I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen Also by this author: The Sugar Queen
Published by Random House Publishing Group on March 22nd 2011
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Women, Sagas, Literary
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
It’s the dubious distinction of thirty-year-old Willa Jackson to hail from a fine old Southern family of means that met with financial ruin generations ago. The Blue Ridge Madam—built by Willa’s great-great-grandfather and once the finest home in Walls of Water, North Carolina—has stood for years as a monument to misfortune and scandal. Willa has lately learned that an old classmate—socialite Paxton Osgood—has restored the house to its former glory, with plans to turn it into a top-flight inn. But when a skeleton is found buried beneath the property’s lone peach tree, long-kept secrets come to light, accompanied by a spate of strange occurrences throughout the town. Thrust together in an unlikely friendship, united by a full-blooded mystery, Willa and Paxton must confront the passions and betrayals that once bound their families—and uncover the truths that have transcended time to touch the hearts of the living.
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I wish I lived in the worlds contained in Sarah Addison Allen’s pages, where the ordinary is peppered by magic, where setting is almost as prominent as the characters. The Peach Keeper is set in Walls of Water, North Carolina, a town which once made it’s money off timber, but now has a thriving forest tourism industry. Willa Jackson’s family was once well to do until they lost everything. However, this was before Willa was born, so it’s not like she was ever rich or a socialite or anything. Paxton Osgood, resident do-gooder, decides to renovate the Blue Ridge Madam, Willa’s ancestral home, or rather what was one her family’s home. Paxton’s project will bring the two women together as they unearth old family skeletons buried deep in the proverbial closet.
Addison’s writing has a lush quality that I’ve come to expect. In The Peach Keeper Walls of Water feels like a real place, where I’d love to hike. From the descriptions of society ladies and their sprawling homes, to the town houses, to a thriving downtown — the atmosphere is wonderful. I liked that Addison created a world that I could get completely lost in. Willa Jackson owns a sporting goods store/coffee shop. My mouth couldn’t help but water at the descriptions of coffee drinks made by Willa’s assistant-employee Rachel. And ya’ll I take coffee pretty serious. So does Rachel.
“Coffee, she’d discovered, was tied to all sorts of memories, different for each person. Sunday mornings, friendly get-togethers, a favorite grandfather long since gone, the AA meeting that saved their life. Coffee meant something to people. Most found their lives were miserable without it.
Coffee was a lot like love that way.
And because Rachel believed in love, she believed in coffee, too.”
pg. 193
I absolutely loved the ultimate message of friendship and sisterhood among women in The Peach Keeper. I liked how it shows as females we can support each other and overcome just about anything. I highly recommend this for fans of women’s fiction and magical realism.
“Happiness is a risk. If you’re not a little scared, then you’re not doing it right.”
pg. 238
Disclosure: Received for review from Amazon Vine.
Other Reviews of The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen:
Chachic’s Book Nook
The Lost Entwife
Angieville
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I know I shouldn’t judge a book by this cover, but I can’t deny that the cover alone is reason why I would pick up this book.
It sounds like a great book to dive into–and now I’ve had to add it to my TBR list. 😛 In addition to this, it has such a gorgeous cover (and title too)! Great review–and I can’t wait to read it now!
It’s great how Sarah Addison Allen always delivers. Her own brand of magic realism really hit a cord with lost of people.
This was the first Sarah Addison Allen book I read and I am definitely going to be picking up the others. I loved how you described Walls of Water. It is the kind of place I wish were real so I could visit it 🙂 Excellent review!
I’m usally not a fan of women’s mushy fiction as I call it. But this sound really good. I would’ve picked it up based on the cover alone.
I just read this and thought it was a fun read.
I love Sarah Addison Allen’s books! I keep saying I should try reading more magic realism because of her but I haven’t gotten around to that. Thank you for linking to my review, I really enjoyed reading this one. 🙂
And the cover! Oooh, pretty.