Porch Lights by Dorothea Benton Frank

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New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank was born and raised on Sullivans Island, South Carolina. She resides in the New York area with her husband.

When Jimmy McMullen, a fireman with the NYFD, is killed in the line of duty, his wife, Jackie, and ten-year-old son,... read more

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When Jimmy McMullen, a fireman with the NYFD, is killed in the line of duty, his wife, Jackie, and ten-year-old son, Charlie, are devastated. Charlie idolized his dad, and now the outgoing, curious boy has become quiet and reserved. Trusting in the healing power of family, Jackie decides to... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Crossing the bridge from the mainland, Jackie and Charlie enter a world full of wonder and magic—lush green and chocolate grasslands and dazzling red, orange, and magenta evening skies; the heady pungency of Lowcountry Pluff mud and fresh seafood on the grill; bare toes snuggled in warm sand and palmetto fronds swaying in gentle ocean winds.

Awaiting them is Annie Britt, the family matriarch who has kept the porch lights on to welcome them home. Thrilled to have her family back again, Annie promises to make their visit perfect—even though relations between mother and daughter have never been what you'd call smooth. Over the years, Jackie and Annie, like all mothers and daughters, have been known to have frequent and notorious differences of opinion. But her estranged and wise husband, Buster, and her flamboyant and funny best friend Deb are sure to keep Annie in line. She's also got Steven Plofker, the flirtatious and devilishly tasty widowed physician next door, to keep her distracted as well.

Captivated by the island's alluring natural charms and inspired by colorful Lowcountry lore—lively stories of Blackbeard and his pirates who once sailed the waters surrounding the Carolinas and of former resident Edgar Allan Poe—mother, daughter, and grandson will share a memorable, illuminating summer. Told in Annie's and Jackie's alternating voices, and filled with Dorothea Benton Frank's charming wit, indelible poignancy, and hallmark themes—the bonds of family, the heart's resilience, and the strength of love—Porch Lights is a triumph from "the queen of Southern fiction" (Charlotte Observer).

Characters/People edit see section history

Jackie McMullen: military nurse back from Afghanistan, mother of 10 year old Charlie
Charlie McMullen: 10 Year old son of Jackie McMullen and recently deceased Jim McMullen, firefighter.
Jim McMullen: NYFD officer killed on the job, late husband to Jackie and father of Charlie
Annie Britt: Jackie's mother, a "nervous Nellie" and a bit caustic, to say the least, with her husband, Buster.
Buster Britt: Jackie's father, estranged husband of Annie, like so many men unable to express his appreciation for his wife until he was in danger of losing her.
Aunt Maureen: Jim's aunt, a spinster
Deborah Ann Jenkins: Add a description of this character.
Dr. Steven Plofker: dermatologist, neighbor of Annie's, Jackie's Mother.
Edgar Allan Poe
Stella and Stanley: Dr. Steve Plofker's dogs, boyton spaniels; rescue dogs.
Legrand
Johnny Cash
Mike Veeck
Casey
Libby
Vernon
Henry Clinton
John
Stella
Mother McCree
Bill Murray
Stephen King
Marshall Stith
Ben Michaels
Guster
Thomson
Mary Stevens
Jimmy McMullen
Jojo
Margaret Donaldson
Kidd
Peter Parker
Anita
William Moultrie
Stanley

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

Sullivan's Island, SC

First Sentence edit see section history

I will tell you the one thing that I have learned about life in my thirty-something years that is an absolute truth: nothing and no one in this entire world matters more to a sane woman than her children.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

Dorothea Benton Frank (Author)

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Page Count: 336

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Dewey: 813

Subjects edit see section history

Books › Literature & Fiction

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Porch Lights (edit title/settings)

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