HI there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Post number two of the day, and it sees us spreading a bit of pre book birthday BUZZ for the latest release from author Kristy Woodson Harvey! Now, I had another of her titles on my "to read" list, but I never had a chance to actually indulge (yet). When I saw this upcoming release land in my inbox, I knew I couldn't pass it up. It just called to me, between the cover, and the synopsis, and having flicked the final epage on my eARC just yesterday, I can honestly say I'm SO GLAD it did! Ready or not, here comes today's title in the spotlight...
by
Kristy Woodson Harvey
9781982117702
Gallery Books
RELEASE DATE: April 28th, 2020
About the book...
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 extremist 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, Diana Harrington, 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 worn-out 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 her first love returns, 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.
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Having not read this author's work before, I wasn't entirely sure what I was stepping into, but boy, oh boy, did I enjoy my time on the North Carolina coast!
The dual story line between Gray and Diana keeps you captivated with every flick of the page. You can't help but fall in love with them both, cringe at their missteps, cheer at their successes, and be humbled by the hardships they've each faced. They are not the same, and yet they share the same experience...the HUMAN experience. The kindness they show each other, the friendship that grows, the hard times they tackle together, and the dreams they can't believe may turn into realities, endear them to you even more.
I loved Gray for her tenacity in business, yet innocence in love. I loved the fact that she would fight tooth and nail to keep her business HER business, as well as for the presence of her son in her life. My heart felt full when she had another chance at love (OMG...Andrew...I never thought I'd find their connection appealing with the younger man, slightly older woman couple, but he was definitely a keeper!), but her hesitation kept it at arm's length, leaving the HEA uncertain to say the least (FYI...there IS a HEA, but it may not be exactly as you suspect!). I loved Diana for her present self, grown from a past that was life changing to say the very least. I loved how once she made up her mind, she stuck to whatever path she decided, but wasn't so hardheaded that she wouldn't listen to friend founded wisdom when necessary. She kept chasing her tightly held dreams even when all looked lost and wasn't above employing a little subterfuge if the situation was dire. She was a good egg, and a wonderful friend to boot....and honestly they were both just what the other needed at this massive junction in their lives.
All in all, a FABULOUS read that I couldn't recommend more! It'll make the perfect add to your summer reading list, and a great way to escape self-quarantine and then some!
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About the author...
Kristy Woodson Harvey is the bestselling author of six novels, including The Southern Side of Paradise, Slightly South of Simple, and the forthcoming Feels Like Falling. A Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism, her writing has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Southern Living, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, Domino, and O. Henry Magazine. Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Her work has been optioned for film, and her books have received numerous accolades including Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Beach Reads, Parade’s Big Fiction Reads, and Entertainment Weekly’s Spring Reading Picks. She blogs with her mom Beth Woodson on Design Chic, and loves connecting with fans on KristyWoodsonHarvey.com. She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband and son where she is working on her next novel.
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Special thanks to Bianca at Gallery Books for the eARC for review (THANKS!). For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is set to release April 28th, 2020 via Gallery Books, so mark your calendar or pre order your copy today!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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