This book was a really fast and quite enjoyable read. After a failed high society event in Chicago, involving flamingos and shrimp, (need I say more?), event planned Margot Carey has lost her job. She has been blackballed and shunned. Really, I don't think she was to blame - at least not as much as the chef..but as her character states in the book - she lost control of the event and the workers of the event and all hell broke loose!

So after losing her job, her new home and her reputation, she receives contact from a distant family member inviting her to come "home" to Lake Sackett and work in the family business. Guess what the business is? The McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop! I said this book was fun, right? She has not been to Lake Sackett since she was a small child and does not know this side of the family.

As she settles into her new home (a cabin!), she starts her new job at the funeral home. While there she meets her long last relatives, is reunited with her father she has not seen or heard from since her Mother left him, and meets a handsome "lumberjack" type man who is not really a lumber jack but the town principal. You see where this is heading....

This book is full of fun, emotion, and southern charm. It's a fun book but it also deals with some heavy issues: death, addiction, loss of employment, starting over, grief, estrangement, and family drama.

I have never read this Author before but I know I will be reading more of her books in the future. This was was an enjoyable read that did not require too much thought or energy. Its a curl-up-on-the-couch type of book! It's fun, enjoyable, has fun moments with characters who talk like real people. This book has a nice flow to it. The pacing is fantastic. I found that time slipped away as I read. It's a book one can easily sit down and read in one sitting. You know what else I loved about this book?????? The ending does not come out of thin air. My biggest gripe with romance books is the build up of the story to have a rushed ending where everyone falls madly in love after 300 pages of angst and has to immediately get married. OH, Come on! This book had wonderful pacing (I know I already said something similar to this). I admit it, I enjoy romance books but I hate the rushed endings. This book does not feel rushed at ALL!!! woo-hoo!!!

I received a copy of this book from Gallery, Threshold, Gallery books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Molly Harper and have read everything she has out there. This was a sweet mix of finding where you belong and strength of family. It was fun to see her finally be goliath at the end and realize where/what she should be.

Sweet Tea and Sympathy gets 5 stars from me. I love the small town setting. The family dynamic was wonderful and the love story was perfect.

I found this to be a thoroughly charming story of a woman moving to a small southern town. She is looking to start over and make a new life for herself, The author has a unique voice and way of telling a story and drew me in from the very beginning. A thoroughly satisfying novel!

Absolutely loved this book! Margot gets fired from her job after a party disaster and finds the southern roots she never knew she had. She can't believe she ever took the job at the family funeral home/bait shack but once she gets a job offer can she ever leave small town Georgia behind?

This book hit all the right notes! It had laughter, drama and sweet southern family ties.

This was a pleasant surprise! The story of a young woman who has her career (and life) implode finds a new life, new purpose, and new future in a small southern town. The story was well paced, and allowed the reader to fall in love with not only the main character, but the quirky side characters from Aunt Tootie, to the hot young principal Kyle and his adorable daughter.

Really enjoyed the second chance at romance for Kyle, and the second chance at Family for Margot. Heartwarming, fun, and charming characters made this one a winner.

Only one thing missing for me: I wish there was more of an explanation for Margot's father's absence in her life while growing up. This is something that could have been teased out a bit more with more details, but there was a good resolution nonetheless.

Molly Harper is a new author for me, and she has a new fan! Hoping to read more of the McCready family, and really would love a story for Duffy, Frankie, and more of Marianne!

Title: Sweet Tea and Sympathy
Author: Molly Harper
Publisher: Gallery Books
Series: Southern Eclectic #1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Sweet Tea and Sympathy" by Molly Harper

My Thoughts.....

This was quite a interesting read with some really humorous scenes that will have you laughing out loud. The memorable characters were all for the most part well developed, portrayed and believable that will definitely keep your attention. What will happen when Margot's long lost family reaches out to her? The story is about Margot Cary who was a elite event planner from Chicago but after being humiliated she leaves town and excepts a offers to working in the family business [a Bait and Mortuary business] in Lake Sackett, Georgia. It was quite a interesting read as Margot gets to know of her recovering alcoholic father that she never knew. How will Margot do in this small town community especially after she meets Kyle [the lumberjack] who seem to have problems of his own? Get ready for a 'fun, sweet and sexy story, family lost and found, heartbreak, mystery and some heartwarming moments.' The characters for the most part were a complex group of individuals that could have their own story that will definitely keep your interest as you read through this story of southern traditions. So, if you on in for a read that deals with a 'journey of self discovery, forgiveness finding love' embracing who you are, and accepting change' then you have come to the right place for one interesting first series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is book 1 in a new laugh aloud series Southern Eclectic. The story captures small town life to a tee with every child grandma and business man knowing what you had for breakfast and what you buy at the grocery. I can't wait for book 2 to see how the rest of this crazy family who runs the McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop deals with life. Margot is returning to Lake Sackett, Georgia to lick her wounds after she loses her job that went viral on the internet. Happy to embrace her the McCready clan makes her forget her shame and makes her one of the family. Sweet and romantic

After a huge disaster at her event planning job Margot Cary finds herself jobless and soon to be homeless if she can’t find something quick. But unfortunately for Margot in this day and age the huge catastrophe that happened at her last event has gone viral and all of her prospects are afraid of taking a chance on her so her job hunt hasn’t been going well. Just as things are looking their worst Margot gets contacted by a lady that claims she’s family from Margot’s biological father’s side and she wants Margot for a job in Georgia.

With little options left other than living on the street Margot packs her things and moves from Chicago to Lake Sackett, Georgia to meet her father’s family and take on the task of becoming the planner for the McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop. Yes, her family is in the business of funeral and fishing which is so far out of Margot’s realm it’s unreal. Margot however after moving down to the small town finds herself getting to know relatives she never knew she had and coming to love the small town life including the local principal, Kyle Archer.

Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper is the first book in the new Southern Eclectic contemporary romance series. There also seems to be a companion novella already released in the series featuring another couple from Lake Sackett but I haven’t read that one myself but being different main characters it would seem that these would be fine to read as standalone books if a reader chose to do so.

This book had all sorts of little things that I loved about it from the small town charm to reconnecting a family. Meanwhile during all the antics of Margot trying to fit in with this family that she had never known and grown up in a very different environment there was also a budding romance with some cute little girls involved in his family.

My only downside was it sort of rubbed me wrong for Margot to put a lot of blame on her biological father for their being apart when it seemed to be her mother’s doing and as an adult the street went two ways so she could have reconnected herself. In the end though that was a small complaint leaving this one to rate at 4.5 stars and I’ll definitely look for more from this small town.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This sweet southern story is a good beach read or to take on vacation. Won't thrill you or inspire you but you will enjoy the ride.

The characters in this book were immensely enjoyable even if the premise was slightly flawed. This reminded me a lot of other screwball type novels with female protagonists who are thrown into unfamiliar situations.

I want to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Title:Sweet Tea and Sympathy

Author: Molly Harper

Page count: 320 pages

Publication Date: 11/21/2017

Synopsis: Margot is a city girl who just got fired from her fancy event planning job. She was due for a promotion and instead she was fired for something that was out of her control and completely embarrassing. While she is at the end of the rope financially, she gets a random and strange job offer from her biological father's company in small town in Georgia. She has no memory of her father and was adopted by her stepfather at an early age. Reluctant Margot takes the job offer because no one will hire her because of her embarrassing termination even though shes's talented and highly experienced.

When arriving in Georia Margot is blown away by her wild and southern family. She lives on her family's compound and is working for the family business, The McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop and yes it is in the same building!

Margot tries to adjust to southern living while discovering her family history. Margot and her father seem to bump heads and both are stubborn people. Admist all of the family stuff and searching for her true self Margot meets elementary school principal Kyle. Unfortunately Kyle is a gem to the single ladies of Lake Sackett. Can Margot survive the society change? Can she make amends with her father? Will she make Lake Sackett her home? Will she be able to have a relationship with Kyle or will she have to set him free? Read Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper to find out!

Review: I give this book 5 out of 5 stars! This book warmed my heart and made me feel right at home. As being a South Carolinian and a Southern Belle this book was a breath of fresh air. I felt like I could relate to so much in this charming story. This book really shows society status and how different living in the southeast can be. I highly recommend this book if your looking for something light and sweet as tea!

Margot's job as a big city party planner has imploded and now she can't find any job remotely related to her field. After sending out hundreds of resumes, she finally accepts a position at the McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait shop. Planning a funeral is still planning, right? The small town she ends up at near Lake Sackett doesn't have much to offer except for some great scenery and an Elementary School principal, Kyle, who is definitely some one to write home about. If you like your romance red hot and fish out of water funny this is the book for you!

If I had to describe Sweet Tea and Sympathy in a single word it would be FUN. It is witty, charming, and touching. The characters are wonderfully flawed and loveable, and the storyline(s) moved me.

Margot is easy to sympathize with. She walks right into a wall of culture shock when she moves from bustling Chicago to a slower paced Lake Sackett, Georgia, and has to familiarize herself with family she doesn’t know.

The author did a fabulous job of characterization. There are so many personalities, and—being from the south—I feel I know a few of them personally. I adore Kyle, Tootie, and Frankie, and the small town of Lake Sackett is delightful. I’m normally not fond of stories that involve young children because it seems they are usually over-exaggerated or unnecessary to the plot, but this story serves the two little girls very well and they add so much heart.

This is a feel-good story with depth. I laughed and sighed countless times while reading it. Molly Harper is a new-to-me author, and definitely a keeper.

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 320
Pace: Fast
First Line: Margot Cary leaned her forehead against the warm truck window as it bounced along the pitted Georgia highway.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley.

A Southern delight. I really enjoyed reading this book. It had alot of humor but, also a lot of life lessons. Family is so important and Margot was torn about career, her new found family, and new man in her life. At the end of the day she chooses the right road.

I LOVED this book. Absolutely loved it! I love stories set in small towns like these and the southern humor is just spot on! This reminded me of many of may favorite stories set in small town, particularly Steel Magnolias (without the outrageously sad undertone) and especially the television show Hart of Dixie. I enjoy Margot's fish out of water story, and how she comes to be comfortable, and even love where she is. and of course I love the fabulous romantic interest we find for Margot in Kyle Archer. I am so glad this will be a book series. I already can not wait to see what happens in the next one! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys women's fiction.

A wonderful story with very good characters. You are introduced to the lead character at the opening of the book. Margot Carey is an event planner and is doing a wedding with some of the most important people of Chicago. Because of a chef changing the menu and shrimp when there were people allergic, she was late to see the flamingos making their break and causing havoc. She of course took full responsibility and then was let go by her company of ten years. A few nights later while having a little too much wine she is offered a job from a place in Georgia. Thinking that it was a joke she calls back the next day to find out that they are serious. She also finds out that the people that offered her the job are related to her but she has never met them, at least in her memory. The place is in Georgia, on the shore of Lake Sackett. The business has been in operation since 1928 and is named The McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait shop. One stop shopping. She is still thinking that it is a joke until she arrives to the small town and to the family property to see for herself. Margot is a fish out of water, but the author gives you very different characters to help make the story. One of the best is Aunt Tootie, then there are her two female cousins Frankie, and Marianne who work on getting her out of herself and making her welcomed. Her father is there and she is dealing with never having a relationship with him and the reasons why. She is also coming to the realization that she has become somewhat of a joke in the business because of what happened, but her former employer called for her contacts in Chicago and she did not give them up which was good. When going to a meeting with Marianne at the school for her two children she comes to meet Kyle the principle and his two daughters. She also realizes that he could use her help in planning the Founders Day Festival. This is really where the story takes a turn to drama but it only adds to the story. Of course she must decide on whether to take another job in Dallas or stay there which only adds to the story. With all of the different characters along the main character and Aunt Tootie this is a wonderful story, and the whole funeral home bait shop works. A good book.

Molly Harper’s Half Moon Hollow series is well-established and has a loyal fan base. Why, then, would she write a contemporary romance with no hint of the supernatural - not even set in the same part of the counrty? Who cares! It’s fantastic!

Harper’s signature humor is evident in this contemporary Southern romance. Margot is a respected and sought-after event planner with one of Chicago’s top firms until an event that should have secured her promotion instead goes so badly that it goes viral. Fired, homeless, and with no other options, she turns to the family she’s never met for support. Raised in the big city, Margot is unprepared for life in a small Georgia town, and even less prepared for the exuberance and acceptance she find with her extended family.

While this novel falls firmly into the category of romance, much of this first book is spent setting up the town and characters for the series. I liked Margot, and empathized with her despair and desperation. Her motivations were clear and drove the plot in a realistic manner. I liked Margot’s family even more, and really look forward to reading novels that revolve around their characters. The humor, which is why I read Molly Harper’s books, was toned down from her usual hysterical to loveably quirky but still very present. I can’t actually see the humor of Half Moon Hollow working for this plot, and appreciate that Harper is able to successfully craft a novel that has such a different feel. I highly recommend this one to fans of Molly Harper and small town romances.

This is a fun, southern chic lit book. It was sweet and humorous

Humorous with interesting and well developed characters. I'm looking forward to the second and third books in the series. What can be better than a bait shop and funeral home as the family business. Margot's downfall as a Chicago events planner sends her to Georgia to help with the family business. Bless her heart and sweet tea are a few of the new things she learns.