Down Home

by Gail Roughton

Everybody knows everybody else’s business in Turkey Creek. The town knows Maggie Kincaid hasn’t spoken to her father in twenty-five years. It knows Billy Brayton was killed in basic training after Big John Kincaid railroaded him out of town and into the army. Nobody was surprised. For sure, Big John wasn’t going to let his daughter keep time with the local bad boy. Not for long. But the town’s missing a few pieces of the puzzle. Billy Brayton’s not dead. He’s back. He’s home. And it’s payback time.

323 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2012

Reviews

[Graeme Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've heard it said, you should write what you know. I've also heard it said that's a really bad idea. Because even if a qualified doctor knows his (or her) streptococcus from her (or his) coccyx - books aren't about bugs. Or bones. They're about people - and life. So people writing about what they know can get hung up on what they know - and maybe miss writing a book.
That isn't Gail Roughton. I'd say Miss Gail, because this is the South. But there's rocks round here called me granfer when they was mountains. So I won't :-).
I've never been to Georgia. It would be easy, and maybe trite, to say Gail Roughton took me there. She didn't. Because while I was reading it (and I read it in a single sitting, into the early hours, because I didn't want to stop), it was like I'd always been there. In Kincaid County, where everybody knows everybody - and nobody knows anybody. Because there's more secrets buried behind smiles and old newspaper clippings than any county churchyard could hide.
Gail Roughton clearly knows her succotash from her sour mash, and her y'alls from her yes ma'ams, but she doesn't hit you over the head with them. You just soak them up in passing, like the sweet smell of gardenias on a summer night. Because this is the South, but Down Home isn't about the South. Or not just about the South. It's about a man dead more years than he was alive, and why he's coming home. It's about those long buried secrets, and those deeper hidden in plain sight. And maybe it's about none of that at all. Maybe it's about why even when you're dead, you can never leave. Not in Kincaid County.
Did I like 'Down home'? Yes, I did. It's not the type of thing I generally read, but I did like it. A lot. Were there things I didn't like? Yes, there were. But not because they were badly written. They weren't. I didn't like them because they rang old bells of my own. Because we all grew up in Kincaid, whatever the place we grew up in was called. And we know it's still there - and one day, we'll have to go back. Back Down Home.

[Julie Mcintyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

No One told Billy Brayton he had supposedly died 25 yrs ago, so it was quite a shock to the people of Turkey Creek when that Gray mustang comes flying over the hill Especially his old flame Maggie Kinkaid. If you think this is where the story follows a typical romantic story line, you are in for quite the ride.
Ms. Roughton, has a way with words, and can weave genres together like no bodies business!
Of course there's drama, everyone has a score to settle, and drama, who doesn't have secrets(especially in a small town), and romance.
Can two people in love make it work, when the ghosts of their past threaten to tear them apart?
Ms. Roughton did it again! I just hope there's a sequel in the future!

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! I mistakenly was under the impression that it was just going to be a romance about a man and a woman who were reunited after 25 years when the lies her dad had planted to both of them were discovered.

But wow, when Billy was saying it's payback time, he was not kidding!!!

Gail Roughton did an amazing job at weaving a tale that had me scratching my head a few times yet it made complete and perfect sense once everything was revealed.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT book! I really enjoyed this story, characters a lot. I hope that the author Gail will make follow up books on Down Home so we can find out how all the characters are going through their changing careers. Eventually following Jake on his way into criminal justice. Will definately recommend this book to others to read.

[Jamie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story, and would really love a sequel! Wonderful characters and a plot that kept me guessing. Honestly, I haven't found a Gail Roughton book yet that I didn't totally gush over. Really love this author's voice and will continue to devour whatever she writes!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story. There is some surprising twists. It's my kind of story, strong woman, hot guy, family, love and murder.

I sure hope there is a book two about T- bone!!! Please!!

[Ash Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. The author had some awesome twists that shocked me and made the story. I loved the characters and was so happy when big john got what he deserved. Read this book it's great.