Synopsis:
Cathryn (“Cate”) Mahon Cooper has had a series of very bad days. A few days ago, Cate’s husband of twenty-six years, Addison, took his own life. At his funeral, she learned that Addison had numerous affairs, including one that produced a young son, and mismanaged all of their assets. Her vehicles and all of her furniture and furnishings have been repossessed — even the contents of the wine cellar — and the sheriff has given her forty-eight hours to vacate her home following foreclosure by the bank. Addison’s firm is bankrupt, as are his partners. She has only twenty thousand dollars in cash that she has saved over the years and no employment prospects.
Fortunately, Cate’s Aunt Daisy and her life partner, Ella, who raised her and her sister, Patti, after their parents’ deaths, is ready to welcome her back home to Folly Beach, near Charleston, South Carolina. Daisy and Ella are getting older, and Daisy needs assistance running her vacation home rental business. In fact, one of Daisy’s homes, affectionately known as the Porgy House, is available for Cate to move into immediately. It is full of mementos from the days when Dorothy and DuBose Heyward lived there and collaborated with George Gershwin on Porgy and Bess.
So Cate sets off for Folly Beach in the modest used vehicle she purchased, unsure whether she will remain there permanently or return to New Jersey. Folly Beach and her Aunt Daisy’s unconditional love and support promise respite and a safe harbor where Cate can relax, put the unfortunate recent events behind her, and decide how she wants to spend the second half of her life.
Review:
Folly Beach opens with the first act of a play entitled Folly Beach: A One-Woman Show with Images, purportedly drafted by Cate. Successive acts alternate with Cate’s first-person narrative. It is an original and highly effective literary technique. As Dorothy tells her story, so does Cate. And, of course, like Dorothy, Cate finds romance — with the handsome creative writing professor, John Risley, who has also survived heartbreak and disappointment. In fact, John is already a Heyward aficionado and encourages not only Cate’s delving into the mysteries surrounding the couple, but also urges her to try her hand at being a playwright.
Frank envelopes Cate with eccentric but endearing supporting characters. Aunt Daisy and Ella are a couple of Bickersons, but they have been together for decades. Their devotion to each other is tested and proves sturdy. Cate’s son, Russ, and daughter, Sara, react quite differently to their father’s death and the revelations about his life and his professional downfall, but both love their mother and must overcome their own emotional turmoil in order to support Cate as she forges a new life for herself. Luckily, she has an unwavering ally in her older sister, Patti.
Each character is so well imagined and described that they practically come to life. Cate is a sympathetic and believable victim of the difficult economic times we have all endured. Her fiftieth birthday is not many years away but, as the story begins, she is losing everything — her husband, home, financial security — and has no idea how to begin putting her life in order. But she is also likable because she has no interest in being a victim for long. There are some plot points that require the reader to suspend his/her disbelief — things fall into place for Cate a bit too readily, in some aspects. But Frank is easily forgiven because readers will find themselves cheering Cate on, especially with regard to her relationship with John and its surprising parallels to Dorothy and DuBose.
This was my first experience reading Frank’s work, but it won’t be my last. Folly Beach amply demonstrates why she is a New York Times bestselling author, beloved by her large following of loyal readers. Folly Beach is charming, witty, and frequently hilarious. Frank will convince you, through the adventures of Cate Cooper, that you really can go home again, and reinvent yourself and your life there. Throw it into your tote and take it with you to the pool or beach. It is a perfect book with which to wile away a little time in the sun . . . even if you can’t be at the enticing Folly Beach yourself.
Enter to Win a Copy of Folly Beach
One lucky reader, selected at random, will receive a copy of Folly Beach, graciously provided by the author.
To enter, simply post a comment stating the name of your favorite Gershwin tune! If you aren’t familiar with the works of George Gershwin — or, like me, simply can’t pick just one favorite — simply state what aspect of my review most makes you want to read the book! Be sure to include your email address (for notification and delivery purposes). The book can only be shipped to a United States or Canadian address (no P.O. box).
The comment posted by Gwendolyn B. at A Sea of Books was selected at random and a copy of Folly Beach was sent to her!
16 Comments
The financial troubles of the main character make this story very current. I always enjoy family dramas, especially those set in the South. THanks for the giveaway.
My favorite Gershwin would be Rhapsody in Blue. Thanks for the give away!
Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com
It’s absolutely impossible to pick one favorite Gershwin tune – how about a favorite dozen?! I’ve read several books by this author and enjoyed them all. What appeals to me about FOLLY BEACH is the “starting over” aspect. You may have thought your life was all planned out and secure, but sometimes things are beyond your control. And when you start over, you can end up in a better place than you would have been before the crisis struck. It just sounds so hopeful, inspiring and upbeat! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
Someone to Watch Over Me is my fav
One of my favorite Gershwin tunes is Summertime. I’m a teacher on summer break and the livin’ is easy when all I have to do is read, read, and read. Always looking for my favorite Southern writers like Dottie Franks. Folly Beach is one of my favorite places.
For me, it’s the part about going home and starting over again. So many of us struggle with that issue! Thanks;)
I HAVE to win!!! I love folly beach and books. This is going into my TBR pile! If I win I can write a review!!! 😉
ramblesahm at yahoo dot com
Rhapsody in Blue is wonderful.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Great giveaway! I’ d love to be entered.
Please count me in. Thanks.
avalonne83 [at] yahoo [dot] it
Rhapsody in Blue reminds me of my best friend who often played it on the piano.
Thanks for the giveaway 🙂 My fave Gershwin tune is the upbeat ” That Certain Feeling”
My favorite Gershwin tune is “Someone to Watch Over Me”!
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
Summertime is my favorite Gershwin song – Frank is one of my favorite authors! Looking forward to reading this one, would be nice to win it!
The draw of your review is your how much you talk about character development and how real the characters are. I love a book that truly makes the character feel real to me, like they could actually come walking into my house one day for a visit.
stimble AT hotmail DOT com
I love it when a book turns out to be better than I expected. So glad this was the case for you here!
Thanks for being on the tour.
I love Someone to Watch Over Me! I like your review–when times are tough we all need a little time to get away and regroup!
meredithfl@gmail.com