I am always so excited to start reading a Karen White novel because I know I'm in for a treat. Her books are full of great characters, interesting storylines, picturesque Southern locales and plenty of suspense and plot twists. If all that sounds good to you, then you need to read her latest book The Night the Lights Went Out because it is perfect!

After being blindsided by her husband cheating on her, Merilee Dunlap is looking for a fresh start. She moves into an cottage owned by one of Sweet Apple's oldest residents Sugar Prescott. Sugar is determined not to become involved with Merilee or her two children, but Sugar begins to see something of herself in Merilee and finds herself sharing stories of her past. Merilee also makes fast friends with Heather Blackford, a glamorous popular woman who quickly draws Merilee into her world of wealth and privilege. Sugar Prescott has a short list of Sweet Apple residents that she likes and Heather Blackford definitely isn't on it. While Sugar tries to warn Merilee about Heather, Merilee believes that Sugar's concerns are unwarranted and that her friendship with Heather is true.

I can't say enough good things about this story. I loved how it combined the suspense of the current storyline with the reflections of Sugar's backstory. Karen White always delivers a great read and The Night The Lights Went Out is certainly no exception! There is a reason she is one of my favorite authors and I know that once you read a Karen White book, she will be one of your favorites as well.

I received this book courtesy of Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Although this was my first Karen
White novel, it will not be my last. The finely drawn characters, the portrait of life in small town Georgia, and the consequences of the choices we make in life, all add about to a very satisfying read.

This book is definitely a 3.5 for me. I can’t pick between rating it a 3 or a 4 and I have even changed my rating on Goodreads a few times because of that. The story was very enjoyable and I finished it quickly because of that. I loved the setting and the characters and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Southern family stories with a bit of romance. But the final quarter of the book just threw me for a bit of a loop. I kind of felt like the rug was pulled out from under me and I wasn’t crazy about it. Like I mentioned, it might be because the past 3 books I’ve read have done that to me as well, but it didn’t leave me with a good taste in my mouth. In the end though, I would recommend this book and I look forward to continuing to read White’s books.

The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White follows newly divorced Merilee as she adjusts to a new home and placing her children into a new school. The first friend she makes is Heather, the mother of her daughter's classmate. Heather swoops Merilee into the hoity-toity social life that she belongs to. Merilee's landlord, Sugar Prescott, is not a fan of Heather but Merilee sees no harm in being her friend. All is not as it appears in small town Georgia and Merilee is about to find that out for herself in a very unpleasant manner. The plot is a bit predictable but overall the story will keep your attention right up to the very end. Read and enjoy!

Oh, Karen White. My introduction to her work was 2015’s The Sound of Glass and I was so enamored I swore I would jump right into her other novels. When I received an invitation to be a part of the tour for The Night the Lights Went Out, I couldn’t say yes fast enough!

A recent (and ugly) divorce has Merilee moving with her children to Sweet Apple, Georgia, just outside Atlanta. A new change of pace and scenery will do wonders for them all – or so Merilee assumes. What begins as a great new start at life – Merilee rents a cottage from 94-year-old Sugar Prescott who’s still stubborn and full of fire, the kids are doing well in their new, private academy, and Merilee even begins to make friends with the other school moms – quickly goes south when an anonymous blog starts shedding light on scandalous events…including the one that ended her marriage.

I have a feeling this review will be short and sweet – not that there’s not a lot to discuss, but because Karen hit yet another homerun and I just adore her. The juxtaposition of Sugar’s farm and her childhood stories right alongside the Stepfordesque tennis moms and their gated mansions, a setting so vivid I felt like I was there (not surprising, considering Atlanta is White’s hometown!), the blog posts scattered throughout the chapters. It all came together so perfectly. What really stands out in White’s novels, though, are her characters. They’re all so, so wonderfully crafted and feel like real, living, breathing people I could easily come across at the grocery store or while shopping.

The star here is clearly Sugar. 94 and full of spunk, Sugar doesn’t need more friends, thank you very much. In fact, she’s perfectly content with her childhood best friend Willa Faye and her grandson Wade. She lives for her shows and makes a point to get her daily steps in – what, just because she’s old doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what a Fitbit is! Sugar has lived on the farm her entire life and throughout the novel there are snippets of her childhood in the 30s when Mama lost one too many babies and fell into a dark depression, the night a man died on their kitchen table. Naturally I was completely sucked in to the historical aspect, but watching Sugar’s icy facade crumble as her friendship with Merilee evolves over the course of the novel was lovely.

Again, a short review, but don’t let that fool you. Karen White is a master at her craft and I loved The Night the Lights Went Out. A fantastic setting, excellent characters, and a story that swept me away all came together to make one phenomenal book. Fans of Diane Chamberlain and Liane Moriarty are sure to feel right at home with this one – and be prepared to have The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia stuck in your head!

I really enjoy books set in the South, they always have a different sort of feel to them. Merilee was likable, if somewhat naive, but given her circumstances I will cut her some slack. I loved Sugar - crusty on the outside, but very caring and loyal underneath - just don't get on her bad side! Of course there are a couple of men in the story - Dan Blackford, "Ken to Heather's Barbie", and a successful doctor to boot! And Wade, grandson of Sugar's best friend and potential love interest for Merilee.

Full of "southernisms" (Bless her heart. . . ) the anonymous blog/blogger lent some humor and wisdom to the goings on in Sweet Apple. There are lots of secrets that get spilled, lots of family - much of it dysfunctional, and lots of love and loyalty. And if you are familiar with the song that I am sure the book takes its name from, there is also murder.

It was a very quick read and I liked the way that it would jump back in time and share Sugar's history. The intermittent blog posts were also fun to read. Perfect for this time of year, it would be a great beach read!

Marilee is a young, recently divorced mother who moves with her two children to a suburb of Atlanta to start over. As she starts to build her life again, she discovers the difference between false and true friends, and the fact that some secrets from the past just can't stay hidden. This was a somewhat predictable story but I loved the character of Sugar, who is one of those characters we should all aspire to be.

My ratings often depend on my expectations. I decided to read The Night the Lights Went Out because of two recent mediocre literary fiction reads. I was ready for something light and entertaining, and I had room to tolerate the comfort of some predictability. Karen White delivered what I was looking for. Set in Georgia, the story focuses on the parallel lives of recently divorced Marilee and her 93 year landlady Sugar. Marilee is trying to fit into her new community and Sugar is way past the need to fit in anywhere or ingratiate herself with anyone. They both have secrets. The town has a few secrets. The story moves back and forth in time. Things are not always as they seem. Tensions build up somewhat predictably, but not to the detriment of my enjoyment. It was the characters and their back story that I enjoyed the most and that made this one worth reading. I especially liked Sugar. I won't say more to avoid spoilers. It's a good book to read for light entertainment-- maybe a good beach read. It did the trick. Now I have to continue my quest for something more meaty. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

Recently divorced, Marilee Dunlap moves to a small town with her two children and rents a home from Sugar Prescott , the 93 year-old town matriarch. Marilee is quickly befriended by wealthy socialite Heather Blackford , who seems just too nice to be real. As Merilee and Sugar grow closer, they both learn that keeping secrets isn't the best way to live life.

Karen White is the queen of southern women's fiction! She can tell a story so naturally that you don't see the train wreck coming till your right on the tracks and that past sins always come back to haunt you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Merilee Dunlap is shattered when she learns her husband has been having an affair with a teacher at her children’s school. When she divorces this lying cheat who she still really loves, she downsizes her home, her car and moves her kids to a private school. Sweet Apple GA is like many small towns that have been swept up in urban sprawl and is now an upper middle class suburb of Atlanta, filled with McMansions and upscale SUVs. Merilee is happy in here small cabin, even if her landlord is a 90ish, rather curmudgeonly woman like Sugar. Sugar has lived on this land her entire life, land that was once her family’s farm, sold and parceled out by her money grubbing brothers. She’s determined to hold on to the rest. No matter how determined she is to not make friends with Merilee and her children, she just can’t stay away. She finds herself baking and sharing, and popping in for visits. Reminded of her own younger brother when she see’s Merilee’s young son.

It is in the stories of her youth that we learn about Sugar’s past, and how she got to be where she is now. The past is easier to share than the details of much smaller life now. Listening to these tales, Merilee is also able to open up about her youth and the tragedies she’s spent her adult live trying to repent from, a series of accidents and guilt she can’t forget.

Merilee feels she doesn’t fit in with the stay at home moms of the new school, and still she is swept up in a friendship with the queen bee of all the moms, Heather. Flattered and somehow taken in by Heather I didn’t see this friendship as growing, but it did. Merilee would be much happier if only this anonymous blog weren’t digging into her life, sharing all the ugly details of her husband’s affair, and little faux pas that embarrass her.

These three women are the bulk of this book, and yes they all have a past, and somehow you can never leave your demons behind you. There is also a hunky handyman, some good looking husbands, and the talk of food and sweet tea just round out a good southern book!

Karen White continues to dazzle me with her gift for telling a story, making me think of my own misspent youth, and wishing I had the friendship of a truly remarkable woman like Sugar in my life. The Night the Lights Went Out was a super quick read, so enjoyable and yet just enough mystery to keep me guessing. I can’t wait to see Karen on book tour next week in Vero Beach Book Center.

Favorite Quotes:

Memories are thieves. They slip up behind you when you least expect it, their cold hands pressed against your face, suffocating. They blow icy-cold air even on the hottest days, and pinch you awake in the middle of the night.

I don’t hate you… I’ve wanted to, but I can’t. It’s just easier not to hate you when you’re four hundred miles away.

Birdie has always been… different. Not like our friends’ mothers, anyway. Georgia used to say she fell into motherhood like some people slip off a curb and into a mud puddle – except she couldn’t figure out how she got there or how to get it off of her.

I remember the first time I saw her and I knew there was something not right about her, like half of her was missing, and the other half was doing something much more interesting.

He grinned, exposing white teeth and a single dimple on his left cheek that used to make the girls have thoughts that would shock their parents.

There are no limits to starting over. That’s why the sun rises every day. Unless you’re running in circles and then the outcome never changes.

As Grandpa used to say, regrets were like porch swings: They kept you busy but didn’t get you anywhere.
My Review:

Flight Patterns had a completely different tone than The Night The Lights Went Out. It was a far more intricate and complicated story of family drama, and featured several mysteries, a ton of long-held secrets, and was overflowing with a multitude of old resentments and unhealed wounds. Written with multiple narrators, the storyline was engaging and emotive while rife with conflict, tension, and angst. The characters were deeply flawed, complex, and not always likable, yet always fascinating and compelling. The story was maddeningly paced as this clever author succeeded in keeping me on the hook by doling out tiny breadcrumbs when I was absolutely dying for a full piece of bread. The plot, oh my, was richly textured, multi-layered, and highly eventful with an active storyline that was always moving. And as a bonus – I feel infinitely smarter having learned so many interesting facts about bees.

The Night the Lights Went Out is the newest novel by Karen White. Merilee Talbot Dunlap has been married for eleven years to Michael, but after discovering his affair, she quickly divorces him. Michael was having an affair with her daughter, Lily’s math teacher. Merilee is moving along with her two children to Sweet Apple, Georgia where her children will be attending Windwood Academy. Merilee has little to move to since she would not accept any of the furniture nor her fancy SUV in the divorce settlement. The three of them are moving into a cute Craftsman cottage behind Summer Prescott’s farmhouse. Summer is ninety-three years old and projects a gruff demeanor. Merilee was hoping to escape the gossip in her new community, but there is an anonymous blogger that likes to spread local gossip. The Playing Fields Blog is signed by “The Neighbor”. The anonymous blogger gives a different take on the rumors and provides definitions to Southern expressions (it is not mean spirited). Merilee finds a friend in Heather Blackford, the head mom of the school. Heather takes Merilee under her wing and assists her with adjusting to her new life. For some reason, when Summer is with Merilee, she feels compelled to tell her the stories of her past. Just when things begin to look up for Merilee, she finds the body of Daniel Blackford in the lake at the benefit gala. The police soon narrow their suspect list down to Merilee and arrest her for Daniel’s murder. Merilee cannot believe she is suspected of the crime. With the help of Summer and Wade Kimball, local handyman (and love interest), Merilee sets out to find the person who set her up for this crime and Daniel’s real killer.

The Night the Lights Went Out is well-written and an engaging novel. I found myself slowly drawn into the story, and I loved the various Southern expressions and their explanations. The story is told from Merilee and Summer’s point-of-views. In this novel, it worked. The book has good characters that are well developed and relatable. I am sure many woman will relate to the mom group at the school and their manipulations, motivations, gossip and attitudes. I was particularly interested in Sugar’s story. Sugar’s history shaped her life and her disposition before she met the Dunlap family. I give The Night the Lights Went Out 4 out of 5 stars. I believe many readers will figure out what is going to happen to Merilee and who is responsible (the phrase “leading a lamb to slaughter” came to mind). But I was curious to see how it would play out. I am sure that many people will also be able to identify the anonymous blogger. There are two major clues that give away the identity of the blogger (pay close attention). It was entertaining, though, when it was revealed. Merilee’s naïve routine got on my nerves after a while. I cannot see how a woman in her thirties can be that clueless. That is the one thing that I found unrealistic (and a little unappealing). I do wish that the author had provided more details about what happened to the killer at the end of the book (it felt incomplete). The Night the Lights Went Out reminds me of Fannie Flagg’s novels. The Night the Lights Went Out is a compelling novel with many layers to it. Of the Karen White novels that I have read, The Night the Lights Went Out is my favorite.

* Join Me. Blog Tour Host April 11 * THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT It’s the first novel Karen has set in her hometown of Atlanta. We are celebrating every day for two whole weeks!

Destined for the Big Screen (see my cast selection on my blog) The queen of the south, Karen White returns following Flight Patterns on my Top 50 Books of 2016 with the highly anticipated THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT.

As sweet as a Georgia peach, and as scandalous as Desperate Housewives’ Wisteria Lane, and Big Little Lies. Set aside the time, readers . . . you are going to love Sugar!

The Southern Queen B has created her best yet! Yay Atlanta . . . From the stunning WOW cover and the memorable characters, Karen White grabs you and pulls you into this Southern suburban neighborhood filled with drama, revenge, secrets and lies, while exploring the true meaning of friendship. It is not always as it appears.

Alternating between the 1930s Depression-era Georgia and a modern-day 2016 Sweet Apple, Georgia (fictional) suburb of north Atlanta. Let the games begin.

Meet the 3 leading ladies:
• Merilee Talbot Dunlap, newly divorcée, single mom, mysterious past
• Alice Prescott Bates, Matriarch aka Sugar Prescott, landlady
• Heather Blackford, Socialite, beautiful, perfectionist

An anonymous blogger offers up entertaining essential Southernisms any Yankee in the South should know, sprinkled throughout. “It’s never about the secret itself, but the keeping of it.”

From the wealthy private school, social climbing moms to a young single divorced mom who discover (the hard way) . . . the true meaning of friendship and the dangers of deception.

Against the modern-day scandals, we meet matriarch Sugar Prescott who is at the center of the novel. A grounding force. A courageous woman you want on your side. Sugar is wise, and has had her own share of tragedy and can relate to her new tenant, on more than one level.

Merilee Talbot Dunlap had learned in eleven years of marriage, it was the simple fact that you could live with a person for a long time and never really know him. One day the mask slips. Her husband, Michael has an affair with their daughter’s third-grade math teacher, Tammy. Merilee decides she does not want to stay in the house with all the reminders. She was traded in for a younger woman. She needs to escape from all the gossip.

However, she is unaware, it may be the lesser of two evils. What lies ahead at the new location, may be even more devastating.

Merilee is the mother of ten-year-old old daughter Lily and eight-year-old Colin. They were now moving into a quaint furnished Craftsman historic cottage (with a cellar) for tornados, located behind Mrs. Prescott’s farmhouse in Sweet Apple, GA.

The landlord is a southern matriarch and well-respected in the community. Some say she is harsh. She is known as Sugar. She is widowed (Tom was killed in the war) and no children. A mystery to some. Fascinating and eccentric to others.

Sugar Prescott (Alice Prescott Bates) is ninety-four years old (what a great character)! She lives alone in an old farmhouse on her family’s land. Her loyal best friend Willa Faye Mackenzie. Willa Faye moved to a senior living facility. While Sugar was staying put as long, as possible. A realtor had found the young mother and her two children as her new tenants.

Not that she had any desire to befriend her new tenants and neighbor, but Sugar had the feeling that Merilee was suddenly on her own and in need of help. Sugar was in a position, to understand that need more than most. She suspected but would deny if anyone asked, that she was getting soft in her old age.

Of course, Sugar did not realize this single mother would be this young and pretty. Mid-thirties. She wonders what happened to her marriage? Surely the woman had flaws. Sugar soon discovers a few. Heaven forbid, the woman does not even know how to cook, nor does she know her proper Southern graces! Sugar must teach her a thing, or two.

. . . “At least by the end of the day, you’ll know how to bake cookies and fry okra. Because it might be against the law for a Southern-born girl not to know how. Along with changing a tire.” . . .

Despite all her attempts to keep her new tenant at arm’s length, a tenuous connection had been formed. They may have more in common that they may suspect. Merilee at first thinks Sugar is a little strange and is judging her. However, soon their bond strengthens.

The best award-winning part Think: To Kill a Mockingbird This is where White always "shines" with the historical past and dual timelines. Sugar begins telling Merilee bits and pieces of her life on the farm as a girl during the Depression, starting from 1934.

Normally she is closed-mouthed about her past (in a world of oversharing), she likes keeping some things to herself. However, somehow, she feels comfortable opening up to this younger version of herself.

Sugar’s dark life during the Depression in Sweet Apple provides a very different look at life compared to the present-day of the same town, especially those in Heather’s world.

A nice edition to the story: Wade Kimball is Willa Faye’s grandson, and he looks in on Sugar. The developer, and handyman. He helps with any of the maintenance issues for Sugar and her new tenant.

As Merilee and her children begin to get settled in, she meets a variety of moms. One, in particular, Heather, which is like “perfection.” The perfect wife, mother, house, children, food, social standing, glamorous, clothes, and home (s) with the good-looking nice husband, Daniel. Merilee feels inferior next to her.

As the kids become involved in their new school and Merilee in carpools and committees. She just wants to be accepted, like a kid at school. Peer pressure is tough. Soon her daughter comes home and tells her about this anonymous blogger.

It is called: THE PLAYING FIELDS BLOG. Observations of Suburban Life from Sweet Apple, Georgia Written by Your neighbor. Who is this person and how does she know so much about their Sweet Apple lives?

The blogger dishes out a variety of gossip and offers a few Southernism tidbits for all the newbies at the end of each installment. No one knows but they think it could be a mom at Windwood since she seems to know a lot about what goes on at school, the community, and their lives. (yes it is spicy, sassy, and oh so funny)!

In the meantime, the perfectionist mother Heather at school is befriending her. Merilee gets pulled in by the attention and her affluent lifestyle. She has taken her under her wing. Merilee grabs on, desperate for new friends and acceptance. Looks can be deceiving. Of course, Sugar does not trust her. A backstory here. Merilee also has a mysterious past; however, she is not so forthcoming, until it all unravels later.

Between Sugar’s stories from the past, Merilee’s own drama with her wealthy friends in the present; the school, her children, her ex-husband, his girlfriend, and a baby on the way, worrying about measuring up to her new friend Heather, and the constant reminders of her life from an unknown blogger and social media; she feels like she is on a reality TV show.

. . . and there are some other strange happenings. Daniel and Heather are acting weird. Plus, Merilee has her own memories and guilt from the past which may be coming back to haunt her.

Then someone is murdered at the lake house (Lake Lanier). The suspicions are pointing to Merilee. Is someone setting her up? How will she prove she is innocent based on her past? What motive do they have for hurting her?

From murder, attempted murder, revenge, and a tornado. It wouldn’t be the South without a little drama and deceit sprinkled with some sugar. Female friendships are at the heart of this page-turner.

5 Stars +++ Top books of 2017! Move this one to the TOP of your list. You are going to love it! (cover obsession) Karen White just keeps getting better and better.

From southern "grit lit", a murder mystery, historical, women's fiction, domestic suspense, family drama, motherhood, social media, bullying, friendship, romance, humor, contemporary, to psychological and suspense! THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT has it all!

Grab a hammock, a swing, head to the beach, or a front porch rocking chair. Mark out the time and sit back and be prepared to be entertained Southern savvy style!

For my movie cast wish list and more about this exciting book and author, Visit my Blog

A special thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an early reading copy. I also purchased the audiobook for an outstanding Southern performance.

JDCMustReadBooks

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Merilee Talbot Dunlap’s and Sugar Prescott’s lives collide when Merilee rents a cottage from Sugar following her divorce. Sugar doesn’t usually get involved in her tenant’s lives but there is something that draws her to Merilee and her children. When an anonymous local blog spills all the details about Merilee’s divorce and she finds she doesn’t have much in common with the other moms at her children’s pricey private school (paid for by their grandparents), she finds herself opening up to Sugar. She does make friends with a couple of the moms but Sugar advises her to be cautious of Heather Blackford, one of the Sweet Apple’s elite that has basically taken her under her wing. There is just something about her Sugar doesn’t like….

I loved this story for so many reasons.

The first is the story starts with a blog post, what blogger wouldn’t love that.

The second is the characters and the friendships that build throughout the story. The friendship between Sugar and Merilee drew me deeply into the story. Both woman started out very uncertain about their future both apart and together. Sugar had quite a life, losing the love of her life and living on her property her entire life while developers bought up land all around her. She shares her memories with Merilee and in turn us readers. It gives Merilee a different perspective for her life. We also learn they both have secrets.

Third, there was mystery. I knew from there was something building but was totally surprised and then things fell into place like dominoes. There were fantastic twists all along the way that I really enjoyed.

Full of Southern charm, friendships, history, mystery, and humor. These complex characters will jump off the pages and into your heart quickly. As the weather warms, make yourself a pitcher of sweet tea, find a comfy chair and grab this book. A perfect springtime escape!

Chick-Lit is either a hit or miss for me, The Night the Lights Went Out managed to fall in the middle. Karen White's writing brings Lorraine Moriarty to mind, with the mom-cliques, and charm. But rather it being Australian charm, it's Southern. And southern charm is by-far my favorite kind, and White portrays it beautifully.

I had a ball reading the developing friendship of Merilee and Sugar, who is a hoot, by the way. And reveled in the "what's up with the woods" aspect. This novel truly is Desperate Housewives in the South. The mixture of Merilee and Sugar- AKA: old and new, is down right hilarious.

Although Chick-Lit is not my forte, I would suggest it to anyone who loves the genre. Especially my southern friends.

I'm a huge fan of Karen White's work and look forward to reading each of her new releases. The Night the Lights Went Out was an interesting blend of romance, mystery, time-slip, and a commentary on a subset of American culture--the white upper class suburban mothers juggling their first-world problems. For me, the first half of the novel had a pacing problem. It was really slow and other than the portions written from Sugar's point of view revealing her compelling backstory, I had a hard time getting into the novel.
The unlikely friendship between Sugar and Merilee was a delightful part of the plot. Sugar is an extremely well-written, complex and enjoyable character. She carried the novel for me. I kept reading just so I could find out her whole story. I figured out pretty early on that she was the author of the anonymous blog posts and her social commentary made me laugh out loud several times.
Merilee was less likeable. She was extremely naive regarding Heather, the obvious antagonist of the story from the minute she strolled onto the page. Merilee's inability to recognize Heather as someone from high school was not plausible, in my opinion. I found the foreshadowing to be so blatant that it eliminated the tension and the mystery of who the culprit was. The lipstick, Merilee's inability to use passwords, the constant reminders from her friends to secure her passwords, going to Heather's beach house which was clearly a set-up, the Facebook page, etc., all pointed to Heather and it seemed silly that Merilee couldn't figure this out and blamed it all on the stress of her personal circumstances.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC.

The Night the Lights Went Out is a great southern read for when you want to escape to another world.

Sugar is in her 90s and has lived in Sweet Apple Georgia her whole life. When she takes on a divorced mother and two children as a tenant their lives begin to intermingle in a way the two could never have imagined.

I found myself laughing out loud at the southernisms in this book. They are spot on and so much fun! The characters are a great cast of the lost, the champion, the mean girls and more all wrapped up with an element of history and mystery.

I spent the day by the pool getting lost in another of Karen White's worlds and I loved every minute of it.

The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White was an absorbing read, that I thoroughly enjoyed.

On the one hand we have Merilee, recently divorced, with two young children stepping into a new phase in her life. Refreshingly, Michael her ex and herself have a reasonable relationship. Her two children fit in perfectly to the story. Merilee has secrets, she has that look in her eye that she has experienced loss and lived on. She is resilient and strong.

Sugar her elderly landlady recognises Merilee's qualities and even though Sugar is known for her crustiness, Merillee is not long in discovering the woman has a heart and eye that sees and cares. I so loved Sugar and her little pearls of wisdom. Her life connects with Merilee in many ways, they have seen similar things and their hearts understand and connect.

Then there is "the blog" from your local neighbor that comments on life in the town and the people there in. It tells it like it is and makes connections, often going against the local gossip and innuendo. It is full of southern says which I totally adored, down to earth sayings that made me ponder, like " You can't tell the size of the turnips by lookin' at the tops". And so many more. Who is the author of the blog? Well that's just one small secret in a book that abounds in secrets.

Every detail that is dropped foreshadowing something is followed up. Nothing is left dangling. I like that in a book. The plot was full of interest, moved along at a very good yet relaxed pace. Lots of things happened.

I liked how it explored friendship and resilience. And that dreadful emotion or motivation - revenge. I am always partial to a book that has someone going for a little revenge on the party that hurt them. However this book I think has cured me! Revenge is taken to a new level here, I'll never look on it in the same way. Who is the executor of the revenge and why? You'll have to just read this book to find out!

The author used her typical story lay out in this new book. A little bit from yesterday through the eyes of Sugar, a crotchety yet supportive older woman Merilee rents a house from. Her family history and story is woven through the events of today to make this an intriguing read.

With her main character, Marilee, she has crafted a recently divorced woman trying to make it on her own. Juggling life, work, children, and even balancing friendships and maybe a love interest, she is put to the test each day. But Marilee has history too! Things she has not told anyone. And, unfortunately, her nativity may backfire in ways she cannot fathom.

You know that something is going to happen, you just don't know when or what. All things are not as they seem in this engrossing story. The author dropped hints and clues on the way to an exciting and suspenseful ending.

Karen White is a master at blending history and stories from today with the flavor of the south. This book is loaded with so many different aspects, there's no way you can be bored. Highly entertaining, suspenseful, and even a bit gruesome, this is a read you cannot put down.

This is not my typical genre, but I really enjoyed it. I loved the two main characters and liked a few of the surrounding characters as well. I figured out what was up early on and that made it a little slow getting to the reveal, but it was still not a bad read.

ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.