REVIEW of The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Praise for Kristy Woodson Harvey and The Secret to Southern Charm:

*One of Southern Living’s “Best Spring Break Reads”*

“Escape to the beach with Southern writer Kristy Woodson Harvey’s newest book, the second in her Peachtree Bluff series. It’s a story about hope and heartache and the unbreakable bonds of family.”–Southern Living

“Harvey’s (Slightly South of Simple, 2017) growing fan base will find another great beach read in this second novel in her Peachtree Bluff trilogy… Peachtree Bluff is the quintessential beach town, full of quirky residents and old bungalows, and readers will practically feel the hot sun and the sand between their toes. Harvey is an up-and-coming southern writer with staying power.” --Booklist

“Kristy Woodson Harvey has delivered another masterpiece with the second book in her beautifully Southern, evocative Peachtree Bluff series. Let's just say that this one had better have a sequel too, because I'm not ready to leave these charming ladies behind." --Kristin Harmel, international bestselling author of The Sweetness of Forgetting and When We Meet Again

“What a wonderful sequel to Slightly South of Simple in the Peachtree Bluff series. I couldn't have survived if Ms. Harvey hadn't resolved Sloan and Adam's crisis in this book and I have to admit I'm happy with the outcome. Now you have to wait for book 3 to see how Emerson and Mark turn out. This series is three generations of strong women who are the best support system for each other. This book is a great representation of the strong southern woman who put family first and deal with life as it happens. Great beach/pool read for your summer vacation if you can wait that long. Can read stand alone but strongly recommend you read book 1 first.” --Ann Klausing, Books-a-Million

 

“One of the hottest new Southern writers.” —Parade.com

 “The ‘it girl’ of Southern fiction.” --Daytime Confidential

“Writers come and writers go, but Kristy Woodson Harvey is here to stay. The warmth, wit, and wisdom of this novel pave her way into the exclusive sisterhood of southern writers.” ―The Huffington Post

Back Cover Copy:

 Leaving fans “practically [begging] for a sequel” (Bookpage), critically acclaimed author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with the second novel in her beloved Peachtree Bluff series, featuring a trio of sisters and their mother who discover a truth that will change not only the way they see themselves, but also how they fit together as a family.

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 Thoughts…

I am hooked on Kristy Woodson Harvey’s southern charm.     While reading I was actually hearing the characters with southern accents, picturing them in their houses with wraparound porches, and drinking sweet tea.

The Secret to Southern Charm is the second book in The Peachtree Bluff Series.    I think that the books are better read in order.   Book two starts off exactly where book one ended.    The storyline continues with Ansley, Caroline, Sloane, and Emerson all back in Georgia together.   

We learn about Sloane’s life as a military wife and the fears she had when she was first married.    I saw Sloane’s strength when dealing with her husband’s MIA status, while she needed a little push to get out of her own head and back into the real world I could see her figuring out how to put one foot in front of the other getting back to living.    She took care of her children, she painted again, and she found out what was missing of herself even before the MIA.  

While this is mostly Sloane’s story the spotlight is shared with the rest of her family.   I loved catching up with Ansley and her long ago love Jack, seeing Emerson and Mark being together, and watching Caroline figure out if James is who she is meant to be with.     These are storylines that are not quite done.   There is more in store for each of these characters. 

I am excited for more of Peachtree Bluff series and the amazing Southern Charm.  

Buy Links:

Amazon   |    Barnes & Noble   |   Books-a-Million   |   Target   |   Indiebound

About Kristy:

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.