Hardback

Kristy's best yet! She's returned to a mix of historical and contemporary fiction, which worked so well with her 9th novel, THE WEDDING VEIL. This time, versus Asheville, she sets her story in Beaufort, NC - and Kristy describes the town she fell in love with as an adult beautifully within these pages. I suspect summer tours of Beaufort will increase as more readers find this delightful book! Chapters alternate the perspectives of Keaton (present day) and her grandmother, Becks Saint James (1930s-1976). Keaton has just arrived in Beaufort, heartbroken with a dog in tow, to clean out her family's ancestral home, left untouched for nearly 50 years since her grandparents mysteriously disappeared after a dinner party. The dining room table still bares evidence of that last meal, notes are left by the rotary phone, everything in the house is in place as it was left that night - yet no one truly knows how the evening ended for the Saint James'. In Becks' chapters, she reflects on her life with her husband, Townsend, as she prepares to host what she knows will be her last "summer supper." I love the element of intrigue Kristy added to this, her 11th novel. Did Becks and Townsend die in a car crash, or was their new neighbor to blame for something more sinister? What secrets will Keaton uncover as she packs away her family's treasures, and meets the charming residents of Beaufort, who have longed for the Saint James home to be filled with life and laughter again? This book inspired me to bake, got me journaling again, and was the first book I read cover-to-cover in the early days of 2024. My hope is Kristy's 12th is just as good, but set in Salisbury, NC - her childhood home. Her settings take on their own personnas in her plots, and I know she can (and will) drum up doozies of tales about the Rowan County seat. Until that day, I'll be so grateful to pass on A HAPPIER LIFE to the residents of Salisbury that grace my bookstore, clambering for Kristy's next bestseller - what a perfect summer read.

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Paperback

Under the Southern Sky (400 pp. Gallery Books) is Kristy Woodson Harvey’s seventh novel. Mark my words, this is the book that will land her a screenwriting deal and solidify her presence not just on the Southern literary scene, but on the shelves of women’s fiction lovers across the globe; it is that good. Amelia Paxton, the novel’s protagonist, knew early in her life that motherhood was not in her DNA, biologically or otherwise. She has created a fabulous, carefree life centered around her career in investigative journalism and built in Palm Beach, Florida, with her husband of many years. Yet when Amelia uncovers her husband’s infidelity, her world instantly collapses, and she slowly comes to understand the lack of depth in her relationships since leaving her childhood home, Cape Carolina. As Amelia returns to the seaside, there is a great romance to unpack here, along with a “crazy” Aunt Tilley (complete with tragic backstory) and a host of other characters who round out this extremely readable and compelling tale. Most importantly, this novel is centered around strong female voices (along with an incredible male ally, Amelia’s childhood friend, Parker). Each woman in the story makes incredibly painful choices – to raise a child not biologically theirs, to give birth to a child not biologically theirs, to harvest their embryos while deathly ill – yet these choices involving motherhood are not the only ones their characters face in Under the Southern Sky. There is such depth of character development and plot on display and Cape Carolina comes alive in this novel; I hope I get a chance to revisit this charming town in another KWH production very soon.

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Hardback

Myquillyn Smith, a stylist from the Charlotte area, has published her latest, Welcome Home (208 pp, Zondervan), which can serve as your guide to creating and enjoying a seasonally decorated home with more style and less stuff. Drawing from principles outlined in her 2018 bestseller, Cozy Minimalist Home, Smith utilizes engaging how-to’s and inspiring photos to walk you through purposeful design decisions to cultivate a space where loved ones gather, meaningful connections are celebrated, and lasting memories are made. This would make a great hostess gift, or subtle hint to those friends and family whom you hope to spark joy within – while they declutter their living space.

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