THEY SAY YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRL OUT OF THE SOUTH, BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE THE SOUTH OUT OF THE GIRL. THIS GIRL BEGS TO DIFFER.Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in Los Angeles. She’s even engaged to be engaged to the … engaged to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman Grant Spangler.
Now all of Piper’s hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncle’s bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generations’ worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwick’s secrets, including Piper’s.
Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obe’s rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is about more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, can’t she stay on task? With God’s help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.
PRAISE FOR LEAVING CAROLINA
“Tamara Leigh always manages to wrap biblical truth in a fun, light-hearted package. Leaving Carolina reminds us that the good stuff may require a little digging. This wonderful romance does not disappoint.” ~ KRISTEN BILLERBECK, author of What a Girl Wants
“Want to be drawn into a story rather than just reading it? Then allow me to suggest Tamara Leigh’s Leaving Carolina as your next ‘gotta have it’ story—because this is more than just a novel. It’s an adventure. It’s entertainment. It’s why you turn off the TV and pick up a really good book!” ~ EVA MARIE EVERSON, author of Things Left Unspoken
“Of all Tamara Leigh’s novels, this one is my favorite so far! Th colorful characters in Pickwick invited me to sit down to Sunday brunch and dig into the biscuits and gravy! A fun novel not to be missed!” ~ CAMY TANG, author of Single Sashimi and Deadly Intent
“Leaving Carolina is the first book in Tamara Leigh’s Southern Discomfort series, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one! Leigh’s cast of eccentric down-home characters, her warm-hearted and harried protagonist, and her charming Southern style provide readers with a story this warm, witty, and wise.” ~ MARTA PERRY, author of Twice in a Lifetime
“This is definitely a book I would recommend to my friends. Piper Pickwick is charming!” ~ ERYNN MANGUM, author of Miss Match
“Leaving Carolina is a soul-stirring sip of inspiration. With a Southern twist, Leigh draws us back to core values sweetened with a hint of romance. Good to the last drop!” ~ LOIS RICHER, author of A Ring and a Promise
“Tamara Leigh is a must-read for laugh-out-loud humor and soul-bearing honesty! And Leaving Carolina is classic Tamara Leigh, with quirky Southern characters, feel-good giggles, and many deep truths to ponder. Come spend some delightful hours in Pickwick, North Carolina, and see why Leaving Carolina has a bright spot on my keeper shelf.” ~ AMY WALLACE, author of Enduring Justice, Book 3 in the Defenders of Hope series
“Leaving Carolina was a joy to read It is delightfully funny, heart tugging, and honest. Tamara has a unique voice, a wonderful way with words, and has created a memorable story with great characters. I loved it, and I am looking forward other next book.” ~ PATRICIA H. RUSHFORD, author, speaker, and OCW Summer Conference Director
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Serious issues are addressed with humor through the dysfunctional family of the Pickwicks. Very entertaining and easy to read. You have to love the main characters as you follow through youthful mistakes that stay with them into adulthood as some of them try to make restitution for their foolishness.
I haven’t read a Tamara Leigh novel that I haven’t loved! I don’t have a ton of auto-buy authors, but she is definitely one of them! And if you like audiobooks, hers are the best! Her narrator is amazing! She adds so much character personality to the story!
My favorite things about Ms. Leigh’s stories are her humor and her character development. This story is filled with laugh out loud moments, yet it also has a much deeper side to it too. Piper’s story is all about forgiving others and admitting past wrongs. Axel was the perfect match for Piper as she let go of her past and formed new relationships.
If you’ve never read a Tamara Leigh novel, I highly recommend anything by her! I love her medievals and medieval is probably my least favorite time period! Her writing is stellar!
I have read several of Tamara Leigh’s books and have enjoyed all of them, but this is by far her best that I have read. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone!!
Clean novel regarding a business woman returning to her small hometown. She finds forgiveness and romance without explicit sex.
I have become a definite fan of Tamara Leigh’s books. Every time I open one, I love her quirky, spunky heroines. I enjoyed the way this book unfolded. I had never read one of her contemporary books, so this one didn’t disappoint. She’s a must-read author.
Spin versus truth? The life (and lies?) of a public relations consultant who finally admits the truth is best.
I enjoyed this book very much. The only thing I would have wished for is that the story wasn’t wrapped up so quickly at the end. The characters were great though and the editing was good. I read it a while ago and still remember just about every bit of it so I guess that says something. And I very much appreciated that it was a CLEAN romance, plenty of sexual tension but actually only one terrific kiss. 🙂
3.5 stars
Lighthearted, not-so-serious… a tiny bit repetitious of the main character’s thoughts to get in get out, though. Decent writing and interesting main characters kept me finishing the story.
Fun story
I enjoyed Piper’s story and could relate to being from a small town with small town secrets and the long memories when those secrets aren’t secrets anymore. It was heartening to find some members of her family had learned to live better lives.
Since I am a North Carolina transplant I just had to read this book. I was not disappointed.
Read the whole series and loved them. Witty, Inciteful writing! I highly recommend them.
This story was was fun to read! I was never sure what was going to happen, and couldn’t wait to find out. Just crazy enough to make you wonder, but still lovable and fun. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
I liked the indecision/devious the main character had through the story.
Coming Home
Piper & her mom left 12 years ago after all the scandal her father & uncles caused. She has been working in LA as a PR rep. Her one good uncle has decided to change his will & the rest if the family is up in arms. The lawyer calls her back thinking she’ll agree with. Axel is her uncles godson but he’s been there for her uncle. But he sparks something in her.
Loved Pipers character. And don’t we all have some family like hers!
Too much to wade through with very little return on your investment of time. You know from the beginning where the book is heading and when you finally get to the end….wait for it, wait for it, wait for it….nothing! It just ends unceremoniously. And really, shouldn’t the title really have been “Leaving L.A.”?????
How can a young woman with a successful life and business in California return to her small town in the South? She “shook the dust off her feet” and left her quirky family twelve years ago vowing never to return. But Uncle Obadiah may be dying and she is called to return home to convince her uncle not to change his will. The story that follows is funny, sweet, and teaches us that people can change and you can come back home again.
Loved this book, couldn’t put it down!
Good read, first of series, looking forward to reading sequel stories