Kristy Woodson Harvey

Every time I read a new book by Kristy Woodson Harvey, it becomes my new favorite. I think that her newest book A Happier Life will remain my favorite even after she publishes new books. This book is a look at life in the South in a small town full of nosey neighbors along with strong women who live their lives to the fullest.
It has a bit of a mystery, a little romance and a cast full of intriguing characters plus loving descriptions of Beaufort.

Keaton has a major problem with her job in NYC and decides to quit. She's at a loss of what to do with her life when her mother asks her to go to Beaufort NC and get her grandparent's home ready to be sold. Keaton has never met her grandparents because they died in a car accident before she was born. She expects to find an empty house that just needs some work and is amazed when she walks into a house that is exactly like it was when her grandparents died 50 years earlier. There are still dishes on the table and a newspaper on the couch. When she finds her grandmother's Guide to Entertaining dated 1976 and her grandfather's journals, she realizes that she now has a way to learning more about her grandparents and the life that they lived.

In 1976, Becks was considered the best hostess in her small town. She had walked away from her past when she fell in love with her husband and her main goal in life was to entertain people and help them relax. But this summer, she is hiding something from her husband and her friends that will change her life as she now lives it.

The setting in Beaufort, North Carolina is so well described that I'm ready to pack a suitcase and head back to Beaufort again to enjoy some of its small town ambience -- plus its great seafood! Have your calendar clear before you start this book because once you start it and meet all of the wonderful characters, you won't want to put it down until the last page. Be sure to read Kristy's Acknowledgements at the end to learn a little bit about her life in Beaufort.… (meer)

This is the story of the songbirds, young women who first met at summer camp when they were 6 years old. Through the years, their friendship solidified and grew. Daphne and Lanier were the best of friends, almost sisters, with Mary Stuart filling out the group. Daphne's aunt June owns Camp Holly Springs, which is now in financial trouble. The songbirds agonize over losing their camp that helped them build confidence and trust, and was also the site of their first loves.
Now, in their 30s, Mary Stuart is married, Lanier is engaged, and Daphne is a single mom. But, Daphne still yearns for Huff, her first love and Lanier's brother, but Lanier doesn't want them together due to Daphne's troubled past.
Can they overcome obstacles and find love, family, and save the camp? Great story of friendship.… (meer)