I was sad when I read the last book in the Sweetwater Springs series; the town and its characters really grew on me and I found myself looking forward to the next book in the series. When I saw Annie Rains had a new series coming out, I decided to give it a try, and was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar character starring in this book!

Trisha has moved away from Sweetwater Springs and taken a job as a caretaker of cottages on Somerset Lake to start fresh with her son Petey. Trisha's ex is a convicted felon who swindled a lot of people out of their life savings. This book is the great start to a new series with great characters, amd seems very similar to the Sweetwater Springs series. If you are looking for a little love and a lot of heart, give this one a try! How can you go wrong with a town that features a Lost Love Cemetery, where people bury relics of past relationships in hopes of moving on?

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.

3.5 stars--THE SUMMER COTTAGE is the first instalment in Annie Rains’ contemporary, adult SOMERSET LANE romance series-a spin off from the author’s SWEETWATER SPRINGS series. This is attorney Jake Fletcher, and divorcee/single mother/ and property manager Trisha Langly’s story line. You do not have to have read the previous series to follow the current time line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Trisha and Jake) THE SUMMER COTTAGE follows single mother/divorcee Trisha Langly as she and her seven-year old son Petey embark on a new life away her home town of Sweetwater Springs where the demons from her past refuse to let go. As the new property manager for Somerset Rental Cottages Trisha finds herself looking at a long list of repairs as the cottages have fallen into a state of disarray and ruin but Trisha never expected to meet her boss’s grandson, attorney Jake Fletcher, the man with whom Trisha will fall in love. What ensues is the slow building relationship between Trisha and Jake, and the potential fall-out when the past is revealed, and Trisha finds herself looking for a new job and a new place to live.

Trisha Langy’s life was destroyed by the sins of the past, sins of her ex-husband, and in this our heroine hopes to start anew in the small town set against Somerset Lake but no matter where they go, the past continues to rear its’ ugly head, reflecting upon our heroine who is paying the penalty for her ex-husband’s crime. Jake Fletcher never wanted to return to the place that held both good and bad memories but his grandmother’s failing health means Jake and the family are hoping to sell the Somerset Cottage Rentals. Meeting single mother Trisha Langly stirs something deep within our story line hero but Trisha’s secrets are about to be exposed, and with it the family refuses to accept that she is an innocent in everything from the past.

The relationship between Trisha and Jake is one of immediate attraction but Trisha is in no position to start a romantic affair. Jake is only in town for a few weeks, just long enough to sell the rentals, and move on with his life but neither one expected to find the other. There are no $ex scenes and only a few chaste kisses.

The secondary and supporting characters include Trisha’s son Petey, Jake’s grandma Vi, and his uncle Tim, local nudist Mr. S, as well as the local busy bodies and soon to be friends-Moira, Tess, Lucy and Della Rose.

THE SUMMER COTTAGE is a slow building, and sweet story of second chances. The premise is engaging; the characters are energetic; the romance is innocent and mostly platonic, and here in lies a bit of a problem-I didn’t feel the attraction; I didn’t sense the love, the romance or anything sexually appealing between our leading couple. Trisha gave off mixed signals and continued to push our hero until the very end; Jake agreed to friendship, and they walked through the story more as acquaintances than anything else.



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Annie is back!!! And I'm so glad! As a huge fan of Sweetwater Springs, I had huge hopes for this one and she surpassed them all! Loved it!

The Summer Cottage by Annie Rains is the first book in the new contemporary romance Somerset Lake series. As with most contemporary romance series each book in the Somerset Lake series will feature a new main couple so each could be read as a standalone if choosing to do so. The common theme in the series will be the setting of Somerset Lake, North Carolina which was a wonderful place with a small town feel.

Trisha Langly was looking for a fresh start for her and her son when she spotted the ad for a property manager in Somerset Lake. Trisha wanted nothing but a quiet place to start over after her ex-husband had been arrested for embezzling money from his clients. Both Trisha and her son were being treated as if they had been in on his crimes so when she was hired as the manager it was a lifesaver for them both.

Trisha’s new boss, Vi Fletcher, was a lovely elderly lady who had run the Somerset Cottages for years until her health became an issue and because of that her grandson, Jake, has come to try to convince Vi to sell. Shortly after Jake arrives though he finds himself pulled into working with Trisha to oversee renovations on the property and begins to see that maybe his parents and uncle don’t understand what the place means to Vi.

The Summer Cottage was a great opening to this new contemporary romance series. I really enjoyed the introduction to this new small town and it seemed to do a good job giving a glimpse into the whole area for the next books in the series. There was a lot going on with the characters lives that gave a bit of mystery of to whether all of it would come together in the end which made the pages turn even faster. Of course I also enjoyed all of the characters which of course if the most important part so this one came together all around for me and made a lovely summer read.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Once again Annie Rains has worked her magic in this first book of her new series! Trisha and Jake are two people who seemed meant for each other in my eyes. Uncle Tim is someone that gave me mixed feelings but when he told Trisha that if she truly meant it when she said she would never hurt Vi and that if she really wanted what was best for her then she would just walk away, well that brought me to tears since Trisha wasn't mad at him but seemed to understand he was just worried about Vi. This was such wonderful story and even though I got teary a lot towards the end it left me feeling so happy, I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

The Summer Cottage was a super cute summer romance book! It takes place on a dreamy lake in western NC. It was very reminiscent of the Haven Point series and I really enjoyed it!

Trisha and her 7 year old son want a fresh start in Somerset Lake after her divorce. Jake is back in town facing his own demons and trying to convince his grandma to sell her cottages on the lake.

This was a really fun, summer read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me!

Thank you @readforeverpub for sending me a free e arc on @netgalley

Annie Rains is an author I discovered only a few years ago but she's quickly become one of my favorites in the genre of sweet but deeply emotional, small-town romance. With The Summer Cottage, Rains launches her new Somerset Lake series, just in time for those lazy summer reading days, and I couldn't be happier. As she did with her long-running Sweetwater Springs series, this first Somerset Lake book introduces us to a community of characters who are vibrant, interesting, and ready to have their stories told. I'm excited to read them all.

Trisha and Jake are compelling, authentic, and relatable characters with whom I connected right away. Jake is such a good guy who deserves a happy ending and after all Trisha and her young son Petey have been through they really deserve a good guy, and a happy ending of their own. Jake and Petey's evolving relationship made my heart so happy and Jake and Trisha's slow-burn journey to love made me smile, sigh, and, yes, shed some tears. It's sweet, fun, and deeply emotional...an Annie Rains' trademark.

As important to Trisha's life as her relationship with Jake is, the friendships she forms with the women of the Somerset Lake book club are equally important in a different way. I loved the interactions among these women and especially their response when the truth of what Trish's ex-husband did is revealed. And speaking of her ex, I think Rains handles that situation, and especially the impact on young Petey, with sensitivity and care. I appreciate the fact that it's not swept under the rug but dealt with openly and honestly.

Sweetwater Springs fans will recognize Trisha and her young son, Petey from the last book in that series, Reunited on Dragonfly Lane. It's not necessary to have read that book in order to enjoy The Summer Cottage though I do think it provides an added depth of understanding of what they faced in their hometown and why a new beginning at Somerset Lake was so necessary for both of them.

I enthusiastically recommend adding The Summer Cottage to your summer reading list. I'm already looking forward to the second Somerset Lake book, The Christmas Village, which releases October 12, 2021. You best believe I already have it on pre-order. 😀

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Loved it. A sweet tear inducer. Running from one's past never works. A delightful small town romance. I am eager to read the stories of the other single ladies involved in this tale. The cover is somewhat misleading. Not the type of dog I expected and no mention of a hammock. Nevertheless, there is a dog and sitting on the porch does occur.

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing for allowing me to read and review this book early. There was a lot about this book that annoyed me, but overall I enjoyed it and thought it was a sweet and charming story. This book is about Trisha and Jake. Trisha took her young son Petey and has moved to Somerset Lake after her husband went to jail for a crime involving money theft. She is a property manager for a set of cottages that are owned by an older lady named Vi. Vi's grandson Jake comes to the small town in an effort to convince his grandma to sell the cottages. Trisha and Jake meet and despite the fact that neither are looking for a relationship, they slowly start spending more and more time with each other.
Things I liked about this book:
The small town summer charm was fun. I loved seeing the weekend festivals and hearing about the quirky townspeople.
I loved how Jake was so good with Petey. It's always sweet to see a man befriend a child.
Things I didn't like about this book:
Trisha annoyed me. She was overly paranoid about people finding out who her ex husband was and made it into a HUGE secret deal and in my opinion it didn't need to be. In her old town, people had bullied her son because his dad went to jail and they had assumed she knew about his schemes so I get why she left, but I think the majority of people would see her as the victim that she is and wouldn't be so hard on her if she told them the actual story.
Petey is supposed to be 5ish and he acts MUCH older. Just a pet peeve.
There are quite a few cheesy lines.
Even though neither of them wanted a relationship, they were at the I love you stage in a matter of weeks-- Too quick for me.

Overall this was a cute read and I'm grateful I got to read it. I liked the introduction of all the other characters and will continue in the series.

Annie Rains never disappoints; although I was sad to see the Sweetwater Springs series end , this new Somerset Lake series, which is a spin-off series is going to be just as great with endearing characters that we will fall in love with and look forward to hearing their story and having their own HEA. I anxiously look forward to the next book The Christmas Village coming out this fall.

I have been eagerly awaiting this story and I'm happy to say The Summer Cottage did not disappoint! It held all the elements I look for when I'm in the mood for that sweet, feel-good read.

I adored the small-town tight-knit community, the blossoming romance between Trisha and Jake, and just the overall charm that sprung from the pages. This was definitely a great start to the all-new Somerset Lake series, and I cannot wait to read what's next to come!


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*Complimentary copy for review provided by Forever Romance Publishing. All opinions expressed here are honest and entirely my own.

As much as I was saddened by the end of the Sweetwater Springs series, I’m just as excited to start my journey into the new Somerset Lake series. It’s extra special when there’s the added connection of characters that connect each series.
Trisha and Petey are so very sweet and easy to cheer for, especially considering the hard times they both suffered back in their home town. Somerset Lake seems to be the perfect place to start over with a clean slate. Jake, the handsome neighbor and son of Trisha’s boss, Vi, certainly doesn’t hurt in both the scenery and good guy departments. Even as Jake discovers the secret Trisha has been keeping, he continues to put those nice guy skills to work by showing them both what their new small town home has to offer, and helping Trisha with repairs to the cottages that she is property manager of. Of course, sparks fly, those secrets are discovered by others and misunderstandings take place.
But it’s all guided by the pen of Annie Rains, so it’ll all work out, with a heartfelt and sweetly written HEA. Her easy and straightforward descriptions help the reader picture a row of pastel colored cottages along the lakes edge, the loyal face of Jake’s dog Bailey, and the mischief in a seven-year-old’s eyes. Makes you want to take a Sunday morning drive to find that little town.
I just know that Somerset Lake will continue to feel more like home with every story written!

While boy meets girl while they work together to renovate Grandma's property before the family talks her into selling it is a familiar troupe, Annie Raines makes her characters come alive in a picturesque setting. Add in a cute kid, a conniving uncle and a circle of book (and wine) loving friends and you have a perfect beach (or back porch) read,

I'd like to thank the publisher or making a review copy available via NetGalley and look forward to reading more books in the series. I'm guessing Raines is going to marry off the book club members. Grade: B

The first in a new series, but also a spin-off from her Sweetwater Springs series, you won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t read the previous series, you should, but it isn’t needed to read this book. Starting over is never easy, but sometimes you have to in order to be happy.
Trisha and her young son, Petey, move to Somerset Lake so she can start a new job. She quickly falls in love with the location, the elderly people who live there, her boss Vi, and the job. Everything is going great until Jake shows up.
Jake is suffering a loss and goes back to Somerset Lake to check on his grandma and try to get her to sell the cottages and move to Florida where the rest of the family lives. He doesn’t expect to find Trisha. As they work together to rebuild the cottages, feelings for each other shift and he realizes that maybe he doesn’t want to sell after all.
Trisha has a secret and it is the reason she moved. She is afraid that when it comes out, her new life will crumble. Ms. Rains is a master at taking a story and making it so realistic that you forget it is fiction. Petey stole my heart and I found myself wanting to be a member of their family.
A wonderful story about second chances, forgiveness, acceptance and love. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

This is a sweet story about staring over and taking a second chance at love. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Trisha has been through so much and just wants to start a new life with her son where nobody knows what happened. What a wonderful summer read. My opinion is you don't want to miss this book. The setting was so vivid you felt like you were there. Sure hope there is more to come

I so enjoy books by Annie Rains. I love the small towns that her characters live in. I had met a couple of these folks in a previous series. It was good to be with them again and see how life was treating them. The characters in this book are wonderful, as is the story. I just wanted to keep hanging out with them. I think you will enjoy meeting the good folks of Somerset Lake. Settle in and enjoy Trisha, Petey, Jake and their wonderful friends. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

I adored the Sweetwater Springs series and it was definitely bittersweet to see it come to an end. However, the setup for the new Somerset Lake “spinoff” series was too perfect. I loved meeting the new MC for book one in Somerset Lake during REUNITED ON DRAGONFLY LANE.

Trisha, the ex-sister-in-law of Chase from REUNITED, decides to move her son to “nearby” Somerset Lake. She gets a job as a property manager that includes free rent of one of the cabins onsite. The cabins need a lot of work if they’re going to be rentable again, so she is off to the races while trying to make a new home for her family. She is constantly running from the mistakes of her ex, Peter – you learn in previous books that he was a financial advisor arrested for taking money from his clients. This is something she doesn’t stop thinking about and dwelling on as she goes through life, and it doesn’t help that she and Petey are not going to tell anyone about it in their new town.

Somerset Lake is a cute setting so far. Honestly, it doesn’t quite compare to Sweetwater Springs, but I know there will be more glimpses into the town through new characters we meet in this first installment. I can see at least three ladies who will likely be MCs for future stories in this series and I’m HERE for it. One of them even owns a bookstore! I love that Trisha joins their book club, where they talk about most things other than books, and hope that will be a similar group to the Helping Hands in the Sweetwater Springs series. I know, I keep comparing the two series, but it’s too easy to. Somerset Lake’s “Main Street” hasn’t been quite as developed yet but I expect to learn more about the bookstore, chocolate shop, and any other local business down there throughout the coming stories.

I can’t get this far in the review without mentioning our hero, Jake. He’s the grandson of the Somerset Cottages’ owner and is sent here to convince his grandma to sell. However, sparks quickly fly between Jake and Trisha, and he starts to wonder if that’s the best choice for everyone involved. He was a genuinely nice guy with a penchant for reading nonfiction how-to manuals about any random topic under the sun. I enjoyed their relationship development and was rooting for them the whole time.

As expected, this is a very sweet series so far, and I expect it will continue in the same fashion! I’ve come to expect easy-to-read, quick, cute, romances from Annie Rains (regardless of the book setting or series), and this one did not disappoint on that front. I’m super excited to see who the future main characters are within this companion series. I peeked at the synopsis for book two and am so excited to read a second-chance romance between the next two characters… with the bonus of a Christmas setting!

Trisha Langly and her son are beginning a new life in Somerset Lake after a devasting scandal her ex-husband. All she wants is a quiet life and a new beginning. She loves her new job as the manager of Somerset Cottages and all the quirky residents. What will happen when the family decides it is time to sell the property?

Jake Fletcher is in Somerset on behalf of his family to convince his grandmother it is time to sell the family’s cottages and retire to Florida. He does not expect to find a feisty young woman and her young son managing the property. While he is there, he offers to help fix up the cabins with the intention that it will increase the property value. What will happen when Jake realizes that maybe selling is not the best idea? How will his family react?

I absolutely adored this novel by Annie Rains. The characters were so well written, and I loved the banter between Trisha and Jake. The supporting characters that we got to meet just warmed my heart and I am already envisioning their stories in future books. The setting of a quiet lake in a small town is just the perfect place for a romance to blossom. Many thanks to Forever Publishing, Annie Rains and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy. All the opinions expressed in my review are entirely my own.