All Summer Long: A Novel

This is an exciting story with many interesting characters that lead different lifestyles. It brings both to life the beauty of the Low country and the experiences of New York City. I didn't want this to end.

I love early Dot Frank books. This was good... not great, not captivating and I either didn't know or didn't like the characters. I'm disappointing. I'm rating two stars because it's one of my favorite authors writing about (sort of) one of my favorite places. Keep the books in the Low Country, that might help...

I loved this book and Olivia Ritchie. Her thoughts about moving from New York City to South Caroline and the family financial difficulties were real and ever so emotional. I kept wondering about her, when I wasn't reading the book. I sell real estate and know how a dry streak can almost bankrupt the family literally and emotionally. Her lovely style and details about Olivia, as an interior designer, and her jobs were glamourous and real. The Author's sense of place was amazing. I wanted to see the house, the beach, eat the food, and take a swim. I also wanted to indulge in the very wealthy life style she and Nick, her husband, were able to dabble in when her Clients invited her along for trips and vacations. I love NYC and I loved her details about it. I lived there for 7 years and could see, feel, and smell the City. I am thrilled to have discovered this new writer and her great story lines. All Summer Long is a story of a couple who live on the fringes of the very wealthys' lives as Olivia is an interior designer to the very rich and her husband is a retired professor...they move to South Caroline to retire. The book does have twists and turns, and for a time, in the last few chapters of the book I was sad, but loved the ending. A must read

"All Summer Long" is an average Dottie Frank novel and, like almost all her other books, I enjoyed the read. That said, though, she is beginning to wear me out with all the references to commercial products and vendors. I don't mind the references to local restaurants in the Charleston area, which are germaine to the story line, but the constant referring to products and vendors that have absolutely nothing to do with the lowcountry are becoming a bit much - for me anyway. Some of the beneficiaries of Ms. Frank's largesse this time are: Googleearth, Manolo Blahnik, Warren Edwards, FedEx, Facetime, Skype, The Ed Sullivan Show, Princess Phones, the Michael Jackson "Thriller" album, MTV, National Car Rental, "50 Shades of Grey", Pucci, Capri, Gucci, Bergdoff Goodman, Rigauld Candles, Wal-Mart, Coca Cola, T Anthony, Louis Vuitton, KitchenAid, Gulfstream G650, Jane Jetson, Lady Gaga, Words With Friends, Apple I-phone, Crate & Barrel, Jet Blue Airlines, Purell, Ford Motor Co., TripAdvisor, Bed Bath & Beyond, Talbot's, Saturday Night Live, Uber, Beringer Vineyards, Whole Foods, Bi Lo, Chanel, Depends, Metamucil, Overstock.com, Ikea, Real Housewives shows, Downton Abbey, Madmen, National Geographic Channel, CNN, Harris Teeter, Wonder Bread and Dukes Mayonaise. I still love her style of writing and her lowcountry-based novels (although this one took the story away from the Charleston area for the mostpart), but I'm getting really weary of all the product endorsements. If you're like me, you might want to try reading some of the Mary Alice Monroe novels. It's like reading Dorothea Benton Frank.............without the commericals.

I discovered Dorothea Benton Frank when someone gave me a gift of Sullivan's Island. I was hooked and every time I saw a book she had written I would pick it up. I was looking forward to reading All Summer Long and felt it was a little less than I expected. The story starts with Olivia Ritchie a well-known interior designer in New York City and her husband Nicholas Seymour an English professor who was born and raised in Charleston, SC. Olivia and Nick are preparing to relocate to Charleston where they can live a more peaceful life. Nick of course is so happy to be moving back to Charleston, Olivia is afraid of the unknown. Add into the story Olivia buying a house on Sullivan’s Island that she is pouring way too much money into to make it the perfect house for her and Nick, all the while not telling Nick how bad their finances are in. Olivia’s assistant Roni Larini blends in to the story with a separate story line about her Mom and then finding love with the contractor at Olivia’s house. The lifestyle that Olivia and Nick have enjoyed in New York because of her business continues after the move to Sullivan’s Island. Living the life the ultra-rich from Nantucket to Southern Spain; one client and her husband stay focused on keeping the friendship they have established.

I love DB Frank and love everything she's written. To me, the story and characters didn't seem as developed as most others she's written. Almost as if she felt the pressure of 'getting one book out every year'. Despite that, it was enjoyable simply because of the way she writes.

Every single year I look on the web to see when this author will publish a new book. I preorder and wait for the day. WHAT A LET DOWN.!! its a miserable book--didn't like any of the people-- the story line was weak and really did not go anywhere yet it applied every cliché in the world. DBF...what happened to you? the low country charm , the atmosphere, the people you could actually like, the very nice story line .. please put this current persona away and come back as the real you. I might not preorder next year... but I hope that the next book returns to the style and to the charm previously written by this author.

I always love anything written by Miss Dorothea. This book was entertaining, easy to read, and very enjoyable. Need to go see what other book she has that I might’ve missed. ❤️

I can't wait for summer and Dorothea Benton Frank's beach read. When I read her first book that was it. I ordered all that I could find. What a great summer and fall. She is the ultimate story teller and this book All Summer Long was waiting a year for!!!!

This was for my daughter who loved it

Great & Prompt