Leaving Carolina

Southern Discomfort #1

by Tamara Leigh

Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina, twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in LA. She's even engaged to be engaged to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman Grant Spangler.

Now all of Piper's hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncle's bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generations worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwicks secrets, including Piper's.

Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obe's rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, can't she stay on task? With the Lord's help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.

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

359 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Tamara Leigh signed a 4-book contract with Bantam Books in 1993, her debut medieval romance was nominated for a RITA award, and successive books with Bantam, HarperCollins, and Dorchester earned awards and appeared on national bestseller lists.

In 2006, the first of Tamara’s inspirational contemporary romances was published, followed by six more with Multnomah and RandomHouse. Perfecting Kate was optioned for a movie, Splitting Harriet won an ACFW Book of the Year award, and Faking Grace was nominated for a RITA award.

In 2012, Tamara returned to writing historical romance with the release of Dreamspell and the bestselling Age of Faith and The Feud series. Among her #1 bestsellers are her general market romances rewritten as clean and inspirational reads, including Lady at Arms and Lady of Conquest. In late 2018, she released Merciless, the first book in the new AGE OF CONQUEST series, followed by Fearless and Nameless, unveiling the origins of the Wulfrith family. Psst!—It all began with a woman. Watch for Heartless in Spring 2020.

Tamara lives near Nashville with her husband, a German Shepherd who has never met a squeaky toy she can’t destroy, and a feisty Morkie who keeps her company during long writing stints.

Connect with Tamara at her website www.tamaraleigh.com, Facebook, Twitter and tamaraleightenn@gmail.com.

Reviews

[Jes Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is a sweet romance meets family drama that builds a city and a family to explore even past this poor country-girl-turned-city-slicker getting her romance.

[Mary Wagner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Any and all books that have a Christian side to them should be clearly labeled as such so that I will not unknowingly pick it up to read.

And if it is going to have a Christian theme, at least make the characters really Christian. But preferably drop the whole thing, so that it is less preachy and inconsistent.

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Tamara Leigh's medieval novels. I have read her Age of Faith series through twice and fully intend a third read. I bought this book a year ago and just now had time to read it. Leigh proved herself quite adept at switching genres easily. Her main character is possessed of a dry wit without going over the top and ideas very enjoyable. There are two more books in the series, too.

[Secretly Adorkable Readers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book when looking up inspirational romance reads. I fell in love with Piper & Axel's story. It was so much more than just romance, it was a real battle between Piper and her mom's past and was looking for her happiness and finding forgiveness. I have already started reading Maggie's story and will continue to check out more of this author's books and recommendations.

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book! 1st person books are tough to do but the author did a good job! Unfortunately, it was almost exactly like another book I just read (only funnier)(I’m not sure what book was written first) & it did detract from it.

[Cecily Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humor, romance, redemption, forgiveness - a pleasure to read!

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is forgiveness? If someone has hurt you and you say you forgive them and then go to great lengths to avoid them, have you truly forgiven them?

Piper Wicks is faced with this very dilemma. It has been twelve years since she and her mother left Pickwick and all of their backstabbing relatives behind. They never treated her or her mother as if they were really a part of the family. She seems to live by the scripture found in Luke 9:5, "If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town as a testimony against them." This is exactly what she has done. She has created a new life for herself. She has dropped the "Pick" part of her last name. She is a partner in a PR firm. She has a client who has recently talked about them becoming "engaged to be engaged". Of course as a Senator he must wait until the timing is right. The more successful she becomes the more she keeps telling herself that her walk with God is still okay.

Piper's past comes back to haunt her when she receives a phone call from her uncle's lawyer. Her services are being sought to change her uncle's mind. He has decided he and his family have wronged enough people of their town. He plans on making things right with them and with God by changing his will. Unfortunately when he changes his will he will set into motion something his relatives don't want, negative publicity. They have all had their problems displayed before the town. They are not all looked upon in a good way. Some of them have actually made changes to their life for the better.

The last thing that Piper wants is to return to the town she left behind. Who is the strange godson who has persuaded her uncle to change his will and what is his agenda? Piper wants to get in and get out as quickly as possible. Things rarely happen the way one wants. Piper wasn't prepared for all of the work she would have to do to help her uncle. She wasn't prepared for the change in her relatives. Most importantly she wasn't prepared for Axel. He seems to have used his relationship with God to help her uncle make some changes. Maggie and Bart also seem to have a closer walk with God. Why is it that everyone keeps trying to tell her what God wants. She knows what he wants. All she has to do is open her Bible to the passages she has highlighted. The funny thing is they all seem to carry the same theme. Is it possible that she has not truly forgiven? Is it possible for her to do so?

This was a wonderful book. I absolutely loved reading it. I felt sorry for Piper being dragged back into a town and a situation she had put behind her twelve years before. I loved the romance part. It was not your typical romance, boy sees girl, boy gets girl immediately. This was more like real life. It had real life problems with real life solutions and the solutions were sometimes messy. I am looking forward to reading Maggie and Devyn's story when it comes out next year.

I was able to relate to Piper. I told myself that I had forgiven someone but just couldn't forget what they had done. I felt no peace because I had not truly forgiven them or tried to find peace. Once I did that we were able to start fresh again. This book is a great read for anyone who likes romance, realistic fiction and stories that portray life as it really is, even if it isn't all pretty.

[booksthrubifocals · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written sweet romance with Christian outlook

I really enjoyed this sweet and amusing tale about a girl, Piper, from a small southern town. She is born into the town's most prominent family, who unfortunately are also well known for their scandalous behaviors. Piper's mom who is considered to be from the wrong side of the tracks marries in a shotgun wedding to a Pickwick heir. Piper and her mom remain outcasts in the family and therefore the town, and gladly leaving all behind to move to LA when she is eighteen. Twelve years later, she is a partner in a successful PR firm and dating a client, a state senator up for reelection, when she receives a call from her uncle's lawyer. Believing Uncle Obe to be near death, she reluctantly returns to her hometown at her his request. Proposed changes to his will has the family up in arms. Obe wants to make restitution for his family's misdeeds and the harm caused to members of the town. As his favorite niece, the family twists Piper's arm to talk him out of the changes. There is no love lost between her and other family members, but Piper has her own reasons to discourage her uncle's change of heart. If people begin to wonder why the estate is divided so oddly, Piper's own foolish adolescent prank may come into the light, making her an unsuitable candidate to become the senator's future wife. As she attempts to apply her PR training to her family's issues, her own perceptions begin to change, especially as she comes to know and admire her uncle's godson, Axel. Will Piper have the courage to confess and make restitution for her mistake, seeking forgiveness and paving the way for a future with Mr. Right? I enjoyed the storyline and well developed characters. The book accurately reflected a Christian viewpoint without being preachy while including many amusing scenes and acute insights into the culture. The story is told through Piper's voice, flows well, and the pace is moderate. I recommend the book for any age fan of the genre. It is uplifting and will build your faith.

[Janna Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tamara Leigh is just simply one of my favorite authors. One of a few select authors where if they write a book I want to read it - period. The only issue is that I loved her last book, "Faking Grace" SO much that it is going to take a lot to improve on that book in my opinion.

Enter "Leaving Carolina" and its heroine Piper Pickwick, oops, I mean Piper Wick. When she left home she left behind as much as she possibly could including her full last name. Home was a place that carried some awful, horrible memories and she just wanted a fresh start. Now her recluse of an Uncle (and about the only family member that was every good to her and her mother) wants to change his will to make restitution for all the wrongs that her has done to others over the years, but in the process those secrets will all get spilled in the wide open... including one of Piper's very own secrets. She must go home and try to persuade him otherwise. Let the fun begin...

The big question here is "Can people really change?" Tamara does a great job of searching out that question and all the possible answers and I enjoyed taking the trip to truth with Piper. The characters around her are great and the premise really is wonderful. I really liked this book and am looking forward to the fact that this is just book #1 in this series and more will follow with these great characters... but for me personally, Faking Grace still stands at the top of the list!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a review copy from the publisher. "Leaving Carolina" is a humorous Christian romance novel. The pacing was excellent, and I enjoyed the story so much that I didn't want to put the book down. The world-building was also excellent with details about the place and people's jobs bringing the world alive in my imagination.

The characters' relationships with each other were realistic and something I think many readers could relate to as was the core situation/problems of the book (is looking good to others worth living with secret guilt? is making peace with those that hurt you worth the potential pain?).

I enjoyed that the romance went a bit more like they do in real life with several reasonable misunderstandings followed by straightening things out as the two got to know each other. I also liked that they didn't kiss at their first impulse but that tensions were left to simmer for a bit.

The novel was written in first person present tense ("I run" versus "I ran") which usually bothers me, but I didn't even realize this until the last few pages of the novel.

The characters weren't super-spiritual or morally squeaky-clean, but God does have an impact on their lives. The novel wasn't preachy. I don't recall any cussing or swearing, and there was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this novel as well-written, clean fun.

[Nancy DeValve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really did not like the writing style and the plot was weak. A lot of the book is just about nothing much. I did like the theme of righting wrongs, not just by saying "I'm sorry" but by making restitution. Overall, even for a light read, I didn't enjoy it that much.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have lived in the South my entire life, with most of it spent in Tennessee, and just couldn't imagine livin' anywhere else. Also, I absolutely love reading books that are set in the South, especially when a writer gets it right. Tamara Leigh is just flat out a great writer anyway, and Leaving Carolina is a great start to what I'm sure will be a fabulous Southern series of books.

Growing up with a last name like Pickwick is about as Southern as it gets...we actually have a Pickwick of our own in TN. :o) Just throw in some sweet tea and pickled corn, and then, you'll be Southern to the core. Tamara did a great job of describing what it's really like down here--good home cookin', down to earth people, and a love for family and friends. But listen, this book is not just all Southern stuff. There a great deal mentioned about forgiveness, first impressions, and making amends....certainly all things that could come across as preachy, but never do.

Personally, I cannot wait to read more about this family and the town of Pickwick. Tamara's style of writing is just plain fun to read, and I can't wait to see what happens next!

[Jaycee Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, fresh, and completely southern

How on earth have I not read Tamara Leigh before?! Maybe I have and I’ve just forgotten, but this series is getting moved right up to the top of my TBR pile. Her voice is hilarious, and I normally don’t much like first person. Piper’s story and her struggles with finding her confidence, identity, and strength to tell the truth are far more significant to this story than the romance angle. Which, by the way, is pretty much perfect.

Axel is a man of integrity, and though we don’t get to read his thoughts, obviously struggles with a bit of insecurity. He has all the strength of character we want in a Christian romantic hero, and constants supports and silently prods Piper into doing the right thing of her own accord. He makes her a better person. Piper is so funny, battling her painful family-inflicted pain, secrets, and struggles with self-image. She’s so real, and you can’t help but love her.

Based on the preview of book two, we’ll be in for a similar treat with Maggie. I’m so looking forward to getting to know the whole Pickwick family better. Great characters, excellent storytelling, engrossing read!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! What a fun read and yet...it's not all light and fun. There are some serious family relationship issues to be resolved. Some of them are huge and you have to wonder how Leigh will be able to fix this maladjusted family. Does she? Not telling.

Piper Wick is a fun character. She's changed her name from Piper Pickwick --can you even imagine what she had to endure on the playground...oh wait, Piper isn't real she's the main character in this book. Leigh has brought her to life for readers though. If I were ever in Pickwick, North Carolina I'm sure I'd be looking for her.

There is a huge cast of family members in this book and they all have some kind of secret.

Then there is that yummo gardener, Axel Smith, to bad Piper is already taken.

The scenes with the pickled corn still has me wanting to taste some. I think I need to take a trip to the south and get some.

[Joleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book.

At 16 Piper and her mother left the town of Pickwick in the dust. As an adult, Piper changed her last name to Wick because the legacy of the Pickwick name was something less than desired. Neither the town nor her family ever treated them with kindness and inclusion.

One day she gets a call from her uncle's lawyer saying she needed to come back home to do damage control with regard to her uncle's will, the only family member she had fond memories of.

But her damage control includes lots of Pickwick's, and a godson/gardener who seems to be at the center of some of these problems.

Very funny book, like the last one I read by Tamara Leigh.

Highly recommend.

[Just - The romance reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-warming story about a southern girl with a troubled past, who long ago fled her hometown for the west coast in hopes of a fresh start. Now, more than a decade later Piper Pickwick is called back to her hometown, and to her family in Pickwick, North Carolina. Upon her return Piper quickly finds out that she's not the only person who has changed, and that no matter how far she ran, she's still a Pickwick and she's still a southern girl.

The story conveys a wonderful message, and the characters are very down to earth. Leaving Carolina is humorous, witty and serious all rolled in to one. I will definitely look back and say, "I loved that book!"

[Sheri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started reading after visiting NC this past summer. Nothing in this book held my appeal. So much so that I started skimming to find out if the two I figured would, would end up together. They did. And this is the first in a series? Thanks. I’ll pass.
Could have been written with high school as a setting and would make a more believable teenage girl’s book.

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. In fact, I did not even make it to the end of chapter one. I just couldn't stand to read another page.

[Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story of righting wrongs and making restitution.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

There's a good story here, but there are several points that just didn't work for me overall:

--There were so many characters introduced in the beginning that it took a little time to keep them all straight. The characters are actually all quite well developed and I get that this is the start of a series, but again it felt off.
--I love the South. But I thought this overdid the cliches of the south. It was just a little too much.
--The relationship of Piper and Grant seemed so bizarre that it kind of messed up the relationship of Piper and Axel for me.
--The first person point of view was not my favorite. I find that I usually struggle with books in first person, so this isn't a huge surprise. This was just a different style than the Tamara Leigh books I've read before. This was my first contemporary Leigh story.

Content: Completely clean. I have to admit that the Lady Godiva story made me laugh.
Language: Clean
Religous: Very Christian book from start to finish. At some points, maybe a little much for me...

Happy reading!!

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good read! I didn’t want to put it down. Sometimes Christian books feel a little too preachy and hard for me to read. The characters seem to make changes too quickly and makes me feel that the change is shallow. This book was different! Piper sticks her feet in every time her conscience seems to tell her to own up to past mistakes and that is so relatable. Human nature feels impossible to overcome sometimes and truly is without god in our lives but when you have distanced yourself from God, it can be even more difficult to make a change. Piper shows that in her inability for the majority of the book to own up to what changes she needs to make. She has distanced herself not only from God but from her family that treated her so poorly when they were all younger. So not only does Piper have to own up but she also has to learn to forgive. It was a good book although I’m not sure I’d read it over and over again.

[Charissa James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this story. From the first chapter, I was in love with the cozy southern feel and the complex characters. It was interesting to see Piper go back to her home town and face the relations that she was bullied by in her childhood. I liked that she eventually learned to get past her prejudices and forgive them. Axel was an intriguing guy. He was quiet but caring, and I liked how he helped Piper grow in her faith little by little. I also liked how he encouraged her to own up to her mistakes instead of letting someone else take the blame. I enjoyed seeing Piper and Axel's annoyed banter turn into a sweet romance as they worked together to figure out how to keep her uncle from spilling all the family's embarrassing secrets. My only complaint is that I felt like it ended too soon.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t really have anything against this book, but I would’ve liked to know that this was a Christian related book before I picked it up. That being said, I don’t have a problem with it. It was a fairly decent book, but it took me awhile to get into it, and by the time I did, I was already halfway threw the book and decided I might as well finish it. It was okay, but wasn’t great. Not typically what I read, but I had purchased the book a few years ago and never picked it up, so I did now. All in all, probably a better book for others, but not my usual favorite.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK HAS IT ALL

This is my first book by this author, and even though it is classified as a romance, it is so much more. This is the story of the Pickwick family and the small southern town they ran for generations. When one member of the family starts to right the wrongs done by other family members in the past, changes start happening to the present day Pickwicks. Good story and well written.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming Home

Piper & her mom left 12 years ago after all the scandal her father & uncles caused. She has been working in LA as a PR rep. Her one good uncle has decided to change his will & the rest if the family is up in arms. The lawyer calls her back thinking she'll agree with. Axel is her uncles godson but he's been there for her uncle. But he sparks something in her.

[Sally Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Southern chick lit! And it was a Christian book to boot. Fixin' to order some more by Tamara Leigh, because I got an Amazon gift card for Christmas and I bet I'd like to read some more things by her. Sweet book about honesty, family, and finding love where you least expect it. Most of all, it was about depending on God, and all of us can learn from that lesson.

[Beth McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny

Serious issues are addressed with humor through the dysfunctional family of the Pickwicks. Very entertaining and easy to read. You have to love the main characters as you follow them through youthful mistake that stay with them into adulthood as some of them try to make restitution for their foolishness.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carolina Memories

Running from the past is never a good idea and the Pickwicks we're experts at trying. While the story plot was a good one, the book ended abruptly with too many loose ends. Guess the next book will tie things up.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Piper’s story and could relate to being from a small town with small town secrets and the long memories when those secrets aren’t secrets anymore. It was heartening to find some members of her family had learned to live better lives.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Great writing and while largely predictable, there were some unexpected twists. Good dialogue and Christianity was present without being pushy. Real life. :)