So often I will pick up a book that starts well then fizzles after the first few chapters—as if the author put all her creative energy into the beginning and hoped it might carry the novel. This is definitely not the case with The Hideaway. I enjoyed it from the first page to the last.
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest. Aren’t you often first drawn to the cover art before flipping to the back for the synopsis? I certainly am. The Hideaway cover reeks of southern hospitality, which is what you get when you dive into its pages. I had never read a novel by author Lauren K. Denton, but any book that receives over 10,000 Amazon reviews is worth a looksee.
We meet Sara Jenkins who owns and operates a decorator’s dream shop in New Orleans, and stays too busy to visit Mags, her eccentric and quirky grandmother. The story shifts from Sara’s present-time life to the 1960’s where the reader (and eventually Sara) learns how Margaret, a rich socialite, morphed into Mags, a casual owner of a shabby B & B. If this tale teaches us nothing else, to reminds us that everyone has a history, and often it’s one we know nothing about. It makes me wish I’d had more time to hang out with my grandmothers and take the time to truly know who they were.
This is a time-slip women’s fiction with enough hope of romance to keep it sweet. It was marketed as southern fiction, which I realized is the same for my new series coming out next month. Another connection between this book and my upcoming Night Songs is the setting of an old home. I have an affinity for old houses and vintage stores. If I had unlimited time and money, I would have chosen Sara’s career. I also enjoyed that the majority of the story takes place in Alabama’s Mobile Bay—or Sweet Bay—because I’ve been drawn to the Alabama coastline recently. It’s always fun to recognize settings I’ve seen firsthand.
Time slip novels are very popular right now, and Ms. Denton capitalizes on the reasons why. Two distinctive voices and stories that weave into a well written novel. Add unique characters, a beautiful setting, and lots of southern comfort for a fun read. My only disappointment is that the “fix” in the end was questionable. I don’t want to say more, or it may ruin the ending for you, but it does suspend reader believability just a tad. Not enough to dissuade me from reading another Lauren K. Denton novel, however.
Four out of five stars.
Comments 3
I am drawn to read this book! Thank you Jennifer.
Jennifer,
I am still sharing your posts just not on fb until after Easter. Great review!
Thanks for this book review. It does make me want to read it. I am also waiting for Night Songs, in April. Love the cover and the synopsis is catchy. Looking forward to the read.