Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

Mar 04, 2008

Beth rated it:

I was able to read an advance reviewer copy of this book. It was an enjoyable read, although I think the end wrapped up waaaay too quickly and neatly. Also, I expected to get a lot more feel for the South Carolina low country, but this was just about the character's relationships.

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Apr 13, 2008

Leane rated it:

Esay read. Not her best with a rushed ending.

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Apr 29, 2008

Leigh rated it:

I love Dorothy Benton Frank's books but the quality of her work has dropped off sharply with her last several books. Bulls Island felt rushed. Like she'd slapped it together in a month or two. It was too predictable and lacked the magic of Plantation or even Pawley's Island. It was a struggle to finish Bulls Island. I did't find Bett to be particularly likeable either.

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

May 07, 2008

Lydia rated it:

Still struggling to finish. I love this writer so I will keep at it.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

May 09, 2008

Kathy rated it:

I have enjoyed all of Dorthea Benton Franks books set in the Charlston area of South Carolina. While I enjoyed this one as well, it was not up to the usual quality. It does make a good summer/beach read.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 02, 2008

Donna rated it:

not as good as her others, a financial expert is sent to her hometown to work on a project with her ex-fiance to develop a former wildlife refuge.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 17, 2011

bookczuk rated it:

I like reading DBF because I basically am somewhat of a narcissist -- I like reading about Charleston, my town. I like when I recognize places and even the occasional real life person featured in the book. Usually, the books are good natured enough to amuse me -- what I consider a light read between the heavier tomes I sometimes read. This book, though, pretty much upset me from the get-go because of two essential plot devices: the selling of Bull's island to developers, and Bett's secret ab More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 23, 2008

Kelly rated it:

One word to describe Bulls Island, by Dorothea Benton Frank- mesmerizing!
New York Times bestselling author, Dorothea Benton Frank was born and raised on Sullivans Island, South Carolina. Today, her and her husband, Peter, divide their time between New York and Charleston. They have two children in college.
A tale between two rivaling families- The Langley’s, high and mighty, with more money than an army would know what to do with, have been feuding with the Barrett famil More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Apr 09, 2011

The rated it:

Bulls Island is Southern charm @ its finest!

Betts McGee ~ love that stripper/poker ace name ~ is a force to be reckoned with. Dare I say a hybrid of a Koala bear, gator & pit bull. She is a splendid heroine. Betts has an admirable spirit & an incredible heart.

JD's mama, Louisa Langley is an intimidating bitch! This matriarch was born w/ talons & tries to reign over her son, daughter-in-law, hubby & Charleston society.

Think about a Southern Queen mum. Cool visual, eh More...

0 comments like

Feb 25, 2011

Susan rated it:

When I got the note that this was the one they were going to send me, I was really thrilled, because I have enjoyed previous novels by this author. Bulls Island was yet another great book, written as most of her others are in the setting of the South Carolina Lowcountry. I've never visited that area of the U.S., but I long to go now that I have "traveled" there through her novels. There's something extra-special about that area, I can tell from just reading about it.

Bulls I More...

0 comments like

Sep 08, 2010

Shira rated it:

Betts McGee is about to have her past come back to bite her in the butt. Betts was happily engaged to her childhood sweetheart in Charleston, SC... for about an hour. That evening a tragic accident happens to Betts' family and everyone blames her fiance's mother, including her fiancé. Unfortunately, Betts' family also blames HER. Feeling alone and unable to find it in her heart to marry into the family that has ripped hers apart, she leaves town and takes her secret with her- she's pregnant. 19 More...

0 comments like

May 09, 2009

Phyllis rated it:

I enjoy books by this author because, at least in the ones I've read, the heroine is usually southern, independent, strong and sassy - just like me (ha ha!) They are also usually a size 6, which is a whole different story... that said, I didn't enjoy this story as much because it seems a bit farfectch. The heroine, a southerner cum new yorker, is forced to return to her hometown in south carolina and see her estranged family and former fiancee for the first time in 20 years. Her present life is More...

0 comments like

Nov 18, 2009

Andrea rated it:

A neighbor loaned me this book, which I enjoyed. It was a romance born in the deep south of Charleston, South Carolina.

Betts McGee is engaged to be married to J D Langley, of THE Langley's of Charleston. The Langley's don't own all of Charleston, just the parts they want. But Betts is not the wife J D's mother wants for him, and makes it quite plain when Betts' parents are there for the engagement dinner. Her parents leave before dessert as they feel they are not welcome, but Betts' More...

0 comments like

Aug 15, 2010

Lauren rated it:

Ms. Frank is a talented writer, and I loved the book (until the end anyway). Betts is a mother to a teenager and a competent businesswoman with a dark secret and a tragic past. J.D. is her long-lost love, also a rich businessman trapped in a loveless marriage. A chance business partnership brings them back together and drama ensues. The characters are flawed, multidimensional and believable, the plot is interesting and the story is woven together nicely. I would have given this book 5 stars if t More...

0 comments like

Apr 07, 2008

melanie (lit*chick) rated it:

received promo copy so i thought it would be a nice change from my usual :)
and now after finishing it i can recommend it as a solid beach read - easy to put down and pick up, but compelling enough that you want to finish.
i do agree with the reviewer who thought the ending was hurried - it was all resolved a little too quickly. but it was interesting and readable.

0 comments like

Apr 28, 2008

lynn rated it:

pretty predictable...girl/guy once in love separated for 20 years...girl comes home..guy still there..they have to work on a project together...what will transpire..if anything???

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 22, 2010

Kim rated it:

My mother has been encouraging me to read Dorothea Benton Frank for ages, she is her favorite author. I finally broke down and tried Bulls Island & was not disappointed. Stories about the South are so interesting, I wonder if things really work that way. The family secrets, the hidden indescretions, the "proper" behavior expectations...
The ending was sort of unreal - one of those happy endings that make you feel good, even though you know that couldn't possibly happen. Still, More...

0 comments like

Jan 11, 2011

Mary Lou rated it:

Too many unlikely happenings that require one to cast aside all sort of common sense to buy the premise that begins this yarn.

I am never entirely sure whether Dorothea Benton Frank and Anne Rivers Siddons are not the same person, their work is so similar.

Once again, a long-exiled family member comes home to the low country and attempts to mend the break of the past. Mix up this newcomer with greedy developers seeking to make yet another resort community out of pristine barrie More...

0 comments like

Apr 14, 2008

Em rated it:

Potato chip books.
Like to keep in touch with the southern gals.

0 comments like

Jul 26, 2011

Jobiska (Cindy) added it

I don't often read contemporary chick lit/romance, but this was a gift from, interestingly enough, the concierge at Wild Dunes, SC, and so I read it in gratitude and also to prolong the connection to SC that I'd enjoyed during our vacation. I'll say this--I don't really enjoy books that include infidelity (whether emotional or physical) and huge deceptions, but given that, this one wasn't too bad. I did definitely feel the SC setting. The disastrous event at the end was, I felt, a little too More...

0 comments like

Jan 05, 2012

Kendra rated it:

This book is pretty awful. It relies on old-as-dirt, overused plot devices (clashing families, girl leaves boy, girl returns home 20 years later, family secrets galore) and then also has a frenzied pace with unrealistic events toward the end.

I had heard good things about Dorothea Benton Frank, so this was disappointing. I'm willing to give her another chance, though, as I've read other reviews that said this was a poor effort by her and that it doesn't reflect the quality of some o More...

0 comments like

Jul 04, 2010

Kimberly rated it:

I am not sure what I expected, but I found this book to be a predictable, trite romance that was full of pretentious name dropping. It felt like one of those personalized books where they take generic references and add your personal information, like your child's name and the street you grew up on. While I recognized all of the Charleston references, it felt contrived...I mean really, no one in Charleston would say "I saw it in the Post and Courier"...it would just be "the news More...

0 comments like

Jun 11, 2010

Jackie rated it:

My first Frank book. I thought it was okay, but was disappointed in the ending. It seemed so fast and over with after all of the build up. The story itself was good. Changing between first person characters worked well at first, but I thought that should have been continued. I kept waiting for the other characters thoughts after being introduced to them in the beginning. From other reviews I have seen that this is not Frank's best. I enjoyed the story enough that I will seek out a few more More...

0 comments like

Oct 12, 2010

Michele rated it:

This book is about two young people who were engaged but due to circumstances in their lives separated. J.D. Langley's family did not approve of his fiancee Betts McGee. After she tragically loses her mother she moves to New York cutting off all contact from her family in Charleston, SC. J.D. is stuck in a loveless marriage when circumstances bring the two together again with Betts keeping a huge secret from everyone. This is a good beach read since it is set in a coastal town and the storyl More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 24, 2009

Pamela rated it:

I read this book, which is quite out of what I usually read, based entirely on the title I admit. Bulls Island is "home" and the author did a wonderful job of bringing that precious place, the people, and the culture to life in the pages of this story. The story itself is interesting and beautifully told with rich characterizations and a fully developed plot.

I enjoyed the story very much, and recommend it to lovers of women's lit, and romance.

0 comments like

Nov 13, 2010

Deedee rated it:

This was a particularly good one to read to sort of build upon the book written by my brother in law in a non-fiction, journalistic approach to Bulls Island. Some say Bulls, others say Bull. Who knows really? Matters not. A good book from start to finish and highly recommended for those who enjoy a good story that pulls you in and makes you identify with the characters within the pages.

0 comments like

Jun 14, 2011

Christy rated it:

I'm surprised I didn't like this more as I have read other books by Frank and really enjoyed them. I thought the dialogue in this book was trite - who really talks this way? My other dislike was that it wrapped-up far too quickly. As I said, I've enjoyed other her other books immensely, so I'll read more, but if this were my first from this author, I wouldn't be back!

0 comments like

Aug 03, 2009

Rebecca rated it:

Ok so, I headed out for a beach day recently and realized I had NOTHING to read. Nothing beachy that is. Stopped at a CVS to pick up some trashy magazines and also some sort of book. This was just terrible. Not even any sex to liven it up. I guess that's what I get for buying my paperbacks at the drugstore.

0 comments like

Dec 29, 2011

Angelark rated it:

oh, how I love Dorothea Benton Frank! Although I have only read a small handful of her books so far,they are so entertaining to read! I find myself laughing out loud at some points and crying at others,and I am always sad when I finish one of her books because I am just not ready for it to be over.

0 comments like

Feb 11, 2010

Karen rated it:

Betts calls off her engagement to the son of a family who have been feuding with her family for generations after her mother dies in a car accident indirectly caused by his mother. She doesn't see him or her own family for almost twenty years when she goes back to her home town on a work assignment.

0 comments like