April 12, 2017

The Night the Lights Went Out. Karen White


Karen White blog banner
book cover
Published: Berkeley
Date: April 11th 2017
Format:e-ARC
Pages:416
Genre: Southern Women's Fiction
Source:Publisher via NetGalley
Rating:
        Add to Goodreads
Recently divorced, Merilee Talbot Dunlap moves with her two children to the Atlanta suburb of Sweet Apple, Georgia. It’s not her first time starting over, but her efforts at a new beginning aren’t helped by an anonymous local blog that dishes about the scandalous events that caused her marriage to fail.

Merilee finds some measure of peace in the cottage she is renting from town matriarch Sugar Prescott. Though stubborn and irascible, Sugar sees something of herself in Merilee—something that allows her to open up about her own colorful past. Sugar’s stories give Merilee a different perspective on the town and its wealthy school moms in their tennis whites and shiny SUVs, and even on her new friendship with Heather Blackford. Merilee is charmed by the glamorous young mother’s seemingly perfect life and finds herself drawn into Heather's world.

My thoughts banner
The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White was an absorbing read, that I thoroughly enjoyed.

On the one hand we have Merilee, recently divorced, with two young children stepping into a new phase in her life. Refreshingly, Michael her ex and herself have a reasonable relationship. Her two children fit in perfectly to the story.  Merilee has secrets, she has that look in her eye that she has experienced loss and lived on. She is resilient and strong.

Sugar her elderly landlady recognises Merilee's qualities and even though Sugar is known for her crustiness, Merillee is not long in discovering the woman has a heart and eye that sees and cares. I so loved Sugar and her little pearls of wisdom. Her life connects with Merilee in many ways, they have seen similar things and their hearts understand and connect.

Then there is "the blog" from your local neighbor that comments on life in the town and the people there in. It tells it like it is and makes connections, often going against the local gossip and innuendo. It is full of southern says which I totally adored, down to earth sayings that made me ponder, like " You can't tell the size of the turnips by lookin' at the tops". And so many more. Who is the author of the blog? Well that's just one small secret in a book that abounds in secrets.

Every detail that is dropped foreshadowing something is followed up. Nothing is left dangling. I like that in a book. The plot was full of interest, moved along at a very good yet relaxed pace. Lots of things happened.

I liked how it explored friendship and resilience. And that dreadful emotion or motivation - revenge. I am always partial to a book that has someone going for a little revenge on the party that hurt them. However this book I think has cured me!  Revenge is taken to a new level here, I'll never look on it in the same way.  Who is the executor of the revenge and why? You'll have to just read this book to find out!

page turner well written life wisdom keeper shelf jewel



13 comments:

  1. Oh I can't wait to read this and guess what Kathryn I get to meet Karen next Tuesday evening :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I read something by her long ago, I should read more

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have this one now and can't wait to read it. Sugar sounds like my favorite kind of character. And I want to know about that blog! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds like a great one--especially when you said that nothing is left dangling (I *hate* it when story lines never come to completion). I'm adding it to my wishlist right now!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I really liked this one. Everyone needs a Sugar in their corner!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great review. I am looking forward to this book.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This looks so good and I just love the cover! I am glad to hear that Merilee and her ex have a decent relationship. So often the ex has either completely abandoned them or is completely evil. Can't wait to read it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I really liked this one, and Sugar Prescott is one of my favorite characters I've read, definitely my favorite this year. I thought the blog posts were a neat addition to the book.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It certainly has a lot going on at the same time which definitely adds interest to the story.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh cool. I'd seen this one and been interested. Glad to see it was a good read :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm glad this was a good read. Good review; you brought up great points that made it attractive. I love reading a book with a setting in the south.

    ReplyDelete
  12. VERY nice review...this book is going to be my favorite of hers along with Flight Patterns.

    I loved the Southern sayings.

    My review on the tour is coming up on April 25.

    ENJOY your Sunday!!

    Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awesome review. This book has been getting great reviews so far. It sounds awesome. I'll check it out. Thanks for sharing. :)

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...