Set in the charming town of Peachtree Bluff, “a compelling, beautifully drawn tale of love, hope, and small-town secrets” (Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author) following a trio of sisters and their mother as they discover a truth that will change not only the way they see themselves but also how they fit together as a family. Sloane’s world crumbles after receiving the news that … crumbles after receiving the news that her military husband is missing in action.
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.
Lyrical, warm-hearted, and charming, “Kristy Woodson Harvey has delivered another masterpiece with the second book in her beautifully Southern, evocative Peachtree Bluff series” (Kristin Harmel, author of The Winemaker’s Wife).
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This book is a warm reminder of the important mother-daughter-sister bond. I love these ladies and can’t wait to read more books with them.
I loved the first book in this series, and really enjoyed returning to this family of strong southern women, but this time with a focus on middle daughter Sloane. As someone who experienced a form of single motherhood (post divorce, not MIA military husband!) I loved the descriptions of how Sloane and her friends banded together with an it-takes-a-village mentality. Sloane’s rediscovery of her love of painting reminder me of the heroine of my own novel Charleston Green, who also rebuilds herself through her art. Matriarch Ansley holds her three daughters together through tough times, and I’m equally invested in her personal story of finding love later in life. Looking forward to book three, which zooms in on the baby sister!
A spellbinding novel about family and lovers and the meaning of home. It’s about secrets and memories that warms our hearts. This book is as satisfying as a tall glass of ice tea on a hot summer day.
Kristy Woodson Harvey is the QUEEN of southern charm. Any time I want a beautiful escape, I turn to her books. She never disappoints.
My fellow Tall Poppy Writer, Kristy Woodson Harvey , wrote The Secret to Southern Charm and I wanted you all to know that I loved it so much!
I won a copy of this book from Goodreads. I was not required to give a favorable review. I found this story beautiful in so many ways. It shows the strength of women facing some of the hardest times of their lives. And having family close to help them through. You have great-grandma who is back with her daughter, granddaughters and great-grandchildren. Each being their for different reasons, but they needs either other strengths to get them through some of the hardest trials of their lives. I can’t wait to read in the 2nd book in this series. All I can say make sure you have tissues ready at different times in this book.
A fast-paced story of all the ups & downs of family life. Now that I’m all caught up with Ansley, Caroline, Sloane & Emerson, I’ll be able to enjoy the Peachtree Bluff Christmas novel coming out in a few months!
Book 2 of the Peachtree Bluff trilogy is…wait for it…another 5 story. This story is focused more on the second daughter, Sloane, but with the family dynamics and relationships built into this story.
Apparently I’m reading these out of order, because this is the first book of the series that I’ve read. I will guarantee you though, I will go back to the first book in the series. I love the writing of Kristy Woodson Harvey. She gets all the feels in her books and gets them right! Superb story of three generations of women in one family dealing with all the crud life serves them and how they help each other to overcome the obstacles. Loved it!
I listened to the audio version of this book. Th narrations by Janet Metzger and Candace Thaxton were superb!
Good story, albeit slow at times
Loved this book.
This was my least favorite of the trilogy. Everyone seemed especially bratty. But it all came together in the end with a HEA for all.
Thought the story line moved slowly.
This is the second book from this author that I have read. I especially liked the way the various family members’ personalities were developed by the author and intertwined in the story. The bonds between the three sisters and their mother as they each worked through their romantic or relationship issues made it hard to put the book aside. The beach house setting in a small community led to interactions between the four generations of the family and their neighbors. It was a fun book to read during a “stay at home” time
Book 2 of the Peachtree Bluff Series. Great continuation of the Murphy Sisters Story. This book is mainly from Sloane’s point of view. A great series seeped in southern charm, family love, sisterly bonds and love that transcends all.
Can’t wait to read the next book in series.
Awesome Awesome book
I must admit, I was about halfway through the book before I fell for it. I know that had to do with a bit of confusion due to not reading the first in this series in preparation for this one, but I won this one, so…I couldn’t wait to read it.
I thought, judging from the title and the beachy cover, that it was going to be one of those fun, light, but not very memorable summer beach reads. It was not. And, boy, am I glad. It was so much more.
Ms. Harvey possesses the gift of composing short, deceptively simple sentences that express situations perfectly, while tugging at your emotions. I cried more over this story than any I have read in awhile.
And now I must go back and read Slightly South of Simple, and look forward to the third in the Peachtree Bluff series, as well; as now I must know what happens with this family next.
I give this book 4 1/2 stars, but I believe it would have been 5 had I read the other book in the series first.
As the cover suggests, The Secret to Southern Charm is an excellent beach read. The writing was rich and descriptive and easily transports you to Peachtree Bluff, Georgia, a charming town with even more charming residents. The main characters in this book, the Murphy family, all find themselves at crossroads in their lives, and the story focuses on and is narrated by Ansley, the mother, and Sloane, one of her daughters. You will be drawn into the stories of this lovely family that demonstrate their love and support for one another while at the same time showing that they are all too human.
Although this book is the second in the Peachtree Bluff series, I didn’t feel lost or that I was missing anything by not having read the first book. That said, it definitely makes me want to read Slightly South of Simple and meet the Murphy family for the first time.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.
This is my first visit to Pinetree Bluff, Georgia, but the second in the series. The novels focus on three generations of women in one Southern family in both their happy times and the sad ones. Alternating between Ansley and her middle daughter, Sloane, we get to know two very different women who need to find the strength to face challenges and follow their heart. Sloane is facing a tough time, and had to deal with the changes in her life and her guilt that she wasn’t who she thought she should be. Ansley has to take a chance and embrace her second chance, despite the family secrets that may be revealed. Through this, the women work together to be each others’ strength and support when times are tough and cheerleaders when needed. I lost track of how many times I laughed or cried.
Grace and Southern Charm permeate this novel. The story was well-written and the characters perfectly imperfect. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Pinetree Bluff so much, I promptly added the first to my kindle and can’t wait to read it!
#NetGalley #SlightlySouthofSimple
I loved Slightly South of Simple so much I wasn’t sure I would love the sequel as much, but I did! Kristy Woodson Harvey wrote another story about the Murphy women that I throughly enjoyed and loved. I was engaged in their struggles and joys. This time, it was told from middle daughter, Sloane’s perspective as well as mother, Ansley. I love that we get two perspectives in these books. This family is close and I find myself not wanting the summer to end in Peachtree Bluff so they don’t have to go back to their lives. I’m also ready to read a third book…it’s time for Emerson’s story!!!