The Hideaway

By: Lauren K. Denton

Narrated by: Devon O'Day

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the South, family is always more complicated than it seems.

After her last remaining family member dies, Sara Jenkins goes home to The Hideaway, her grandmother Mags’s ramshackle B&B in Sweet Bay. 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.

“A story both powerful and enchanting: a don’t-miss novel in the greatest southern traditions of storytelling.” (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times best selling author)

“Two endearing heroines and their poignant storylines of love lost and found make this the perfect book for an afternoon on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.” (Karen White, New York Times best-selling author)

USA TODAY and Amazon Charts best seller

Full-length Southern Women’s Fiction

Includes Discussion Questions for Book Clubs 

©2017 Lauren K. Denton (P)2018 Thomas Nelson

Critic Reviews

“Two endearing heroines and their poignant storylines of love lost and found make this the perfect book for an afternoon on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.” (Karen White, New York Times best-selling author)

Narration is difficult

I like the story okay but the narration is not so good. I cannot distinguish the characters as the narrator does not change her voice between characters. Her voice is not young enough for the character Sarah. Same voice for all characters so that when I stop and then go back later I have no idea which character is speaking.

The Hideaway

Loved the book but for audible listeners I wish narrator had used different voices for Mags and Sara. Even if just slightly.

Disappointing

This came recommended by a friend, and I was a bit disappointed. It was, in my opinion, simply okay. It was very predictable. I was entertained, but it was certainly not a page turner. It felt a bit like a Nicholas Sparks wannabe.

So Boring, I really tried!

Totally sweet and harmless book. Just so darn boring I couldn't make it to the last 5 hours.

Too slow and sweet for me!

This book was just too simple for me. The slow, sweet love stories of Mags and Her Granddaughter Sarah we too much. There was no guessing what would happen next...it was obvious as the writer led you around every corner before I got there! I have it three stars only because I live in New Orleans and have property in Alabama.

ugh. like a Hallmark movie.

Boring. Really shallow and predictable. The audio was just odd and not easy to listen to.

What a wonderful story

What a wonderful story of love lost and family found. Young Sara couldn’t see past her grandmother’s quirky ways. Just goes to show you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Not what I expected

I thought I was purchasing a Christian novel especially considering the publisher. adultery, fornication, acceptance of immorality as the norm is what was weaved through an otherwise lovely story. This was a story that had one foot in the world and a pinkie toe dipped in faith. Get Francine Rivers, Lori Wick, Karen Kingsbury, Frank Peretti. Having the worldly problems with no redemption will make me look more closely before purchasing based on the publisher. This is a buyer beware choice.

Disappointed 😔

I found this story sad and frustrating.... I seemed to be slugging my way through hoping for a “wake up” or just some moments of joy ... but no ... even the happy moments seemed sad. Not sure why others seemed so positive about it 🤔
One very frustrating point was how one persons decision affected so many others .... William didn’t have the right to decide what was best and he never kept his word .... a great example also of how eavesdropping and assumptions lead to wrong choices!!!

Beautiful Story

I could not stop listening and I fell in love with all the characters! Highly recommend