The Summer Cottage

By: Viola Shipman

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

“Every now and then a new voice in fiction arrives to completely charm, entertain and remind us what matters. Viola Shipman is that voice and The Summer Cottage is that absolutely irresistible and necessary novel.” (New York Times best-selling author Dorothea Benton Frank)

From the best-selling author of The Charm Bracelet and The Recipe Box comes the perfect summer escape about the restorative power of family tradition, small-town community, and the feel of sand between your toes.

Adie Lou Kruger’s ex never understood her affection for what her parents called their Cozy Cottage, the charming, ramshackle summer home - complete with its own set of rules for relaxing - that she’s inherited on Lake Michigan. But despite the fact she’s facing a broken marriage and empty nest and that middle age is looming in the distance, memories of happy childhoods on the beach give her reason for hope. She’s determined not to let her husband’s affair with a grad student reduce her to a cliché or to waste one more minute in a career she doesn’t love, so it becomes clear what Adie Lou must do: rebuild her life and restore her cottage shingle by shingle, on her terms.

But converting the beloved, weather-beaten structure into a bed-and-breakfast isn’t quite the efficient home-reno experience she’s seen on TV. Pushback from Saugatuck’s contentious preservation society, costly surprises, and demanding guests were not part of the plan. But as the cottage comes back to life, Adie Lou does, too, finding support in unexpected places and a new love story on the horizon.

One cottage rule at a time, Adie Lou reclaims her own strength, history, and joy by rediscovering the magic in every sunset and sandcastle.

©2019 Viola Shipman (P)2019 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Heartwarming.

So many heart felt moments.!! This is a comfort story, a good go to story when your life gets stressful

Nice story but predictable

I liked the setting and premise
It got to be too cliché and I started to feel preached at concerning empowering mottos and feminist notions. The cottage rules were sweet, but overdone.
Why oh why does every woman in a story either start a bakery or a bed and breakfast?

Great Book

Great Book! Highly recommend! I listened to the audible version and felt like I was present in the time. Nicely read and nicely written.

Awesome Book

I loved this book. It was uplifting and encouraging to women everywhere. The author done good. EJ

Follow your true self

A joyful triumphant over doubts, adversities , and fears. How one woman finds herself and follows her heart and dreams. A delight.

Leave your heart in Michigan

Good, heartwarming story. So true for us who summered on Lake MI. Great and easy listen

Brings back memories of my childhood.

My grandparents had a house on lake Michigan. I could relate so much to ask of this. My dad was in the military and we would go visit in the summer when we were stateside.

Great next

The tales of Viola and the sentiment of all of the matriarchal memories of this and The Charm Bracket and The Recipe Box, and the lovely memories of both ladies and gentlemen that define generational connections is both heart rendering as well as inspirational. Keep telling your stories with the voice you need to relay their truths. I’m sighing in a breath that knows your truths are without gender. Thank you.

Hear warning story

The story was interesting, but very long. Could have removed a chapter of two if some of the historical detail was removed. The voice sounded like Alexa talking, too robotic!

Wonderful story!

I love books books Vila Shipman! Her books never disappoint. Good clean story that focuses on family traditions.