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The Secret to Southern Charm Book Review

by 81 Comments

One of the best books I've read in a long time is The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey. Need a little escape? Here you go!

The Secret to Southern Charm

I'm so glad Kristy Woodson Harvey reached out to me several years ago to ask if I'd like to read her first book, Dear Carolina. Since then, I've read Lies and Other Acts of Love, which was fantastic, and then the first book in the Peachtree Bluff series, Slightly South of Simple.

Now Kristy has released the follow- up to that book, The Secret to Southern Charm, which continues with the lives of Ansley, her three daughters, and her mom.

It has been ages since I've done a giveaway here, and I know from the new year's survey that many of you love entering! Tell your friends as this is a fun one.

From Amazon: 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

Ansley is such a strong woman, and I instantly felt a bond to this character in Kristy's last book, Slightly South of Simple. Ansley is beautiful, smart, and almost perfect; just what you'd expect from a well-to-do Southern woman. That is... until you look beneath the surface.

Ansley is too busy being strong for her family to even think about herself. With her adult daughters all living their own lives, you'd think maybe it would be time for Ansley to start having a life of her own again. In Slightly South of Simple, we learned that Ansley's husband died on 9/11, and since then, she has had no time for anything or anyone besides her family.

If it's not enough that her daughters are all going through difficulties, Ansley's mother has an accident which brings her to Peachtree Bluff where she can recuperate. Can five strong women (not to mention a few kids) live in the house on the beach and not kill each other?

You will laugh, cry, and look forward to the next book in the series! I am so routing for Ansley. I know you will be, too. Take a look at the author as she talks a little about this book.

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  11. Meghan Malicoat

    We are planning to head to Florida this year. My husband and I have been a few times on solo trips but this time we are taking the kids.

    Reply

  13. Angie Middleton

    All my vacationing lately has been at home, traveling vicariously through books. I have a little elderly, blind dog that I can't take or leave now. Thank you for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.

    Reply

  16. Annmarie W.

    We're spending a week this summer as we always do...at the beach in Maryland with my hubby's sister & her family!

    Reply

  19. Linda O'Brien

    We'll be heading to the beaches. Clearwater, St. Augustine, New Smyrna and Cocoa are all on the list this summer.

    Reply

  25. Renea

    We are vacationing in Jacksonville, Florida!! I have lots of family in Duval county. This will be the first time in four years that we have been able to go. So excited!!

    Reply

  38. Christy Peeples DuBois

    We usually always have a beach trip during the summer months. But due to not knowing schedules yet we haven't made any set plans for vacations.

    Reply

    • Kelly Stilwell

      I love that area, Jamie. I'm heading to Seattle next month and was in Vancouver a few days ago. Beautiful part of the world. Enjoy!

      Reply

    • Kelly Stilwell

      We are so lucky to have a neighbor with a teenage son, Crystal. My girls are both in college so we wouldn't be able to travel without our neighbor to take care of our cat and bird. It's tough.

      Reply

  48. Teresa Moore

    I wont be able to go on vacation this summer so I bought a couple passes to our local water park so we can have a little bit of summer fun!

    Reply

  49. kim brooks

    this year we will be staying close and doing road trips ! our first road trip/ mini vacation is going to be dutch wonderland in PA. my daughter is so excited as well as i. then we will be heading to ocean city MD for the weekend !

    Reply

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