This was actually a book that I bought a couple years ago when I was in Charleston.  It might take awhile, but I do eventually read every single book I buy.

And this was my first time reading this author.  Monroe writes women's fiction with a setting of the Carolina Lowcountry.  I enjoyed the book a lot.  While I wouldn't say it was extraordinary, it was a nice read.  A family saga that made me recall novels by Anne Rivers Siddons, Rosamonde Pilcher, etc.  A good story, characters that you cared about and a good plot.

Sweetgrass was a historical tract of land in South Carolina that had been home to the Blakely family for eight generations.  But the family could be forced to sell the one thing that held their disintegrating family together.  A nice story about family, loss and the choices people make for love. 

Although she's written many other novels, this author was also new to me.  I enjoyed this one a lot too. 

As I've mentioned before, as both an author and a reader setting is very important to me.  This one takes place on Nantucket and since I'm originally from Massachusetts, I was initially drawn in by that fact.  All of the characters are great, but especially the main character.  Nan is sixty-five years old, her husband passed away twenty years before, the town considers her eccentric, she lives in a rambling house atop a bluff and doesn't care what people think.  Yup........my kind of character!  In my novel being released next spring, my Sybile is very similar.

However, poor Nan discovers that the money she thought would last forever is running out and she could end up losing her beloved house.  She ends up taking in a few boarders.  Each one is also a great character and have their own story.  There was a twist at the end which I wasn't expecting.......and this always makes for a great read in my opinion.  When an author chooses to put a twist in their story, it can be tricky.  You want to make sure your reader considers it believable.  This author accomplished that.

So if you're looking for a couple good summer reads for the beach, I can highly recommend both of these.

But join me tomorrow and I'll tell you about the third book I read last week.  On a scale of 1 to 10.....this one is a 15!  See you then............