By Invitation Only: A Novel by Dorothea Benton Frank

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The Lowcountry of South Carolina is where By Invitation Only begins at a barbecue engagement party thrown by Diane English Stiftel, her brother Floyd, and her parents to celebrate her son’s engagement. On this gorgeous, magical night, the bride’s father, Alejandro Cambria, a wealthy power broker whose unbelievably successful career in private equity made him one of Chicago’s celebrated elite, discovers the limits and possibilities of cell phone range. While the mother of the bride, Susan Kennedy Cambria, who dabbles in the world of public relations and believes herself deserving of every square inch of her multimillion-dollar penthouse and imaginary carrara marble pedestal, learns about moonshine and dangerous liaisons.

Soon By Invitation Only zooms to Chicago, where the unraveling accelerates. Nearly a thousand miles away from her comfortable, familiar world, Diane is the antithesis of the bright lights and super-sophisticated guests attending her son Fred’s second engagement party. Why a second party? Maybe it had been assumed that the first one wouldn’t be up to snuff? Fred is marrying Shelby Cambria, also an only child. The Cambrias’ dearest wish is for their daughter to be happy. If Shelby wants to marry Frederick, aka Fred, they will not stand in her way—although Susan does hope her friends won’t think her daughter is marrying more than a few degrees beneath her socially. At the same time, Diane worries that her son will be lost to her forever.

By Invitation Only is a tale of two families, one struggling to do well, one well to do, and one young couple—the privileged daughter of Chicago’s crème de la crème and the son of hard -working Southern peach farmers.

Dorothea Benton Frank offers a funny, sharp, and deeply empathetic novel of two very different worlds—of limousines and pickup trucks, caviars and pigs, skyscrapers and ocean spray—filled with a delightful cast of characters who all have something to hide and a lot to learn. A difference in legal opinions, a headlong dive from grace, and an abrupt twist will reveal the truth of who they are and demonstrate, when it truly counts, what kind of grit they have. Are they living the life they want, what regrets do they hold, and how would they remake their lives if they were given the invitation to do so?

By Invitation Only is classic Dorothea Benton Frank—a mesmerizing Lowcountry Tale that roars with spirit, humor, and truth, and forces us to reconsider our notions of what it means to be a Have or a Have Not.

my thoughts:

As a fan of Dorothea Benton Frank's novels - they are always chock full of interesting characters, family dramas, and engaging story lines - I just knew that I was in for a treat with her latest work, By Invitation Only.  Especially, since it has to do with weddings - a topic that is on the brain lately due to my little sister getting engaged a few weeks ago (we are all about wedding planning now).  Plus, I was in the mood for some chick lit and knew that DBF's latest story would be just the ticket for some fun reading.  Let me just say, DBF did not disappoint.  By Invitation Only was a delightfully sweet read. 

Love, marriage, family - oh my! Sometimes its all good and sometimes it can be oh, so bad.  Yep, this is a story about a young couple in love and eager to get married. Coming from different backgrounds, their families don't exactly mesh well.  Fred's mom is a hardworking peach farmer and lives in the lowcountry of South Carolina, while Shelby's parents are a part of the elite crowd of Chicago.  As the two families begin celebrating their children's impending nuptials, their vast differences begin to show up as they start to plan, plan, plan. However, at the end of the day, the only thing each mother wants is for their kid to be happy.  DBF has written a funny and charming story that will have you laughing, smiling, and cheering on these characters you can't help but befriend. Her writing is top notch - you can't help but enjoy each minute you spend with this story.  I absolutely LOVED it.

I would happily recommend By Invitation Only to fans of DBF and fans of chick lit - you will fall in love with this book!!


Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: By Invitation Only

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Same Beach, Next Year: A Novel by Dorothea Benton Frank

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank returns to her magical Lowcountry of South Carolina in this bewitching story of marriage, love, family, and friendship that is infused with her warm and engaging earthy humor and generous heart.

One enchanted summer, two couples begin a friendship that will last more than twenty years and transform their lives.

A chance meeting on the Isle of Palms, one of Charleston’s most stunning barrier islands, brings former sweethearts, Adam Stanley and Eve Landers together again. Their respective spouses, Eliza and Carl, fight sparks of jealousy flaring from their imagined rekindling of old flames. As Adam and Eve get caught up on their lives, their partners strike up a deep friendship—and flirt with an unexpected attraction—of their own.

Year after year, Adam, Eliza, Eve, and Carl eagerly await their reunion at Wild Dunes, a condominium complex at the island’s tip end, where they grow closer with each passing day, building a friendship that will withstand financial catastrophe, family tragedy, and devastating heartbreak. The devotion and love they share will help them weather the vagaries of time and enrich their lives as circumstances change, their children grow up and leave home, and their twilight years approach.

Bursting with the intoxicating richness of Dorothea Benton Frank’s beloved Lowcountry—the sultry sunshine, cool ocean breezes, icy cocktails, and starry velvet skies—Same Beach, Next Year is a dazzling celebration of the infrangible power of friendship, the enduring promise of summer, and the indelible bonds of love.


my thoughts:

Okay, so I hadn't planned on reading anymore books by Dorothea Benton Frank (DBF) after the last one (All Summer Long), which I disliked so much that I couldn't even finish it (yes, it was that bad).  Luckily, I forgot about that plan and agreed to read her latest book, Same Beach, Next Year.  I say luckily, because I thoroughly enjoyed the book - it was the perfect summer beach read.  I'm serious.  I loved the writing, the characters, the low country setting/feel of the book, and the story itself. Same Beach, Next Year was a fantastic read and I enjoyed every minute I spent with it.

Adam and Eliza are on vacation with their kids.  They are having fun in the sun.  And then one day they meet Carl and Eve, another married couple on vacation.  Adam and Eve claim to have been friends once upon a time.  Except, that's not the whole truth.  Nope.  Adam and Eve were more than just friends once upon a time and the attraction they once had manages to spark right in front of their spouses.  Yep.  Talk about jealousy!  And yet, the foursome remain friends and continue to meet up every summer to vacation together.  Decades pass by and secrets are revealed.  People change and so do relationships.  Something happens that threatens to ruin the happy foursome.  And that is all I will say.

Talk about addictive! How could I not fall in deep with this book?  It tackles love, friendship, marriage, and self-discovery.  Its the perfect book to settle down with under the hot Florida sun and get lost in. I just loved it!  And, now I can't wait to read more of DBF's books - yep, I will definitely be giving her other books a chance now.  I would definitely recommend Same Beach, Next Year to fans of DBF and anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Same Beach, Next Year

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

All Summer Long: A Novel by Dorothea Benton Frank

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Filled with her trademark wit, poignant themes, and rich characters, the perennial New York Times bestselling author returns with a sensational novel that follows the travels of one couple though a tumultuous summer.

Dorothea Benton Frank’s magical stories take us deep into the heart of her beloved Carolina Lowcountry. In her novels, this lush landscape comes alive in all its vibrancy and color. She ignites all of our senses with her vivid descriptions of landscape and atmosphere. In her novels you hear the ocean washing the shore on different islands so profoundly that you can nearly hear the sea gulls squawking, too.

This is a story of people whose lives are changing—a southern gentleman returning home to lead a more peaceful life and his talented New York wife who is not quite sure she is ready to make the transition. They are moving north to south, fast pace versus slow pace, downsizing. And while they are doing this, they are getting glimpses into other people’s lives over the course of a summer, holidays that will amuse, shock and transform them.

This irresistible story is home to captivating characters as funny, complicated, and real as our best friends—husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, friends and family who wrestle with the complexities, pain, and joys familiar to us all.

Finally, we’ll come to recognize the face of love, the kind that deepens and endures but only because one woman makes a tremendous leap of faith. That leap changes them all.

my thoughts:

Disappointing with a capital "D".  All Summer Long was not my cup of tea.  In fact, I had to DNF it about midway through.  I just couldn't stand reading about these selfish and spoiled characters who were beyond unlikeable.  Olivia is an interior decorator who is married to Nick.  They are getting ready to retire to his hometown in Charleston.  The only problem - she has spent their retirement fund and now they are broke.  Oh, and she hasn't told him about their finances.  Whoops!?  So, what does Olivia do?  She acts like everything is normal and keeps on spending.  Say what?!  Yep, apparently having no money means spending money on eating out, groceries at Whole Foods, and paying an assistant.  Wow! How crazy unbelievable is that?  And then there is Bob and Maritza.  He is Olivia's favorite client, because he loves to remodel his home with every new wife he gets.  Of course the fact the he constantly cheats on his spouses could explain why he's always redecorating.  So you can imagine how keen Olivia is on keeping Bob happy.  Except, I didn't finish the book, so who knows what happened to any of them in the end.  All I know is that I couldn't stand to read any more about any of these characters.  They were simply the worst!  And the story didn't really seem to be going anywhere - it was just about these rich people spending money.  Talk about boring.

I will definitely be skipping DBF's books in the future.  And I won't be recommending this one. 

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: All Summer Long

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!