Palmetto Moon: A Lowcountry Novel Paperback – August 5, 2014

This was an interesting take on a love story. Not often do we hear of a groom, especially a truly handsome and very wealthy one, being left at the altar. Our author has given us a story set in the genteel Southern society of Charleston to allow us to see inside the ways of wealthy families assuring that the name and corporate businesses will be retained for another generation by arranging marriages. But, despite the efforts of her parents our heroine runs away from her home on the eve of her wedding to take a job as a teacher in a tiny little Southern town. There she learns the true meaning of friendship as she befriends a penniless widow of a World War II soldier and her children. Sharing the small monies with which she has fled, she finds that helping someone else makes one's life totally different. She also learns that first impressions are not the lasting ones as she encounters a short order cook and falls truly in love. Just as things seem to be going well for her and she finds her place in a new society, her family locates her. The story is a bit predictable but is handled with such finesse of details that it makes for a very interesting read.

This is a sweet, fairy-tale type story. It isn't entirely believable, but sometimes we all just want a happy ending. The characters were a little flat and stereotypical. The main character was not really likable- spoiled and self absorbed, she takes a job as a teacher but conveniently never steps into a classroom for the entire novel. That being said, this is a cute, fast beach read. It isn't bad at all. It isn't deep, but it isn't meant to be. When you need a light, quick, simple read with a happy ending, this is the one.Read this story if...*you love southern fiction*you love fairy tales*you love quick, light reads*you love a happy ending

This was a very readable if predictable book. I enjoyed the setting and I liked the parts about Vada in the rooming house. That was interesting to me. I thought for the most part this book was pleasant and had a sweet tone to it. I felt like the people were depicted quite well and seemed genuine. I can almost see the landlady being nosy and peeking out her windows at her guests. It is another 'happy ending' book which is what I prefer above all others.

This romantic tale is set in the late 1940's in Charleston and the Low Country of S.C. The reader can easily cheer Vada and Frank on to a life filled with true love. There are many twists and turns in this love story and many types of love explored in this book. The South is portrayed almost as a character which only can be understood when you've spent time there...the relationships between the rich, the poor, the servants and the blue collar "rednecks" are all aspects of a very complicated southern history portrayed very well by Kim Boykin. Enjoy this fast paced novel and step back in time when people gave of themselves for those they loved.

I absolutely loved being pulled into Varda and Frank’s story! Loved the sweet romance but the real life challenges of the times. Kim has a special gift of drawing you in and keeping you there through the end. Can’t wait to read her other books, a huge fan!

Sorry but I cannot recommend this book. I believe in love at first sight but the main character Frank comes off kind of creepy to me the way he pursues the other main character Vada. I also had a problem with Vada being so naive. I just didn't find her character believable. After running away from a high society life in Charleston she ends up in a po dunk town and gets a place to stay, a new boyfriend, and a teaching job just about all in the same day. Puleeeeeze. The ending felt really rushed and not believable how everything just fell into place. It was one of those books where I ended up skipping through some of the pages just so I could get to the conclusion and end my eyeball rolling. I gave it an extra star for the recipes.

This sweet story about an upper crust southern belle raised to marry someone of her social standing and running away to find herself is as delicious as those crab cakes they keep talking about. Thank the good Lord Frank Darling's recipes are at the end of the book! A wonderful summer romance that gazes in on a life and time no more. Enjoyed it while also reading an intense psychology book about the modern teenager. Definitely helped clear the pallet.

I had very high hopes for this book. However, it didn't quite meet the expectations I had. The characters development was weak other than for the main character, Vada Hadley. The story was slow to start, and became very rushed as the book went on. By the end, I found the storyline to be predictable and at the end I was happy just to have finished the book. Wouldn't consider this book to be a page turner and wouldn't recommend it to a friend.

A nice light read, the characters held ones attention, Perhaps a bit predicable but non the less it was enjoyable, I always looked forward to the next chapter