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Slightly South of Simple  By  cover art

Slightly South of Simple

By: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Narrated by: Shannon McManus,Janet Metzger
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Publisher's summary

From the next "major voice in Southern fiction" (New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand) comes the first in an all-new series chronicling the journeys of three sisters and their mother - and a secret from their past that has the potential to tear them apart and reshape their very definition of what it means to be a family.

Caroline Murphy swore she'd never set foot back in the small Southern town of Peachtree Bluff; she was a New York girl born and bred and the worst day of her life was when, in the wake of her father's death, her mother selfishly forced her to move - during her senior year of high school, no less - back to that hick-infested rat trap where she'd spent her childhood summers. But now that her marriage to a New York high society heir has fallen apart in a very public, very embarrassing fashion, a pregnant Caroline decides to escape the gossipmongers with her nine-year-old daughter and head home to her mother, Ansley.

Ansley has always put her three daughters first, especially when she found out that her late husband, despite what he had always promised, left her with next to nothing. Now the proud owner of a charming waterfront design business and finally standing on her own two feet, Ansley welcomes Caroline and her brood back with open arms. But when her second daughter Sloane, whose military husband is overseas, and youngest daughter and successful actress Emerson join the fray, Ansley begins to feel like the piece of herself she had finally found might be slipping from her grasp. Even more discomfiting, when someone from her past reappears in Ansley's life, the secret she's harbored from her daughters their entire lives might finally be forced into the open.

Exploring the powerful bonds between sisters and mothers and daughters, this engaging novel is filled with Southern charm, emotional drama, and plenty of heart.

©2017 Kristy Woodson Harvey. (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

What listeners say about Slightly South of Simple

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A work of brilliance

I wasn’t sure what to find when I bought this audiobook. I figured it as a good summer read when I listened to the sample. I was drawn into the story and the wisdom by the words and the exquisite voices of the narration. I think I would call this a chick book because I cannot imagine a man actually understanding the complexity of what happens to this family, to these wonderfully strong women, over the course of a lifetime. If this were a book I would call it a page turner but I have listened to all the pages like a marathon because I could not bear missing out on what would come next. Treat yourself to this marvelous work of literature. I will eagerly follow this author.

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16 people found this helpful

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Just about right for the sisters and mom relationships and personalities

As a mother of three girls close in age and about this same age group, I had a number of chuckles and nods. It is an interesting story. A little disappointed in ending and I was not sure it held up in the middle as well as it could have. There were a few things I stumbled over and my willing suspension of disbelief faltered. I lived in Georgia for many years and I am a child of the south so I could relate. There were some great characters. Overall nicely done for what I believe is a first novel???

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13 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars

Beach read

Pleasant book. Not much of a thinker, great for vacation. I loved the reader for the character "Ansley." Her voice was soothing and easy to listen to.

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12 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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If you love whiny women

You will LOVE this book. They say the rich are different and these women are the living embodiment of that statement. Glad they are not real or I would have to slap them for their self centered-ness and lack of gratitude for the riches of their lives. Ugh!!!!

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11 people found this helpful

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Loved this sister story

I listened to this book and thought the "readers" did a great job. I love the accents and the story captured my attention and held it throughout. Slightly South of Simple is book #1 of the Peachtree Bluff series. This one is told in alternating chapters by Ansley (mom) and Caroline (oldest sister of three). I'm one of three sisters, so love reading stories with sister dynamics, this one didn't disappoint. In this book, Caroline's husband has just cheated on her with a supermodel and she goes to stay with her mom and sisters in Peachtree Bluff to help through the sting of finding out she'd been betrayed. Fortunately, I was late to finding this book and was able to jump right into the second one as soon as I finished this one. I think this is a great summer read and would highly recommend it.

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8 people found this helpful

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Loved it

It was so relaxing listening to the southern voices and the love stories that tangled through the book.

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6 people found this helpful

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ENJOYABLE

Loved it!! I had been listening to one other author's books but this book was as enjoyable!

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6 people found this helpful

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Loved this!

Great beach read with a plot twist that left you wanting more. Can’t wait to read the next.

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5 people found this helpful

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Just one suggestion

Loved everything about this book except for the way the mother figure-Ansley, was portrayed. She is a woman in her late 50’s but comes across as someone much older. Overall, I enjoyed the story and hope all the loose ends are wrapped up in the next book.

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5 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars

good book until the end

I enjoyed the audio book. the voices were believable. I struggled to like Caroline. She, at times, came across as a pretentious snob. I hated the ending. many secrets in this family, and so many things unfinished.

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4 people found this helpful