Bed and Breakfast [Large Print]

By Lois Battle and Lois Bathe

Book Overview

Ten years of family secrets, misunderstandings, and recriminations have kept the Tatternalls apart - until Josie, a military widow suddenly alerted to mortality when one of her best friends keels over during a bridge game, impulsively invites her three grown daughters home for the holidays at her gracious South Carolina bed-and-breakfast. Cam, Josie's eldest, is her father's daughter - headstrong, smart, fearless, and utterly hopeless when it comes to making peace with either her family or herself. Years ago, she acquired the cynical veneer born of living too long in New York City and watching her writerly dreams fade. Still reeling from a breakup with the man she loves, she heads south heartily skeptical of the comforts of home and hearth. For Cam, this will be a season of shocks and surprises. Lila, the poised and perfect stay-at-home mother of two, lives near Josie in Hilton Head and is experiencing the slow disintegration of her own essentially loveless marriage. She dreads the prospect of this family reunion - especially the return of her black sheep, brilliant older sister, Cam. Yet, astonishing even herself, this is the Christmas when Lila finally will rebel. Evie, the all-too-candid baby of the family, routinely shares her family's secrets in her advice column for a Savannah newspaper. But even Evie has never created a scene like the tableau she stages at this Christmas dinner - when she arrives on the arm of her latest love, a rich man old enough to be her father....

• Format: Hardcover
• Large Print: Yes
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670860743
• ISBN13: 9780670860746
• Release Date: November 1996
• Publisher: Viking Adult
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Way better than other books of this genre

great writing, interesting, 3-dimensional characters instead of stereotypes, and never predictable. This book was wonderful and held my interest --highly recommended for those who enjoy Pat Conroy's books

reprint of a well written regional charmer

Widow Josie Tatternall does not have fond memories of her womanizing dictatorial late spouse, who treated her like he did the soldiers he led. The septuagenarian owns the Point Bed and Breakfast in Beaufort, South Carolina. .Christmas is coming and feeling her age after calling 911 when her bridge playing pal Peatsy collapses, Josie wants her three adult daughters to visit her for the holidays. As her sister reminds her, that will take a miracle. Her oldest Camilla has not come home in ten years, vowing back then never; however, depressed that her job may be gone, her lover definitely gone, and her period probably gone due to she fears a pregnancy, Cam accepts the invitation. Her middle child Lila Gadsen of Hilton Head immediately accepts. She hopes seeing mom will allow her to escape for a week from her politician husband and his attitude, and their two teens with attitude that only prescription medicine alleviates the headaches. Her youngest Evie lives in Savannah where she writes a newspaper column that exposes her family to ridicule as they are often the topic. She also accepts her mom's invitation. The four Tatternall females converge on the Point with good intentions to let bygones be bygones. Christmas Eve is a catastrophe in spite of the good intentions. The three daughters are together for seemingly for only nanoseconds and each is ready to run home. This reprint of a well written regional charmer affirms that the family that gets together fights together, but hopefully also loves together. Josie is the star though her daughters obviously play key roles in the bickering and arguing, and some wise acceptance and consideration of others. Fans will enjoy this engaging family drama as everyone grows stronger with increased perceptive understanding of those you thought you already know. Harriet Klausner

Nicely done!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! The SC Low Country setting oozed with Southern charm. The characters were interesting, well-drawn, and inspired empathy. I especially like the author's descriptive style of writing, and prolific use of colorful adjectives, allowing me to visualize the details as I was reading it. I also liked how Part Two was presented in flashback, detailing the resolutions of the issues that evolved in Part One.

Interesting theme of trying to break-free of one's "culture"

I bought this book because I like the author (and she comes from my home town in Australia). This book is reminiscent ( in parts) of Gail Godwin's "A Mother and Two Daughters", though is more superficial and therefore easier to read. I enjoyed it, but think certain characters were not developed enough (youngest daughter, boyfriend , granddaughter etc). On the whole, an interesting glimpse at a daughter trying to escape the confines of her cultural heritage and her mother's coming to terms with mortality and attempts at reconciling a fragmented family.

Most believable characters

At one time I identified with Josie, the mother, and at another, with Lila, one of the daughters. Having reared four children in the south, I can tell you Ms Battle has wonderful, believable characters. I will recommend this book for the October selection for my book discussion club.