Summer at Hideaway Key by Barbara Davis

by Barbara Davis

From the author of The Wishing Tide comes a stunning new novel about two summers, one journal, and the secrets that can break and open our hearts.... Pragmatic, independent Lily St. Claire has never been a beachgoer. But when her late father leaves her a small house on Hideaway Key—one neither her mother nor she knew he owned—she’s determined to visit the sleepy spit of land along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Expecting a quaint cottage, Lily instead finds a bungalow with peeling shutters and mountains of memorabilia. She also catches a glimpse of the architect who lives down the beach…. But it’s the carton of old journals in the front room that she finds most intriguing. The journals were written by her mother’s sister, an infamous beauty whose name has long been banned from the St. Claire home. The journals tell a family tale Lily has never heard, of her mother and her aunt as young girls in Tennessee and the secrets that followed them into adulthood. As she reads, Lily gains a new about her family and about herself. And she begins to open her heart—to this place, these people, and the man next door. But can she ever truly learn to trust, to believe that love is not a trap but a harbor? And is it true that hearts, even broken ones, can be forged anew?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Summer Reads, Chick Lit, Summer, Historical Fiction, Womens Fiction

Paperback

First published August 4, 2015

About the author

Author of The Secrets She Carried, The Wishing Tide, Summer at Hideaway Key, Love, Alice. (Penguin/Berkley) When Never Comes (Lake Union) The Last of the Moon Girls (Lake Union) The Keeper of Happy Endings (Lake Union) The Echo of Old Books (Lake Union) Every Precious and Fragile Thing (Lake Union)

Reviews

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inherited beach cottage with memories of its own, a beach cottage filled with journals about the life of an unknown aunt, a job as a fashion designer in Milan, and decisions, decisions, decisions.

Lily St. Claire had no idea that her father had left her a beach cottage that once belonged to her estranged aunt or why he left it to her especially with all the secrets between her mother and her mother's sister. Lily needed to see the cottage for herself and was curious enough to head to Florida to Sand Pearl Cottage to find out what it was all about.

What Lily found was definitely not what she expected. Lily found boxes everywhere that held her aunt's possessions as well as the story about her life that no one was aware of and one that her mother would never talk about.

Lily needed to decide if she wanted to stay to uncover all she could find about her aunt or just leave the cottage and head to Milan for her dream job.

SUMMER AT HIDEAWAY KEY had a storyline that any women's fiction fan will not want to put down.

We meet a number of interesting characters, find secrets that had never been revealed, get a glimpse into her aunt's life, see the decisions Lily must make in her personal life, and see how Lily desperately tries to get her mother to shed some light on why her mother and her aunt never talked for over 30 years.

SUMMER AT HIDEAWAY KEY is another marvelous book by Ms. Davis. The characters, the setting, the atmosphere, and the storyline will keep you turning the pages and still want more. It was a glorious read up until the very last word.

Ms. Davis has a way of pulling you in and not letting go. There is always something lurking that you "must" know along with a touch of romance.

The journals made for an absolutely wonderful read....terrific book.

I always enjoy journals. When you read about journals in a book, do you ever ask yourself why you didn't do something like that or if you did leave journals what folks would think after they read them?

5/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher and without compensation in return for an honest review.

[Barbara White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge Barbara Davis fan. I honestly believe she's the queen on the dual time line. Her third novel, SUMMER AT HIDEAWAY KEY, sucked me in from page one and never let go. If you loved Adele's voice is Barbara's fantastic debut, THE SECRETS SHE CARRIED, you will love Lily-Mae's voice. She was my favorite character. There were many parts of the novel when I was genuinely fearful for her. Some of her journal entries were hard to read, not just the ones set on the poor farm in the 1950s. I cried, I gasped, and in the the end I smiled. This is a beautifully told story of family secrets, sibling rivalry, self-sacrifice, and self-discovery, and it comes with a gloriously quirky supporting cast on Hideaway Key. This book should be in every beach bag this summer!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect beach read! I fell in love with Sand Pearl Cottage and the all of the characters in Hideaway Key. Every time I picked up this book I felt magically transported to this beautiful, peaceful place.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your typical beach read, that said I loved this story. At times it is dark and depressing but overall a beautiful story. Be prepared to cry and not get much done or sleep, as you will want to stay up and read. After Lily’s father dies and leaves her an old beach house in Florida she decides to go see it. Finding journals in the house gives her a peek into her family history she had no clue about. Her parents' lives and history were real eye openers. Lily learns a lot about herself and what she wants out of life as she contemplates all she has learned from the journals and her experiences.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a lover of Women’s Fiction for the pure ‘realness’ of the story. I love the feeling I get when I read about a character and feel connected to her, like she is just as real as I, knowing that the struggles she is going through are struggles that so many other women face, and finally seeing the personal growth the she goes through. Barbara Davis’ Summer at Hideaway Key has all of these characteristics and MORE.



Summer at Hideaway Key centers around Lily and her deceased Aunt, Lily-Mae. Lily never met her aunt, as Lily-Mae’s name was basically a curse word to her mother, Caroline. Lily never understood the animosity that was obviously between Caroline and her sister, and neither Caroline nor Lily’s father ever spoke of it. Lily-Mae remained a mystery in Lily’s life. However, all of that changed when Lily’s father died and left Lily-Mae’s Florida bungalow to her in his will. Caroline is furious and insists that Lily dispose of it immediately, but something tells Lily that this may be the one and only chance she gets answers regarding her family history. Why else would her father leave it to her?



I love how Summer at Hideaway Key is told from the view of Lily and Lily-Mae. Lily-Mae is definitely my favorite character. Her story is up front and center and Lily-Mae finds a voice through her journals which Lily stumbles upon. In these journals Lily learns of horribly unspeakable things that happened to Lily-Mae, as well as her mother. Lily-Mae had a horribly sad life, with just bits of happiness mixed in. However, no matter what the consequences, Lily-Mae always put the needs and happiness of others in front of her own. As more of Lily-Mae and Caroline’s past comes to light, the more questions that Lily finds herself asking. There is definitely a good deal of mystery in Davis’ novel, as well as many twists and turns. I was shocked to find out how Summer at Hideaway Key concluded.



Summer at Hideaway Key, by Barbara Davis, is a wonderfully touching novel, with romance and mystery mixed in. It was a novel that truly resonated with me and I believe it will with you as well. Enjoy!

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/su...

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Una

I loved this story and it is one of the best I have read this summer. Filled with intrigue, blackmail, love, and a surprise ending it keeps the reader turning pages from page one. I know for a fact I couldn’t put it down. When Lily inherits a rundown bungalow when her father dies her mother tries desperately to keep her from going there. The bungalow belonged to her aunt who she never met and whose name had been banned in the family. Lily on arriving finds the house in disrepair however soon discovers journals that her aunt had written. These journals tell the story of her mother and aunt from a young age. As she reads the journals questions are answered and she begins to see what had caused the strife between the two sisters. What Lily doesn’t expect is why she is attracted to this small sleepy town and the architect next door. She after all has always reached high and has a bright future ahead of her. Can she trust that maybe there was a reason why her father left her this bungalow on the ocean? Can she stay put in one place when her normal pattern has been to run and, can she commit to a partner who also has commitment issues? When her mother delivers the final journals a surprise comes out shattering all that Lily knows. Although I somewhat suspected the result I did not anticipate the “why it happened.”

Barbara Davis has given us a truly exciting and readable book with enough romance to please even the most discerning reader. A definite must read and I would highly recommend it to all my fellow readers.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer at Hideaway Key is one of the most luscious, emotional, captivating books I've ever read. I was hooked from the first page, and the story never lets up. when Roland St. Clair dies, he leaves his daughter Lily a cottage on Hideaway Key. The cottage had belonged to her mother's sister, Lily-Mae. Lily knows very little about her aunt, whose name was never allowed to be spoken in their home. Lily goes to Florida to see the home she's inherited, hoping to learn something about her mysterious aunt. Lily discovers many mementos that Lily Mae left behind, but even more importantly, Lily discovers her aunt's journals, uncovering her mysterious past. Along the way we meet other interesting people, such as Dean, the architect next door, and Sheila, who owns a boutique in town. All of the characters in this book are so well-written, and even though we only know Lily-Mae through her journals, her voice is loud and clear. The author does a wonderful job describing the setting of the story, so that you can imagine you are right on the beach with Lily or in the cottage piled high with boxes. The most exciting thing about this book to me was how emotionally connected I was to everyone in the book, especially Lily and Lily-Mae. This book completely pulled at my heart strings. This is such a good story, that you can easily lose yourself in it, not wanting to put it down. Be sure to savor every word and every feeling.

[Christina (Confessions of a Book Addict) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily St. Claire finds herself as the owner of a cottage on Hideaway Key located on Florida's Gulf Coast thanks to the fact that her father left her the house in his will. She didn't even know that he owned the home though! When Lily visits the cottage, she finds out that it is filled with a lot of old items, specifically old journals written by her mother's sister. This is especially intriguing as her mother won't speak of her sister to this day, so Lily has many questions surrounding this. As Lily starts reading the journals, she learns a lot of information about her mother and her sister's childhood and what they went through. To top things off, she meets a new neighbor that catches her eye. Barbara Davis's Summer at Hideaway Key is a charming beach read that fans of historical fiction with dual narratives will enjoy this.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!

I just love a beach house story. Secrets and family, love and friendship, endings, beginnings so much to keep this page turner going. Love it!

[Normandie Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Davis has done it again. She told me I’d love Lily-Mae. What she didn’t tell me was that I’d become so emotionally entangled with this wonderful character that I’d want to climb into the story and shake some sense into her, then turn around and pull Lily-Mae into my arms to soothe her. I wanted to promise that it would all work out. Surely, it would all work out.

Thank you, Barbara, that it did. Not perhaps as I would have preferred, but the deeds had been done already and couldn’t be undone. And isn’t that the gift of great storytelling? That the author can draw the reader so deeply into the narrative that she totally suspends disbelief? I was there. I was rooting and crying and laughing right beside Lily and Lily-Mae, beside Dean and Roland. (And I wanted to throttle Caroline, who became the perfect example of choices gone bad.)

Barbara dealt with some hard topics here—abuse, jealousy, lies, and betrayal. She made us think about the meaning of love, the gift of forgiveness, and the choices we make to follow love or to follow anger, to risk our heart or to run and hide from the possibility of pain.

Oh, and let’s not forget the setting. Barbara may have shown the horrors of a poor farm, but she also gave us Hideaway Key, the Gulf coast, and a gorgeous white beach. She tossed in pink drinks and pink flip flops, a tightly knit community, and the comfort of friends. I wanted to sift through Lily-Mae’s jar of shells, to sit on the deck and count blessings as I watched the sunset with my beloved, waiting every night for the green flash and rooting for happy endings all around.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my third Barbara Davis book. I think it might be my last. They are dark. They are always about abandoned people. They end reasonably happy but the journey is too long and unhappy. I have also discovered a couple of recurring themes. Anytime a policeman is involved in the story they are invariably incompetent and harsh, even to the victims

The other recurring theme seems to be her disdain for any type of organized religion. In two of her her books the worst antagonists were con men posing as preachers. Both men had raped young girls, forced abortions on them then basically forced them into sex trade. They had stolen from the church and resorted to blackmailing their victims. All while they were actively preaching in churches. WOW I've been going to church all of my life and haven't encountered any ministers that bad.

Now I'm not saying that doesn't happen, but it just kind of turned me off after a second time. There are bad men in all professions in life-our congressmen, lawyers, businessmen. Just irked me that she picked a preacher both times. Wonder why? And lets not forget the incompetent, uncaring, harsh police.

[Carol Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you read a book and never want to put it down. This was one of those books, it hooked me in from the very first page and didn't let go. It was an emotional journey with all of these characters, Lily-Mae who loved Roland, but had no choice but to leave him when a horrific past caught up with her. Lily took care of her sister Caroline, but sibling rivalry thwarted their relationship. Lily inherited Sand Pearl Cottage when her Father died, and when she went to clear it out she found old journals that held secrets that affected the past and her future. Lily wanted to solve the mystery of her Aunt Lily-Mae, whose life was so sad. I cried, and smiled and was totally absorbed with Barbara Davis's beautiful descriptions of the sea, the ambience and the furnishings and wardrobes that were left in Sand Pearl Cottage. This is a poignant book, with characters and history and romance that you won't want to end.

[Amanda P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can honestly say that I was incredibly lucky to receive an advance copy of this book before its publication through a giveaway. I had never read any of Barbara Davis' books before, but after reading Summer at Hideaway Key, I'll definitely be reading more of them! It pulled me in from the very first page. Although I thought some parts dragged on a bit, I still couldn't wait to read it and follow both Lily and Lily-Mae's journeys. I thought the character of Lily and the curiosity with her family could be very relatable. This book is the perfect vacation book, and I'd recommend it for anyone who would be interested in a bit of romance and mystery combined!

[Greg Leaping · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a free copy of this book on Goodreads Giveaways.

What an amazingly beautiful book! I loved the character of Lily May, of her sacrifices, her losses, and her love. Then there is the main character Lily St. Claire whom I grew to love. She seemed a bit detached at first. Then there are the romances transcending a generation. This was a great book and I hated for it to end. I'll definitely be reading more of this Authors books. I rated this book 5 stars out of 5.

[Kmt1944 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some extremely evil characters who wielded more power than believable and their victim, who sadly did not have enough trust in the one person who loved her, causing herself a lifetime of pain. Kept my interest as narrated by a mother and the daughter who never knew her, with her own set of commitment issues. Some bright spots because of great descriptions of Florida and local townspeople who became involved with the daughter. 3.5 stars.

[Camille Maio · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! I expected a breezy summer read from the beautiful cover, but it concealed the depth and emotion of story that this book was. I was immediately drawn in by the premise, the writing, and the knotty heartache that grew as I began to see the tragedies ahead. But not all is lost - there is plenty of joy and redemption to end on a more than satisfactory note. This will be one that I recommend frequently.

[Haley Parrish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not nearly as impressed with this as I hoped I would be. There’s so many good reviews here but this book bored me to tears instead of making me cry at how sentimental it was. I read every word until the 60% mark, then I skimmed through the rest just so I could get it over with and start something new. 390 pages too long for this story.

[Tom Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by this story and its characters.
Felt like I was on the beach and like I knew these people.
First time a book has made me cry.

[Katie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Page turner... then after one special page you will say Wow our loud. Maybe even WTF.

Sweet story. Worth the read.

[Linda Lpp]

Didn't finish. Lost the flow and lost interest. Perhaps try again.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was a bit of a cliche. A young woman is unexpectedly given a cottage in Hideaway Key upon the death of her father. Her mother is dead set against it but Lily is looking for answers. Even with the cliches I liked the characters in the book except perhaps for Caroline. There is a love story between Roland, Lily's father, and her aunt, Lily-Mae. There is a lot of grief in Lily-Mae's life but she is a strong woman and tries to do the best for everyone. Then there is the romance between Lily and her neighbor next door, Dean. It wasn't a hot and heavy kind of romance but a story of them growing closer. There was the friendship she found with Sheila. I thought the ending wrapped up too neatly and too fast but this was a perfect summer read.

[Jodi Vicario · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was easy to read although there are some awful events. It took me away which I needed!

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very different story line. Great book

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer at Hideaway Key The summer at Hideaway Key starts out with two little girls being dropped off at a poor house, Mt.Zion, by their mother. The girls are terrified, but they believe that their mother will come back for them once she can support them again. This is a time, 1953 when times are tough for a single mother to make it on her own let alone with two little girls. The poorhouse is run by a couple, a not very nice woman by the name of Sister Ruby and her husband preacher Brother Zell. The girls are set to work at different tasks in the kitchen and laundry. Lily had been told by her mother to look out for Caroline, which she tries to do. Brother Zell notices Lily of course and wants her to help him in his office. Well, of course, there is an ulterior motive to his wants. Before Lily knows it she has been molested by Brother Zell. By this time, she knows that her mother is never coming back for her and Caroline and is determined that she is going to take her sister and leave. She has not figured out how to do this yet but when Brother Zell sets his sights on Caroline she knows that it is time to leave. She tells her sister to pack and that their mother will meet them. Lily steals some money and Brother Zell's truck and they run off. Lily St.Claire is a young woman who is a clothing designer and will be accepting a dream job at a top fashion house in Milan. She has recently come from Paris, after the death of her father, Roland, and at the reading of the will, she is totally surprised that her father has left her a property in Hideaway Key, Florida. Her mother Caroline is not only equally surprised but actually quite upset about it. Lily doesn't want to be tied down to a property but can't figure out why her mother is so upset. Lily has never gotten along with Caroline as Caroline is a cold demanding woman who really has shown any love to Lily. All the love and affection Lily received from her father.Cottage at Hideaway Key was a property that had been owned by Roland, passed on to him on the death of Caroline's sister and Lily's aunt,  Lily-Mae whom Lily never knew existed. Apparently Caroline and her sister had a falling out and haven't spoken in years. So inheriting the cottage is very mysterious to Lily. Upon arriving at the cottage, she finds it in disrepair and loaded with boxes. She is to report to her new job in Milan within a month so she reluctantly starts making some sort of order to what she needs to do with the cottage and its contents. She comes across some journals and is instantly swept away in the life of her aunt. While she is in Hideaway Key she meets some people and actually comes to like it there. Told in alternating voices, Lily's and her aunt Lily-Mae's, the reader learns more about each of these women and the people they meet along the way. Women with love and relationship issues, definitely flawed. Will finding out more about her aunt finally give her the reason why her mother is so cold and distant? Can she find peace with herself? Summer at Hideaway Key had me turning the pages in anticipation that each of the Lily's lives would be happy ones. Doesn't always happen that way, though. This is definitely one of those stories that stays with you long after you have put the book aside, a book to share with your bestie. 5 stars for sure. 

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beach read is set at a cottage on Hideaway Key. Journals reveal secrets of unthinkable actions. It’s full of betrayal and lost loves. At times it was difficult to read, but overall a good book.

[Sharon Huether · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this Free book through Goodreads-First reads. Thanks Goodreads for choosing me. A young woman(Lily St.Clair) inherited a summer cottage in Florida from her father. It had belonged to her Aunt Lily. She was very curious. She went for a visit, just for a few weeks, so she thought. Her aunt had written in journals. It was the only way she could find out about her mother and her aunt's past; since her mother would say nothing. There were bad feelings between her mother and aunt. Lily found all the answers in these journals. Jealously between the younger sister toward the older one, was the cause of a lifetime of heart ache. Lily found out more things, which turned her world upside down. This is the BEST book I've read so far this year.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by this author and am totally addicted to her writing. I hope she writes fast because I understand she has only three books on the market!

This is the story of a family full of secrets, tragedy and lies. The main character, Lily, is a strong willed, independent character that is too stubborn at times to communicate with others. As the story unfolds, you realize that she is not the only character with these traits. I became frustrated at times with the characters while reading this book, but also enjoyed the story immensely. It was a book that made me reflect on what I would have done if I were put in the same situation.
A great read!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed the other Barbara Davis books I’ve read, but not this one. I found the characters annoying and their actions unbelievable. The only one that made sense to me was Sheila and she was a bit player. I like to make sure that I read to the end of a chapter before pausing. With this book I kept counting how many more pages were in each chapter. Not a good sign.

[Deborah Maksut · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook and didn't care for the narrator. The story was a bit more predictable than I anticipated. I think I had such high expectations after reading The Keeper of Happy Endings which was outstanding. (I did not listen to that one.). It was a light summer read and I probably would have enjoyed it more if I had read rather than listened to it.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved an advance copy of this for my honest opinion. I loved everything about this book. Loved learning about Lily and her namesake. There are so many twist and turns that it was hard not to put this book down. It is the perfect beach book it makes you want flee to the beach.