Read for book club. Kind of predictable but a quick, easy read. ( )

A twisting and turning Southern Cinderella story with a little Yankee thrown in. ( )

This review contains spoilers.
This book has been in my TBR pile for quite a while. Because of my love for southern fiction, I had to give it a try. It has a promising plot- a n'er do well girl from Alabama abandons her (supposed) love child on the door step of the uncle who raised her and is never seen again. Later, the child is found to be a missing heiress. I guess the story just runs a little too much toward a fairy tale for my tastes. It was certainly sweet- - just not all that believable in some parts. Why would Uncle Ben know Gracie's identity for eight years and keep it a secret? Why did Conrad live so near Gracie and never explain the truth? Would that really happen? And, really, would Rita have abandoned the child like that and never confessed to who she was? Some of the characters were a little flat (Chantel) and some were a little too one-dimensional (Alice). All in all, I'd call this a decent beach read, but don't expect reality and DO expect some things to occur a little too conveniently. Essentially this is a southern fairy tale romance and, if that floats your boat, jump in.

Read this book if....
*you love southern fiction
*you love romance
*you love fairy tales ( )

This was a wonderful book about a young woman who learns she has grown up with a the wrong identity. She was kidnapped as a baby and raised in a different part of the country. The family who raised her instilled wonderful ideals and traits in her. She learns she is an heiress to a multi-million dollor fortune and must come to grasps with all the challenges her 'new' life throws at her. The author has a great way with putting words on the page. The analogy of 'salting roses' thoughout is exceptional. This is truly a delightful book to read. ( )

Consummate small-town southern girl Gracie Calloway celebrates her 25th birthday by discovering that she is the heir to a New England fortune. Her abrupt and controlling grandmother is adamant that Gracie must take her place as the family heiress. Despite the advantages of her New England family's wealth, Gracie is loathe to acquiesce. All Gracie wants is to continue her life as she had known it, but New England grandma is unwilling to allow that. The situation becomes a contest of wills between two powerful women, Gracie and her grandmother. That contest convinces Gracie that perhaps she has more connection with her New England family than she had previously thought.

This was generally an engaging read, though I sometimes found it difficult to get my head around Gracie's southern family. ( )