A charming book about starting over. Lily's life gets turned upside down at but she finds herself landing on her feet with a new job at Safe Harbor, a community for active seniors. There she meets Rose, who is also looking for a new start. Rose's nephew Rawlins and his daughter Hazel are also endearing. I was immediately drawn to the characters in this book and absolutely loved the cozy setting. I can't recommend this one enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Lily Bishop wakes up one morning to find a note and divorce papers from her husband. Obviously, this is unexpected but life goes on and eventually person has to eat so off the grocery store she goes where she meets a couple of interesting ladies who live in a retirement community. She also spots a flyer advertising for a hairdresser which happens to be in the same retirement community. Lily interviews with Rose who runs the community and boy does she run it! Rose is a no-nonsense manager and she like to stay on top of everything. This is a perfect opportunity for Lily who needs an income and a place to live since the home she had shared with her husband was provided to them temporarily due to his job.

I was ready to pack my bags and move into one of the charming cottages in Safe Harbor. The residents are active, funny, and kind of nosy but deep down they truly care for each other. I loved the little snippets from the community newsletter where you could find what was being served in their onsite restaurant. It was so much fun spending time with Lily in her shop and getting to know the ladies as she did their hair and formed a close bond with her new friends.

The unexpected and welcome change in the lives of both Lily and Rose is truly heartwarming. If you’re thinking this book is only about senior citizens, no worries, the much younger Lily is soon befriended by a very helpful and age appropriate family member of Rose’s

Overall, all I thought this was a delightful book that was hard to put down once I started reading it. I started reading this one a little after midnight and was still reading it at 6:00 am. I finally slept for a few hours and then started reading it as soon as I got back up. It’s that good which is why I highly recommend it.
I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This story just touched my heart, from the beginning to the end. Lily Bishop awakens to divorce papers from her husband, with him nowhere in sight. Having lost her only family she is completely alone in Alabama where she and her husband of a year had moved for a new job. She has no source of income and no one to turn to. Enter Rose Carrigan who owns a retirement village Safe Harbor and who is in need of a hairdresser. As the lives of these two ladies intertwine we are treated to a lovely tale of the meaning of family and love. I will be getting other books by Laura K. Denton, she is just that good!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The small town community in Lauren Denton's THE SUMMER HOUSE is Safe Harbor, the perfect town for the many characters who feel lost and alone until their life paths cross. Each of them is looking for a new start while still trying to figure out where their lives went off track. The first chapter starts when a young woman must make major life changes in an unfamiliar town. She must use skills learned at her mother's home salon, using her memories of home and family to heal. This is a very good story that found this reader emotionally involved in the characters. The author paints the community and characters into a 3d picture of life and family.

I thought Lauren K Denton's The Summer House was a really good. I am giving it four and a half stars.

The ideal beach read, leaving the reader missing the characters once the book ends. There are 2 story lines that intersect in the book with one character aged late 20’s, and the second character aged late 60’s. I’ve heard readers mention they desire to read about older-aged protagonists, and this would be the perfect book (really, for any aged reader) for that. Perfect beach setting, sweet story of love and of friendship, a great Southern read. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review this book~

I so thoroughly enjoyed this well-written book by an author I had not heard of before that, once I finished, I immediately ordered two of her previous novels.

The story begins with Lily awakening to find a note from her husband, along with divorce papers, sitting beside the cold coffee pot. He is gone. Only married for a year and newly arrived in Alabama where they had moved for his new job, she has to figure out what to do.

We learn about Lily's mother, who died a few years previously, and raised her on her own in a ramshackle house north of Atlanta, GA, with a hair salon in the back. Early on, Lily began working alongside her mother, learning not only practical skills but also people skills. I don't recall it being mentioned that she actually went to school but later on we learn she still has her licence so she must have, right?

The ensuing story of Lily moving to a small retirement community on an island to work as a hairdresser and figure out her life parallels the story of the owner/manager, Rose, in her early 70s, who has been a stoic but lonely curmudgeon for a long time. The two of them are changed by and change each other as Lily works through her heartbreak and Rose comes to terms with past events that have been holding her back from enjoying life.

It's such a sweet story that is enhanced by the lovely southern Alabama bay setting, described so well. Both women meet men that captivate them, who in turn are smitten with the women. And, in Lily's case, there is also a young child that arouses maternal feelings that she had put on hold during her brief, odd marriage.

This is an inspiring, sweet tale of transformation, overcoming loss and the past, to be able to move forward and say yes to life and love. One of the only flaws for me was the incomplete character of the soon-to-be-ex-husband. Yes, he really isn't part of the story, though he does appear towards the end, but the backstory and that one appearance both seem rather wooden and unreal. There are just not enough believable details about who the guy is and what has motivated his behavior, although the circumstances of his life are related. We find out that they both married for the wrong reasons but it just didn't feel real to me.

I honestly didn't care enough to let that, or a few puzzling details, divert me from truly enjoying this light, but inspiring, book. With a pub date of June 2, this will be a great summer/beach read for those who enjoy a well-written happy story with likable characters, including several quirky older residents of Safe Harbor, all of whom contribute to Lily's discovery of her self and what she really wants.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and the author, for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was captivated by The Summer House after reading the first couple of pages. This was my first book written by Lauren K. Denton. Now I can't wait to go back and read some of her other books. What an ability for making a setting come to life. The Village of Safe Harbor sounds like such and fun and wonderful place. If it were real I would move there tomorrow. Lauren has a special way of carefully crafting her characters. You will genuinely care for them, like a friend or neighbor. This was a fun and sweet story. I would highly recommend it. I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a sweet story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Ms. Denton writes books with pleasant characters and beautiful settings. Just the book I needed while going through this world crisis. I've already recommended to many of my friends to put it on their TBR lists!

This is much like her other books . A small southern town with familial drama but I did enjoy the residents of the retirement village and feel the south is a character itself . Overall a good book but predictable

A very comforting story with lots of Southern charm. I loved the characters, Lily and Rose and especially the characters in the retirement community, Safe Harbor Village. Very relatable. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this book we visit Safe Harbor Village. It is a retirement community that is owned and run by divorcee Rose. She holds herself apart from everyone else and does not try to make friends or attend any clubs or social gatherings. The resident call her the ice queen! She feels that has the owner she has to stay separate and she had fooled herself into believing that she was happy that way.

Next we meet Lily. Her husband quit his job and wants a divorce. She has to vacate their apartment because it was a perk of his job. She is broke with nowhere to go. She sees an ad for a hairdresser at Safe Harbor Village. Before she was married she used to cut hair. Her Mother had a home salon and she grew up helping her out. She applies and Rose reluctantly hires her on a trial basis.

The job comes with a salon and apartment above it so it is the answer to Lily's prayers. The village is home to quite a few interesting characters. As Lily gets to know them she learns alot about herself and starts to find her footing. She feels compelled to try to draw Rose out and encourages her new friends to include her too. Eventually Rose does come out of her shell and realizes that being alone and separate is not a good way to live.

I thought it was interesting that the two main characters have flower names - Rose and Lily. It was a pleasure to see them grow and bloom in this book!

The Summer House by author Lauren K. Denton was an enjoyable read of women’s fiction. The 2 main characters, Lily and Rose, were both easy to relate to and very likable. It’s a story about laying the past to rest, making some changes and learning to live again and be happy. There’s much to be learned from reading this. It shows that living with guilt and bitterness is not the way and that forgiveness will set you free. There were so many things I enjoyed about this story, the location, the senior citizens with their entertaining personalities, and the little romances in the making. I knew this was going to be a win of a read for me as I’ve enjoyed all of the other books by this author. It’s definitely one I would recommend. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me the pleasure to read an advanced reader copy. I’m torn between rating this book so I’ll give it 4 stars although it probably deserves 5. At any rate, it’s very good!

The Summer House by Lauren Denton was my best read so far this year.  I enjoyed all the characters and especially the setting location.  I am sure my enjoyment of this book has much to do with my age (66) as I can identify with the supporting characters and would love to live in Safe Harbor Village. Lauren Denton has a great writing talent her characters draw you in always wanting more.  The descriptions of the place truly make you want to live there. Thank you Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read this novel. Bon Secour!

I really enjoyed this story, loved the characters and felt so much for them. I would absolutely read more stories about this community and characters and think a series would be fantastic. Totally enjoyed and will look for more from this Author. Thank you for the opportunity to read and share my thought.

I enjoyed this book the friendships across the generations really spoke to me as someone who has always been close to family and friends of all ages, would definitely recommend

The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton is a light read that will bring some smiles and quite a few laughs to your day. The story follows Lily, whose husband left her by leaving a note and divorce papers on the kitchen counter one morning, and Rose, who has been hoarding her hurts for many years. When Rose gives Lily a job at the Safe Harbor Village hair salon, the two may find more than they were looking for. Lily will find a purpose and a path, while Rose finds a friend and a way to forgive herself. Add some quirky neighbors in a retirement village to the mix, and it gets even better. I really enjoyed this story. The cover caught my eye and the book itself was great. Yes, it was a light read, but it also talked about some very real issues, things like self-worth, starting over, and forgiveness. Each of us has had moments in our life that pull us in new directions. This book gives us Lily and Rose's stories, but it also has some great characters who bring joy and life to the story. You definitely want to check it out! I received a free copy of this story from NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

What a sweet novel! This was my first foray into Lauren Denton’s books, and this novel reminded me a bit of Jenny Colgan’s delightful books (which are among my favorites). The pace was on the slower side, but honestly, that’s about what I need right now. I liked that the romance was understated rather than a too-good-to-be-true fairytale, and I loved the community setting, which had so many characters with depths to explore.

THE SUMMER HOUSE is another winner by Lauren Denton. Fans of her writing will not be disappointed in this new novel which explores the idea of starting over. We follow Lily, whose marriage just ended, and Rose, who is a bit prickly due to her past. The small southern community is full of charm and we are rooting for these characters from page one. I like the theme of redemption and starting over. Watching Rose "blossom" is delightful and I was so happy for Lily by the conclusion of the story. The romance with Rawlins is a nice touch and I enjoyed how it did not take over Lily's life. She remained a strong and independent person. Overall, this is a charming story with believable characters who grow in admirable ways.

Started off slow but like her other books the story ended in a happy way. Quick read full of southern charm