Title: Low Country Summer
Author: Dorothea Benton Frank
384 pages, Published by William Morrow Paperbacks
Dorothea’s Info.: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Buy The Book: Amazon
Summary:
“Happy birthday? My pig-farmer boyfriend was in absentia, the county sheriff was the current cause of some very naughty thoughts, my drunk sister-in-law was passed out at my kitchen table, and my dead mother had sent balloons. What else could a girl want?”
On the occasion of her 46th birthday, Caroline Wimbley Levine is concerned about filling the large shoes of her late, force-of-nature mother, Miss Lavinia, the former Queen of Tall Pines Plantation. Still, Caroline loves a challenge—and she simply will not be fazed by the myriad family catastrophes surrounding her. She’ll deal with brother Trip’s tricky romantic entanglements, son Eric and his mysterious girlfriend, and go toe-to-toe with alcoholic Frances Mae and her four hellcats without batting an eye, becoming more like Miss Lavinia every day . . . which is not an entirely good thing.
Return with New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank to the South Carolina Lowcountry—as a new generation stumbles, survives, and reveals their secrets by the banks of the mighty Edisto River. (Summary provided by William Morrow Paperbacks.)
My Thoughts:
I grew up visiting my grandparents in South Carolina at least once a year. My grandparents lived in Charleston, and I always loved the beauty and grandeur of the city. Dorothea Benton Frank’s novel Lowcountry Summer takes place in the Lowcountry region near Charleston. Reading Lowcountry Summer made me feel like I was back at my grandaddy’s home in Charleston eating biscuits and grits around the dining room table. Frank’s love for South Carolina and the Lowcountry can be felt on every page.
The main character, Caroline Wimbley Levine, lives in the plantation home her recently deceased mother left her, and memories of Miss Lavinia surround her as she takes over as reining matriarch of the Wimbley family. On the day of Caroline’s 46th birthday party, the quiet gathering is interrupted by her brother Trip’s wife, Fancis Mae, whom he has been separated from for years. This incident leads to a summer of change for everyone in the family, especially Caroline. Dorothea Benton Frank clearly knows the South. Every family get together scene she writes is filled descriptions of the Southern delicacies being served and the Southern slang that my family uses on a daily basis. Above all you can feel the deep family bond within the Wimbley family. By deep bond, I mean they are all in each other’s business twenty-four hours a day!
As the plot develops, Francis Mae is sent to a rehab , and Trip along with his saintly girlfriend of many years, Rusty are left to take care of Trips’s four daughters over the Summer. Soon Caroline inserts herself into her brother’s situation by trying to “civilize” his daughters, because she believes being raised by Francis Mae rates along the lines of a child being raised by wolves. Caroline is dealing with all of this while juggling two romantic interests, Bobby and Matthew. One of the funniest scenes in the book occurs when 911 needs to be called after she has bedded one of her lovers.
However, Lowcountry Summer will not only make readers laugh but cry as well. Caroline also has worries about her son, Eric’s love life. Eric is in college and while she doesn’t want to intrude, she also desperately wants her son to open up to her. When a family tragedy occurs, Caroline finds herself stepping into her mother, Miss Lavinia’s shoes. In the midst of dealing with the family tragedy, it becomes clear that Caroline has a decision to make regarding her love life, but how can she bring herself to commit to a man after a disastrous first marriage? Frank makes readers feel as though they are getting a true glimpse into the life of a Southern family with a little bit of magic and superstition thrown into the mix to add a little spice.
Dorothea Benton Frank has the rare talent of making readers laugh through their tears. Readers who enjoy movies like Steel Magnolia’s or Pat Conroy’s novels will love Lowcountry Summer by Dorothea Benton Frank.
I am so happy to have had the chance to participate in the Dorothea Benton Frank read along hosted by TLC Book Tours. Stop by the other blogs on the tour below to read about more Dorothea Benton Frank novels.
Photo Credit: The photos I used throughout the post with the exception of the cover art and the TLC logo were purchased from iStockphoto.
Monday, April 15th: An Unconventional Librarian – Porch Lights
Friday, April 19th: Books in the City – Lowcountry Summer
Monday, April 29th: Paperback Princess – Porch Lights
Tuesday, April 30th: Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews – Lowcountry Summer
Tuesday, April 30th: Beth Fish Reads – Lowcountry Summer – preview post
Wednesday, May 1st: Alison’s Book Marks – Porch Lights
Sunday, May 5th: BermudaOnion’s Weblog – Porch Lights
Tuesday, May 7th: Book Journey – Return to Sullivan Island
Tuesday, May 7th: The Well-Read Wife – Lowcountry Summer
Wednesday, May 8th: Jenn’s Bookshelves – Porch Lights
Thursday, May 9th: Silver’s Reviews – Porch Lights
Thursday, May 9th: Beth Fish Reads – Lowcountry Summer
Wednesday, May 15th: bookchickdi – Return to Sullivan Island
Friday, May 24th: Alison’s Book Marks – Sullivan’s Island
Tuesday, June 11th: Paperback Princess – The Last Original Wife
Wednesday, June 12th: Book Journey – The Last Original Wife
Thursday, June 13th: The Well-Read Wife – The Last Original Wife
Monday, June 17th: An Unconventional Librarian – The Last Original Wife
Tuesday, June 18th: Silver’s Reviews – The Last Original Wife
Wednesday, June 19th: Books in the City – The Last Original Wife
Thursday, June 20th: Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews – The Last Original Wife
Monday, June 24th: bookchickdi – The Last Original Wife
Wednesday, June 26th: Alison’s Book Marks – The Last Original Wife
Thursday, June 27th: Jenn’s Bookshelves – The Last Original Wife
Date TBD: BermudaOnion’s Weblog – The Last Original Wife
Date TBD: Booking Mama – Porch Lights
Date TBD: Booking Mama – The Last Original Wife
Date TBD: Alison’s Book Marks – Lowcountry Summer
Date TBD: Beth Fish Reads – The Last Original Wife
FTC Disclosure: The publisher provided me with a copy of the book mentioned (I did buy an eReader copy though!), and I receive a small commission on all purchases made through using the Amazon links on this site.
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