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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

Finally, thank you to my readers. I would not be able to write the types of books that I do—ones inspired by my grandmothers’ and family’s heirlooms, lives, love and lessons, books about difficult things that happen to good people—without your support. Over the past two years, I’ve done nearly one hundred events across the United States. I’ve visited bookstores, libraries, book clubs, women’s groups and churches. I’ve spoken to a handful of readers and to auditoriums filled with hundreds of people. As an author, I spend much of my time alone (usually drinking coffee in an old, but very soft, robe), my characters my company. When I write, I don’t think of the outcome: how the book will do, what readers will think, the places I will visit. I’m in another world, joyously lost for months. And when I’m done, and I set out on the road, I still don’t know what you will think of my new work.

I’ve been beyond thrilled that my novels have resonated so deeply with you. Moreover, I’ve been happy and humbled that so many of you have not only turned out to greet me at events but also that you’ve brought pieces of your lives and hearts—your own family heirlooms—to share with me. I’ve been overwhelmed by the many, many readers who have worn charm bracelets and jangled them while I read. I’ve been touched by the family Bibles, quilts, photo albums, dishes and vases that readers have taken time to bring to events. And, oh, the family recipes and recipe cards you’ve shared! I can’t wait to see photos of your summer cottages and hear your heartfelt stories of your own family, naps on screened porches and reading books in favorite hammocks, BBQs and ice cream, card games at the table, s’mores at the firepit, sand on the floor and wet swimming suits tossed over the railing. Above all this, however, is the fact that you’ve shared your family histories, your dreams, hopes, sacrifices and souls. We’ve laughed together and cried together, and there is no greater joy for an author than when readers share as much of themselves as we do with them. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

AUTHOR NOTE

Dear Reader,

I’m so happy and humbled that you’ve chosen to read my new novel, The Summer Cottage.

My grandparents—especially my grandmothers—were all tremendous influences in my life, and I use my maternal grandmother’s name as a pen name as a way to honor the women whose heirlooms, lives, love and lessons inspire my fiction. My grandparents’ journeys and sacrifices helped make me the person I am today, which is why I like to say that I didn’t choose a pen name, a pen name chose me.