By Invitation Only

Nothing says summer like a new Dorothea Benton Frank book, but this season's By Invitation Only is especially appropriate this year. The protagonist has the same first name as me (Diane), and her son is getting married (so is mine) to a young woman he met at work, a fellow accountant. (My son met his bride-to-be at their accounting jobs too.)

So you can see why I would be excited to read By Invitation Only. Throw in the fact that Diane and her brother and mother run a peach orchard in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, where they make and sell pies at their roadside stand, well, I am hooked. (I love books about food and family-run businesses!)

Diane is a somewhat concerned about meeting her son Fred's fiancee Shelby and her family. Susan show more Kennedy Cambria and her hard-charging hedgefund manager husband Alejandro live in a gorgeous Chicago penthouse and are conspicuous consumers, the one-percenters we frequently hear about.

When both families decide to host an engagment party for the happy couple, it is a major culture-clash. Diane and her brother Floyd throw a Southern BBQ, complete with a pig roast, to welcome the new in-laws. At first Susan is shocked, but when Floyd, who fancies himself a ladies' man, turns on the charm and offers Susan a taste of honey-flavored moonshine, it is Diane who becomes concerned. (As does Floyd's current girlfriend).

The favor is returned when Diane, Floyd, their mother and Diane's best friend head up to Chicago for the wedding, which is Susan's chance to go really over-the-top, over the objections of even her daughter. (Think Harry and Meghan's wedding.) A major snowstorm throws a monkey-wrench into Susan's plans, and adjustments must be made.

I absolutely adored By Invitation Only. The juxtaposition of the uber-wealthy, luxury brand-name droppers (shout-out to Tiffany's, the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Beach, Karl Langerfeld, and Gulfstream G550 private jets) and the hardworking farming family at the mercy of the elements, made for such a fascinating, fun story.

Reading about the delicious food at the BBQ (shrimp and grits, deviled eggs, corn muffins, biscuits, bluefish spread on toast points) as well as the preparations for the family Thanksgiving dinner, had my stomach growling.

As with every wedding, things go wrong, and there are a couple of twists in the plot that have characters re-evaluating their lives. Benton Frank writes her characters so well that you feel like you could sit down next to them and have a juicy conversation over a glass of sweet tea. Her trademark humor shines here as well.

By Invitation Only might be my favorite Dorothea Benton Frank book, and I just hope my son's upcoming nuptials go a little smoother than Fred and Shelby's. I highly recommend it for your summer beach read, and if you know any upcoming MOBs (Mother-of-the-Brides) or MOGs (Mother-of-the-Grooms), this would make a lovely gift. (And the cover is gorgeous too.) show less

Dorothea Benton Frank has been publishing books since 1999 and I am happy to say that I've read every one of them. Her books are Southern Fiction and its best and are the first indication every year that summer is just around the corner. This book is a bit different for her because the South Carolina beach is not a character in the book but it still has her signature style and is a fantastic read that will have you laughing out loud during parts of it.

Fred and Shelby both live in Chicago and are getting married. This story is about their very different mothers and is told in alternating chapters mostly by each mother. Fred's mother, Diane, is a farmer in SC. She isn't rich in money but she has friends and family and a farm that she show more loves. Shelby's mother, Susan, is an over the top rich snob who lives in Chicago. Her main concern is her husband's money and trying to impress other people. You can imagine how it goes when they meet for the first time at the engagement party held in SC - lots of friends and a barbecue are joined by chickens and moonshine. This is the beginning of the friction between the two mothers and it continues to escalate much to the engaged's couple's dismay. I found Susan and all of her pretentiousness to be very funny at times and thought that Diane was a great mom and role model for the kids.

This is a great light summertime read about the importance of family - both family by birth and those that we add to our families through love and marriage.

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

Traveling between South Carolina’s Lowcountry and high Chicago society, Dorothea Benton Frank’s By Invitation Only delivers a heartfelt, entertaining story of home, family, and the changes, both good and bad, that reveal what really matters.

Initially brought together by their children’s imminent nuptials, Diane English Stiftel and Susan Kennedy Cambria couldn’t be more different. Diane is down-to-earth—nearly literally considering her land-based income—while Susan thrives on the posh and well-to-do. Yet, event after event—from engagement parties to the wedding and a few other unexpected surprises—sparks an unlikely, but necessary friendship.

I so enjoyed By Invitation Only. Getting to know Diane and Susan was immensely show more fun (even with a few frustrating moments), and Frank writes their story with great humor and heart. It’s an easy book to recommend to readers of contemporary fiction in need of a light, heartwarming read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. show less

Sometimes Dottie Frank has me laughing so hard I fear I may have to change my panties, other times are a total miss. Luckily for me, this time was a winner. I had the good fortune to hear the author the week before the book was officially out, when she co-hosted and spoke at the spring Books and Authors luncheon, sponsored by the Post Courier. One of the authors had to bow out at the last minute, so Ms Frank filled in. As usual, she was warm, engaging, and downright hilarious. If you ever have the chance to hear her speak, regardless of if you like her books or not (or like me, like some of them, but are not fond of others) go hear her. For her fabulous ability to engage an audience while speaking, she is one of my favorite authors, let show more alone for her ability to catch elements of the lowcountry in her writing. She's got a way with words, and an eye for what makes entertaining reading (as evidenced by this book, inspired by her two children each getting married, and by the birth of her first grandchild.)

For the record, DBF had a magic way with the rules of publishing and was able to swing copies her book for the luncheon, the week before the actual publishing date. I didn't complain! show less

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Review Of
By Invitation Only by Dorothea Benton Frank

Combine Low-country magic, high society of Chicago, pig roasts and a wedding you have one wonderful book that just screams summertime to me. Nothing is better than slipping into one of Dot Frank's books and not coming up for air until the end. I loved the sassy , gritty, strong and charming characters. Two families, one humble and homespun the other as high society as you can get. The mother of the bride Susan is so into appearances that she cannot bear the thought of the grooms mother Diane, having any say in the upcoming show more wedding. Susan thinks that her lifestyle is more important than Diane's life on her family farm. Now Susan was a bit of a complex character for me, on the one hand I could not stand her high brow snotty demeanor but on the other hand I sensed something more underneath, a bit of spunk and grit to her character. Diane was just an honest to goodness low-country girl that I have come to love from this authors books. Everyone is shocked when the unthinkable happens in Susan's family, this is when we learn exactly what Susan is made of. I just loved this book, it is a sweet story, sometimes sad but always full of southern charm and drama. People bond together that you never thought would in this book and did I mention Diane's mother and her sassy wit? Now here was a woman that I loved right away.

The peach farm was a nice change from the usual beach settings of this authors books. I was sad to see this book end, that is my only criticism.This review was originally posted on My Fiction Obsession show less

4.5 stars.

By Invitation Only by Dorothea Benton Frank is a delightfully charming and utterly heartwarming novel starring two completely opposite families who are brought together through their children's upcoming wedding.

Diane English Stiftel lives and works with her family on their peach farm in South Caroline. Her only son, Fred, is engaged to marry the love of his life, Shelby Cambria, whose wealthy parents, Alejandro and Susan, lead a lavish and expensive lifestyle. The differences in their lives are highlighted when each family hosts an engagement party for the happy couple. Fred's family eagerly holds a down-to earth barbeque that is casual and very relaxing. Cambria's mother goes all out with an expensive and formal party at an show more exclusive establishment in Chicago. With very different lifestyles and values, will the marriage of their children bring the families closer together?

Diane is a no nonsense woman with a wry sense of humor and plenty of common sense. Extremely close to her beloved mom, Virnell and her brother, Floyd, the family business is well oiled machine with everyone pulling their share of the work. Happily single, Diane is taken aback by her reaction to the news that her close friend Alden Corrigan is in a new relationship. Is it too late for her to confess her surprising feelings for the man who has been such a big part of her life for so long?

Susan is a complete and utter snob who does not make any effort to hide her disdain for her daughter's soon to be in-laws. She and Alejandro flaunt their wealth at every turn and cost is never a concern for them. Susan is in her element planning Shelby's wedding and she does not take it well when her daughter puts the brakes on her over-the-top vision for the upcoming nuptials.

Both Diane and Susan are aware that their children's marriage will bring changes to their lives. However, neither of them are prepared for the unexpected twists and turns that await them after their kids' engagement parties. Diane has an easier time adjusting when life throws unanticipated curveballs her way. Susan, on the other hand, is dealt a shocking blow that will alter the course of her life. Is Susan prepared to handle the difficulties that lie ahead of her? How will these changes affect the women's relationship?

By Invitation Only is a wonderful novel that is humorous yet thought-provoking. Diane and her family are an absolutely wonderful and it is quite apparent they love and support each other no matter what comes their way. Susan is a bit of a difficult woman to like at first and it is interesting to watch her rise to the challenges in the aftermath of unforeseen difficulties. Dorothea Benton Frank brings the characters and the various settings vividly to life as the Stiftel, English and Cambria families unexpectedly weather life's storms together. This heartfelt release will appeal to readers who enjoy family-centric novels. show less

I was drawn to this book for a number of reasons; I love a good romance story, peaches are my favorite fruit and I always figure I’m going to need a light read here and there in my schedule. Ms. Benton Frank has, in the books I have read from her, always provided me with good, escapist reading. By Invitation Only is my favorite of her books that I have read.

Fred and Shelby are getting married. Fred is the child of a long line of peach farmers from Georgia. The family is rich in love, quirkiness and peach jam but not in cash. Shelby is the child of Chicago’s elite social scene. To her mother status is everything. To Shelby, Fred is everything. Her parents are not completely sure that Fred’s family are good enough but if Shelby is show more happy….

The two families meet for the first time at an engagement party thrown by Fred’s mother – his father is not in the picture. To say there is a culture clash is to make an understatement but most of the problem is in the refusal of Shelby’s mother to think that anything she didn’t plan is acceptable. She also has the idea that it’s HER wedding, not her daughter’s and is going just a teeny, tiny bit overboard.

Disasters soon strike both families and the ties that bind will be severely tested. Through it all the love that brought Fred and Shelby together only grows stronger. Home can be many different places but family is always there to welcome you there.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and varying plots in this book. I felt right at home i;n a place that was cooking and canning. The characters were all unique and quirky. At times I liked them at times I wanted to throttle them which to me makes them quite real. Some of the plot points were a bit over the top but reading one of these books isn’t about reality is it? It’s about escaping reality for a little while and immersing yourself in another life. By Invitation Only lets you do that. show less