Title: The Last Original Wife
Author: Dorothea Benton Frank
Narrator: Robin Miles
Published: Paperback: April 2014, William Morrow & Company / Audio: June 2013, Harper Audio
Format: ARC Paperback, 368 pages / Audio CD, 11.75 hours
Source: Publisher via TLC Book Tours / Library
Leslie Anne Greene
Carter is the last original wife among her husband’s group of cronies.
They’ve all traded in their first wives-the middle-aged women they long
ago promised to love and cherish ’til death did them part-for riper
peaches: younger . . . blonder . . . more enhanced models.Leslie
is proud of her status and the longevity of her marriage. Sure the
spark isn’t quite as bright and sometimes takes a little longer to
flame. And it wouldn’t be too much to ask if her husband paid just an
itty bit more attention to her desires. But there’s something to be said
for a comfortable and deeply familiar relationship. Or at least she
thinks until the day, out golfing with her husband and his friends, she
slips into a manhole. And nobody realizes that she’s gone.That
one misstep opens Leslie’s eyes to the sham her perfect life has become.
No longer will she be invisible. No longer will she accept being taken
for granted. With the healing powers of South Carolina’s lush white
beaches, candy-colored sunsets, and fiesty and funny residents, Leslie
is going to transform herself and reclaim the strong, vibrant, sexy
woman she was meant to be.The Last Original Wife is classic
Dorothea Benton Frank: an intoxicating tale of friendship and love that
is as refreshing as a soothing breeze across a golden lowcountry marsh
and as invigorating as a dip in cool, salty waters on a sizzling South
Carolina summer day.
My thoughts: This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by Dorothea Benton Frank and I am now a fan!!! I found this book to be a fun, light story with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and a few tender ones thrown in as well.
I loved the characters in this book. Dorothea Benton Frank has created delicious characters that you either absolutely love or you really despise. This book is told in the alternating points of view of Les and Wes. After 30 years of marriage, taking care of Wes and her two children, having to skimp and cut coupons, drive used cars, be mindful of every cent she’s spent, Les has had enough!!! Going back and forth from the present to the past, we get the full picture of how this marriage worked and as more and more is revealed, I really couldn’t find fault with Les for leaving Wes. The question now is how does she put herself first and can she even do it?
The dialogue is sassy and saucy. Even the tone is different between the chapters narrated by Wes than those narrated by Les – this just adds another dimension to these characters. And then there are the supporting characters – what a fun, interesting and even at times, annoying, bunch of individuals. From Les’s brother Harlan, to the new wives of Wes’s friends to even Wes and Les’s children, they all added their own unique qualities to the story.
I cannot wait to pick up another book by Dorothea Benton Frank. I’m thinking her books are great for summer reads. If you’ve read her, what book would you recommend me reading next?
Audio Thoughts: I loved listening to this book and thought Robin Miles did a great job giving Les and Wes their own unique voices. She was able to infuse just enough sass and humor to her voice when needed. This is the first time I’ve listened to her narrate a book and will definitely be looking to see what else she’s done.
About the author: New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank was born and raised on Sullivans Island, South Carolina. She is the author of many New York Times bestselling novels, including Lowcountry Summer and Return to Sullivans Island. She resides in the New York area with her husband.
Authors Links:
To see who else is participating in Dorothea Benton Frank’s The Last Original Wife tour, click here.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS – CLOSED (US only)
Thanks to Trish at TLC Book Tours I have one copy of The Last Original Wife to give away to my readers.
To enter…
- Leave a comment below & be sure to include your email address.
- Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.
- You MUST include email address or entry will be invalid.
- I will contact winner at the conclusion of the giveaway & they will have 2 days to respond or I will pick a new winner.
This giveaway is open to US residents only and ends April 21st.
Good luck!
I am so excited to read this one! It sounds like a fabulous beach read. Thanks for this great giveaway. Chris327@mac.com
Me too, loved this book/audio. So entertaining and was the first book by DBF I read. Looking forward to more. No need to enter me in the giveaway.
I love sass and humor! I will need to put this on my wishlist.:) 🙂
PS Don't enter me. I am pretty sure this is the kind of book my library will gobble up 🙂
Thanks for this delightful giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
I would enjoy this lovely book. Many thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
This looks so great! Thanks
sumsum085@aol.com
If this book isn't perfect for the summer I don't know what is. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx
+2 I tweeted a link to this post: twitter.com/carlrscott/status/455808176231694336
Loved listening to this book too. I would love to gift this good to my mom. nisethusfarATyahooDOTcom
Ooh! This book sounds like a must read. Keeping my fingers crossed for this one!
mauback55 at gmail dot com
Kristin,
Thanks for a wonderful review and giveaway! Please enter me in your terrific giveaway (for the audio book version, right?). I'll add it to my blog's sidebar.
suko95(at)gmail(dot)com
Not entering! I enjoyed her Bull's Island book and I want to get into some more of hers, sounds like I might use an Audible credit soon for this one!
This book sounds great and I love audio books so count me in!
tweet: twitter.com/TexasBookLover/status/456178027467005952
Thanks so much!
mmafsmith AT gmail DOT com
Looks like a perfect beach read!
Laura Kay
anovelreview(@)yahoo(.)com
WOuld love to read this one.
gopalan.seema[at]gmail.com
I love audio books so I'm glad to hear this one was so well done!
Thanks for being on the tour.
How special is a book which allows its reader the privelege of stepping into a group of new friends so comfortably and offering up a whole ration of fun one would never expect to become personally involved in? This book, The Last Original Wife, is that kind of "special".
Y'all really must read this and enjoy the sites, sounds and tidbits offered up with a ration of laughs and down-to-earthiness as you become more and more part of the story and less the reader of the book…you won't forget it anytime soon.
How special is a book such as this, which allows its reader to step into a world so different and charming that one feels as if he or she has been welcomed into a group of friends as one of their own?
The Last Original Wife is that kind of special. Y'all really must come join the fun!
Benton is a new author for me! This book sounds like a great place to start reading her works.
Thanks for the giveaway.
ladybook21atyahoodotcom