The Summer House

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DENTON, LAUREN K.
THE SUMMER HOUSE

The Summer House weaves Lauren K. Denton's inviting Southern charm around a woman's journey to find herself.

Sometimes it takes losing everything to find yourself again.

Lily Bishop wakes up one morning to find a good-bye note and divorce papers from her husband on the kitchen counter. Having moved to Alabama for his job only weeks before, Lily is devastated, but a flyer at the grocery store for a hair stylist position in a local retirement community provides a refuge while she contemplates her next steps.

Rose Carrigan built the small retirement village of Safe Harbor years ago -- just before her husband ran off with his assistant. Now she runs a tight ship, making sure the residents follow her strict rules. Rose keeps everyone at arm's length, including her own family. But when Lily shows up asking for a job and a place to live, Rose's cool exterior begins to thaw.

Lily and Rose form an unlikely friendship, and Lily's salon soon becomes the place where residents share town gossip, as well as a few secrets. Lily soon finds herself drawn to Rose's nephew, Rawlins -- a single dad and shrimper who's had some practice at starting over -- and one of the residents may be carrying a torch for Rose as well.

Neither Lily nor Rose is where she expected to be, but the summer makes them both wonder if there's more to life and love than what they've experienced so far.

My Review:

Lauren K. Denton delivers another intergenerational story infused with heart and hope and the kind of characters you want for your best friends. She has this charming Southern style that welcomes a reader in. It's gently paced - which doesn't mean it's not compelling -- more like the words wrap around your heart and mind, urging you to take your time and really explore the characters and setting. As much as I wanted to discover what would happen next, I was content to sit in each moment and savor the storytelling genius.

Two women, decades apart in age, are stalling over the same life trauma. Rose has been letting her past fester to the point it has scarred her present. Lily hovers on the cusp of doing the exact same thing until gruff, never-get-involved Rose uncharacteristically reaches out. A beautiful study on the complexities of relationships and the burdens we persist on carrying unnecessarily.

Two budding romances add a frisson of toe-curls and lighten the heavier aspects of this novel as do a bevy of delightful (and a few not-so delightful) secondary characters. Love the goings on in the Safe Harbor community. They provide some giggle-worthy moments as well as some moving, heart-felt ones.

I enjoyed listening to the audible version narrated by Devon O'Day. She's a familiar voice in my audible arsenal which made me feel all the more at home inside this story.

Please note: I would not categorize this novel as Christian Fiction even though the publisher is Thomas Nelson. It is beautifully written and definitely a clean read and while forgiveness plays a role in both Rose and Lily's lives, it doesn't obviously come from a place of faith and the story lacks a definitive inspirational thread.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Summer House, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 15 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Glory Road

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DENTON, LAUREN K.
GLORY ROAD

Written in Lauren Denton's signature Southern style, Glory Road tells the story of three generations of women navigating the uncertain pathways of their hearts during a summer that promises to bring change -- whether they're ready for it or not.

At thirty-eight, garden shop owner Jessie McBride thinks her chances for romance are years behind her and, after her failed marriage, she's fine with that. She lives contentedly with her unexpected arrival of two men on Glory Road make her question if she's really happy with the status quo. Handsome, wealthy Sumner Tate asks her to arrange flowers for his daughter's wedding, and Jessie finds herself drawn to his continued attention. And Ben Bradley, her lingering what-could-have-been from high school days who's known her better than anyone and whom she hasn't seen in years, moves back to the red dirt road. Jessie's mother, Gus, increasingly finds herself forgetful and faces a potentially frightening future.

Meanwhile, Jessie's fourteen-year-old daughter, Evan, is approaching the start of high school and trying to navigate a new world of identity and emotions -- particularly as they relate to the cute new guy who's moved in just down the road. At the same time, Jessie's mother, Gus, increasingly finds herself  forgetful and faces a potentially frightening future.

As all three women navigate the uncertain paths of their hearts and futures, one summer promises to change -- whether they're ready for it or not.

My Review:

I have to say I've developed an unexpected fondness for Southern style fiction and Glory Road tickled my fancy in so many ways.

First off, the unhurried approach to the storytelling made me feel like I'd wandered up onto the McBride's front porch in the middle of a gab session and was invited to sit a spell. Nothing is rushed...these Southern ladies know the power of a pregnant pause and how to measure their words for the most emphasis. And the way they can turn a phrase! "Lanky as a coat hanger!" It's like they have their own secret language, painting bold images that stir a reader's senses to the point she can visualize every scene.

And I loved the multi-generational perspectives in this novel. We get three stories, really, as we live out a summer of change in the lives of the McBride women. Three points of view, each with its own distinct flavour. Gus on the cusp of a frightening diagnosis, Jessie on the verge of discovering that love can find her the second time round and Evan so eager to leave childhood behind but not quite ready for the complications womanhood brings. Their stories are pertinent and memorable, and the way they draw strength and comfort from one another is inspiring. Relationships aren't perfect, families can be dysfunctional but home is still a place of safety and love.

I listened to the audible version and Devon O'Day's narration really enhanced my reading...er, listening...enjoyment. She captured the essence of each of the McBride women and I could hear the pleasure in her voice -- like she was just as delighted with these ladies as I was.

Please note: I have not categorized this novel as Christian Fiction even though the publisher is Thomas Nelson. It is beautifully written and definitely a clean read, but the lack of an inspirational thread was disappointing.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Glory Road, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 17 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Hurricane Season

GIVEAWAY

DENTON, LAUREN K.
HURRICANE SEASON

Betsy and Ty Franklin, owners of Franklin Dairy Farm in southern Alabama, have long since buried their dream for children of their own. While Ty manages their herd of dairy cows, Betsy busies herself with the farm's day-to-day operations and tries to forget her dream of motherhood. But when her free-spirited sister, Jenna, drops off her two young daughters for "just two week," Betsy's carefully constructed wall of self-protection begins to crumble.

As the two weeks stretch deeper into the Alabama summer, Betsy and Ty learn to navigate the new additions in their world -- and revel in the laughter that now fills their home. Meanwhile, record temperatures promise to usher in the most active hurricane season in decades.

Attending an art retreat four hundred miles away, Jenna is fighting her own battles. She finally has time and energy to focus on her photography, a lifelong ambition. But she wonders how her rediscovered passion can fit in with the life she's made back home as a single mom.

When Hurricane Ingrid aims a steady eye at the Alabama coast, Jenna must make a decidion that will change her family's future, eve as Betsy and Ty try to protect their beloved farm and their hearts. Hurricane Season is the story of one family's unconventional journey to healing -- and the relationships that must be mended along the way.

My Review:

An emotionally-charged, character-driven glimpse into the complicated dynamics of sisterly love. Denton's voice is rich and sweet and carefully measured. Her words flow so beautifully that it's easy to become immersed in the story with all your senses. I think I might have even come away from this read sporting a southern drawl! If this is what Southern Fiction is like, I want more of it!

This is family at it's best...and worst...as past collides with present and futures hang in the balance. Sisters at odds but also fiercely protective of one another. Free-spirited Jenna is the wild child. Betsy is the reliable older sister. Their roles have been defined since childhood, shaped by dysfunction.

Now Jenna is an unplanned single mom while married Betsy's happily-ever-after has been redefined under the looming shadow of infertility. It's a formula for the perfect storm. Emotions are raw, dreams conflicted as these two sisters struggle to find their place in their new realities.

Tender and touching and funny -- Jenna's girls are a riot! -- and ultimately triumphant.

Please note: I have not categorized Hurricane Season as a Christian Fiction selection even though the publisher is Thomas Nelson. Really disappointing, but sadly predictable since more and more of this publisher's fiction has strayed from being faith-based. It is a beautifully written, moving story and a clean read. Just no inspirational thread.


GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Hurricane Season, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the the titel to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 24 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

The Hideaway

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DENTON, LAUREN K.
THE HIDEAWAY

When her grandmother's  will wrenches Sara back home, she knows more about Margaret Van Buren in the wake of her death than she ever knew in life.

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

My Review:

This debut novel has created quite a buzz and is currently #19 on Amazon's most sold list not to mention having nearly 500 reviews. The vast majority are 4 and 5 star but this book isn't without controversy so there are a number of low ratings (1 and 2 star) as well. So, what's all the fuss about?

Well, in a nutshell, this is Christian fiction pushing the limits so this book might not be for everyone. In fact, I wasn't sure about it myself and started reading with some trepidation. It wasn't long before Denton's charming Southern style captivated me. I didn't know there was such a thing as Southern Fiction, but apparently there is and The Hideaway is a prime example of all that is good in that genre.

This story is about family -- the one we are born into and the one we choose to belong to. It's real and raw -- unapologetically celebrating the lives and loves of a diverse cast of flawed characters. And, just as in real life, the author doesn't shy away from controversial subject matter. I appreciate her honesty and compassion and the fact that she moved me to dig beneath the surface about some hard-hitting issues. Sometimes it was uncomfortable -- especially Mags's story line -- but I feel like I have stretched and grown from it.

Some reviewers will say there isn't an inspirational thread. That The Hideaway is a mainstream book that just happens to have a Christian publisher. And I'll admit to agreeing with them at first. Then, somewhere around the half way mark I realized the inspiration was there, woven in an understated way throughout. It's especially evident in Mags's story. In some ways she hasn't lived an exemplary life but in her own eccentric way she has indeed been the hands and feet of Christ to so many.

There are two short church scenes -- subtle but significant. They reveal Mags's relationship with God and it really humbled me. This will sound crazy -- but I was suddenly overcome with such love and compassion for this complicated woman despite some of her past actions. I guess I stopped judging so I could actually see her as the daughter of God she is. Yes, I know she's just a character in a novel, but if I can't extend grace to fictional folk how can I ever hope to extend it to the real people in my life?

The dual timeline plot was a real draw for me. Sara, in present day, returns to The Hideaway to deal with the aftermath of her grandmother's death. In the process she learns a lot about herself and about the quirky grandmother who used to be an embarrassment when she was a teen. The reader is treated to flashbacks of Mags's life from her early twenties until her death. Past and present are exquisitely woven together into a rich tapestry of life and love, loss and hope.

I love that the B&B is called The Hideaway -- because that's what it became for Mags. It was her hiding place for a time and then it became her standing ground.  The same can be said for Sara as well. It's details like this that make The Hideaway such an exquisite read and give avid readers so much to talk about. Definitely an excellent choice for a book club read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Hideaway, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on September 24 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!