Thank you to Net Galley and Forge Books for offering me an advanced digital copy of this book in return for an honest review!
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From the USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe comes Heather Webber's next charming novel, In the Middle of Hickory Lane!

Emme Wynn has wanted nothing more her whole life than to feel like part of a family. Having grown up on the run with her con artist mother, she’s been shuffled from town to town, drawn into bad situations, and has learned some unsavory habits that she’s tried hard to overcome. When her estranged grandmother tracks her down out of the blue and extends a job offer—helping to run her booth at an open-air marketplace in small-town Sweetgrass, Alabama—Emme is hopeful that she’ll finally be able to plant the roots she’s always dreamed of. But some habits are hard to break, and she risks her newfound happiness by keeping one big truth to herself.

Cora Bee Hazelton has her hands full with volunteering, gardening, her job as a color consultant and designer, and just about anything she can do to keep her mind off her painful past, a past that has resulted in her holding most everyone at arm’s length. The last thing she wants is to form close relationships only to have her heart broken yet again. But when she’s injured, she has no choice other than to let people into her life and soon realizes it’s going to be impossible to keep her heart safe—or her secrets hidden.

In the magical neighborhood garden in the middle of Hickory Lane, Emme and Cora Bee learn some hard truths about the past and themselves, the value of friends, family, and community, and most importantly, that true growth starts from within.
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I do not read much supernatural fiction, but ever since reading Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, I have been hooked on Heather Webber's particular brand of magical realism and have eagerly awaited every new book she offers. Every time, I think I can't possibly enjoy her new book as much I as I did her last, and I went into this one thinking the exact same thing, but guess what? I loved this novel so, so much! I basically carried my Kindle around with me all day today, from my living room, into the kitchen, into the basement while I did my laundry, into the backyard while the dogs relieved themselves, and (this might be too much information) even into the bathroom, so I did not miss one second of my day-off-reading-time. As usual, I fell in with everyone and everything in its pages, and I will miss these characters now that my time with them is over. I eagerly await Webber's next novel!

I adore this authors books and this one was fabulous! I was so attached to these characters! Highly highly recommend!!

I am such a fan of Heather Webber's deft touch with stories about relatable women, Southern charm, and a touch of magical realism. What stands out is her ability to draw the reader into stories of the importance of home (defined in terms of place but also people and connection and southern food and tradition) via stories of self growth, coming into and owning talents and self confidence, and resolving past loss and grief. In the Middle of Hickory Lane brings back these themes with an examination of Emme and Cora Bee, both coming to Hickory Lane to embrace their family and personal secrets, to help their family reconcile a long standing missing person case, and to better understand their roots. The mystery is woven in effectively, with some good reveals, that helps move the self growth of many characters forward while also adding to a strong narrative.

I personally really loved the theme of intuition in this book, how it was part of the women's lives and how it was used as a form of compassion and love; I always find that the magical realism in Ms Webber's books to be about more than the individual but about giving and helping family and community. The realism is subtle, more real than magic, and adds a charm and warmth to an already engaging plot.

Heather Webber has become a favorite author, and I always look forward to her books. This is a beautiful story where secrets from the past are revealed with a twist at the end. The characters are delightful and made me want to be part of their circle. There is a flower garden with its own secrets and each flower there has an explanation of what it stands for. As always, the authors writing is warm and has a touch of magic that always makes me smile. Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

Thank you Netgalley, Forge Reads, and Tor Books for the gifted book!

Emme has grown up bouncing from place to place with her con artist of a mother, never feeling at home. But when her estranged grandmother tracks her down and offers her a job and a place to stay in small town Alabama, she finds herself saying yes. But as much as she wants to put down roots, old habits die hard and her secrets are threatening to bubble to the surface. Just like the body that surfaces the day she arrives in twin from the garden in the center of her grandmother's neighborhood. The conjecture is that it's her grandmother's sister, but that conclusion seems to sit better with some people than with others.

Cora Bee is living what appears to be an idyllic life but in reality she's shoving down her hard past by keeping everyone at bay. She is injured the day her cousin Emme shows up in town and the supposed body of her grandmother literally surfaces. Now she is in need of help for both her body and mind and it seems to be appearing from the most unlikely of places.

These two women have to contend with their pasts as they contemplate what they want for and who they want in their future.

I read my first Heather Webber book back in 2020 and I don't know why I waited so long to read more. They are the perfect recipe of a large helping of southern charm, a dash of magic, a heaping spoon of romance, a sprinkling of mystery, and a big serving of all the lovely feels.

I wanted to live within these pages and eat the foods and walk along the flowers that were described within. I think if you like all the ingredients of this book above then you will find yourself quite content in the middle of hickory lane.

In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber is a lovely story about new beginnings and hope for the future. Emme is twenty five and grew up with a difficult mom in an unsafe and even more difficult home. Cora Bee thought life had destroyed her one time and she was still hiding from it. Glory is Cora Bee’s aunt and Emme’s grandmother. When she brings Emme to her home, the girls find more than friendship in each other. More than family even. They find hope and a place to belong. And, the story adds some mystery, a bit of romance, and a lot of joy along the way. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review. I truly enjoyed it!

I was so happy to get to read an early copy of this book. Thank you Net Galley! I loved Heather Webber’s other three books and looked forward to getting my hands on this one. It did not disappoint. Wonderful characters, setting, and that touch of magic make this a delightful, charming book.

Could you imagine being able to see someone's personality or inward emotion in floating specks of color? What a perspective THAT would be! CoraBee can, and she's going to need it.

Sweetgrass, Alabama's best cul-de-sac is at the end of Hickory Lane. Within that cul-de-sac, is the best neighborhood garden around; complete with beauty and history and secrets and magic. Emme Wynn is new to the area. Her hard past has followed her and threatens the last shred of hope-found family.

My summer was ready for a little Southern charm, and this hit the spot. Heather Webber has written another book that tackles the battles of life with realism and romance. Great job!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillanusa for an advanced reading copy.

Heather Webber is now officially on my favorite authors list. In the Middle of Hickory Lane is the fourth book I’ve read by her and honestly, I can’t pick a favorite. They are all just so good! This story is both women’s fiction and mystery with just a touch of magical realism added in. The characters are all wonderful, kind, loving people that I really grew to care about. The main character, Emme Wynn, has had a horrible childhood being raised by her con-artist mother who was always on the move. All Emme wanted was a place to call home and a family where she could love and be loved by someone. Her grandmother, Glory, tracks her down and invites her to come to Sweetgrass, Alabama. There on Hickory Lane, which is a cul-de-sac of lovely homes, is where Emme’s paternal family has roots. In the center of it all is a beautiful garden with a natural spring and that’s where the magic takes place. I loved learning about all the different flowers and the meaning behind them all. As I said earlier, this is a mystery and a big part of it centers around the garden. Towards the end there is a really shocking surprise or twist that I did not see coming. Once it was revealed, it made everything make perfect sense and the whole story came together. I loved this book and can’t wait for July 26, 2022, which is release day, so I can get my own physical copy to add to my home collection. I’d like to thank Macmillan-Tor/Forge for accepting my request and NetGalley for the arc to read, review and enjoy. I highly recommend this book and all of her others as well. Believe me, you’ll love them all and will be so happy to have read them. I’m giving this a well deserved 5 star rating!

Heather Webber has the magical gift of creating villages and neighborhoods where you would just love to live. Hickory Lane is one such place. The characters are lovable and interesting and people you would love to hang out with. I enjoyed the mystery of the sinkhole and of course the descriptions of food and flowers. If you're a gardener or a beekeeper, then you'll love this one! Thank you, Netgalley, for my arc.

Heather Webber is an auto buy author for me. I just love the settings, the 'found family' themes and the perfect touch of magical realism.

Emme Wynn has worked so hard to overcome the, at best neglectful and at worst harmful parenting of her grifter mother. When her estranged grandmother finally reaches her and offers her a job and a place to stay, it is perfect timing. Emme is wary but soon falls for the charm of Sweetgrass, Alabama and her residents, especially her grandmother. But Emme is keeping a secret from those she has come to love. Will it destroy the new home and life she is trying to build.

Found family is one of my favorites and this author does it so well. I was rooting for Emme and fount myself desperately wanting to visit Sweetgrass.

Thank you to the author, Forge Books and NetGalley for the complimentary digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Pre-order now, available July 26, 2022.

Sweetwater, Alabama is the setting for this cozy read. Dive into this book for a story that will warm your heart! Enjoyed it!

I have only read one other of Weber’s books (Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe) but she is very quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I love how she weaves a tiny bit of magic into her stories; just enough magic to make the story feel a bit more fantastical. I loved her characters and how they grew throughout this book. Cora Bee and Emme were both strong but needed someone to help them and lean on. I also enjoy the tiny bit of romance that is thrown in as well!

In this latest addition to her Southern magical realism books, Heather Webber unleashes the exquisite charm I have learned to expect from her novels. The beautiful cover complements an enchanting storyline. Webber lets the magic ooze out of Sweetgrass, a cozy Southern town. The book speaks of healing, rebirth, love, and friendship. It urges us to let the past go and welcome the present. It teaches us to persevere and to believe in ourselves. It reminds us that when the way ahead seems dark, the best way is to take a small step forward. I would recommend this magical book to anyone looking for an enriching read.

“Hickory Lane had a dark past. Just like me.”

In Sweetgrass, Alabama, you’ll find Hickory Lane - a neighborhood of friends and family that greets you with lots of Southern charm but also some secrets hidden away for better or for worse. It’s on Hickory Lane that we meet Glory Wynn, who has sought out her estranged granddaughter Emme Wynn in hopes to give Emme a chance to start over from her difficult past. We also find Cora Bee, Glory’s great-niece and Emme’s cousin, who is a color designer with a difficult past of her own. The story follows these characters and others as a family secret that was dead and buried long ago comes back to the forefront, forcing everyone on Hickory Lane to come together to face the past, with the help of a little bit of magic.

“Everyone knows the South is full of magic, so why shouldn’t we have a little of it in our lives?”

This book had all of the Southern charm and magic that Heather Webber is known for, complete with a magical gazing pool, a garden that may be more than meets the eye, and some mysterious ever-present bees. I enjoyed the structure of the novel, which alternates between Cora Bee’s and Emme’s perspectives, and also includes old diary entries from Bee (Cora’s grandmother and Glory’s sister) and ‘gardening tips’ from Glory. There was enough foreshadowing and clues dropped along the way as the story progressed that kept you coming back until the end and the family secrets were revealed.

I will say that it was quite difficult for me initially to keep up with the cast of characters and how everyone was related, having to eventually draw out a family tree to keep everyone straight, but I did get a handle on them quickly enough. I also wish that some of the magical realism components were expanded upon a bit more - I think I just wanted a little more from the ‘gifts’ that Core Bee and Emme had, as they almost seemed like an afterthought in light of the other magical inserts, and I felt like the garden could have played a larger role as well. While the story was cozy the whole way through, I also felt like the middle moved slowly and left me a little bored at times with almost too many nuggets of foreshadowing and just taking too long to reveal plot points. But of course these are just minor, personal thoughts, and reflecting on the book as a whole, I really enjoyed the reading experience especially in the summertime!

All in all, I truly enjoyed this one and was left with a cozy, happy feeling of a warm hug, as I’ve come to expect from this author. I’d recommend this book to readers looking for a little escape from reality and found family with some Southern flare. Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Generally speaking, mums—chrysanthemums—shouldn’t do well in this area. It’s too hot. They like cooler weather. They’re a tad bit finicky. But here on Hickory Lane, all cuddled up close together, they’re flourishing despite the odds, which just goes to show that sometimes you just need to be planted in the perfect spot near close friends to be able to thrive. Don’t you agree?”

This is a story about found family and friendships and is beautifully told. In all of the author’s books that I have read there is an element of magical realism but it’s done lightly but interestingly. This book made me tear up in a few places, but it has a gentle, calm writing style and I can highly recommend this if you want a book that leaves you feeling happy, relaxed and uplifted. Heather Webber has become a firm favourite of mine.

Thank you NetGalley, Heather Webber and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC of In the Middle of Hickory Lane. This is my personal review.
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. As I was reading this book, I was thinking that a book club would adore reading and discussing this one.
The story wrapped itself around my heart and kept me in the story from the beginning to the end.
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.

Heather Webber has became an auto buy and auto read author for me. I was so excited to have the opportunity to read and review her latest story. This one was whimsical and full of the magic of all of her other stories. Definetly a must read for contemporary lovers!

This is the fourth book I have read of Heather Webber and I have always enjoyed reading all her books. Her books are based on magic realism and belief coupled with fiction and the a bit of family drama.

In the Middle of Hickory Lane talks about a woman named Emme Wynn who comes to small town, Sweetgrass Alabama from Louisville hoping to stop moving around from town to town and settle down. She started living with her so called grandmother, Glory who had actually tracked her down. While Emme is living a life in the small town, she has a small secret that may affect the newfound relationship.

Cora Bee is another character who after going through a heartbreaking divorce returns back to the small town. She then gets into an accident and meets Jamie and his daughter Alice and their dog, Mabel. As she was injured, Cora, who is a private person reluctantly allows people in her life--including Emme and Jamie. She and Emme becomes best friends and Cora was reluctant to fall in love with Jamie because of her recent heartbreak.

The story is told from the perspectives of Emme and Cora so as a reader we know what each of the characters' are going through. Before the start ot the chapter, snippets of the past 1963 or Glory's gardening lessons are written, which was actually interesting to read. I do like the fact that besides the magic realism, there's a small bit of thriller involved where some skeletal remains are found in the backyard of a house in the neighborhood and that a man named Levi, who was a fraudster and a possible murderer who left the town back in 1963. The author has done a good job of drawing the reader into the story and making the reader feel like they are part of the story. I did like the possible romances between Cora and Jamie and Emme and Chase. Of course the ending was predictable but it was actually enjoyable to read. I also do like the characters of Cora and Emme and how in fact they both suffer from insecurities and in the end they both overcame that while living in the town.

If you like a fiction with a magic realism as a background with a small thriller in it and some family drama, then this book is one for you. Can't wait to read more books from this author! Worth five stars

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Heather Webber writes stories that take up residence in my heart. For that reason I’ve already pre-ordered a signed copy of this delightful book.
Webber write characters that are complex and feel like they could be your best friend or neighbor. Emme and Cora Bee are two such characters. Both women are shielding their heart for different reasons. When Emme comes to Hickory Lane she is looking for a place to belong while Cora Bee is recovering from hurts in her past. This tale explores the fragility of hope and trust. It also examines the complexity of families, both those we are born into and the families we weave together when we open our hearts.
Webber’s unique writing style infuses this story with a bit of mystery and an abundance of magical realism, leaving the reader feeling full of hope. Thank you to NetGalley and Forge Books for the Advance Copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.