New York Times Bestseller Bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe returns to her beloved Isle of Palms to tell the poignant, charming story of two women, one summer, and one very special beach house. When Cara Rutledge rents out her quaint beach house on Isle of Palms to Heather Wyatt for the entire summer, it’s a win-win by any standard: Cara’s generating income necessary to keep husband Brett’s … necessary to keep husband Brett’s ecotourism boat business afloat, and anxiety-prone Heather, an young artist who’s been given a commission to paint birds on postage stamps, has a quiet space in which to work and tend to her pet canaries uninterrupted.
It isn’t long, however, before both women’s idyllic summers are altered irrevocably: the alluring shorebirds–and the man who rescues them–begin to draw Heather out of the shell she’s cultivated toward a world of adventure, and maybe even love; at the same time, Cara’s life reels with sudden tragedy, and she wishes only to return to the beach house that had once been her port amidst life’s storms. When Heather refuses to budge from her newfound sanctuary, so begins the unlikeliest of rooming situations. While they start out as strangers, as everything around the women falls apart they learn that the only thing they can really rely on is each other.
And, like the migrating shorebirds that come to the island for the summer, these two women of different generations must rediscover their unique strengths so by summer’s end they, too, can take flight in ways they never imagined possible.more
Author Mary Alice Monroe has written another wonderful book set in the lowcountry. I always learn surprising things about the nature around us when I read her books, such as about birding, aquatic animals, and protection of the sea turtles. In this latest book, Beach House for Rent, new characters will stir our emotions. It is a new novel all on it’s own but with lovely references to themes from some of her other books. I enjoyed the book so much and it will be the perfect summer book for the beach! It was as if visiting with old friends to read of Cara, Brett, Palmer, Flo, and quick visits with Mamaw Muir, and memories of Lovie.
The beginning starts with Cara and Brett who are living in his river home. They have had disappointments in not being able to have a child of their own, but they have not faltered in their love for each other. Tragedy strikes!
We meet Heather, a young woman from Charlotte, living with anxiety due to the accident which killed her mother. Heather is renting the beach house for the summer so she can work on a commission for US postage stamps. This is so interesting to learn how the art is chosen for our postage stamps. Heather brings her three canaries… very cool!
The imagery for this novel is wonderful. I almost felt as it I could hear the waves and feel the sea breezes, and see the brown pelicans fly over. The emotions our characters experience will leave you wanting to hug them and try to comfort them at times. It is a story about dealing with grief, although not morbid. It is encouraging in the way the characters learn to deal with the disappointments and then to find that extra strength to start over, anew.
This author writes a nice story. Some of the same characters and shares history of town and characters. Nice book/story. You will want to read more!
It’s so nice to get what you expect from a book. I was looking for a solid women’s fiction set in a small town setting and that is what I got with this book. The characters, particularly Heather, are unusual, and the story inspirational, if a little predictable, in its resolution.
Live everything I’ve read by Mary Alice Monroe
I love books about the sea shore and water. This is a good read1
moving account of life’s trials
This book kept my attention all the way through it.
I love this series and have the last book on hold. I have enjoyed meeting all the characters and learning about Low Country nature.
Part of the Beach House series from this gifted author!
A wonderful story that takes place at my favorite setting…the beach! You get a love story with some real-life tragedy thrown in the mix. You also get to learn about seabirds!
A Great Book
Ms/ Monroe is always at her best.
Couldn’t wait to read one of my Favorite Authors and Series…Brought me back to The Lowcountry and some characters that I knew,and some new ones as Well…Very relatable and for me,healing..Which was very unexpected…MAMonroe is a Treasure among Writers