Sloane fell apart with the terrible news that her husband, Adam, is missing in action, and she needs the love and support of her family more than ever to find the courage she needs to care for her children and stay strong during the most difficult time of her life. Meanwhile, mother Ansley is desperately trying to keep a dark secret from her past out of the light, even as she devotes all her time to caring for her family.

What a wonderful book this was! I read it in a single day, because it was the definition of unputdownable. I fell in love with this family a little more as I read it, and couldn't wait to read the next installment.

Highly recommended!

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Gallery Books via Netgalley.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Net Galley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It had been a long while since I read the first book in the series, but as soon as I started reading and the story got flowing, I fell right back into the ups and downs of Ansley, Caroline, Sloane and Emerson. While the book focuses mainly on Sloane and her missing in action husband, it does a good job of alternating storylines to include what's happening with each of the other main characters. This was a well written story with themes of family, first love, family and second chances.
I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

Loved this! Heartwarming, endearing, and a solid sense of place. Love, sisterhood, and the emotions of both.

I loved this southern charmed novel!😊 I am a southern girl and love reading books based in the south. I found this one full of depth with great characters! I highly recommend this book!

I am sorry for not reviewing fully but I don’t have the time to read this at the moment. I believe that it wouldn't benefit you as a publisher or your book if I only skimmed it and wrote a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for not fully reviewing!

A favorite Southern author, Kristy Woodson Harvey returns following Slightly South of Simple, on my Top Books of 2017 the first in this “must read” Peachtree Bluff Series, with the second in the trilogy: THE SECRET TO SOUTHERN CHARM – a beautiful heartwarming Southern family drama. Top Books of 2018

I have been a huge fan of Kristy’s since her debut Dear Caroline and Lies and Other Acts of Love on my Top Books of 2016 and currently loving THE PEACHTREE BLUFF SERIES. Highly recommend.

The series is set in a small Southern town of Peachtree Bluff, Georgia —a historical coastal town based on the area where the author resides.

The First in the series: Slightly South of Simple we were introduced to the Murphy women. Ansley (runs a successful design business) the mother and her three daughters: Caroline, Sloane, and Emerson. The focus on Caroline, the eldest daughter.

The Second in the series: The Secret to Southern Charm is centered about the middle daughter, Sloane and her military husband, Adam. Sloan is the middle sister. Sloane receives the devastating news her military husband is missing in action in Iraq. She can barely function and the sisters (Caroline and Emerson) and mom support her to help take care of her children.

She is in a slump depressed and she also has secrets. They finally bring out her easel to try and convince her to get back into painting. In the midst of the troubles, the grandmother’s failing health, and intense feelings and issues of the family with the neighbor moving in next door to Ansley.

Yes, we get to hear more from Jack (the mysterious love interest of Ansleys) from years ago. Lots of fun secrets from the past!

I enjoyed how Kristy uses the letters between Adam and Sloane before he was MIA to showcase their relationship and their problems. These four women face many obstacles regarding the men in their lives, their careers and family – a perfect beach read!

If you have not already read an early reading copy of THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF PARADISE, (May 7, 2019) readers you are going to love this final conclusion, where we catch up with Emerson, the youngest daughter and see how Ansley and Jack’s relationship continues.

Check out my Q&A with Kristy, coming May 8, 2019, and learn more about the inspiration behind this entertaining series and the fun facts from the author.

As with all Kristy’s books, there is a strong sense of family, loyalty, and love —set in the South. She explores the powerful bonds between sisters, mothers, and daughters (also grandparents and grandchildren).

At the heart of her heartwarming stories, there are usually some complex emotions and dark family secrets of the past. I enjoy her multi-generational stories of strong women. (great titles, by the way) mixed with her charm and wit.

If you have not read this author, highly recommend! She dazzles and I adore everything she writes. Cannot wait to see what’s next. Being a Carolina (and Georgia) gal myself, these stories resonate and takes me back to my roots.

A special thank you to the author, Gallery Books and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

JDCMustReadBooks

The Secrets to Southern Charm was both heartwarming and charming—with characters that wedge their way into your hearts making you feel all the feels. This is the second book in the Peachteee Bluff series featuring a generation of independent and strong women that face hardships that test their faith, love, and personal growth.

We get the story of Sloane—a mother of two, and a wonderful husband whose in the military. She gets word that he’s MIA, causing her to fall into a deep depression. It’s up to her sisters and mother to help her get through such
dark times.

We also get a second POV from Sloane’s mother, Ansley—one who is also going through her own things as well. I found the book one that I could read out by the pool relaxing. It showed the power of family and what it means. Overall, I think readers who like character driven stories, with emotional storylines, will love this one.

I snagged this because I do love a good southern set story and the reviews for this were so overwhelmingly 5 star, that I HAD to read it.

This book is the second in the series (normally I don't pick books from the middle of a series but made an exception for this one. That said, you can get through this one without the first, but I feel like I was missing out on some nuances and info so I recommend reading the 1st one first) and is told from the view of Sloane, the middle sister, and her mother Ansley.

Have you ever read a book and thoroughly enjoyed it, but didn't like the plot or the main character of the story? I don't know how that happens, it never has before, but it happened for me with this one. I couldn't stand Sloane. Couldn't. Stand. Her. I was tired of hearing about her MIA husband Adam and how very thoroughly she loved him. Dear God, I've always believed the stereotype that southern women are these strong badasses that shouldn't be messed with - and she's none of that. I didn't enjoy that just about everyone of her chapters started with a letter that Adam had written her while deployed. But I LOVED her interactions with her sisters and grandma. Maybe it's because of how close I am to my OWN two sisters, I don't know, but that was what made the book for me. It's what caught me up. How utterly selfless they could be with EACH OTHER.

I enjoyed Ansley's character but could not stand her storyline. I am not a fan of romanticizing an affair (and for her to judge Caroline's husband, James for having an affair?! Pot meet kettle) but I enjoyed her none the less. I adored Jack, Caroline, Emerson and all of the other small characters along the way. I just couldn't enjoy Sloane. That said, I am already eagerly awaiting thee 3rd book. I HAVE to know what happens next.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2639675515

Even though this book is a sequel, it can be read and enjoyed without reading the first book. It is a witty book about typical southern family life and would make a great addition to anyone's beach/pool bad.

Smart, funny & genuine - this book had me thoroughly engaged & ignoring the rest of the world. Very relatable characters, great storyline & just an overall “win”! Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read & review.

The second in the Peachtree Bluff series, "The Secret to Southern Charm" picks up where "Slightly South of Simple" ends. The reader has just found out that middle sister Sloane's husband has gone missing in action in the Middle East. Grieving the possible loss of her husband, Sloane falls into a depression. Luckily, she has her mother and her sisters to help pick up the pieces and take care of her children. Together, the family helps Sloane remain strong and find the courage to go on with her life.

This series has such great feel-good stories about the relationships between mothers and daughters, sisters and sisters, and wives and husbands. I enjoyed revisiting this family and learning more about how Caroline is repairing her relationship with her husband, how Sloane is gaining back her independence and self-identity (not just being a stay-at-home-mom/army wife), and the rekindling relationship between Ansley and Jack. I'm looking forward to the next in the series where hopefully we'll wrap up Emerson's story.

The Secret to Southern Charm is the second book in the Peachtree Bluff series. The books in the series must be read in order. Without the background of Slightly South of Simple I think The Secret to Southern Charm would be very confusing.
A problem I had with Slightly South of Simple, was the focus on appearances and weight. The Secret to Southern Charm did not have nearly that focus but it was there. I wish there wasn’t that focus on appearances. But maybe that is part of the “southern charm”. Not having the way you look on the outside match what may really be going on.
I thought there were some pretty questionable situations and at first I was disappointed in Ansley, who is suppose to be strong, give into peer pressure. But as I think about the story I think Ansley did not give in. The questionable situations both involve Ansley and maybe she is more selfish than I originally thought her to be. Maybe she wears her “southern charm” so well that it seems she would never do anything questionable but actually she is not as virtuous as she wants to appear.

Favorite: I liked the look at motherhood and what a mother does for her children and the conflicts of motherhood between wanting to be everything for your child and also still be you and your own self.
In the first book of the series, Slightly South of Simple, we got to know Ansley and her oldest daughter Caroline. I liked the character of Caroline better in this book. She did not seem as shallow. I also liked getting to know Ansley’s daughter Sloane better in this book. Though I liked her better in the first book.

Very enjoyable book! Great summer reading for library patrons and I can see many readers enjoying it. It felt like a very traditional chick lit book though with sometimes hard to follow writing so it's not my favorite in that "category"

Ok get ready I’m going to gush here! I love all books by Ms. Harvey but this series is one of my all time series, EVER! This woman can write and she pulls you in so you start to wonder if the things in the book are in your life. I read this book in one night I wasn’t going to put it down until I was done. I am so looking forward to the next in this series and when that happens I will reread books one and two just to make sure I have it all straight, at least that is my story I will be rereading because I loved the books and the characters in them so much!

As the cover suggests, The Secret to Southern Charm is an excellent beach read. The writing was rich and descriptive and easily transports you to Peachtree Bluff, Georgia, a charming town with even more charming residents. The main characters in this book, the Murphy family, all find themselves at crossroads in their lives, and the story focuses on and is narrated by Ansley, the mother, and Sloane, one of her daughters. You will be drawn into the stories of this lovely family that demonstrate their love and support for one another while at the same time showing that they are all too human.

Although this book is the second in the Peachtree Bluff series, I didn't feel lost or that I was missing anything by not having read the first book. That said, it definitely makes me want to read Slightly South of Simple and meet the Murphy family for the first time.

I received a copy from NetGalley and this is my honest review. I really enjoyed this family drama with all the accompanying feelings. I did have a bit of a rough start but that was merely because I had forgotten the previous book. Once I started linking things, I was quickly drawn in. I would recommend reading the first in the series before reading this one as the background is helpful.

We need more multi-generational books! I loved how the family all came together to help each other. Although some felt the others weren't as helpful as they might have liked. This is perfect for the beach or a book club.

I'll start this review by saying I am so anxious for the third book in this series. The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey was enthralling and left with a couple of major cliffhangers. KWH is most definitely one of my new favorite authors, I have also recently read Dear Carolina and book one of this series. Back to this book, it is told in alternating chapters of Ansley (mom) and Sloane (middle sister). Sloane's husband is in the Army and missing in action, while Ansley is exploring new/old relationships. I love the sisters interactions and their obvious love for each other. I would definitely recommend reading this book, but, while I feel you could read it on its own, I would not do that. Reading book one first would give you a lot more backstory and I feel, make this installment all the more enjoyable.

I really liked this book but I really should have read the other books in the series first because I think I would have enjoyed them better that way. This is one of those cases where it really does matter that you read the first book of a series.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Netgalley for this book

After I received above mentioned copy, I rushed out to my local B&N to purchase the first book, Slightly South of Simple and finished in a two-day span.

I am totally in love with these sisters and their mother. I think I could be friends with any or all of them.

This book centered on middle sister, Sloane, and what brought her back to her childhood home. I loved her story and the continuation of her mother, Ansley’s as well. I always enjoy reading about how one’s past creates the person they’ve become.

My only regret in receiving this early copy is that now I have wait that much longer for the third book and see how the lives of these four wonderful women turn out. This book contains moments of tears, laughs, and lots of smiles.