Adie Lou from the time she was little always had a special summer cottage to visit each year, where her grandparents instilled the love of family through the "14 rules of the cottage".
As the reader, we reconnect with Adie Lou, the mother and divorcee who is going through a huge life change and is need of the summer cottage to provide the refuge that she remembers.
Summer Cottage is a wonderful story of love, family and what could be...
Thank you Net Galley, Harlequin Publishers, and Viola Shipman for the Arc in exchange for and honest review

Viola Shipman's "The Summer Cottage" was a disappointing read. Enjoying the age old story of a divorced woman starting over, the main character, Adie Lou Kruger, never really faces any major issues to overcome. Her husband that cheated? Oh well, he was cold even when she met him. Empty nest? No! Her son keeps her completely informed of his every movement, including all of his partying. He's more than happy to come back to Michigan instead of joining his friends in Florida (leaving to a very aggravating conversation where Adie Lou constantly refers to her son as a Millennial and lists all of their faults. Does the author not realize that Millennial are now in their 30s? I had to check and see if this was indeed a new book or if I had picked up one from the early 2010s when insulting Millennials was still popular). Cottage that needs to be completely rehabbed? No worries - Adie Lou's best friend just happens to be a lawyer who gets her more money from the divorce! Boat destroyed? Adie Lou can just fall in love with a boat builder who will fix everything for free.

With no real issues to overcome, Adie Lou's story becomes a deeply unfulfilling daydream that feels unrealistic at best.

The Summer Cottage continues Viola Shipman's style of bringing the reader into her family. If you have ever vacationed in the same town for generations, or purchased a lake home, you know the memories that are built on traditions. In the Simmer Cottage the "Rules" become guiding lights for guests as well as the owner's and her family. Attention to details bring you into the cottage and town. I can picture each room, including the rock wall in "Go Rock Hunting" room. Family relationships, social media, friendships, and romance develop at a savory pace. I have preordered 4 copies with personalizations. I own all of Viola Shipman's precious books, The Charm. Bracelet, The. Hope Chest, and The Recipe Box. There is a taste of the next novel, Heirloom Garden included. Sounds delicious! Grab a blanket, a glass of wine, some cheese and even a Blue. Moon ice cream and slip into a relaxing adventure.

BOOK REVIEW: The Summer Cottage
By: Viola Shipman
This is the first novel I’ve read by Viola Shipman. For me, the pacing is on the slow side but the author takes time to really develop characters, setting and scene. However, it wasn’t fast enough for me and I found myself skimming through sections more than actually reading.
The premise of the story is that Adie Lou is a middle-aged, recently divorced woman who inherits her grandparents’ cottage in Shaugatuck, MI, backing onto a lake. She has happy memories of spending childhood summers there, and summers with her son and grumpy husband. The cottage had a set of 10 rules that would make the vacation more enjoyable, which becomes the inspiration for her B&B. Each room is named after one of the rules.
The town preservation society is opposed to yet another B&B opening in their town and they make life difficult for Adie Lou.
Love, happiness, and a dog are all included in the story line.
If you enjoy slow paced, character-driven stories then check out The Summer Cottage. I can see how it would be an enjoyable beach read if you had plenty of sunshine and lemonade to sip on while lounging on your beach chair.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through Net Galley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I read and enjoyed 'The Charm Bracelet', so was excited when I received invite to read this book. I then
discovered she has 2 other books that I was not aware of. I have now begun to look for them, so I can read them also.

A woman ending her emotionless marriage wants a change, as new purpose, to go in a new direction
She takes a risk - her family history will be restored and at same time she can be taken care of.
So her work begins

Success is not final, failure is not fatal,
It is the courage to continue that counts.

Remain hopeful, stay positive, keep dreaming and changing.

I enjoyed this book, could be a good series starter.

Just an amazing well crafted story... an awesome addition to any collection. Five stars all the way!!!!!!!!!

Set on the shores of Lake Michigan this is a wonderful story of love and tradition. I adore Viola Shipman books. They are so feel good and warm that I get excited just seeing he is working on a new book. That's right, he uses his grandmother's name for his writing. Also most of his ideas and stories come from his family. Addie Lou is middle aged, her children are in college and her husband is divorcing her for a young grad student. She decides to turn her parents cottage into a B&B and escape to where she was happiest. The construction isn't easy but brings her back into contact with a childhood companion. Wonderful growth in Addie Lou as she relives memories of her parents and makes new ones building her new life. Love this story. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A delightful read that celebrates unconventional women. More praise for Viola Shipman and her novel that emphasizes the importance of family, friends, and forging into the future with determination belief in yourself.

This was my first book by Viola Shipman and was super fun to read over Valentine's week!!

The Summer Cottage is a touching and moving story about Ade-Lou finding herself after a painful divorce and the death of her parents.

Ade-Lou decides to literally quit her job and leave her old life behind traveling to the place she loves the most to her parents summer cottage. The summer cottage is literally falling apart and Ade-Lou is trying to re-build it into a Bed and Breakfast. Along the way, nothing is easy and Ade-Lou struggles to put her life back together and the summer cottage.

Viola Shipman definitely has many touching moments in this novel and it makes you smile page by page. The only issues I had with this one... was it was a tad overly cheesy for me. I just was rolling my eyes a bit and felt it was a tad bit too cookie/cutter perfect for me.

Overall, this is a fun one to cozy up to at the beach and warm your heart!

3.5 stars for Summer Cottage.

Thank you to Harlequin/Graydon and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: 4/23/19
Published to Goodreads: 2/15/19

First of all I was shocked to discover that this was written by a man, but that has no bearing on my opinions. Although it is a sweet story and certainly one about restoration and hope, I found it very predictable and somewhat contrived. A good beach read.

A joyful, fun and "warm" read during this brutal winter! Readers, look forward to reading this on a warm & sunny beach day! The characters are very likeable and Shipman blends them all together for a joyous book.

I have loved every book I have read by Viola Shipman. They have always been filled with love, sentiment, and emotion, especially centered around one particular object. I could not wait to dive into this book, expecting the same result. Unfortunately, this book was not the same.

This book had a completely different feel I’m not sure why, but I didn’t find it as moving as the previous books by this author. Maybe I had too high of hopes, but I was disappointed. The story itself was good, I just was expecting more.

This book was well written, however. It was vivid and I did feel as though I was there with Adie Lou in this run down cottage. I also found myself rooting for her throughout her journey.

Overall, it was a good book, but not as good as The Hope Chest or The Recipe Box.


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the book mentioned above in the hope that I would review it on my blog. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This needs to be on everyone's TBR summer read list. The perfect lazy day on the beach day book. Adie Lou is faced with rebuilding her life after a divorce and the death of her parents. She decides to retreat where she has always loved it the most. This story is filled with wonderful characters and a very fun, heartwarming story. My favorite yet from Viola Shipman.

Thank
Rule 1 of The Summer Cottage ... Leave Your Troubles At The Door,
Adie Lou grew up at the Summer Cottage, it’s where she returns when her marriage dissolves, when her husband has a mod life crisis in the form of a grad student!
She realizes she has lost herself and returns to her family roots to redefine her life!

I loved this book , the town, the people , Adie Lou dared to dream and then live that dream to the fullest !

This is my second book by this author and she pulls me into the story from the first chapter and I always turn the last page a better person !

The Summer Cottage is such a good book. I loved the plot, the believable characters and the setting. The author is new to me and I definitely will be reading more of her books. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

The Summer Cottage is about love, family, regrets, and new beginnings. Adie Lou leaves Chicago behind along with her arrogant ex-husband who left her for a younger woman, to flip her family's old cottage into a Bed & Breakfast. Little does Adie Lou know how much it's going to take mentally and physically to make her families creaky cottage into her dream come true. I hope as you read The Summer Cottage it takes you right there with Adie Lou, as it did for me. A wonderful feel good story for this coming summer. I received an ARC of The Summer Cottage from NetGalley and Harlequin - Graydon House Books for an honest review.

The Summer Cottage is a touching and moving work that relates the story of a woman finding her true self and niche after divorce. There are fabulous sentiments on life sprinkling the pages that, really, deserve writing down to ponder later.
As Adie Lou Kruger revamps her life, she learns that her young past resonates within the walls of her heart and guides her often shaky decisions about renovating her family’s lake house into a B and B.
It is a lovely story filled with some very touching, wonderful passages.

A sweet story about a woman rebuilding her life after a divorce. Adie Lou (how great is that name?) Decides to turn her grandparents' summer cottage into a B&B. She faces obstacles along the way and learns a lot about what she's really made of and what she wants.

A feel good story about Adie Lou and her ability to turn her life around. After a divorce, Adie Lou reevaluates her life,her job, her home and decides to move to a small Michigan vacation town and renovate her family’s cottage. Adie Lou faces her demons and decides to empower other women, while finding herself. I liked it, even though it was a bit corny at times.

At first, this seemed like just another chick lit novel- romantic, light and frothy, with easy characters and a simple story line. I'm happy to say that it turned out to be MUCH more than that! The main character, Adie Lou, is renovating her family's very old summer cottage on Lake Michigan, and it turns out to be a bigger project than anyone anticipated. Adie Lou is at a real transition point in her life and as the cottage is renovated and renewed, so is Adie Lou. There is much in this beautiful story about the choices we make, and about letting go of what no longer serves us in order to become more fully who we really are. There is romance, yes, but it is as much about Adie Lou's relationship with herself as it is with a friend from long ago.