makes amends for some long ago mistakes and changes her outlook on life. There is a bit of romance and a lot of Southern charm in this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I didn’t finish reading this one. It started out strong with great character development of Lilly, but then really slowed down. In the end I couldn’t get into the story.

Meet Lily. Who after being married one year, wakes up to find her husband gone and divorce papers for her to sign. With no money and no family, she's desperate. She resorts to cutting hair again like she used to do with her Mama and lands in Safe Harbor Village, a retirement community.

There we meet closed off angry Rose who runs the community. And Rawlins, her nephew. A single dad with his own heavy load.

This is the story of starting over, shedding your burdens, and finding your way. A wonderful heartwarming read! Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

The Summer House should not be missed. It is a wonderfully uplifting story of new beginnings, of letting go of hurts, of embracing the joys of life, of being true to oneself. Well written and filled with well defined characters, the author has created a story filled with insight and humor that is hard to put down. Rose and Lily will remain with readers long after the book is finished. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton is a romance book that begins with the unthinkable. Lily wakes up to discover that her husband has left her, with a set of divorce papers just waiting for her signature. As she slowly reawakens from this new nightmare in which she finds herself, Lily literally "finds herself". She secures a job as a hairdresser in a quiet little senior citizen village and reacquaints herself with just how strong she actually is. She's a self-sufficient woman who can make a home, a life and a living by herself. She meets and quickly becomes enmeshed in the lives of the "characters" in her community. More importantly, she becomes close with the nephew of the owner of the village. A good, solid story, with capable writing.

The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton is a full length, stand-alone romance novel, published by Thomas Nelson - Fiction.
Meet Lily. She's a just a bit over one year married woman when the unthinkable happened. Her husband jumped ship, simply left her with divorce papers on the counter. She was more than clueless - now she has no job, no home, no money, no family anymore.
She has to start over, new town, new job, new life. She gets a great welcome at a village, a special place where she could grew roots.
And there's Rawlins, the single dad, fisherman and good guy who has his own package to carry.
The Summer House by this new to me author is a slow burn, a beautiful second chances story, told in a dual pov.
I loved the storyline, the excellent writing and the beautiful words. I connected easily with the characters. A great read, 5 Stars.

This was such a good story! Safe Harbor sounds like the perfect place to start over, a place you would want to stay.
Loved Lilly and all the other characters! I enjoyed the book
Immensely! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
I love the cover too!!

This is a another good book by this author. I love the characters in this story and the way they have been developed.
I would recommend it and am thankful to the publisher and netgalley for the advanced copy. This is my own opinion.

The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton. Sweet romance. Enjoy "watching" Rose, Lili and Rawlins grow and change.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I really enjoyed the pacing and character growth in this novel - especially Rose’s. I love reading stories where an older character learns and grows and becomes something more than what they are at the beginning. Too many authors ignore older characters, but Rose was written with such sensitivity and compassion.
I did find two typos- the first one was on page 172 “But one day there was one. It was early October, a month before Lily turned eleven.” (This was Rose’s flashback - it should’ve said a month before ROSE turned 11).
The second typo was on page 254 - “That’s....” Lily shook her head. “Well it’s pretty special. I’m going to hang *in* on my door when I get home.”
I’ve never heard of things being hung in on a door before. Maybe it’s a Southern thing??

I fell in love with “The Summer House” and am now a huge Lauren Denton fan! The quirky characters made the storyline but my favorites were Rawlins and Rose. To watch Rose’s tough exterior soften with every chapter had me cheering her on all the way to the last page. If you want a fun, Summer, beach read I recommend this novel.

THE SUMMER HOUSE by LAUREN K DENTON is a charming romance novel which I can really recommend as a most enjoyable read.
It is amazing what a good hairdo can mean, and when Lily moves into the charming little village of Safe Harbour as their new hairdresser, life changes, not only for Lily, but also for the rather strange assortment of elderly residents. She brings with her her mother's talent and charm, making a trip to the salon really enjoyable.
Rose is the owner of the village and is strict with her rules and regulations, and also very bitter about things in her past, which makes her unhappy and unfriendly. Lily, on the other hand, is ready to embrace life again after all she has gone through. With no family and not much money, she really wants to make a go of her new job.
It is a story about second chances, about helping others to find the joy they have lost over the years, and of the importance of family and of belonging in a community in which you really feel at home.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.