Gone South

by Meg Moseley

The charm of the South drew her back to her family’s roots. But when the town’s old resentments turn the sweet tea bitter, can Tish find a welcome anywhere?
 
Leaving frosty Michigan for the Deep South was never a blip in the simple plans Tish McComb imagined for her life, dreams of marriage and family that were dashed five years earlier in a tragic accident. Now an opportunity to buy her great-great-great-grandparents’ Civil War era home beckons Tish to Noble, Alabama, a Southern town in every sense of the word. She wonders if God has given her a new dream— the old house filled with friends, her vintage percolator bubbling on the sideboard.
 
When Tish discovers that McCombs aren’t welcome in town, she feels like a Yankee behind enemy lines. Only local antiques dealer George Zorbas seems willing to give her a chance. What’s a lonely outcast to do but take in Noble’s resident prodigal, Melanie Hamilton, and hope that the two can find some much needed acceptance in each other.
 
Problem is, old habits die hard, and Mel is quite set in her destructive ways. With Melanie blocked from going home, Tish must try to manage her incorrigible houseguest as she attempts to prove her own worth in a town that seems to have forgotten that every sinner needs God-given mercy, love and forgiveness.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Christian, Romance, Fiction, Inspirational, Chick Lit

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I had the plot all figured out until secondary character Mel came on the seen. She added to the story's depth. Enjoyable contemporary fiction novel.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.This is a light easy read and I enjoyed it. I liked the character of Tish (real name Letitia) McComb. She is a young woman with a caring heart, who is not afraid of hard work. I particularly liked the way this novel portrayed a positive relationship between Tish and her mother. That seems to be a rarity in fiction these days. Tish was planning just to help her mother move and get settled in her home with her new husband till, on the way back to her life in Michigan, Tish takes a detour that ends up changing her life completely. She falls in love with the old house of her ancestors. She had always heard wonderful stories about them but it seems the people of the town of Nobel, Alabama, have a very different view of her ancestors. What is the truth? She is determined to find out.
Tish befriends a young girl Mel who is also on the outer with the town and her own family, due to incidents in her past. Mel is a volatile character who at times makes unwise choices, but she is likeable and a hard worker. And of course there is a handsome man in this town that is prepared to give these two outcasts a go and help them.
It wasn’t what I would call a compelling read but I enjoyed it and did like the characters and the setting. Readers who like fiction with a subtle Christian input should enjoy it.I have to say I picked it up initially because the cover appealed.It seemed to suggest a light read which was what I was looking for at the time.

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story Synopsis: on a whim, Tish McComb buys the southern historical mansion first owned by her Civil War era ancestors. Expecting to return to a community that would embrace her for her historical ties, she is surprised to instead receive a brutal cold shoulder. Taking in a prodigal local young woman off the streets and housing her was also not part of Tish’s plan, but this needy young woman may be Tish’s catalyst to healing from her own past losses and granting the both of them a second chance.

What did I like about this book? That’s a hard one, because I loved everything about this book. Being a Civil War reenactor, the historical bend found in this modern-day tale was enough to intrigue me into some of the little known post-war days, while also not overwhelming me with details and dates that distract from the power of the story. I also loved how different antiques and references to old vintage treasures wound there way subtly into the story line.

In many respects, this book read like a calm, sweet-tea sipping story straight out of Mayberry - there’s no heaving bodices, kisses in the falling rain or tragic moments of bodily peril. But there’s heart, oh so much heart, and substance in this story. But never fear, heart and substance did not compromise it’s read-appeal – the story keeps going at a speed that definitely keeps you engaged and in anticipation of the final ending.

The characters in Gone South read like real people, with real problems, real thought processes and real responses to life’s lemons. It’s no stretch of the imagination to imagine yourself in their shoes. Whereas each main character has something to learn, the flow of the story feels more like just living life than a heated and rushed drama to solve a problem. Maybe I’m just getting “old,” but I find myself greatly appreciating the stories that touch my heart more than just a sensational drama that merely seeks to play with my female emotions. But to those who really need some romance, don’t worry – you can still find it here.

In the end, I found an old friend in this book and I know that this is one that I will find myself re-reading in years to come. I highly recommend it. Really.

I give it a 5 out of 5 with my full blessing

[Rachel Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think anything will quite blow me away like Meg's first novel, but this was still an excellent read. Although the grudges held against Meg's ancestors felt a little over the top at times, I could sympathise with Tish's desire to fit into her new town and do the right thing, even when everything back-fired.

George, Calv and Mel made for fun secondary characters, although I did wish Mel had grown up a little bit by the end of the book. She seemed to have made progress in the epilogue, but in the final chapter it honestly seemed like she'd only made things right with her family because Tish forced her to. Still, everything wasn't tied up neatly at the end of the book (it didn't seem like Mel's mum had stood up to her husband at all, or tried to get in touch with her daughter) but that made the story all the more realistic.

Although this book was a little lighter than Meg's first novel, the writing was still fantastic, and made for a very engrossing read. I could easily visualise the setting of Noble, Alabama, and I enjoyed sitting down to read chunks of this book whenever I found I spare moment.

I did find myself wishing that we'd learned more about Tish's ancestors and whether some of the stories about them were true, especially since Marian mentioned that the Historical Society had proof. Even some excerpts from some more of the letters would have been fun.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable, engrossing read with believable characters, even if it was hard for me to understand the long-held grudges in the town of Noble. It sounds like Meg's third novel will be entirely different again, so I'm looking forward to reading whatever she comes up with next! 4*

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Letitia McComb’s mother, recently got remarried, and is moving to Florida, so she gives Tish old family letters that her dad had saved for her. The letters were written from the original Letitia McComb to her mother, after Letitia married and moved to Noble, Alabama with her husband, Nathan.
After reading the letters, Tish looks up the address, and discovers that their old house is for sale. She is going to Florida to help her mom and step dad unpack, so she decides to visit the house on the way back home. After viewing the house, she impulsively decides to buy it.
After she gets moved in, and people realize who her ancestors were, many of them are rude to her. Then she can’t find a job in town. Tish doesn’t know why so she talks to George, Zorbas who owns the local antique store. He gives her a book that mentions her ancestors, and explains why the townspeople don’t want anything to do with her. Making matters worse, she allows Melanie Hamilton to stay in the house with her. Everyone in Noble thinks Mel is a thief. She got fired from two jobs, and her parents kicked her out, so she had been in Florida. After losing jobs there, she had nowhere else to go, so she hitchhiked back home to Noble, thinking her parents would take her in, but they refused.
I liked this book. I didn’t really understand why the townspeople wouldn’t give Tish a chance, just because they didn’t like her ancestors, but I liked that she didn’t back down and leave. I felt sorry for Mel. She wasn’t dishonest, but hadn’t been give a chance to redeem herself. Everyone just assumed she was a bad person, except for Tish and George. I enjoyed the book, and will look for more by Meg Moseley.

I received this book from Multnomah Books' Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age Appropriate For: 13 and up
Best for Ages: 15 and up (themes, and reading level)

I had seen that one of my Goodreads friends was reading and loving Gone South so I decided to get it to review.

I loved Tish from the start. She had a chaotic childhood (always moving about and a father who was always changing careers) yet she chose to embrace not blame those years. She has a good relationship with her mom, which was so refreshing. Most of all, I loved her because she loved people like Meg who everyone had given up on.

Meg tugs at your heartstrings. No one wants to give her a chance. She has done wrong in the past, but also has been misunderstood. She wants to do better and Tish, the hated outsider, is the only person who will help her.

The story is not light or fluffy. However, they didn’t discuss anything that made me blush or even uncomfortable. The story really made me think about how I am treating the “bad” people in my life. It made me want to love them more and reach out to them.
My only complaints about this book are 1. The use of the word y’all didn’t feel southern and 2. The ending left a few minor things untied. It was still satisfying.

I highly recommend this book those who love books that make you think, stories about forgiveness, and tales set in the south.

I received this book from Multnomah Books in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

[Carole Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Moseley knows how to tell a good story and I always enjoy her writing. I would describe this as high quality, character-driven southern fiction.

Full review:
http://booksmusicandlife.blogspot.com...

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet good book with morals. not overly exciting but sweet anyhow.

[Maria Sprunger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! It had everything you could want in a modern Christian fiction. The characters were so well written and it wasn’t focused on romance but more on friendship and redemption


I came back to edit my stars bc I thought about it for a few days and I truly believe it’s a 5 star go read it

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tish McComb learns that the Civil War era ancesteral family home in Alabama is up for sale and jumps at the chance to leave frosty Michigan and start over in the deep South. Yet once she's there, she finds that old sentiments are hard to overcome because of her name. To make matters worse for herself, she takes in the local prodigal Mel. Mel's got quite a few issues and as Tish shows her love and compassion, changes start to happen. Yet with everything going against her, will Tish be able to call the small Alabama town home or will she wish she's back in Michigan?


The cover of this book is what captured my attention when I first saw it on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and some emails. In fact, the cover of this book alone has intrigued a co-worker of mine enough that she asked to borrow it from me! I'd never read anything by Meg Moseley before. And while I read a lot, most of what I read is historical romantic fiction, so I thought "Sure, I'll give a contemporary fiction novel a chance."



Overall, the story itself was good. There were some humorous moments mostly pertaining to the dog that kept escaping. I saw several parallels to some of the parables that Jesus told. The one that I thought was the most noticable was that of the Good Samaratian. Tish is the outsider who shows kindness and compassion to Mel, the native, that the residents of the town refused to help because she was the "bad girl."



I didn't find that I connected to the characters like I'd hoped. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book and it was a pleasant read, but I didn't have the heart connection that I get with some characters. While this story may not be a favorite of mine, I did pick up on the truths that the author tried to get across. From reading several of the reviews, I'm seeing that others did connect with the book, so please don't just take my opinion on the book!


I received this book for free from Waterbrook/Multnomah's Blogging for Books program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.







Recommended to fans of contemporary fiction, Marybeth Whalen


Rating - 3.5 stars - which on Amazon will be a 3 star rating.




And yes I know I changed my ranking. But that was after thinking about it.:)

[Hallie (Hallie Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a whim, Tish McComb leaves familiarity (and ever-present reminders of her past) in Michigan to start afresh in Noble, Alabama. Drawn by her ancestral ties to the town, Tish purchases a home that once belonged to her great-great-great-grandparents, Nathan and Letitia McComb. What she knows about these McCombs gives her confidence that she will soon be welcomed into the town (once they accept the fact that she is a Yankee, of course). But she doesn’t know about these McCombs is that their neighbors hated them – and now, so does the whole town of Noble…

Playing the part of the town’s outcast (and hoping to fill the emptiness and loneliness of her new home), Tish offers refuge for the town’s returning prodigal, Melanie Hamilton, and together they realize that second chances are not easily given or accepted. Struggling to prove their worth to a town rooted in its Southern mindset, the pair quickly encounters incredible and often astonishing examples of God-given mercy, love and forgiveness.

Meg Moseley’s Gone South had me intrigued from the beginning. Intertwining the McCombs’ double-edged family legacy with Tish’s tragic history, Mel’s desperate pursuit of truth and redemption, and a bit of unplanned romance, Moseley kept me flipping page after page until I reached the end. Upon completion of the novel, my only complaint was that the narrative of Nathan and Letitia seemed a little incomplete to me. However, as a whole, the novel – with its multitude of situational problems and complications – leads to a satisfying conclusion, leaving me content. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who has an interest in Christian fiction and enjoys rooting for the underdog.

As usual, I would like to thank WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this novel. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to read and honestly review it, and I always enjoy a fresh, new book experience.

http://pagebypagebookbybook.blogspot....

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tish makes an impuse decision to leave her home in Michigan and buy the old McComb house in Noble, Alabama, the house the original Leticia McComb lived in with her husband in the 1870’s. But she hasn’t bargained on being the town pariah the minute she arrives—it seems that her father’s telling of the family history has missed a few things out. And things get more difficult when she takes in the homeless Mel Hamilton, the town bad girl who has been kicked out by her parents. Tish soon meets George Zorbas, owner of the town antique store and a dog who believes she still lives at the McComb house.

There is a romance, but it’s slow and not the main focus of the story, which is the relationship between Tish and Meg, who both felt ostracised and alone in their growing-up years and are both now struggling to be accepted in a town that doesn’t want them (it seems that the idea of the ‘welcoming South’ only goes so far).

While Gone South is published by WaterBrook Multnomah, a Christian publisher, the story isn’t outwardly Christian. Meg and Tish pray occasionally, neither go to church (and the churchgoing townspeople could do with learning a little about the concept of Christian forgiveness). I usually like my Christian fiction to be a little more Christian, but this worked for me.

I liked the fact that the characters were real people with faults and worries (including financial worries). I liked the fact that the romance took a back seat to the other relationships: Tish and Meg, Meg and George, George and Stu. I especially liked the fact that although Gone South wasn’t overtly Christian, the underlying prodigal son theme was definitely Christian. Recommended.

Thanks to the WaterBrook Multnomah and Blogging for Books for providing a free ebook for review.

[Patty LeBlanc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tish McComb decides it is time to make some changes in her life. Her mom is moving on with a new marriage and moving away. Tish helps her move and decides to stop in Noble, Alabama where her great-great-great grandparents lived and see their home. She finds it is for sale and decides she is going to buy back her family home. Unfortunately for her, the McComb family history is well known to the town folk and not in a good way. She is not exactly welcomed with open arms.

Melanie Hamilton was a resident of Noble at one time. Her parents still live there, but she is much unwelcome there. The town gives her the same cold shoulder as well. Melanie left town a few years ago, but is ready to go back home and see if her parents will let her come home. The welcome she receives there is quite chilly and she doesn't know what she is going to do.

Tish and Melanie cross paths and forge a friendship. Watch how these two make it work in this community that essentially does not want either of them there.

I liked this book for the story. It wasn't my favorite, but it wasn't the worst book I've read either. I did like the characters and I finished the book, so that's good. I would recommend this book for a light read. It didn't keep me on the edge of my seat, but it was a good read nonetheless. I would have liked a little more reference to Christianity in it, as that is what I was expecting, but it was underlying if you prefer it that way.

[Jenny Proctor]

Gone South is about a woman who makes an impulsive decision to move south to the small town of Noble, Alabama where an old home, connected to her family's history has gone up for sale. She buys the home, thinking her last name and connections to the house will help her fit in. She's surprised when instead, she receives a less than friendly reception. Turns out her family's history in Noble wasn't exactly squeaky clean. But not everyone is unkind. An antiques dealer befriends her, as well as a 20 year old girl, Melanie, who is down on her luck and struggling to reconnect with her family, also residents of Noble.

I really loved the cover of this book. I found the characters to be generally likable and found the generosity and kindness of the main character inspiring. I was a little underwhelmed by the story line as a whole and wished for a little more conflict, a little more growing and stretching from the characters. I didn't feel like I had much to root for, you know?

In the end, I considered this a pleasant read, and an easy way to spend an afternoon.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tish McComb takes a chance, and buys a home that her great great great grandparents had built. Thinking that her family is something in the town to be celebrated, only to find out who they really were, Tish learns a lot about herself and her heritage.

Tish also helps a young lady, who has been cast out of her family. Not very nice people but is she really a thief? I loved how this book just had so many things that will tie together at the end. This is why I read! I too thought when I moved to a small town everyone would be so welcoming and like family, only to have the cold shoulder. I laughed out loud when she went to the gardening meeting! I totally cheered her on!

I think you will fall in love with this book easily as did I. I also think you will get the cover, it fascinated me, as she has on a beautiful dress, the black dress, with the jeans underneath! Enjoy discovering why!!! Happy reading!

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes when you do all the right things for all the right reasons, you can still get the wrong results. Tish McComb decides to buy her great great grandparents old home in Alabama and move south from Michigan. Little did she know that as a Yankee and a McComb the small town of Noble would be not be the welcoming place she expected. Then she compounds matters by taking in 20 year old Mel Hamilton when her parents won't. She's following what she believes God wants her to do, but life is still handing her a rough time.

I found this an easy read and an enjoyable storyline. I liked the fact that Tish stayed true to herself and held her head high no matter what life dealt her. She tried to instill the same beliefs in Mel as she tried to help Mel heal from the hurts life had dealt her. This is my first Meg Moseley book and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Melissa MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know, Meg Moseley is quickly elevating herself into one of my favorite authors. She writes with a wonderful mixture of heart and realism. This book invited me, like a porch swing on a warm day, and kept me coming back for more. Tish is a real character. Completely annoying and uptight at some points, and completely lovable at others. The mix of modern day with Civil War history thrown in was a delight.

And then there is George. I loved that guy. He's got depth as a character that is rarely seen. I wanted to sit down with him and hear his story. His gentle interference into Tish's life is as cute as can be.

I'd tell you more about the characters but honestly, you just need to read it. It's a jewel of a book. Grab some sweet tea and settle in for a "just right" kind of read.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book in my to-read stack for a while. Had the opportunity to get it read, finally, and I was sorry I waited so long! This book is a great story, and challenged me to look beyond what I think I know...about people, about history, about "truth". While I believe that there are eternal truths that are unchangeable, many of the "truths" families believe lie entirely on their particular slant of the events that happened....and there is almost always another side to the story. I was also reminded to forgive freely....not necessarily forget....but forgive....holding back forgiveness can ruin families...and preconceived notions about people can prevent you from making a new friend, or having a fabulous new experience. I will definitely look for more of this author's books.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I could have wanted in a novel. So. Much. Love. for Gone South.

I wrote a full review which can be found here: http://heatherdaygilbert.com/2013/07/...

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gone South is about a young woman, Tish McComb, who moves to small town Alabama from Michigan into a home once owned by her family. She had high hopes of starting over only to realize being a "Yankee" in a small town isn't going to be easy.

This was a cute, clean, easy read to start off 2025.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been an extrodinary story. I kept waiting for the big reveal only to be disapointed. Everything flowed nicely and was well written. I felt there was no resolution.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Scene:

Afraid she was about to lose it, George reached for her hand, then lost his nerve and petted Daisy’s head. “So Marian claims to have proof from the historical society. That’s the key word. Historical. Whether or not the stories are true, they’re in the past.”

“I know. I should focus on the present.” Tish Turned toward him, her face framed softly by long locks of red-brown hair. “No matter what happened here in 1870, this is my home now. Nobody’s going to scare me away.”

“You know the difference between a Yankee and a… well, a Yankee who’s bound for eternity in the lake of fire?”

“The ones who visit versus the ones who stay? Yeah, I’ve heard that old joke, but I’m staying. I don’t care what people call me. I don’t care what they think of me either.”

“No?”

“Okay, sometimes I do. Sometimes I care too much. I want very badly to be accepted, but sometimes I forget to mind my manners and I speak my mind instead. Someday, I’m afraid I’ll say things I shouldn’t say. Do things I shouldn‘t do.”

She could be direct, all right, and maybe she didn’t always think before she acted, but at least she did something. “If your heart’s right, your actions can’t be too far off. Case in point, the way you reached out to Mel.”

“You did too,” Tish said. “It’s very generous to hire her, and I don’t mean just about the wages you’ll pay. It’s… moral generosity.”

George squelched a grin. If he’d know hiring Mel would cast him in such a noble light, he might have hired her sooner.

“I see moral generosity on your side too,” he said. Even though you’re a Yankee.”

She laughed. “Careful there Mr. Zorbas. You’re skating on thin ice.”

“I know, but I grew up listening to my grandfather always preaching against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Sometimes he mentioned Yankees in the next breath, so I started to think Yankees and devils were one and the same.”

“Gee, thanks.”

He leaned closer, enjoying her cynical little smile. “But I’d be first to admit that some of ya’ll aren’t too bad. And some of ya’ll are mighty pretty.”

“And some of you southern gentlemen are mighty forward.” She moved Daisy to his knee and got to her feet.

“Forward? I only--”

“My feet are freezing. Good night, George.”

He rose too. “Tish, I--”

She’d already escaped inside, shutting the door firmly behind her. He carried the dog home, brooding over his extraordinary talent for ruining good conversations.



Main Characters:

Letitia "Tish" McComb: Tish works in the insurance field but is obssessed with antiques, such as, old clothes and costume jewelry among other things. She is very forth-right but honest and generous to a fault.

George Zorbas: George owns the town antique shop. He is a very serious person that believes in honesty and trust and he is always willing to give people a chance.

Melanie "Mel" Hamilton: Mel is a very intense 20 year-old with alot of issues. She feels things very strongly, whether good or bad. Her emotions are like a rollercoaster but she is a very loveable girl most of the time.



My Thoughts:

Tish McComb is a person that finds herself drawn to the past. She buys antique clothes and costume jewelry and feels a special connection to her great, great, great grandmother whom she was named after. When her mother decides to move to Florida, Tish agrees to drive to Florida to help her unpack. Just before leaving Michigan, she discovers the house her ancestors used to own is up for sale so she decides to stop by on her way back from Florida to see it and get a few pictures. Buying it was the last thing she intended but, once she saw it, she felt drawn to it. Tish finds herself in the middle of becoming a homeowner for the first time and, she has to admit, she's excited. She has heard such good things about Letitia and Norman McComb but once the locals in Noble, Alabama find out who she is and turn a cold shoulder, Tish begins to wonder exactly what is fact and what is fiction. Studying the original letters of Letitia McComb, Tish hopes to prove the townspeople wrong. Suddenly her excitement of living in her ancestor's home starts to dim in light of the treatment of the people of Noble. George Zorbas and his Uncle Calv are the only ones that give her a chance. While fighting to save the good name of the McCombs, Tish find herself falling for George but, after losing her fiancee' 5 years ago in a tragic accident, Trish wants nothing more than to run scared. Can George break the barriers errected around her heart? Can the locals leave the past in the past? When Tish finds Mel in the park, cold and hungry, with nothing but her sleeping bag she knows what she has to do. She brings well home with her and gives her food, clothes and a place to stay. Mel has issues of her own she is trying to work through and with the help of Trish and George she is finally getting on the right track.

George Zorbas, the local antique dealer, is drawn the the new girl in town. While others are snubbing her, George gives her a chance and that means the world to Tish. When George buys a classic 1970 Chevelle to restore, he needs a garage big enough to work on it. It just so happens Tish McComb has a nice, big garage that she doesn't use. Not only does the garage work perfectly but it also allows him to see Trish more frequently. George's is also Mel's older brother's friend so when Mel needs a job and no one trusts her enough to hire her, George gives her a job ih his shop. George soon discovers that Mel has a learning disibility and it accounts for the previous accusations of stealing from her employers. While he works with Mel to get her life in order, he's also working to get Trish to open up her heart and let him in.

Gone South took me on a journey from the first page to the last. It drew me into the character's lives and made me feel like I was a part of the story. Each character had their own traits that made them special. When I first started reading and found out about the old letters and Trish's special connection to her great, great, great grandmother Letitia I thought the story would eventually take me back in time. It didn't but that's not a bad thing. The story flowed well and Ms. Moseley managed to bring it to life scene by scene. Mel's character was a little baffling to me at first. I kept wondering how old she was and when I found out she was almost twenty-one I couldn't mentally connect her age to her child-like demeanor. After finding out she possibly had a learning disability it all clicked into place. I think Tish, George and Mel all complimented each other well for a perfect balance throughout the story. All-in-all, Gone South was a very sweet story with very charming characters. Kudos to Meg Moseley on a job well done!

[Crystal · Rating 1 out of 5]

After visiting her newlywed mother in Florida, Tish McComb decides to make a trek to visit the McComb ancestral home in Noble, Alabama, on her way home to Michigan. What she didn’t plan on was purchasing the old stately manor on a whim and deciding to start afresh in the quaint southern town. Meg didn’t realize, however, that the McComb family has a ruthless and unforgivable past in the townspeople’s eyes making the transition from new resident to beloved resident nearly impossible for Tish. After befriending local antique dealer, George Zorbas, his uncle, Calv, and the prodigal-returned-home, Mel Hamilton, Tish sets out to change her family’s legacy and establish her new life in Noble.

Sigh….it is rare that I don’t thoroughly enjoy finishing a book. Unfortunately, Gone South turned out to be a difficult book for me to finish. I feel like this book had potential, but just couldn’t get traction. Very little was developed in George, Calv, or Tish’s characters making them quite boring. And Mel- she was so bratty (to use Moseley’s description) and immature that she just plain annoyed me! Many of the struggles the characters faced also were not really resolved- Tish may have had a few more friends by the end of the book, but the townspeople’s overarching negative feelings about the McCombs- and Tish- did not change. Likewise, Mel showed no remorse for her poor decisions before or after returning to Noble- she just kept pitching temper tantrums. Unfortunately, Gone South was mediocre at best, boring at worst.

This review contains my own thoughts and opinions. I have not been compensated by the author or publisher in any way.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting enough book but a bit too much of dysfunctional people. Tish moves from Michigan to Alabama and buys her ancestor's Civil War era home. She expects to find a new wonderful life with great friends and a new job but instead finds almost everyone is snubbing her due to her ancestor's behavior. Into her life come a couple of people. George is an antiques dealer who grew up in the house. Mel is a very troubled young adult who can't seem to appreciate right from wrong and the consequences of her actions. Both Tish and George befriend her but Mel repeatedly disappoints them. At its most basic, it is a novel of forgiveness and second chances but Mel and her behavior began to be a bit irritating. No sex or profanity.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book moved on at a fairly good clip, almost an antithesis of how life in the South is 'supposed' to go. That said, the pace was just right to draw me into Tish's world, and to appreciate what she was willing to do to be a blessing.
I think that's the key to Tish's character. She was honestly trying to be a blessing, especially to Mel. Tish understood that we're all just sinners saved by grace, and that we need to lift up Jesus' light by showing grace to others, even when it's difficult to do so.
4.5 stars

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author does such an excellent job of creating her stories and her characters. Even if I spent most of the book mad at all the minor characters for not showing more love and kindness to Tish and Mel. I did feel like the ending seemed a tad rushed. The author wrapped up all the resolution in just a few short pages where I think I would've enjoyed more seeing that drawn out a little bit more.

[Rhea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read! My 3rd Meg Mosely book. Nice to discover new authors.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried - I really did.
This book was not for me.
BUT I've loved other Meg Moseley books... I just wait for another book by this author :)

[Diane Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess, being a northerner, I don’t understand some southern traditions so didnt enjoy the story.