Porch Lights: A Novel

I loved this book from start to finish. Could not put it down. The characters were crazy loving and realistic

What a great book, I fell in love with Sullivan's Island. The life style and residents. A great read. Didn't want it to end.

As always with this author there's the beach, the sun and wonderful characters!! Be sure you read it, beach not required.

I have loved the personal touches of Ms Frank's novels over the years; indeed, I can read one of her novels and feel like I'm a part of the story by clearly seeing what her characters describe, smelling what they cook, etc. This book, to me, resonates even closer to home because of the military theme. I realize that Jackie's military status is not the main thrust of this novel, but it is a major part of Jackie's story and so it colors her actions, her viewpoints, and her emotional state. I also understood and deeply appreciated Annie's thoughts and feelings as Jackie's mother; not only am I married to an active duty military member, but our son enlisted last year and now I'm a military mother, too. This is part of what made me appreciate this story. I realize that this viewpoint does not affect everyone in the same way; this is simply how it affected me.I was impressed that Ms Frank not only correctly detailed parts of what being in Afghanistan is like for our military (the diet, disappearing skivs, bereavement/emergency leave, the Taliban and their evil practices, the attitudes of some non-military people, etc), but she also wrote Jackie as a person with real and very personal problems: Overwhelming grief, being a strong mother, deployments, family problems with her own parents, and the ability to stow all of these potentially overwhelming crises into a foot locker (so to speak) for future examination. The flaw in this depiction, to me, is that the military provides HOURS of mental health education in order to promote recognition of possible mental distress, so, paired with her being a nurse, I felt some sort of assistance would (or should) have been sought by Jackie for both herself and Charlie.One of the main complaints that some readers had of this book is that Jackie was able to meet and develop feelings for another man so quickly after her husband's death. I, too, raised my eyebrows at the extraordinary speed of her new relationship. I think that DBF was trying to speak to Jackie's inner strength at being able to move on from personal tragedy, as well as addressing Jackie's dream about receiving a gift from her deceased husband as Low Country Prophecy, and that the author needed to fit these things into the story... even if it was done a bit too quickly.Another complaint is that the book is too predictable, and it was pretty predictable, but I also feel that the important parts of the story were the messages of what being a military member in a war zone is like, what being the mother of a military member is like, repairing a marriage, bereavement, flagging self-esteem as we age, love and joy, humor, and finding one's way back to the light with the help of family and friends. Were some of the solutions pretty convenient? Sure they were, but I appreciated the details of the book more than I was irritated at the convenience and predictability.

Greatly enjoyed the family ties and connections. The Poe history was a nice side bar as you traveled through the story. Stories set in the lowcountry are favorites for me and "Porch Lights" is no exception!

Dorothy's Benton Frank's books about the Low Country are so enjoyable that I may move to Sullivan's Island! Great reads !

After Jackie McMullen's husband Jimmy is killed in a fire while working as a firefighter, her whole world centers on her ten-year-old son Charlie. She returned from Afghanistan, where she had been an army nurse, to their home in Brooklyn. But the loss of her great love Jimmy has turned her world dark. Worried about Charlie, who is unable to eat or sleep, Jackie makes a choice. And off they go to Sullivans Island near Charleston...where she grew up and where her parents still live.Of course, Annie and Buster Britt have been residing in separate abodes, ever since they fought over Buster's tendency to leave his fishing gear all over the place. Buster left, and that was eleven years ago.Home to Jackie is where she can find her connections...and where the porch lights come on to welcome friends and family in the evening. Evenings on the porch are full of good drinks, food, and conversation.Narrated alternately by Annie and Jackie,  Porch Lights  soon encircles us in warmth and Southern friendship, making us feel as though we are sitting right there on the porch with them.Next door is Dr. Steve, a widower, but Jackie takes awhile to warm up to him. But after he "hires" Charlie to walk his dogs, and they become inseparable, before long, he is a regular on the porch.Nevertheless, after a few weeks, Jackie feels she must go back to Brooklyn, to where she and Jimmy began their lives together. But Charlie wants to stay on the island. So, on the night before a fierce hurricane comes roaring through, Charlie does something so impulsive, so reckless, that all of their lives will be changed.Will Charlie's actions bring them all together, at last? And how will Annie and Buster finally resolve their differences? Will Jackie and Steve find romance?This story was a beautiful portrait of family life, full of all the disagreements and the everyday annoyances, as well as the gorgeous food and conviviality that speak Southern living to a reader like me. I could not put it down. Recommended for those who love family drama and Southern settings. Five stars.

Love all her books!!! This was not a disappointment!!!

I am a fan of Dorothea Benton Frank and have all her books to date. She writes so vividly about the southern area and islands around Charleston customs and families. One gets drawn into the family events and one can feel the warmth and the sea breezes , the way she introduces food into her books is most enjoyable.

Loved this book. I’ve only just discovered Dorothea, and am so excited to know that she has written so many novels - I have a wonderful time ahead reading them all.Porch Lights is such a lovely story of family and relationships - I enjoyed it so much and would recommend it.

Well written and enjoyable novel. I love this author and her style. She's captivated me with description of Oceanside - hope to visit there when next in USA

Book club

Dorthea brings her characters to life and takes me to Sullivan's island.