I enjoyed one of his books so decided to try another one. I've read so many like this before, woman gets divorced, she's left her parents summer cottage and decides to renovate it instead of selling it and turns it into a bed and breakfast. ( )

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. ( )

I love these books. I listened to this one on audio before I went to sleep at night which was fine but I feel like I enjoy these books better when I read them. ( )

4.5 stars.

The Summer Cottage by Viola Shipman is a marvelous novel of self-discovery, healing and new beginnings.

Following her divorce, Adeleine "Adie Lou" Kruger unexpectedly decides to return to her family's beloved summer cottage in Saugatuck, MI. With big plans to renovate "Creaky Cottage" in order to turn it into a B&B, the contractor's exorbitant estimate gives her pause. However, Adie Lou knows she is making the right decision and despite the Historical Society's interference, construction is soon under way. With her nineteen year old son Evan's encouragement, Adie Lou is soon making surprising discoveries as they begin a social media campaign to garner interest in the upcoming opening. She also reconnects with old friend, Scott "Scooter" Stevens whose interest in her goes deeper than friendship. Is Adie Lou ready to open her heart the possibility of love? Dare she dream her new business endeavor will exceed her wildest expectations?

Adie Lou's marriage to Nate has been on the rocks for quite some time when they file for divorce. Upon reflection, she realizes that she gave up everything for her soon to be ex, including her identity. At first planning to sell Creaky Cottage, Adie Lou knows she cannot get rid of the place that means so much to her. She also plans to honor her heritage by incorporating the traditions she and Evan hold so dear. While the cottage is under renovation, so is Adie Lou. She is discovering hidden strengths that help her find the self-confidence she needs to succeed in both business and her personal lives.

The Summer Cottage is a heartfelt novel that is poignant yet uplifting. Adie Lou is an endearing character whose love of family and its traditions shines brightly throughout the story. The storyline is engaging with an underlying theme that empowers and celebrates women. The romantic element is very understated and takes a backseat to Adie Lou's metamorphosis as she sheds her unhappy past and fully embraces her future. Saugatuck serves as a perfect backdrop for this heartwarming story and Viola Shipman brings Creaky Cottage, the town and its inhabitants vibrantly to life. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this wonderfully charming novel. ( )

I won this novel and several others in a prize package -- I'm not sure who the sponsor was, as I enter many giveaways, usually without much luck -- but all the books were published by Graydon House, an imprint of Harlequin Books. No obligation to provide reviews with this win, but just wanted to put this out there for disclosure's sake. It's worth noting that the Graydon House books are nicely produced in trade paperback size, with french flaps and deckled edges (if you like those -- I don't), to boot.

This one, The Summer Cottage by Viola Shipman, is by far the best thus far of the ones I've read in this prize pack (at the time I write this, I have read 3 out of 8).

What was special about it? It's a funny and touching story. I loved the banter between the characters. I liked that the main character, Adie Lou, wasn't some young twenty-something. Rather, she is a divorced mother (of a college kid) who decides to convert her Lake Michigan family cottage into a bed and breakfast inn (and, yes, she finds love again). Of course, there's setbacks along the way.

Another thing -- this may be my subjective feelings, but this novel also brought back good memories of the times my family and I spent some vacations "Up North" in Michigan -- and some were at B&Bs -- when we used to live in Michigan.

Definitely plan to read more by this author (incidentally, Viola Shipman happens to be the pen name for Wade Rouse). ( )