Beach House for Rent

I do love Mary Alice Monroe. Her books set in the Low Country always makes me want to visit the Isle of Palms. This is book number four in the series. I have read everything so far, except for "Beach House Memories".

This fourth book comes with major changes for the character of Cara Rutledge. Now 10 years after coming home to the Isle of Palms, she is happily married to Brett, but wishing that she had something passionate to be involved with. Doing the books for Brett's eco-tourism boat is okay, but it's not enough for her. Readers know that Cara and Brett tried multiple times to have children, and after multiple miscarriages, came to the decision that they were not meant to have children. Cara and Brett rent out Cara's deceased show more mother's cottage every summer. Now this year, they need the money more than any other time due to Brett's business struggling.

This brings us a new character, Heather who is being ushered out of her family home after her father's new marriage. Heather is going to evoke a lot of sympathy with readers. Still dealing with anxiety and PTSD after a car accident that left her mother dead, Heather is not good around people. Her father rents Cara's cottage in order to get her away from his new bride (near her age) and to allow Heather time to complete her commission by the U.S. Postal Service to pain shorebirds for new stamps. I have to say that Heather's profession was definitely a new one on me.

Monroe goes back and forth between Cara and Heather. You get to see two strong women in different points in their lives. One of them is dealing with something so huge though that it had me tearing up in sympathy too. Make sure that you keep tissues nearby. What I did like is that both Cara and Heather are going through things that are making them wish for their mothers to be there to comfort them. Instead they eventually start up a friendship that I loved.

I will complain though that I wanted more Flo and Ellie (Cara's long time friends and cheerleaders). I also think that Cara's brother Palmer is annoying. I did love how he stepped up for her in this one though. I wanted to see more of the other characters that we have been reading about for ages though like Toy and Little Lovie (see "Swimming Lessons").

The writing was like coming home again though. Being laid up I needed a comfort read. I had some books that were not doing a blessed thing for me that I sent back to the library. This one definitely hit the spot. The flow was good too. I just think that after a while I was more invested in Cara's story and Heather's story felt a bit too unfinished to me.

I absolutely loved that my Kindle version showed pictures of the different birds. I just wish it had been in color.

The ending surprised me, in a good way. Due to the changes in Cara's life, she decides a change is needed, and we have her trying something new. Immediately after finishing this, I went and bought "Beach House Reunion". show less

Escape again to the South Carolina low-country. The quiet roll of the tides, the sweet breezes that flow through the sea grass, the beauty of enduring female relationships that sustain us through every season of life. No one does slow, sultry, quintessential summer better than Mary Alice Monroe. In Beach House for Rent, the forth in the Beach House series, Monroe delivers another tale of Primrose Cottage her fans keep coming back for, and new readers will fall in love with.
Heather Wyatt is a young artist spending the summer season at Primrose Cottage studying shore birds for a commission to paint stamps. Eight years after the death of her mother she suffers debilitating social anxiety and survivors guilt. This summer away is a fresh show more start, a new page. Cara Rutledge suddenly finds herself in crisis, alone, in financial ruin, and the only thing she knows to do is return to Primrose Cottage where she has always felt closest to her mother. Two very different woman, in very different stages of their lives, both unmoored and drifting, both very alone. Although virtual strangers Cara and Heather quickly realize they must rely on each other.
Mary Alice Monroe takes a gamble here with long time readers of this series. It's a risk to take such a major leap with a character, and to place a new character in a potentially unlikable position. I'll be honest, I was not pleased at a very specific plot point. My frustration was very short lived, I understood pretty quickly where she was going. Have faith, stick with it, ride it out. It works. The payoff is worth it. Not everyone is going to feel this way, but if you do trust MAM, she doesn't disappoint!
I received an advanced reader copy (eGalley) from Gallery Books through NetGalley. This review reflects my honest and unbiased opinions. show less

Review:

In this Low-country tale we learn about loss, friendship and love. Cara and Heather find a way to live together after Cara goes through a tragedy that will change her life. Heather is new to the Beach House crew this summer, she brings with her a few canaries and learning about canaries had me wanting to run out and buy one. What a delightful full of personality little bird! I had no idea what good company they are! The setting is beautiful and I could just picture the beach and all the marvelous scenery and of course the sea turtles. Heather suffers from anxiety and the author does a wonderful job writing about how debilitating anxiety can be to a person, I commend Mary Alice Monroe for bringing this to light in this book. show more Heather slowly learns how to overcome her near agoraphobia with the help of Bo and we get to witness how Bo is her rock and guiding force in overcoming this debilitating disease. The romance between Bo and Heather was slow and sweet with many tender scenes. It was so refreshing to see these two come to love and depend on each other in a healthy way. Cara and Heather form a strong bond. Cara works through some of her issues through her friendship with Heather. We get to see the character of Cara grow stronger with each page. I think that is one of the things I loved about this book, watching Cara grow as a character. The canaries pretty near stole every scene that they were in and I could almost hear them singing! Of course the beautiful scenery of the Low-Country stole a few scenes as well.

Final Thoughts:

This book is for you if you love watching love blossom and friendships develop. As a bonus you get to hear canaries sing, smell the salt water air and feel the warm ocean breeze.This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge show less

The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe is a 2017 Gallery Books publication.

I’ve been dying to sink my teeth into this latest installment in the ‘Beach House’ series by Mary Alice Monroe!

I’ve never been disappointed by one of MAM’s novels, but this one is especially poignant and is simply storytelling at its finest.

Once again, we return to the magical beach house filled with special memories of Lovie, Cara’s mother, who stubbornly refused to sell it, eventually handing it down to her daughter. Over the years, Cara’s often overbearing and obnoxious brother, Palmer, has pushed her to sell the prime location, but Cara has firmly refused him.

However, dark and ominous financial clouds are gathering over Cara and her husband, show more Brett, which makes selling the house very tempting, indeed.

Yet, Cara stands firm against Palmer’s aggressive, hard sell, and declares the house is for rent. She just never thought she would find a renter so fast…

Heather has been commissioned to do bird sketches to be used as models for United States postage stamps!! While she is very excited about this honor, her extreme social anxiety, and panic disorder keep her from living life to its fullest. To top it off, her father recently remarried- to a much younger woman, who does not want Heather living at home any longer.

So, her father gently nudges Heather out of the nest by renting her Cara’s beach house for the summer. This will give Heather time to work with her birds, get her job done, and maybe learn to live on her own- at least for the summer.

But, when a horrific and cruel twist of fate occurs, Cara finds she really needs to recover in the peace and comfort she can only find at the beach house. However, with Heather living in the house for the summer, Cara must make a compromise that will suit them both, which soon becomes the foundation for a very special bond between these two unlikely friends.

I always find myself totally wrapped up in the drama, love, laughter, and friendship exhibited in this series.

The characters are so real, they feel like people you would meet anywhere, or that you might know personally, which makes their stories feel so real, raw, and emotional.

I really took to Heather right away, understanding what it is like to live with a disorder few people understand, and are so quick to make judgements about. The more I learned about her, the more I liked her. She made so much progress, and Bo was a big part of her journey. But, what really sold me on her character was the way she took Cara in her arms and became a rock for her, even though Cara wasn’t having any of it in the beginning.

( I found her jealousy of Heather both amusing and curious- but it eventually it all becomes very clear what is bothering Cara)

But, Cara’s story is the one that was the hardest to go through emotionally. Her fiftieth birthday has her taking stock of her life and her future, as she realizes that something is missing, something that has her feeling restless, and keeps her from feeling completely content. She’s been struggling to help Brett keep his business afloat, living out his dreams and passions while hers have all but disappeared.

I think many people wake up at some point and realize that life’s twists and turns took them onto paths they weren’t expecting. While they may have found more happiness because of those surprising developments, it may also mean one's dreams were placed on hold or never realized.

For Cara her hopes for motherhood were dashed,and she had also left her high- powered career behind to make a life with Brett, so she ended up working at a ‘job’ helping to make ends meet, but did not find it all that fulfilling.

So, in part, Cara’s story is about her journey toward the discovery of her one true passion, even at this stage in her life. We all need something we are passionate about to keep us focused and centered no matter what other ups and downs, triumphs and failures, life throws onto our path. Of course, the story is also one of friendship and loyalty, about helping people through difficult periods, and coming together in times of need.

This is a wonderful, heartwarming story, and it had the same effect on me as comfort food might, or chicken soup for the soul or something. I absolutely need these types of stories to lose myself in, to take me away from the world’s hardness for a while. No matter what, I always feel better after reading one of MAM’s novels.

One more thought, before I finish- I can’t write a review about this series, without mentioning the ecology and animals the author weaves into her stories, which educates, but also serves as a reminder, that we are responsible for the well being of birds, and all beach life and aquatic creatures, no matter how superior you may feel, or how entitled you may feel about using the beach for your own enjoyment.

As always, I came away from this story feeling humbled and deeply satisfied. Another outstanding job by this author! I do hope, like Cara promised, she will be back soon! show less

BEACH HOUSE FOR RENT
(Beach House #4)
MARY ALICE MONROE

MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PUBLISHER Gallery Books
PUBLISHED June 20, 2017

An enchanting beach story of two strong-willed women struggling to overcome emotional hardships while surrounded by good friends and the healing power of nature.

SUMMARY
Cara Rutledge loved the quaint yellow cottage perched on a dune overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Primrose Cottage has weathered the storms and the sunshine on the Isle of Palms for eighty-five years. This isolated island is where Cara had learned to swim, fish and climb trees as she was growing up. This is where she met and married the love of her life. Primrose originally belonged to Cara's mother, who passed away and handed it down show more to Cara.

Cara rented her beloved beach house to Heather Wyatt, 26, for the summer. Heather's anxiety has kept her indoors for years with her three pet canaries. Heather's summer at Isle of Palms is an exercise in living on her own, and completing an art commission painting shorebirds. Painting shorebirds requires her to go outside the confines of the beach house, an immense struggle for Heather. With help from new found friends Heather begins to flourish in this cozy cottage on the beach.

After renting the beach house to Heather, Cara experiences an immense tragedy. She longs to go back to her sanctuary, Primrose Cottage, to recover. After an initial clash, Cara and Heather agree to live together for the remainder of the summer. The two women, despite age difference help each other through difficult times, and each are able to draw their strength from friendships, and from the beautiful nature that surrounds them.

REVIEW
Two strong women, a comfortable yellow beach house, daily birdsong, good friends and romantic sunsets dinners, what could be better. Beach House for Rent was a most enjoyable read. The story was light, and it was a fabulous quick read. The characters were well developed and very likable.

Mary Alice Monroe's writing is vivid and flawless. I loved how the birds and the beach were brought to life in this book. Reading about the long neck brown pelicans, the tall pink roseate spoonbills, and strong and graceful loggerhead turtles made me yearn to smell the salt air of the low country and feel the sand between my toes. Highly recommended for a summer beach or poolside read!

Mary Alice Monroe is a New York Times best-selling fiction author known for richly textured books that explore the compelling parallels between nature and human nature. This is her fourth book in her Beach House series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Gallery Books and Mary Alice Monroe for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. show less

I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to return to the Beach House. I enjoyed reading about a female with PTSD since I suffer from it myself. I was glad to see Heather blossom in the Lowcountry and fall in love. I hated that Cara lost her husband but I was glad to see her befriend Heather and get back into the turtle team. I loved that she moved to Tennessee at the end to work for their Aquarium. Hoping for a sequel about that and Heather's life, too. I also enjoyed learning more about shorebirds.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I still preordered a copy so I will have a copy for my collection.

I feel as if I have just taken a trip to the beach and spent time with friends. Mary Alice Monroe creates such wonderful characters that you feel as if you know them and the South Carolina low Country is always an important part of her novels.

Cara Rutledge is the daughter of Lovie from book 1 and she inherited Lovie's beach house. She and her husband, Brett, rent the house out for the summer and just got a rental for the entire summer from Heather a young woman from NC who suffers from extreme social anxiety and has come to the beach to paint shore birds. As Heather works to overcome her anxiety, Cara suffers a life changing tragedy and wants to return to her mother's house. Can two women from such different age groups and backgrounds show more share the same home happily? This is a wonderful story about friendship and love and healing from tragedy.

Mary Alice Monroe is a dedicated conservationalist and her love of animals is very apparent in this book with sea turtles as well as pelicans. I always learn new things when I read her books while I am enjoying her novel and taking my mini mental vacation to the beach.

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own. show less