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The Edge of Summer
Bestselling author Viola Shipman delights with this captivating summertime escape set along the sparkling shores of Lake Michigan, where a woman searches for clues to her secretive mother's past
Devastated by the sudden death of her mother—a quiet, loving and intensely private Southern seamstress called Miss Mabel, who overflowed with pearls of Ozarks wisdom but never spoke of her own family—Sutton Douglas makes the impulsive decision to pack up and head north to the Michigan resort town where she believes she’ll find answers to the lifelong questions she’s had about not only her mother’s past but also her own place in the world.
Recalling Miss Mabel’s sewing notions that were her childhood toys, Sutton buys a collection of buttons at an estate sale from Bonnie Lyons, the imposing matriarch of the lakeside community. Propelled by a handful of trinkets left behind by her mother and glimpses into the history of the magical lakeshore town, Sutton becomes tantalized by the possibility that Bonnie is the grandmother she never knew. But is she? As Sutton cautiously befriends Bonnie and is taken into her confidence, she begins to uncover the secrets about her family that Miss Mabel so carefully hid, and about the role that Sutton herself unwittingly played in it all.
Devastated by the sudden death of her mother—a quiet, loving and intensely private Southern seamstress called Miss Mabel, who overflowed with pearls of Ozarks wisdom but never spoke of her own family—Sutton Douglas makes the impulsive decision to pack up and head north to the Michigan resort town where she believes she’ll find answers to the lifelong questions she’s had about not only her mother’s past but also her own place in the world.
Recalling Miss Mabel’s sewing notions that were her childhood toys, Sutton buys a collection of buttons at an estate sale from Bonnie Lyons, the imposing matriarch of the lakeside community. Propelled by a handful of trinkets left behind by her mother and glimpses into the history of the magical lakeshore town, Sutton becomes tantalized by the possibility that Bonnie is the grandmother she never knew. But is she? As Sutton cautiously befriends Bonnie and is taken into her confidence, she begins to uncover the secrets about her family that Miss Mabel so carefully hid, and about the role that Sutton herself unwittingly played in it all.
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2022
631 people are currently reading
10628 people want to read
About the author
Viola Shipman
21 books3,484 followersDear Reader:
My latest novel, The Page Turner, is a story about why we too often judge one another – and the books we read – by a glance at the collective cover without knowing what is inside. It is also a story about how reading and books not only change us but also save our lives. They did mine.
Growing up “different” in rural America in the 1970s – with no one like me and no one to talk to about what I was going through – I felt alone in this world. Books allowed me to escape, understand, heal, hope and realize there was a place for me in the world just as I was. My grandma – my pen name, Viola Shipman – sensed I was “different,” and she loved me unconditionally and made sure I cherished my uniqueness. Even though my grandma never finished high school, she was a voracious reader who pushed books into my hands from the earliest of ages and made it clear that reading and education would not only change my life but quite possibly save it.
Books allowed me to see a vast world beyond the small town in which I lived. They allowed me to not only escape from the cruelty I often experienced but also understand the reasons behind the hatred. They allowed me to see – as my grandma instilled in me – that being unique was a gift. Books aren’t just books. Books are family. Authors are friends. The stories we read are timestamps in our memories. They bookmark important chapters in our lives and growth. Books are a chance to right the wrong in the world, an opportunity to rewrite ourselves. We can reimagine and reinvent, see the world in an entirely new way simply by turning a page. Or, sometimes, we can just escape from our own lives.
As Carl Sagan wrote: “What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."
That’s exactly how I feel when I read and write: Magical. Like a literary unicorn.
Authors tend to write about the same topics – love, death, hope, loss – and we use the same words, the same linguistic tool belt, but it’s how we bring those stories to life that sets us apart.
That is why The Page Turner is also about voice. Not only the voice Emma Page uses to bring her novel to life, but the voice she owns that makes her special and that she is unwilling to silence. We all have a voice. In fact, I bet yours is talking to you in your head right now. However, there’s a good chance that you’ve forgotten the power of your own voice, the beauty of your own uniqueness. As I address in this book, we tend to bury that out of fear: Fear of being different, as I was; fear of being unpopular; fear that our family or friends will disapprove; fear of, well, everything. And slowly that voice becomes so quiet, so distant, we don’t even hear it anymore, and we are no longer the unique souls we once were. We are far from being the people we once dreamed. This novel is about overcoming fear and rediscovering your voice. As I write: Every voice is important. Every story needs to be heard.
I was once consumed by fear. And then I found my voice again. In fact, when I first started writing and dreaming of being an author, I truly believed that there was a golden key that was passed around New York City. It was handed out — late at night, in a fancy restaurant under gilded lights and over expensive drinks — to “certain” authors. And I would never be one of them. I now know — and you certainly already do — that such a key does not exist. The only key you need you already own: The one that unlocks the door to o
My latest novel, The Page Turner, is a story about why we too often judge one another – and the books we read – by a glance at the collective cover without knowing what is inside. It is also a story about how reading and books not only change us but also save our lives. They did mine.
Growing up “different” in rural America in the 1970s – with no one like me and no one to talk to about what I was going through – I felt alone in this world. Books allowed me to escape, understand, heal, hope and realize there was a place for me in the world just as I was. My grandma – my pen name, Viola Shipman – sensed I was “different,” and she loved me unconditionally and made sure I cherished my uniqueness. Even though my grandma never finished high school, she was a voracious reader who pushed books into my hands from the earliest of ages and made it clear that reading and education would not only change my life but quite possibly save it.
Books allowed me to see a vast world beyond the small town in which I lived. They allowed me to not only escape from the cruelty I often experienced but also understand the reasons behind the hatred. They allowed me to see – as my grandma instilled in me – that being unique was a gift. Books aren’t just books. Books are family. Authors are friends. The stories we read are timestamps in our memories. They bookmark important chapters in our lives and growth. Books are a chance to right the wrong in the world, an opportunity to rewrite ourselves. We can reimagine and reinvent, see the world in an entirely new way simply by turning a page. Or, sometimes, we can just escape from our own lives.
As Carl Sagan wrote: “What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."
That’s exactly how I feel when I read and write: Magical. Like a literary unicorn.
Authors tend to write about the same topics – love, death, hope, loss – and we use the same words, the same linguistic tool belt, but it’s how we bring those stories to life that sets us apart.
That is why The Page Turner is also about voice. Not only the voice Emma Page uses to bring her novel to life, but the voice she owns that makes her special and that she is unwilling to silence. We all have a voice. In fact, I bet yours is talking to you in your head right now. However, there’s a good chance that you’ve forgotten the power of your own voice, the beauty of your own uniqueness. As I address in this book, we tend to bury that out of fear: Fear of being different, as I was; fear of being unpopular; fear that our family or friends will disapprove; fear of, well, everything. And slowly that voice becomes so quiet, so distant, we don’t even hear it anymore, and we are no longer the unique souls we once were. We are far from being the people we once dreamed. This novel is about overcoming fear and rediscovering your voice. As I write: Every voice is important. Every story needs to be heard.
I was once consumed by fear. And then I found my voice again. In fact, when I first started writing and dreaming of being an author, I truly believed that there was a golden key that was passed around New York City. It was handed out — late at night, in a fancy restaurant under gilded lights and over expensive drinks — to “certain” authors. And I would never be one of them. I now know — and you certainly already do — that such a key does not exist. The only key you need you already own: The one that unlocks the door to o
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 730 reviews
September 17, 2022
I look forward to each and every book by Wade Rouse/Viola Shipman, and The Edge of Summer is the newest also set near Lake Michigan.
Sutton’s mother passes away suddenly. Miss Mabel was such a loving mother. She had her share of secrets, including her own family tree, but she ardently loved Sutton.
Sutton decides to head north to the town she thinks must hold all the answers about her mother’s past. While there, she finds an assortment of buttons at an estate sale held by Bonnie Lyons. In turn, for good reason, she begins to believe Bonnie may be tied to her mother, and she slowly becomes more and more friendly with her.
I loved Sutton. I loved Miss Mabel. I loved the role buttons played in the story. It made me miss my late paternal grandmother who always had beautiful spare buttons in her sewing kit, whose most beloved gift to me was a quilt she spent hours hand sewing. My mom has the same sewing kit, almost identical to my grandmother’s and the nostalgia is everything; Viola Shipman delivered that same nostalgia for me.
As ever, this story overfloweth with goodness and heart. Thank you Wade Rouse/Viola Shipman. You are a gift to all.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Sutton’s mother passes away suddenly. Miss Mabel was such a loving mother. She had her share of secrets, including her own family tree, but she ardently loved Sutton.
Sutton decides to head north to the town she thinks must hold all the answers about her mother’s past. While there, she finds an assortment of buttons at an estate sale held by Bonnie Lyons. In turn, for good reason, she begins to believe Bonnie may be tied to her mother, and she slowly becomes more and more friendly with her.
I loved Sutton. I loved Miss Mabel. I loved the role buttons played in the story. It made me miss my late paternal grandmother who always had beautiful spare buttons in her sewing kit, whose most beloved gift to me was a quilt she spent hours hand sewing. My mom has the same sewing kit, almost identical to my grandmother’s and the nostalgia is everything; Viola Shipman delivered that same nostalgia for me.
As ever, this story overfloweth with goodness and heart. Thank you Wade Rouse/Viola Shipman. You are a gift to all.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
August 4, 2022
5 BIG BEAUTIFUL BUTTON FILLED STARS!🪡
5 reasons you should read this book.
1️⃣ Viola Shipman is a brilliant storyteller.
2️⃣ this is a beautiful yet heartbreaking story about the love of a mother, and a daughter beginning to understand.
3️⃣ Sutton is a likable relatable character. Her growth throughout the story was wonderful to see.
4️⃣ buttons! You will never learn so much about buttons and you will never have realized that you wanted to know all there is to know. I will honestly never look at a button the same way again.
5️⃣ The setting of Lake Michigan scream summer and the romance is slow and sweet.
2 reasons you should listen to this book.
🎧 Nancy Peterson did an amazing job bringing Viola Shipman‘s storytelling to life.
🎧 Nancy also set the perfect tone and pacing for this beautiful story.
It never fails to amaze me that Viola Shipman is a pen name for a male author. He really has such a firm grasp on the female psyche. I also really appreciated how the subject of Covid and the pandemic was handled and addressed in this book. I completely empathize with Sutton as she tries to navigate her “new normal“. The role that buttons played in the story was so unique, well done and interesting. This book seriously made me want to start sewing, something that has never happened before. Tug The love interest in the story is fabulous, you’ve got to love a man that loves baseball and fabric. Another beautiful story from this exceptional author set against the backdrop of Lake Michigan. A definite can’t miss summer read.
*** Big thank you to Grayden House & Harper Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
5 reasons you should read this book.
1️⃣ Viola Shipman is a brilliant storyteller.
2️⃣ this is a beautiful yet heartbreaking story about the love of a mother, and a daughter beginning to understand.
3️⃣ Sutton is a likable relatable character. Her growth throughout the story was wonderful to see.
4️⃣ buttons! You will never learn so much about buttons and you will never have realized that you wanted to know all there is to know. I will honestly never look at a button the same way again.
5️⃣ The setting of Lake Michigan scream summer and the romance is slow and sweet.
2 reasons you should listen to this book.
🎧 Nancy Peterson did an amazing job bringing Viola Shipman‘s storytelling to life.
🎧 Nancy also set the perfect tone and pacing for this beautiful story.
It never fails to amaze me that Viola Shipman is a pen name for a male author. He really has such a firm grasp on the female psyche. I also really appreciated how the subject of Covid and the pandemic was handled and addressed in this book. I completely empathize with Sutton as she tries to navigate her “new normal“. The role that buttons played in the story was so unique, well done and interesting. This book seriously made me want to start sewing, something that has never happened before. Tug The love interest in the story is fabulous, you’ve got to love a man that loves baseball and fabric. Another beautiful story from this exceptional author set against the backdrop of Lake Michigan. A definite can’t miss summer read.
*** Big thank you to Grayden House & Harper Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
July 17, 2022
The Edge of Summer by Viola Shipman is a women’s fiction novel full of emotion and self discovery. This novel may be a tough read for some as it brings the pandemic into the story giving it a very realistic feel that many may empathize with.
Sutton Douglas grew up being raised by her single mother with not much information given to her about their past or any other family. Sutton’s mother had moved them to the Missouri Ozarks where everyone knew her as Miss Mabel who made magic with her sewing machine supporting Sutton as well as she could.
Now Sutton finds herself relearning to live life after the pandemic rampaged her life and those around her. Sutton decides to look into the secrets of her past and head to the lakeside community of Douglas, Michigan. This is where Sutton meets Bonnie Lyons who Sutton feels deep down just may be the grandmother she never knew.
I have read a few novels written by Viola Shipman, the pen name of author Wade Rouse, and each and every time I find myself transported right into the story. Tissues will probably be needed with The Edge of Summer as it is a complete emotional roller coaster but even more so for those that have their own recent losses with the pandemic. The story here becomes so much more though as it grows along with the characters growth too all within a lovely setting. I’ll definitely be interested in reading more from this author in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Sutton Douglas grew up being raised by her single mother with not much information given to her about their past or any other family. Sutton’s mother had moved them to the Missouri Ozarks where everyone knew her as Miss Mabel who made magic with her sewing machine supporting Sutton as well as she could.
Now Sutton finds herself relearning to live life after the pandemic rampaged her life and those around her. Sutton decides to look into the secrets of her past and head to the lakeside community of Douglas, Michigan. This is where Sutton meets Bonnie Lyons who Sutton feels deep down just may be the grandmother she never knew.
I have read a few novels written by Viola Shipman, the pen name of author Wade Rouse, and each and every time I find myself transported right into the story. Tissues will probably be needed with The Edge of Summer as it is a complete emotional roller coaster but even more so for those that have their own recent losses with the pandemic. The story here becomes so much more though as it grows along with the characters growth too all within a lovely setting. I’ll definitely be interested in reading more from this author in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 11, 2022
I have read a few wonderful stories by Viola Shipman but he broke my heart over and over again and he owes me a box of tissues. Viola Shipman is also known as Wade Rouse. THE EDGE OF SUMMER had me tearing up and trying to breathe past the huge lump in my throat over and over again. Every time Sutton asked her mom about her family, her mom would shut down the conversation. I just had to know what she was hiding. Learning about Sutton’s life is so moving and will make you fall in love with her as you are reading.
THE EDGE OF SUMMER brings Sutton Douglas to Douglas, Michigan searching for the family of her recently departed mom who passed from covid. Sutton grew up in the Ozarks and lived in a very isolated cabin. It was always just her and her mom. When she arrives in Michigan she learns so much about her mother and her family that she never knew before. I really loved learning about Miss Mabel, but I felt heartache like I never have before. Buttons play a huge part of THE EDGE OF SUMMER. My mom always had a tin of buttons by her sewing machine when I was a kid.
THE EDGE OF SUMMER is a beautiful but heartbreaking story. I became so emotionally invested in all of the characters and felt like they were lifelong friends. When they were sad, I felt sad. When they were happy I found myself smiling. I love when an author can do that to me and Viola Shipman did it perfectly. THE EDGE OF SUMMER is filled with love, life, hope, sadness, happiness, and learning to carry on when our loved ones pass on. Be prepared not to do anything else until you finish reading this beautiful story. Once I started I had a hard time putting it down, especially when Viola began to introduce all of the family Sutton never knew she had. She believed her mother when she told her they all died in a fire.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Graydon House through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
THE EDGE OF SUMMER brings Sutton Douglas to Douglas, Michigan searching for the family of her recently departed mom who passed from covid. Sutton grew up in the Ozarks and lived in a very isolated cabin. It was always just her and her mom. When she arrives in Michigan she learns so much about her mother and her family that she never knew before. I really loved learning about Miss Mabel, but I felt heartache like I never have before. Buttons play a huge part of THE EDGE OF SUMMER. My mom always had a tin of buttons by her sewing machine when I was a kid.
THE EDGE OF SUMMER is a beautiful but heartbreaking story. I became so emotionally invested in all of the characters and felt like they were lifelong friends. When they were sad, I felt sad. When they were happy I found myself smiling. I love when an author can do that to me and Viola Shipman did it perfectly. THE EDGE OF SUMMER is filled with love, life, hope, sadness, happiness, and learning to carry on when our loved ones pass on. Be prepared not to do anything else until you finish reading this beautiful story. Once I started I had a hard time putting it down, especially when Viola began to introduce all of the family Sutton never knew she had. She believed her mother when she told her they all died in a fire.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Graydon House through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 31, 2022
Sutton Douglas finds out her life has been a lie. Her mother told her that her entire family died in a house fire, and they were the only survivors.
When her mother passes, Sutton finds a box of buttons that has a inscription that says: Grandma's Button Box, Dandy Button Co., Michigan.
Could this be the clue to finding the family that her mother told her she never had?
We follow Sutton from her childhood in the Ozark Mountains to her adult life in Chicago and then back to Michigan to try to find her family that might be connected to the tin of buttons she buys at a flea market.
THE EDGE OF SUMMER is sad, but so sweet and heartwarming.
I didn't want to put it down or want it to end. You will need tissues, but will enjoy every minute of your reading.
And the detailed descriptions of the Michigan landscape, the small resort towns and villages, the buildings, the celebrations, and Sutton’s cottage will have you wanting to get in your car and head there.
Not only is the story marvelous, but each chapter had a sewing term with its definition as a lead-in to the chapter.
Loved the button trivia and learning how Michigan was the Button Capital.
This is Wade’s BEST yet. Don’t miss it. 5/5
This book was given to me by the author for an honest review.
When her mother passes, Sutton finds a box of buttons that has a inscription that says: Grandma's Button Box, Dandy Button Co., Michigan.
Could this be the clue to finding the family that her mother told her she never had?
We follow Sutton from her childhood in the Ozark Mountains to her adult life in Chicago and then back to Michigan to try to find her family that might be connected to the tin of buttons she buys at a flea market.
THE EDGE OF SUMMER is sad, but so sweet and heartwarming.
I didn't want to put it down or want it to end. You will need tissues, but will enjoy every minute of your reading.
And the detailed descriptions of the Michigan landscape, the small resort towns and villages, the buildings, the celebrations, and Sutton’s cottage will have you wanting to get in your car and head there.
Not only is the story marvelous, but each chapter had a sewing term with its definition as a lead-in to the chapter.
Loved the button trivia and learning how Michigan was the Button Capital.
This is Wade’s BEST yet. Don’t miss it. 5/5
This book was given to me by the author for an honest review.
July 14, 2022
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE EDGE OF SUMMER by Viola Shipman is an emotional Women’s fiction/cozy romance which tells the tale of a daughter’s search for family which she was told did not exist until she discovers the truth when her secretive mother dies.
Sutton Douglas grew up poor in the Missouri Ozarks with only her mother who everyone called Miss Mabel. Miss Mabel was a seamstress for minimum wage at the overall factory, but an artist with her Singer sewing machine and buttons at night. Sutton would sit for hours dividing and playing with her button collection. Sutton’s mother was incredibly private, and she raised Sutton to be self-sufficient and work hard for what she wanted.
Sutton grows-up to become a designer for a Chicago department store chain, but when Covid hits, she loses not only her mother, but her job. She decides to take the few clues her mother left her and move for the summer to the tourist lakeside community of Douglas, Michigan she believes her mother is from originally. Sutton begins to cautiously befriend the people of the small community. With the help of Tug, who is personally interested in her, she begins to uncover secrets that may not lead to the answers she wants but may lead to what she needs.
When I pick up a Viola Shipman book, I always make sure tissues are close by, not just for sad, but also happy tears. Sutton’s story gave me both. There are many generational secrets in this story which affect Sutton and her journey, first with her mother and then in Douglas. The start of her relationship with Tug was sweet and it was nice to have her happy with that aspect of her life, to counterbalance with all the bad going on in her relationship with Bonnie. My one complaint with the story was that while Sutton came to Douglas to search for her mother’s past, beside talking to a few people, I never felt like she was seriously searching. All the discoveries seemed to happen accidently. Besides that, I was emotionally pulled into the mystery of Sutton’s story. Once again, Michigan itself is beautifully described and plays a major part in the story.
I recommend this latest in a long line of beautifully written Women’s fiction from Viola Shipman!
RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (Rounded up)
THE EDGE OF SUMMER by Viola Shipman is an emotional Women’s fiction/cozy romance which tells the tale of a daughter’s search for family which she was told did not exist until she discovers the truth when her secretive mother dies.
Sutton Douglas grew up poor in the Missouri Ozarks with only her mother who everyone called Miss Mabel. Miss Mabel was a seamstress for minimum wage at the overall factory, but an artist with her Singer sewing machine and buttons at night. Sutton would sit for hours dividing and playing with her button collection. Sutton’s mother was incredibly private, and she raised Sutton to be self-sufficient and work hard for what she wanted.
Sutton grows-up to become a designer for a Chicago department store chain, but when Covid hits, she loses not only her mother, but her job. She decides to take the few clues her mother left her and move for the summer to the tourist lakeside community of Douglas, Michigan she believes her mother is from originally. Sutton begins to cautiously befriend the people of the small community. With the help of Tug, who is personally interested in her, she begins to uncover secrets that may not lead to the answers she wants but may lead to what she needs.
When I pick up a Viola Shipman book, I always make sure tissues are close by, not just for sad, but also happy tears. Sutton’s story gave me both. There are many generational secrets in this story which affect Sutton and her journey, first with her mother and then in Douglas. The start of her relationship with Tug was sweet and it was nice to have her happy with that aspect of her life, to counterbalance with all the bad going on in her relationship with Bonnie. My one complaint with the story was that while Sutton came to Douglas to search for her mother’s past, beside talking to a few people, I never felt like she was seriously searching. All the discoveries seemed to happen accidently. Besides that, I was emotionally pulled into the mystery of Sutton’s story. Once again, Michigan itself is beautifully described and plays a major part in the story.
I recommend this latest in a long line of beautifully written Women’s fiction from Viola Shipman!
RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (Rounded up)
June 14, 2022
Intensely moving and emotionally deep. This needs 10 stars! This writer can write!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to admit that this book had some really tough parts to read. Especially if you have suffered a loss of a parent or special person in your life. If you were impacted by Covid illnesses or deaths, it can be a difficult read.
But beyond that, the story is an amazing journey into uncovering a secret. Shipman really touched my soul many times throughout this book. I simply could not stop reading.
This book is a blend of women’s fiction with a lovely romance building. It’s a story of a fierce mom and daughter who persevered through tough times.
It’s the story of deep insight and learning who you are and what matters to you overall.
I have to say this is one of the best stories I’ve read this year and it truly impacted me in so many ways. Just thinking about it right now brings tears to my eyes.
The story is truly something special and its storyteller is brilliant. I know there will be more Shipman stories in my life!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-edge-of-...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to admit that this book had some really tough parts to read. Especially if you have suffered a loss of a parent or special person in your life. If you were impacted by Covid illnesses or deaths, it can be a difficult read.
But beyond that, the story is an amazing journey into uncovering a secret. Shipman really touched my soul many times throughout this book. I simply could not stop reading.
This book is a blend of women’s fiction with a lovely romance building. It’s a story of a fierce mom and daughter who persevered through tough times.
It’s the story of deep insight and learning who you are and what matters to you overall.
I have to say this is one of the best stories I’ve read this year and it truly impacted me in so many ways. Just thinking about it right now brings tears to my eyes.
The story is truly something special and its storyteller is brilliant. I know there will be more Shipman stories in my life!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-edge-of-...
July 28, 2022
This book started interesting but it went down the drain quickly.
Too many descriptions! Too slow! Too long. Too many repetitions.
Too much thinking and no action. I quickly connected all the dots, characters and resolved the mystery.
This book had potential but it wasn’t executed so well.
I am sorry, but this one was kind of boring for me.
Too many descriptions! Too slow! Too long. Too many repetitions.
Too much thinking and no action. I quickly connected all the dots, characters and resolved the mystery.
This book had potential but it wasn’t executed so well.
I am sorry, but this one was kind of boring for me.
June 12, 2023
EXQUISITE!
Shipman's best yet. Prime for the small or big screen.
Master storyteller and my favorite bestselling author Viola Shipman beautifully renders an utterly captivating, and profoundly personal tale inspired by memories of the author's childhood and his grandmother's treasured buttons and button jars.
THE EDGE OF SUMMER is everything you want in a summer beach read from nostalgia, family heirlooms and connections, past dark secrets, new adventures in an idyllic lakeside town, suspense, mystery, and a little romance.
No one captures matters of the heart better than Viola Shipman!
Alternating from the remote Ozark, a small cabin where Sutton Douglas grew up with her hardworking but secretive mother, Miss Mabel —to the pristine Lake Michigan resort town where she is led by clues to discover the secrets of her past.
Sutton Douglas grew up in the Ozarks in a small cabin tucked amongst the bluffs outside Nevermore, Missouri, with a single mother, Miss Mabel. They did not have much, but they loved one another.
Her mother lived in solitude and sacrificed her whole life to improve her life and make it better. Miss Mabel was hardworking and very secretive. She was a skilled seamstress, and everyone loved her. She loved her Singer sewing machine, Ol'Betsy, God, her fabrics, and her buttons. She also taught Sutton the craft.
Miss Mabel was a good woman, strong, and unyielding. Society did not always treat her fairly, hidden in a factory all day, plus sewing for wealthy women and helping take care of their children to make ends meet.
Sutton has always been curious about her past, her father, and her mother's past life. She led her to believe there was a fire, and nothing was saved but Sutton and her teddy bear, Dandy.
The pandemic hits, and her mother dies of COVID. She was not able to be with her as she planned, nor was she able to fulfill her mother's wishes for a proper burial and funeral. (this rings all so true). Her mom leaves her with her buttons, her Singer, her sewing notions, and a letter.
Devastated, Sutton is grief-stricken and at loss, desiring to know more about where she came from and her mother. Before she can move forward she must learn about her past. Sutton is a top designer and fashion director for all women's apparel at Lindy's, one of the nation's oldest department stores. She made 1940s fashion trendy at Sutton's Buttons.
When going through her mom's things, she finds a clue that leads her to Lake Michigan. Her mom also leaves her a letter upon her death, informing her she was trying to protect her and the fire story was made up. Confused and shocked, Sutton decides to take some time off, sublet her condo and rent a cottage in the charming little lakeside community.
What does Dandy Button Company have to do with her mom? Michigan was the button capital. Sutton begins her search.
When arriving in the beautiful small historic town she finds quaint shops, restaurants, inns, and of course a fabric store. There she meets the owner, a former baseball player which is a great help to guide her and turns out to be a true friend with a lot in common.
She soon learns her cottage in Douglas, Michigan is behind a mansion where a woman named Bonnie Lyons lives. She appears to be the wealthy matriarch of the town and her husband had passed recently. They were owners of the button company.
Soon Bonnie befriends Sutton and wants her to design her clothes. The woman is quite controlling and manipulative. Does she have a hidden agenda?
Sutton also meets her maid. Both these women are quite mysterious, and Sutton does not feel comfortable around her. They are hiding something. She feels there is something more. She has had enough of secrets and begins her sleuthing.
In doing so, she second-guesses her own life, her career, and what is important to her. She must solve her mother's past and at the same time her own identity. She begins to uncover the secrets about her family that Miss Mabel so carefully hid and about the role that Sutton herself unwittingly played in it all.
Now, that she is getting close to the truth, will it be something that she can live with. Was her mother right all along by keeping quiet?
I LOVED THIS BOOK and read it over the weekend! Unputdownable and the suspense will keep you glued to the pages to the final satisfying conclusion.
Yes, it touched my heart and soul in so many ways. My own mother and grandmothers were skilled seamstresses and I was around sewing most of my life. I even learned the skill, but not as highly skilled as my mom (who did this as a career and more). I later became an interior designer so fabrics and design were always a part of my life. My mom would have loved this book (she was also an avid reader).
I adored the opening of each chapter with sewing notions and sprinklings! Brought back so many fond memories.
What I enjoy about Viola Shipman's books (so many things) but his vivid, lush descriptions and settings are like no other. I can travel anywhere from the comfort of my home when reading one of (his/her) books. I want to get on a plane and visit now! This setting is divine.
Check out Writer in Residence "World-renowned author Viola Shipman, pen name for Wade Rouse, calls Saugatuck/Douglas home in the summer months. Discover why the magic of this lakeshore community draws him back each year and even inspired the setting of his latest novel, The Edge of Summer."
An ideal book club pick, thought-provoking, and a tribute and love letter to the town of Saugatuck/Douglas and also to our mothers, grandmothers, elders, and the love of sewing. It also explores the sacrifices our parents and grandparents make for us. Often times as youth we do not appreciate them. Then as adults, they are dead and gone before we realize this and never thanked them. Time is precious. Appreciate them why you have a chance and ask them about their life.
I have read all of Viola Shipman's books and loved each one, but this is my personal FAVORITE!
Poignant, heartwarming, emotional, and awe-inspiring! Thank you for writing this book. You have a rare gift and so happy you pursued your dreams. You were born to write this story and your grandmother would be so proud!
I am currently reading/listening to Wade's memoir Magic Season: A Son's Story narrated by the author, which I am devouring. The book sheds a lot about his life and the importance of family and especially his grandmothers and the impact on his life.
A Top Book of 2022! In fact, this is my 127th book (2022 thus far --it is July 11) and this one will be in my Top 5 books for the first half of 2022. Highly recommend!
For fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey, Mary Alice Monroe, and Mary Ellen Taylor. If you enjoyed THE EDGE OF SUMMER, check out Mary Ellen Taylor's recent The Brighter the Light. A granddaughter in search of her mother and grandmother's secret past.
A special thank you to #GraydonHouse and #NetGalley for an ARC to read, review, and enjoy. I also pre-ordered the hardcover for my personal home library.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +++ 💙💙💙💙💙
Pub Date: July 12, 2022
July 2022 Must-Read Books
Top Books of 2022
Shipman's best yet. Prime for the small or big screen.
Master storyteller and my favorite bestselling author Viola Shipman beautifully renders an utterly captivating, and profoundly personal tale inspired by memories of the author's childhood and his grandmother's treasured buttons and button jars.
THE EDGE OF SUMMER is everything you want in a summer beach read from nostalgia, family heirlooms and connections, past dark secrets, new adventures in an idyllic lakeside town, suspense, mystery, and a little romance.
No one captures matters of the heart better than Viola Shipman!
Alternating from the remote Ozark, a small cabin where Sutton Douglas grew up with her hardworking but secretive mother, Miss Mabel —to the pristine Lake Michigan resort town where she is led by clues to discover the secrets of her past.
Sutton Douglas grew up in the Ozarks in a small cabin tucked amongst the bluffs outside Nevermore, Missouri, with a single mother, Miss Mabel. They did not have much, but they loved one another.
Her mother lived in solitude and sacrificed her whole life to improve her life and make it better. Miss Mabel was hardworking and very secretive. She was a skilled seamstress, and everyone loved her. She loved her Singer sewing machine, Ol'Betsy, God, her fabrics, and her buttons. She also taught Sutton the craft.
Miss Mabel was a good woman, strong, and unyielding. Society did not always treat her fairly, hidden in a factory all day, plus sewing for wealthy women and helping take care of their children to make ends meet.
Sutton has always been curious about her past, her father, and her mother's past life. She led her to believe there was a fire, and nothing was saved but Sutton and her teddy bear, Dandy.
The pandemic hits, and her mother dies of COVID. She was not able to be with her as she planned, nor was she able to fulfill her mother's wishes for a proper burial and funeral. (this rings all so true). Her mom leaves her with her buttons, her Singer, her sewing notions, and a letter.
Devastated, Sutton is grief-stricken and at loss, desiring to know more about where she came from and her mother. Before she can move forward she must learn about her past. Sutton is a top designer and fashion director for all women's apparel at Lindy's, one of the nation's oldest department stores. She made 1940s fashion trendy at Sutton's Buttons.
When going through her mom's things, she finds a clue that leads her to Lake Michigan. Her mom also leaves her a letter upon her death, informing her she was trying to protect her and the fire story was made up. Confused and shocked, Sutton decides to take some time off, sublet her condo and rent a cottage in the charming little lakeside community.
What does Dandy Button Company have to do with her mom? Michigan was the button capital. Sutton begins her search.
When arriving in the beautiful small historic town she finds quaint shops, restaurants, inns, and of course a fabric store. There she meets the owner, a former baseball player which is a great help to guide her and turns out to be a true friend with a lot in common.
She soon learns her cottage in Douglas, Michigan is behind a mansion where a woman named Bonnie Lyons lives. She appears to be the wealthy matriarch of the town and her husband had passed recently. They were owners of the button company.
Soon Bonnie befriends Sutton and wants her to design her clothes. The woman is quite controlling and manipulative. Does she have a hidden agenda?
Sutton also meets her maid. Both these women are quite mysterious, and Sutton does not feel comfortable around her. They are hiding something. She feels there is something more. She has had enough of secrets and begins her sleuthing.
In doing so, she second-guesses her own life, her career, and what is important to her. She must solve her mother's past and at the same time her own identity. She begins to uncover the secrets about her family that Miss Mabel so carefully hid and about the role that Sutton herself unwittingly played in it all.
Now, that she is getting close to the truth, will it be something that she can live with. Was her mother right all along by keeping quiet?
I LOVED THIS BOOK and read it over the weekend! Unputdownable and the suspense will keep you glued to the pages to the final satisfying conclusion.
Yes, it touched my heart and soul in so many ways. My own mother and grandmothers were skilled seamstresses and I was around sewing most of my life. I even learned the skill, but not as highly skilled as my mom (who did this as a career and more). I later became an interior designer so fabrics and design were always a part of my life. My mom would have loved this book (she was also an avid reader).
I adored the opening of each chapter with sewing notions and sprinklings! Brought back so many fond memories.
What I enjoy about Viola Shipman's books (so many things) but his vivid, lush descriptions and settings are like no other. I can travel anywhere from the comfort of my home when reading one of (his/her) books. I want to get on a plane and visit now! This setting is divine.
Check out Writer in Residence "World-renowned author Viola Shipman, pen name for Wade Rouse, calls Saugatuck/Douglas home in the summer months. Discover why the magic of this lakeshore community draws him back each year and even inspired the setting of his latest novel, The Edge of Summer."
An ideal book club pick, thought-provoking, and a tribute and love letter to the town of Saugatuck/Douglas and also to our mothers, grandmothers, elders, and the love of sewing. It also explores the sacrifices our parents and grandparents make for us. Often times as youth we do not appreciate them. Then as adults, they are dead and gone before we realize this and never thanked them. Time is precious. Appreciate them why you have a chance and ask them about their life.
I have read all of Viola Shipman's books and loved each one, but this is my personal FAVORITE!
Poignant, heartwarming, emotional, and awe-inspiring! Thank you for writing this book. You have a rare gift and so happy you pursued your dreams. You were born to write this story and your grandmother would be so proud!
I am currently reading/listening to Wade's memoir Magic Season: A Son's Story narrated by the author, which I am devouring. The book sheds a lot about his life and the importance of family and especially his grandmothers and the impact on his life.
A Top Book of 2022! In fact, this is my 127th book (2022 thus far --it is July 11) and this one will be in my Top 5 books for the first half of 2022. Highly recommend!
For fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey, Mary Alice Monroe, and Mary Ellen Taylor. If you enjoyed THE EDGE OF SUMMER, check out Mary Ellen Taylor's recent The Brighter the Light. A granddaughter in search of her mother and grandmother's secret past.
A special thank you to #GraydonHouse and #NetGalley for an ARC to read, review, and enjoy. I also pre-ordered the hardcover for my personal home library.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +++ 💙💙💙💙💙
Pub Date: July 12, 2022
July 2022 Must-Read Books
Top Books of 2022
July 11, 2022
Several years ago, I first became captivated by the comforting writing style of Viola Shipman. Since then, I have read all her books and am always excited for a new one to be published. So when I received an advanced copy of The Edge of Summer, I added it to my TBR right away, knowing it would be another dose of TLC. I was not wrong.
I was at a gathering recently and my eyes were drawn to a woman's shirt that had all these pretty flower-shaped buttons sewn onto it. I never would have given the shirt much thought if not for this delightful story. I also recently bought a small jar of multi-colored buttons of various sizes to use in my Bookstagram photo. I then gave the jar to my daughter so she could do whatever she wants with the buttons. The Edge of Summer has me appreciating buttons in a whole new way!
Originally posted at Chick Lit Central.
I was at a gathering recently and my eyes were drawn to a woman's shirt that had all these pretty flower-shaped buttons sewn onto it. I never would have given the shirt much thought if not for this delightful story. I also recently bought a small jar of multi-colored buttons of various sizes to use in my Bookstagram photo. I then gave the jar to my daughter so she could do whatever she wants with the buttons. The Edge of Summer has me appreciating buttons in a whole new way!
This was a sweet story overall. There was a strong air of nostalgia throughout the story, especially with all the flashback scenes. It was also very idyllic, making me long for the summers of my childhood where I spent all day at the pool or going to lots of barbecues. The mystery factor was interesting and kept me wondering. I thought I was right about something, but then wasn't sure and kept going back and forth. There were also some answers that I wasn't expecting at all. I enjoyed the romantic aspect, as well. The descriptions and details brought the story to life so much that I felt like I was right there in Michigan with Sutton.
My main concern was that it felt too introspective. Sutton asked herself a lot of questions. Tug also would voice a lot of random thoughts about life in general. I also noticed that Sutton got bent out of shape too easily. I appreciated her standing up for herself and for others, but sometimes she could be a bit too extra.
The Edge of Summer was engaging and kept me turning the pages. It publishes this week and I definitely recommend enjoying a summer day (or night) with it, while sipping on a tall, cold glass of lemonade.
Movie casting suggestions:
Sutton: Melissa Rauch (I think Viola may have wanted me to go with Kristen Bell, based on a comment earlier in the book, but I decided to find someone similar looking instead.)
Tug: Ryan Hansen
Bonnie: Blythe Danner (Viola also made a Helen Mirren mention, which I was actually considering before that happened, but then decided to go a different route.)
Lauralei: Edie McClurg
Sutton: Melissa Rauch (I think Viola may have wanted me to go with Kristen Bell, based on a comment earlier in the book, but I decided to find someone similar looking instead.)
Tug: Ryan Hansen
Bonnie: Blythe Danner (Viola also made a Helen Mirren mention, which I was actually considering before that happened, but then decided to go a different route.)
Lauralei: Edie McClurg
Originally posted at Chick Lit Central.
July 15, 2022
In what has just become my favorite book of 2022, Viola Shipman has written one of the most emotionally-riveting stories I have read in quite a while. In this wonderful book, Sutton Douglas is still reeling from the loss of her mother due to Covid-19, even two years later. Sutton's mother was a remarkable, albeit quiet and private seamstress who left Sutton with many questions and some sad memories. Despite growing up poor and alone with her mother - Sutton grew up hearing that the rest of her family perished in a fire - she had some very fond memories. Many of those memories surround the buttons her mother used in her sewing and the stories that came along with those buttons. Armed with a mix of happy and sad memories, Sutton is determined to get the questions of her past answered.
Purchasing an amazing collection of buttons from an estate sale from Bonnie Lyons becomes the beginning of a different road traveled by Sutton. She starts to unwind the hidden history of her past and even the possibility that Bonnie is her grandmother. If this is the the case, why did her mother tell her that the two of them were all alone after that decades ago tragedy?
Sutton not only befriends Bonnie but takes on the job of designing a dress for her. Hopefully, this time spent will give her the opportunity to find out about her past, even though this will undoubtedly be accompanied by pain.
Viola Shipman (aka Wade Rouse) is nothing short of brilliant. Using his past, with a mix of happiness and pain, he composed this breathtaking story. A story about family history, secrets, loss and pain. This sensitive story is written in a way in which sewing literally threads together the past as well as history, answering questions that brought closure to Sutton that she desperately needed. How incredibly remarkable. I love that our author threaded his past into this story, whether it was about the loss he experienced, or the warm memories of him being a child around his grandmothers when they sewed.
Sutton is not without hope in this moving story. In fact, she meets Tug, a man who helps her to uncover those long-buried secrets and brings her respite in a way she might not have thought she deserved. This slowly developed romance brings this wonderful story to a warm and happy ending.
Although this book was given to me as a Kindle ARC, I was able to obtain an audiobook copy from my library, and the narration by Nancy Peterson literally breathed even more life into an already fabulous story. With excellent pacing, relatable characters, a story that will never be forgotten, as well as a story marred by pain and loss, The Edge of Summer is a book that I highly recommend. Not only would this book be good for a summer lovely read, but it would make a very good choice for a book club read.
Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/18wUEzFdAYs
Purchasing an amazing collection of buttons from an estate sale from Bonnie Lyons becomes the beginning of a different road traveled by Sutton. She starts to unwind the hidden history of her past and even the possibility that Bonnie is her grandmother. If this is the the case, why did her mother tell her that the two of them were all alone after that decades ago tragedy?
Sutton not only befriends Bonnie but takes on the job of designing a dress for her. Hopefully, this time spent will give her the opportunity to find out about her past, even though this will undoubtedly be accompanied by pain.
Viola Shipman (aka Wade Rouse) is nothing short of brilliant. Using his past, with a mix of happiness and pain, he composed this breathtaking story. A story about family history, secrets, loss and pain. This sensitive story is written in a way in which sewing literally threads together the past as well as history, answering questions that brought closure to Sutton that she desperately needed. How incredibly remarkable. I love that our author threaded his past into this story, whether it was about the loss he experienced, or the warm memories of him being a child around his grandmothers when they sewed.
Sutton is not without hope in this moving story. In fact, she meets Tug, a man who helps her to uncover those long-buried secrets and brings her respite in a way she might not have thought she deserved. This slowly developed romance brings this wonderful story to a warm and happy ending.
Although this book was given to me as a Kindle ARC, I was able to obtain an audiobook copy from my library, and the narration by Nancy Peterson literally breathed even more life into an already fabulous story. With excellent pacing, relatable characters, a story that will never be forgotten, as well as a story marred by pain and loss, The Edge of Summer is a book that I highly recommend. Not only would this book be good for a summer lovely read, but it would make a very good choice for a book club read.
Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/18wUEzFdAYs
April 1, 2022
Viola Shipman has only been publishing novels for 6 years. I read his first book because it was set in Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline but soon found out that not only was it a great setting but it was also a fantastic book. Since then, I've read every book that he's written and have loved them all. He always writes believable characters in beautiful settings and his plots always make it difficult to put the book down before the end. He's now been added to my list of authors that are auto-buys. I don't need to know what the book is about before I pre-order it.
Sutton grew up with her mom in the Ozarks. It was always just the two of them because her mom always told her that her family all died in a fire. The older Sutton got, the more she wanted to know who her family was but her mother never said a word about them. When she dies, she leaves a letter to Sutton and after reading it, she decides that the answer to her questions about family may be found in Michigan at a resort town named Douglas near Saugatuck on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Her mom had always had button boxes in the house and Sutton spent a lot of time organizing them and making necklaces when she was growing up. She rented a small cottage in Douglas and started to ask questions about her mom. When she goes to an estate sale near her rented cottage, she buys a collection of buttons from Bonnie, the owner of the huge house near hers. She and Bonnie begin to spend some time together and Sutton begins to wonder if Bonnie might be her grandmother. After she finds out that her mother grew up in Douglas, she begins to ask Bonnie and some of the old-timers in town about her mother. The more she learns about her mother and her mother's family, the more questions she has. Will Sutton ever find out about her family or are the secrets buried too deep in this small resort town? Once she finds out will she go back to Chicago, the Ozarks and will she stay in Michigan?
This is a great story about family - known and unknown, friends, love and secrets and how they can affect people in later generations. It's not only a story about finding family with blood ties - you can also create a family consisting of people you love and spend time with.
Pack a bag and take a trip to one of the loveliest places in the world -- the Lake Michigan shoreline. I'm headed there in September and can't wait to see the lake again. If you can't make the trip, pick up a Viola Shipmen book and take a mental vacation.
Sutton grew up with her mom in the Ozarks. It was always just the two of them because her mom always told her that her family all died in a fire. The older Sutton got, the more she wanted to know who her family was but her mother never said a word about them. When she dies, she leaves a letter to Sutton and after reading it, she decides that the answer to her questions about family may be found in Michigan at a resort town named Douglas near Saugatuck on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Her mom had always had button boxes in the house and Sutton spent a lot of time organizing them and making necklaces when she was growing up. She rented a small cottage in Douglas and started to ask questions about her mom. When she goes to an estate sale near her rented cottage, she buys a collection of buttons from Bonnie, the owner of the huge house near hers. She and Bonnie begin to spend some time together and Sutton begins to wonder if Bonnie might be her grandmother. After she finds out that her mother grew up in Douglas, she begins to ask Bonnie and some of the old-timers in town about her mother. The more she learns about her mother and her mother's family, the more questions she has. Will Sutton ever find out about her family or are the secrets buried too deep in this small resort town? Once she finds out will she go back to Chicago, the Ozarks and will she stay in Michigan?
This is a great story about family - known and unknown, friends, love and secrets and how they can affect people in later generations. It's not only a story about finding family with blood ties - you can also create a family consisting of people you love and spend time with.
Pack a bag and take a trip to one of the loveliest places in the world -- the Lake Michigan shoreline. I'm headed there in September and can't wait to see the lake again. If you can't make the trip, pick up a Viola Shipmen book and take a mental vacation.
July 16, 2022
Once again, Viola Shipman has hit it out of the ballpark with his latest book The Edge of Summer. In case you don’t know, Wade Rouse writes under his grandmother’s pen name Viola Shipman and he does so it so beautifully!!! This is a fabulous heartbreaking story about a woman named Sutton (which rhymes with Button) who lost her mother unexpectedly to Covid. It tells about her poor upbringing and everything her mom and her went through. She relocates to a new town where lots of secrets are found. I loved all of the characters in the book as well as where it took place. This book grabbed me from the very first page and I could not put it down until I finished it! I would love to see this on the big screen one day!!! 5+ stars!!
April 25, 2022
Sutton has grown up poor in the Ozarks, but is now a successful designer. Her mother, who has worked sewing overalls in a factory to support them, told her that their entire family was lost in a fire. When her mother dies of Covid, Sutton decides to follow a hint left by her mother and move to Michigan. Here she finds love, acceptance, and the disturbing truth about her family history. Three and a half stars. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
July 17, 2022
I found the book to be long and boring.
September 16, 2022
I have never felt happier to get to the end of a book. This book was terrible--dull and too long, and the synopsis didn't mention COVID at all, so what a surprise to know that it's really a book about that. I don't want to read a book about the pandemic. I want to escape.
Pass on this book if that also isn't for you.
Pass on this book if that also isn't for you.
October 8, 2022
Good story about love, family, loss, buttons and Covid. Yes, Covid. After reading this book I want to collect buttons. I really do! LOL.
Not my favorite of Violas but glad I read it.
Not my favorite of Violas but glad I read it.
September 16, 2022
It was too long and dragged for me. And buttons really don’t interest me I guess.
June 30, 2022
4.5 stars.
As always Viola Shipman has written an engaging and at times heart touching story of a woman grieving the loss of her mother, and alongside that she is wondering about the past. Her mother has been a lone woman with no family other than Sutton. Now Sutton wants to unravel the secrets and mystery. Will she like what she finds - no not all of it, but in the search she will find truth and integrity and will be able to name the values that truly matter. And the people who truly matter.
Parenthood is examined in this novel. Sutton wonders did her mother really love her, as she journeys I think she finds the answer to that, and sees for herself where a mothers lack of love has gone awry big time.
In Saugatuck / Douglas Sutton meets up with Tug and a friendship is soon formed. He is a loyal, kind, challenging friend. As well he sees the opportunity for new life and hope for family way before Sutton does.
The setting itself in Saugatuck / Douglas is a character in itself. The way the author describes life there makes me the reader very much fall in love with the place and itch to visit.
Throughout the book as Sutton examines her past and present and future, names her values and chooses life and happiness, we are presented with thought provoking ideas relevant to our lives today. Lots of wisdom.
I really liked the town, Sutton and Tug, I felt sorry for one lonely woman who made her own bed and even though its uncomfortable, refuses any other. For another, when she made her move I applauded and was delighted.
For me The Edge of Summer is a keeper.
As always Viola Shipman has written an engaging and at times heart touching story of a woman grieving the loss of her mother, and alongside that she is wondering about the past. Her mother has been a lone woman with no family other than Sutton. Now Sutton wants to unravel the secrets and mystery. Will she like what she finds - no not all of it, but in the search she will find truth and integrity and will be able to name the values that truly matter. And the people who truly matter.
Parenthood is examined in this novel. Sutton wonders did her mother really love her, as she journeys I think she finds the answer to that, and sees for herself where a mothers lack of love has gone awry big time.
In Saugatuck / Douglas Sutton meets up with Tug and a friendship is soon formed. He is a loyal, kind, challenging friend. As well he sees the opportunity for new life and hope for family way before Sutton does.
The setting itself in Saugatuck / Douglas is a character in itself. The way the author describes life there makes me the reader very much fall in love with the place and itch to visit.
Throughout the book as Sutton examines her past and present and future, names her values and chooses life and happiness, we are presented with thought provoking ideas relevant to our lives today. Lots of wisdom.
I really liked the town, Sutton and Tug, I felt sorry for one lonely woman who made her own bed and even though its uncomfortable, refuses any other. For another, when she made her move I applauded and was delighted.
For me The Edge of Summer is a keeper.
October 1, 2022
Sutton Douglas has just lost her mother to Covid, and now feels completely untethered. With her job on hiatus and everything shut down she begins to reflect on her past and what she wants for the future thinking: "Perhaps success can't be defined by what people think of you, but what you think of yourself when you're finally alone with your thoughts and staring at your own reflection."
Sutton grew up in a cabin in a small town in the Ozarks, yearning to know her family history. While her mother shared her skills as a seamstress and love of vintage buttons, there was always a distance between them and secrets never shared. So when Sutton discovers a clue to her past she heads to a resort town in Michigan looking for answers. While there she not only uncovers hidden secrets but also a pathway to her future and this: "But, after all we've gone through, I see life as a glorious opportunity. God makes each of unique souls with beautiful voices that need to be heard in this world. But we too often silence them to fit in with the world, to not stand out, to take the path of least resistance. We deny the world our special gifts when we do this." so Sutton chooses to embrace life and let her light shine
Another great book by Viola Shipman.
Sutton grew up in a cabin in a small town in the Ozarks, yearning to know her family history. While her mother shared her skills as a seamstress and love of vintage buttons, there was always a distance between them and secrets never shared. So when Sutton discovers a clue to her past she heads to a resort town in Michigan looking for answers. While there she not only uncovers hidden secrets but also a pathway to her future and this: "But, after all we've gone through, I see life as a glorious opportunity. God makes each of unique souls with beautiful voices that need to be heard in this world. But we too often silence them to fit in with the world, to not stand out, to take the path of least resistance. We deny the world our special gifts when we do this." so Sutton chooses to embrace life and let her light shine
Another great book by Viola Shipman.
December 5, 2022
3.5 stars.
July 6, 2022
One of the things I love about Viola Shipman books is how ordinary everyday things are used to weave an entertaining and enjoyable story. The Edge of Summer uses buttons. I also love the setting of Michigan as it is nearby and I recognize comments and places in the book. Sutton Douglas is grieving the death of her mother, a quiet, loving and intensely private Southern seamstress called Miss Mabel. She was one of those ladies that always had a saying or piece of advice for everyone, but whenever Sutton asked about her family, she clammed up. After her sudden death from Covid, Sutton finds a clue in the back of a picture frame that sends her to Douglas Michigan to see if she can find out more about her family and her mother's past. Her mom was a seamstress, in a factory during the day, and making clothes for family and friends at night. They were very poor, so she used buttons to decorate and make old things new. Sutton learned from her and is a designer as well. Quitting her job in Chicago, she is trying to figure out what is next while doing research to learn more about the Douglas family and the town she thinks might have something to do with her mother.
I absolutely loved this book. Viola Shipman (aka Wade Rousse) is a must read author for me. Sutton has nothing but a picture of a young man and the location of Douglas Michigan to send her on a hunt for her past and to find out where she belongs. I love stories set in small towns, where everyone seems to know everyone else's business and history. The people Sutton meets are so welcoming to her and share a lot of information, but there are still secrets. When she meets the Grand Dame of the town, Bonnie Lyons, she knows she is keeping secrets and for some reason, she takes Sutton under her wing. Bonnie is the one character I had a hard time liking. She was a rich snob and would do whatever she could to get her own way. She and Sutton butted heads more than once. There is a romantic interest for Sutton in Tug. He owns the local antique store and they have a lot in common. He is a great interest for her and I enjoy their banter and dialogue. Throughout the story, we have flashbacks into Sutton's early life in the Ozarks. It was not an easy life, but it made her a strong, independent woman. Of course, I figured out the mystery relatively early on, but I think that was planned on the author's part, we didn't know the whole story until it was revealed at the end. This is a heartwarming story that is emotional at times, but also had me thinking about what parents will do for their children. Douglas is populated by wonderful residents and snobby visitors. I liked seeing how the residents dealt with the tourists and went on with their lives. Being a sewer, I enjoyed the definitions of sewing terms that open each chapter, they also have dual meanings that are used throughout the chapter they are mentioned in. I was drawn in from the start and was captivated all the way through. These are characters I will remember fondly for a long time to come. I did a read/listen with the audiobook narrated by Nancy Peterson. I have listened to many books narrated by this talented voice actress and am always pleased with her performance. As usual, her expression, emotion, tone and voices were wonderful and added much to my enjoyment of this story. I definitely recommend this story to those who enjoy Women's Fiction, stories of families with mysteries, and characters who are looking for their place in the world. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
I absolutely loved this book. Viola Shipman (aka Wade Rousse) is a must read author for me. Sutton has nothing but a picture of a young man and the location of Douglas Michigan to send her on a hunt for her past and to find out where she belongs. I love stories set in small towns, where everyone seems to know everyone else's business and history. The people Sutton meets are so welcoming to her and share a lot of information, but there are still secrets. When she meets the Grand Dame of the town, Bonnie Lyons, she knows she is keeping secrets and for some reason, she takes Sutton under her wing. Bonnie is the one character I had a hard time liking. She was a rich snob and would do whatever she could to get her own way. She and Sutton butted heads more than once. There is a romantic interest for Sutton in Tug. He owns the local antique store and they have a lot in common. He is a great interest for her and I enjoy their banter and dialogue. Throughout the story, we have flashbacks into Sutton's early life in the Ozarks. It was not an easy life, but it made her a strong, independent woman. Of course, I figured out the mystery relatively early on, but I think that was planned on the author's part, we didn't know the whole story until it was revealed at the end. This is a heartwarming story that is emotional at times, but also had me thinking about what parents will do for their children. Douglas is populated by wonderful residents and snobby visitors. I liked seeing how the residents dealt with the tourists and went on with their lives. Being a sewer, I enjoyed the definitions of sewing terms that open each chapter, they also have dual meanings that are used throughout the chapter they are mentioned in. I was drawn in from the start and was captivated all the way through. These are characters I will remember fondly for a long time to come. I did a read/listen with the audiobook narrated by Nancy Peterson. I have listened to many books narrated by this talented voice actress and am always pleased with her performance. As usual, her expression, emotion, tone and voices were wonderful and added much to my enjoyment of this story. I definitely recommend this story to those who enjoy Women's Fiction, stories of families with mysteries, and characters who are looking for their place in the world. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
August 24, 2022
i’m not usually a book hater but i hated this book. like genuinely, i was so throughly bored until the last 5 pages. i hate when books incorporate covid into their stories bc i feel like it kinda ruins the whole book because that’s pretty much all the book was about. i think sutton was annoying. there was almost no plot and it was cringey sometimes. it pained me to get through
July 19, 2022
I have no more words left to express the beautiful and tenderness of a Viola Shipman novel. Constantly giving homage to his grandmothers, this magnificent story is about loss, sadness, trust and finding out who you are and where you came from. Set during the time of Covid with an empathetic feel we can all relate to, the tale is about the value of life, forgiveness, letting go with a bit of a mystery thrown in. Delightful!
When Sutton Douglas loses her mother to Covid, she also loses her only relative, and her unknown history of where she came from and who is her family. Her mother, Miss Mable was a hardworking seamstress whose family died in a tragic fire. Miss Mable refused to talk to Sutton about what happened or give her any information as to who her father was, or even where she came from. The only observation Miss Mable passed down to Sutton were don’t trust anybody but yourself. She also passed down her passion for sewing and her love of buttons.
When Sutton gets a letter from her mother after her death, basically telling her to let go of the past, and just move on, Sutton is heartbroken. But when she finds a hidden picture of a man in her mother’s belongings, she realizes she must try and find the answers to the questions. She feels she at least deserves this closure to become free.
So, she packs up and heads to a resort town in Michigan which has her last name, Douglas. She begins to fall in love with this wonderful community of people and the peacefulness of the landscape all the while trying to somehow piece her, or Miss Mable’s history, together. There she meets the matriarch of the community, Bonnie Lyson, who seems to take a liking? to her. Bonnie sells her a collection buttons Sutton sees, which are the exact type her mother cherished for all these years. The same buttons Sutton has continued to use in her own designs.
As she begins to let her guard down, she discovers a strength in herself she thought she never had. A trust in in those around her, and a faith in her own decisions. As she begins to put the sketchy pieces of her history together, a stronger Sutton wonders what in the world Miss Mable did not want her to find out.
And the ending is the wonderful pinnacle of a delightful and strong story of forgiveness and coming out of the dark whole on the other side.
Thank you #NetGalley #GraydonHouse #TheEdgeofSummer #ViolaShipman for the advanced copy.
When Sutton Douglas loses her mother to Covid, she also loses her only relative, and her unknown history of where she came from and who is her family. Her mother, Miss Mable was a hardworking seamstress whose family died in a tragic fire. Miss Mable refused to talk to Sutton about what happened or give her any information as to who her father was, or even where she came from. The only observation Miss Mable passed down to Sutton were don’t trust anybody but yourself. She also passed down her passion for sewing and her love of buttons.
When Sutton gets a letter from her mother after her death, basically telling her to let go of the past, and just move on, Sutton is heartbroken. But when she finds a hidden picture of a man in her mother’s belongings, she realizes she must try and find the answers to the questions. She feels she at least deserves this closure to become free.
So, she packs up and heads to a resort town in Michigan which has her last name, Douglas. She begins to fall in love with this wonderful community of people and the peacefulness of the landscape all the while trying to somehow piece her, or Miss Mable’s history, together. There she meets the matriarch of the community, Bonnie Lyson, who seems to take a liking? to her. Bonnie sells her a collection buttons Sutton sees, which are the exact type her mother cherished for all these years. The same buttons Sutton has continued to use in her own designs.
As she begins to let her guard down, she discovers a strength in herself she thought she never had. A trust in in those around her, and a faith in her own decisions. As she begins to put the sketchy pieces of her history together, a stronger Sutton wonders what in the world Miss Mable did not want her to find out.
And the ending is the wonderful pinnacle of a delightful and strong story of forgiveness and coming out of the dark whole on the other side.
Thank you #NetGalley #GraydonHouse #TheEdgeofSummer #ViolaShipman for the advanced copy.
August 1, 2022
Who knew I would love a book about buttons SO SO SO SO much??? Not me, that's who. This was another HUGE win from Viola Shipman - easily an auto-buy author for me.
I don't know what it is about Shipman's writing style but reading her books for me is like getting a giant hug every time! Her newest is no exception and I was absolutely absorbed in the Michigan lake town vibes as Sutton returns to her mother's roots trying to learn more about her past in the wake of her death.
Shipman's characters are always so layered and REAL for me and Sutton in particular had my whole heart right from the beginning. A middle-aged woman who loses her mother during the pandemic, Sutton digs into her mother's mysterious past trying to uncover a connection she always felt was missing. Along the way she befriends Bonnie, a rich matriarch with a secrets of her own.
A designer by trade, Sutton had been laid off during the pandemic and decides to strike off on her own. With Bonnie's patronage and a new romantic interest, Sutton finds much to keep her tied to the Michigan beach town.
Full of interesting historical facts, compelling characters, a sweet mid-life romance and incredibly memorable characters, this story grabbed me from the start and I didn't want it to end.
Highly, highly recommended if you're looking for the perfect un-putdownable summer beach read with the perfect amount of family drama.
Much thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I will forever be a Viola Shipman fan and if you aren't yet you are missing out!!
I don't know what it is about Shipman's writing style but reading her books for me is like getting a giant hug every time! Her newest is no exception and I was absolutely absorbed in the Michigan lake town vibes as Sutton returns to her mother's roots trying to learn more about her past in the wake of her death.
Shipman's characters are always so layered and REAL for me and Sutton in particular had my whole heart right from the beginning. A middle-aged woman who loses her mother during the pandemic, Sutton digs into her mother's mysterious past trying to uncover a connection she always felt was missing. Along the way she befriends Bonnie, a rich matriarch with a secrets of her own.
A designer by trade, Sutton had been laid off during the pandemic and decides to strike off on her own. With Bonnie's patronage and a new romantic interest, Sutton finds much to keep her tied to the Michigan beach town.
Full of interesting historical facts, compelling characters, a sweet mid-life romance and incredibly memorable characters, this story grabbed me from the start and I didn't want it to end.
Highly, highly recommended if you're looking for the perfect un-putdownable summer beach read with the perfect amount of family drama.
Much thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I will forever be a Viola Shipman fan and if you aren't yet you are missing out!!
September 17, 2022
I was not familiar with Viola Shipman's previous works so I was not sure what to expect.
Growing up in the Ozarks, the only daughter of a single mother, Sutton Douglass is staggering from fear of losing her mother during the early months of the Covid-19 outbreak. Miss Mabel is a new resident of a local nursing home and Sutton can only visit her mom through the window of her room. When Miss Mabel does pass away, Sutton is lost and doesn't know what to do with her life.
Miss Mabel had always been intensely private about her life before Sutton. Sutton had always asked her mother about their family history but Miss Mabel never divulged any details. While staying at her mom's Sutton finds some clues that thinks her family history might be linked to a small resort town in Michigan. On a whim, Sutton packs up and heads to the small town to try to piece together her history.
Shipman does a great job describing the area and the people. I found the relationship between Tug and Sutton to be sweet and well written.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Growing up in the Ozarks, the only daughter of a single mother, Sutton Douglass is staggering from fear of losing her mother during the early months of the Covid-19 outbreak. Miss Mabel is a new resident of a local nursing home and Sutton can only visit her mom through the window of her room. When Miss Mabel does pass away, Sutton is lost and doesn't know what to do with her life.
Miss Mabel had always been intensely private about her life before Sutton. Sutton had always asked her mother about their family history but Miss Mabel never divulged any details. While staying at her mom's Sutton finds some clues that thinks her family history might be linked to a small resort town in Michigan. On a whim, Sutton packs up and heads to the small town to try to piece together her history.
Shipman does a great job describing the area and the people. I found the relationship between Tug and Sutton to be sweet and well written.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 17, 2022
The edge of summer by Viola Shipman.
Devastated by the sudden death of her mother—a quiet, loving and intensely private Southern seamstress called Miss Mabel, who overflowed with pearls of Ozarks wisdom but never spoke of her own family—Sutton Douglas makes the impulsive decision to pack up and head north to the Michigan resort town where she believes she’ll find answers to the lifelong questions she’s had about not only her mother’s past but also her own place in the world.
A great read with good characters. 4*.
Devastated by the sudden death of her mother—a quiet, loving and intensely private Southern seamstress called Miss Mabel, who overflowed with pearls of Ozarks wisdom but never spoke of her own family—Sutton Douglas makes the impulsive decision to pack up and head north to the Michigan resort town where she believes she’ll find answers to the lifelong questions she’s had about not only her mother’s past but also her own place in the world.
A great read with good characters. 4*.
July 31, 2022
2.5 stars
This was definitely my least favorite of the Viola Shipman books I've read thus far. The main character, Sutton, was dull and I found the romance between her and Tug to be forced and unbelievable. I never felt invested in the "mystery" so I really didn't care when the truth was revealed.
This was definitely my least favorite of the Viola Shipman books I've read thus far. The main character, Sutton, was dull and I found the romance between her and Tug to be forced and unbelievable. I never felt invested in the "mystery" so I really didn't care when the truth was revealed.
May 17, 2022
The best book I’ve read in 2022. At this point anything Viola Shipman writes, I’m in. 🙌🏼❤️
August 8, 2022
A powerful, moving story with lots of character growth which kept be obsessively listening (loved Nancy Peterson's narration!) This is the first book I've read that referenced COVID and, while this isn't a pandemic book, it definitely plays a roll in shaping the characters and events.
The first few chapters are set during lockdown and then the rest of the book takes place two years later as things open up again. This is very much Sutton's coming of age story even though she's nearly forty. The sudden, unexpected death of her mother catapults her into a season of discovery. 'Miss Mabel' has always been a mysterious loner, even her daughter doesn't know her whole story, or who her father is. As far as Sutton knows, she is all alone in th world...until an unsettling discovery has her breaking out of her comfort zone and digging deeper into her mother's past. We get flashbacks to Sutton's growing up years in the isolated Ozarks while she takes a journey to a town in Michigan bearing her last name in the search for answers.
Utterly compelling -- Women's Fiction with hints of romance.
The first few chapters are set during lockdown and then the rest of the book takes place two years later as things open up again. This is very much Sutton's coming of age story even though she's nearly forty. The sudden, unexpected death of her mother catapults her into a season of discovery. 'Miss Mabel' has always been a mysterious loner, even her daughter doesn't know her whole story, or who her father is. As far as Sutton knows, she is all alone in th world...until an unsettling discovery has her breaking out of her comfort zone and digging deeper into her mother's past. We get flashbacks to Sutton's growing up years in the isolated Ozarks while she takes a journey to a town in Michigan bearing her last name in the search for answers.
Utterly compelling -- Women's Fiction with hints of romance.
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