Sloth Goes Places is a feature where I share books I have tracked from previous Literary Escapes reading challenge hosted by Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book.
Today we are looking at books set in ....
"A" States
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber
Published by Forge Books on July 16, 2019
Age/Genres: Adult, Enchanted Realism
Goodreads
THE USA TODAY BESTSELLER Heather Webber's Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town Southern charm.
Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.
It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother’s estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father’s side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago, and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can’t stop talking about.
As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly.
I never realized how many of Heather Webber's books were set in Alabama until I did this post. If you like a touch a magic and small towns, I highly recommend her books to fulfill that state prompt. This may have been my gateway Webber book, and it led to me reading (and buying) more of her work.
[review]
The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman
Published by Ballentine on May 30, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Goodreads
A former prodigy who refuses to believe her best years are behind her and a young virtuoso searching for his passion both get an unlikely shot at their dreams in this sparkling debut about second chances, unexpected joys, and the miraculous power of music.
Prudence Childs was once the most famous kindergartner on the planet. After teaching herself to play piano at age three, she performed at the White House, appeared on talk shows, and inspired a generation of children to take up lessons. But as adolescence closed in, Prudence began to see that she was just another exploited child star, pushed into fame by her cruel grandmother. Prudence ran away—from both performing and her greedy handler—as soon as she was old enough to vote. Flat broke and alone, she took a job writing commercial jingles, which earned her a fortune, but left her creatively adrift.
Now forty-eight, with her daughters away at school, Prudence is determined to reconnect with the artist she once was and agrees to compete on a wildly popular dueling pianos TV show. Unfortunately, her new spotlight captures the attention of her terrible ex-husband, Bobby, who uses the opportunity to blackmail her over a secret she thought she’d buried in the past. If she doesn’t win, she won’t just be a musical failure; she’ll also be bankrupted and exposed in front of millions.
Her on-air rival, virtuoso Alexei Petrov, a stunning young Internet sensation with a massive audience and a dreamy Russian accent, has problems of his own. His overbearing parents’ domineering ways made him a technically flawless pianist but left him without friends, hobbies, or any kind of life outside his music.
As they prepare to face off on stage, the retired prodigy and the exhausted wunderkind realize that the competition is their chance to prove—to their terrible exes, tyrannical family members, and most importantly, themselves—that it’s never too late to write a new ending.
This book took me to Arizona where a piano prodigy was hiding from her past. I loved how Hoffman explored by Prudence's and Alexei's complicated relationship with their talent, and this ended up being such a wonderful and uplifting story. I was surprised by a few things which really delighted me.
[review]
The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred
Published by Cerridwen Press on December 1, 2005
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Goodreads
Sweet tea, corn bread, and soup beans—everyday fare for eight-year-old Alix French, the precocious darling of a respected southern family. But nothing was ordinary about the day she met ten-year-old Nick Anderson, a boy from the wrong side of town. Armed with only a tin of bee balm and steely determination, Alix treats the raw evidence of a recent beating that mars his back, an act that changes both of their lives forever.
Through childhood disasters and teenage woes they cling together as friendship turns to love. The future looks rosy until the fateful night when Frank Anderson, Nick's abusive father, is shot to death in his filthy trailer.
Suddenly, Nick is gone—leaving Alix alone, confused and pregnant. For the next fifteen years she wrestles with the pain of Nick's abandonment, a bad marriage, her family and friends. But finally, she's starting to get her life back together. Her divorce is almost final, her business is booming, and she's content if not happy—until the day she looks up and sees Nick standing across the counter. He's back…and he's not alone.
Once again Alix is plunged into turmoil and pain as Nick tries to win her love, something she resists with all her strength. Only one thing might break the protective wall she's built around her emotions—the truth about Frank Anderson's death. But when that truth comes out and those walls crumble, neither Alix nor Nick is prepared for the emotional explosion that could destroy as well as heal.
As previously mentioned, this book took place in Arkansas. This was one of those stories that spanned many years, and repeatedly broke and mended my heart. So many ups and downs, and I was forced to wait so long to see how it all worked out. Exhausting at times, but ultimately, satisfying.
[review]
Let us know in the comments!
I'm still so happy you love The Sweet Gum Tree! I think the only other Arkansas books I know I've read are the Harper Connelly and Lily Bard series by Charlaine Harris and The Witness by Nora Roberts. Most of Ginger Scott's books are set in Arizona.
ReplyDeleteI always thought Scott did CA, but you read more than me, so you would know. I actually found my Arkansas book already!!! I am really excited, and it's part of a series.
DeleteThat makes me all nostalgic to see The Sweet Gum Tree Sam!
ReplyDeleteI was glad to find a book I actually liked to get that state checked off
DeleteI looked back at my Literary Escapes challenge spreadsheets and saw that Arkansas is not a state I've ever been able to successfully check off! I have been there, though, which is a little weird!
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard. I have gotten lucky with Deanna's rec, and I read a middle grades last year, The Lions of Little Rock (audio was excellent). This year, I found a series via Carla. I will have a few books to read if I enjoy the first one.
DeleteI love Alaskan settings! Glad you enjoyed The Second Ending. It's on my TBR, so looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea what to expect, but Second Ending was fantastic. Fun, touching, uplifting - so many great things!
DeleteConsidering how many US set books I've read over the years I honestly couldn't tell you which state most of those books were set in. Alaska I know there's a KA Tucker book set there. Arizona and Arkansas though I hardly even know where they are let alone find books set in them.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, there are not a ton of books set in Arkansas. I am over the moon to already have that state checked off for this year. Not all the authors make the setting clear. I have had to to look for clues sometimes especially when they use fictional towns that are set in real states.
DeleteI will have to check out the Sweet Gum Tree, it sounds like a good, read. I agree, it is never hard to find a book set in Alaska.
ReplyDeleteIt was heartbreaking and heartwarming. I liked it.
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