Mary Alice Monroe Archives

April 20, 2021April 19, 2021

The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe

The Beach House series by Mary Alice Monroe continues with The Summer of Lost and Found, out May 11, 2021. If you’re a fan of the series, you’ve got to pick this one up and keep up with the Rutledge family story. If you’ve never read any of the series, Mary Alice did a great job of welcoming in new readers by giving enough background to jump in here (although I recommend you read them all at some point!). This is a great summer beach read series!

The Summer of Lost and Found is filled with Rutledge family (and other recurring characters) interacting, but this time, Linnea is the protagonist. The pandemic of 2020 has hit and she has been laid-off from her job at the aquarium. I know, I didn’t think I’d want to be reading about the pandemic (especially so soon), but instead of turning me off, I found myself more connected to these characters who were socializing in small pods, keeping socially distant in public, quarantining when necessary, stressing about finances, and having concern for keeping loved ones safe and healthy.

The story focuses around Linnea’s ex-boyfriend John, who has returned to visit his mother next door to Linnea, and her current boyfriend Gordon who is struggling to get out of England to visit her and conduct a research project. Who could blame John for trying to rekindle lost love? But when Gordon arrives, Linnea is faced with tough decisions in this love triangle- who does she love and who does she want to be? And yet, there is so much more depth to this book than that! So good!

I just love this series. I wish Mary Alice had included more on the turtles and less background from the past books, but I sincerely hope she has many more adventures for the Rutledge family on the Isle of Palms. Pre-order your copy from your favorite book seller today!

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. The review is my own honest opinion.)

December 10, 2020December 9, 2020

The Beach House series by Mary Alice Monroe

If the cold and snow is getting to you, why not spend some time at the beach with Mary Alice Monroe? Back in July I reviewed The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe. The Beach House can be read as a stand-alone; however, it’s the beginning of a wonderful series. If you like the first one, be forewarned, you’ll get hooked on continuing the Rutledge family story in the Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

This series was my escape during the craziness of this CoVid year. Apparently I got so caught up in them, I just realized I hadn’t posted a review since the first book. I’ve finished five in the series! The Beach House is followed by Swimming Lessons, Beach House Memories, Beach House for Rent, and Beach House Reunion. Rather than give you summaries of four books, I’ll just recommend you read them. Really. Go read them! Monroe brings favorite characters back each time with stories that are sometimes sweet, sometimes heart-breaking. It’s all about family relationships, friendships, romances, and, of course, sea turtles.

On Ocean Boulevard is the next installment which was published this year (2020). The Summer of Lost and Found comes out in 2021. You know I’ll be reading these soon! Maybe we’ll cross paths on the beach at Isle of Palms in our imaginations. If we do, be sure to look up from your book and wave at me.

(If you’d like to go back to read my review from July on The Beach House, click here.)

August 4, 2020August 4, 2020

Friends and Fiction Author Chats

I want to share something with you that shouldn’t be kept a secret. Do you remember in my recent book review on The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe, I mentioned a Facebook group I came across during the pandemic? The Friends and Fiction FB group is sponsored by five women fiction authors: Mary Kay Andrews/Kathy Trocheck (Hello, Summer), Mary Alice Monroe (On Ocean Boulevard), Kristin Harmel (The Book of Lost Names), Patti Callahan Henry (Becoming Mrs. Lewis), and Kristy Woodson Harvey (Feels Like Falling). (The books listed are their most recent.)

During the pandemic these authors felt the need to connect with each other since they couldn’t get together in person. They started connecting through Zoom for a virtual happy hour – enjoying a drink while talking books. They realized how much they were missing in-person book tours and meeting their fans so they decided to open up their weekly chat to fans by making it a weekly live video on Facebook each Wednesday at 7 pm eastern. (You can also view it later at your leisure on the FB page.) In just a few months this Facebook group has already gained 14,000 members! What started as a “limited time event” looks like it’s here to stay.

Sometimes the live chats are the five of them discussing writing and books while other times they invite a special guest to join them. Past guests have included Delia Owens (Where the Crawdad Sings), Jasmine Guillory (Party of Two), Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Dance Away with Me), Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle (Close Up)), Lisa Wingate (The Book of Lost Friends), and Drew Copeland and Ken Block (members of the band Sister Hazel) to name a few. Upcoming interviews on the summer calendar include Elin Hilderbrand on Aug. 5 (TOMORROW!), Karin Slaughter on Aug. 12, Kristina McMorris on Aug. 19, the Friends and Fiction 5 on Aug. 26, and Etaf Rum on Sept. 2. The F&F5 are finalizing other author interviews for the fall.

“The authors quickly make fans feel like good friends just hanging out together.”

I look forward to watching the live video on Facebook every Wednesday. The authors quickly make fans feel like good friends just hanging out together. We can also submit questions for them and for their guest authors. An independent bookstore is highlighted each week as the authors encourage fans to support them, especially while these businesses are struggling during the pandemic.

Friends and Fiction is a closed FB group, but anyone can join. On Facebook type Friends and Fiction in the “search groups” bar. Just ask to join and soon you will have access to their past videos, their live videos on Wednesdays, and comments and recommendations from other fans/readers. (Also check out friendsandfiction.com.) I’m amazed that with all these ladies have on their plates they want to continue doing this, but I’m so glad they do. Come join us!

July 29, 2020

The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe

Mary Alice Monroe, where have you been all my life? Why have I not read your books before?

Somehow, after all these years of reading, I had never read a book by Mary Alice Monroe. During the pandemic, I stumbled upon a new Facebook page sponsored by a group of five women writers including Mary Alice (more about that on another blog post). That’s when I learned about her newest novel, On Ocean Boulevard, and wanted to read it. But . . . it was part of a well-loved series, The Beach House series, so I had to start at the beginning.

Last week while on vacation on Sanibel Island (my happy place), I read book one, The Beach House. Wow. I loved this book. Many of you are probably laughing at me because this book was even made into a Hallmark movie starring Andi McDowell. Again, how have I missed all that?!

I want to say this author knows how to craft a story! Of course I read for enjoyment, but as a writer myself, I also pay attention to point of view, dialogue, how characters are introduced, how new conflicts are added, and so on. I was impressed by her skill. The story flowed perfectly and kept my interest the whole way through. I will certainly read the rest of this series and other books she’s written.

The Beach House takes place on the Isle of Palms. Olivia Rutledge (Lovie to her friends) knows her time is short and has asked her 40-year-old daughter Cara to come visit her. Having been kicked out of the house at age eighteen by her father, Cara has had to work for everything on her own and has isolated herself from the family. Now that her father is gone, she decides to accept her mother’s invitation, especially since her life in Chicago has recently fallen apart. When she arrives, she discovers her brother inherited the Charleston house from their father, her mother has moved to the beach house full time, and pregnant eighteen-year-old Toy lives with her mother as a companion and helper.

While at the beach house, Cara learns to appreciate her mother. Being able to see her mother through her own 40-year-old lens rather than the lens of a teenager, she learns why her mother made certain choices in an unhappy marriage. Cara is also able to better appreciate the importance of the beach house and the Turtle Team of which her mother is a founding member. Cara and Olivia are able to create a stronger mother-daughter bond after years of damage, hurt and misunderstandings. Cara also begins a relationship with a new man while on the island, a summer fling she tells herself.

I truly loved this book. Mary Alice is a master storyteller, knowing exactly when to introduce a new plot twist, character, or conflict. If you like a good beach read, you will love the story, the setting and the turtle rescues that go with it! What a great series to use to escape for awhile!

In case you’re interested, Mary Alice suggests the series should be read in this order: The Beach House, Swimming Lessons, Beach House Memories, Beach House for Rent, Beach House Reunion, and the newest addition, On Ocean Boulevard. Let me know if you’ve read and enjoyed any of Mary Alice’s books and what you thought, or if you want to read one of her books. Enjoy the warm summer days and a good beach read!