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Return to Sullivan's Island (Lowcountry Tales #6)
by
Dorothea Benton Frank (Goodreads Author)
Beloved "New York Times" bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank returns to the enchanted landscape of South Carolina's Lowcountry to tell the story of the next generation of Hamiltons and Hayeses.
Newly graduated from college, Beth Hayes must put all her grand ambitions on hold when the family elders elect her to house-sit the Island Gamble, ghosts and all. I
...morePaperback, 416 pages
Published
April 27th 2010
by William Morrow & Company
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I absolutely adored the first 4 or 5 Dorothea Benton Frank novels. Couldn't get enough of them. One of the things I really enjoyed was how characters from previous books would sort of drop in later books. It was nice to see them again and get another character's take on them. I was so disappointed when she stopped doing that.
I saw Return to Sullivan's Island and felt that I just HAD to read it, that it would be like seeing old friends again. Um, no. It wasn't. I read a little over ha...more
I saw Return to Sullivan's Island and felt that I just HAD to read it, that it would be like seeing old friends again. Um, no. It wasn't. I read a little over ha...more
Ugh. I have always been somewhat of a fan of Frank's - - - while I don't she ranks up there with Anne River Siddons or Pat Conroy, I DO have a great love for the lowcountry of South Carolina, and that's where she sets most of her novels. So up until this novel, I've always found them to be pleasant beach reads that carry me back to one of the places I love best in the world. This book, however, did nothing but turn me off. The main character, Beth, was so painfully immature that I truly dou...more
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This book was definitely the worst one of Dorothea Frank's I've read. Many of the characters from the first Sullivan's Island that return in this one seem to have different personalities, in many cases less likable. Beth returns as an extremely immature 23-year-old and makes some of the most ridiculously ignorant decisions I can imagine. For someone who seemed so dead-set against marriage at the beginning of the book, she sure fell head-over-heels for a clearly insensitive & highly suspicious...more
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This is definitely NOT one of Frank's best books. I have all her previous novels and have to say I was totally disappointed with this. It is basically about recent college grad, Beth Hayes who gives up grad school for a year to housesit the family home on Sullivan's Island while her mom has an opportunity of a lifetime to spend a year in Paris teaching. I must say, for a young woman, Beth is very immature. She does not want to go to the island and makes that well known, but after settling in a b...more
To say the least this book was a disappointment compared to the previous Sullivan's Island. Dorothy Benton Frank stretched herself to even get a story out of this book. On the positive side the same characters that we loved in the previous book were present minus Livve. What I missed most was the character development. I never really got into Beth's character, she was not believeable and as many critics describe she was immature and childish. I agree with that but we were all childish at th...more
Wow. This was pretty bad. The main character is an idiot. The supporting characters (and there are too many, esp since NONE of them have a storyline) are one-dimensional and hard to keep straight.
The worst part for me, though, was that this author probably writes for and appeals to women over 50 (which is fine), but this book is about a 23 yr old - and NONE of the dialogue was fit for a 23 yr old. The CONSTANT admonishments about not swearing and being lady-like and all that "So...more
The worst part for me, though, was that this author probably writes for and appeals to women over 50 (which is fine), but this book is about a 23 yr old - and NONE of the dialogue was fit for a 23 yr old. The CONSTANT admonishments about not swearing and being lady-like and all that "So...more
I bought this in an airport, thinking it would get me through my flight delay...but all I can say is that I'd like my $8 back.
The main character wasn't interesting or even all that likeable, and the language and dialogue was really dated for the age of the characters using it. I don't think I've ever heard a twenty-something say "flibbertegibbet" or "gee whiz", even if she is trying to "speak like a lady". The parts of the book that described her rom...more
The main character wasn't interesting or even all that likeable, and the language and dialogue was really dated for the age of the characters using it. I don't think I've ever heard a twenty-something say "flibbertegibbet" or "gee whiz", even if she is trying to "speak like a lady". The parts of the book that described her rom...more
As Lisa wanted to do with another book, I would like to give this one a 3.5. It's slightly better than a 3, but not a 4!
I needed a good beach book to read after Mountains Beyond Mountains and since I've read all of DBF's books, I knew this one would be a quick & light read. I don't remember all of her books that well, but this is my least favorite.
It could be a generational gap. The story is primarily about a 23 year old recent college graduate who "has to house s...more
I needed a good beach book to read after Mountains Beyond Mountains and since I've read all of DBF's books, I knew this one would be a quick & light read. I don't remember all of her books that well, but this is my least favorite.
It could be a generational gap. The story is primarily about a 23 year old recent college graduate who "has to house s...more
Have you ever seen an outline for a story and seen much potential in it only to read the final draft and find that the author never fleshed it out.That is how I feel about this book. None of the characters are fully realized The story doesn't flow Thw ideas are all there but either the effort or the time wasn't put in to have it reach it's potential. I have read, enjoyed and recommended DBF's earlier works ie Sullivan's Island,Plantation,or Shem Creek but I have been disappointed in her last 3 o...more
This was an enjoyable book about the adventures of a 23-year old for a few months on Sullivan's Island. It took us all back to the day when we made similar mistakes and had similar ambitions. The ending itself was a little perplexing. It kind of came out of nowhere. Also, in the tradition of a lot of authors, everything wraps up pretty neatly, and there aren't a lot of consequences for mistakes. I'd like to see all not turn out so well. I also don't think the occasion that required all to ...more
Return to Sullivan's Island was OK for a quick summr read, but not at the level of DBF's previous books. The main character has just graduated from college, and it appeared the author was compelled to include a list of "current technology trends" throughout the book. Descriptions of Beth's dog were a bit much, including the fact that the dog was considered to be a "grand dog" by Beth's mother. I also got a bit tired of the descriptions of the house being haunted. Sullivan...more
NO Language! Story is about a college graduate who is asked to come and house sit the family home on Sullivans Island, SC for a year so her mom can go to Paris to teach. She grudingly accepts the assignment putting her scholorship to graduate school on hold. She meets and falls in love with a man who is constructing a building complex in the small downtown on the island. Things begin to go south after she gives him money. She also finds her favorite aunt dead and the twin in complet mental break...more
I'n a big fan of Ms. Frank and have read the majority of her books. this one was not as good as some of the others. Beth as a good southern girl is obliged to babysit the family home while her Mother goes to Paris for a year and an Aunt and Uncle go to California. The scenic descriptions of the low country are awesome but the characters are not as well devloped. Beth is young, just out of college and lets her imagination run wild when she meets Max, the handsome older man. Pretty quick you see h...more
I can't wait. I am ready to go back to the Low Country
I am ashamed to even add this book to my list of books read. It is quite possibly one of the most poorly written books that I have ever completed. The dialog was ridiculous, the shifts in perspective was jarring and disruptive, the storyline was a hodgepodge with a rushed ending that felt contrived. The main character was annoying at best.
I don't understand how an editor could allow this book to be published. I am so glad I didn't spend a dime on this book and checked it out f...more
This is the sequel to Sullivan's Island. It focuses on the daughter, Beth, now graduated from college and tasked with staying at the family home for a year while her mom and aunt are traveling (mom to Paris, aunt to CA). I found her character very difficult to like- self centered, self absorbed and shallow. The plot had some challenges with some disparate storylines involving her twin aunts that have a fitness business and the main story of her relationship with Max Mitchell, a developer. I fou...more
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WOW! Another great one from Dot Frank! I had trouble putting it down as her characters are so loving and believable. I loved it as I do most of her books. The main character, Beth, learns a lot about life in the book. Beth grows up so much, and her love for Sullivans Island and her family are obvious. The ending has A LOT going on. I think the way she shows her love for Sullivans Island is heart-warming. Seeing the places mentioned in the book makes it more believable. Can't wait for Frank'...more
This is a sequel to a book Frank wrote years ago but I was disappointed in this one. Beth, recently graduated from college, comes back to the family home so her mom can go overseas. I found her character just too naive-more like a 16 year old (she falls in love after meeting a man once). Her family does have some interesting characters and the island off the coast of Charleston SC is interesting, but I almost did not finish the book I was so put off with the main character.
Disappointing. Although, maybe the book simply wasn't written for my age group. It's advertised as a summer read on the beach, and written about a 23 year old Beth who just graduated from college, who is recruited to house sit the family home that is haunted for the summer. I SO wanted the book to be more about the hauntings, but that didn't happen. The ending didn't fit well with the beginning, and I eventually found myself skimming the last pages just to get it finished.
This was a pretty good summer read. Not as good as previous books by Ms Frank. I usually love her books but this one I just liked. She either should have spent less time developing the characters and more time telling the story or this should have been a longer book.
I don't know why publishers/writers think that we don't want to read anything over 400 pages. If the book is good then I say the longer the better. I am always sad when a good book ends.
I don't know why publishers/writers think that we don't want to read anything over 400 pages. If the book is good then I say the longer the better. I am always sad when a good book ends.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I've always like her books because I love books set in the Charleston area. However, this one was weird. The main character was a young girl just out of college and her immaturity was on full display during the entire book, which I'm sure was the intention. I did enjoy the emphasis that the author puts on the importance of family. I come from a family with lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins, and that's something I'll always treasure.
Stupid 23-year-old writer who doesn't write constantly whines about not being treated as an adult and having to put life on hold while house sitting the haunted family beach house for a year instead of going to grad school to get the opportunity to become a real writer falls in love with scam artist and loses 100 grand of her trust fund money only to have wealthy aunt die and leave her even more money finally grows up, or at least that's what the author of this awful book would have you believe.
Just an okay book. Usually I love Frank's books, but this one seemed a little forced. The main story of the unscrupulous boyfriend was a little predictable and the side story involving the twin aunts was so random and out of left field, it didn't seem to fit into place. It seemed like Frank was trying to fit too much into one book to me. I was able to finish the book but was disappointed by the effort on this one.
I always enjoy DBF's low country tales and this was no exception. This novel actually had a little air of mystery as well, albiet it was a bit far-fetched. The biggest difference in this story was that it was mostly centered around a recent college graduate instead of a middle-aged female character, so some may find it harder to relate.
All-in-all it was an enjoyable, quick read, perfect for the end of summer.
All-in-all it was an enjoyable, quick read, perfect for the end of summer.
Dottie Franks's latest book, RETURN TO SULLIVAN'S ISLAND, takes us back to the island where strange things can happen. Beth has returned to babysit the beach house for a year while her aunts and uncles go about their new ventures. Beth, a recent graduate from college, determines that she can make it there for a year. She proudly finds two part-time jobs that lead her to find a man who appears to block all reasoning and senses.
Of course, we can't have an island book without the non-ver...more
Of course, we can't have an island book without the non-ver...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
As sequels go, this one was a bit of a disappointment. I've heard Frank speak about her love affair with Sullivan's Island (the place of her youth) but the plot was contrived and the characters who we met in Sullivan's Island had lost some of their uniqueness. Still, it was a nice change of pace from the Indian sub continent.
And I'll read more of Ms. Franks's novels.
And I'll read more of Ms. Franks's novels.
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Dorothea Benton Frank is the New York Times best selling author of ten novels.
Dottie has appeared on NBC's Today Show, Parker Ladd's Book 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 as the National Arts Club, the Junior League of New York, Friends of the...more
More about Dorothea Benton Frank...
Dottie has appeared on NBC's Today Show, Parker Ladd's Book 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 as the National Arts Club, the Junior League of New York, Friends of the...more
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