HomeSouthern Fiction
April 22, 2021 April 19, 2021 Mary Gallery Books, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Southern Fiction
Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Published: April 2021 – Gallery Books
Review book courtesy of the publisher
Recently separated Amelia Buxton, a dedicated journalist, never expected that uncovering the biggest story of her career would become deeply personal. But when she discovers that a cluster of embryos belonging to her childhood friend Parker and his late wife Greer have been deemed "abandoned," she's put in the unenviable position of telling Parker—and dredging up old wounds in the process.
Parker has been unable to move forward since the loss of his beloved wife three years ago. He has all but forgotten about the frozen embryos, but once Amelia reveals her discovery, he knows that if he ever wants to get a part of Greer back, he'll need to accept his fate as a single father and find a surrogate.
Each dealing with their own private griefs, Parker and Amelia slowly begin to find solace in one another as they navigate an uncertain future against the backdrop of the pristine waters of their childhood home, Buxton Beach. The journey of self-discovery leads them to an unforgettable and life-changing lesson: Family—the one you're born into and the one you choose—is always closer than you think. (publisher)
Under the Southern Sky was the perfect book to pull me through the waning days of winter and into spring. If feel good southern fiction is what you're looking for, look no further. Kristy Woodson Harvey's new novel is the story of Amelia Paxton and Parker Thaysden. They grew up next door to each other and their mothers had high hopes they'd fall in love. Sounds crazy but these southern mamas were bound and determined. Fast forward several years and life has played out differently than any of them imagined. I loved the coastal setting, the families, and Amelia and Parker. This is a story of grief, disappointments, and learning that it's okay to set your sights on new goals. It might make for a life more amazing than anyone could imagine. Recommended.
Blurbs:
"Harvey (Feels Like Falling) delivers a heart-wrenching tale of love and loss in this tearjerker…Harvey brings her characters to life, including Greer, whose heartbreaking journal entries imagine the family she and Parker would have. These passages are particularly wrenching, making the book's happy ending all the more moving. Fans of women's fiction will devour this."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Pack your beach bag, Harvey's back with another delightful story of the magic of southern coastal towns… As with Mary Kay Andrews or Patti Callahan Henry, Harvey spins romance around well-drawn characters, complete with strengths and weaknesses, and always mindful of the beauty that comes from living in the modern South."—Booklist
"Sometimes the key to new love lies hidden in old friendships. In Under the Southern Sky, Kristy Woodson Harvey stirs up a warm-hearted mix of hometown charm and the sort of thoroughly modern problems that bring us back to the people who know us best and the places that remind us of who we really are."—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends
"Perfect for: fans of beach reads, P.S. I Love You, and anything by authors Jennifer Weiner and Elin Hilderbrand. A perfect pick for book clubs or a weekend read, Under the Southern Sky follows journalist Amelia as she makes a heart-wrenching discovery that changes everything."—Country Living
"I've always been a Kristy Woodson Harvey fan, but she has taken things to a whole new level with Under the Southern Sky, her best novel yet. I laughed, sobbed, and gasped at the story's clever twists and turns; I couldn't flip the pages fast enough to see how Amelia's and Parker's story turned out. You'll need plenty of tissues—and maybe some of Cape Carolina's beloved bourbon-spiked sweet tea—to make it to the end. Deliciously plotted, intricately constructed, gorgeously written, and brimming with hope, Under the Southern Sky will steal your heart and make you think about first loves, second chances, and the unforeseeable twists of fate that guide us all."—Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names
"Harvey delivers a fresh and unforgettable portrait of modern parenthood and the thoroughly traditional ways that love continues to conquer all."—Booktrib
"This is a character-driven (…) romance with a lot of introspection. Recommend to readers of Mary Kay Andrews and Susan Mallery."—Library Journal
"I adore Kristy Woodson Harvey's writing style—and topics! I always know that I'm getting an immersive, well-written, visually transporting book when I open one of Kristy's and this is one of her best. And that's saying a lot!"—Zibby Owens, Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books
Follow Links:
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kristy-woodson-harvey
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Kristy-Woodson-Harvey/e/B00O4OUKI0?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/friend/requests?ref=nav_my_friends
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kristywoodsonharvey
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristywharvey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristywharvey
AVAILABLE FROM: YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE, BOOKSHOP.ORG, AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, BOOKS-A-MILLION, TARGET AND EVERYWHERE BOOKS ARE SOLD.
Signed Copies Available From: Oxford Exchange.
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe
January 6, 2021 January 1, 2021 Mary First Book, Forge Books, Heather Webber, Magical Realism, Southern Fiction
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber
Published: July 2019 – Forge Books
from my shelves
THE USA TODAY BESTSELLER Heather Webber's Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town Southern charm.
Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.
It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother's estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father's side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago, and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can't stop talking about.
As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly. (publisher)
My take: What a lovely way to close out one year and begin a new one. I'm so happy I chose Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe to be my first book of 2021. This is a story of finding where you belong and having the courage to embrace it. There's a touch of magical realism, a little romance, and a lot of heart. Its set in the small Alabama mountain town of Wicklow and filled with quirky characters – people looking for peace of mind and hoping for the courage to accept it. I loved it all and would love to read more by Heather Webber.
Cover Reveal: Under the Southern Sky
September 23, 2020 September 21, 2020 Mary cover reveal, Gallery Books, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Southern Fiction
I'm pleased to be on the Cover Reveal tour of Kristy Woodson Harvey's upcoming novel! She's one of my auto-read authors and I can't wait to read Under the Southern Sky. Watch for it in April 2021.
by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Expected publication: April 20, 2021 – Gallery Books
Back Cover Copy:
Two childhood friends discover that love–and family–can be found in unconventional ways in this timely, moving novel from the USA TODAY bestselling author of the "beautifully Southern, evocative Peachtree Bluff series" (Kristin Harmel, internationally bestselling author of The Winemaker's Wife).
Each dealing with their own private griefs, Parker and Amelia slowly begin to find solace in one another as they navigate an uncertain future against the backdrop of the pristine waters of their childhood home, Buxton Beach. The journey of self-discovery leads them to an unforgettable and life-changing lesson: Family–the one you're born into and the one you choose–is always closer than you think.
From "the next major voice in Southern fiction" (Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Under the Southern Sky is a fresh and unforgettable exploration of love, friendship, and the unbreakable ties that bind.
Lisa Wingate Blurb:
"Sometimes the key to new love lies hidden in old friendships. In Under the Southern Sky, Kristy Woodson Harvey stirs up a warm-hearted mix of hometown charm and the sort of thoroughly modern problems that bring us back to the people who know us best and the places that remind us of who we really are." – Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends.
Painting is by Maren Devine Art
Quote by Mesweens Writes
Bookshop.org Preorder
Amazon Preorder
Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey
April 28, 2020 April 27, 2020 Mary Contemporary Fiction, Gallery Books, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Southern Fiction
Published: April 28, 2020 – Gallery Books
ARC courtesy of Gallery Books
Description: It's summertime on the North Carolina coast and the livin' is easy.
Unless, that is, you've just lost your mother to cancer, your sister to her evangelical husband, and your husband to his executive assistant. Meet Gray Howard. Right when Gray could use a serious infusion of good karma in her life, she inadvertently gets a stranger fired from her job at the local pharmacy.
Diana Harrington's summer isn't off to the greatest start either: Hours before losing her job, she broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of their shared house with only a busted Impala for a bed. Lucky for her, Gray has an empty guest house and a very guilty conscience.
With Gray's kindness, Diana's tide begins to turn, but when the one that got away comes back, every secret from her past seems to resurface all at once. And, as Gray begins to blaze a new trail, she discovers, with Diana's help, that what she envisioned as her perfect life may not be what she wants at all.
In her warmest, wittiest, and wisest novel yet, Kristy Woodson Harvey delivers a discerning portrait of modern womanhood through two vastly different lenses. Feels Like Falling is a beach bag essential for Harvey fans—and for a new generation of readers. (publisher)
My take: Feels Like Falling is the story of two women who couldn't be more different and yet, when it comes down to it, are more alike than they know. Their lives have been shaped by similar fears. This story was an emotional one that had some very funny moments as well as times that had me reaching for the tissues. I loved the empowering theme of choosing to live with courage instead of bitterness. Feels Like Falling was my first book of 2020 and when I turned the last page I was so happy I chose to start the year off with such a good book. I loved it all and recommend it to fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey and contemporary Southern fiction.
Praise for FEELS LIKE FALLING:
"Two women in turmoil, two lives at a crossroads. Only Kristy Woodson Harvey can make sense of the sometimes devastating, often-times delicious dilemmas faced by the protagonists of her newest perfect beach read FEELS LIKE FALLING. Readers will fall in love with entrepreneur Gray, whose husband's betrayal leaves her feeling adrift and looking for something beyond career success, while plucky down-and-out Diana will win the hearts of those of us who always root for the underdog. Buckle up, buttercups, because FEELS LIKE FALLING feels like your next summer sizzler!" —Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of Sunset Beach, The High Tide Club, and The Weekenders
"Kristy Woodson Harvey has the voice of a best friend; a storyteller of the finest sort. Feels Like Falling takes us on a page-turning journey with two very different women who must somehow find their way together. Harvey asks the important question — how do we let go of the preconceived notions of our life ? And she answers that question with lyrical prose, an uncommon wisdom and a sharp wit. This is more than a novel about friendship, it is also a story for friendship: you will find yourself sharing it with everyone you love. Dive in; the storytelling is delicious!" —Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times Bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis
"Harvey creates genuine, capable, flawed protagonists and fun secondary characters, and readers will appreciate the thoughtful depiction of women supporting one another in an easy, breezy story. Fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Mary Alice Monroe should add this to their beach read lists." —Booklist
"In pitch-perfect tones, Harvey creates two Southern women doing their best to deal with everything life throws at them, and her able plotting will keep readers turning the pages…Harvey's optimistic tale just might convince readers that bouncing back can actually land a person in a better place than where they started." —Publishers Weekly
The Secret To Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey
March 29, 2018 March 28, 2018 Mary Contemporary Fiction, Gallery Books, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Southern Fiction
After finding out her military husband is missing in action, middle sister Sloane's world crumbles as her worst nightmare comes true. She can barely climb out of bed, much less summon the strength to be the parent her
children deserve.
Her mother, Ansley, provides a much-needed respite as she puts her personal life on hold to help Sloane and her grandchildren wade through their new grief-stricken lives. But between caring for her own aging mother, her daughters, and her grandchildren, Ansley's private worry is that secrets from her past will come to light.
But when Sloane's sisters, Caroline and Emerson, remind Sloane that no matter what, she promised her husband she would carry on for their young sons, Sloane finds the support and courage she needs to chase her biggest dreams—and face her deepest fears. Taking a cue from her middle daughter,
Ansley takes her own leap of faith and realizes that, after all this time, she might finally be able to have it all.
Harvey's signature warmth and wit make this a charming and poignant story of first loves, missed opportunities, and second chances and proves that she is the next "major voice in Southern fiction" (Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author).
My take: I really enjoyed the second installment of Kristy Woodson Harvey's Peachtree Bluff series. The Secret To Southern Charm is about a family of women (and the men who love them) who are stronger than they think and will learn that family is everything – in good times and bad. They live in a small coastal Georgia town where secrets are hard to keep and people love to talk. Ansley is at a point in life where she's pulled from all sides – her mother is ill, her adult daughters seem to have cornered the market on personal crises, and her past love has resurfaced. Something's gotta give! I love Harvey's easy writing style that makes her characters and plot relatable in a few ways. It all wrapped up in a satisfying way that has me excited for the next book. I know it will be a while but I also know it will be worth the wait.
Kristy Woodson Harvey is the bestselling author of Dear Carolina (Berkley/Penguin Random House, 2015), Lies and Other Acts of Love (Berkley/Penguin Random House, 2016) and the Peachtree Bluff Series, beginning with Slightly South of Simple (Gallery/Simon & Schuster, 2017).
Dear Carolina was long-listed for the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize, has been optioned for film and has appeared on numerous " must-read" lists.
Lies and Other Acts of Love was a Romantic Times top pick, a Southern Booksellers Okra Pick and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize.
Slightly South of Simple was a Southern Bestseller, a Barnes & Noble Bestseller, one of PopSugar's picks for "Ultimate Summer Reading" and one of Glitter Guide's "Must-Reads for April."
The Secret to Southern Charm, the second book in the Peachtree Bluff series, releases April 3, 2018.
She blogs with her mom, Beth Woodson, daily on Design Chic, the inaugural member of the Design Blogger Hall of Fame sponsored by Traditional Home and winner of Amara's Best Luxury Blog, sponsored by Roberto Cavalli, about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life and loves connecting with readers at kristywoodsonharvey.com.
Harvey is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's school of journalism and holds a master's in English from East Carolina University, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including Southern Living, Traditional Home, Parade, USA Today, Domino, Our State and O. Henry. She has been seen in Women's Health, The Washington Post, US News and World Report, The Huffington Post, USA Today's Happy Every After, Marie Claire's The Fix, Woman's World, Readers' Digest and North Carolina Bookwatch, among others. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and six-year-old son where she is working on her next novel.
The Secret to Southern Charm is available on April 3, 2018 from your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes & Noble Target, Books-a-Million, Indiebound and wherever books are sold! It is being simultaneously released in paperback, hardback, e-book and audio, so check out your favorite version!
The Young Wives Club by Julie Pennell
February 14, 2017 February 14, 2017 Mary Atria/Emily Bestler/Alloy Entertainment, Julie Pennell, NetGalley, Southern Fiction
Title: The Young Wives Club
Author: Julie Pennell
Genre: Southern Fiction
Published: February 2017 – Atria/Emily Bestler Books/Alloy Entertainment
Source: Publisher; NetGalley
Description: In Toulouse, Louisiana finding your one true love happens sometime around high school. If you're lucky, he might be the man you thought he was. But as four friends are about to find out, not every girl has luck on her side in this charming debut novel perfect for fans of The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Desperate Housewives.
Laura Landry's quarterback husband was her ticket out of Toulouse. But when a devastating football injury sidelines him, they're forced to move back to the small town she was so desperate to leave. As Brian starts drinking instead of rehabbing his knee, Laura must reevaluate what her future looks like…and if it includes her husband.
For years, Madison Blanchette has been waiting for bad-boy musician Cash Romero to commit to her. When wealthy George Dubois asks her out, she figures she may as well wait in style. Life with George means weekend trips to New Orleans, gourmet meals, and expensive gifts. At first she loves how George's affection sparks Cash's jealousy, but when George proposes to Madison, she finds herself torn between two men…
All Claire Thibodeaux wants is to be the perfect wife and mother. If she can do everything right she won't end up like her mom, a divorced, single parent trying to make ends meet. But when Claire's husband Gavin, a well-respected local pastor, starts spending late nights at work and less time in their bed, she can't help but fear that history is about to repeat itself…
Gabrielle Vaughn never thought she'd end up with someone like her fiancé. The son of a prominent congressman, Tony Ford is completely out of her league—which is why she lied to him about everything from having a college degree to the dark truth about her family. She knows she has to come clean, but how do you tell the love of your life that your entire relationship is a lie?
As these young wives come together to help each other through life, love, and heartbreak, they discover that there are no easy answers when it comes to matters of the heart. (publisher)
My take: The Young Wives Club is about a group of friends who grew up together in a small Louisiana town where everyone goes to the same school and the same social events, etc. It's the norm to marry young and the dream is to live happily ever after.
The friends learn that dreams don't always come true. Some will learn that what they thought was their dream really wasn't. They'll all find out that they have the power to change their circumstances.
I thought Julie Pennell's debut novel was sweet and had a good message. It's a story told with a lot of heart and humor. My problem with reading it is my fault – I'm just not the right age demographic. I think younger women (late teens – twenties) might get more from reading it than I did. I could be wrong so if the publisher's synopsis grabs your attention then you should read it! I enjoyed Pennell's writing style and would definitely take a look at her next book. Recommended to fans of Southern Chick-Lit.
Julie Pennell grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she ate her weight in crawfish, used the word "y'all" a lot, and wrote a weekly "Teen Scene" column for the local paper. After graduating from college, she moved to New York to work at Seventeen magazine and later Alloy Entertainment as a digital editor. She lives in New York City with her husband and is a regular contributor to Teen Vogue, TODAY.com, and The Nest. The Young Wives Club is her first novel.
Emily Bestler Books/Atria Books Paperback | ISBN: 9781501136467 | On sale: February 14, 2017 | 320 pages | $16.00
FIND JULIE ONLINE:
Website: http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @juliepens
Instagram: @juliepens
Lawyer for the Cat by Lee Robinson
June 1, 2016 May 31, 2016 Mary Lee Robinson, Southern Fiction, St. Martin's Press, Thomas Dunne Books, Women's Fiction
Title: Lawyer for the Cat: A Sally Baynard Novel
Author: Lee Robinson
Published: May 2016 – Thomas Dunne Books; St. Martin's Press
Source: Publisher
Description: Sally Baynard is one of the best lawyers around. In the years since her divorce from Family Court Judge Joe Baynard, she dedicated herself to representing the worst and craziest Charleston, S.C. had to offer. But none of the murderers, burglars, or angry divorcing clients compared to Sherman, the dog her ex-husband appointed her to represent. Although the miniature Schnauzer found his way into her heart (and brought his handsome vet Tony along too), his case was a thorny one. With that business out of the way, Sally is happy to move back to non-canine clients… until a probate judge asks her about a cat.
Agreeing to represent Beatrice, a black cat who's the beneficiary of a multi-million dollar trust and a plantation, Sally must put her wit, charm, and brains to the test, choosing among three colorful potential caregivers while dodging the former owner's angry son. Meanwhile, Sally must juggle the demands of the court with those of her aging mother and make a decision about Tony, who wants to get more serious. Lee Robinson's Lawyer for the Cat is Southern women's fiction at its most delightful, featuring strong, smart characters, a charming setting, and plenty of adorable critters. (publisher)
My take: Lawyer for the Cat is the second book featuring Sally Baynard, a Charleston lawyer who, until recently, represented people. She's now been asked to enforce the trust of a wealthy and recently deceased woman. That duty includes finding someone to care for the woman's cat in the manner it was accustomed. What Sally wasn't expecting was an angry heir who could make her job very difficult.
As was the case in the first novel, Lawyer for the Dog, in addition to her full-time job Sally also sees to the care of her elderly mother who has Alzheimer's. All of this takes a toll on Sally's love life. Tony, the dog's vet in the first book, is waiting for Sally to commit to a relationship and starts to pressure her. She's more than a little gun-shy since her first marriage lasted only a year. It's kind of hard to get past that when she winds up in her ex-husband's court from time to time – he's a family court judge.
I loved getting back to Charleston and seeing what was new with Sally and her friends and family. I hope Lee Robinson continues the series. I find her novels charming and the possibilities are numerous in terms of which animal Sally could represent next. In the meantime, I hope Robinson sends Sally on a vacation. She's earned it!
About the author: LEE ROBINSON practiced law for over 20 years in Charleston, S.C., where she served as executive director of a legal services agency and later worked in private practice, concentrating on family law. She was elected the first female president of the Charleston Bar Association and received the Bar Association's award for her work in public interest law. She lives on a small ranch in the Texas hill country.
Spotlight/US Giveaway: At the Corner of King Street by Mary Ellen Taylor
June 4, 2015 June 12, 2015 Mary Berkley, Giveaway, Joan Schulhafer Publishing and Media Consulting, Mary Ellen Taylor, Southern Fiction
Mary Ellen Taylor moves down the street from her Union Street Bakery and stops AT THE CORNER OF KING STREET in her new novel, the Old Town Alexandria-set story of a woman trying to leave her past and family behind to embrace the new life and love she's found at a Virginia vineyard. AT THE CORNER OF KING STREET is a Berkley trade paperback original.
Addie Morgan grew up in the shadow of her family's curse, the mental illness that haunts the women of each generation and has claimed both her mother and sister. Settled in her new, stable and happy life with a man she loves, Addie wants nothing more than to be free of the pain and loss of the past. Reality, harsh and swift, intrudes when her Aunt Grace, who provided a safe haven for the girls during part of their childhoods, shows up determined to bring Addie back to Alexandria to solve the latest family crisis. Janet, Addie's sister, who's already abandoned her seven-year old son, has just given birth to a baby girl and is hospitalized, unable to care for herself let alone her baby.
Determined to make quick work of the problem and return to her own life, Addie's arrival in Alexandria is greeted by more complications. Janet needs weeks of treatment; Grace's health is failing and so is her salvage business; social services is having trouble placing "Baby Morgan" in a foster home; Janet's ex, Zeb, accuses Addie of trying to cut and run just like her sister; and her nephew wants to see his mother and hold his half-sister. They're all looking to Addie, who, woefully unprepared to deal with an infant, now has one to care for 24/7 while trying to keep her job and hold on to her fiancé, who knows nothing about her family's checkered past.
Interspersed with journal entries from Alexandria's earliest days, the story gives readers insight into events in the past that paved the way to the story's troubled present. Meanwhile, the plot unfolds to reveal the discovery of centuries old "witch bottles," hints to bonds that may tie Addie and her family to a heritage they never expected.
In AT THE CORNER OF KING STREET, Mary Ellen Taylor presents a tale of family and self-discovery interwoven with voices from the past in a contemporary novel of adversity, hard choices and the power of truth.
At the Corner of King Street
Now on Sale – At your Local Bookstore or online
US Giveaway
Please click here and fill out the form
GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED
Spare Change by Bette Lee Crosby
December 5, 2012 December 5, 2012 Mary Bent Pine Publishing, Bette Lee Crosby, Southern Fiction
Title: Spare Change
Author: Bette Lee Crosby
Published: October 2011 – Bent Pine Publishing
Synopsis: A Woman who is Superstitious to the Core…
A Boy who claims his Parents are Dead…
A Murderer who wants to Silence the Truth of What Happened.
Olivia Westerly knows what she knows—opals mean disaster, eleven is the unluckiest number on earth and children weigh a woman down like a pocketful of stones. That's why she's avoided marriage for almost forty years. But when Charlie Doyle happened along, he was simply too wonderful to resist. Now she's a widow with an eleven-year-old boy claiming to be her grandson…
With a foul mouth, dark secrets and heavily guarded emotions, Ethan Allen Doyle is not an easy child to like. He was counting on the grandpa he'd never met for a place to hide, but now that plan is shot to blazes because the grandpa's dead too. He's got seven dollars and twenty-six cents, his mama's will for staying alive, and Dog. But none of those things are gonna help if Scooter Cobb finds him.
My take: Set in 1950s Virginia, Spare Change is the story of Ethan Allen Doyle, a young boy who is truly a victim of his circumstances. He's a child of selfish and bitter parents who treat him pretty much as insignificant baggage. He learns early on how to survive and make do. It was easy to cheer for him. As dark as his life seemed, it grew much darker on one particular day.
Life changed for Ethan Allen and it soon changed for Olivia, his grandfather's widow, in ways that would prove to be challenging as well as life-affirming. They both learned that if you have love in your life you can look evil in the eye and triumph.
I'm so glad the author asked me to read her novel. A classic tale of good vs. evil, it's a page turner to be sure. Spare Change is filled with memorable characters that add humor and compassion. From the weary detective to the residents of Olivia's apartment complex, I enjoyed them all. Recommended.
Disclosure: I received a review copy from the author. I was not compensated for my review.
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
January 28, 2010 December 22, 2010 Mary 2010 Favorite Books list, Beth Hoffman, Library Copy, Review, Southern Fiction
Goodreads synopsis:
Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille-the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town-a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. But when Camille is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell.
In her vintage Packard convertible, Tootie whisks CeeCee away to Savannah's perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women. From the exotic Miz Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in her backyard bathtub and uses garden slugs as her secret weapons, to Tootie's all-knowing housekeeper, Oletta Jones, to Violene Hobbs, who entertains a local police officer in her canary-yellow peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.
CeeCee Honeycutt has been taking care of her mentally ill mother for most of her twelve years. Her father is absent much of the time so it's been up to CeeCee to tend to her mother. After Camille's death, CeeCee's great aunt Tootie arrives to take her home to Savannah. That's the start of a new chapter in CeeCee's Life Book.
All I knew for sure was this: I had been plunked into a strange, perfumed world that, as far as I could tell, seemed to be run entirely by women.
CeeCee's new life is filled with caring and eccentric women. Each one seems to have a special lesson to impart. Little by little, like the fragile orchid, CeeCee begins to bloom in their warm and gentle care.
If there's one thing I'd like most for you, it's that you'll find your calling in life. That's where true happiness and purpose lies. Whether it's taking care of abandoned animals, saving old houses from the wreckin' ball, or reading to the blind, you've got to find your fire, sugar. You'll never be fulfilled if you don't.
Beth Hoffman's charming debut novel is filled with wit, wisdom, and love. The characters will stay with me for a long time. I recommend Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, it's a wonderful book.