Tag: The Beach House series

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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.)

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The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe

 

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!