For every women that has been dumped by her husband and for those that embrace stories of strong women ! This is not just a story of divorce, its a wonderful heartwarming story of having the courage to start over, embrace new experiences and new friends leaving all that was familiar behind. I loved the picturesque harbor setting (perfect for a summer read) and the unexpected friendships. For all of us that picked ourselves up and started over this is a story of a remarkable strong women who found her new life amid circumstances she never expected. A must read.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity for review. My review opinion is my own. I highly recommend this book .

Lily wakes up one morning and her husband has left her and left divorce papers. At a loss she moves to a senior community and becomes their hair dresser. She slowly makes friends through the senior village.
Rose owns the senior community with her ex husband. She hasn't spoken with her brother for years. Her nephew keeps her informed to her brother's life. She has made herself a loner.
A very uplifting book.

I wanted to give this author another chance, after the first two books I've read by her fell flat. Unfortunately this one was also another miss. for me. Though the characters were believable and easy to relate to and the writing was good. But I am beginning to think that women's fiction isn't for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new novel by Lauren Denton. The opening paragraphs pulled me into the story immediately and kept me engaged throughout. The story has a marvelous cast of colorful characters, some flawed and in need of second chances. These they find in the lovely seaside community of Safe Harbor. Lily and Rose form an unlikely friendship when they suddenly find themselves involved in each other's lives. Cantankerous Rose needs a hairstylist for her quaint seaside village community, and Lily requires work when she wakes to find divorce papers on the kitchen counter one morning. This novel is sure to please anyone looking for a delightful, engaging Summer read. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for furnishing an ARC for this my honest review.

Author #Lauren K. Denton has a wonderful new novel ‘The Summer House ‘ out. And this journey is one many of us have taken. She wakes one morning to find a good bye note and divorce papers on the kitchen counter.Having moved to Alabama for his job only weeks before, Lily is devastated.
But keep in mind Sometimes it takes losing everything to find yourself again,This sums it up without telling the whole story.

I absolutely adored everything about this book. Lauren K Denton is fast becoming a favorite author of mine. Lily is the quintessential heroine and the cast of characters surrounding her are charming and sweet. Denton’s writing is so descriptive, I almost felt like I was in the town of Safe Harbor. This was the perfect way to spend a lazy summer day.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was so good. I read HURRICANE SEASON by this same author and just knew this would be another good one. I was not at all disappointed.

Lily woke to one of the worse days ever. Her husband was gone and all he left was a note and divorce papers. What a way to start the day. She has no choice but to move on. Move out of their place and get a job. She’s a very strong young woman and picks up her life and moves on. She’s a very likable person. I admire her for many things. She gets a job in a retirement village as a hairdresser. Makes new friends and does great. She’s a very resilient young woman even when she is afraid of what lies ahead in her life.

Rose runs the retirement village and is a divorced woman who doesn’t take much off of anyone and doesn’t get to close. Her and Lily seem to hit it off great though. I liked Rose and her nephew and her great niece. Rose has some tough choices to make.

This book is a very light read and will keep you interested in the lives of all the characters. They are all so likable and you will feel like you are on the beach, in the hairdressers shop or in Rose’s office. It’s told in such a way that you have lots of feelings. It made me laugh in places and cry in others. It was truly a joy to read.

Thank you #NetGalley, #LaurenKDenton, #ThomasNelson

A true 5/5 stars and a very high recommendation.

When Lily wakes up one morning with a note from her husband that he just can't do it anymore, her life is fully upended. We get the opportunity to watch as she goes through the feelings of loss and then redemption as she gets her feet under her and she gets to learn who she is and all she can accomplish.

I thought this was a really sweet story. The perfect summer read. I enjoyed the characters. I loved watching the transformation of many of them as they allowed themselves to try new things and step outside their comfort zones.

I am learning to really love Lauren Denton's books. This one didn't disappoint in the good-feeling vibes!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton is a beautiful book about starting over, friendship, and romance. Lily Bishop wakes up one morning to find her husband gone, leaving behind a good-bye note and divorce papers. Lily has three days to vacate the rental home they are staying in and to find a job. Lily applies for a job at a salon in a small retirement village, and gets the job along with the small apartment above it. I really enjoyed this book, and watching several characters change and grow. If you enjoy an feel good story, I highly recommend this book. I will be reading more book by this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a very enjoyable read. It has a great plot and wonderful, quirky characters that I really enjoyed learning more about. I love books by this author. She has a talent of making the characters come alive. Lily was a completely relatable character, and I found myself seeing the world through her eyes. She took what life doled out to her, turned it around and made it her own, all with the help of friends she has met along the way. She seems like a woman that generates a lot of respect. I definitely recommend this book, especially to those readers that enjoy books with characters that are just now starting to believe in themselves and in their strength.

I would like to thank Lauren K. Denton,Thomas Nelson Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another winner from Denton. Relatable protagonists to root for, well-developed secondary characters, a setting you want to spend time in, and a plot original enough to keep your attention...what more do you want from your fiction?

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I felt for Lily as she senses something is not right, horribly wrong even. She doesn’t smell the coffee brewing, her husband Worth made it every morning. Then she sees the note by the clean coffee pot. It is addressed to her. She feels a rug pull out from under her as she reads it.

She needs a place to think, and regroup, When Lily reads a want ad for a hairdresser in Safe Harbor Village she wonders if this is the place to get a fresh start.

I enjoyed how the author took her time in allowing readers to get to know her fun cast of quirky characters who feel like they are sitting on a porch next to you relaxing sharing stories, their hearts, loves, and relationships. They were older folks who were full of life, living every day to the fullest. They loved adventures and parties. I appreciated how this author naturally wove into the story topics about love, what it is and why Lily and Worth got married in the first place. Was it love?

I liked how Rose wrote letters to her friend throughout the novel – like this one, “Dear Stella; Do you think it’s ever too late to change? To be someone new? Or maybe not someone entirely new, but a new version of yourself? Can you shed the old version like skin that’s grown too tight?” All good questions.

I got such a kick out of reading excerpts from The Village Vine, “your source for neighborhood news compiled by Shirley Ferrill “Good day, Safe Harbor Village!...”update from Management A new rule has been added to the village handbook: No loud noise – including singing – before 7a.m….”

“Update from Recreation: The paddle boats are in! The first tour will be up to Captain’s Chair on Bon Secour River this Friday. …He suggests you bring bottled water, bug spray, sunscreen, and a camera. He also strictly forbids selfies. (I’m not one to point fingers, but I think that’s how he capsized last time!)”

This is a heart-warming, comfortable breath of fresh air. It’s a captivating story of friendship, new beginnings and healing. I loved how this author has readers look at love, marriage, family and relationships from all sides through her fun,loving characters. I had so much fun hanging out at Safe Harbor. I wish it was a real place, because I wanted to go there. This book would work great for your next book club adventure and/or just enjoyed for your summer reading pleasure.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

A fun read! I really enjoyed this book! It had a great plot, one I hadn't read before, so it held my interest. I loved the quirky characters and it left me some things to think about when I completed it. I have not read this author before so I feel like I have found a new author to enjoy!

Lily completely captivated me. She took what life gave her and turned it around - with help from the new people she met. But she was truly a woman I could like and respect.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I’m so happy I picked up this book to read. Laura K. Denton is a new to me author and I look forward to reading more of her novels.
The story opens with Lily on a normal Saturday morning, except the day feels off. When she walks into her kitchen, she discovers why. Her husband disappears and Lily spends the rest of the story trying to pick up the pieces of a life dependent on others.
She discovers new friendships and resumes working at a job she’d loved before she married. The whole time, the reader is given clues as to what happened with her husband and what role his extended family played in their demise.
The secondary characters are lovable – especially Rose, the crotchety retirement resort manager. She sees something in Lily and gives her a chance at starting over by taking over the hair salon. A whole slew of residents are introduced and help Lily grow and become stronger.
There’s a lot of humour and reflective moments which make the story that much more engaging. It’s a great summer read – I wouldn’t call it light considering some of the hard truths Rose and Lily face, but it’s one to enjoy while sitting beside a lake or with a cool summer drink in your hand.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

There are so many things that I really love about Lauren K. Denton's writing: the authentic Southern settings, the well developed characters that I build a bond with over the pages and the journey each novel takes me on. The Summer House was the perfect summer read and I enjoyed every page.

Lily Bishop has just relocated to Foley, Alabama with her new husband Worth. As she is preparing to go house shopping, she finds out he has been preparing for a divorce. Suddenly her whole world is turned on end and Lily must find out which side is up. She turns back to what she knows best: cutting and styling hair with a new job at the Safe Harbor Retirement Village. Rose Carrigan runs the retirement village and keeps everything in order. Something about Lily's situation breaks through Rose's tough exterior and they develop an unlikely alliance. Both Rose and Lily see so much of their lives change over the course of the summer and as a reader, you will be transported right along with them.

This novel was a perfect immersive read. With so many unique characters living in the retirement village, combined with the fact that I would love to learn more about how Lily and Rose's lives continue, a sequel would definitely interest me.

I received this book courtesy of the publisher Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Everyone else is gone, but I’m here. I’m still here.
- Lily

Delightful story surrounding the lives of Lily and Rose generations apart but united by the life experiences and the drive to make something good out of it. The camaraderie between them was amazing and beautiful.
First of Lauren Denton I am reading.
Beautiful story!

I recieved a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion

This is the story of Lily and Rose, of love and loss. Lily finds herself alone one day out of the blue, abandoned by her husband in a town they only moved to weeks before for his job. Obviously, Lily is devastated. However, she finds an ad for a beautician to work at a local retirement community and decides to apply. Rose Carrington, who owns the community she built years before just before her husband left her, runs a tight ship in the community, but accepts Lily, even letting her live there. The women forge a tight friendship, and the beauty salon soon becomes the “in” place to be for local gossip and a few secrets. Both women are becoming friends and entering a new phase in their lives as well. Lily is drawn to Rose’s nephew, and someone in the area looks as if he carries a torch for Rose. Once again, this is not exactly where each woman thought she would be, but it is where life has taken them. Can they make new lives here, or will there again be disappointment for each or both?

This story shows the never-ending aspect of life we all love so much: the coming together of individuals and of a community to support them. It is a story of love and loss and of new beginnings and strength to move forward where life takes us. It is a great beach read or vacation read. I found it heartening to watch these two women, both alone and devastated in their own way, come together, and move on with life as it happened. They definitely were ready to accept things, though I wonder if either knew that or what was coming down the pike for them. I also loved the story of the two men, coming to them in their time of need to show them love, acceptance and understanding, all of which the women needed then. This summer is the summer that gave each of them hope for the future as well as the willingness to give life a try, though it is not exactly what you thought or expected it to be. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Lauren Denton understands the heart in pain and writes with eloquence, poise and sass. I was immediately drawn to each of the characters and loved how their stories converged to draw out the other’s. Lily needs a safe place to start over and Rose needs someone to help draw her out of her self-imposed isolation and they are perfect for each other. Rawlins is a great neutral party who has an expressed interest in both women, though for very different reasons. The coastal descriptions will transport you and the small community will capture your heart. New starts, family, and redemption are explored in this perfect summer read. Highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

The Summer House is the first book I have ever read by Lauren Denton, but it most certainly will not be the last. I absolutely devoured this magnificent story of starting over and rediscovering yourself.

Lily Bishop, barely past celebrating her first anniversary, wakes up one morning to find a note from her husband that he has left and their marriage is over. Although devastated, Lily knows she needs to find a job and a place to live. She meets quite an interesting pair of ladies at the grocery store who live in a nearby retirement village who Lily just happens to see an ad is in need of a hairdresser.

When she shows up for the interview, she meets Rose, the owner and manager of the retirement village. Although hesitant, Rose gives Lily a chance and allows her to move in the apartment above the shop. Rose herself is also in need of learning how to live again due to her own circumstances. Together, they move past their grief and learn to live and love again. I just love that the name of the place where they live is called Safe Harbor as it serves as a refuge for Rose and Lily in the storm of their lives.

This is the perfect summer read. It has a gorgeous southern Alabama coastal setting complete with some fabulous, quirky, characters whose banter is hilarious. I laughed out loud at the ladies debate over which mayo is the best to use in deviled eggs because it was so realistic. I think I have actually witnessed one of those mayo debates myself. ;)

I know the old saying goes that you can't judge a book by it's cover, but I would say it would be just fine to do in this case. It is an absolutely perfect cover to house the beautiful words inside.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I want to live in Safe Harbor, even if it is a retirement community! It's a land of hope, second chances and a safe place to find out who you really are. I loved Lilly and all of the new friends she meets at her new cottage in Safe Harbor. It just goes to show, age doesn't matter when it comes to friendship! The Summer House is a perfect book to snuggle up with outside on a warm summer night!