Return to Sullivan's Island

I don't think I can take another summer book disappointment. Dorothea Benton Frank is one of my very favorite authors. In fact, our trip to Charleston, Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant and Shem Creek two years ago helped us to find our beach house. Her writing is usually infused with all the images that make the South so memorable.

I read the original Sullivan's Island several years ago...you'd think I would be learning my lesson that sequels usually don't measure up to the original. In Return to Sullivan's Island, Frank continues the story of the next generation of the Hamilton's and Hayes'. Beth Hayes is newly graduated from Boston College and is nominated by her family to house sit for a year in Sullivan's Island. Good premise, right?

First of all, Beth puts her plans for graduate school on hold to stay South Carolina. What?? A family friend was already paying the bills and watering the plants. Oh, wait. Someone has to babysit the ghosts.....that's right, ghosts.

From there it only got worse. Two predictable love relationships later, I was struggling to finish the book and wanting it to be over. Of course, all is well that ends well.

This is an expensive hardback. If you want to read it anyway, may I suggest the library?