This is a good southern community saga. It has well developed characters with just the right amount of complexity. I liked some characters, hated some and change my mind on a couple of them by the end of the book. I can’t tell you why (because I don’t know why) but the chapter titles made me smile.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When the Moon Turns Blue is a timely novel addressing an appropriate topic that is front and center in our society. Removal of Confederate statues and other honors causes dissension in communities and cities in the South. However, only what is in our hearts will overcome the prejudices. Everyone should read this book.























R

It was the cover of this book that first appealed to me. It drew me in from the beginning and did not let go until the last page was turned. The day after her husband's funeral, a motley crew of friends and family convened at Mariette's home in The Glade in the middle of a rare southern ice storm. The story is set in a small Georgia town that is charming, but dealing with racial issues still felt across the nation. This is excellent southern fiction with family drama and friendship, with a mystical feel in the form of a big black bird. Pamela Terry has been added to my favorite author list and I will certainly watch for more from her. Thanks to the author, Random House/Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

“When the Moon Turns Blue” is a contemporary fiction book by Pamela Terry. This book reminded me of the “big small town” feel I’d get when visiting my grandparents a long time ago in the south. Everyone knew everyone’s business - although what really is going on was quite often a mystery. While I greatly liked the “small town feel,” that wasn’t enough for me to love the book. There were a number of secondary characters introduced who then appeared chapters later, which confused me a bit. I also didn’t like the introduction of a character late in the book, especially as why that person did what they did seemed suddenly there opposed to some sort of build-up through the book. However, I did like that the chapter names listed who was going to be focused on in each chapter. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I didn’t find “who done it” to be a surprise - in fact I assumed it early on in the book. I also don’t think that the controversy about the statue really was a dividing thing - I think the majority of the town did want the statue removed. I also found this book to be, at times, incredibly slow moving and, I must admit, the lyrical writing style is not my favorite. Overall, for me this book was an okay read. I really wanted to enjoy it a lot more than I did. I would give this author another try, so that is a positive thing.

A sweet and evocative little book about a small town in Georgia that feels old-fashioned but it facing some of the current problems of the day over a statue from Confederate times. Terry manages to somehow tell the story without being blatantly political, but yet getting her point across. The good guys win and the good guys are a heck of a lot of fun. I had a little trouble following all the characters at first, but after all, we were stuck in an ice storm and a little confusion fit in perfectly with what was happening in the book. These are characters that you wish you could hang out with and have fun with.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I'll think if it fondly next time I'm grounded by an unexpected ice storm!

WHEN THE MOON TURNS BLUE
BY: PAMELA TERRY

About 4.5 Stars!

"Once in a while the odd things happen, once in a while the dream comes true, and the whole pattern of life is altered, once in a while the moon turns blue."

The poetry of Auden's is how the Title, "When the Moon Turns Blue," a superb endeavor of crystalline prose is weaved like a tapestry of spun gold written with language that is breathtaking throughout.
This is Southern Contemporary fiction that seems to echo what our Country is going through at the present with it being divided as it never has before. The writing is lovely and it also represents so much more. It highlights the power of friendship to help us weather the storms in our life that without those friendships we might not be able to overcome the crises we face, as evident of the arcs of several characters displayed. I just said recently while reviewing a prior novel not to long ago, that politics are not my favorite themes while reading a novel, and this is a main theme explored in this Southern contemporary fiction. This one manages to succeed as the beauty of its prose and razor sharp dialogue are too mesmerizing to ignore.

An ice storm that happens in Wesleyan, Georgia is a rare occurrence, and as rare as Auden's blue moon. It happens one evening turning the community with a large cast of characters into an ethereal landscape to become frozen with a setting described as poetic with the style of writing not often found in contemporary novels with its starkness and beauty. Also during the ice storm which wreaks havoc for most who inhabit this town it brings together some and it also divides them. A Confederate statue of a General in a local park is struck down at the same time and it is evident that it wasn't destroyed by Mother nature. It is a mystery how this monument was knocked down that Old Man Griffin upon viewing the morning after drops dead. Some think that he died because he is overwhelmed with shock and he never would have removed it since it was erected by his father as far back as 1918.

There is a committee whose mission was to protest against letting the statue of the Confederate General remain. They were led by a young man freshly graduated from College whose return to Wesleyan, Georgia has formed a segment of volunteers who made it their mission to remove the statue. They seem to be peacefully devoted to removing the statue of the General in this private park by handing out pamphlets. Wesleyan is divided by those who want to replace this symbol of inequality that is a blight and cries racism, and there are those in this population who are thrilled that the statue was destroyed.

Marietta has just lost her beloved husband Harry to pancreatic cancer, which this couple decided to keep his illness a secret right up to his death. Marietta leaves her husband's funeral to go home to her opulent surroundings, whose lovely estate becomes a haven for three others to flock to after the havoc of the storm. The descriptions of the frozen town by the ice are stunning and worthy of Pamela Terry's incredible talent as a gifted wordsmith. Marietta leaves because she is suffering from a migraine headache. Soon her childhood friend Butter's state of the art home is flooded by frozen pipes bursting, making her newer home inhabitable so she arrives on Marietta's doorstep. Her best friend Gordon also arrives because his home is freezing and too cold. The third unlikely guest shows up and everyone is surprised because she is Marietta's Sister-in-law. Her only sibling is a brother who is somewhat arrogant whose wife embarrassed him at Marietta's luncheon following Harry's burial.

Marietta's sister-in-law is questioning her marriage and drives to Marietta's oasis and between Butter and Gordon their company is welcomed. These guests all seemed to me to be transforming their existence. Near this wonderful novel's conclusion the mystery of who knocked down the statue is revealed and I was shocked to learn who did it. I don't think it's possible for anyone who reads this to be equipped to guess who the culprit was.

The mayor of Wesleyan is retiring and Marietta's brother throws his hat in the ring to enter the campaign with the promise to restore the Confederate General by erecting a replacement statue. The mayor sees this as a possible powder keg which currently has caused such a rift in this otherwise quiet and idyllic town. The citizens are polarized with the decision of whether to replace this statue. Some want it fully restored and some think that it should be kept down and let well enough alone as it represents inequality and is a symbol of keeping things as they were and are, which the Author is sending a message of how racism is still a fact in the South. She does mention that four Confederate statues have been removed in another State.

This reminded me of how our democracy is at stake. Most of the citizens of Wesleyan that are represented as background characters want equality. There is much to this multilayered gorgeous depiction of reality. I loved the descriptions of the way Marietta's home is described and how it is a sanctuary and the healing power of strong friendship to serve as a place of growth and a balm for the soul. There is a hint of romance and as many characters are introduced they are easy to keep straight. This novel was enjoyable and the writing was well above average infused with heart. A few characters have a reckoning which is portrayed as a slice of modern life. This is Pamela Terry's second novel and I am anxious to read her debut as she depicts contemporary fiction with depth. I highly recommend this to everyone. I took a chance on this and was rewarded with a wonderful discovery of an Author to watch. With a cast of relatable characters', "When the Moon Turns Blue," is a poetic rendering about family, friendship and a compassionate look into how we don't always like the people we love.

Publication Date: 2-21-2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Pamela Terry and, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Ballantine Books for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#WhentheMoonTurnsBlue #PamelaTerry #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantineBallantineBooks #NetGalley

After having read this author's book The Sweet Taste of Muscadines, I was thrilled to see the new release by her. This novel is again set in the South (a small Georgia town) where family and friends are bought together after a huge ice storm . A decision whether to remove a Confederate statue has divided the town . Family and friends are confronted with their feelings about both the town and the history of the statue. Do we really know each other as well as we think? A beautifully written story with excellent character development. I will strongly recommend.

Marietta has lost her husband. Her friends rally around to support her. They actually end up supporting each other as an ice storm hits the town. Someone knocks down a Confederate monument as people are sheltering from the storm. The reactions of the townspeople vary as one would expect. This leads to an interesting conclusion

Really good book about friends, family, and change. So many characters in this book felt familiar. It actually made me a bit nostalgic for my hometown. I loved seeing the characters become aware of their strengths and shortcomings. Growth is always great, but there is comedy and some folklore. This book is not at all predictable, so I quite enjoyed it to the very end. I would definitely recommend this book.

When the Moon Turns Blue
A Novel
by Pamela Terry

Many Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read When the Moon Turns Blue

Beautiful cover, and an amazing read. A novel about family, friendship, and what can happen when we discover that we don’t particularly like the people we love. Have we all been there, the people don’t particularly like the people we love. It hits close to the heart. It was one that will stay with me. A southern, touching read where you feel and know these people. Brilliant story.

Pamela Terry has become one of my favorite authors after two evocative novels set in Georgia. Her expressive language, clever turns of phrase, and luminous descriptions are so striking that I knew I needed to read more slowly than usual to make sure I didn't miss a single word. In When the Moon Turns Blue, a statue of a Confederate general has nearly split the town of Wesleyan, Georgia in two--those who want it taken down immediately because of what it represents and those who want it to stay. But aside from a couple of gripping confrontations, it's not really a story about racism in the South. It is instead a poignant character study of those affected by what they find out about themselves in the space of a couple of weeks that begin with a rare ice storm and power outage that temporarily stuns the town.

Most interesting are the stories surrounding the major characters. Antiques dealer Harry Cline's wife, Marietta, has to leave during Harry's funeral when a migraine threatens, but she soon finds herself playing host to three disparate characters who don't have anywhere else to go: realtor extraordinaire Butter, who was Marietta's friend until they had a falling-out five years earlier; bookshop owner Gordon, Marietta's closest childhood friend, still grieving his partner's death many years ago; and Glinda, Marietta's sister-in-law, who is coming to terms with why she randomly humiliated her attorney husband at the reception following the funeral service. Macon, her spouse, is arguing the case for keeping the statue in the face of an opposing group's legal suit and plans to run for mayor. Other memorable characters include the little girl next door who particularly loved the late Harry, an ex-con who moved to the South from LA to make a new living as an artist, the church pianist who falls a lot but refuses to use a cane, and an idealistic young man who risks everything to pursue what he knows is right. Then there are delightful touches such as a raven that keeps returning to Marietta's window sill and a row of topiary elephants lovingly crafted by Harry for his garden, plus a bit of romance thrown into the mix.

This book has it all, and the author's own insights--some in the narrative, many others expressed through the characters' voices--left a lasting impression on me. The last chapter is especially satisfying. Highly recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

When the Moon Turns Blue by Pamela Terry is a powerful, touching women's fiction story.
With true to life characters, Marietta is a strong, determined woman who will stop at nothing to fight for what's right. Set in Wesleyan, Georgia I enjoyed the chance to dive deeper into story.
A gorgeously written novel with characters I absolutely loved.
Beautifully detailed, and pulls you in and doesn't let go.
Terry give us descriptive settings and characters who are so compassionate, well thought out and developed they just felt so real.
There is so much to love about this book!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Random House & Ballantine Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my blog, platforms, BookBub, B&N, Kobo and Waterstone closer to pub date.

Many, Many Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read When the Moon Turns Blue by Pamela Terry.

I first discovered this author through her blog. Fell in love with her writing and her photography, and i miss it.

After reading her debut novel I knew i had a new voice to add to my small list of favorite, auto-read, authors.

Ms. Terry brings her passion, her empathy and her optimism to her books through wonderfully entertaining characters. Characters i would love to know and spend time with.

Her descriptive phrases are beautifully rendered word pictures.

Her writing is lyrical and poetic even while being brutally honest about the world we're living in today.

I adore When the Moon Turns Blue.

Twenty beezillion gold stars.