Palmetto Moon - Kim Boykin

4.5 Stars!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

June, 1947. Charleston is poised to celebrate the biggest wedding in high-society history, the joining of two of the oldest families in the city. Except the bride is nowhere to be found…

Unlike the rest of the debs she grew up with, Vada Hadley doesn’t see marrying Justin McLeod as a blessing—she sees it as a life sentence. So when she finds herself one day away from a wedding she doesn’t want, she’s left with no choice but to run away from the future her parents have so carefully planned for her.

In Round O, South Carolina, Vada finds independence in the unexpected friendships she forms at the boarding house where she stays, and a quiet yet fulfilling courtship with the local diner owner, Frank Darling. For the first time in her life, she finally feels like she’s where she’s meant to be. But when her dear friend Darby hunts her down, needing help, Vada will have to confront the life she gave up—and decide where her heart truly belongs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

As a stay-at-home mom, Kim started writing, grabbing snip-its of time in the car rider line or on the bleachers at swim practice. After her kids left the nest, she started submitting her work, sold her first novel at 53, and has been writing like crazy ever since. Her books are well reviewed and, according to RT Book Reviews, feel like they're being told across a kitchen table. She is the author of The Wisdom of Hair from Berkley, Steal Me, Cowboy and Sweet Home Carolina from Tule, and Palmetto Moon, also from Berkley 8/5/14. While her heart is always in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, she lives in the other Carolina in Charlotte. 

MY REVIEW -

Oh I liked this book a lot! This was a true southern book. I had to keep reminding myself that it takes place in the 1940's so things were a little different back then.Yes, this story is kind of unreal and unbelievable - but it was fiction! And really, it did seem to fit. I don't think I would have wanted it any other way. It made it more fun.

I love books about women who run away for one reason or another and want to start their life over somewhere else - and this was a good one! Vada was on the run. She ran from one man's arms right into another, but happened to meet a bunch of wonderful people on the way.

I wasn't so sure about the romance that was so very quickly developing between Vada and Frank. It seemed way too fast and unreal and it didn't give me a chance to get to know him. I was glad when Vada decided to slow things down - sensible woman. I then ended up liking Frank.

Claire was a true secondary character and was just as much a part of this story as was Vada. I liked both girls equally and loved the way their friendship strengthened over time but was there right from the first meeting. I have had that kind of friendship, when you just know that you are going to be friends.

And then there's Darby! - she is there throughout the whole book but you don't meet her until the very end. That was kind of neat idea.

This book had a very good ending and there were a few surprises thrown in there! All-in-all this was a very fun and very enjoyable read! I highly recommend it! I loved the author's writing style and I definitely want to go back and read The Wisdom Of Hair.

Thank you Berkley Books for sending me this book for my honest review!

Get your copy from Amazon - HERE