Under the Southern Sky
Fiction
Gallery Books
April 20, 2021
Advanced reader copy
400
Free from publisher
Recently separated Amelia Buxton, a dedicated journalist, never expected that uncovering the biggest story of her career would become deeply personal. But when she discovers that a cluster of embryos belonging to her childhood friend Parker and his late wife Greer have been deemed “abandoned,” she’s put in the unenviable position of telling Parker—and dredging up old wounds in the process.
Parker has been unable to move forward since the loss of his beloved wife three years ago. He has all but forgotten about the frozen embryos, but once Amelia reveals her discovery, he knows that if he ever wants to get a part of Greer back, he’ll need to accept his fate as a single father and find a surrogate.
Each dealing with their own private griefs, Parker and Amelia slowly begin to find solace in one another as they navigate an uncertain future against the backdrop of the pristine waters of their childhood home, Buxton Beach. The journey of self-discovery leads them to an unforgettable and life-changing lesson: Family—the one you’re born into and the one you choose—is always closer than you think.
My review:
I've been reading this author since her first book was published (you can find all reviews on the blog by using the search bar). I absolutely love to read the way her words flow across the page, and I've yet to find another writer who consistently can keep me captivated with her words, even on the rare occasion that the characters don't (here's looking at you, Gray and Sloane). I'm happy to report that the characters, plot, and writing all fell together perfectly in this book! I found the subject of abandoned fertilized eggs to be fascinating, and I'm sure happens more than we might think. Amelia and Parker's stories were very believable, and the fictional setting of Cape Carolina was glorious. The book alternates chapters between Amelia, Parker, and Parker's wife Greer, with a few chapters from Amelia's mother Elizabeth. It was the perfect blend to capture the past and present day, with all the angst and heartache served aplenty. There were even a few twists thrown in that, while not necessarily vital to the plot, still added some interesting aspects to the story. I'm not going to say that the ending surprised me, I think it's obvious from the first couple chapters how it's going to pan out, but I was completely satisfied and happy to have been correct. While not a major focus of the book, there were parts dealing with infertility, addiction, and mental illness that were expertly weaved in, without calling attention to them just for the sake of inclusion.
A lovely read, oozing with delightful prose and southern charm. Even though it was obvious where this book was headed, the narrative to get there was well worth it! We are headed back to Peachtree Bluff for Kristy's next book, so you'd best get a head start if you haven't read that series yet.
Can I just say how much I LOVE this review? Thank you for the support over the years!!!!!!!
Supporting you has been easy, love your writing style so much. Cannot wait to read about what my girl Caroline has been getting up to in your next book!