The Swing In The Summerhouse

The swing in the summer house sweeps four children and two adults into frightening and mystifying journeys that help them all towards their hearts' desires.

The swing in the summer house sweeps four children and two adults into frightening and mystifying journeys that help them all towards their hearts' desires.

Ione Muffett is alone in the summerhouse when she meets Ned Hump - a wacky student who is in love with her professor father's secretary, Caroline. In a zany and uninhibited twenty-four hours, Ione helps bring the two together, culminating in a wonderfully anarchic picnic. And as Ned then helps Ione with her plan to help famine victims by running a bring and buy sale, Ione's confidence in herself slowly begins to grow . . .

She made a life with one man--but always loved another at...The Summer House. Jean Stone captured readers' imaginations with the "graceful prose, vivid imagery and compassionately drawn characters" (Publishers Weekly) of novels like Tides of the Heart and Places by the Sea. Now, in her latest novel, she reveals the public scandals of a family destined for political greatness--and the private secrets of a woman who traded her childhood dreams for a role she was born to play.... As a young girl, Liz Adams always knew that her father, Boston power broker Will Adams, had big plans--dreams and schemes that would bring Liz's older brother all the way to the White House. But when fate deals the family a tragic blow, Will is forced to change his picture-perfect plans--and place the family's political future squarely on Liz's shoulders. Two decades later, Liz has married the man her father molded into the perfect presidential candidate. But weeks before the election, tragedy strikes again--and this time Liz can't hide the pain of a life lived by someone else's rules. Seeking refuge at her family's home on Martha's Vineyard, Liz finds only painful memories of the past--and the long-lost love she let slip away. Now, as her family's darkest hour looms, the woman torn between two men will finally discover what her heart has known all along....

It's never too late to start over. The Summer House weaves Lauren K. Denton’s inviting Southern charm around a woman’s journey to find herself in a small beach town—with a little help from the local retirement community. Lily Bishop wakes up one morning to find a good-bye note and divorce papers from her husband on the kitchen counter. Having just moved to Alabama for his job only weeks before, Lily is devastated. New to town and knowing no one, Lily finds herself in desperate need of a job and a new place to live. When Lily hears that a hair stylist is needed at small retirement community, she decides to apply. 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 cold exterior begins to thaw. Lily and Rose form an unlikely friendship, and Lily’s salon soon becomes the place where the colorful residents share town gossip and 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. The Summer House is a: Cozy novel full of charm and heart that’s perfect vacation reading Celebration of new beginnings, friendship, and family Sweet, clean romance set on the Gulf Coast “The perfect summer read! Situated on the Alabama Gulf Coast, you’ll feel the sun, taste the salt, and linger with new friends—you won’t want to leave. And with lyrical prose and rich characters, The Summer House is a beautifully poignant reminder that we are never too young to find a good place to stand nor too old to start over.”—Katherine Reay, bestselling author of The Printed Letter Bookshop and Dear Mr. Knightley

Looking for the perfect summer escape? Treat yourself to three gorgeous standalone novels from bestseller Jenny Hale, and feel the sun on your skin, breathe in the sea breeze and indulge in some heartwarming beach romance. The Summer House: Some summers will stay with you forever... Since Callie put her life savings into renovating a beach house on the dazzling white sand of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, she hasn’t looked back. And when she catches the attention of local heartthrob Luke, his blue eyes and easy smile promise to make this a summer an unforgettable one. But the discovery of a diary full of secrets threatens everything. Will they be pulled apart by the storm it unleashes? Summer by the Sea: There’s always one summer that changes you… For Faith the one summer she can’t forget is when she fell in love as a teenager – only for her sister to steal her man. Now, at the request of her beloved grandmother, Faith has agreed to a family holiday – at their childhood beach house, where it all began. But she isn’t prepared for seeing Jake again – or the long-forgotten feelings he ignites. Can Faith overcome the hurt of the past and make this a summer to remember? The Summer Hideaway: Summer has a secret in store… Alice has swapped city living for the beautiful beaches of the Outer Banks, launching an ice cream shop in the little house by the sea where she spent childhood holidays. Love is the last thing on her mind, until she meets Jack, who she can’t resist spending sunshine-filled days and long romantic evenings with. But when Alice discovers an old letter tucked away in the beach house, a secret threatens everything. Will her dreams be shattered and her heart broken? Fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Nancy Thayer and Susan Mallery will fall head over heels for The Jenny Hale Summer Collection. Readers absolutely love Jenny Hale: “Amazingly heartfelt and emotional. It’s not often that I come across a story that completely moves me to tears… Absolutely delightful.” Mixing Reality With Fiction, 5 stars “I fell in love with this book from the very first page… Simply beautiful and if you are a romance fan then this is one not to be missed. I loved it.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars “This novel is honestly the perfect summer beach read… Positive and uplifting… I’m obsessed.” Goodreads Reviewer “I am a HUGE fan of Jenny’s work and I love her summer books… *Swoon*… This book is the perfect beach read… Grab a copy and curl up with a nice cup of tea (or wine! Wine is good!) and just escape to the beauty.” Starcrossed Reviews “Oh how I love this book, and I cannot say enough good things about it… This is the perfect book for summer… It will leave you with a humongous smile on your heart!” Kristin’s Novel Café, 5 stars “Grab the tissues, curl up on your favourite chair, set aside a reading day and indulge… I absolutely adored this book.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A beautiful love story… I stayed up way too late to finish!… I could envision this beautiful beach town as if I was there… The end is pure perfection.’ Goodreads Reviewer

A delicious, malicious comedy of marriage, motherhood, and scandal.

"Flossy Merrill has managed to--somewhat begrudgingly--gather her three ungrateful grown children from their dysfunctional lives for a summer reunion at the family's Rhode Island beach house ... With her family finally congregated under one seaside roof, Flossy is determined to steer her family back on course even as she prepares to reveal the fate of the summer house that everyone has thus far taken for granted: she's selling it. The Merrill children are both shocked and outraged and each returns to memories of their childhoods at their once beloved summer house--the house where they have not only grown up, but from which they have grown away"--