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All the Single Ladies

Review

All the Single Ladies

In her position as a nurse at the Palmetto House Assisted Living Facility, Lisa St. Clair has seen her share of patients come and go. As a geriatric specialist, she knows that the odds are great that her patients eventually will make their departure to the great beyond while under her care. Unfortunately, when one of Lisa’s favorite patients, Kathy Harper, dies of cancer while only in her late 50s, Lisa takes her death especially hard.

Fortunately, Lisa isn't left to deal with her grief over Kathy's passing alone. During the course of caring for Kathy in the hospice section of the facility, she become close to Kathy's two best friends, Suzanne and Carrie. Together, the women share memories of Kathy, sort through her worldly possessions, and bond with one another in a way that only true friends do.

"ALL THE SINGLE LADIES is a fine addition to the considerable library of books already penned by inveterate southerner Dorothea Benton Frank."

In addition to being deeply moved by the loss of Kathy, Lisa faces personal challenges of her own. Divorced decades ago from a man who has taken to the woods in order to prepare for doomsday, 52-year-old Lisa is responsible for making her own way in the world. She worries about her ability to make enough money to keep a roof over her head and can barely entertain the idea of being able to retire one day. As if those concerns weren't enough, due to a falling out, Lisa's only child, Marianne, refuses to answer her mother's telephone calls and text messages, breaking Lisa's heart in the process.

In spite of her problems, Lisa finds comfort with Suzanne and Carrie and numerous laughs as well. When an unexpected problem forces Lisa from her home, she takes refuge in the beautiful oceanfront home where Suzanne and Carrie live with Suzanne's grandmother, 99-year-old Miss Trudie, a fine example of Southern womanhood with a firecracker personality who enjoys her nightly martinis.

As the three women sort through Kathy's estate, Kathy's hard-as-nails landlord, Wendy, claims that certain pieces of expensive antique furniture in Kathy's apartment belong to her, has exorbitant landscaping expenses billed to Kathy, and is found wearing unique bracelets that Suzanne gave to Kathy as a gift. Determined to expose Wendy as the scam artist she is, the trio begin digging deep to find the proof they need. During their investigation, they uncover secrets that reveal personal information about Kathy of which they were unaware and begin to wonder how well they really knew this very private woman.

In addition to their already numerous exploits, each lady begins dating a new man. Carrie connects with a new paramour on a dating website, Suzanne finds herself involved with Lisa's boss, Dr. Black, and Lisa falls for Kathy's ex-boyfriend, Paul. 

ALL THE SINGLE LADIES is a fine addition to the considerable library of books already penned by inveterate southerner Dorothea Benton Frank. Imbued with the details that easily transport readers to the South Carolina Lowcountry, the novel proves that it's never too late to follow a new path in life and find the happiness and joy that one might have missed out on in earlier years.

Reviewed by Amie Taylor on June 10, 2015

All the Single Ladies
by Dorothea Benton Frank

  • Publication Date: May 10, 2016
  • Genres: Fiction, Women's Fiction
  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
  • ISBN-10: 006213258X
  • ISBN-13: 9780062132581