Nature is the lifeblood of Mary Alice Monroe novels, and fans of her bestselling Lowcountry Summer Trilogy will soon enjoy reading the powerful conclusion, The Summer’s End, on sale May 19th. (Gallery Books)
Rooted in the charming seaside town of Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, summer is ending and Mamaw’s beloved family estate, Sea Breeze, must be sold. It’s an emotional season as Mamaw and the three half-sisters each face loss and struggle to find a fresh start in life. Harper, the youngest sister, who lived under the narcissistic abuse of her wealthy and influential mother, has no home or career after breaking free of her mother’s tyranny. With 
summer’s end fast approaching, Harper must find the courage to release her insecurities, recognize her strengths and accept love fully to save her family and her future.
Each book in the trilogy focuses on one of the three estranged half-sisters (Harper, Carson, and Eudora) spending a final summer at their grandmother’s seaside home. A wild dolphin they name Delphine serves as the trilogy’s keystone and all of their lives are changed by this creature. Throughout the series, Monroe expertly raises awareness about the threats facing bottlenose dolphins, while engaging readers with a story that explores contemporary human and moral issues.
Described as “the canary in the coal mine,” the New York Times bestselling author’s conservation convictions add richness and meaning to her novels. Monroe’s modus operandi before writing a novel involves hands-on research. For this trilogy, Monroe worked with researchers through The National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA) in Charleston, SC and volunteered at the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, FL.
Readers in our area can meet Mary Alice Monroe and hear her talk about her new book on Monday, May 18, when she’s featured as part of the USCB Lunch with Author Series. The luncheon takes place at Sea Pines Resort at Harbourtown, starting at 11:30 am. The number for tickets is 843-521-4147. For more information about Mary Alice Monroe, visit www.maryalicemonroe.com
