The perfect summer read! The Summer Cottage is a beautifully tangled web of secrets and regrets. My heart physically ached while this story unfolded, and yet I couldn't put it down. With meddling neighbors, nudist elderly mornings, greedy family and a lovable grandma - Jake & Trisha are in for an adventure that you'll want to go on again and again. I can't wait for more of the characters in this series to have their stories told!

I like that Annie Rains always writes such fun stories about beautiful, small towns, fun events, and warm, realistic characters that pull you right in and tug at your heartstrings. This book falls right into that category as the story took place at Somerset Lake.

I liked the main character, Trisha, who is divorced and raising her seven year old son, Petey, while Petey's dad is in jail for five years. Trisha will do anything for her son including moving away from the only home she knew to protect him. I found her character to be very realistic and refreshing.

Jake has returned to Somerset Lake to get his grandmother Vi to move to Florida and to sell the Somerset Rental Cottages. I liked that his character has had his own share of losses but being at the Lake with his grandmother Vi and Trisha and her son Petey, has given him a peace and has seemed to heal his broken heart. I really liked the sparks between Jake and Trisha, as they both tried to deny them. It was interesting what transpired in their story. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

In short: Small town, enemies to lovers romance.

My thoughts: Annie Rains is an auto read author for me and I really enjoyed this first book in the Somerset Lake series.

What I liked:
Trisha and her son Petey were characters in a previous series. I loved following along with their continued story and a second chance.

Jake. His relationship with Trisha grew so naturally and they had great chemistry. I loved seeing him with Petey and with the relationship he has with his grandmother.

The setting of Somerset Cottages and the town of Somerset Lake.

I’ve come to realize that small town romance’s with PG steam are my favorite and Annie Rains is the queen at them. I’m very excited to see what happens with the series next.

This is a sweet second chance at love romance. Trisha and her son have found a haven at the cottages on Somerset Lake where Trisha has found a roof over her head and a job after she lost everything. The last thing she was looking for was the possibility of love and romance but then when it comes knocking on your door unexpectedly it's all the sweeter for it. 
Jake Fletcher had promised never to come back to Somerset Lake after he lost the love of his life there. He's in the process of finally winding up his life in the big city and heading back to join his family's firm when he's persuaded to stop in Somerset Lake and try to talk his grandmother Vi into selling and winding up the losing proposition that the cottages have become and move closer to the family.
Clearly that plan is doomed for failure especially after he meets Trish and learns her backstory. Before he knows it, Trish's son is carving a place in his heart and he's sharing his time on the lake where he learned to fly a plane while he spent quality time with his grandparents.  He's also pitching in to help Trish get the cottages, repaired and painted and ready for summer rental when he should be persuading his grandmother to put them up for sale and pack and move. 
This is one of those sweet summer romances that makes you feel good as you enjoy the sun and sand on a summer vacation.

As a fan of Annie Rains' Sweetwater Springs series I was excited to start the Somerset Lake series!

The Summer Cottage is Trisha and Jake's story. Trisha has moved from Sweetwater Springs to Somerset Lake for a fresh start for her and her son Petey. Her new job is as the manager of a group of cottages. Soon after she starts the job her boss's grandson Jake comes to town and they start to find friendship and more with each other.

This is a wonderful small town romance. Trisha's initial hesitation and concerns felt realistic, and it was nice seeing her open up to Jake as she finds her place in her new town. I also liked Jake and Petey's friendship. They were so sweet together, and that bond was important as Trisha's whole world is caring for her son.

There's a number of secondary characters introduced and future storylines hinted at. I am looking forward to finding out whose book is next!

I was super bummed when the authors last series, Sweetwater Springs came to an end. BUT I was excited to hear about a new series set in a neighboring town too and was hoping for some crossover and it delivered! Some characters from her last book make an appearance here so it was an easy transition.

The first book in a series can be tricky with the introduction of so many characters AND a brand new setting, just a lot of information to get through in one book. It was handled so well here and now I have a new town and residents to obsess over. Trisha just moved to Somerset Lake with her son, Petey and took a job as a property manager at Sometset Cottages. Vic is the owner and Jake is her grandson and is back in town after a long hiatus. Sparks fly immediately between the two but they both have some issues they need to work through before anything romantic can work. I loved these two together and I always say that the author does such a great job developing these mature, adult romances with incredibly authentic characters. Add in a totally charming lakeside setting, secondary characters that I can’t wait to read more about in future books and a sweet little romance and I was all in. I’m excited about this series and can’t wait to see what happens next, small town romance fans will adore this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Here we are starting a new series for Annie Rains. I couldn't wait to see what she was going to come up with. I was sad when Trisha moved away from her Sweetwater Spring series. I really loved their people there and kinda wasn't ready to let go. I know I have no control over it but still in my heart I was sad. Of course, I couldn't wait for something new also. It's a double-edged sword.

You meet Trisha in the Sweetwater Spring series so you already get to know her a little bit. I will say that you don't need to read the others series to start this one but why wouldn't you? It's so good.

I totally understood Trisha and why she made the choices she did for her and her son. A fresh start is just what they need to try and move on from the issues with her ex. I love where they ended up. Since I already felt like I knew Trisha I didn't feel like I learn that much more of her in this book which is okay since I was starting a new series and needed to start learning about this new town.

I have to say I totally loved Jake. He's such a sweet, caring guy that right away he screams hero. He comes back to his hometown to talk his grandma into selling the family business there and moving to Florida with the rest of the family. I don't want to give anything away but I will say I was happy for his choices.

These two don't just in it together right away. In fact, their relationship moves very slowly in part due to her past and her son. I didn't have an issue with that. It really worked in this story. I liked the slow burn. It took them a while to realize what they both want in life but it's worth the discovery. So much of this book, I believe you should discover on your own so I don't want to give anything away.

I will tell you that I think you'll really enjoy their story and meeting all the new people in the Somerset Lake series. I know I can't wait for the next book.

Having read and really enjoyed Annie’s Sweetwater Springs series, I was more than ready to stay in that world, or close to it, with this series. Focused on healing, second chances and new opportunities, we have Trisha and her young son Petey, having left Sweetwater Springs and all they knew there after Trisha’s husband was jailed for fraud. Knowing that Petey was being harassed and teased at school became her sole focus – and a new opportunity just a few towns (and hours away) seemed to be the perfect opportunity. Running the summer cottages on Somerset Lake for Vi Fletcher – and a job that came with housing and a small salary was just the ticket. Or so she thought.

First arrives Vi’s grandson Jake – in town on behalf of his family to get Vi to sell up and move to Florida with the family. Being alone after the death of her husband, and getting up there in years, not to mention a stroke some months back – the family is worried and knows that Vi can’t manage things physically, and with money being tight, financially – particularly after some storms wreaked damage on many of the cabins. Jake is, of course, protective of his grandmother, doesn’t particularly want to face the memories he’s got in the area, and isn’t sure that the beautiful yet highly private property manager is there for the right reasons.

Oh, this was fun – from the instant attraction between Jake and Trisha and the secrets that both held, to their developing a friendship and trust, unearthing both Jake and Trisha’s issues with trust, grief and simply discovering their next step was truly engaging and felt both plausible and natural. Of course, there are tons of dramatic moments, but new friends, the visit from old friends from Sweetwater Springs and some serious soul-searching brings a story full of hope, light and happiness – with plenty of fodder for new relationships and furthering the new friendships to come.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aUg /” ><a> I am, Indeed </a>

I love the small-town romances and this is going to be another great series. Loved the build up between the mains and their chemistry. Felt that through the pages. The interactions with secrets or undisclosed information isn't really for me though. Always ends up blowing up in their faces. There were some quirky characters in here and little Petey made this a mostly fun read. I still have mixed feelings on Petey's dad, and that whole situation. I guess Trisha didn't love him, but was naive enough to spend the money he brought home without giving a second thought to it.
It did have a HEA I loved and it kept me entertained.
I received an advance reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

New location, great story as usual.

Trisha and her young son, Petey, move to Somerset Lake from Sweetwater Springs (ring any bells?) to start a new life after her husband went to prison for embezzling. She gets a job as property manager for a group of cottages owned by an older lady, Vi,, and is very happy. Vi’s grandson Jake comes to visit and a relationship starts to grow. Until…

This is a sweet romance blended with resilience, courage and friendships. Trisha learns to hold her head high and acknowledge that her ex’s crimes were not hers, but the lesson comes with heartache and rewards. I always enjoy books by Ms. Rains and look forward to the next one in this series.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

I love a a good small town story. I love a good second chance story so this is that story for sure. My heart broke for Trisha she faced a lot and dealt with her ex-husbands bad choices why she held her head high. I loved the group of women friend in the book they all were some of the sweetest and showed that having a good group in of people in your life will get you thought just about anything. Jake was a fixer for sure I didn't feel like he wanted to "fix" Trisha but he did come across sometime as pushy which was annoying. I loved Petey what a sweet kid who was wise beyond his years so fun to read about to. I mean I feel like the cherry on top of this was Mr. S and Vi, to find out why you will have to read this very good book. I flew through it and it just wanted so much more in the end.

The Summer Cottage by Annie Rains
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Genre: Romance
Publication Date: May 25, 2021

The Summer Cottage by Annie Rains is the first book in the Somerset Lake series. This is the first book I've read by the author and I know it wont' be the last!

This is such a beautiful small town romance! I fell in love with the characters and Somerset Lake! The story was wonderful and heartwarming. I can't wait to return!

I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a wonderful romance to read on a Spring/Summer day!

I'm so grateful to Annie Rains, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Harlequin Junkie Recommends!

The Summer Cottage by Annie Rains is the first book in the new Somerset Lake series, and it’s a great introduction to Somerset Lake. Trisha Langly and her young son, Petey, have left Sweetwater Springs looking for a fresh start after her now ex-husband was found guilty of embezzling from his clients. Now working as the property manager of Somerset Rental Cottages, Trisha knows the owner, Vi, is struggling financially and the cabins need some work. She’s determined to help the woman who helped her when she needed it. What she doesn’t count on is Vi’s grandson, Jake Fletcher, to enter the picture.

Jake is in town after being recruited by his parents and uncle to convince his grandmother to sell the cabins and move to Florida to be closer to the rest of their family. Somerset Lake was always a special place for him, until his high school died, followed by his grandfather. Now it’s just a reminder of all that he lost. He wants to get in and get out, until he meets Trisha. The closed-of property manager intrigues him, and he likes her son, whose curiosity about how things work rivals his own. Soon he finds himself helping Trisha fix up the cabins, as well as questioning what his family wants. When Vi has another medical emergency, will it Jake be able to convince his family selling isn’t the answer, while convincing Trisha to open her heart once again?

I really liked Trisha and Jake as a couple. Jake knows Trisha is keeping things from him, but he never pushes her to reveal her past until she’s ready. Even when he realizes the connection to something that happened to his family, he never holds it against her. Instead, he works hard to make her feel comfortable in Somerset Lake, taking both her and Petey out around town to introduce them to other residents so they can start building up friendships and really start feeling like the town is their home.

I also really liked Jake’s relationship with Petey. He seamlessly slides into the role of the father figure Petey desperately yearns for, all while never overstepping Trisha authority. When Petey wanted to do something, he always made sure it was ok with her first. Readers will feel for Petey, who misses his father terribly, along with his aunt and uncle who reside in Sweetwater Springs.

The town has what is called the Lost Love Cemetery, where people go to bury the memories of lost loves. Jake himself has something buried in there, and the story behind it is touching. It was an interesting concept, and I hope the author continues to showcase the Lost Love Cemetery in future books in the series.

The only issue I had with the book was that I really wanted to see Jake confront his uncle about something he did to Trisha. He knew Jake cared about her, so he really ended up hurting both of them. It felt like Jake should have said something to him about it, but he didn’t.

A sweet romance filled with secrets, friendships, and love, The Summer Cottage will draw readers in from the first page until the last. If you enjoy small town romances, few write them better than Annie Rains.

This is a great book. It's wonderful to see characters bring their baggage along with them and understand that it's part of life and work to find a way to accept that and make it work.

Trisha and Jake both have had a lot of life happen to them, so it's extra special to see them learn to come together and figure out how to make these lives they have work for them. Through in Petey and Bailey and Vi, along with all of the other people who pop in and out, and there's just so much to love here.

This is a classic Annie Rains book that leaves you smiling and happy at the end.

I loved everything about this book. The starting over, the second chance, the ties to Sweetwater Springs, everything! I was so sad when I discovered that she was finished with Sweetwater Springs, but I am loving the new location, and am excited for the journey.
This forced proximity, falling in love with the "enemy" type story was just lovely. I recommend reading it highly!

Trish and her son have relocated to Somerset Lake to escape the gossip surrounding her ex-husband's embezzlement and subsequent incarceration. There, she meets Jake, her boss's grandson, who's visiting for the summer to help out with some repairs on his grandmother's property. Trish and Jake distrust each other at first, but working together on the improvements draws them close. Could this temporary arrangement turn into something permanent?

Annie Rains is my go-to author for smart, feel-good reads. Her sweet romances don't shy away from difficult topics, Yet they're always uplifting, with characters who persevere despite adversity. I loved how Jake fought for Trish, and how the community rallied around her when everything started to unravel. If you're looking for a fun beach read or a sweet small-town romance, you can't go wrong with this book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Annie Rains has created a beautiful world in Somerset that beautifully pairs with the characters she has developed. Somerset is a beautiful little community where the people are close and they care for their own. Vi has adopted Trisha and Petey when she hires Trisha to be her property manager for the family cottages that need renovating. She also has Trisha caregiving for a few of the elderly citizens of Somerset which provides a laugh out loud moment or too. Trisha is guarded due to her past but she starts to fall for Jake, Somersets bachelor of choice for many years (despite him not living their for over 10 years).

Jake Fletcher is Vi's grandson who has returned to Somerset to convince his grandmother to sell the cottages and move to Florida with the rest of the family. Once he arrives he finds a pleasant surprise in Trisha and the work she has put into the cottages. He makes an effort to work through her tough shell to befriend her while also befriending her son. He works with her to fix up the cottages and bring them to their original glory. He introduces her and Petey to the community and more.

Without spilling all of the good stuff just know that Ms. Rains has created not only a beautiful story but phenomenal well developed and likeable characters (and some less likeable too), set in the sweet town of Somerset which is full of character!

Annie Rains has very quickly become one of my favorite authors. I enjoy her writing style and I connect well to her small-town romances and the characters she has created to inhabit them.

Trisha Langly is looking for a fresh start. She and her young son have recently moved to Somerset Lake and she is working as the property manager for the Somerset Cottages. The move not only gives her the change of scenery she's looking for, but it gives her a job, a place to live and gives her the flexibility to spend more time with her son. She loves the elderly tenants and she is also quite taken with Vi, the owner of the cottages and her boss.

Jake Fletcher grew up in Somerset Lake, but it's been years since he has been back. He suffered a great heartbreak and the lakeside town was the last place he wanted to be. He's now a lawyer, but has come back for the summer to check on his beloved grandmother and hopefully convince her to slow down and sell the cottages.

When Trisha and Jake initially meet, it isn't all sunshine and roses. Trisha agrees to work with Jake to do some updating to the cottages, but she would really prefer to work alone. Not only does Trisha begin to take a liking to Jake, but her son, Petey does as well. While Jake had a purpose for coming, after meeting Trisha, now he's not so sure that his grandmother wants to sell, nor does he want to disrupt what Trisha has been doing to better the cottages. Will all the work they are doing be for naught in the end or will they be able to get both the cottages and their love life back online?

This was such an enjoyable story! It was so realistic and I also enjoyed that it was a spin-off of Rains Sweetwater Springs series, but if you haven't read that one, you won't be missing anything by starting here. I enjoyed all of the characters in this one and little Petey just made me smile! I would highly recommend this title.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This summer, they’ll learn that home is where the heart is.

Somerset Lake is the perfect place for Trisha Langly and her son to start over. As the new manager for the Somerset Cottages, Trisha is instantly charmed by the property’s elderly residents and her firecracker of a new boss, Vi Fletcher. But Trisha is less enchanted by Vi’s protective grandson Jake. No matter how tempting she finds the handsome lawyer, Trisha knows that if Jake discovers the truth about her past, she’ll lose the new life she’s worked so hard to build.

Jake Fletcher left Somerset Lake after a tragic loss, but he’s returning for the summer to care for his beloved grandmother, hoping Vi will sell the run-down cottages and finally slow down. There’s just one problem: Trisha, Vi’s new employee. She’s smart, beautiful, and kind, but Jake’s job is to protect his grandmother’s interests, and his gut is telling him Trisha’s hiding something that could jeopardize Vi’s future. However, as they spend summer days renovating the property and bonding over their love for the town, Jake realizes that Trisha is a risk worth taking—if only she can trust him with her secrets . . . and her heart.

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This was one of those easy, entertaining, fun books that are a great way to spend a day. I curled up on the couch with my dog next to me, opened the windows, and read it in its entirety. The setting was a sweet little town. The characters were enjoyable. The storyline flowed so nicely, and I found myself eagerly anticipating what would happen next. And my favorite part of this book is that it is the first in a new series from this new-to-me author, so I will get a chance to revisit Somerset Lake in the future. I have already added another of her series to my to-read list and look forward to enjoying those books as well.

The Summer Cottage
Annie Rains
May 25, 2021

In her new Somerset series, The Summer Cottage, Rains takes us on a short journey from Sweetwater Springs where we find Chase’s sister-in-law, Trisha Langly moved to Somerset Lake. She has accepted a new job as property manager for the cottages on the beach. The owner, Vi Fletcher hired her to help rebuild, paint and turn the cottages into rentable properties. She had succumbed to a stroke the year before and could no longer handle the tenants and the rentals. Trisha had been working only a month when Vi’s grandson, Jake, came to see his grandmother. He wants to check on how she is doing healthwise, but the family had intended for him to convince her to put the property on the market and move to Florida with the rest of the family. He met Trisha shortly after arriving in North Carolina. He was not aware of her secret either. that being that her ex was the financial adviser who stole from clients including Vi. Her losses were the reason she couldn’t refurb the cottages. Shortly after, she had a stroke due to stress involved.
We are introduced to new characters and their families, while Uncle Chase and Aunt Sofie pay visits to Somerset. Rain's pleasant way of telling her stories captivate the reader. Her latest flows as others have. The towns are small with people who are friendly and helpful. The reader is easily engrossed in the newest episode. They are enjoyable and comforting to read.
The Summer Cottage by Annie Rains is published by Forever of Hachette Books. It will be released on May 25, 2021. It was my pleasure to read and review The Summer Cottage. I appreciate Forever allowing me to do so via NetGalley. I have heard that Rain's readers are anticipating this new book. If you are a newcomer to her wonderful stories be sure to read this one. They all are excellent novels for a day indoors or a lovely summer day. By all means, Enjoy!