Five Miles South of Peculiar : Book Review

A brand new book from author Angela Hunt that I think you'll want to read.

My Review

Three sisters. One widowed and full of attitude. One quirky and naïve. The other a glamorous Broadway star. All so different, but so connected. In Five Miles South of Peculiar, by Angela Hunt, a 50th birthday party reunites twins Darlene and Carlene, and sister Nolie when Carlene returns to the family homestead, now occupied by her sisters. Secrets buried deep in the past have kept the women physically and emotionally separated for years. For three different reasons, each sister has a broken heart. Darlene has thrown herself into volunteer work to compensate for her sadness. Carlene stands at a crossroad wondering what to do now that her career has hopelessly and abruptly ended. She lost the love of her life years ago and never got over it. Nolie has immersed herself in sewing aprons as gifts for her neighbors and raising her dogs.

Each sister faces her own challenge and each has her own journey towards letting go of the past. It's a story of love, loss, betrayal and rivalry where each character seeks healing and forgiveness. The characters are interesting and engaging. Each is eccentric in her own way. It's a warm and endearing tale.

Most aspects of the story outcome were fairly predictable, but I really didn't mind, since this wasn't billed as suspense. I enjoyed watching the characters change and develop. Sometimes I just enjoy a book for the artistic portrayal of people and events, rather than the unexpected twists and turns. Angela Hunt knows how to deliver on intrigue by creating complex and multilayered relationships and she connects her readers emotionally to the story. She also knows how to weave in a subtle thread of faith without having it feel like someone pasted religion into the book.

I could see this made into a movie because it would be so fun to see these characters come to life. And the story line would be perfect for a movie. Reminds me of something like Steel Magnolias or Fried Green Tomatoes.

I highly recommend this for a fun summer read. I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

I received a free review copy of this book from Howard Books.

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.