Primrose Cottage on the Isle of Palms, SC, has been a constant refuge for the Rutledge women. By 53, Cara Rutledge thought she'd lived a full life, with a good career and a husband she loved. After his death three years earlier, she fled Palms. Now she's back, with an adopted one-year-old daughter. She's struggling to adjust to taking care of a baby until her niece Linnea, a recent college graduate, also returns to Primrose. Reunited on the island, the Rutledges will once again walk the beaches together as part of the "turtle team," and find the strength to break a cycle of family anger and abuse. Monroe (Beach House for Rent) turns to the ocean, sea turtles, and island life to restore balance in the lives of her strong female characters. The circle-of-life story featuring sea turtles parallels the tale of the sympathetic characters who leave and return to the one place they call home. VERDICT As much nature- as character-driven, this atmospheric novel depicts a lush sanctuary that draws in the needy and provides heartwarming inspiration.-Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Cara Rutledge adores the beach house her family has owned for decades on South Carolina's idyllic Isle of Palms, not just as a summer getaway but also, now, as her full-time residence. She knows it's the perfect place to focus on being a mother to her adopted infant daughter, Hope. Cara's niece Linnea has also returned to the Isle of Palms after graduating from college. She loves the slower pace of island life, but her job hunt isn't going nearly as well as her overbearing father would like. As Cara and Linnea contemplate their futures, they find a true community on the island. Focusing on the tradition-bound Rutledges, Monroe's newest novel in the Beach House series (following Beach House for Rent, 2017) brings back many of her beloved characters. Monroe's commitment to wildlife conservation is a common thread throughout the series, evident in the generations who have served on the island's turtle team and form the backbone of the community. Fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Mary Kay Andrews will adore this tender and openhearted novel of familial expectations, new boundaries, and the power of forgiveness.--Turza, Stephanie Copyright 2010 Booklist