I loved this book! It’s such a fun summer read and it touches on the topic of emotional abuse which is all too often not taken seriously enough. The reader gets a peek into the head of someone who has been emotionally abused and is made empathetic to the effects such a thing has on a person’s self confidence. It’s so much fun watching Jill rise above her experiences and create a life she loves! Family issues are mended and the reader is encouraged to take a leap of faith and chase their dreams!

A Summer of Surprises is Judith Keim’s third book in her Seashell Cottage series. Jill Conroy has been struggling. Her school year is just about over with only needing to close out the year and shut down her kindergarten classroom when she receives a call from her sister, Crystal, with whom she has a contentious relationship. Crystal is offering Jill a free summer at a gulf front cottage to housesit for a friend of hers. Wondering what the catch is but needing a getaway, Jill agrees to leave for Seashell Cottage as soon as her school commitments are fulfilled.

Upon arrival, Jill is quickly enlightened when she meets Greg Campbell, an older contractor staying at the cottage while doing repairs, who asks Jill if she is the one they hired to cook, clean, and do laundry for the summer. He then discloses that his nephew, Brody, and his 8 year old daughter Kacy will be arriving soon. Although immediately furious, Jill takes a beachside stroll and decides that she doesn’t mind the tasks in exchange for a summer in paradise.

But the tasks keep building when she is also asked to help with Kacy, a troubled and angry girl. However, Kacy is the key that opens doors for an unsure Jill to make the life changes she needs. Having been put down by her controlling mother and sister, then falling into an abusive marriage until her husband died in an auto accident a couple of years ago, Jill is ready to make a lot of changes in her life, and her time at Seashell Cottage is the impetus to begin these changes.

This is a lovely story of a young woman finding her way, standing up for herself, making big changes, and beginning to write the next chapters of her life in a manner that will bring contentment and happiness. Ms. Keim has a way of bringing the reader in to her stories, feeling the environment, and becoming friends with her well drawn characters. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Loved reading this book. New author for me also. Jill goes to Florida to house at a cottage to find out she will be cooking and cleaning. She thought she was taking the summer off. What a great read.

A summer of surprises by Judith Keim

Well I absolutely loved this book. I loved how the story built with a slow budding romance, the friendships that were made , the self discovery of what she really wanted in life, learning to trust again after being controlled and hurt in the past physically and mentally and ultimately the love that blossomed. Perfect setting for the story. Cannot wait for the next book by Keim. Will most definitely recommend to family and friends. Many thanks to both the author and net galley for the opportunity to read this lovely book.

A Summer of Surprises by Judith Keim. A very good summer read. I loved the walks on the beach. I loved the characters the little girl Kacy is so much in love with being a family like her friend. The little girls have a pretend wedding being flower girls at the wedding of Kacys father and Jill. Of course there up and downs and problems along the way. But in the end so much happiness. Read the story you will love it.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for a complimentary copy of A Summer of Surprises by Judith Keim for the purpose of reading and reviewing. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them in any way.

A Summer of Surprises is a well written novel with enchanting characters and a unique plot. The writing pulled me in right away and kept me engaged until the end. The story has plenty of emotionally charged scenes.

When Jill Convoy arrives at seashell cottage for her summer vacation, she learns she’s to be the housekeeper to Greg Campbell and his nephew, Brody while they remodel the cottage. She should have realized her sister had hidden the truth from her. She’s attracted to Brody and becomes attached to his daughter. I liked her character and could identify with her lack of confidence. Her ex-fiancée had really torn down her self-esteem.

Greg Campbell is a great hero. He is a loving father and helps his uncle. His patience with Jill amazed me. He will wait as long as she needs for her to be comfortable in her new life.

The romance is sweet and develops slowly due to Jill’s need to make a new life in Florida. This is a story of a young woman overcoming the loss of her dreams, finding many things she thought were true are not. Her willingness to start anew with her sister touched me.

If you enjoy women’s fiction with plenty of depth and substance and endearing characters, then you will enjoy A Summer of Surprises as much as I did. I have fast become a fan of Ms. Keim’s novels. Happy reading!

This was a good book, just missed the mark of being great. I liked the premise and development of the idea of making changes in your life. I liked how Jill recognized that things in her life need to be different, and worked at making that happen. The slow building romance with Body was a bit too slow building, particularly how well-developed the relationship Jill built with his daughter, Kacy became. That Jill and her sister wanted to change the nature of their relationship, and did so over the course of many conversations was a contrast to the insta-fix of their relationship with their mother. The book was well written, the characters well-developed, just parts of the story took too long to get there, and others were too easy. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my freely given, honest review

This book is a great beach read. Jill Conroy gets a call from her sister Cristal to house sit at Seashell Cottage in Florida. She decides to do it. She is a kindergarten teacher in Pennsylvania. She is also a widow. Her husband was an emotional abuser. Jill has a low self esteem because of it. Cristal doesn’t tell her that she will be a cook and housekeeper for Greg Campbell, Brody - his nephew and Kacy - Brody’s daughter. Jill ends up helpIng Brody with his daughter who has issues from her parents divorce. Jill falls in love with Florida and finds herself. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you NetGalley and Wild Quail Publishing for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.

A Summer of Surprises, A Seashell Cottage Book by Judith Keim is a book not of changing the world but of changing your own life for the better. It contains an interesting look at family dynamics and the effect it can have on the members. It is also a book that gives hope to those who have been in toxic situations; hope that the past does not necessarily have to control the future. Jill found the she can overcome and make the positive changes that she wanted in her life. What is most enlightening is the rippling effect it had on the others around her. It reminded me of an old Bette Davis movie where she helps a young girl finding her own identity and love in the process. A Summer of Surprises is not a remake of that at all, it just reminded me of that movie.

This is the first book I have read by Judith Keim which I found to be entertaining. Surprising I kept wanting to see what new changes or what disturbance would happen to Jill next. I said surprising because none of the decisions that Jill made would be considered to be extraordinary, still I want to find out what would happen next. This is a sign of a gifted writer who can write about ordinary life, making you want to keep reading.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A new beginning and a chance at really peace and happiness falls in her lap when Jills sister convinces her to house sit for a friend in Florida for the summer. Her life has not truly been her own since she married her husband, even if he has now passed on. Her trip may not be exactly what she was told, but it could not have turned out more perfect and satisfying and the changes she finds herself makinh are for her and her alone. It's an easy summer read with depth and feeling and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Great Romantic, Self Discovery Beach Read! The book is really well written. The characters are likable and relatable. Their problems and secrets are real and the reader is easily connected emotionally to the story. There were times when I had tears in my eyes. Every character had their own issues to overcome and were able to find healing through revealing their secret and looking to others for support. I loved reading this book!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

“A Summer of Surprises” is a poignant novel in the “Seashell Cottage Series” that tells us all about Jill starting her life over and starting fresh on many levels.

Judith Keim has given us a charming, whimsical & emotional romance. I found myself teary-eyed a few different times while reading.

My heart broke for Jill during some of these difficult decisions that she had to make.

This was my first book in the Series and can be read as standalone.

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

A Summer of Surprises, written by Judith Keim, is another amazing addition to her Seashell Cottage series. After reading this book, I have to say that Judith Keim could not have picked out a better title for this book because every character has a summer filled with unexpected surprises.

Jill Conroy should have known better than to trust her older sister, Cristal, especially since she knows exactly how manipulative she can be. However, she had to admit a summer spent on the Gulf Coast of Florida might do her some good. After all, how difficult can it be to stay at Seashell Cottage while her sister and the owner of the cottage travel around Europe? Jill gets that answer once she arrives at Seashell Cottage. Cristal told her an older man, Greg Campbell, would be sharing the house with her while he is doing some work on the cottage, but she failed to tell her that she would be responsible for cooking and cleaning for him. On top of that, she also learns that Greg's nephew Brody will be staying there for a few weeks to assist Greg with his repairs...and he is bringing his eight-year-old daughter Kacy with him. So much for a quiet summer at the beach.

The story that unfolds is both uplifting and heartwarming. Judith Keim tackles an issue that so many of us can relate to...weight and self-esteem. The author also tackles a very difficult topic...emotional abuse. Anyone that has ever experienced abuse knows exactly how difficult the road to recovery can be. Physical abuse is not the only form of abuse to leave scars because emotional abuse is just as damaging. All of her life, Jill was referred to as the ugly sister, while Cristal was always the beautiful one in the family. In addition to spending her life constantly being demeaned by her mother, Jill married a man that was emotionally abusive as well. Her husband Jay died in a car accident two years ago, but the scars from his emotional abuse are still with her every day. Jill is trying to figure out what to do with her life, and how to finally begin to heal from the scars of her past. The summer may not be what she initially hoped it would be, but it ends up being exactly what she needed in so many ways.

I do not want to reveal too much of the story, but trust me when I say this is definitely a book worth reading. The characters are all extremely well-written, and I loved every single one of them. My heart was breaking for Kacy, especially since she had so much to deal with at such a young age. I loved the way Jill immediately wanted to help Kacy and saw right through her acts of defiance. In addition to her own personal struggles growing up, the experience Jill has from being a teacher is evident in the way in which she deals with Kacy. Brody is a wonderful and interesting character, and all of his training as a school psychologist seems to go out the window when it comes to his daughter Kacy. It is difficult for any parent to see their child suffer, and Brody is hoping this summer at Seashell Cottage will give him the time to figure out his next steps to help Kacy.

Overall, this is a beautifully written story about friendship, family, love, and the long-lasting effects of abuse. This book is a roller coaster ride filled with a lot of emotions that so many readers will be able to relate to. The hurt and pain from the character's pasts are examined, and the road to healing is an amazing thing to witness as the book goes on. This book is truly a breath of fresh air, with characters that take the journey of healing...together.

I would like to thank Judith Keim, NetGalley, and Wild Quail Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read and review A Summer of Surprises. My views are my own, and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

Jill Conroy needs a get-away from her life in New York state. When her sister Cristal offers her the chance to spend the summer at her friend’s beach house, Seashell Cottage, in Florida, Jill doesn’t think twice. She should have. Cristal has a history of not always being totally honest and this time she’s hidden a major component – two men and a little girl.

Greg Campbell and his nephew Brody are doing renovation work on the Cottage and are expecting Jill to be their housekeeper/cook. Fortunately, the men are easy to please, Brody is definite eye candy, and his daughter Kacy, while a challenge even for a third-grade teacher, is a cute kid.

This story was a twist on vacation-at-the-beach novels. No stereotypical construction men, bratty kids, manipulative sister, stressed teacher here. Each of the characters was multifaceted, with strengths and weaknesses that made them realistically human. As a former teacher I could really understand Jill’s struggle with her decisions and with her relationship with Kacy. It would have been easy for the Jill to “solve” Kacy’s problems but the way the author handled their interaction was more true-to-life than expected – no straight line to perfection. This is the first book I’ve read by Judith Keim, but it won’t be the last – I’ve already downloaded her Chandler Hill series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. The opinion is my own.

I totally enjoyed this book. A woman’s journey of
Faith, love and healing. Jill finds herself widowed at a young age, her husband was verbally abusive behind closed doors, making Jill think she would never amount to anything. When her impulsive, reckless younger sister offers her a vacation in exchange for house sitting duties At Seashell Cottage Jill decides why not and agrees.
The house sitting also involves housekeeping , meals and child care for the guys doing remodeling at the same time. A summer of finding love not only with a wonderful man and his daughter, new lifelong friendships, but most importantly Jill finds self acceptance and healing. I loved this book. I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.#netgalley

An entertaining and well written romance. Good plot and character development. Enjoyed the Florida setting. Readers of romance will enjoy this book. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

It's the first book I read in this series even though I read other by this author.
I like how she writes and found this book engrossing and entertaining, with a plot that flows and an interesting cast of characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on June 23, 2020

A Summer of Surprises is another winner from Judith Keim. I have enjoy each of this authors books that I have had the pleasure to read, this one was no exception. Jill is a widow with plenty of unhappy memories, once again she does a favor for her sister Cristal and in the process her life will be changed forever. This is a excellent summer read, action packed and full of emotions and self-discovery. I would most definitely recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley, and the publisher and this is my fair an honest review.

Excellent read. Jill started off doing her sister a favor, which turned out to be a working vacation. She Since she wasn't really surprised, but she made the most of it.. She met a very nice man with an eight year old daughter that had just a few issues. Jill had not had a very good marriage and she wasn't ready to settle down very quckly. There were parts of the book I really liked - how Jill and her sister Cristal finally came to terms with their relationship, how Kacy learned to be a good kid, and how the sisters learned how to deal with their mother. The characters were very well written and there were several side characters that were interesting too. Another good Judith Keim book. I've enjoyed every one I've read

This is a book in the Seashell Cottage series, but each book is absolutely a stand-alone book, though if you have read the others, you get occasional glimpses of familiar characters! This was a good summer beachy-read, but I found the original premise of luring Jill to Florida a little unbelievable and Jill staying even more unbelievable. She is promised a stay in Florida at Seashell cottage in exchange for taking care of the cottage - what her sister failed to tell her was that there were others staying there, and that she is responsible for cooking for them.

I really liked the story of how Jill comes out of her shell, and also how she connects with the little girl staying at the college, and starts to build a new future for herself.

Dysfunctional family dynamics, getting over an abusive relationship, and several other difficult issues plague the main characters and present barriers to finding love and happiness...will they be able to come together and form a new family? You’ll have to read the book and see!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.