Swimming Lessons: A Novel (The Beach House)

It's been five years since the original turtle lady, old Miss Lovie Rutledge, passed away, but her legacy lives on with some special women, especially Toy and her daughter, young Little Lovie.

Toy Sooner kept her graveside vow to her beloved mentor. She left behind an abusive, dysfunctional lifestyle to become a strong single mother and aquarist at the South Carolina Aquarium. But success has taken its toll, leaving Toy fearful of change and risks.

Caretta Rutledge, Florence Prescott and Emmaline Baker have all experienced loss. This summer, with each other's friendship and support, they will try to make their dreams a reality.

The turtle season begins the day Toy rescues asick sea turtle on the beach. When Toy brings theloggerhead to the aquarium, she begins a turtlehospital with the help of her boss, Ethan. As thesummer progresses and the sea turtles take theirmeasured steps toward healing and freedom Toy,Cara, Flo and Emmi must find their own strengthto face their fears and move courageously towardtheir futures.

Mary Alice Monroe delivers another deeplysatisfying novel written with an eye to nature andkeen insights into the connections between women.

Mary Alice Monroe is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of thirty novels, including her NYT middle grade series. Her books have received numerous awards, including the RT Lifetime Achievement Award, Florida Distinguished Author Award, SC Book Festival Award, and the International Fiction Award for Green Fiction. An active conservationist, she lives in the lowcountry of South Carolina where she is at work on her next novel. Visit her at maryalicemonroe.com and on Facebook.