"five miles south of peculiar" by angela hunt

About the book (provided by Glass Road): Darlene Caldwell has spent a lifetime tending Sycamores, an estate located five miles south of a small town called Peculiar. She raised a family in the spacious home that was her grandfather's legacy and she enjoys being a pillar of the community . . . until her limelight-stealing twin sister unexpectedly returns.

Carlene Caldwell, veteran of the Broadway stage, is devastated when she realizes that a botched throat surgery has spelled the end of her musical career. Searching for a new purpose in life, she retreats to Sycamores, her childhood home.

Haunted by a tragic romance, Magnolia Caldwell is the youngest of the Caldwell girls. Nolie spends her days caring for her dogs and the magnificent gardens she's created, but when she meets a man haunted by tragedy, she must find the courage to either deny her heart or cut the apron strings that tie her to a dear and familiar place.

My take: I don't know Angela Hunt's background, but she certainly knows sisters! As in last year's The Fine Art of Insincerity (which I reviewed here), she has created sisters who seem real—so real that some of the hurts and misunderstandings are ones that I could see myself having with my own two sisters.

As the book unfolds, it becomes obvious that each sister is harboring a secret of some sort. As I began piecing things together, I couldn't wait for Darlene's big reveal—and it was certainly worth the wait! I also enjoyed Nolie's transformation and Carlene's cluelessness when it came to her sisters. When you throw in the small town charm, a couple of romantic interests, and a two very large dogs, you have an excellent summer read! 4-1/2 stars.

About the author: With nearly 4 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the bestselling author of more than one hundred books, including The Tale of Three Trees, Don't Bet Against Me, The Note, and The Nativity Story. Her nonfiction book Don't Bet Against Me, written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. She and her husband make their home in Florida with their dogs. Learn more about Angela at AngelaElwellHunt.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Glass Road Media & Management. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the  Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."