New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank takes readers on a rollicking ride in this Lowcountry tale about a woman whose unconventional friends and family show her the real meaning of unconditional love.Anna Lutz Abbot considers herself independent and happy—until one steamy summer when her collegiate daughter comes home a very different person, her wild and wonderful ex-husband … wonderful ex-husband shows up on her doorstep, and her flamboyant new best friend takes up with Anna’s father. And the already hot temperatures are cranked up another ten degrees by Anna’s own fling with Arthur, who is, heaven help her, a Yankee.
Now Anna must face the fact that she isn’t as in control of her life as she’d thought. And she must find a way to deal with the whole truth—not just the comfortable parts.
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I really liked this bookbecause it was about low country and only Dorethea was the one who made a good story!!!!!!!!!!
As a former hairdresser, I found it hilarious!
Couldn’t even finish it.
I used to live in South Carolina, so really liked this book. I could picture everywhere she described. Good story.
Love this author!
It was a fun read but not a great work of literature
Vocabulary excellent
Good laughs as well as tears
The south as I lived it
Was very good storyline, loved it.
This book is making me laugh out loud! I am loving it!!
This was fun to read. It was uplifting and an interesting read,
One of my earliest reads of her books. Have read all she has written.
I’ve read almost all of Dorothea Benton Frank’s books and loved them all. I’ll read anything she writes.
The best of both, funny and sorrowful in turns. The setting is special and the characters are believable. Being from the area I know readers will get a sense of time and place by the master!
In these scary times, it is nice to open a book and savor the place, friendships, and just feel like you are there, in the lowcountry.
And you meet three friends that no matter what, have stayed in touch over the years. Anna has a dream of moving out of her Dad’s and buying a home on the Isle of Palm….until her mom died, it was home.
Douglas is Anna’s dad, a doctor, widowed, and a bit set in his ways and beliefs. But he loves Anna enough to help her after she moves as he had helped her raise Emily.
Emily is Anna’s pride and joy, her daughter from rape but beloved by family. She is coming home from college to their new home, a tiny run down place that Anna adores.
Jim and Frannie are friends of Anna’s from childhood and have cared for Anna and Emily over the years. Jim is gay but married Anna so Emily would have a father until they divorced but he is still vital in their lives. Frannie is her best girlfriend, loves Jim, Emily and keeps in touch and encourages Anna.
Anna not only wants a life that matters to her but she opens her heart to opening a salon, a dream of hers, and making new friends like Lucy and reconnecting with Miss Mavis and Miss Angel. Anna reflects on her growing up years, the loss of her mother, her relationship with her Dad and the two little ladies that cared for her after the death of her mom.
You feel Anna’s optimism, her zest for a life, her openness to trying to grab her dreams and her love of home. Home matters to her, not fancy clothes or titles but a place one can breathe.
Anna has to reconcile the rape and need for revenge with her new life. She has to see her father as a man with his own problems and foibles. She wants to recreate her life.. …and be happy and drop the need to hate.
This is a joyous read with Lucy bringing in a lot of humor. A bit of magic realism in her salon and plants and life……the salon grows, the plants bloom and her life is all she wanted it to be. Definitely a happy ever after and we all need that now. Lots of atmosphere, good food, drink and friends……what more could anyone want!
This was such a wonderful book. I love how she develops the characters where you can envision how they feel and you cheer for them when they have success. If you like conflict with resolution you will love this book.
I usually enjoy Frank’s books, but one was up to her usual standards.
This was a great book – very entertaining and uplifting.
She writes a great book!!
Anna Lutz Abbot considers herself independent and happy—until one steamy summer when her collegiate daughter comes home to Isle of Palms, South Carolina, a very different person, her wild and wonderful ex-husband shows up on her doorstep, and her flamboyant new best friend takes up with her daddy. Plus Anna has a fling with Arthur, who is, heaven help us, a Yankee. Now, Anna must face the fact that she isn’t as in control of her life as she’d thought. And she must find a way to deal with the whole truth—and not just the comfortable parts
This was a wonderful story. It tells how each of the characters changed Anna’s thinking for the good.
Like coming home.