Abandoned by Booklikes

The Summer Wind is the second book in the Lowcountry Summer trilogy. The first novel in this trilogy was The Summer Girls.

This novel continues the tale of three half sisters, Dora, Carson, and Harper. This novel focuses more on Dora though we do get some points of view from Carson and Harper. Dora is separated from her husband and still trying her best to deal with her son Nate's autism. While back on Sullivan's Island and staying at her grandmother Mamaw's home 'Sea Breeze' Dora reconnects with an old love and finally starts to come back to herself a bit. We also get Carson still struggling with her own demons and Harper starting to let go from all of the trappings from her mother's side of the family.

There really is not much tension in this novel. We do have the sisters getting mad at each other and we have Harper struggling with a major decision. However, those incidents are either quickly smoothed over except for Harper's decision. I assume that will be looked at more in the third and final novel. Speaking of Harper I feel like Mary Alice Monroe wove too many story-lines in this novel that revolved around her. I am pretty much guessing what the outcome of Harper's storyline will be but I bet I am right.

That said, readers will get a look into a character from one of Mary Alice Monroe's other novels which I welcomed. I wish that she had actually provided some more details on this character since I am wondering what is going on in her life right now based on where we left her in Swimming Lessons.

There was one plot that I think would have been great to be carried over into the third novel but was wrapped up in this novel at the conclusion. I wish that Ms. Monroe had actually had that go into the third and final novel since it felt hastily done.

Ultimately this is just what I would consider a great beach read.