Have you ever picked up a book that quickly - nay, instantly, drew you in with its snappy dialogue and richly drawn characters? A book that braved both bathwater and lunchtime stains for the sole purpose of your reading pleasure? A book that...well, I'll save the surplus superlatives for my next book review. But have you ever read a book that you really, really liked? Don't lie to me, I can see you and your lack of eye contact and sweaty palms.
Lowcountry Summer by Dorothea Benton Frank (supplied by the abundantly generous folks at William Morrow ) was just that novel for me. There's something about a saucy Southern read replete with believeable characters and damn fine home cookin' that captures my attention each and every time, especially when our own warm summer begins to shift into fall.
In this long-anticipated sequel to Plantation, we open to our loudmouthed and somewhat eccentric heroine Caroline Wimbly Levine turning 47. However, she's less concerned with another birthday than she is with her beloved son, Eric, entering a relationship with an (older!) single mother. In addition to the former, she also has a perpetually drunk soon-to-be-ex-sister-in-law to contend with, a brother who simply cannot make up his mind and a recently deceased mother to boot; four nieces from somewhere in the depths of the DEEPEST south; and a somewhat-stinky pig-farmer boyfriend with a weak heart. Then there's Caroline's serious crush on the local sherrif, whose presence both tickles and troubles Caroline as she tries to keep her wayward family in one piece.
Ms. Frank is a master of weaving a tale that seamlessly combines humor, intrigue, and old fashioned wisdom with a little sprinkle of sex - which is exactly what this book delivers! I haven't read any of her other work, but am looking forward to doing so very soon!
Grade: B+
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