TLC Blog Tour&Review: Lowcountry Summer by Dorothea Benton Frank

Posted 25 April, 2011 by Molly(Cover To Cover Cafe) in Book Reviews / 3 Comments

About the Book:
Dorothea Benton Frank is a native of the South whose novels vividly capture the wild beauty, laid-back atmosphere, earthy characters, and charming eccentricities of life in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Written with compelling honesty and emotional depth, her stories have touched readers from coast to coast, and propelled her to the top ranks of bestsellerdom nationwide.

Now this remarkable writer revisits some of her most unforgettable characters in this enchanting new story sure to make you laugh and cry. Return with her to Tall Pines Plantation in this long-awaited sequel to her beloved bestseller Plantation. . . .

When Caroline Wimbley Levine returned to Tall Pines Plantation, she never expected to make peace with long-buried truths about herself and her family. The Queen of Tall Pines, her late mother, was a force of nature, but now she is gone, leaving Caroline and the rest of the family uncertain of who will take her place.

In the lush South Carolina countryside, old hurts, betrayals, and dark secrets will surface, and a new generation will rise along the banks of the mighty Edisto River.

Wonderfully evocative, infused with humor and poignancy, and rich with the lyrical cadences of the South, Lowcountry Summer is vintage Dorothea Benton Frank, a deeply moving novel you’ll want to savor and share.

About the Author:

Dorothea Benton Frank is the New York Times bestselling author of Bulls Island (William Morrow, 2008), The Christmas Pearl (William Morrow 2007), The Land of Mango Sunsets(William Morrow 2007), Full of Grace (William Morrow 2006),Pawleys Island (Berkley 2005), Shem Creek (Berkley 2004),Isle of Palms (Berkley 2003), Plantation (Jove 2001),Sullivan’s Island (Jove 2000), and Return to Sullivan’s Island(William Morrow 2009).

Ms. Frank has appeared on NBC’s Today show, Parker Ladd’sBook Talk, and many local network-affiliated television stations. She is a frequent speaker on creative writing and the creative process for students of all ages and in private venues, such as the National Arts Club, the Junior League of New York, Friends of the Library, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. She has also been a guest speaker at the South Carolina Book Festival; Novello, North Carolina’s Festival of Books; and the Book and Author annual event in Charleston, South Carolina, sponsored by the Post & Courier.

Before she began her writing career, Ms. Frank was involved extensively in the arts and education, and in raising awareness and funding for various nonprofits in New Jersey and New York. At the present time she serves on the boards of The South Carolina Historical Society and The South Carolina Coastal Conservation League.

The author, who was born and raised on Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina, currently divides her time between New Jersey and South Carolina.

Find out more about Ms. Frank at her website, and follow her on Facebook.

My Review:
Southern fiction at it’s best! Wait. Hold on a second. I didn’t think that at FIRST. It was a little slow for me in the beginning with Caroline dragging on about her life. But, after a bit, I started relaxing INTO the book. I became one with the book (zen, huh?), I became a part of the southern town and it’s warm characters. Dorothea Benton Frank knows how to write women’s fiction and how to make it GOOD. 
Caroline’s life is full of craziness. Drama, craziness, what ever you want to call. It’s full of it. But, not in a bad way. She’s single, and her son is off at the wonderful world of college. Her brother Trip, married to Frances Mae-the drunken redneck gone wild, and dating Rusty, the woman of his dreams, is worried about the safety of his daughters when his soon-to-be ex wife (he hopes!) crashes her car when she’s drunk….injuring their daughter. Her son is dating a new girl, and he won’t tell her about her. Hmmm…..all of this is happening on her birthday too. Wow. What a birthday. But, with enough of the dramatic, and at times a wee bit suspenseful, twists and turns, it was enough to keep me laughing, hanging on and down right hungry for more of Frank’s work! 
Lowcountry Summer is a follow up to Frank’s Plantation. I didn’t get to read it, sadly, but, now that I’ve read this one, I MUST go back and read it! I want more of this lowcountry, southern goodness that comes in the form of awesome characters, moving plot line and down right fantastic writing! 
If you are new to Frank’s work, Lowcountry Summer is a great place to start. Though it’s a amongst many in a series, I wasn’t confused at all, and this would make a good stand alone. If you are a Frank fan, then don’t wait any longer to add this to your list of summer reads! It’s 5 star worthy and dysfunctional fun! Well done, Dorothea Benton Frank, on a fantastic southern fiction novel! 
Be sure and be on the look out for the summer release of Frank’s next Lowcountry Tale, Folly Beach, releasing 6-14-2011!
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*This book was provided for review by the publisher and TLC Book Tours*

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