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Back The Summer Cottage Save as PDF
Chapters (75)
  1. Cover
  2. Back Cover Text
  3. Praise
  4. Booklist
  5. About the Author
  6. Dedication
  7. Quote
  8. Prologue
  9. Part One
  10. ONE
  11. TWO
  12. THREE
  13. Part Two
  14. FOUR
  15. FIVE
  16. SIX
  17. Part Three
  18. SEVEN
  19. EIGHT
  20. NINE
  21. TEN
  22. Part Four
  23. ELEVEN
  24. TWELVE
  25. THIRTEEN
  26. Part Five
  27. FOURTEEN
  28. FIFTEEN
  29. SIXTEEN
  30. SEVENTEEN
  31. Part Six
  32. EIGHTEEN
  33. NINETEEN
  34. TWENTY
  35. TWENTY-ONE
  36. Part Seven
  37. TWENTY-TWO
  38. TWENTY-THREE
  39. TWENTY-FOUR
  40. TWENTY-FIVE
  41. Part Eight
  42. TWENTY-SIX
  43. TWENTY-SEVEN
  44. TWENTY-EIGHT
  45. TWENTY-NINE
  46. Part Nine
  47. THIRTY
  48. THIRTY-ONE
  49. THIRTY-TWO
  50. THIRTY-THREE
  51. THIRTY-FOUR
  52. Part Ten
  53. THIRTY-FIVE
  54. THIRTY-SIX
  55. THIRTY-SEVEN
  56. THIRTY-EIGHT
  57. Part Eleven
  58. THIRTY-NINE
  59. FORTY
  60. FORTY-ONE
  61. Part Twelve
  62. FORTY-TWO
  63. FORTY-THREE
  64. FORTY-FOUR
  65. Part Thirteen
  66. FORTY-FIVE
  67. FORTY-SIX
  68. FORTY-SEVEN
  69. EPILOGUE
  70. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  71. AUTHOR NOTE
  72. Reader’s Guide
  73. Questions for Discussion
  74. The Heirloom Garden
  75. Abby

“They do, Dad,” I whisper, as Scooter heads the boat into the lake, the summer wind tossing my hair and my dress around. “They do.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I have been blessed that my life has been filled with incredible optimists. As an author and person, I am usually the realist, the occasional pessimist, always the debater. And yet I know my shortcomings, which is why I’ve surrounded myself with those whose eyes are wide, hearts are open and souls always hopeful. Even my grandparents, whose lives were hard, believed that every day was filled with great beauty and opportunity. All of this—despite the many difficulties, challenges and tragedies in my own life—has made me an optimist, as well. And that’s really what my new novel, The Summer Cottage, is all about: being hopeful despite all odds.

To my two greatest optimists, Gary Edwards and Wendy Sherman: thank you for not only believing in my dreams but also showing me that dreams, indeed, can come true, that life is an ongoing grand adventure and that tomorrow will be even better.

Susan Swinwood, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the great opportunity to work with you and your entire team at Graydon House Books and for believing in me and my work with such incredible faith and enthusiasm. I’m honored and excited for all that lies ahead.

Jenny Meyer, there is no greater honor than seeing my works translated around the world and no greater joy than receiving notes from readers in a dozen different languages. Your work demonstrates the universal power of literature and—in these turbulent, divisive times—the power a book still has to unite people, no matter the state or country, the politics, ideology or miles that separate us, and reminds us of what’s still most important in life: family, friends, love and kindness.

Carol Fitzgerald and your entire team at The Book Report Network, you are not only great at what you do but believers in what I do (and wonderful therapists).