Gone South – A Novel by Meg Moseley

Blurb

The charm of the South drew her back to her family’s roots. But when the town’s old resentments turn the sweet tea bitter, can Tish find a welcome anywhere?

Leaving frosty Michigan for the Deep South was never a blip in the simple plans Tish McComb imagined for her life, dreams of marriage and family that were dashed five years earlier in a tragic accident. Now an opportunity to buy her great-great-great-grandparents’ Civil War era home beckons Tish to Noble, Alabama, a Southern town in every sense of the word. She wonders if God has given her a new dream— the old house filled with friends, her vintage percolator bubbling on the sideboard.

When Tish discovers that McCombs aren’t welcome in town, she feels like a Yankee behind enemy lines. Only local antiques dealer George Zorbas seems willing to give her a chance. What’s a lonely outcast to do but take in Noble’s resident prodigal, Melanie Hamilton, and hope that the two can find some much needed acceptance in each other.

Problem is, old habits die hard, and Mel is quite set in her destructive ways. With Melanie blocked from going home, Tish must try to manage her incorrigible houseguest as she attempts to prove her own worth in a town that seems to have forgotten that every sinner needs God-given mercy, love and forgiveness.

My Perspective

This is the fourth book I read from my post Credit Where Credit’s Due. I read about Gone South – A Novel by Meg Moseley from Ionia at Readful Things Blog. You can read her thoughts on the book here.

Gone South is the story of Letitia “Tish” McComb. Proud of her McComb heritage, she moves back to the house of her ancestors. However much to her surprise she isn’t welcomed by the locals and no one will tell her why.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Not everything went how I wanted it to and some of the characters were terribly frustrating however the way it was written and the general storyline was interesting and enjoyable to read.

I liked Tish however I did find her a little bit slow on the uptake. I was really rooting for her though and I admired her resolve. Mel was very frustrating and she did get on my nerves a little bit. She grew a lot throughout the book though and I enjoyed seeing her mature. I really liked George. He was a great romantic love interest. Daisy made me laugh a lot and I appreciated the detail in which the author went.

I enjoyed the mystery aspect in the book however I found that it kind of fell flat. It wasn’t properly resolved in my mind and I was hoping that there would be more.

The book was considered Christian fiction however it wasn’t preachy at all. I didn’t think there was enough “Christian” content to consider it in that genre (apart from the blurb) however it is what it is.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to those who like lighthearted romance/drama with a little bit of mystery thrown in.

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Last Chance For Justice by Kathi Macias

Blurb

Welcome to Bloomfield, where life is simple, love is real, and stories are shared.

Lynn Myers is still reeling from losing her husband of thirty-five years when word comes that her only sibling, an older brother, has also died. With no one else to settle the estate, she must return to her small hometown of Bloomfield, however briefly, to settle his affairs.

Lynn’s daughter, Rachel, has just graduated from Bible college and with no other commitments comes along to sort through her uncle’s huge old home, right next to the local cemetery.

It isn’t long before Rachel has two men — a handsome CPA and the youth pastor — seriously vying for her attention. At the same time, Lynn’s attention is drawn to a set of journals her brother has left behind detailing a long-standing Bloomfield mystery.

As they pursue solving this mystery, Rachel must make some personal decisions about her future, while Lynn is forced to face unexpected issues from her own past.

My Perspective

This is the third book I read from my post Credit Where Credit’s Due. I read about Last Chance For Justice by Kathi Macias from Ionia at Readful Things Blog. You can read her thoughts on the book here.

Last Chance For Justice is about Lynn Myers and her daughter Rachel. Lynn finds out her brother has passed away and left everything to her. She must return to the town of her childhood, Bloomfield, to settle his estate. Rachel comes with her, and helps Lynn face the town she left behind. With only a quick visit in mind, God has other plans and soon she and Rachel find themselves caught up in the legacy that her brother, Myron, left when he died.

The book was well written and interesting. It was a little bit predictable and cliche in some parts however it wasn’t over the top so it wasn’t annoying.

The characters were extremely likeable. They did have their flaws though so I did find myself mildly irritated by some of their actions however this did make it more realistic. I did find it interesting as there was no “bad guy” or villain in the story. I didn’t actually notice this until I had finished reading.

The book is a Christian novel and there are obviously Christian themes. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a Christian, so this obviously didn’t bother me at all. I didn’t find it preachy or too religious, it flowed well.

One thing I noticed about the style of writing is that everything is mentioned. “Pulling into the dirt-and-gravel parking lot, Rachel maneuvered the Corolla into a cool, shady spot and cracked the windows for the now-snoozing Beasley. Both women knew he’d be fine while they went inside to eat”. I actually really liked that. I don’t need to know if they go to the toilet however I’m the person that says, what about Beasley? You just left him in the car, is he okay? This book left me no doubts or unanswered questions like that and I really appreciated it. If you find that annoying, the book may irritate you, however for those like me – it is fantastic.

Overall I enjoyed the book and I am interested to read the author’s other works that are set in Bloomfield. I would definitely recommend it to those who like light romance with a bit of mystery thrown in.