Beach House Memories (The Beach House) Hardcover – May 8, 2012

I have always been a reader of mysteries and suspense books, although I always made time for good novels. At 65, I became increasingly disabled and knew my days of walking on the beach - heck, even being capable of riding long enough to get to the beach - were over. For me, losing that ability and the ability to swim are the most painful things about being disabled. I read about this book and decided to get it out of the library. I figured if I couldn't go to the Beach, I'd bring the beach to me.I've read all the books in the Beach House series but this is my favorite, having read it 3 times. I will download it to my Kindle Fire instead of getting it at the Library, because it's a book I can pick up at any time and enjoy it.The main character of the book is Olivia, who is the matriarch of all the rest of this series. Monroe is a master at describing her characters without you even realizing that's what she's doing. She captures the mystique of the sea the same way. By describing her characters' reaction to their settings, she manages to capture Olivia's love of the Isle of Palms, an Island in the Outer Banks of South Carolina, but also what it looks like. I knew she loved the sea because they are the only ones who relish the scent of "Pluff Mud," or "Sea Turn," as we call it in New England. :)Additionally, this book examines the role Southern women were expected to play in a marriage in 1974. It was far different from that of Northern women and that plays a huge role in the book. Olivia had already broken out of the mould by becoming ensconced in saving the Loggerhead Turtles' nests and babies and is known on the island as The Turtle Lady. Her greatest desire is to interest her daughter, Cara, in them but she fears she never will.The book is based on Olivia's love of her children, the sea, and what she sees as her duty as a Southern wife. It educates the reader about the importance of conservation and the role the Loggerheads play in it. It has romance, education, humor, and made this lady who is so homesick for the ocean, happy.I have gone on to read all of Mary Alice Monroe's books that take place on the Isles of Palms and others that take place elsewhere. I love that I learn more about conservation, a cause that is dear to my heart, Southern life and culture. Her books never fail to capture me.I would give this book ten stars, if I could, because it spoke to me in a way no book has, in a very long time. Obviously, I strongly recommend it to women of all ages, teens and up!

For this summer's reading, I was thankful that I found Mary Alice Monroe's four-book series "The Beach House" to relax and enjoy. I have been extremely anxious and nervous about our country and world affairs, and her books took me to a relaxing and restful place. I fell in love with all of her characters - especially Lovie Rutledge. All of her characters exhibit strength, honesty, compassion, strong work ethic, and love - all the things I see in our country and world that are lacking. I flew through all four books at record speed, and I felt very sad when I finished the last book. These books were not your typical summer romance novels - they taught you the meaning of what being a truly good person was all about. I highly recommend them for people who believe in decency, honor, trust, and love.

This was a very pleasant summer beach read. If you read "The Beach House" or watched the Hallmark movie of the book, this book visits Luvie's young abusive marriage, her affair with Russell, the commitment to the turtles. It is a loving and tender story, a woman who cannot escape her rich husband and his threats; the beach cottage is the only place that is really hers. She has to decide if leaving her marriage and her husband's wealth and power to take away her children is worth being with her true love, Russell.Sadly, even today, women are faced with much of the safe predicament regarding how much one must lose in order to find some independence, happiness, or love. The #Metoo movement and women empowerment still hasn't changed the difficulties financial and emotional involved in abusive divorces.

The title says it all: This is the perfect beach book. And if you can't make it to the beach this year, the vivid and colorful descriptions of the beach—the crunch of sand under bare feet, the sound of the waves, the colors of the sunsets, and even the curtains blowing in the breeze in the beach house—will make you feel like you're there.Written by Mary Alice Monroe, this is the second book in the "Beach House" series, but easily stands alone. Unlike most ChickLit—and that is exactly the genre of this book—it is as much nonfiction as fiction. It is 1974, and Olivia "Lovie" Rutledge has returned for another summer to her beloved family cottage on the Isle of Palms, South Carolina where she is known as the Turtle Lady. Lovie's passion in life is protecting the loggerhead turtles who lay their nests of turtle eggs in the dunes—and then abandon them. This summer, the Isle of Palms is conducting an environmental study on the turtles in anticipation of developing a huge swath of the island for residential housing and a golf course. In comes the good-looking, smart, and personable Dr. Russell Bennett to conduct the study. And here comes the ChickLit part (and it is really good, delicious ChickLit!): Lovie and Russell, both of whom are very much—but unhappily—married, fall in love. That is a secret that cannot stay secret in such a small town…and all hell breaks loose for Lovie.Although this is (mostly) a light, fun read—with the bonus of fascinating information on loggerhead turtles told in a truly interesting way—it is something else, too. As much as it is a love letter to Charleston and its surrounding beaches, it is also a scathing sociological statement about Southern society's deeply ingrained values and customs regarding women, and much of it is positively chilling. Granted, it takes place nearly 50 years ago, but how much has actually changed? It's something to ponder.

I like this story and the way it's told. You can dive into a world of love, family, desire, pride, nature and feelings. The author describes the scenery, the charcters and the circumstances so well, you can almost feel the sand between your own toes. The memories shared with the reader paint a picture of turtles and environmental change, a family with their own issues, an exciting project and people, who care for each other, for nature and for the future generations. This book is like a short vacation on an island far away.

I have to say I did not think I would enjoy this book. Surprise I did! Monroe is gifted with descriptions. You feel you are there. Even knowing parts Lovie’s story from the first book, this was given enough detail and an expansion of characters story lines to make it a very enjoyable read.

Ik vind elk deel van deze serie even mooi. Er wordt ook veel aandacht besteed aan het behoud van de zee-schildpadden in Zuid Carolina. Een bedreigde diersoort en daarom fijn te lezen dat er nog zoveel mensen zich om deze dieren bekommeren.

This past summer I had the pleasure of reading a fabulous trio of books by Mary Alice Munroe. I started with "The Beach House", then "Swimming Lessons", and finished with "Beach House Memories". These stories are very beautifully told. I can honestly say "Beach House Memories" is the BEST book I have ever read! After finishing it I fell asleep with the book on my chest and tears running down my cheeks.

If you want to escape into a story, this is it. Entertaining book.