This book transported me right to the middle of Hickory Lane. I wanted to move right in with Glory and feel her love and kindness encompass me. Her unconditional love for her estranged granddaughter Emme made me believe in the genuine beauty of the human spirit. I was delighted by my visit to a small town filled with hope and the perfect characters with which to share a cup of coffee.

Feel-good read coming your way!

In the Middle of Hickory Lane gives us a town full of quirky but loving people, a splash of magical realism, budding romance, personal demons to overcome, a few tears, and lots of joy.

I want to move to the little town of Sweetgrass, Alabama and be real-life friends with all the characters. Truly, the best thing I can tell you about this book is that I want to climb inside and live there.

Heather Webber’s books always make me happy, and this one totally met my expectations. The characters are well developed and colorful. The plot is realistic and relatable. It’s a fun but also thought-provoking read with depth and complexities that will leave a lasting impression.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Well all that I can say is WOW! As an introduction to the writing of Heather Webber, In the Middle of Hickory Lane was a great first book to read. I was totally spellbound by the story as well as the characters. Each of the main character’s development and growth throughout the story was captivating. One of the interesting things about this story is that at the beginning of each chapter we get a short glimpse of the past, which certainly plays into the current events throughout the story. While I am not a huge fan – it was well done and I was not distracted by this feature.

The story begins with Emme Watson coming to Sweetgrass, Alabama to start her life over again (for the umpteenth time I might add – no thanks to her grifter mom) with the other members of her family, whom she has not had a chance to get to really know. Glory Wynn (Emme’s grandmother) sought Emme out and asked that Emme come to Sweetgrass to help her run her booth at an open-air marketplace. Emme meets her relatives and starts to develop real feelings and connections. There are certainly bumps along the way as everyone must come to terms with the past, present and the future. One will also witness the familial healing that will take place amongst the Wynn clan as everyone learns many truths! The reader will experience the journey first hand (and the deep, dark secrets hidden in Hickory Lane).

I found the author created characters which were relatable, having them live in a town similar to any readers’ neighbourhood with challenges and secrets. And lets not forget the magic that was thrown in. What is it with the bees? Well – you will have to read the book to find out (I know – I am teasing you…☺).

One of my favourite parts was when Emme first met Glory (we learn so much them both):

“I wasn’t sure when my ability to identify a person’s personality at first glance had started, but it wasn’t until I was older that I became aware the talent was something special. Special because it was never wrong.”

I enjoyed the unraveling of the family history and seeing how each family member worked, first from within, and then for the betterment of the whole family (including the extended family – i.e. – neighbors). The personal growth of Emme and Cora Bee was a journey well worth taking, even though it was fraught with some anxious moments.

And for the romantic at heart – there is more than one love story that is told. Each journey was fraught with the usual misunderstanding, etc. but I must say – the journey was worth taking for each couple. It certainly kept me rooting for the misunderstandings to be solved in a positive manner so that there might be one, two or more (?) HEA’s…?

I also liked that the artwork on the cover was eye catching and pretty ☺

Would I pick up another book by Heather Webber – yes. Would I recommend this book – without a doubt! If you want to read an engaging book with interesting characters and an intriguing family story – this is your book!

Thank you, Forge Books, for the gifted copy of In the Middle of Hickory Lane. {partner}
<b>
Genre: Magical Realism
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 7.26.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ </b>
<i>
"I think darkness can be peaceful. Sometimes you can see more clearly in the dark than you can the light. The absence of color makes you focus more intently." </i>

Just add In the Middle of Hickory Lane to my growing list of books by Heather Webber that have swept me off my feet and transported me to the world of small-town southern magic.

Webber always writes with an immense appreciation for nature and how it protects and nourishes our bodies. While In the Middle of Hickory Lane felt different from her other books, it inevitably gave me the same feelings that all the others left me with… love. Love for the characters, the setting, the magic, and the message.

I cherish Webber's character development in her stories, but Hickory Lane felt different to me, and I think it's because the characters in this story were dealing with a lot of hurt and grief. They'd been through some pretty dark times. Still, I loved watching as they all grew and discovered what it means to be loved unconditionally.

Also, it's worth noting that this is the first book in months that has actually surprised me. It was just what I needed to get out of my reading slump.
<b>
❤️ Character development
✨ Small-town Magic
🥰 Beautiful descriptions of people, places & flowers
🤩 Finally, a book that surprised me </b>

In the Middle of Hickory Lane is a must-read if you have loved Heather Webber's previous books (Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, South of the Buttonwood Tree & Lights of Sugarberry Cove).

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Excellent!
Heather Webber is a new find for me this year, and I have enjoyed every book. I received a free galley from Netgalley, and Forge book, and I have read this book twice, and I am debating if I want to buy the audio book.

When you thoroughly enjoy a book, it difficult to pick out one or two things because it sort of like the "whole is greater than the sum of its parts". Everything just fits together. great characters; interesting mystery, wonderful mystical realism, and sweet romance.

I really enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it.

I’ve loved Heather Webber’s books since I won an ARC of Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe. I’ve reviewed South of the Buttonwood Tree and The Lights of Sugarberry Cove on my blog and raved about them. Can a fourth book continue Ms. Webber’s winning streak with me?

Absolutely.

Emme Wynn’s mother uprooted Emme from Sweetgrass, Alabama years ago and took her young daughter along with her on a life of misdeeds and bad behavior. Emme cut ties with her when she turned eighteen and has been trying to build a life for herself free of her mother’s malicious influence.

But now home has found Emme. Her grandmother, Glory, has located her and invited her to come back to Sweetgrass, with a job offer to boot. The day Emme arrives, the police have found a body in the community garden on Hickory Lane. The neighborhood is abuzz. Word has it the body might be Glory’s long-lost sister.

It’s tough for Emme to settle in. She tries, though, and slowly, she starts to embrace Sweetgrass. Glory has taken her in and is showing her the ropes of working at her shop. She’s getting closer to her newfound cousin, Cora Bee. But Emme knows it can’t last. She knows she hasn’t been entirely truthful. She dreads the day she’ll have to reveal her secret and fears she’ll lose the new family and new home she’s found.

Webber creates a realistic small-town setting, populated with people you feel like you might know. I love the neighborhood on Hickory Lane in particular. It’s a place where people know and care about their neighbors. Sure, some of them might be a little nosey. But they generally poke their nose in your business because they care. That’s the kind of place I want to live.

Each chapter was introduced with a bit of wisdom about the flowers that Glory was passing on to Emme. I thought that was a lovely touch.

The story deals with hard topics. An abusive and manipulative parent, a loved one missing for decades, a friend struggling with memory loss and independent living, poor choices leading to undesirable results. Secrets kept can become a burden. Each woman in the story has something she has not shared with others and each woman is impacted by what she is hiding. But in the right time, a secret can be revealed and that burden lifted. Webber does a wonderful job of demonstrating how liberating it is to trust the people in our lives enough to share with them we’ve tried so long to keep hidden.

Secrets come to light, family found, a little dollop of romance, the healing we find in love and community. All of this blended beautifully with Webber’s trademark magical realism and whimsy adds up to a winner of a book.

Five stars, and if you haven’t read her books, what are you waiting for?!

Heather Webber is becoming my favorite authors in the magical realism genre. I have not been steered wrong yet. As with the rest of her books you're going to find that family love, past mistakes, redemption and of course a little magic. It's so easy to get carried away in every story, in every life you come across in these quaint towns. Hickory Lane is no different.

Heather Webber has once again woven a beautiful web of magical realism that feels like a hug and coming home all at once. This book is set in the beautiful town of Hickory Lane, which seems straight out of a Hallmark movie. The characters are colorful and charming and you just want to move right in and settle down. Her books always leave me with a feeling of peace and comfort and I look forward to visiting her stories again and again.

Sometimes a book finds you just when you need it most. Knowing Heather Webber's books are full of charm, humanity, resilience and just a touch of magic, I picked up her latest after a rough week. And it was just what the doctor ordered. Emma Wynn arrives in Sweetgrass, Alabama after a life on the run with a con artist mother. Her estranged grandmother, Glory Wynn, invited her to get to know her and with some ulterior motives of her own. For someone who has never known love or home, Sweetgrass becomes an animated idyll. On her first day, a human bone is uncovered in the community garden. This central mystery and the issues and hurts of other residents combine for a compelling visit to Sweetwater. Highly recommended!

Loved it! Heather Webber has been one of my go-to authors for quite a while now, and while I hate that she's stopped writing the mysteries I love so much, she has me hooked on her standalones. The characters she brings to life are so real and relatable that I almost feel like I know there and I'm right there with them as the work through the issues in their lives. This was such a well-crafted story filled with lighthearted moments, amazing characters, and a lesson in how to find your place in this world. Highly recommended!

In The Middle of Hickory Lane is a a first book I read b Heather Webber. When I requested this book I didn't realise this was part of the series. Now I have o go back and read the rest because this one was so much fun to read.

This is the perfect book if you are needing a wonderful story filled with love, family, friendship, and redemption this is exactly the one you need to read.

The author has a way to write a story that will be a part of many readers libraries and be read over and over many times over the years to come.

I am a Heather Webber big time and love everything she writes. At first I had a difficult time getting into this book but I trusted myself and Heather Webber to know it would turn amazing at some point and oh boy did it ever. Heather comes up with the most delightful characters. It's hard to dislike a character in her books, even the bad ones. I love when I can figure out some of the plot twists and keep reading to see if I was right. This was a beautiful crafted story that made fantasy seem like reality and I wish this was not a stand alone but part of a series because I would love to visit Sweetgrass again. If you are a fan of Heather Webber this one is not to be missed and should be added to your want to read list. If you have not read Heather Webber this one is a great place to start. For any fans of Magical Realism, this one's for you.

My thanks go to NetGalley and McMillan-Tor/Forge, Forge Books and Heather Webber for providing me an advanced readers copy in return for an honest review.

Everything I’ve read by Heather Webber I have really enjoyed, and In the Middle of Hickory Lane can now be added to the list!

Webber excels at incorporating magical realism into her fiction, combine that with Southern charm and well developed characters, and you know you're in for a wonderful story.

In the Middle of Hickory Lane has long lost cousins getting to know each other, and they bloom by accepting each other’s differences and letting those differences expand their own uniqueness. We also get people in all stages of life who truly care about and for each other… along with long held secrets and a couple of twists at the end that really ties all the threads together making it one giant quilt of love and family.

If you’re looking for a feel good story with a touch of romance and a bit of magic, then make sure to grab yourself a copy.

There was just something about this book that felt like a warm hug from your southern grandma. It was a beautiful balance of life lessons and romance. I saw Heather's Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe create a buzz when it came out a few years ago but this was the first one of hers that I've read. I will gladly say it will absolutely, postiively not be the last. I was so sad when I finished this book and, for me, that's a sign of true greatness!!

You guys, this is one of those books that I was so excited to get an advance download of, but also really sad that I finished it quickly and now have to wait longer for Webber's next book.

I absolutely love Webber's magical realism books, all set in the South. They are sweet and funny, but also mine family struggles and conflict.

This new release (July 26th) features a pair of cousins, Emme Wynn and Cora Bee Hazelton. Each one is harboring secret fears that keep them from opening up to the people that could do them the most good.

As they each work through their issues, an old family drama makes itself present again. The magical garden in the middle of Hickory Lane knows the whole story, and it wants to tell.

This novel joins a magical realism collection including MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE, SOUTH OF THE BUTTONWOOD TREE, and THE LIGHTS OF SUGARBERRY COVE. I have read them all and can't wait for another

Gosh, this was just the sweetest Southern summer read!

I've loved all of Heather Webber's books, and this upcoming release is my new favorite.

I find the Southern hospitality and magical realism in her books so comforting. This story had a cold case mystery plotline that was intriguing, too! I loved the themes of forgiveness and second chances.

I wouldn't call this a beach read; it's more of a porch swing/hammock/patio read. Either way, make sure you add it to your summer reading list!

Read this if you liked Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe or Garden Spells.

Thank you @forgebooks and @netgalley for an advance digital copy of this title! All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars. Heather Webber writes charming stories in a Southern setting with a touch of magical realism, and this is my favorite of her books to date. The novel centers around two young women, Emme and Cora Bee, who both have secrets and troubled pasts they're trying to heal from. Emme has spent her life on the run with her con artist mother, and when the grandmother she's never known invites her to move in with her in the lovely town of Sweetgrass, Alabama, Emme jumps at the chance at a new life and family. Cora Bee, Emme's cousin, has a successful business as a color consultant, but she's closed herself off from almost everyone after a painful divorce and accident. As the cousins form a friendship and romantic entanglements with local men, there's a small mystery surrounding the appearance of an old skeleton in a neighborhood garden. I loved all the characters in the novel, the town itself, and the way the stories all entwined. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Forge Books for a digital copy to read and review.

A lovely story about family - and a mystery as well. Emma has never had a family or a home. True, she had her mother but her mother well, enough said. Now, though, she's come to Sweetgrass at the behest of her grandmother Glory. She arrives the day the police dig up bones from the garden- whose are they? Cora Bee, Emme's cousin, has been struggling since the end of her marriage and a bad accident. She has no idea what's ahead for her when she's knocked over by the overly enthusiastic Mabel the dog owned by James and his daughter Alice. The women in this family all have a special ability- Cora sees colors, Glory relates to flowers, and Emme, as it turns out, can also see things in the gazing pool in the garden in the middle of the lane. No spoilers but know that this is very much focused on Emme and Cora Bee, who tell the story and both of whom need love and good news in their lives. There are gentle twists here- twists that surprised me. Webber's an excellent storyteller and this one pulled me in and kept me reading. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Terrific read.

Heather Webber is an auto-read author for me. I love her stand alone magical novels set in Southern small town hamlets, filled with strong, quirky characters. If it's possible I love each new one more than the last, though Midnight At The Blackbird Cafe is still my favorite to date. Highly recommend In The Middle Of Hickory Lane as I do all of her books!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I love all of Heather Webber's books; while this was a great story, and I highly recommend it, it's not my favorite of hers.