Genre:
Women’s Fiction
Format:
E-ARC
Publisher:
Gallery Books
Release Date:
May 22, 2018
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Whisking you back to the shores of her bestselling Beach House series, Mary Alice Monroe weaves together a tale of the struggles and triumphs of the historic Rutledge family of Charleston, South Carolina. Beautifully wrought and rich with keen insight, this is an illuminating tale of new beginnings, resilience, and one family's enduring love.
Cara Rutledge returns to her Southern home on the idyllic Isle of Palms. Everything is comfortingly the same, yet each detail is rife with painful memories. Only through reconnecting with family, friends, and the rhythms of the lowcountry can Cara release the hold of the past and open herself to the possibility of a new love, career, and hope for the future.
Meanwhile, her niece Linnea, a recent college graduate who doesn't know where her life will take her, leaves her historic home in Charleston, with all its entitlement and expectations, and heads to her aunt's beach house. On the island, she is part of the freer, natural ocean lifestyle she loves, rejoining the turtle team, learning to surf, and falling in love. Remembering the lessons of her beloved grandmother, Lovie, the original "turtle lady," Linnea rediscovers a meaningful purpose to her life and finds the courage she needs to break from tradition.
In this heartwarming novel, three generations of the Rutledge family gather together to find the strength, love, and commitment to break destructive family patterns and to forge new bonds that will endure long beyond one summer reunion.
My Review
Cara Rutledge is heading home to Charleston, South Carolina where the beach house she inherited from her mother is located. Cara’s past haunts her, but she’s determined to put it behind her and start living again.
Cara’s niece, Linnea, is looking to put her life on track as well. Now that she’s a college graduate, she needs to figure out her career and what direction her life will go. Unfortunately, she has to escape her family’s plans first and go her own way. She stays with Cara at the beach house to try and accomplish this.
Cara and Linnea have much to deal with including new romantic and career possibilities. Now if they can just put the Rutledge expectations behind them, all would be well.
Mary Alice Monroe does a wonderful job of transporting the reader right to the beach in South Carolina. These are realistic characters with realistic problems to solve. I think readers can identify and care about these characters. I know I did.
The pages turn quickly and I didn’t want the book to end. I wanted to stay with the Rutledges at the beach house and see what else is in store for them. It’s a poignant, moving story of a family that truly loves each other, but is controlled by their past and can’t seem to move forward.
This is the 5th book in the Beach House series. I’ve only read #4 and now #5. I quickly became a fan. I do want to go back and read the first three books, but it feels like I already know the history. Mary Alice Monroe is quickly becoming a “must read” author for me.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Happy Sunday, Yvonne! This book (and series) sounds quite "readable". I hope to read some beach-themed books now that it's summer.
ReplyDeleteSounds good, you can be transported to the beach without actually going :)
ReplyDeleteI'm about to start the first book in this series and am really looking forward to it. This sounds so sweet and like such a great read!
ReplyDelete