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!

You will like this story of secrets and forgiveness. Avery must find her way back after her marriage breaks up. She returns to her home town with two kids and a broken heart. A pledge written on a napkin years ago changes her life.

Avery Crawford’s soaring career as a interior designer hosting a TV show with her husband Pax comes to a calamitous end when she discovers her husband has been unfaithful. Although Avery never planned to return home to Camellia, Alabama she now has no choice. With her two small children in tow, she moves in with her mother. She’s worlds away from her “perfectly curated, filtered lie of a life.” Her high school boyfriend Cole Whitaker is still in town, in charge of a non-profit for abused and victimized women. It seems natural that the two would meet but it takes engineering from a well meaning, interfering relative to make that happen. And that will lead to problems, both expected and unexpected.

One Southern Summer is a delightful read, full of romance, forgiveness, love and learning about yourself. I loved seeing Avery rediscover her talent and self assurance. Cole also becomes more confident as he makes plans to enlarge the center. Pour yourself a tall glass of sweet tea and enjoy! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, HARLEQUIN - Romance and Heidi McCahan for this ARC.