New author for me. Charming, light read...perfect for summer. Lovable characters, easy plot to follow, descriptive writing. I want to retire to Safe Harbor! Definitely not a deep book, but it’s was a great diversion. Will definitely read this author again. Beautiful cover!

Divorce is hard, heartbreaking, gut wrenching. Then, you have no choice but to grieve and move on. Lily moves with her husband Worth to Alabama. She wakes up one morning and he’s gone, leaving only a note and divorce papers. She moves to a retirement community and meets adorable senior citizens, and opens her eyes to a whole new world.

Thanks to Ms. Denton, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

This was another wonderful southern setting and novel by Denton. I loved the community in this story and how the characters were of all different ages – which I think the author does well. I could feel the southern heat, smell the southern cooking, and be absorbed in the women’s lives in this book.

Lily and Rose were the perfect characters to become friends – so similar and different. I also enjoyed Rawlins and Hazel and the depth they added to the story. Denton writes all sorts of relationships well, and I felt they were explored completely by the end of the novel.

I grabbed The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton because a couple of years ago I picked up The Hideaway basically on a whim, loved it, and then read Glory Road and pretty much loved that too. The only book by this author I haven’t read – YET – is Hurricane Season, but in this year where everyone seems to need all the comfort reads they can get I expect to pick it up in the not too distant future.

Like the author’s previous books, The Summer House is relationship fiction, which often gets labeled and more often than not denigrated, as “women’s fiction”, but the relationship fiction label is much nearer the mark. Because it’s always about the relationships between people, often but not always family or found family, and frequently including the relationships between people in a small town.

And if women are the only ones who care about all the different kinds of relationships that people can have, whether in families or groups or communities, doesn’t that explain a whole lot about what’s wrong with the world these days?

The relationships that are on display, or perhaps under the microscope, or a bit of both, in this particular story are centered around two people, Lily Bishop and Rose Carrigan. As the story opens, both are at crossroads in their lives, and the route they each take leads them directly into each other’s path.

A path that runs straight through the retirement village so aptly named Safe Harbor. The place where Rose has been pretty much standing still for the past 40 years or so. Rose is known around town as the “Ice Queen” because she freezes out anyone who tries to get close to her, except for her nephew Rawlins and his daughter Hazel. She’s certainly not looking to shelter anyone under her wing.

But, when Lily Bishop calls Rose asking for a job as the resident hairdresser of Safe Harbor, that’s exactly what she does. Not just because Lily desperately needs the harbor of Safe Harbor, but because Rose is finally starting to scrabble at the walls of her self-isolation. And because she sees in Lily’s lonely aloneness something of herself that she hasn’t let herself see in a long time.

In letting Safe Harbor shelter them both, Lily and Rose both find the space they need to stand up and live.

Escape Rating B+:The blurb makes it seem as if Lily and Rose form an instant, albeit unlikely, friendship, but that’s not exactly what happens. In fact, it seems like this one tries to build its relationships in all kinds of slightly unconventional ways, and that the book is the better for its off-beat notes.

Lily’s desperate straits have to do with the husband who moved her to a place where neither of them knew a soul and then woke up one morning and left her divorce papers on the kitchen table as he seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. But Lily’s not desperately lovesick trying to get him back. She doesn’t even want him back after that – and who can blame her? (Besides her overbearing mother-in-law, that is.) Rather, she’s left with a mess and is just digging her way out, with no support network, no job and about to be evicted from a rental house that came with his job – which he has also fled.

It’s unusual for this kind of story that he wasn’t abusive, she’s not pregnant and she’s not a suddenly single mother. She’s just temporarily adrift and very much alone. She knows she can get back on her feet, she just needs a bit of time and space in which to do that, which is what makes her call Rose about the job doing the one thing she’s always loved, using the gift she inherited from her late mother – cutting hair and providing a place for people to set down their burdens for a bit and come out feeling better. (I’m not saying that a story like this one can’t be excellent with some of those usual starting points, but it is terrific to see one that does it just a bit differently for a change!)

But in giving Lily a chance to recover, Rose also manages to give herself a chance to take a new look at the world around her, and set down some of the burdens that she’s been carrying entirely too long. Since she was Lily’s age. And the story of Rose’s re-awakening is every bit as lovely as that of Lily’s awakening.

That both of them manage to find happiness, community and love in the place where they have found themselves planted is the icing on a very heartwarming cake, and makes for an absolutely delightful story.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary advance reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback. The Summer House by Lauren Denton was a feel good summer read I highly recommend. The story was uplifting, the characters were like able and her writing style enjoyable.

The highest compliment that I can give a book is to say that I wish it hadn't ended!! I loved Lily - but Rose was my favorite character - sometimes the limitations and chains that we put on ourselves are so much more stronger that those that anyone else could place on us. I loved watching the relationships develop - without spoilers - I'll just say that I approved of all of them lol ;) I adored little Hazel - a tiny little spitfire that is obviously one lucky little girl. I appreciate the "happy ending" because real life lately, kinda sucks so we take our happy wherever we can find it. OH! Coach was a gem as well - his past kinda surprised me, but explained a lot <3 Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a delightful unexpected gem! Lauren K. Denton has Spohn such a delightful feel good tale that warmed my heart and made me smile. It has been a rough heartbreaking emotional week and I’ve been so distracted. It was so nice to find a gorgeous story filled with kind characters to escape into. Lily has just moved from Atlanta to the Alabama Gulf when her husband up and leaves her. New to town and knowing nobody Lily finds herself in need of a job and a new place to live. While at the grocery store she runs across two older ladies and finds out there is a need for a hairdresser at their active living community. Rose is the owner and manager at the active living community on Safe Harbor. Rose is a little prickly, but when Lily interviews for the hairdressing job she has compassion for the girl. Lily now finds herself with a new job and living in a community where most of the residents are four decades older than her.

Loved every minute I spend with these charming characters. Loved the hairdresser setting, these characters were just like me and spilled all their secrets while sitting in that chair. Both Lily and Rose were wonderful characters and I love the friendship that grew between them. There was also a sweet dose of romance in the story that I loved. A lovely clean romance with a generous dose of hope and heart.

This book in emojis 🌹 ✂️ 💇🏻‍♀️ 🦐 🐊 🍋 🌊

*** Big thank you to Thomas Nelson for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

I enjoyed this very much. It was well written and held my attention all the way from beginning to end. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

I am not sure that the "Summer House" could completely qualify as a beach read since it is not completely lighthearted. But I did enjoy the premise - a young woman named Lilly Bishop getting a fresh start on an island that is primarily a retirement village. I did like the fact that not only did Lily learn to cope and to have a new life, but her presence also awakened Rose and helped her to right some wrongs and move forward as well. Having a little girl also be a key character was fun - she was precocious. My only disappointment was the fact that the importance of marriage being for life was dismissed rather easily. But I think this time that was the theme of the author - to start over with one that you are truly meant to be with. The characters are likable. This is an overall uplifting clean read - kind of a romance, kind of women's fiction. I would read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and to Thomas Nelson for letting me preview this book. All opinions are my own. Note: Thomas Nelson often publishes Christian fiction - I would not quantify this book under that category, but there was definitely not anything really objectionable about the plot. There just was not really a spiritual element found in the plot.

When Lily wakes up to find her husband has gone and left her with signed divorce papers she is devastated, they have just moved to Alabama living in a house that came with his job so she is to be homeless as well! Seeing a flyer in a local store for a hairdresser at a local retirement community she decides to go for it and stay in the area. Rose is the owner of the Safe Harbor village and runs it on her own since her husband left her for his assistant, making loads of rules and restrictions she runs a tight ship and keeps her distance from the residents, but when Lily turns up looking for a job and somewhere to live something starts to thaw inside her

A lovely warm book full of great characters in the residents and Rose and Lily and it's lovely to watch them both start to blossom and become part of the community...... with the help of a couple of gentlemen of course!

Wonderfully satisfying. Those were the first words to spring into my mind when I finished The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton. I loved her other books that I've read but, this one had a deliciously different flavor. It had angst of love gone wrong and the sorrow of long ago disagreements along with new hope and new beginnings. This book had it all and was delightfully fun to read.

Ms. Denton's development of her characters was spot on. Lily was a level headed young woman that had experienced a few sorrows in her life. I loved reading her story and how she wound up being the resident hair dresser at retirement village. There was the owner of the village who initially came off as stern and hard but, had a soft inside. Then there were several quirky characters you would expect to find in a retirement setting. I loved the relatable characters.

I like that the author's story had a lesson to learn without being in your face. She touches a lot on core values such a love for others, acceptance, respect, forgiveness and doing the right thing. She had a nice way of showing us those things and making us want to be a better person.

I think anyone who loves a good love story, doesn't mind older characters and likes a wholesome fun story will love this book. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book for an escape from the mundane. You'll be glad you did!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review.

EVOCATIVE!

Author Lauren K. Denton has a special gift for writing evocative Southern fiction and she is on the top of her game in THE SUMMER HOUSE! This is a story of love and loss. A story of Lily and Rose, from different generations who share similar ways of dealing with hidden secrets over their broken hearts. A story of Coach and Rawlins, from different generations (only the younger one has the cutest little daughter) who also know a thing or two about broken hearts but instead of it making them BITTER, it has made them BETTER men. A story of the two men pursuing the two women in order to show them what it feels like for someone else to want to protect and provide for them. A story of a community that comes together to support Lily’s beauty salon and in doing so, it becomes the center of activity. Mainly, it is the story of a spectacular summer that gives hope to the broken-hearted that there may be more to life and love than they have experienced so far. One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Sometimes the hardest step is the first one. After that, it can only get easier.” What a great insight! I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

This was a lovely book! Lily is a young woman who is married and thinks everything is fine. She wakes up one morning to find her husband gone and a note at the coffeepot. She has no clue what is happening or what to do about it but she pulls herself together and decides to move forward instead of backward. As she searches for her future, she runs into (literally) two older women at the grocery store. They tell her of their community at the end of the island and of a possible job opening and the rest is a perfectly wonderful adventure. All of the residents are very welcoming and Lily seems to fit right in even though she's about 40 younger than everyone else. Rose, the owner of the community, is a little brusque but for some reason she takes a liking to Lily and their journey to new lives and new possibilities is very sweet and very moving. Seems that age is not a barrier to change or reinventing yourself. There is even some very sweet romance too. I will definitely be looking for more of Ms. Denton's work.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In her latest inspiring, uplifting novel, Ms. Denton gives readers a great summer read (would be a great beach read). This is an inspirational novel that examines the past and present of several characters. Their past has shaped their present and each presents a facade that they are afraid of letting others see. The book begins with Lily whose husband has just left her unexpectedly. Lily finds herself alone and in need of a home and a job. Circumstances leads her to a prospective job in a retirement community in Alabama at the gulf. Lily interviews for the job with Rose. Rose has run the Safe Harbor Village for many years. She is predictable and very closed off. However, Rose sees something in Lily to give her a job. Lily has skills in helping break down barriers and mend fences. As Ms. Denton leads readers to the conclusion of this book, they will be inspired and uplifted. This novel shows readers how the hope of pushing against our fears and allowing God to change us and work through us is possible. I highly recommend this book and know you will not be disappointed!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.

Lauren K. Denton is one of those authors that I would recommend buying her entire collection, because if you like one, you will like them all. There are very few authors that can write women the way that she can, with depth, complexity, and likability while not being overly and annoyingly perfect. I honestly want her characters to be my best friends, so that we can all be there for each other and share our lives.

The Summer House is no exception, and I was hooked in the first three pages. That is how you open a book, engage the audience, without having to force unrealistic plot devices. It just happens and the entire story flows effortlessly from there, with a calm, building plot that is perfectly paced.

This is a dual POV story but I never got upset when it switched, which is always the concern for me. I usually like to stick with one person, because I'n invested in their story, so switching changes the mindset and emotional connection for me. But, in The Summer House, the characters were so alive, so vivid, and so involved in each other's story arch that I never missed anyone when we switched.

I only have one bone to pick with Ms. Denton, and that is the ending. Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful, satisfying, and I completely understand why she wrote it the way she did. But come on! I needed that one thing, but I guess I just have to use my imagination to make sure it happened. It was nice that Lily's story didn't need THAT to make it complete, she did it all on her own. but I still wanted it, lol.

Another amazing novel from the remarkable Lauren K. Denton. It's not to be missed especially as a feel good, summer read.

This book reminded me of the Sweet Magnolias series by Sherryl Woods. Filled With southern references and humor, a sweet cozy little town, and a woman re-finding herself after getting through an unexpected divorce. Certain parts will have you smiling to yourself and others will have you patiently awaiting what other corky mayhem the retirement community called Safe Harbor finds themselves in. Told in alternating POvs between crass manager Rose and newcomer/ hair dresser Lily Bishop. It’s the perfect book to throw in your bag before heading to the beach this summer!


Thank you to @netgalley and @thomasnelson for the early readers’ copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes a book reminds you that there is hope, no matter your age or circumstances. The Summer House by Lauren K Denton takes on that hope and helps you believe. The novel is set in Alabama on a secluded piece of land.

Lily was suddenly alone. Her husband gone, his whereabouts unknown, and a few days to find a new place to live. A chance encounter and a flyer on a bulletin board lead Lily to a Safe Harbor, a small retirement village. Lily’s skills as a hairdresser has opened up a new path, if she can take it.

Rose runs Safe Harbor. She is standoffish and sharp to many people. Rose’s ex husband wants her to sell the land and village, but Rose is not sure. The land holds memories.

Lily and Rose form an unlikely friendship and both find this a summer of change and growth. The title of the village - Safe Harbor - was just that of a safe harbor for growth and change.The slow unraveling of the past and the caring of others allows for safety. It doesn’t hurt that there are love interests for both Lily and Rose.

I enjoyed reading this novel very much. I loved the quirky people at Safe Harbor. I loved the unraveling of the backstory of Rose. I liked how Lily’s partial role as a change agent helped herself as well as others. The Summer House by Lauren K Denon is a wonderful, hopeful read.

Thanks, @thomasnelson #netgalley for the complimentary e copy of #thesummerhouse. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

From the author of Hurricane Season and Glory Road…

Lily is devastated to find a goodbye note and signed divorce papers on the kitchen table when she awakens. Before her brief marriage, she was a hairstylist, and she contemplates the possibility of leveraging this skill to make a fresh start. By chance, she notices a flyer advertising the need for a hairstylist in a nearby retirement community. Desperate for a job, she makes the call and shows up for the interview and also negotiates for the apartment above the salon.

Second chances….

If you’ve heard the term “Up Lit,” The Summer House fits nicely into this categorization. I think of Up Lit as a heartwarming story with hopeful elements. Up Lit doesn’t avoid life’s difficult issues but the story is generally uplifting.

If you are a fan of Lauren K Denton, you might be familiar with Hurricane Season or Glory Road (a favorite!). Denton’s books fall into the Southern Fiction sub genre and certainly in the Up Lit category. If you’re looking for an uplifting and heartfelt story filled with likable characters and elements of hope, you will enjoy her stories.

In The Summer House, I especially love the variety of characters including many of retirement age. I appreciate the multi-generational cast of characters. And yes, there’s a romance or two brewing!

Poignant themes in The Summer House include second chances, friendship, taking risks, starting over, and women supporting women.

The Summer House is recommended for Denton fans, for readers who appreciate uplifting and heartfelt stories, for those looking for lighter women’s fiction, and for book clubs looking for a gentle and heartwarming read.

3.5 Stars (rounded up to 4)

A Summer of Second Chances and New Hope
This book is a heartwarming story of healing, second chances, and new growth. It is primarily women's fiction, but there are several romances in the background. The story is well done with believable characters reacting to hard situations in a believable manner. This book was so well written that I am going to check out more of this author's books. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

I enjoyed reading about Lily and Rose, both strong women, who befriend each other and help each other move forward in their lives. I thought the characters were interesting and the relationships as well. A charming book. My first by this author.

Are you a person that can bounce back from what life throws at you? If so, you may can relate to Lily. I think she is a little of many of us or we are a little of her. I loved getting to know her. Another character I loved getting to know was Rose. I think we all may have something in our past that maybe we wish would have happened a different way. I hope you enjoy your trip to Alabama and meeting all these wonderful folks. I think you’ll really enjoy Coach, Rawlins, Kitty, Shirley, Edna, Tiny and the rest of the folks who hang around Safe Harbor Village. I received the book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.