Summer Rental

April 18, 2011
Andrews (Savannah Blues) spins a beach blanket sizzler around three lifelong friends who grew up together in Savannahâunemployed banker Ellis, model Julia, teacher Dorieâand reunite in Nags Head, N.C., for a month-long holiday at a rundown rental elegantly named the Ebbtide. But when the 30-somethings BFFs, each of whom is struggling with life-changing crises, take in Maryn, a stranger and runaway-wife, the beachy holiday takes on a dangerous edge. To the rescue comes handsome landlord Ty, who's renting out his ramshackle family home in hopes of staving off foreclosure. Amid all the romantic entanglementsâJulia with her marriage-phobia, love-shy Ellis, and Dorie with her truckload of dramaâAndrews pulls off an exciting tale of Maryn's abusive embezzler husband. This warm weather treat has a lot going for it, not least the sunny forecast that summer love can blossom into a four-season commitment.

Isabel Keating's treatment of dialogue enhances the characters in this easy summer read. Georgia natives Ellis, Dorie, and Julia reunite in Nags Head, North Carolina, for a month-long getaway. But the vacation isn't at all what the 30-somethings hoped for as unexpected life events, long-held dreams, and buried secrets are revealed. Keating brings the women to life by applying consistent, winning accents. Dorie, a teacher whose marriage isn't what it seems, has the most genuine Southern voice while the mysterious interloper, Maryn/Madison, has enough of a New Jersey accent to announce her background. The over-the-top dialect of some of the minor characters combined with some amusing scenes give the listener some laughs that balance the challenging choices the main players face. The dialogue and individual characterizations make this especially good on audio. J.J.B. 2012 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

October 15, 2011

When childhood friends Dorie, Ellis, and Julia rent an old house on North Carolina's Outer Banks, they anticipate a month of beach reading, getting great tans, and reconnecting. Soon, it's clear that they all are facing life changes: Ellis has been downsized, Dorie has marital problems, and Julia's career is faltering. Then there's Maryn, a runaway with a dark secret, whom Dorie invites to share the house. While best-selling novelist Andrews (The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish) builds suspense to keep the plot moving, the story is a tired one that ends predictably. Narrator Isabel Keating makes the most of the material, giving each character a distinctive Southern accent, fitting for these girls from Savannah. Recommended for Andrews's fans and those wishing some light fare. ["Andrews simply excels at creating the kind of characters readers can relate to, and she has a fabulous sense of humor to boot," read the starred review of the New York Times best-selling St. Martin's hc, LJ 5/1/11.--Ed.]--Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo

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