Title: The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Title: The Secret to Southern Charm
Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Format: ARC
Publisher: Gallery
Publish Date: April 3, 2018 (tomorrow!)
Source: Author

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "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."

My Two Cents:

"The Secret to Southern Charm" is the story of Ansley and her three grown daughters: Caroline, Sloane, and Emerson. It is the second book in the Peachtree Bluff series and while you can read this one as a standalone, I would not suggest it. You will get so much more out of this book if you read the first book of the series: "Slightly South of Simple," which was great and really introduces the family a little more.

I loved getting back to these characters. The last book really focused on Caroline but this book really follows Sloane, who is married to Adam who is Missing in Action from the Army. Sloane hopes that he is okay but not having a firm answer is absolutely devastating to the point where she can barely get out of bed. Luckily, her family is there to help her with her two young boys. She is fearful of what is to come and allows her fear to strangle her ambition at first. Can she get back on her feet with the help of her family?

I love stories of tight knit families and the secrets they still keep from each other. As we see in this book, the motivation can be for really different reasons. I don't want to give anything away but I loved seeing all of the secrets unraveled throughout this book, especially the one between Ansley and Jack.

This was a good read that was thoroughly comforting. I can't wait to get back to Peachtree Bluff!