Although Beth Hayes agreed to put her own post-graduation plans
on hold for a year, she was not a happy camper. All her relatives
had had their opportunities to follow their dreams, and she thought
hers were being ignored. She knew she was being selfish, but
that’s the way she felt. However, before long she began
seeing some possibilities she had not anticipated. Cecily
Singleton, Max Mitchell, Barbara Farlie and Woody Morrison are but
a few of the characters who offered friendship, challenges and
support, each in an exceptional way.

Beth gains confidence through landing not only a hostess job at
a popular restaurant, but also a writing-for-pay job at the local
newspaper. Editor Barbara Farlie hands her the freelancer’s
dream job: writing a features column each week. Meeting land
developer Max Mitchell leads her to rethink her commitment to
non-commitment, and her friend Cecily Singleton is always nearby to
offer food, drink and various other forms of solace as needed. Yet
there is an inkling of danger or deception lurking about.

Could there really be ghosts of family members who cannot rest
in peace? Does their unrest cause them to come and mess up the
“haunted” bedroom? What secrets are there that Beth
does not know…and will it benefit anyone if she tries to
discover them? Why doesn’t Max want his picture taken, and
why is Cecily trying to steer her away from him? There’s more
than a little suspense as the tale unfolds and the characters grow
into their prospective roles.

In addition to the familiar family characters --- you know the
ones: the snooty aunt, the sweet sister, the family know-it-all,
the hell-raising cousins --- Dorothea Benton Frank brings them all
to life with the banter that goes on among them. From the cutting
criticisms of the elders to the comfortable teasing between
cousins, the author has mastered the art of writing
conversation.

Some enjoy reading about places that they have lived in or that
are familiar to them. Others are simply fascinated by certain
settings and enjoy being beamed there by an author’s magic
pen. I love the idea of living on an island, though the closest
I’ve ever come was a 10-day trip to Hawaii. Frank’s
series set on Sullivans Island off the coast of South Carolina
continues to draw readers that take pleasure in her colorful
characters and vivid descriptions of island life. As each adventure
unfolds, the salty Atlantic air fills your nostrils, and you can
feel the sand getting between your toes. Love it.