Seaside Renovation

by Meredith Summers

Everyone said the old house was too far gone. Lucky for it, Jen Marsh knows the feeling. So does the eighty-one-year-old next door.

Newly divorced and ready for a change, Jen takes a drive up the Maine coast and lands in Lobster Bay, the little town where she spent her happiest childhood summers. And there on the bluff sits the Captain Perkins house, the grand old Victorian she adored as a girl... one town vote away from a bulldozer.

So Jen does the craziest thing she’s ever done. She buys it.

Sure, the porch sags. Fine, there’s a crack in the foundation. And yes, the head of the historical society would rather see the place flattened than approve so much as a paint color. But Jen’s got a plainspoken handywoman in overalls, a handsome, stubborn craftsman who’s convinced she’s up to something (and is proving very hard not to notice), and her new favorite neighbor Pearl, sharp as a tack, written off by everybody, and having the time of her life proving that she remembers everything about that old house.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2026

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Meredith Summers, aka Leighann Dobbs, writes stories with strong women and a sense of community. I enjoyed the way the community rallied to assist Jen Marsh to meet her goals set by the President of the town council.

Jen also finds many new friends and a place among the community.
Can Not WAIT for the next installment.

I was given an advanced readers copy and these are my own opinions.

[Deborah K DeLaVina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Renovation

An absolute treasure of a story. A stranger and an old house providing a glimpse of the past that the future embraces. A town of characters that has been forgotten and abandoned by the past. The history of a Captain and the woman he loved enough that he built her a house and a woman from out of town who saves it. The author is brilliant in the way they bring out the characters personalities and their stories.

[Debi Paglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this series from book #1 and write on my calendar when the next book is to come out. This book is the very best so far. Jen is such an endearing character. She’s starting a new life and with every chapter I was rooting her on. And such a satisfying ending! Start with book #1 - Saving Sandcastles. You need to get to know these women.

[christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seaside Renovation

This was a great read. I loved how everyone just shows up and tells it like it is, not rude that's how small towns locals are. I love a great group of people are strangers, and half way through they're friends, by the end of the book their family. What a fantastic read you can't put down. Enjoy

[Sally A. Asero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer Transition

This book does something indescribable to your heart ~ not quickly just slowly like summer. The storyline in this book made me want to take on new projects, get organized and move ahead. Thank you for the inspiration.

[Vickie L. Knuth · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED This Book!

Read it as soon as it was available. Ready for book 12!!! Her books are funny and very interesting to read!

[Lynn Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great story!

Meredith Summers makes Lobster Bay and its people come alive to where I wish I could spend a summer exploring!

[Jill Clark mcnenly · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I love Meredith Summers books. Such likable characters. Love how the whole town comes to stand behind Jen and eventually help her.

[Sheila Bisdee · Rating 5 out of 5]

the way home

Excellent! Love the emotion on every page. It’s a love story of another kind
You never know what you can do till you do it

[Denise Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

good beach read.

This is an easy read about a broken old home with a sweet history and people who have lived there for generations.