The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe-a Review

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Description:
The coming of Spring usually means renewal, but for Linnea Rutledge, Spring 2020 threatens stagnation. Linnea faces another layoff, this time from the aquarium she adores. For her—and her family—finances, emotions, and health teeter at the brink. To complicate matters, her new love interest, Gordon, struggles to return to the Isle of Palms from England. Meanwhile, her old flame, John, turns up from California and is quarantining next door. She tries to ignore him, but when he sends her plaintive notes in the form of paper airplanes, old sparks ignite. When Gordon at last reaches the island, Linnea wonders—is it possible to love two men at the same time?

Love in the time of the coronavirus proves challenging, at times humorous, and ever changing. Relationships are redefined, friendships made and broken, and marriages tested. As the weeks turn to months, and another sea turtle season comes to a close, Linnea learns there are more meaningful lessons learned during this summer than opportunities lost, that summer is a time of wonder, and that the exotic lives in our own back yards. In The Summer of Lost and Found, Linnea and the Rutledge family continue to face their challenges with the strength, faith, and commitment that has inspired fans for decades.

Review:

The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe was a wonderful heartwarming return to her Beach House series.  This story revolves mostly around the two leads, Linnea and Cara Rutledge, with the backdrop being the realistic covid pandemic, which affects everyone, with all arriving to the Isle of Palms, in South Carolina. Linnea is upset as she has been furloughed during the pandemic, and worries about getting her job back.  She goes to her Aunt Cara, about her financial issues, and is assured that she can continue to stay rent free at the Beach House.

Soon others unable to afford rent or have nothing available, come to Linnea for a place to stay during the pandemic.  Anna, a coworker, who also has lost her job, and has no money is happy that Linnea will let her take a room at her place, as well as her brother, Cooper.  Cara is happy when David is able to get home, but he will be quarantining for two weeks, and their 6-year-old daughter has to stay with Linnea to be safe. For two weeks, Linnea has her hands full with Hope, as well as her guests.  She is in for a surprise, when her ex-boyfriend, John moves in next door; and he will be staying for the summer to help his mother.  In a short time, Linnea’s boyfriend from England arrives to stay with her. This creates an emotional turmoil for Linnea, with both (her current and former lovers) men determined to fight for her attention, as well as handling all the people staying with her.

What I loved about this story was the close relationships between most of the characters, whether it be mother, daughter, aunt, brother, boyfriends, husbands, father, friendships- and how things affect them all with the new normal (covid pandemic, social distancing, masks, etc), but these people will always find a way to be there for each other. Very well done. I thought Monroe created such a great group of characters, besides the two leads (Linnea/Cara), such as Cooper, Anna, David, Emmi, Gordon, John, Julia, Palmer, and Flo.

The Summer of Lost and Found was a sweet wonderful story, with fantastic characters, friendships, family, love; as well as various realistic issues pertaining the pandemic. Mary Alice Monroe has written a wonderful story that you will enjoy.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher