The Hideaway

Written by Lauren K. Denton

Narrated by Devon O'Day

When her grandmother’s will wrenches Sara back to her small hometown of Sweet Bay, Alabama, she must face family secrets and difficult choices. In the South, family is always more complicated than it seems.

After her last remaining family member dies, Sara Jenkins goes home to The Hideaway, her grandmother Mags’s ramshackle B&B in Sweet Bay. She intends to quickly tie up loose ends then return to her busy life and thriving antique shop in New Orleans. Instead, she learns Mags has willed The Hideaway to her and charged her with renovating it—no small task considering her grandmother’s best friends, a motley crew of senior citizens, still live there.

Rather than hurrying back to New Orleans, Sara stays in Sweet Bay and begins the biggest house-rehabbing project of her career. Amid drywall dust, old memories, and a charming contractor, she discovers that slipping back into life at The Hideaway is easier than she expected.

Then she discovers a box Mags left in the attic with clues to a life Sara never imagined for her grandmother. With help from Mags’s friends, Sara begins to piece together the mysterious life of bravery, passion, and choices that changed her grandmother’s destiny in both marvelous and devastating ways.

When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans

Praise for The Hideaway:

“A story both powerful and enchanting: a don’t-miss novel in the greatest southern traditions of storytelling.”—Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author

“Two endearing heroines and their poignant storylines of love lost and found make this the perfect book for an afternoon on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.”—Karen White, New York Times bestselling author

• USA TODAY and Amazon Charts bestseller
• Full-length Southern Women’s Fiction

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Feb 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9780785223351

Lauren K. Denton

LAUREN K. DENTON is the author of USA TODAY bestselling novels The Hideaway and Hurricane Season. She was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, and now lives with her husband and two daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham. Though her husband tries valiantly to turn her into a mountain girl, she’d still rather be at the beach. Website: LaurenKDenton.com; Instagram: LaurenKDentonBooks; Facebook: LaurenKDentonAuthor; Twitter: @LaurenKDenton.

Reviews for The Hideaway

[Sarah Rich · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Riveting story, beautifully written. From the imagery, my mind’s eye could see it all. I highly recommend this novel!

[Laura Lane · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a very good split time novel. It gave me something to think about regarding my own grandparents. Recommended for married women only. PG-13

[Kathy Flaming · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a sweet, easy listen!!! Loved this book!!

[Олеся Гилей · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely peaceful and atmospheric. This book will fill your heart with joy on a warm sunny day.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

2.5** From the book jacket: After her last remaining family member dies, Sara Jenkins goes home to The Hideaway, her grandmother Mags’s ramshackle B&B in Sweet Bay, Alabama. She intends to quickly tie up loose ends then return to her busy life and thriving antique shop in New Orleans. Instead, she learns Mags has willed The Hideaway to her and charged her with renovating it—no small task considering her grandmother’s best friends, a motley crew of senior citizens, still live there.My reactionsI wasn’t expecting great literature, and I didn’t get it. The writing is simple. The plot is rather predictable. The cast of characters, typically eccentric. There are secrets to be unearthed and solved. There’s one villainous developer with designs on the property. And, of course, a conveniently handsome and eligible love interest. There’s also the ubiquitous dual timeline, with present-day Sara unearthing bits and pieces of her grandmother’s story. Sara is conflicted about what she wants. She has a thriving business in New Orleans and likes the hustle and bustle of that city. Sweet Bay is a far cry from bustling. But there is a certain charm to the place, not to mention the handsome contractor she hires to do the renovations. You can guess the rest. It was a fast read and moderately entertaining. But I’ve already forgotten itI listened to the audio read by Karthi Masters. She does a fine job, with a good pace and sufficient skill as a voice artist to differentiate the many characters.

[medwards429 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was introduced to Lauren K Denton’s work in March 2019 during a JustRead Publicity social media tour four “Glory Road”. As I liked the novel, my mother gave me Denton’s two previous ones for my birthday.

“The Hideaway” is Denton’s debut novel, a southern and Christian themed book. Normally I read a good book in 2-3 days time. The reason this was a long read was not due to the book itself, but rather outside influences in the middle of reading it. I say this so that anyone looking at the review won’t hold it against the book that it took me 16 days to read it. It isn’t indicative of the book’s content or my interests.

Anyway …

The book is told between Mags’ and Sara’s points of view. Mags from the past and Sara from current day.

Sara is in Sweet Bay after the death of her beloved grandmother, Mags (Margaret Van Buren]. Sara thinks it is a simple reading of the will and she can return to her solitary life in New Orleans immediately. But, Sara becomes the new owner of “The Hideaway”, a run-down bed and breakfast which has seen better days. She’s instructed by her grandmother to fix it up to its former glory, even better than when Mags got it. Sara is given a choice to keep it or sell it, but she has to inform the current residents in advance. Residents who are also like family to Sara.

Sara decides that it needs to be renovated anyway so why not spruce the old place up?

She hires a contractor (Crawford) and sets out to do what has been asked of her. In the process she begins to learn about her grandmother’s past and what led the older woman to the Hideaway in Sweet Bay and how she came to possess it. The story that others tell about Mags is vastly different from the life Sarah uncovers. How is it she knew nothing of this? Why did her grandmother keep the secrets she did?

Sarah also learns the truth about her mother and her own past. But, Sara now seemingly has a future there in Sweet Bay – especially with Crawford.

But, Sara also has her life in New Orleans, or believes she does. The longer she stays in Sweet Bay, the less she wants to return to her prior life. When a land developer starts making plans for the property, Sara is torn between staying and fighting for the Hideaway and returning back to the life she’s crafted for herself. Sara is also wondering if she wants to make the same mistake her grandmother did when it came to love? The Hideaway is more than a place to visit; it holds deep memories and love.

For her first outing, Denton does a remarkable with this story. It blends the past and present together to weave a beautiful story. It has romance with a not-so-happy ending. It reveals that often we don’t know those we’re closest to. The story also teaches us that what we want isn’t what we need.

For some readers their pet peeve was that Mags’ unrequited love story and Sara’s current love story are almost mirror image. I found it interesting in that Sara learned from her grandmother’s mistake. I found it a beautiful part of the story.

This book can seem to drag on, but it can also draw one in. I was drawn into and found there were times I couldn’t put it down. As I said previously “life” came between me and this book. I think on a subsequent book it would be a 2-4 day read.

If you’ve never read any of Denton’s works – this book and “Glory Road” are stand alone stories so the reader can start with any one of them. If you’ve read “Glory Road” and enjoyed it, you will likely enjoy this. Denton’s second novel is “Hurricane Season”, again, a standalone title.

This, like “Glory Road”, is a clean Christian Romance read. There are no “sex” scenes in it. The language is mild and completely inoffensive. For those who are fans of “clean” romance reads, this one definitely fits into that category.

[fernemysteryreader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Some individuals were born to be storytellers. Laura K. Denton proves with her debut novel that she was born to be a storyteller. The story flows seamlessly from past to present and present to past sharing the lives of Mags (originally named Margaret and also known as Maggie) and her granddaughter Sara Jenkins. As Sara was essentially raised by Mags, Sara doesn't think that there could be any surprises or secrets about her grandmother's life that she doesn't know. She is wrong!I loved the name of Sara's shop of antiques, furniture, and unique items in New Orleans. Bits and Pieces sounds like a treasure chest just waiting for customers to make their own discoveries (or perhaps with a little sales pitch from Allyn). As the story unfolds, the reader learns Bits and Pieces about The Hideaway in Sweet Bay, Alabama. Sara had lived at the The Hideaway and no longer thought of it as a bed and breakfast but as the home of her grandmother and her friends. Upon learning of the death of Mags, Sara thinks she'll return to Sweet Bay for about a week. She is wrong!The beautiful cover invites the reader to sit for a spell on the porch of The Hideaway and sometimes I felt like I was rocking on the porch waiting for Mags to join me and sometimes I felt like Sara would come out on the porch at any moment with a glass of iced lemonade.I can't wait to read more novels crafted by this author. The discovery of this novel was a lovely way to begin a new year and to add a name to my list of favorite authors.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sara goes home to wrap up her grandmother's estate. Tasked with restoring the bed and breakfast to its former glory, Sara also discovers things she didn't know about her grandmother's past. I found Mags story line pretty sad but was happy to see that Sara got a chance at a more fulfilling and less closed off life.

[headinherbooks_27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am so glad that Amazon recommended this to me! It contains the essence of loss and hope. It was beautifully written. Reminded me of Karen White's stories.

[bookczuk · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed this as a "palate cleanser" from some other reading I'm doing-- no surprises, but a nice story

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Hideaway, Lauren K. Denton’s debut novel, was my book club’s selection this month. I was eager to read it since I had already read her second novel, Hurricane Season, and knew that this one had been a best seller. A debut novel that became a best seller — there had to be a reason. Yes, yes there was. The novel is written in the currently popular dual time/story style. It tells in first person accounts the stories of Mags and her granddaughter, Sara. The similarities between the two women become apparent as the narrative progresses. Both chose to run away from other’s plans for their lives, as well as emotionally difficult relationships. Part love story, part women’s fiction, the novel was an enjoyable read and got a unanimous thumbs up from my group.The dual story line style can be difficult to sustain, as a reader often loses interest in one of the stories. Denton does a great job of maintaining the pacing of each storyline. The characters are interesting, although caused frustration for more than one member of our group. There are a lot of assumptions, wrong assumptions, that they make that cause pain and separation. I did like that as Sara came to know and understand her grandmother (and recognize their similarities), that her choices were informed by the wrong turns her grandmother took. The setting of the novel is perhaps the best part of the novel. Denton does a wonderful job of creating the world that is The Hideaway. There is also a sweet love story that will appeal to the romance fan. Now for the cons of the book. The novel was published by a Christian publishing house, yet there really isn’t anything Christian about it. A secondary character is described as a person of faith, but not much is said beyond that. Mags has an almost come-to-Jesus moment that also goes absolutely nowhere. My group was a bit puzzled by that scene as well as the lack of regret for the more adult of situations. Did it keep us from liking the book? Not really. We just expected a deeper reading experience.All in all, my book club and I liked The Hideaway. Well-written with great characters and a wonderful sense of place, it definitely is a good read. But if you are looking for a novel with a strong Christian message, I would pass on this one.Recommended.Audience: adults.(I purchased a Kindle version of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[lisasharvey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

THE HIDEAWAYLauren K. DentonMY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️PUBLISHERThomas NelsonPUBLISHEDApril 11, 2017A charming Southern novel about a ramshackle Victorian house that had the power to change the lives of two women desperately in need of something more. SUMMARYIn January 1960, twenty year old, Margaret VanBuren leaves her unfaithful husband and their three year marriage behind. She didn't know where she was going, she just knew she had to get away. She ends up in Sweet Bay, Alabama at The Hideaway, a bed and breakfast that had seen better days. She found happiness there among a motley crew of artists and ever changing tenants. In the present day, Sara Jenkins owns a thriving antique store in New Orleans and loves the Big Easy. Sara get a call from Sweet Bay informing her that her grandmother, Mag’s has passed away. She heads home to make arrangements. She shockingly learns that Mags has willed her The Hideaway and charged her with renovating it. Considering the condition of the house and the tenants that live there, that is no small task. When cleaning up, Sara discovers a box in the attic with some surprising clues about her grandmother’s life. With the help of Mag’s friends, Sara pieces together a mysterious life of bravery, passion and choices that changed Mag’s destiny.When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway by eminent domain, Sarah is forced to make a choice. She could stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she's grown to love or leave and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans.REVIEWTHE HIDEAWAY is creatively told from the two interwoven perspectives of Mag’s and Sara. The writing is smooth and easy and you'll be turning pages incredible fast. Loved the plot and all the characters. A great book for a breezy afternoon with a tall glass of sweet tea. A few things about the book caught my attention that I just couldn't reconcile. The ease and swiftness of the eminent domain process and lack of a court fight was totally unrealistic, and will have my lawyer friends shaking their heads. The other issue was when the previous owner of the house Mrs. DeBerry left, she just disappeared in the dark of night, she didn't sell the house to Mags, so was Mag’s even the legal owner of the the house? If not, how could she leave the house to Sara in her will. Perhaps I missed something. But regardless of my issues THE HIDEAWAY is a solid debut novel by LAUREN K. DENTON.

[mchwest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Where did the month go! For the first time I can remember I only read one book this month. We were in the middle of a huge move and I just couldn't settle long enough to read and too tired when I would go to bed at night. Ok, enough about me, this book was wonderful, it gave you a great cast of quirky characters and a wonderful old house being restored and a huge twist at the end. I had never read Lauren Denton before but will make sure I have anything else she has written now!

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm not sure where to begin with this review. Well I think I must first say I'm still in awe of the authors beautiful writing. The story took me back to a time in my childhood when I was happy. I would visit my granddad on his farm every summer. He built the two story house himself and had the most gorgeous wrap around front porch. As I began to read this book I felt like "The Hideaway " was just like my granddad's house. The memories made there were priceless. I loved reading about Mags and her spirit that was full of life. To read her story was like walking back in time with my grandmother. The house was always full of wonderful people who became family. Mags had a love for her home and when people came to stay they never wanted to leave. Oh my how the story flowed so smoothly from Mags to Sara. Sara is shocked to find out that her grandmother has left her home to her. I know it was hard for Sara to go back there but what she discovers there is more than just a house. As Sara decides to renovate the place she uncovers a secret about her grandmother that will change her life. There are wonderful characters that make the story emotional and heartwarming at the same time. Will Sara be able to renovate the house and fulfill her grandmother's wish? What will Sara decide about her shop back at home? I loved how Sara was able to know her grandmother better as the story unfolded. The author has included discussion questions at the end which will make a great compliment to a book club. I highly recommend this book and encourage book clubs to put this on their list. If you aren't in a BookClub then grab the book , get comfy and allow the author to sweep you away to meet Mags at "The Hideaway." I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Hideaway is a debut novel by Lauren K. Denton. Sara Jenkins lives in New Orleans where she owns her own shop called Bits and Pieces. She gets a call from her grandmother’s attorney asking her to contact him. Later that day Sara calls Vernon Bains, the lawyer and discovers that her eccentric and fun loving grandmother, Mags passed away. Sara was raised by Mags after her parents passed away in a car accident. She was raised at Mags’ bed and breakfast, The Hideaway along with the guests that checked in, but never checked out. Sara leaves the shop in the care of Allyn, her trusty assistant, and heads back to Sweet Bay, Alabama (three hours away). When the will is read, Sara finds out that she has been left The Hideaway, a bed and breakfast, along with funds to restore it. Her grandmother’s wish was for Sara to restore The Hideaway. Sara is reluctant to stay in Sweet Bay for that length of time, but she feels a pull to the home. As Sara starts going through the house, she finds a box in the attic. It contains mementos belonging to her grandmother, Margaret Van Buren (aka Mags). Mags had wanted to share her story with Sara, but she died before she could accomplish the task. Mags’ friends (the permanent guests of The Hideaway) along with the possessions in the box, Sara starts to piece together her grandmother’s past. Mags was not always the flamboyant free spirit that Sara knew and loved. Sara discovers that she is enjoying staying in Sweet Bay, but then Sammy Grosvenor threatens The Hideaway. Sammy has been trying to buy the land for years to develop it and Mags refused to sell. Now Sammy has found another way to accomplish his goal. Can Sara find a way to save this special house or will she return to her life in New Orleans?The Hideaway is a sweet novel that I enjoyed reading. I found it well-written, contained a good setting, and had a good pace. There are a variety of quirky characters that enhance the book and go along with the Southern charm and setting. The book is written with alternating chapters. We are in the present with Sara’s story and then in the past with Mags’. I give The Hideaway 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). While The Hideaway is released by a Christian publisher, it is not a true Christian novel. There is no foul language or explicit sex scenes (thank heavens), but there is adultery. Religion is not a factor in this story. I appreciated the author’s descriptive writing that made the setting and characters come to life. Ms. Denton also did a good job with mingling the past and the present. There is the requisite romance in the story between Sara and the contractor (Crawford) she hired to restore The Hideaway. I did feel that the book was just a little too long and there were a couple of slow, meandering spots. The end was a bit rushed with some strange details (I was say but then it would be a spoiler). Otherwise, I enjoyed Lauren K. Denton’s debut novel The Hideaway. The Hideaway is a charming novel that readers can enjoy on a slow, summer afternoon with a glass of cold, sweet tea.

[arthistorychick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Hideaway by Lauren K. DentonSource: NetgalleyMy Rating: 5/5 starsMy Review: I’m just going to go ahead and call it right now, Lauren K. Denton’s The Hideaway is on my list of favorite reads for 2017!! From start to finish, I was emotionally invested in this read and couldn’t put this book down!!Margaret van Buren, Mags to her friends, is a fixture in her small town. In all her decades, Mags has come to be known as the slightly nutty old lady who owns and operates the once beautiful, but now rundown bed and breakfast known as The Hideaway. Mags is kind and generous, caring and devoted, and determined and independent. Most know The Hideaway to be more refuge than fully functioning bed and breakfast, but what most don’t know is The Hideaway was once a refuge for its long-time proprietor. In fact, if it weren’t for The Hideaway, Mags’ life may have been radically different. For years, Sara has made her life in New Orleans where she owns a specialty shop and works as an interior designer. When time permits, and it often does not, Sara returns to The Hideaway to visit her grandmother, Mags. Never, not in her wildest dreams would Sara have suspected she would one day be the proud owner of The Hideaway. In fact, Sara has never considered returning home until she gets the call about Mags’s death. In an instant, everything Sara has known and built gets turned upside down as Mags’s will requires her to not only return to The Hideaway, but to restore it to its former glory. With the decision made to renovate, Sara digs in and plays to her skills and talents turning The Hideaway into a beautiful home and a once-again fully functioning bed and breakfast. Digging through the old house and sorting Mags’s belongings gives Sara chance to understand her grandmother in a way she never has before. Sara find secrets and stories never told which impacts her own life as much as they did Mags’s life. With each new revelation, Sara finds herself feeling closer to her grandmother than ever before and seriously considering spending the rest of her life at The Hideaway. The Bottom Line: I absolutely loved this book even though it made me cry ? The Hideaway isn’t just a story, but the recounting of the life of one woman who overcame adversity, sacrificed her own happiness for the sake of others, and made a place for herself in the world. Mags’s life was full of both great sorrow and tremendous joy and that all plays out as her granddaughter brings her beloved bed and breakfast back to life. This is a story of discovery, of love lost and found, of great caring and friendship, and overwhelming emotion. The past meets the present as Sara struggles to understand her own place in the world and learns to accept that what she thought she knew and wanted may not be what’s best for her in the long run. The Hideaway is a beautifully woven together tale sure to captivate the reader.

[beckyhaase · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

THE HIDEAWAY by Lauren K DentonSara, a successful shop owner living in New Orleans and loving it, inherits a rundown Alabama Bed and Breakfast inhabited by a collection of odd seniors. When her grandmother’s will requires that she live in the B and B while it is renovated, a number of problems crop up. Will she find love or disappointment –again? Will the house be the beauty she envisions? Will the unscrupulous developer derail her plans? What was her grandmother really like?All these questions and more are answered in this charming novel filled with well-developed and quirky characters. The plot meanders through several plots and subplots. While not a great novel, it is a satisfying read for a summer afternoon. Sip some sweet tea and enjoy being warmed by this sweet story. Surprisingly, although printed by a Christian publisher, God barely makes an appearance.3 of 5 stars

[debkrenzer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just loved this story. Sara's grandmother, Mags, dies and Sara must leave New Orleans and go back to Sweet Bay, Alabama to the home where she grew up. This isn't just any home. It's an old B&B where Mags has let all her friends come and live with her. It's filled with people Sara has known most of her life. Sara finds out that it is her grandmother's last wish that she renovate the old house and either make it a new B&B and live there or sell it. Sara is determined to sell. Her life is in New Orleans where she has a boutique business, friends and Mitch.However, while renovating Sara finds an old box and secrets about her grandmother she did not know. There is the matter of a land developer trying to buy her grandmother's property and trying to turn it into condos and a tourist trap. And then, there is also the matter of the construction supervisor who has been in charge of the renovation who has been spending a lot of time at her place. Is there something there? Surely, she can trust her helper to run the store in New Orleans, can't she?This story was so rich in southern history and family folklore. I just loved the character Mags. I wanted her to be my grandmother. And her one big secret - it's sad it had to be such a secret for so long. This was such a feel good story. I just loved it. Huge thanks to Thomas Nelson for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

[kek55 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sarah inherits her grandmother's home and returns to the small Alabama town where she grew up, thinking she'll stay just long enough for the funeral and a visit to a real estate agent to start the sale of the property before she returns to her busy antique shop in New Orleans. But she finds herself unexpectedly drawn to the old house and its environs and, as she settles into a remodeling project and explores, is surprised to learn that she didn't really understand the woman her grandmother was, and that she completely underestimated the draw her hometown would have on her.The chapters move back and forth between Sarah in the modern day and her grandmother in the 1960's and trace the two women's love lives and challenges. With its focus on family and relationships, this a very satisfying read.