All Summer Long Dorothea Benton Frank. TLC Book Tour

Published: William Morrow
Date: March 7th 2017
Format:Paperback Reprint Edition
Pages: 400
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating:
                   

Filled with her trademark wit, poignant themes, and rich characters, the perennial New York Times bestselling author returns with a sensational novel that follows the travels of one couple though a tumultuous summer.

Dorothea Benton Frank’s magical stories take us deep into the heart of her beloved Carolina Lowcountry. In her novels, this lush landscape comes alive in all its vibrancy and color. She ignites all of our senses with her vivid descriptions of landscape and atmosphere. In her novels you hear the ocean washing the shore on different islands so profoundly that you can nearly hear the sea gulls squawking, too.This is a story of people whose lives are changing—a southern gentleman returning home to lead a more peaceful life and his talented New York wife who is not quite sure she is ready to make the transition. They are moving north to south, fast pace versus slow pace, downsizing. And while they are doing this, they are getting glimpses into other people’s lives over the course of a summer, holidays that will amuse, shock and transform them.

This irresistible story is home to captivating characters as funny, complicated, and real as our best friends—husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, friends and family who wrestle with the complexities, pain, and joys familiar to us all.

Finally, we’ll come to recognize the face of love, the kind that deepens and endures but only because one woman makes a tremendous leap of faith. That leap changes them all.

Olivia - interior designer in NY who is on the brink of bankruptcy, she needs new clients to keep her business going, quite a hoarder, many expensive knick knacks.

Nick - husband, absent minded professor about to retire - moving to Sullivan's Island. doing up beach house bought by Olivia, so they are about to down size, which gladdens minimalist Nick's heart. Also happens to be anxious and a little OCD about hygiene on planes etc.

Nick and Olivia have their peccadilloes, yet they love each other and their relationship is strong. Both are principled people and they are really well matched.

Contrasted with them is the very wealthy Bob who has provided Olivia with much business due to the fact of his oft changing of the guard in terms of wives.  The present wife Maritza is someone who loves Bob but its obvious his eye is roving again. They have one very indulged four year old daughter and a nanny Ellen who is the object of the roving eye.  Along with them are the hangers on who surround Bob and live the life of the tedious rich. Some rather revolting on a catty level. 

It took me a little while to become wrapped up in this book, but once Maritza entered the story for some reason I became caught up in it and read the book in just over a day. Maritza might appear a little ordinary to some of those catty women, but when she stands she sure does it well.

I loved the exploration of does wealth bring happiness? Is lack of money going to bring unhappiness, what is true friendship and what makes a great marriage?  The range of settings was fun and I enjoyed visiting them all. There was the contrast of city and country life and the simple and the rich life.  Dorothea Benton Frank's writing brings them all very much alive.

I ended up loving this book and the characters in it, it was with great reluctance I closed the book at the end. 

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About Dorothea Benton Frank

New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank was born and raised on Sullivans Island, South Carolina. She resides in the New York area with her husband. Find her on the web at www.dotfrank.com, or like her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

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