The 6 Women’s Fiction Best Bets for April 2017
Scarlettleigh
“We dance round in a ring and suppose, While the secret sits in the middle and knows"
-Robert Frost
Don’t you just love a good secret?  Except when it is your own, of course. Some months the theme that brings the month’s best books together is a bit broad or loose, but this month the underlying premise is surprising strong. Secrets never stay hidden, and keeping them will always change a person— as our heroines discover.
Of course, each story is uniquely different, but within the story each author has taken a secret and spin it into a fascinating tale –of intrigue; of lost love; and in some cases, scenarios that test the bonds of family.
You’ll find a fascinating journey within the cover of each book.

The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner
(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)
Marin Bishop has always played by the rules, and it's paid off: at twenty-eight she has a handsome fiancé, a prestigious Manhattan legal career, and the hard-won admiration of her father. But one moment of weakness leaves Marin unemployed and alone, all in a single day. Then a woman claiming to be Marin's half-sister shows up, and it's all Marin can do not to break down completely. Seeking escape, Marin agrees to a road trip to meet the grandmother she never knew she had. As the summer unfolds at her grandmother's quaint beachside B&B, it becomes clear that the truth of her half-sister is just the beginning of revelations that will change Marin's life forever. THE FOREVER SUMMER is a delicious page-turner and a provocative exploration of what happens when our notions of love, truth, and family are put to the ultimate test.
Strengths:Wonderful exploration of new family bonds; challenging scenarios; Multi-faceted, flawed characters; Uplifting ending;
Measure of Love: Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read this: Brenner is a wonderful storyteller and she takes you on such an intriguing journey. Marvelous theme of forgiveness, and the strength of family.

The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton
(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)
After her last remaining family member dies, Sara Jenkins goes home to The Hideaway, her grandmother Mags’s ramshackle B&B in Sweet Bay, Alabama. She intends to quickly tie up loose ends then return to her busy life and thriving antique shop in New Orleans. Instead, she learns Mags has willed The Hideaway to her and charged her with renovating it—no small task considering her grandmother’s best friends, a motley crew of senior citizens, still live there.
Rather than hurrying back to New Orleans, Sara stays in Sweet Bay and begins the biggest house-rehabbing project of her career. Amid drywall dust, old memories, and a charming contractor, she discovers that slipping back into life at The Hideaway is easier than she expected.
Then she discovers a box Mags left in the attic with clues to a life Sara never imagined for her grandmother. With help from Mags’s friends, Sara begins to piece together the mysterious life of bravery, passion, and choices that changed her grandmother’s destiny in both marvelous and devastating ways.
When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans.
Strengths: Multi-generational characters; Appealing setting; Past and Present love story; HEA
Measure of Love: Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant and lighthearted
Why You Should Read this:  Touching story of a granddaughter finally coming to understand her grandmother. Denton writes in a way, that just makes you want to reach out to family. The charming Alabama setting is a plus.

The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White
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Recently divorced, Merilee Talbot Dunlap moves with her two children to the Atlanta suburb of Sweet Apple, Georgia. It’s not her first time starting over, but her efforts at a new beginning aren’t helped by an anonymous local blog that dishes about the scandalous events that caused her marriage to fail.
 
Merilee finds some measure of peace in the cottage she is renting from town matriarch Sugar Prescott. Though stubborn and irascible, Sugar sees something of herself in Merilee—something that allows her to open up about her own colorful past.
Sugar’s stories give Merilee a different perspective on the town and its wealthy school moms in their tennis whites and shiny SUVs, and even on her new friendship with Heather Blackford. Merilee is charmed by the glamorous young mother’s seemingly perfect life and finds herself drawn into Heather's world.
In a town like Sweet Apple, where sins and secrets are as likely to be found behind the walls of gated mansions as in the dark woods surrounding Merilee’s house, appearance is everything. But just how dangerous that deception can be will shock all three women....
Strengths: Intriguing mystery; Multi-faceted characters; Uplifting ending
Measure of Love: Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant and Suspenseful
Why You Should Read this: Karen White has a reputation for writing intriguing mysteries with wonderful southern settings. And this one fits the bill. This book is perfect for readers who love a story filled with revenge, and murder along with some fascinating relationships.

One Good Thing by Wendy Wax
(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)
Embroiled in a battle to regain control of their renovation-turned-reality TV show, Do Over, Maddie, Avery, Nikki, and Kyra find themselves holding tight to the frayed ends of their friendship and relationships.
Maddie must face the realities of dating a rock star once again topping the charts and dealing with her hapless ex-husband, while Avery is caught up in family drama even as she attempts to transform a tiny cottage into a home for the newly impoverished heiress who helped bankroll their last renovation. Put on bedrest, a hugely pregnant Nikki can’t quite believe love can last, or trust in her own maternal instinct. And Kyra, who has secretly put Bella Flora at risk in an attempt to salvage Do Over, must decide whether to accept a desperately needed bail out from her son’s famous father that comes with far too many strings attached…
But friendship is made for times like these, to keep each other—and their dreams—from crumbling.
Strengths: Challenging life changing scenarios; Engaging characters; Continuing storyline; Uplifting ending
Measure of Love:  Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read this: This series is so addictive. Readers have come to know the characters over the last five books, and their lives continue to keep us enthralled. With its appealing HGTV type theme, you get the best of all worlds – decorating, romance and strong female friendships. 

Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey
(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)
Caroline Murphy swore she’d never set foot back in the small Southern town of Peachtree Bluff; she was a New York girl born and bred and the worst day of her life was when, in the wake of her father’s death, her mother selfishly forced her to move—during her senior year of high school, no less—back to that hick-infested rat trap where she'd spent her childhood summers. But now that her marriage to a New York high society heir has fallen apart in a very public, very embarrassing fashion, a pregnant Caroline decides to escape the gossipmongers with her nine-year-old daughter and head home to her mother, Ansley.

Ansley has always put her three daughters first, especially when she found out that her late husband, despite what he had always promised, left her with next to nothing. Now the proud owner of a charming waterfront design business and finally standing on her own two feet, Ansley welcomes Caroline and her brood back with open arms. But when her second daughter Sloane, whose military husband is overseas, and youngest daughter and successful actress Emerson join the fray, Ansley begins to feel like the piece of herself she had finally found might be slipping from her grasp. Even more discomfiting, when someone from her past reappears in Ansley's life, the secret she’s harbored from her daughters their entire lives might finally be forced into the open.

Exploring the powerful bonds between sisters and mothers and daughters, this engaging novel is filled with Southern charm, emotional drama, and plenty of heart.
Strengths: Engaging Characters; multiple storylines; Uplifting ending
Measure of Love: Teaspoon  
Mood: Poignant 
Why You Should Read this: One reason of course, is the fascinating secrets – but the relationships between mother/daughter; sister and sister are so well-drawn with sometimes funny –sometimes a bit snarky but always great inter-dialogue.

The Forbidden Garden by Ellen Herrick
(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)
Every garden is a story, waiting to be told…
At the nursery she runs with her sisters on the New England coast, Sorrel Sparrow has honed her rare gift for nurturing plants and flowers. Now that reputation, and a stroke of good timing, lands Sorrel an unexpected opportunity: reviving a long-dormant Shakespearean garden on an English country estate.
Arriving at Kirkwood Hall, ancestral home of Sir Graham Kirkwood and his wife Stella, Sorrel is shocked by the desolate state of the walled garden. Generations have tried—and failed—to bring it back to glory. Sorrel senses heartbreak and betrayal here, perhaps even enchantment. Intrigued by the house’s history—especially the haunting tapestries that grace its walls—and increasingly drawn to Stella’s enigmatic brother, Sorrel sets to work. And though she knows her true home is across the sea with her sisters, instinct tells her that the English garden’s destiny is entwined with her own, if she can only unravel its secrets…
Strengths: Wonderful backdrop and settings; Engaging characters; Intriguing mystery
Measure of Love: Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read this: Readers who love bits of magic along with a bit of gothic ambiance will thoroughly enjoy this book.  It has such a wonderful atmosphere! It is the second in a series, so I do recommend you read the first book, Sparrow Sisters first. And if you’ve already read Sparrow Sisters – then I know you have been anxiously waiting for Sorrel’s story.

Sara's eccentric grandmother Mags has passed away, leaving her home (an old bed and breakfast) to Sara. Sara had left the small town to move to New Orleans to start her own life and she had kinda forgotten to keep in touch with her grandmother.
She just remembers that her grandmother Mags was totally different than other grandmothers.

Mag's will states that Sara is to restore the old bed and breakfast and then she can do with it what she wants. It's filled with "old people" that were her grandmother's odd assortment of friends. Sara moves in just long enough to do the task.

Then she finds an old box of Mags in the attic and discovers that she really didn't know her grandmother as well as she thought she did.

This book was just plain sweet. It wasn't overly so but just right. Like finding a good chocolate in a box of yucky ones.

The sense of place is spot-on and the characters believable. I especially liked this book, because have spent many happy times in the Gulf Coast area of fictitious Sweet Bay and also New Orleans. A great summer read.

This is a very compelling heartwarming story of Southern Fiction that captured this reader from page one !
I enjoyed the Southern charm of this novel as well as the richly drawn characters who embody Southern Life. The location of a small town in Alabama will fill your senses with charming people, Southern manners and food. This is a rich story of a Granddaughter returning to her Grandmothers Bed & Breakfast after the Grandmother has passed. As she begins to close out her Grandmothers house she has no intention of staying and wants to move on. A cache of letters emerges and paints a family history that cannot be ignored.
This is a delightful read that I was unable to put down. The author has a wonderful masterful writing style of unique characters, rich location and suspense. it will charm you and render you useless for the remainder of the day as you cannot put this book down.. I highly recommend The Hideaway. Thank you for the advance reading copy to the publisher and author with gratitude. I look forward to the next book by this wonderful author.

When I first read the blurb for this book, I thought it would take me back to New Orleans for a larger part of the novel. I was excited to revisit a place I knew well; instead, it took me to Sweet Bay, Alabama. Sweet Bay turned out to be a pleasant surprise for me and even more so for our heroine, Sara. The charming house, the colorful characters and the promise of love all snuck up on her during her stay. When the future of the house was in peril, she cared so much more than she ever thought she could, and brought this reader right along with her. This reads like a Hallmark movie, and I mean that in the best way possible - warm, comforting, and with characters you would love to meet again.

“The Hideaway was always full of friends and lovers, mothers and daughters, secret keepers and secret spillers, straight talkers and soft shoulders. We had hurt and we had joy, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

What a fantastic and pleasant read this turned out to be! I really loved this book with it’s charm literally oozing off the pages. A tale of two intertwined stories about life, love and the journey of self discovery in a search for peace. It is a book you will want to get lost in.

“You should let your hair down more often. You’re much more fun to be around when you’re not working so hard to keep all those balls up in the air. Let one fall now and then.”
There is a great cast of characters and you will be transported to the lovely setting of Sweet Bay, Alabama. Lauren Denton’s writing here is wonderful, as you are immersed in both stories revolving around women you really begin to care about. Lauren so easily bridges the gap from past to present, with heartwarming tales centred around family and friendships. Add a little romance, some hidden secrets and some rather compelling senior citizens, and it all melded into a wonderful read. There are no great shocks here, but rather a gentle, warm and highly engaging read that affirms the important things in life.

If you are in the mood for something light and uplifting, then ‘The Hideaway’ will fulfill your need. It is not sickly sweet and at times rather funny. The romance does not dominate which is nice, as Sara is on a quest to unearth old family secrets - just exactly who was her grandmother? The flashbacks to Mag’s perspective in the 1960s, and what initially bought her to The Hideaway and more importantly, what makes her stay, are genuine and real. In the present day, you will find yourself rallying behind Sara as she sets about restoring a house that is rather special.

“The house was warm and comfortable, if not magazine-ready, but no one living there really cared about that anyway. I loved that the place was a little off-kilter, and the quirkiness only solidified its charm.”


This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

Poignant story, both happy and sad. Leaves you wanting to change the past, make people act when there is still time. Well written, kept me anticipating the next chapter all the way.

Loved this book. Everyone in it was perfect. I loved the back and forth of history thru the storyline. Truly wanted it to go on and on. Perfect.

Amazing debut novel!
The Hideaway is Lauren K. Denton's first novel, and it is a superb one. I had a hard time putting it down, and as soon as I'd finished, I looked up her website and emailed her. I discovered we were both Auburn University graduates as well as girls raised in the south. I asked why the writing, although a clean read, was not Christian fiction, since I'm pre-approved on netgalley.com to read titles from that publisher (I'm a church librarian). She explained Thomas Nelson's desire to reach a broader audience.

I won't give plot details, since other readers have done that with their reviews. I'll just say that I look forward to reading more books by this talented author!

The Hideaway, a debut novel, was a nice light read with two story lines -- one storyline features Sara Jenkins who runs a popular antiques shop in New Orleans. The other story like is that of her grandmother, Margaret (Mags) Van Buren who ran a B& B in Sweet Bay, Alabama where Sara grew up. When Sara receives word that her grandmother has died she heads to The Hideaway and learns that she has been willed, B&B provided she refurbish it, as it had fallen into a state of disrepair. Sara agrees and is surprised by the emotions that are stirred from her childhood and even more surprised by what she learns about her grandmother while sorting through items she left behind. Although the story has been done before, it was still an enjoyable, easy read. I liked the quirky cast of characters and how the Mags story was slowly revealed. A nice choice for your summer reading list. (4/5 stars

http://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2017/04/books-read-week-in-review-4292017.html

If you are looking for a great escape that takes you to coastal Alabama and New Orleans, The Hideaway is your perfect read. Over the last few summers, we vacationed in New Orleans and Gulf Shores with a side trip to Fairhope, Alabama. The Hideaway took me back to those beautiful locales and I loved it.

Sara's life is thriving in New Orleans. Her antique shop Bits and Pieces is hitting its stride and Sara feels at home in the French Quarter when she receives a call from her grandmother's attorney. Mags, Sara's quirky but beloved grandmother, has passed away and Sara must return to Sweet Bay, Alabama for the reading of her will. Sara learns that Mags has given her The Hideaway, a run down B & B, that is also home to Mags' best friends. Mags has also tasked Sara with restoring The Hideaway and bringing it back to its former glory. Initially, Sara feels that she will do the repairs, sell the property and head back to her life in New Orleans, but as she digs further into the history of the house and her grandmother, she's isn't quite so sure of those plans. During the restoration, Sara uncovers a box in the attic and uncovers a whole other side to her grandma that she never knew existed. Between wanting to learn more about her grandma's life and Sara's developing relationship with her contractor Crawford, staying in Sweet Bay may be just what Sara needs but a real estate developer has his eye on The Hideaway and soon Sara may be forced to make a decision between returning to her successful life in New Orleans or staying to fight for The Hideaway.

The Hideaway is perfect Southern fiction with just the right amount of romance mixed in. I could picture all the characters perfectly, from quirky Mags to grouchy Major. I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more from Lauren Denton.

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

I read this novel nearly a month ago, while I was on vacation, convinced that I was supposed to review it at the beginning of April. Alas, I’d confused it with another book, which I managed to review on time (barely), and I am finally posting this review today. Forgive me if details are slightly murky.

What I loved about this novel were the characters – especially Sara and Mags – and their relationships with each other and with others in the book. Sara is someone I’d love to be friends with and Mags reminded me of my own grandmother in some ways, though she was radically different in others.

It’s not a spoiler that Mags dies very early in the story, and that much of Sara’s story involves her discovery of the hidden bits of her grandmother’s life. Those discoveries – sometimes significant, sometimes just tiny details that make you go, “Oh, okay, that makes sense now,” felt incredibly real. I think we’ve all gone through that to some degree when a loved one, especially one from an older generation, dies.

Lauren K. Denton’s writing was incredibly evocative and felt extremely real. I loved the way she wrote Sara’s internal conflict throughout the novel. The pull of ‘home’ in opposition to the bigger, more urban life she’s been leading was especially well conveyed.

I also appreciated the way Denton turned the B&B – the Hideaway – into a character in its own right. Yes, it was a place, but it was a place with emotional resonance and its own breath of life, and it takes a special kind of writer to convey that.

While The Hideaway is a fast read, you’d be doing the book – and yourself – a disservice by dismissing it as too cozy. It’s very real, and very warm, and I enjoyed curling up with it during an epic rainstorm.

Goes well with iced sweet tea and lemon cookies.

A nice summer read that doesn't tax the brain. Enjoyable. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of The Hideaway.

The cover art captured my attention...however, the story line held it. Loved it! Have recommended this novel to my reading friends & library.

I absolutely loved this book. It had everything I like in a good read. A little history, romance, and mystery all taking place in the South.

The charming cover art drew me to this book, and the setting and characters pulled me in completely. I’m so happy to be introduced to Lauren Denton’s work. This is a wonderful debut.

The Hideaway is filled with so much of what I adore in fiction—dual time-frames, a southern setting, small town charm, quirky, interesting characters, and a whole lot of heart.

It’s so easy to become fully absorbed into this book. I feel like I’ve visited the Hideaway and made friends with the people of Sweet Bay, Alabama. Both storylines are so easy to sink into. Mags is a strong and unique soul with a hidden past. Her granddaughter, Sara, uproots her life to fulfill Mags last wishes, and learns so much about Mags, as well as herself.

This well-written story of friendship, family, and belonging, is sure to touch the deepest parts of your heart. If you like women’s fiction, southern fiction, and stories that showcase undying love, this is the book for you.

I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Denton’s work.

5 Stars

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Pages: 352
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-0718084226
First Line: Sunsets in Sweet Bay have always made me feel a little like a child.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booklook and NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Hideaway by Lauren Denton brings the reader deep in the south, exploring the secrets of one young woman’s family history. The Hideaway has been exactly that—a hideaway—for her grandmother and her friends. This story is told from the perspectives of Sara and her grandmother Mags. It is a beautifully told story where the sense of place is woven in so well it nearly becomes a character on its own. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves clean romance and family stories. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Hideaway is a debut novel by Lauren K. Denton. Sara Jenkins lives in New Orleans where she owns her own shop called Bits and Pieces. She gets a call from her grandmother’s attorney asking her to contact him. Later that day Sara calls Vernon Bains, the lawyer and discovers that her eccentric and fun loving grandmother, Mags passed away. Sara was raised by Mags after her parents passed away in a car accident. She was raised at Mags’ bed and breakfast, The Hideaway along with the guests that checked in, but never checked out. Sara leaves the shop in the care of Allyn, her trusty assistant, and heads back to Sweet Bay, Alabama (three hours away). When the will is read, Sara finds out that she has been left The Hideaway, a bed and breakfast, along with funds to restore it. Her grandmother’s wish was for Sara to restore The Hideaway. Sara is reluctant to stay in Sweet Bay for that length of time, but she feels a pull to the home. As Sara starts going through the house, she finds a box in the attic. It contains mementos belonging to her grandmother, Margaret Van Buren (aka Mags). Mags had wanted to share her story with Sara, but she died before she could accomplish the task. Mags’ friends (the permanent guests of The Hideaway) along with the possessions in the box, Sara starts to piece together her grandmother’s past. Mags was not always the flamboyant free spirit that Sara knew and loved. Sara discovers that she is enjoying staying in Sweet Bay, but then Sammy Grosvenor threatens The Hideaway. Sammy has been trying to buy the land for years to develop it and Mags refused to sell. Now Sammy has found another way to accomplish his goal. Can Sara find a way to save this special house or will she return to her life in New Orleans?

The Hideaway is a sweet novel that I enjoyed reading. I found it well-written, contained a good setting, and had a good pace. There are a variety of quirky characters that enhance the book and go along with the Southern charm and setting. The book is written with alternating chapters. We are in the present with Sara’s story and then in the past with Mags’. I give The Hideaway 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). While The Hideaway is released by a Christian publisher, it is not a true Christian novel. There is no foul language or explicit sex scenes (thank heavens), but there is adultery. Religion is not a factor in this story. I appreciated the author’s descriptive writing that made the setting and characters come to life. Ms. Denton also did a good job with mingling the past and the present. There is the requisite romance in the story between Sara and the contractor (Crawford) she hired to restore The Hideaway. I did feel that the book was just a little too long and there were a couple of slow, meandering spots. The end was a bit rushed with some strange details (I was say but then it would be a spoiler). Otherwise, I enjoyed Lauren K. Denton’s debut novel The Hideaway. The Hideaway is a charming novel that readers can enjoy on a slow, summer afternoon with a glass of cold, sweet tea.

I got 50% in to this book and had to put it down. I really wanted to like it. I loved the cover and the premise, however, it just was painfully slow. I made three attempts over two weeks to get through it and I just couldn't. Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me.

Sara loves her grandmother Maggie, but her eccentricity created some distance between them. Now that Sara has a flourishing business in New Orleans, she doesn’t get back to Mobile, Alabama as often as she should… until Maggie dies, leaves a ramshackle inn to Sara in her will, and has her attorney convey a request for Sara to renovate the place while allowing Maggie’s old friends to remain living there for a while.

That’s the plot set-up. But the vibe is even better. Sara’s shop assistant Allyn was a BRILLIANT character- vibrant, grab-life-by-the-horns, supportive without being smothering, and so, so intuitive. Denton did a remarkable job juxtaposing Allyn with Sara, who was reserved, all-business, and pretty much living a superficial life while coping with a whole bunch of emotional baggage. Well, until she goes to Mobile and unravels her baggage along with Maggie’s past. *dunt dunt dunt*

Enter stage left: a panel of senior citizens who loved Maggie and want to love Sara, a local contractor – sensitive yet manly – who wants to help rebuild the inn… and build a relationship, and a slimy land developer who wants to ruin it all.

This story is beautifully written, deeper than standard chick lit but light enough for a beach read. You’ll root for Sara every step of the way, and in the (very well done) flashbacks, you might find yourself rooting for Maggie, too.

https://randombookmuses.com/2017/04/17/the-hideaway-by-lauren-k-denton/

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1974567727