I don't usually read romance novels, but this is a sweet romance. It's about heartache, family and blessings all wrapped up in a lovely sweet romance.

Avery had it all, then her world imploded. She moves back to her hometown of Camellia, Alabama with her two young children in tow. She just wants to lay low, but she has been on social media, so that's not happening because it's a small town and everyone is wagging there tongue. To make matters worse, there's her friend from childhood, Cole. They end up working together on a project, that just makes the town talk more.

I enjoyed the characters in this book. My favorite was Nana Lansing, though. She's a feisty Nana. This book had me shedding tears and laughing. Of course, it hits home because no one likes to be talked about behind their backs.

There was good character development. The characters were great and I felt like I was saying goodbye when I got to the end of the book. If you enjoy sweet lovely romances, or need an easy sweet read, this book is for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the E-ARC. This Published June 27, 2023.

😊 Happy Reading 🙃

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After her marriage implodes, Avery divorces her husband and returns to her childhood town to live with her mother and stepfather. Feeling overwhelmed as a single parent and needing a job, she accepts an offer to decorate a house for women that were involved in human trafficking. However, as only a small southern town can be, Avery’s confidence continues to be shaken by gossip and meddling from her grandmother. Family drama, misunderstandings and a second chance with an old flame all make this a delightful book. Thank you Netgalley and Publisher Harliquin for an arc. The comments and review are my honest opinion.

Very cute story...very Chip and Joanna Gaines-ish. It read a little slow for me. There were a lot of little stories going on. I almost thought that maybe she was setting this up to be a possible series, and then they all kind of wrapped up pretty quickly in the last couple of chapters.

First of all i want to thank Netgalley, Heidi Mccahan and Harlequin Romance for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Don't know where to start on this book, it was just ok for me. I have one word for this book Boring! I could not get into this book at all, i could not wait to finish it and almost gave up on it. I have never read a book that had to give in detail what everyone was wearing all the time, that was annoying, it was like get on with it. Cole and Avery knew each other in the past and made a pledge one night on a napkin and Cole kept a secret from Avery that should of been told to her from the start with him knowing the deception she had just went through with her husband. I was like would you just tell her already, and the renovations of Imari House for girls who where in human trafficking situations was drawn out. I was hoping to get more of a story about the women who were abducted and human trafficking but no hardly a mention about that. So no i wouldn't recommend this one personally.

When one life is ruined, it leaves a chance for a new one to begin. For Avery, a divorced mother of two has a chance to develop a new path with all its pitfalls and successes. She is plagued by the loss of confidence in her abilities due to the machinations of her ex-husband’s lover and partner in the business they all ran.
Avery has no home and has to return to her childhood home. A meddling grandmother gives it her best to reunite Avery with her longtime friend, Cole. Due to Avery’s social media presence and the gossipping town, criticisms of her almost cripple her but she perseveres and continues to move forward with Cole’s assurances of her talent.
A delightful look at family, social media, and a second chance for love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I think I’ve just found a new fave author!
This book is the perfect comfort, feel good read!
And that is mainly because the author, Heidi McCahan writes with a passion for all things southern, inspired romance, reinvention and second chances!
Satisfying character development, nostalgic location details and witty interactions set the stage for a heartwarming story!
I found myself immediately engaged and immersed and looking forward to the storyline playing out in ways that I hoped it would.
Charming, relatable, modern yet embedded in history, family, past love, it’s hit it all!
I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author!

Thankyou to author Heidi McCahan, Netgalley and Love Inspired / Harlequin for the opportunity to read this book!

Charlene 🌸🤗📚 @lastnownext

I loved the story of Avery and Cole. As a single mother myself, the story of Avery's comeback was relatable and inspiring. I was hooked on this book from the surprise plot twist in the prologue. The characters are well written and developed. I enjoyed the way the story was told from the perspective of each character, and how there were still some surprises toward the end of the book.

One Southern Summer, by Heidi McCahan, pulls on the heartstrings even as it brings laughs and a few tears along the way. This contemporary novel made me think both about our culture in this day and about where we find our personal value.

Avery Lansing Crawford, a media influencer, is sure her life is about perfect. But when she discovers her husband wants a divorce, that perfect image is shattered. She finds herself back in the town where she grew up, Camellia, Alabama, trying to pick up the pieces and figure out how to move on.

When her feisty grandmother cuts a deal with a local founder of a nonprofit organization, Avery says yes to a job she’s not sure she can do.

Cole Whitaker needs funds to make his dream of creating a safe space for young women coming out of trafficking. When the money is offered to make this goal a reality, he is grateful. And somehow, he’ll figure out how to make the one string attached to the funds work out. When he offers Avery the job of consulting on and designing the home, he knows she has the talent, and he hopes to reignite the friendship they once shared.

What he doesn’t expect is for the love he tucked away years ago also to rekindle. Or for the media to wreak havoc with the quiet work he wants to do on behalf of women who have no voice. I loved the way Avery and Cole navigated their friendship and learned how to relate. Their relationship felt honest as they each helped the other see their strengths.

Camellia, Alabama, is almost another character. The people in the town, the beauty of the South, and the “Southern” mindsets and manners enriched this story.

This book boasts a host of quirky, fun characters and a lot of mischief, especially from Nana Lansing. I truly enjoyed this story. I could relate to Avery’s struggle with worrying about what other people thought about her, as that’s been something I’ve had to work through. I especially loved seeing how Avery’s sisters pulled together to help her, spoke the truth when she needed to hear it, and supported each other.

McCahan deals with some current hot-button issues in a gracious, authentic way. The themes of resiliency and second chances shine throughout this story. Even a character who I wanted to “hate” ended up having redeeming qualities. This book drew me in and kept me reading as fast as I could.

If you enjoy women’s fiction with southern flare and a strong romantic thread along with unexpected fun and authentic characters, you will love One Southern Summer.

***I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to share a review. All opinions are my own.

I learned a lot about compassion in reading Heidi McCahan's 'One Southern Summer'. I would have felt more vindictive and angry with her ex-husband's choices. I also kept waiting for another shoe to drop with her ex-husband's parents. They were beautifully drawn horrible characters. But I learned that love and kindness can overcome a great deal and this charming book teaches this truth well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed One Southern Summer, and as a life-long southerner, I was delighted that McCahan really gets it right - the culture, the nuances, the language. This is a fun read for fans of sweet second-chance romance and humorous family dynamics. Maribelle and her friends are worth the price of admission alone. A lot of the story revolves around gossip, which feels true to life. Ultimately, the themes of self-discovery and forgiveness are handled beautifully, and I liked following along as Avery and Cole gain confidence in their life decisions.

Received complimentary e-galley from the publisher; all thoughts are my own.

Until the last page was turned, I was caught up in the life of Avery Lansing Crawford and her delightful, lovable, unpredictable, and often humorous family.

Avery and her husband Pax have a successful business, a TV show and in addition, Avery’s popularity as a social media influencer is expanding. Pax and Avery are hosting a gender reveal party to announce the gender of their second child. Their beautiful yard is full of people; drinks and appetizers are being passed by the catering staff Avery hired so everything would be perfect. There is a gigantic trunk in the middle of the yard filled with the appropriate color of balloons, indicating the gender of the new baby. The plan is for Pax and Avery to open the trunk together. The old cliché, “The best laid plans…” is very fitting about now. It is perfect for what happens next.

Fast forward a year later and Avery with her two young children, finds herself back in the small Alabama town she grew up in, living with her mother and stepfather. She needs to find a job, and her childhood best friend Cole, who runs a non-profit that rescues and rehabilitates women from human trafficking, can offer her a job because of a large donation the non-profit recently received. The house the rescued women live in is being enlarged to accommodate more residents. Avery specializes in decorating and Cole feels she will do an excellent job in designing and selecting items for the new addition. The unexpected large donation was given to Cole with a condition attached, that he fails to mention to Avery.

This book is the best combination of family dynamics, forgiveness, reinventing ourselves, second chances and provides many opportunities to pause while reading and simply laugh out loud! I loved this captivating, heartwarming story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harliquin for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A good read overall, but must admit I did struggle a bit to stay involved with the characters. Would still recommend, but would probably mean more if you were from the south.

What a great story. While I can’t relate to everything Avery had to deal with, I can certainly empathize with her. I love how her family was there for her. Who wouldn’t want a Cole in their life? Speaking of Cole, what a wonderful thing he has done for the ladies who have been put through more than anyone should have to endure. This story is a lot about forgiveness and in realizing the potential we all have. It’s an awesome story line that I loved. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Avery was living the dream. She has a successful design TV show, a large following on her blog, pregnant with her 2nd child and then walks in on her husband and business partner. Unable to survive on her won she returns home. The problem with that is it is the home of her ex-husband and his parents also.
One Southern Summer explores the life of Avery as she works to find her place, restore her confidence in herself while navigating single parenting then having to navigate how to co-parent. Heidi McCahan develops wonderful characters.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and author. Avery’s life has combusted. She lost her husband and their business. With a toddler and a new baby in tow, she goes home to family. Gossip starts. Gossip at its worst. Enter an old friend. More gossip. This talented and gifted author has written a cannot put down novel. Family and friends…love and romance…bitterness. Enjoy this quick read.

What a wonderful book by Heidi McCahan! I’ll admit when I first started this book I was turned off by what happened with Avery’s husband and thought that this was going to be terrible and fixate on that, but NO! I loved Maribelle’s character along with her friends. A true southern meddler! Props to the author for not putting any bad language in the book! Wonderfully written and I’ll definitely read another by the author. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy

Avery was living the dream. She has a successful design TV show, a large following on her blog, pregnant with her 2nd child and then walks in on her husband and business partner. Unable to survive on her won she returns home. The problem with that is it is the home of her ex-husband and his parents also.
One Southern Summer explores the life of Avery as she works to find her place, restore her confidence in herself while navigating single parenting then having to navigate how to co-parent. Heidi McCahan develops wonderful characters. I found myself having panic attacks right along with Avery, encouraging Cole and wanting to yell stop at Nana every time she meddled. Thank you NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Romance for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Heidi McCahan's One Southern Summer is proof that you can go home again, just not as the same person who left. When Avery's personal life falls apart along with the artfully crafted social media persona she has created, she reluctantly seeks the safe haven of a family who only wants the best for her and her small children. With the unsolicited help of a meddling grandma, Avery reunites with Cole McAlister, the high school love she left behind, only to realize that they both have to deal with their own guilt and insecurities before they are free to love one another. Realistic characters who face the same insecurities we all deal with make this a must read.

From the "OH MY" prologue to the last chapter this Southern story doesn't disappoint.
Avery's life unfolds through deceit and misconceptions. She and her two little ones return to her hometown facing scrutiny after losing her role in a popular home improvement show.
Avery is able to rebuild her life and self esteem with help from her sisters, mother and her nosy Nana.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a clean Southern romance.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Harlequin for giving me the chance to read this book for an honest review.

One Southern Summer by Heidi McCahan is a story of second chances and forgiveness. The book follows the life of recently divorced single mother Avery Lansing Crawford as she moves back in with her parents and sisters in the southern town of Camellia, Alabama. She’s fallen from the pedestal that society has placed her on and is now trying to find her way back to happiness. The support of her family, friends, and a loving but meddling grandmother helps Avery on her journey to figuring out what she wants in her life, after investing so much into someone else. While doing so, she has to contend with the negatives and instruction of the media in her life. As much as she didn’t want to go back to Camellia, she’s been given an opportunity to help women in a similar situation to hers and even worse, find a home and stability.
This book is filled with emotions as you feel the struggles that Avery goes through from the loss of her marriage to thinking that she is a disappointment to her family. The tidbits of romance scattered throughout this story are filled with heartwarming moments. Yet, family is the best part of Avery’s story. This is a lovely book, filled with hope,faith, and second chance romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an Arc of this book!