The Lowcountry Summer eBoxed Set: The Summer Girls and The Summer Wind

I liked the story line with all the different characters, but I would have liked to see a bit more closure at the end of the book. Like Harper who was basically absent for the final quarter of the book. I'm assuming the rest of the series will deal with the other characters more. I will continue the series to see how it all plays out. I listened to the audio version of the story on Audible.

very quick and light beach read. three sisters re-unite at their grandmother's beach house in sc and examine their lives and relationships. just ok. didn't love it or hate it.

Fantastic book - I would truly love to read the third book the end of summer in this trilogy

I picked this trilogy by Mary Alice Monroe as my ready for a summer read. The first book did not disappoint and left me ready to grab the next book in the series. MAM captures the feel of family ties so well in this story, especially between a grandmother and her granddaughters. Sullivan Island is where the story is set and the author does a wonderful job of transporting you to this beautiful island. A great read for summer!

Didn't like a single character. Don't know why I chose it to begin with... too many books to try and weasle my way into this one! I'm done.

A spoiled and worthless mama's boy begets three daughters with three different women and names each daughter after a Southern writer: Dora for Eudora Welty, Carson for Carson McCullers, and Harper for Harper Lee. Parker, the drunken womanizer has passed to greener pastures, and his 3 daughters convene in Sullivan's Island for the summer at the request at Mamaw, their grandmother. Dora presents a picture of a Southern matron who loves hearth and home, Carson darts from location to location, and Harper illustrates a quiet mouse. The story recites many old and worn platitudes about breeding and good manners, and throws out lectures on the importance of conservation and marine life. Carson monopolizes the novel, and becomes a little too “in your face”. Many of the episodes fell flat, in my mind, and to think that two more books must be endured in this jaunt into Sullivan’s Island.

Read from July 16 to 29, 2014 — I own a copyOr...The Summer Sisters.This is the second book I've read by Mary Alice Monroe and I must say that her stories tend to make me feel at home, warm, and comfortable. I LOVE South Carolina, especially the lowcountry and it's beautiful beaches. Add an interesting southern family with a great beach house and I have to admit, I'm hooked. I enjoy southern fiction and Monroe's offerings are beginning to lure me in, one by one.The Summer Girls is about an aging, loving grandmother that devises a plan to reunite her three granddaughters, all half sisters, who have grown apart and are spread out across the United States. Growing up, the girls spent their summers at Sea Breeze, the ancestral summer home of their paternal grandparents, Marietta and Edward Muir. Although the girls had the same father, each of their mothers once married to him, they could not be more opposite. As the sisters grew, summers spent at the beach became less frequent and the distance between the girls grew wider, each failing to remain in contact with the other. Mamaw feared communication between the siblings would be completely lost once she was gone, no longer their common thread. At 80 years old, Marietta, "Mamaw", isn't getting any younger but she wants the bonds of her granddaughters to be strong again. Mamaw wants to reunite her summer girls for one last summer at Sea Breeze. Will they come? IF they come, will one summer be enough to remind the girls- Dora, Carson, and Harper-of the special bond they once enjoyed? I thought it was a well told story, each sisters tale unfolding nicely, at a gentle unhurried southern pace. The story centers mostly around the middle sister, 34 year-old, Carson, who returns to Sea Breeze from L.A., homeless, jobless, and penniless. Secretly, Carson has always been Mamaw's favorite and Carson is eager to return to the warm beaches she grew up on and a grandmother she adores. Carson comes alive when she is near the beach and the cool Atlantic Ocean. Spending the summer with Mamaw may be the blessing she's looking for, given her current situation. Dora arrives with her autistic son, Nate. Her life is in complete turmoil. Carson and Harper are unaware of the impending doom that surrounds Dora, their older, bossy sister, the once perfect example of a southern wife and mother. Dora was the quintessential Southern belle. Harper Muir-James is the youngest of the three girls and has little recollection of her father. She is aloof, quiet, and lives a very privileged lifestyle in New York. Harper's mother was the last of Parker Muir's wives. Harper's parents were briefly married and quickly divorced, all while pregnant for Harper. Her mother, Georgiana, loathes Harper's southern family and has done little to encourage a relationship with them. Harper, 28, still lives and works for her mother. Georgiana treats Harper more like an assistant than a daughter but Harper still feels the need to please her. What will her mother say when she mentions the summer reunion? Harper hasn't been in touch with her sisters in over a year. Does she even want to spend a summer with her deceased father's family?I've always thought the beaches of the lowcountry were magical and it may take a bit of trickery to bring this family back together. When a wild dolphin makes a magical appearance at the family dock, will this be the trick that unites a family or will it cause an even bigger rift? A moving story focused on the bonds of family, the strength of sisters, letting go, unselfish acts, and the power of forgiveness. There is also a nature lesson to take away from this book, one that all of us humans should adhere to. Sometimes NOT GIVING to natures creatures is the greatest gift of all. Now, I'm on to the second book in the Lowcountry Summer series, The Summer Wind.

The first book in a trilogy by Mary Alice Monroe, Summer Girls shares the stories of three girls, sisters with the same father. The girls, Dora, Carson, and Harper return to Sullivan's Island where they spent summers in their youth with their paternal grandmother, Mamaw, or Marietta Muir. This first installment focuses mostly on Carson and her struggle with coming to grips with her past. The ending clearly leaves the reader unsatisfied and wanting to where the story will next lead for all three women and their grandmother.

very quick and light beach read. three sisters re-unite at their grandmother's beach house in sc and examine their lives and relationships. just ok. didn't love it or hate it.

I like her writing for escapism and I'm so glad there is MORE after the end of this book because so many things are left up in the air. And lucky me, I read this late enough so that the second book in the trilogy is available and the third will be out later in the summer---and I'm expecting that Monroe will tie things up with a bow at the end. I gave it 5 stars for easy reading that flows along with a story that goes up and down. Very comfortable reading.

First in a trilogy. Mamaw tempts her now grown granddaughters back to Summer Breeze for a weekend party, then bribes them to stay all summer. She wants the half-sisters to reconnect with each other before she dies. The book is mostly about Carson, a 30 something freelance photographer in LA, who has lost her job, so has no ties to go back to. Landing in Summer Breeze for the summer will work perfectly for her. But, once there, she needs to face her demons from the past.

This is the first book of MAM's Low Country Summer Trilogy. It is a beach read at it's best, the wonderful description of the Lowcountry life, the beach house that's been in the family for generations and woman having a not so perfect life. The ending doesn't leave everything all sewn up, I liked this as a difference from other trilogies. It was a nice, wis hI was at the beach read...

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe is a 2013 Gallery Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book as an XOXOpert, the official street team of XOXO After Dark. It's almost officially summer and many of us are ready for vacations, trips to the beach, and soaking up some rays by the pool. I admit there are books I go for in the summer months because I'm just more in the mood for them. The Summer Girls with it's apt title is a perfect summertime/ beach read. I can envision the South Carolina summer beach home Mamaw named “Sea Breeze” and imagine sitting outside with big glass of iced tea or lemonade listening to the waves, enjoying the refreshing breeze, and smelling the salty sea air. Sounds like perfection. But, as we will see, life is not always as picturesque as the scenery, when Mamaw writes each of her three granddaughters explaining she is thinking of selling “Sea Breeze” and inviting them to come spend one last summer with her there. Well, it takes some wrangling, but all three girls, all grown up now, with real adult issues, do manage to grant their grandmother her wish. So, say hello to Dora, Carson, and Harper- the Muir sisters. This first book in the series focuses on Carson, an out of work actress who is flat broke and may have a little trouble with alcohol. She is actually relieved by the invitation to visit her grandmother since she is at loose ends. She immediately takes to the waves and is nearly attacked by a shark, but a dolphin saves her life. From this point on Carson begins to feel a bond for this particular dolphin she named “Delphine”. But, it's really against the rules to get too involved with the dolphins because it's dangerous for them. But, the bond between them in unmistakable and this distraction is quite cathartic for Carson, who has a little work to do on herself, and in the process she meets a nice guy named Blake. But, is there a future for them or will Carson embark on a whole new adventure without him? We also meet Carson's sisters, Dora and Harper, with Dora taking the second chair in the book which will lead into her own story in the next installment. But, briefly- Dora is going through a divorce, has a special needs child with autism that she practically smothers by breathing down his neck 24/7 and is having issues with her weight. Harper is the youngest of the girls and has been left with a sizable inheritance, which sounds great, except she never knows if a man likes her or her money the best. The sisters didn't grow up together since they share a father but have different mothers, however the three often spent summers with their Mamaw. They were never all that close as adults and do not stay in touch. Mamaw is out to change all that, hoping this summer they will get to know one another again and forge a lifetime bond.Well, things got off to a rocky start as the sisters got catty with each other and behaved like children. But, by the end of the book we see some progress and while there is still a lot of work yet to do, the sisters may be on their way to fulfilling Mamaw's greatest wish. OK, full disclosure... again. I read the second book in this series first and once I had finished it, I made myself a promise that I would find the first book and read it ASAP. Well, it took me a while, but with a little help from the XOXpert team, I finally settled in to read this first installment in the “Lowcountry Summer Trilogy. I enjoyed reading Carson's story and the dolphin angle is really interesting. There is a lot of drama, some laughter, some emotional moments in the story making it a well rounded tale and the perfect lead in for the series. Next up we will get to know Dora and her son Nate a little better. I think readers of Women's fiction, Chick lit, and Contemporary Fiction will like the book a lot. I highly recommend it and can't wait to find out how things work out with Harper. 4 stars

A Story of Forgiveness---after years of Secrets, Silence, Enabling

A beautifully written novel set in the Low Country of SC of three half-sisters (Carson, Harper, and Dora) finding their way back to one another for the summer at coastal Sea Breeze on Sullivan’s Island, with the help of their loving and aging grandmother, Mamaw. (love her)!. The one link is the deceased son/father, Parker, an alcoholic whose actions still affect the lives of all today.

I enjoyed the characterization of the three different girls (Southern-Belle, LA, NY)--the paths their career and lives have taken, due to their past and father’s mistakes. (I relate most to Carson). She was the strongest---one with most of the problems, challenges, and learned to face them head-on, with the most growth.

Brilliantly intertwined were real subjects of autism (Nate), alcoholism, enabling, abandonment, environmental issues, and the loveable and intriguing dolphins. The book included insightful research and education within this ecological setting. A warming story of nature and the human heart.

A huge fan of Mary Alice Monroe, she has a way of digging into the complexity of human relationships. I look forward to the trilogy and hearing more about Blake/Carson, Nate/Dora, Harper/mother, and the warm and funny women relationship between Mamaw/Lucille (those two are quite the pair)--enjoy their banter.

While this book kept me interested enough to read, I didn't really enjoy it. I found he characters to be flat and thought maybe all three sisters could have been explored in the same book. There just wasn't enough plot. I also just didn't get the dolphin connection - felt way overplayed. I won't be reading the rest if the books in the series.

This is a fantastic beach read -- it made me want to pack up and take a trip to the beach. Mary Alice Monroe has been a writer of excellent Southern fiction for years and this book puts her at the top of her game. Its the first book of a trilogy about three sisters and their grandmothers's goal to bring them closer to each other. They all spent summers together at the beach but have become estranged and live totally different lives. The grandmother insists that they all need to spend the summer at the beach together or be taken out of her will. I really enjoyed Carson's story and can't wait to read about the other sisters.

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice MonroeI wanted to read this book because of the cover-the beach scene.The grandmother of the 3 girls has invited them to the island so they can be together for the last time before she heads to a retirement center.No spouses or children. Carson on the west coast=her TV show job had ended and she was out of money.Dora in SC, divorced with an autism child, Harper in NY, personal asst to her mother.This book hit home real quick as I plan to give one strand of my pearls to my daughter in June. This summer, 3 months she hoped to reunite 3 women with 3 necklaces. She would also tell them of their father-they each had a different mother.Love hearing all about the ocean and nature along the shore. Such fascinating facts about dolphins. With the history of the area I feel as if I am there.A stipulation for the girls and can the women live up to what is expected? Their lifes secret could really become a problem if the others knew...Interesting to watch each of them pick out one true gift they want..Love hearing about kiteboarding, such good instructions..At the end of book 1, this means there will be other books in this series, facts about dolphins are given. Now I can't wait for the other girls to get their own books and to keep up with the others.I loved this book for the travel/locale detailed descriptions as if I was there, friendship and sometimes painful moments they share and that is to come.I received this book from Edelweiss by Random House in exchange for my honest review.

Summoned by their grandmother to a historic family home on Sullivan's Island, SC, estranged half-sisters Carson, Eudora, and Harper share a summer of healing and forgiveness while exploring the tenacious complexities of sisterhood and friendship (summary from ISBN 1476758832).This is the first book in the trilogy and almost half of the book is background and "setting the stage" for advancing the plot. Once I got past that part, the author picked up the pace and got more interesting. Part of the plot revolves around dolphins and efforts to help them survive, which I found fascinating. Now that I know the characters better, I look forward to reading the next two books in the series.

This is the first book in a trilogy and is chiefly about Carson Muir, the half-sister to Harper and Dora.They are the product of an alcoholic ne’er- do -well father, and three vastly dissimilar mothers. The only thing that really pulls and keeps them together is their Grandmother and she has called them back to Sullivan’s Island ostensibly for her 80th birthday, but in truth, it is to get out into the open, family secrets and lies.I cannot say that I found this a heartwarming novel. So many of the main characters were dislikable and I realize that it is because of how they grew up and the issues that still dog them as adults, yet I still could not find much sympathy for them.This book is mainly Carson’s story, and early on, you can tell that her drinking is a problem. That problem will soon snowball. She has also found a relationship, or rather two relationships –one with a dolphin and another with a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) scientist who is studying dolphins. Which, had things played out a little differently, should have made for the perfect romance. Moreover, it still most likely work out, we shall just have to see what the next two books bring.I found this book to be a bit plodding with several of the characters coming off as a bit cookie cutter-ish, especially with this book being of that very specific southern coastal genre. Ms. Munroe added more fuel to the fires of the sisters each having issues, by giving Dora an Autistic son who does tend to dominate Carson’s book a little. Harper, the youngest of the half-sisters may end up with the most interesting book. I don’t know why I feel that to be true but I do. I will be interested to read what happens to Mamaw, Harper and Dora in the next two books.