FOLLY BEACH: GUEST REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDEDFOLLY BEACH
A Lowcountry Tale
BY DOROTHEA BENTON FRANK

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Home is the place that knows us best. . . . 

A woman returns to the past to find her future in this enchanting new tale of loss, acceptance, family, and love.

With its sandy beaches and bohemian charms, surfers and suits alike consider Folly Beach to be one of South Carolina's most historic and romantic spots. It is also the land of Cate Cooper's childhood, the place where all the ghosts of her past roam freely. Cate never thought she'd wind up in this tiny cottage named the Porgy House on this breathtakingly lovely strip of coast. But circumstances have changed, thanks to her newly dead husband whose financial—and emotional—bull and mendacity have left Cate homeless, broke, and unmoored.

Yet Folly Beach holds more than just memories. Once upon a time another woman found unexpected bliss and comfort within its welcoming arms. An artist, writer, and colleague of the revered George Gershwin, Dorothy Heyward enjoyed the greatest moments of her life at Folly with her beloved husband, DuBose. And though the Heywards are long gone, their passion and spirit lingers in every mango sunset and gentle ocean breeze.

And for Cate, Folly, too, holds the promise of unexpected fulfillment when she is forced to look at her life and the zany characters that are her family anew. To her surprise, she will discover that you can go home again. Folly Beach doesn't just hold the girl she once was . . . it also holds the promise of the woman she's always wanted—and is finally ready—to become.

Folly Beach, filled with the irresistible charm, saucy wit, and lush atmosphere that have won her the devotion of fans and propelled her books to bestsellerdom, is vintage Dorothea Benton Frank.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dorothea Benton Frank is the New York Times bestselling author of Bulls Island (William Morrow, 2008), The Christmas Pearl (William Morrow 2007), The Land of Mango Sunsets (William Morrow 2007), Full of Grace (William Morrow 2006), Pawleys Island (Berkley 2005), Shem Creek (Berkley 2004), Isle of Palms (Berkley 2003), Plantation (Jove 2001), and Sullivan's Island (Jove 2000).  Her newest book, Return to Sullivans Island, will be released by William Morrow June 30, 2009.

Ms. Frank has appeared on NBC's Today show, Parker Ladd's Book Talk, and many local network-affiliated television stations. She is a frequent speaker on creative writing and the creative process for students of all ages and in private venues, such as the National Arts Club, the Junior League of New York, Friends of the Library, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. She has also been a guest speaker at the South Carolina Book Festival; Novello, North Carolina's Festival of Books; and the Book and Author annual event in Charleston, South Carolina, sponsored by the Post & Courier.

Before she began her writing career, Ms. Frank was involved extensively in the arts and education, and in raising awareness and funding for various nonprofits in New Jersey and New York. At the present time she serves on the boards of The South Carolina Historical Society and The South Carolina Coastal Conservation League.

The author, who was born and raised on Sullivan's Island in South Carolina, currently divides her time between New Jersey and South Carolina.

GUEST REVIEW: 

Please welcome back a favorite reviewer at BOOKIN' WITH BINGO, Steve Capell. This review is written by Steve, a frequent reviewer. He currently lives with his wife in Kansas City metro area. Steve has done a really creative Guest Review for us of Dorothea Benton Frank's FOLLY BEACH. I know you will all enjoy it. Thank you, Steve!

Setting: A living room in Kansas, dark except for a reading light, grandfather clock ticking along one wall, television on showing the weather map with sound turned off, cup of earl gray tea setting on the end table.

Director’s Note: A man is reading the book Folly Beach and every few minutes you can see lightening and hear thunder from the direction of a large picture window.

Steve: “I have the TV on the weather channel in case we need to take cover from this storm.”

Steve’s wife: “Without any sound on the TV you will not know if we need to take cover till it’s too late. Look at you … you’re so engrossed in that book that you never look up at the TV.”
 
Steve: “I guess your right. I just can’t put this novel down. It’s so realistic. Listen -- this author has an opinion on raising children … you know what gender is easier to raise --girls or boys? Let me read this to you.” Steve reads a few lines aloud and Steve and his wife both burst out laughing. “Isn’t that so true and factual? It’s a real hoot!”

The light from the picture window faded many hours ago and the storm passed through without causing any problems. The living room is quiet now with the exception of the grandfather clock that can be heard ticking and chiming every half hour, and frequently a chuckle of laughter can be heard as the pages of Folly Beach are turned throughout the night.

Fade to Darkness.

Every other chapter starts with a vignette in the form of brief scene of a play similar in format I used above. The vignette is about Dorothy Heywood and her husband Dubose and the time period covered is the early 1900s. The novel centers around Cate Copper, a widow that finds herself broke and totally embarrassed because her late husband had a number of unbecoming characteristics and qualities that only became known after his suicidal death. Cate finds the inspiration to start a new life, career, and romance on Folly Beach. She settles in a cottage that her Aunt Daisy owns and soon finds out that the cottage in a much earlier time was owned by Dorothy Heywood and her husband Duboseters around Cate Copper, a widow that finds herself broke and totally embarrassed because her late husband had a number of unbecoming characteristics and qualities that only became known after his suicidal death. Cate finds the inspiration to start a new life, career, and romance on Folly Beach. She settles in a cottage that her Aunt Daisy owns and soon finds out that the cottage in a much earlier time was owned by Dorothy Heywood and her husband Dubose. This historical connection brings the story of Cate Cooper and the vignettes together around the subject of being a playwright.  

My thoughts:

Dorothea Benton Frank weaves the past history of Folly Beach into the present in a rather remarkable way with the vignettes. At first I wasn’t sure that this form of writing would be my cup of tea; however, after about four vignettes with alternating chapters of the Cate Cooper’s life story I found myself totally engaged in the marvelous novel. This book has wonderful characters that just seem so human and genuine to me. I was really feeling for Cate and was so hopeful everything would work out for her. Her entire previous life was entirely destroyed around her and I just wanted to help her out from under the pieces of her life that caved in around her.

The writing was descriptive and just flowed beautifully. The interaction between the relatives and friends was not just coincidental – the dialogue was like déjà vu. Once I finished reading Folly Beach I looked-for someone to tell – so my wife, sister, children and friends know how much I immensely enjoyed reading Folly Beach.

Who should read this novel?

I would classify this novel as historical romance fiction. This book will be a must read for anyone that loves romance novels. I am also recommending this book for those that love rich dialog with well developed characters.

A word of warning – if you read this novel you will be talking to all your relatives and friends about this beautifully written novel so be sure to have your phone book handy.
Thank you again, Steve, for a clever and enjoyable presentation!
 

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO MEGAN AND THE GOOD FOLKS

AT HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHING, I HAVE

ONE COPY OF FOLLY BEACH TO GIVE AWAY

--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOVE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN FOLLY BEACH

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK THAT I CAN FOLLOW

+1 MORE ENTRY: VISIT DOROTHEA BENTON FRANK'S WEBSITE HERE AND COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU ENJOYED OR FOUND INTERESTING AT HER SITE

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY,  YOU MAY ENTER EACH WAY BUT YOU MUST COMMENT ON EACH SEPARATELY

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT

6 PM, EST, JULY 19

GOOD LUCK!