Shorebirds, sandy landscapes, serene mornings and sunny skies,
It’s every tourist’s dream and a vacation to idealize,
It is maintained lovingly without a smudge or a dent,
There are many fascinating stories residing in this Beach House for Rent.
About the Author: Mary Alice Monroe is a light fiction writer and an active conservationist. She writes her stories with a sprinkling of the awareness on environmental issues, with hints on how tourists can help. Her works mainly are laid-back beach reads. She has won numerous awards for her writing. This book is 4th in her Beach House series of books.
Plot: Cara is a confident and ambitious woman even in her fifties. She has inherited a stunning but old beach house on ‘The Isle of Palms’. Her sea-facing cottage attracts tourists for the summer like flowers would attract bees. Although the Beach House proudly struts its glory during the summer, it is painstakingly maintained and cared for during the rest of the year by Cara herself. Although she and her husband Brett live in their own sufficiently huge house, Cara wants to keep maintaining this Beach House since it is one of the most valuable possessions of her mother.
Heather is a 26-year-old woman suffering from anxiety. Ever since her car accident that took away her mother, she has been terrified of rain, storms and crowds. This shy and tongue-tied lass decides to rent the beach house for the summer to get a taste of living alone for the first time. She is immensely talented as an artist. She chooses the beach house to be able to capture various shorebirds on canvas with her brushes and paint. Gradually, with the gentle breeze, sunny mornings, tranquil evenings on the shore and the affections of a neighbor, Heather feels comfortable and less panicky.
When tragedy strikes Cara, she is left with no home or husband. The only possession she owns is the beach house. With literally no roof over her head, will Cara get back her beach house? Will Heather be tongue-tied as her old usual self and leave without hesitation?
My Opinion: If there is any list of ‘Perfect Beach Reads for the Summer’, this book could proudly shine within the top 10! The first page starts with her foreword creating awareness about endangered species of shorebirds. She mentions some tips that beach visitors can do to help the shorebirds feel comfortable. Her tips are subtlely expressed throughout the length of the story. A master in expressing emotions that are wary and introverted (for Heather), the author easily sketches an accurate picture of a mind that is tortured with anxiety. On the other hand, the author also portrays the transformation of Cara from an independent woman to a grieving woman with finesse. However, the story tends to drag towards the end. The last 70 pages are way too slow, despite being necessary for the story to reach a graceful end. All in all, a great light fiction read!
