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Chancey #1
Next Stop, Chancey
Looking in your teenage daughters’ purse is never a good idea.
After all, it ended up with Carolina Jessup opening a Bed & Breakfast for railroad fanatics in a tiny Georgia Mountain town. Carolina knows all about, and hates, small towns. How did she end up leaving her wonderful Atlanta suburbs behind while making her husband’s dreams come true?
The town bully (who wears a lavender skirt and white gloves), an endless parade of teenagers through her house, and everybody's talk about a ghost have Carolina looking for an escape, or at least a way to move back home. Instead, she''s front and center for all of Chancey's small town gossip.
Unlike back home in the suburbs with privacy fences and automatic garage doors, everybody in Chancey thinks your business is their business and they all love the newest Chancey business. The B&B hosts a Senate candidate, a tea for the County Fair Beauty contestants, and railroad nuts who sit out by the tracks and record the sound of a train going by. Yet, nobody believes Carolina prefers the ‘burbs.
Oh, yeah, and if you just ignore a ghost, will it go away?
After all, it ended up with Carolina Jessup opening a Bed & Breakfast for railroad fanatics in a tiny Georgia Mountain town. Carolina knows all about, and hates, small towns. How did she end up leaving her wonderful Atlanta suburbs behind while making her husband’s dreams come true?
The town bully (who wears a lavender skirt and white gloves), an endless parade of teenagers through her house, and everybody's talk about a ghost have Carolina looking for an escape, or at least a way to move back home. Instead, she''s front and center for all of Chancey's small town gossip.
Unlike back home in the suburbs with privacy fences and automatic garage doors, everybody in Chancey thinks your business is their business and they all love the newest Chancey business. The B&B hosts a Senate candidate, a tea for the County Fair Beauty contestants, and railroad nuts who sit out by the tracks and record the sound of a train going by. Yet, nobody believes Carolina prefers the ‘burbs.
Oh, yeah, and if you just ignore a ghost, will it go away?
Audible Audio
First published June 8, 2015
1679 people are currently reading
1107 people want to read
About the author
Kay Dew Shostak
23 books100 followershttps://www.facebook.com/kay.shostak
“A new voice in Southern Fiction” is how a recent reviewer labels Kay Dew Shostak’s debut novel, "Next Stop, Chancey".
After being raised in a small-town in Tennessee, Kay lived around the country in a variety of settings. Taking a look at the familiar and loved from new perspectives led Kay to see, and then write about, the absurd, the beautiful, and the funny in her South.
After publishing several stories in compilation books and spending a few years in journalism, Kay wandered into writing fiction and found it hard to leave. She currently is working on the fourth book in the Chancey series and living in Fernandina Beach, Florida with her husband.
“A new voice in Southern Fiction” is how a recent reviewer labels Kay Dew Shostak’s debut novel, "Next Stop, Chancey".
After being raised in a small-town in Tennessee, Kay lived around the country in a variety of settings. Taking a look at the familiar and loved from new perspectives led Kay to see, and then write about, the absurd, the beautiful, and the funny in her South.
After publishing several stories in compilation books and spending a few years in journalism, Kay wandered into writing fiction and found it hard to leave. She currently is working on the fourth book in the Chancey series and living in Fernandina Beach, Florida with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
May 7, 2016
Wow, I'm having a hard time with this. There was a lot I liked about this book. The characters seem realistic, as does the small town setting.
My main problem was that it felt hard to read. Like I was slogging through muck trying to get somewhere. It also seems really long, but I can't tell since I read on a Kindle and because I don't know what made it so slow to read.
There were also a lot of grammatical errors/typos that I found distracting.
My main problem was that it felt hard to read. Like I was slogging through muck trying to get somewhere. It also seems really long, but I can't tell since I read on a Kindle and because I don't know what made it so slow to read.
There were also a lot of grammatical errors/typos that I found distracting.
April 20, 2016
A really cute, silly, fun read - and I am saying that with affection because I enjoyed the book. No serious subject matters, no annoying same-ole, same-ole romances, no grizzly murder scenes, and no 5 page sex scenes.
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April 13, 2020🎁 Books 1- 4 in the Chancey Series are FREE on Amazon today (4/13/2020)! 🎁
July 11, 2017
New author
I really enjoyed this book. A woman, who was brought up in a small town and vows to never live in one again, is thrown in the deep end when her husband changes jobs and they buy a house in a small town. The lives and loves of small town people are true to life and we'll portrayed.
There were a couple of mistakes a little research could have corrected and my personal peeve of spelling errors but otherwise well done.
I really enjoyed this book. A woman, who was brought up in a small town and vows to never live in one again, is thrown in the deep end when her husband changes jobs and they buy a house in a small town. The lives and loves of small town people are true to life and we'll portrayed.
There were a couple of mistakes a little research could have corrected and my personal peeve of spelling errors but otherwise well done.
May 21, 2016
I loved this book! Really fun southern fiction, best read on the front porch swing with a tall glass of sweet tea. I LOVED the characters (I KNOW these people). The story was well-written and true-to-life in the south. Warm, funny and charming and oh so relatable. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
May 9, 2016
I read this book for book club. I really enjoyed it. It is a perfect beach or summer read - light but enough substance to keep my attention. I was interested in the characters and the mystery of the ghost. Would recommend for fans of Southern fiction - it is set in the North Georgia mountains.
March 21, 2016
I cannot write an unbiased review, as I have worked as an editor for this author. That said, NEXT STOP, CHANCEY is a fun Southern romp through small town America. Great beach read, with overtones of Fried Green Tomatoes and Gilmore Girls.
May 27, 2017
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I enjoyed this book. It read like a warm Southern American fiction story and it was really nice. The characters were well written and they felt real and it was a nice plot.
I enjoyed this book. It read like a warm Southern American fiction story and it was really nice. The characters were well written and they felt real and it was a nice plot.
Want to read
April 15, 2020Free on Kindle
April 30, 2020
Small Town Living
Slow start but great read when you get into it. Definitely worth the time to read. Can't wait to start on the next one.
Slow start but great read when you get into it. Definitely worth the time to read. Can't wait to start on the next one.
August 27, 2017
It is far too seldom that I foray into genres that don’t belong to my main fare, and I’m glad I did for this book. The synopsis intrigued me, as I grew up in a small town — more or less unaware of the gossip — then lived in a big city for more than 30 years, and now I’ve returned to my home town. I wondered: is there a huge difference between people in rural North America and people in rural Germany?
Well, yes and no. But maybe that’s because my town seems comparatively large in comparison with Chancey. Or maybe I just don’t go out enough, or I don’t go the correct places. I know from a friend that there is a lot of gossip going on here, but the only gossip I ever hear is from my friend, and that isn’t a lot.
So far, I haven’t been cajoled into anything. I do believe that’s because nobody is interested in me, although my mum does her best to tell all and sundry that I’m back in town.
But to the novel: I absolutely LOVED it. The characters are so life-like, it felt as if I was there, listening in to the conversations. There’s even a ghost, but he is not of the scary kind, and somehow quite believable.
There are certainly characters that weren’t my favourites, but I can’t say that I completely disliked even one of them — well,maybe for one exception.
As I’ve come to expect from audio books promoted by The Audiobookworm, the sound quality was impeccable. Narrator Suzanne Barbetta did an absolutely marvellous job at bringing all the characters to life! She gives them depth and variety; I never had any difficulties to know who was talking, and her male and female voices are great. If I had a written list of favourite narrators, this list would now be longer by one. I’ve seen that there are four more books in this series, alas, no further sequel is available in audio. I hope there will be, because my reading time is so sparse, but I’d love to know more about this particular family and community! So, Kay, if you read this, please consider making the sequels available in audio (and do hire Suzanne)!
For all who love to read/listen to a good tale that contains everything you can ask of a good yarn, I recommend you listen to Next Stop, Chancey. I’m sure you won’t regret it.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Suzanne Barbetta. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Well, yes and no. But maybe that’s because my town seems comparatively large in comparison with Chancey. Or maybe I just don’t go out enough, or I don’t go the correct places. I know from a friend that there is a lot of gossip going on here, but the only gossip I ever hear is from my friend, and that isn’t a lot.
So far, I haven’t been cajoled into anything. I do believe that’s because nobody is interested in me, although my mum does her best to tell all and sundry that I’m back in town.
But to the novel: I absolutely LOVED it. The characters are so life-like, it felt as if I was there, listening in to the conversations. There’s even a ghost, but he is not of the scary kind, and somehow quite believable.
There are certainly characters that weren’t my favourites, but I can’t say that I completely disliked even one of them — well,maybe for one exception.
As I’ve come to expect from audio books promoted by The Audiobookworm, the sound quality was impeccable. Narrator Suzanne Barbetta did an absolutely marvellous job at bringing all the characters to life! She gives them depth and variety; I never had any difficulties to know who was talking, and her male and female voices are great. If I had a written list of favourite narrators, this list would now be longer by one. I’ve seen that there are four more books in this series, alas, no further sequel is available in audio. I hope there will be, because my reading time is so sparse, but I’d love to know more about this particular family and community! So, Kay, if you read this, please consider making the sequels available in audio (and do hire Suzanne)!
For all who love to read/listen to a good tale that contains everything you can ask of a good yarn, I recommend you listen to Next Stop, Chancey. I’m sure you won’t regret it.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Suzanne Barbetta. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
December 27, 2017
Now, a lot of people fantasize about living in a small town. I believe those are the people who have never lived in one---like my husband.
Once in a great while, a book smacks me right upside the head and this one did just that. Why? Because I could have been Carolina Jessup way back in my younger years. I was faced with the prospect of moving to a very small town (not for the same reason) and was horrified by the very idea of how intrusive people can be in these small towns and the way everybody knows everything about you. I found a way out of my doom but I'm pretty sure I'd feel differently about living in a small town now.
Next Stop, Chancey is one of those stories that's entertaining but really has no plot, no particular excitement. Instead, it's a slice of life and you might even call it Carolina's coming of age. Moving to Chancey was a gut reaction to a family issue but also her husband's dream. Jackson has loved trains for years and just got a new job with the railroad and the house they buy is situated perfectly by the train bridge. That bridge and the stream of trainchasers aka railfans who come to town are going to become important to all the Jessups and are the impetus for the bed and breakfast they open. Trouble is, Carolina had no intentions of doing that anytime soon but she has no backbone and lets the townsfolk run roughshod right over her. Result? The B&B opens in record time.
Some audiobook narrators (and actors, actually) can pull off a southern accent while others sound as if they're speaking through a mouthful of molasses. Suzanne Barbetta handles it beautifully, despite her New Jersey upbringing ;-) and some of her character vocalizations were quite identifiable. A few weren't as individualistic as I would like but that's OK and I really appreciated her warm tones, just right for the southern setting.
Along with railfans and small town nosiness, Chancey is a hotbed of high school football fever, cheerleading, beauty pageants, gossip and, oh yes, a ghost. In other words, this is a portait of small town life in the South and I loved it even though there was a brief time when I didn't like Carolina very much. The fifth book in the series just came out and I've got some catching up to do.
Once in a great while, a book smacks me right upside the head and this one did just that. Why? Because I could have been Carolina Jessup way back in my younger years. I was faced with the prospect of moving to a very small town (not for the same reason) and was horrified by the very idea of how intrusive people can be in these small towns and the way everybody knows everything about you. I found a way out of my doom but I'm pretty sure I'd feel differently about living in a small town now.
Next Stop, Chancey is one of those stories that's entertaining but really has no plot, no particular excitement. Instead, it's a slice of life and you might even call it Carolina's coming of age. Moving to Chancey was a gut reaction to a family issue but also her husband's dream. Jackson has loved trains for years and just got a new job with the railroad and the house they buy is situated perfectly by the train bridge. That bridge and the stream of trainchasers aka railfans who come to town are going to become important to all the Jessups and are the impetus for the bed and breakfast they open. Trouble is, Carolina had no intentions of doing that anytime soon but she has no backbone and lets the townsfolk run roughshod right over her. Result? The B&B opens in record time.
Some audiobook narrators (and actors, actually) can pull off a southern accent while others sound as if they're speaking through a mouthful of molasses. Suzanne Barbetta handles it beautifully, despite her New Jersey upbringing ;-) and some of her character vocalizations were quite identifiable. A few weren't as individualistic as I would like but that's OK and I really appreciated her warm tones, just right for the southern setting.
Along with railfans and small town nosiness, Chancey is a hotbed of high school football fever, cheerleading, beauty pageants, gossip and, oh yes, a ghost. In other words, this is a portait of small town life in the South and I loved it even though there was a brief time when I didn't like Carolina very much. The fifth book in the series just came out and I've got some catching up to do.
May 30, 2017
Kay Shostak perfectly captured life in a small town! Everyone knows everything, both true and untrue, about everyone else in the town. Carolina had thought she had escaped small town life when she moved to Metro-Atlanta. However one panicked moment when she found condoms in her teenage daughter's person sent the entire family to live in the small town of Chancey in the Georgia mountains. A casual comment to their real estate broker that they may, some day open a Bed and Breakfast in the house since it is the perfect place for rail enthusiast to watch trains ends up getting her steam rolled into opening a B&B. The town creates a committee to help get the B&B up and running. They even volunteer the local youth to provide manual labor cleaning and setting up the rooms. Folks help select themes for the rooms, find the furniture and get it refinished when needed and get the decorations to match the themes. The town even selects the grand opening date and books her first customers, who she is supposed to host for free the weekend before she opens. Her own daughter somehow ends up as the town queen bee's protege and is entered into a beauty pageant. Her husbands new job means he is traveling during the week and only home briefly on the weekends. Carolina quickly feels like she has lost all control of her life. Will she decide that life in a small town as the owner of a B&B for rail enthusiast is the right life for her or will she run back to anonymity of the suburbs of metro Atlanta?
August 28, 2017
4.5 Stars!
This was a really cute, fun, sweet, and a true southern book! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I love a good southern book and this one was just dripping with southern charm. I could almost taste the grits and sweet potato pie while listening.
Ok, I just want to say - pecan pumpkin muffins!!! Oh my gosh, I would die for one of those!
I honestly don't understand the fascination with trains and the railroad, but I guess that's just me. I did think it was neat that all the rooms in the B&B were a different train theme.
I loved this family and their new friends. Very good character development. The situations and people were very real, they just seemed like people next door. This book kind of reminded me of Steel Magnolias (one of my favorite movies!) and the TV series (that only lasted one season, but I loved it) Good Christian Bi+ches (pardon the almost swearing LOL).
Audio - The narrator did a fantastic job! I loved her. She had a great voice. It says she's from Jersey but she sure sounded southern. So if that wasn't natural she did a great job!
This is book one in a series and I would love to keep reading, or listening. My first one by this author and already I'm sold.
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this audio book from Audiobookworm Promotions - Thank You!
This was a really cute, fun, sweet, and a true southern book! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I love a good southern book and this one was just dripping with southern charm. I could almost taste the grits and sweet potato pie while listening.
Ok, I just want to say - pecan pumpkin muffins!!! Oh my gosh, I would die for one of those!
I honestly don't understand the fascination with trains and the railroad, but I guess that's just me. I did think it was neat that all the rooms in the B&B were a different train theme.
I loved this family and their new friends. Very good character development. The situations and people were very real, they just seemed like people next door. This book kind of reminded me of Steel Magnolias (one of my favorite movies!) and the TV series (that only lasted one season, but I loved it) Good Christian Bi+ches (pardon the almost swearing LOL).
Audio - The narrator did a fantastic job! I loved her. She had a great voice. It says she's from Jersey but she sure sounded southern. So if that wasn't natural she did a great job!
This is book one in a series and I would love to keep reading, or listening. My first one by this author and already I'm sold.
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this audio book from Audiobookworm Promotions - Thank You!
March 4, 2018
A pleasant surprise
CAROLINE started out being portrayed as a doormat, so I almost put this book down for good. But, after a rough morning dealing with Mom's financial issues, I figured it would be an easy read, so, I picked it up again. I'm so glad I did! This time around I realized it was all about CAROLINE figuring out how to fit in a small town, and what makes her happy. It was pretty funny to see what she had to go through to get there...
The characters and phrasing were hilarious - I could picture each one so well in my mind.
The nuances of small town life were conveyed so well with so much humor, it was priceless! I've lived in many small towns, (and am back in one now that I'm retired from corporate America) so this brought back a lot of memories of the drama I had to deal with.
This book is a winner and I can't wait to start the next one in the series. I have to know what Savanna is gonna do with her new found talent, especially because my daughter is facing the same challenges. And Ida, what's up with her now that Caroline...well, I'd better not give that away, right?! Ohhhh so much to look forward to!
CAROLINE started out being portrayed as a doormat, so I almost put this book down for good. But, after a rough morning dealing with Mom's financial issues, I figured it would be an easy read, so, I picked it up again. I'm so glad I did! This time around I realized it was all about CAROLINE figuring out how to fit in a small town, and what makes her happy. It was pretty funny to see what she had to go through to get there...
The characters and phrasing were hilarious - I could picture each one so well in my mind.
The nuances of small town life were conveyed so well with so much humor, it was priceless! I've lived in many small towns, (and am back in one now that I'm retired from corporate America) so this brought back a lot of memories of the drama I had to deal with.
This book is a winner and I can't wait to start the next one in the series. I have to know what Savanna is gonna do with her new found talent, especially because my daughter is facing the same challenges. And Ida, what's up with her now that Caroline...well, I'd better not give that away, right?! Ohhhh so much to look forward to!
May 29, 2017
Having been born in a small town, then living in the suburbs and now a large city, I can attest to the uniqueness of small town living. Next Stop, Chancey perfectly captured the advantages and drawbacks with characters that were quintessentially small town. With great writing and humor, I was drawn in to the story of Caroline and her family. Being a long listen, pacing is important to keep the listener engaged and the narrator did a great job both with moving the story along and bringing the characters to life. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I would highly recommend Next Stop, Chancey. Now grab a sweet tea and have a listen for yourself.
I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator. This review is my honest opinion.
I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator. This review is my honest opinion.
January 22, 2019
Entertaining, but...
I found Next Stop Chauncey, to be some what entertaining, but at the same time a little far fetched. The story takes place in a small town in Georgia and I like that as I live in Georgia. The main character and her family move to Chancey from Marietta to live a more simpler life. The father is a train aficionado and so they buy a house by the train tracks. The people in the town are very involved in everyone’s business and that is where the story becomes far fetched. Missus who is basically the grand dame of Chauncey tells the family they have to open a B&B in their home and that their house is haunted. In reality she makes it seem that way. In the midst of that, there are other things going on on the book that are at times interesting and at times slow going.
I found Next Stop Chauncey, to be some what entertaining, but at the same time a little far fetched. The story takes place in a small town in Georgia and I like that as I live in Georgia. The main character and her family move to Chancey from Marietta to live a more simpler life. The father is a train aficionado and so they buy a house by the train tracks. The people in the town are very involved in everyone’s business and that is where the story becomes far fetched. Missus who is basically the grand dame of Chauncey tells the family they have to open a B&B in their home and that their house is haunted. In reality she makes it seem that way. In the midst of that, there are other things going on on the book that are at times interesting and at times slow going.
October 29, 2019
Interesting enough that I ordered the second in the series, though I did get them on a day they were offered for free. Still trying to decide if I'll pay for the rest.
I want to kick Carolina. I'm the "go along to get along" type as well, but when you hit the point others making decisions annoys you and interferes with your marriage, it's time to say something.
When someone else opens a business for you -and expects you to run it - it's time to DO something. The one person she *does* come clean with is an unimportant side character.
Interesting family dynamics. Interesting community dynamics. As I said, enough that I read the second as well.
To those who were bothered by the grammatical and word-choice errors - the second is worse. I'm almost afraid of 3-5.
I want to kick Carolina. I'm the "go along to get along" type as well, but when you hit the point others making decisions annoys you and interferes with your marriage, it's time to say something.
When someone else opens a business for you -and expects you to run it - it's time to DO something. The one person she *does* come clean with is an unimportant side character.
Interesting family dynamics. Interesting community dynamics. As I said, enough that I read the second as well.
To those who were bothered by the grammatical and word-choice errors - the second is worse. I'm almost afraid of 3-5.
February 12, 2019
This was such a change of pace from the stories I've read.
Having grown up in the south , this was like a trip home. It was so funny at times I had to stop reading and just enjoy the moment. What got me hooked immediately was the daughter who thought she was the queen of the house. Having raised two daughters it rang true so many times. I loved the arc Savannah made through the story and the relationship she had with her mom in the end. I've purchased the next two books and plan to read the entire series. So many interesting characters to explore.
Having grown up in the south , this was like a trip home. It was so funny at times I had to stop reading and just enjoy the moment. What got me hooked immediately was the daughter who thought she was the queen of the house. Having raised two daughters it rang true so many times. I loved the arc Savannah made through the story and the relationship she had with her mom in the end. I've purchased the next two books and plan to read the entire series. So many interesting characters to explore.
March 11, 2018
My head is reeling with all the people in this tale, who they are, are not. What they show to the outside world and what they really are etc etc. Far too confusing for words. I hover between 2 and 3 stars. I cant say i really liked it but i am willing to give the series another go now they all seems to have got a hold of who they really are and who they want to be maybe the next one won't be quite so frenetic and it is on my challenge list so i have to try
April 22, 2016
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book and its glimpse into life in a small Southern town. The characters were quirky, interesting, and made me think about myself and what I want out of life. I would definitely read another book by this author.
April 2, 2016
Good
the book that is one that shows how moving a family from a large city to a small town is a big change.
the book that is one that shows how moving a family from a large city to a small town is a big change.
April 9, 2016
Very nice book, love small towns novels
August 30, 2017
Carolina Jessup moved along with her family to the little town of Chancey, after a short visit with Jackson, her husband, some months before. Jackson immediately felt in love with the town due, and especially, one of the houses, since from it there is a great view of the railroad, where many trains pass everyday. Leaving the suburbs of Atlanta behind, Carolina's family will try to start over in Chancey, where people will try to convince her to open a bed & breakfast.
I had great expectations about this book. Not that I expected any kind of fireworks but at least that I could relate to Caroline's experiences. Sadly the story got lost somewhere between long descriptions and meaningless details. It seemed to drag forever and it was mostly bland.
I found the characters two dimensional and I was not able to connect to them. I got a bit annoyed at how Caroline let everyone in town dictate what she should do. At the same time, I missed some charismatic characters, key to this kind of novels. Another reason for this book to not really work for me.
There was a supposed ghost in the house. I think this was the main issue that could motivate readers to finish this book, but honestly it did not really engage me at any time.
Suzanne Barbetta did a good job narrating this book and interpreting characters, with a decent voice range and good interpretation skills. I noticed some mouth noises though, that distracted me a bit from the story.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Suzanne Barbetta. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
I had great expectations about this book. Not that I expected any kind of fireworks but at least that I could relate to Caroline's experiences. Sadly the story got lost somewhere between long descriptions and meaningless details. It seemed to drag forever and it was mostly bland.
I found the characters two dimensional and I was not able to connect to them. I got a bit annoyed at how Caroline let everyone in town dictate what she should do. At the same time, I missed some charismatic characters, key to this kind of novels. Another reason for this book to not really work for me.
There was a supposed ghost in the house. I think this was the main issue that could motivate readers to finish this book, but honestly it did not really engage me at any time.
Suzanne Barbetta did a good job narrating this book and interpreting characters, with a decent voice range and good interpretation skills. I noticed some mouth noises though, that distracted me a bit from the story.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Suzanne Barbetta. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
November 24, 2021
( Format : Audiobook )
"Welcome to life in a fishbowl."
A fit of pique had Carolina put their suburban home on the market and, by the time she recovered, it was too late - her husband's dream of moving into the country combined with his love of railways had ignited when they ocated a rambling old house big enough for the family and a bed and breakfast business right by the railway tracks. She hated small towns.
Next Stop, Chancey, tells of Caroline's reluctant adaptation to the life in a place where "gossip's pretty much the number one pastime in Chancey", the privacy of the city lost, new alegencies formed and broken, rivalries, keeping up of appearances, lies, fears, pageants and parties. And a ghost. All from Carolina's first person perspective. The writing is slick, the protagonists well developed in full small town obsessiveness, and the conversations realistic, petty and sometimes malicious. Realistic and absolutely delicious.
Suzanne Barbetta's narration further enhances the story's enjoyment with her excellent assortment of varied character voices, the pleasant timbre of her voice and gentle southern accent. With good intonation, emotion and pacing also, hers is a fine performance and easy on the ear.
My thanks to the rights holder of Next Stop, Chancey, who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. It was a most enjoyable book and I loved every minute. I will definitely be following the further activities in future books about Chancey.
"Welcome to life in a fishbowl."
A fit of pique had Carolina put their suburban home on the market and, by the time she recovered, it was too late - her husband's dream of moving into the country combined with his love of railways had ignited when they ocated a rambling old house big enough for the family and a bed and breakfast business right by the railway tracks. She hated small towns.
Next Stop, Chancey, tells of Caroline's reluctant adaptation to the life in a place where "gossip's pretty much the number one pastime in Chancey", the privacy of the city lost, new alegencies formed and broken, rivalries, keeping up of appearances, lies, fears, pageants and parties. And a ghost. All from Carolina's first person perspective. The writing is slick, the protagonists well developed in full small town obsessiveness, and the conversations realistic, petty and sometimes malicious. Realistic and absolutely delicious.
Suzanne Barbetta's narration further enhances the story's enjoyment with her excellent assortment of varied character voices, the pleasant timbre of her voice and gentle southern accent. With good intonation, emotion and pacing also, hers is a fine performance and easy on the ear.
My thanks to the rights holder of Next Stop, Chancey, who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. It was a most enjoyable book and I loved every minute. I will definitely be following the further activities in future books about Chancey.
April 30, 2020
I give the book three stars because the author does not know the difference between sit and set. It really should not upset me when I do not know a winch from a wench. Still, it does upset me. I have lived my whole life in the South. I can relate to the delicious life that the author creates. I was taken away from small town life by my new husband to live in a large southern city where the only thing I liked was the ice cream merry mobile. After two years, I went home to my small hometown and never left. Let everybody know everything plus some about everybody in the town. It keeps teenagers out of 'trouble' and vices behind closed doors. Let there be low classes, high classes, new money and old money. Go to church on Sunday and pray that your sins will not find you out! I do love my small town in the South. As Lewis Grizzard would say, 'That is God's country!' Amen! I like the author and her stories. The railroads! Towns grew along the train tracks. Any person leaving the house in a car would not be told 'good bye.' It was always 'watch out for the railroad track!' The book brought back many memories, of course. What I never recognized is that a small town is a family.
Thank you, Ms. Shostak, for the read.
We are still isolating in home due to Covid-19.
Thank you, Ms. Shostak, for the read.
We are still isolating in home due to Covid-19.
January 21, 2021
So, first let me start by saying I live in North Carolina - about an hour and a half from Raleigh - I loved the main characters name Carolina - that's the name my husband and I picked out for a girl (if we ever hand one - which we didn't - 2 teen boys livin in my house right now ya'll). Bless my heart and pray for my crazy life which I love and wouldn't trade for a second - but I just feel in love with this poor lil ol thing - Carolina just didn't know, even tho she should have that small towns are well - just one big delusional, crazy, happy family where most everyone has your best interest at heart but like every family ya got a few fish ya wouldn't mind thowin back in the pond! A precious read where our main character is the one in her family who has the hardest time fittin' to the small town life and finding she has more strength than she initially thought. Amazing southern characters that I feel like I could just walk down the road and bump into. Narration was wonderful and I can't wait to see what's next for this family and this town. Oh - I know the gossip mill is already warmin' up!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*this review is based on the audio version of this read
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*this review is based on the audio version of this read
August 1, 2017
This is a difficult book to categorise - is it a story of a woman's mid-life crisis, the mean mindedness of small towns in the South US, a ghost story, or a teenage parenting book? I'm not sure as there was no actual plot, more a list of social events where food was mentioned on pretty much every page. The theme as I interpreted it is Carolina, the narrator, embraces the close knit town life she arrives at, only to be burned by it through gossip and misunderstanding, so rejects it. Then she realises she is only hurting herself, so she does a U turn.
What I did enjoy and which kept me turning pages was Carolina's three-dimensional descriptions of the seasonal changes in the landscape around her house, her insightful and humerous observations of Chancey's characters and the beautifully written introspection as she's working things through. Perhaps I have answered my own question and it's simply a meandering journey through small town life.
What I did enjoy and which kept me turning pages was Carolina's three-dimensional descriptions of the seasonal changes in the landscape around her house, her insightful and humerous observations of Chancey's characters and the beautifully written introspection as she's working things through. Perhaps I have answered my own question and it's simply a meandering journey through small town life.
November 21, 2018
Trains and a ghost
Not sure about this book. Good characters if some are a little crazy, others over powering and some who just don't care. Moving your family on a whim seems a bit far fetched but thats how it starts out. Small town gossip that runs wild, no one checking fact from fiction and because nothing gets asked nothing gets answered. Parenting gets a good look at here but mainly because it's a small town, in reality bigger towns have the same parenting issues.
The train buffs and stories are a good glue for this storyline, the one constant a bit of truth. Reading about characters whose one redeeming point is also their funnier side is refreshing. The ghost story was a bit hard to take but it being the south and them so hard done to during the civil war was it any wonder there wasn't a ghost.
Carolina needs to make up her own mind, Jackson needs to recognise when his wife needs support and the town needs to step back and give everyone some private time.
Not sure about this book. Good characters if some are a little crazy, others over powering and some who just don't care. Moving your family on a whim seems a bit far fetched but thats how it starts out. Small town gossip that runs wild, no one checking fact from fiction and because nothing gets asked nothing gets answered. Parenting gets a good look at here but mainly because it's a small town, in reality bigger towns have the same parenting issues.
The train buffs and stories are a good glue for this storyline, the one constant a bit of truth. Reading about characters whose one redeeming point is also their funnier side is refreshing. The ghost story was a bit hard to take but it being the south and them so hard done to during the civil war was it any wonder there wasn't a ghost.
Carolina needs to make up her own mind, Jackson needs to recognise when his wife needs support and the town needs to step back and give everyone some private time.
June 23, 2020
My hubby is a railfanaddict so that has made this series a tad more enjoyable for me. I saw many preferred Chancey #2 to #1 but, having read them out of order, I liked this one since it did a better job of introducing me characters and clarifying my mistaken assumption referencing the Peter/ghost diversion frequently mentioned in book 2.
The grammar, meant to be colloquial, I'm sure (I sure hope so!) was less offensive in this book than in #2. "And I" was actually used once or twice (as opposed to "me and so-and-so,") offering welcome relief to the grating on my ears and nerves as I often experienced reading book #2.
I got a little tired and fed-up with Carolina's never-ending repetitive phrase and negative "I hate small towns,"attitude (this coming from me, a NYC slicker) but since proving the opposite seems to be the major thrust of the series, I understand why it exists...but it needs to disappear if I decide to read book 3, please!
The grammar, meant to be colloquial, I'm sure (I sure hope so!) was less offensive in this book than in #2. "And I" was actually used once or twice (as opposed to "me and so-and-so,") offering welcome relief to the grating on my ears and nerves as I often experienced reading book #2.
I got a little tired and fed-up with Carolina's never-ending repetitive phrase and negative "I hate small towns,"attitude (this coming from me, a NYC slicker) but since proving the opposite seems to be the major thrust of the series, I understand why it exists...but it needs to disappear if I decide to read book 3, please!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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