Thank you, Forge Books, for my gifted copy of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove! {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Trope: Magical Realism
Pub Date: 7.20.21
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

“Perhaps if you stopped looking for the meaning to life, you’d really that there is no meaning other than to live a meaningful life. Love your life.”

Heather Webber has done it again. I have no idea how she always manages to write such deeply imaginative and thoughtful books, but she does, and I keep reading them, loving them and wishing I could transport myself within the pages of the story. I didn’t think anything could top Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, but Sugarberry Cove has done just that. Sadie, Leala, Susannah, Teddy, Bree, Buzzy, Uncle Camps, Connor, Iona, and Tucker are characters that will take me a very long time to forget.

I will say that The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is meant to be savored so take your time while reading the book; each page and character has something unique to offer the storyline, and it’s best to take your time, get to know the book, the characters, and get lost in the story. Reading this novel almost felt like a mini-vacation as it took me out of my struggles and distracted me with magic. I can’t recommend it enough.

✨ Magical Realism in all its pure and beautiful glory
❤️ Characters I will cherish, always
📖 A book that I will likely reread
💪🏼 Lessons on loss, moving on, and accepting that life isn’t always the way we thought it would be
🥺 An ending that will leave you in tears

I recommend you read the Lights of Sugarberry Cove if you’re a fan of Virgin River, Fried Green Tomatoes, Steel Magnolias, or any of Webber’s other novels.

Southern charm and a bit of magic combine to make this a feel-good read.

The story deals with some heavy topics, including grief and guilt, but sadness never overwhelms us. We deep-dive into family dynamics, looking at how these relationships shape and, sometimes, define us. While the content is often poignant and melancholy, we also have lighter moments of joy and revelation.

The magical realism is a subtle thread woven throughout. I loved this aspect, maybe because I want to believe in lake magic!

Sadie Way died on her 18th birthday. Since that night, she and her sparkly silver hair have been avoiding her hometown and everyone that goes with it. When her mother has a heart attack she comes in from her nomadic lifestyle to help take care of her. There is a lot of baggage to unpack and family riffs to mend. As she and her sister, Leala Clare, get the B&B ready for the light festival they can only hope the "lady of the lake" can heal them as individuals, and as a family. I loved this book. I wanted to go to Sugarberry Cove and sit on the dock and watch the loons. I wanted to gather around the kitchen island and eat cinnamon buns and drink sweet tea. This is a book about family relationships, guilt, redemption, and self reflection. I highly recommend to everyone who likes a feel good story.

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove
Heather Webber
Forge Books
Ebook
ISBN: 978-1250774637
4.5 stars

Sadie Way Scott has been on the road recording people’s stories and recipes since a fateful accident eight years ago where her life was miraculously saved by the famed magic of the lake. Since then, she has never been the same. Home is a place of painful memories that she just wants to avoid as much as possible. Her mother’s heart attack brings her home and gives her a second chance to reconnect to her family, including her sister Leala Clare, who is struggling with a widening gap between herself and her husband. Can a little hometown magic and time together help to heal broken family bonds?

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a charming magical realism novel set in small-town Alabama. The characters are well-developed and endearing in all their imperfections. The point of view shifts between the two sisters is an ingenious device that allows the reader to experience the book from their very different vantage points. Local color and authentic portrayals of the often rocky interpersonal dynamics within a family invest readers in this story. Regrettably, the romance seems to take a back seat in an otherwise fully dimensional novel. The storyline has a very relatable feel, which makes the magical realism aspects even more special, endowing the everyday with a sense of hope and possibility. This is a feel-good story that also tugs on the heartstrings.

5 stars! Thank you Netgalley for the arc. Heather Webber does an amazing job of mixing a little whimsy into her stories. This story is Hope Floats meets The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood meets Practical Magic. It has all the magical Southern summer vibes and it was fantastic!

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove, written by Heather Webber, is a charming novel full of magical realism, healing, and love, and it is such a gentle beast. It is a gentle soul waiting for the right reader to come along.

Sadie Way Scott is a beloved cooking show host. If that had been her entire story, that would have been enough. But Sadie is haunted by her past – a past where she nearly drowned at her family's lake.

Years later, Sadie and her family must come together to deal with the combined trauma and guilt that came from this moment. Will one family survive, or will they go their separate ways once again?

"Home. The word wound it's way around my heart and squeezed like it was giving me a hug."

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is such a gentle and wonderful read. Before this book, I honestly never would have thought to apply the word 'gentle' to any novel or experience within the reading world. Yet that is the best term I can think of here.

Yes, this is a novel that handles grief, love, loss, and guilt. Yet those emotions are all so very human, and Heather Webber handles them all with care. The characters within this novel are fleshed out, scarred, and looking for ways to move on. It's a note that hit home for me, and I'm certain it will work for many other readers as well.

In many ways, The Lights of Sugarberry Cove felt like it was coming home. It was refreshing, evocative, and worked hard to pull me into the narrative. There were moments in this book that I don't think I'll ever be able to forget – and I'm okay with that.

This book! First off-the cover is gorgeous and I’m loving the pretty colors 💗😍 that is what attracted me to the book-then I read the synopsis & had to have it!

This story is full of love, warmth, laughter, loss and tears. It’s full of hope and healing. All of the characters come alive so beautifully and vivid as I flip through the pages. I adored each and every character and connected with them all. I found myself caring about the characters in this book and what happened to them.

This book is relatable for a lot of people, including myself, who have all experienced loss, worry, healing and hope.It is a magical type of story that is brought to life by the author to share with us all and touch our hearts and souls.

I believe this is a book that should not be rushed-as one should take the time to get to know all the characters, as each character is so well developed, and brings something unique and beautiful to the storyline.

If you enjoyed Fried Green Tomatoes or Steel Magnolias-this one is for your! Down to earth, homey, lovable characters with a beautiful scenic town that you wish you could visit 😍

Someone I know described Heather Webber's magical realism books like being wrapped in a big hug. I fully agree with that sentiment.

Webber has a way of creating charming settings with wonderful characters. You just want to settle in for a nice long chat with old friends when you read her books. She has a true way with words and characters. Definitely an author I would revisit on multiple occasions. I look forward to more of her delightful prose.

Magical summer read about family, love and healing. A story of two sisters Sadie and Leala finding there way through family drama in charming setting of a B&B set on a magical lake.

From the author:
Sadie Way Scott has been avoiding her family and hometown of Sugarberry Cove, Alabama, since she nearly drowned in the lake just outside her mother’s B&B. Eight years later, Sadie is the host of a much-loved show about southern cooking and family, but despite her success, she wonders why she was saved. What is she supposed to do?

Sadie’s sister, Leala Clare, is still haunted by the guilt she feels over the night her sister almost died. Now, at a crossroads in her marriage, Leala has everything she ever thought she wanted—so why is she so unhappy?

When their mother suffers a minor heart attack just before Sugarberry Cove’s famous water lantern festival, the two sisters come home to run the inn while she recovers. It’s the last place either of them wants to be, but with a little help from the inn’s quirky guests, the sisters may come to terms with their strained relationships, accept the past, and rediscover a little lake magic.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

A sweet story about finding forgiveness, love and purpose despite the tragedies of the past.

I'm not always a fan of stories that focus more on broken sister relationships rather than romance but this one was done just right. The pain of this family is present in all scenes but they are honestly trying to forgive and forget the past. Jealousies are revealed, resentment admitted and lost loves are found right where they were left and all of these things culminate in a story that will have you laughing, crying and frustrated in turn. I loved the addition of "Lake Magic" that brought about some interesting happenings. And the ending was just perfect, with everyone seeing the importance of letting go of the past and embracing the joy of the future. Definitely recommend this story for those who enjoy a little family drama with a side of sweet romance and a whole lot of delightful characters you'll wish you knew in real life.

I received this temporary complimentary E-Book from MacMillian-Tor/Forge Books via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a magical story that will have you reading long into the night. I beautifully woven story of love, family and a little pinch of Southern charm. Add to this some delicious food and a Bed and Breakfast setting and you have a recipe for the perfect book. The words flowed from the pages and invited you in to binge read this beauty of a book, and I must mention that stunning cover. The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is the complete package with nothing overlooked.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will be adding anything else by Heather Webber to my TBR pile immediately. Thank you to NetGalley and Forge Books for this ARC it was delightful.

I love this sweet book about finding yourself, second chances and the power of love. In true Webber fashion she weaves a family story of love and loss with a little magic thrown in. This one revolves around a legend of The Lady of the Lake who is searching for her true love and takes the form of a loon who calls out every morning and evening.
Food also plays a major role in this story as the main character is the creator of a YouTube food show and whose mom runs a bed and breakfast. So there is lots of atmosphere drawn around gatherings and food, recipes and those who have past them on.
I enjoyed this sweet story as much as her last two. Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is still a favorite but this one is just as savory and heartwarming. You will enjoy this if you love Southern fiction, women's fiction and clean love stories.

Sometimes all you need is a little escape, and what better way than through pages of a good book? Heather Webber, the USA Today Bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, whisks us away to the charming town of Sugarberry Cove where two sisters find themselves back home again, somewhere that neither one of them want to be. Thanks to some of the inn’s quirky guests, the two sisters just might mend their relationship and find a little magic in the process.

This book was a delight to read, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to interview Heather for an inside look at the inspiration for the book and her writing process.

Wonderful summer beach read. Sisters with an almost tragic incident from their past that years later still distance them from each other, have to return to the beach and help their Mother. Very typical theme these days, but still refreshing and interesting.

Oh my goodness, y'all this book is everything! Magical realism, family hurts, and love. 💕

When is the last time you woke up at 2 am just to finish a book? I just had to know how it would end. The beauty of the book made me cry. I cannot stop thinking about this book.

I really don't want to say much as I want you to experience this book without a lot of preconceived notions.

You will not be sorry you bought this book. Perfect for any reading situation.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, MacMillian-Tor/Forge, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

EXCERPT: Sadie - '... I still have family up that way. My older sister, her husband, and their little boy live up there. And my mother owns a bed-and-breakfast cottage on the lake, and my great-uncle, who's more like a granddaddy to me, lives and works at the cottage, too.' I bit my lip to keep from saying any more, from spilling my heart onto the cutting board next to the pecans. Why was I revealing so much?

But I knew why.

The water.

I missed Sugarberry Cove.

I missed my old home.

ABOUT 'THE LIGHTS OF SUGARBERRY COVE': Sadie Way Scott has been avoiding her family and hometown of Sugarberry Cove, Alabama since she survived a near-drowning in the lake just outside her mother’s B&B. Eight years later, Sadie is the host of a much-loved show about southern cooking and family, but despite her success, she wonders why she was saved. What is she supposed to do?

Sadie’s sister, Leala Clare, is still haunted by the guilt she feels over the night her sister almost drowned. Now, at a crossroads in her marriage, Leala has everything she ever thought she wanted—so why is she so unhappy?

When their mother suffers a minor heart attack just before Sugarberry Cove’s famous water lantern festival, the two sisters come home to run the inn while she recovers. It’s the last place either of them wants to be, but with a little help from the inn’s quirky guests, the sisters may come to terms with their strained relationships, accept the past, and rediscover a little lake magic.

MY THOUGHTS: How I loved the characters in The Lights of Sugarberry Cove! I wanted to move into Sugarberry Cove and be with them. This is a story of second chances, fresh starts, and the art of recognizing what is really in our hearts.

The story is told from the perspectives of Leala Clare, and Sadie her younger sister, both characters easy to relate to and emphasize with, both strong personalities, as has their mother Susannah. So you just know that there are going to be fireworks! Each one of them thinks that they know what is best for the others, and no one wants to back off.

The other characters - Uncle Camp, Teddy, Bree, Buzzy, Iona, Connor, Will and Tucker - all have their own important roles to play, and all are well portrayed and full-bodied. Each character has their own story and these are all woven together to form an intricate and detailed tapestry designed to delight.

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is delightful, and entrancing, but I don't think some of the magical aspects worked quite as well here as they have in this author's previous books.

There is a lot to love about this read. I loved Sadie's blog, A Southern Hankerin', which explores family recipes, and the stories behind them. What a wonderful idea, and I do wish that recipes had been included.

There are lots of life lessons to be taken away from this read, but they work beautifully in with the story so that the reader is not being 'lectured'. Some of them I have written down in my notebook, well, more than some. Sometimes I need to be reminded to count my blessings, to appreciate my family, my friends.

This story of grief, love, guilt, forgiveness and family will have you reaching for the tissues, but will leave you feeling warm and satisfied.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4

#TheLightsofSugarberryCove #NetGalley

I: @booksbyheather

T: @BooksbyHeather

#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #fantasy #mystery #paranormal #romance

THE AUTHOR: Heather Webber, aka Heather Blake, is the author of more than twenty-five novels. She loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing a digital ARC of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

The Lights of Sugerberry Cove was a fantastic book about family and love with a sprinkle of lake magic. It alternates POV between Sadie Way Scott and her sister Leala Clare. Sadie returns home for a family emergency after traveling for her job making videos about food and beautiful stories surrounding the recipes. She left after a near drowning experience in the lake at the family cottage where they grew up. Sadie is searching for a purpose in life and her sister Leala is struggling within her marriage and what's most important to her. The family and surrounding friends are all wonderful and I loved getting to known them. This is a lovely story about love, forgiveness and family. If you like magical realism I recommend this one! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Heather Webber has been a favorite of mine from long ago when she wrote the Nina Quinn series and all of a sudden she pops out with three new amazing books. The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a story of home, love, fear, choices, and real Southern hugs. You will want to step into this book and venture through Sugarberry Cove, drop by the B&B for a glass of sweet Southern ice tea on the veranda, and sit a spell while you contemplate your choices in life.

I received an ebook ARC frm Netgalley and this is my voluntary, honest review.

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a delightful book! It is magical, heartwarming, and filled with little pearls of wisdom that will change your view point on how you navigate through life. I felt the book started out with a slow build, however stick with it because it turns out to be the perfect storytelling cadence on the part of the author. It was just brilliant! I felt my heart flutter many times while reading this winner of a book. The story is filled with love, hope, healing, and yes a sweet touch of magic.
The story is told alternating between two sisters, Sadie and Leala Scott, and the setting is the family’s Bed and Breakfast in their hometown of Sugarberry Cove, Alabama. The timeline of the story is leading up to the very popular town’s annual event, The Festival of Lights on Laurel Lake. All of the characters are interesting and each has their own unique story. As each character is introduced, I found myself wondering how they would blend together for the story. However, the author’s character development was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle – they are all different in the beginning but their pieces fit perfectly together and in the end they created a beautiful story and an ending that is worth the wait!
This is my first book by Heather Webber and it certainly will not be my last.
I am grateful to NetGalley, Forge Books, and Heather Webber for an advanced copy of this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheLightsofSugarberryCove #ForgeBooks

Heather Webber's latest magical-realism tale is about two sisters, Leala Clare and Sadie, going home to care for their mother who recently had a heart attack. Sadie left home eight years early for epic reasons. Leala Clare has been emotionally detached from home for a few reasons not the least being their overly dramatic (to the point of being insufferable) mother. Can these sisters rise above and let bygones be bygones? Can they go home again? Various characters enter and exit with lessons to teach the two. They learn that the choices they've made brought them to this point.
I enjoyed the novel and the lesson that if one would stop looking for the meaning to life and try to live a meaningful life things might just fall into place. It's a nice thought. As with all magical-realism novels I just went with the flow of the story which made for a very enjoyable read.