The Sea Keeper's Daughters (A Carolina Heirlooms Novel)

I just finished reading The Sea Keeper’s Daughters by Lisa Wingate. Whitney Monroe is co-owner of La Tazza restaurant. She recently purchased an old mill (and did not research the town prior to purchase) to open a second location. Unfortunately, Tagg Harper and his cronies are doing everything in his power to stop her from opening the new restaurant (he has the local people in his back pockets). Whitney and her partner, Denise are about to lose everything they have worked for over the last few years. Whitney refuses to back off from the new location.

When her mother passed away, Whitney inherited The Excelsior hotel in Manteo (which is in the Outer Banks of North Carolina). Her step-father, Clyde Franczyk has the right to live in the hotel until his death, and he is firmly entrenched on the third floor (he is cranky). Whitney received a call that Clyde is ill and had to go to the hospital. Whitney is hoping to find something of value in the hotel to sell to help her keep her restaurants (search while he is away).

Whitney finds old letters addressed to her grandmother, Ziltha Ruby Benoit from her twin sister, Alice Loring. Whitney did not know her grandmother had a twin sister. Alice was a part of the Federal Writers Project regarding stories of people and their histories. Whitney finds the letters fascinating. Clyde, who has returned from the hospital, also gets involved in the project (the letters are in pieces). While looking in an old captain’s desk, she discovers some beautiful jewelry and scrimshaw. Can they help her save the hotel? But, at the same time, Whitney will be sacrificing her family history. Mark Strahan owns The Rip Shack which is housed on the first floor of Whitney’s building. Mark does not Whitney to sell the building to the developer, Casey Turner. Mr. Turner will demolish the beautiful and historical building. Mark would also like to start a special youth program on the second floor of the hotel. Can Whitney find a way to save her restaurants while keeping the building and preserving her family history? What did Alice Loring discover during her travels?

I found The Sea Keeper’s Daughters to a very long book. I really enjoyed the history part of the book (it was fascinating). I found Whitney to be stubborn, frustrating, and ridiculous (who hangs on to a restaurant when it will bankrupt you and your family). I was so glad when I finished this book. There are pages of Whitney’s rambling thoughts (you can really just skip over these pages as they do not enhance the book in any way). What Whitney uncovered about her family history was expected, but I found it (the actual history) fascinating. I give The Sea Keeper’s Daughters 3 out of 5 stars. I think this book just needed more polish.

I received a complimentary copy of The Sea Keeper’s Daughters from Tyndale House Publishers via The Book Club Network Inc. and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.