Book Review: "The Summer of Lost and Found" By Mary Alice Monroe

 

According to her profile: "Monroe is captivated by the beauty and fragility of the wild habitat around her. In particular, the coastal southern landscape became a strong and important focus of many of her novels. Monroe immerses herself in both academic research and hands-on/volunteering to learn about a species or conservation issue. Then, she uses the knowledge and experiences working with animals and the wildlife experts to craft captivating stories that identify important parallels between nature and human nature. Bottlenose dolphins, monarch butterflies, shorebirds, and loggerhead sea turtles are among the wild species she has worked with and woven into her novels."

This shows in her novels in which her most recent book, "The Summer of Lost and Found" builds upon not only the environment, global warming, and the protection of sea turtles but also with Covid and the uncertain outcome of the pandemic and the recession that continues onward.

The novel begins with numerous characters beginning with the lead -Linnea Rutledge- who has just been laid off from her aquarium job. She stuck between a rock and a hard place literally as her current and former love interest gather round during a pandemic. Gordon is her newest partner who has travelled from England to be with her. Meanwhile, John, hasn't left her side and moves in next door to quarantine after returning from California, quite conveniently.

With this noted we then see several other characters introduced to Anna (Annabelle) who was offered a room courtesy of Linnea at the beach cottage. Other individuals such as John's mother's relative who was diagnosed with dementia also is discussed.

The pandemic does create numerous challenges including social distancing on the beach with the turtle rescues to the introduction of relationships or the foregoing of them as the case may warrant.

I absolutely adored the ending with the way in which Gordon came forward proclaiming his career and seeking a relationship all at once while not really offering a relationship towards Linnea but professing a demand.

Her response was PRICELESS! Good for her!
In the end John was still there and who knows what the future may behold but one thing is certain, Life is short!

As I sit here typing this I have pondered the notion of whether or not to take the chance with underlying illness to get the Covid vaccination alongside my elderly mother. While there's not been discussion on this matter here it's something we all must ask ourselves as the pandemic rages on especially those of us that are high risk individuals.

I pray we all end this journey together and in good health. For those who have lost the battle you are gone but never forgotten.

As someone who has repeatedly dealt with pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, COPD, Asthma, allergies, and the like for the past 20 years I sympathize with those unable to simply take a breath. Upon receiving the flu/pneumonia shot I was sent to the ER with a racing heart. I was informed I had sinus tachycardia even though I've had a bubble echo cardiogram with no sign of heart problems, yet, still suffer from wheezing, coughing, etc.

Please take care of yourselves as you never know when it may be your last.
This book will have you addressing the importance of relationships, healthcare, our global warming of even just 1 degree, and so much more.

It was an eye opening read that will warm your heart and shed joy to all.

Thank you to M.A.M as she's known in the book world, to her pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.