Maddie is awoken in the middle of the night.  Little does she know, those lost hours of sleep aren’t all she’s leaving behind.  Arriving at her aunt’s house hours later, she’s thrown into a completely different life.  One surrounded by big business and big money.  But the thing that may be most daunting is all those expectations and secrets.  

I love a feisty woman, and I love a good coming of age story.  This novel had the potential to deliver on both accounts.  Maddie’s character did have some moxie, and she was forced to grow up that summer.  But unfortunately she, and the other characters, were painted with such broad strokes that they never became multi-faceted or endearing.  

 

I read historic fiction in hopes of gaining a better picture of a time period in history.  And while this novel touches on some scenarios that are rooted in historical truth, the main premise of the book is not.  The author admits she borrowed details from another decade.  However, in doing so, the overall storyline suffers greatly and the book as a whole falls very flat.   

 

The audio narration is exceptionally executed.  Narrated by Shannon McManus and Janet Metzger, the southern charm exuded from their depiction.  

 

Many thanks to Adele Myers, William Morrow, and Harper Audio for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.