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The Lights of Sugarberry Cove
*Running Time => 11hrs.*
The next charming novel from 'USA Today' best-selling author Heather Webber!
Sadie Way Scott has been avoiding her family and hometown of Sugarberry Cove, Alabama since she survived a near-drowning in the lake just outside her mother’s B&B. Eight years later, Sadie is the host of a much-loved show about southern cooking and family, but despite her success, she wonders why she was saved. What is she supposed to do?
Sadie’s sister, Leala Clare, is still haunted by the guilt she feels over the night her sister almost drowned. Now, at a crossroads in her marriage, Leala has everything she ever thought she wanted - so why is she so unhappy?
When their mother suffers a minor heart attack just before Sugarberry Cove’s famous water lantern festival, the two sisters come home to run the inn while she recovers. It’s the last place either of them wants to be, but with a little help from the inn’s quirky guests, the sisters may come to terms with their strained relationships, accept the past, and rediscover a little lake magic.
'THE LIGHTS OF SUGARBERRY COVE' is a charming, delightful story of family, healing, love, and small town Southern charm.
©2021 Heather Webber (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
The next charming novel from 'USA Today' best-selling author Heather Webber!
Sadie Way Scott has been avoiding her family and hometown of Sugarberry Cove, Alabama since she survived a near-drowning in the lake just outside her mother’s B&B. Eight years later, Sadie is the host of a much-loved show about southern cooking and family, but despite her success, she wonders why she was saved. What is she supposed to do?
Sadie’s sister, Leala Clare, is still haunted by the guilt she feels over the night her sister almost drowned. Now, at a crossroads in her marriage, Leala has everything she ever thought she wanted - so why is she so unhappy?
When their mother suffers a minor heart attack just before Sugarberry Cove’s famous water lantern festival, the two sisters come home to run the inn while she recovers. It’s the last place either of them wants to be, but with a little help from the inn’s quirky guests, the sisters may come to terms with their strained relationships, accept the past, and rediscover a little lake magic.
'THE LIGHTS OF SUGARBERRY COVE' is a charming, delightful story of family, healing, love, and small town Southern charm.
©2021 Heather Webber (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published July 20, 2021
491 people are currently reading
5822 people want to read
About the author
Heather Webber
36 books4,368 followersUSA Today bestselling author Heather Webber loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book. *Heather also writes under the pen name Heather Blake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 856 reviews
July 31, 2021
EXCERPT: Sadie - '... I still have family up that way. My older sister, her husband, and their little boy live up there. And my mother owns a bed-and-breakfast cottage on the lake, and my great-uncle, who's more like a granddaddy to me, lives and works at the cottage, too.' I bit my lip to keep from saying any more, from spilling my heart onto the cutting board next to the pecans. Why was I revealing so much?
But I knew why.
The water.
I missed Sugarberry Cove.
I missed my old home.
ABOUT 'THE LIGHTS OF SUGARBERRY COVE': Sadie Way Scott has been avoiding her family and hometown of Sugarberry Cove, Alabama since she survived a near-drowning in the lake just outside her mother’s B&B. Eight years later, Sadie is the host of a much-loved show about southern cooking and family, but despite her success, she wonders why she was saved. What is she supposed to do?
Sadie’s sister, Leala Clare, is still haunted by the guilt she feels over the night her sister almost drowned. Now, at a crossroads in her marriage, Leala has everything she ever thought she wanted—so why is she so unhappy?
When their mother suffers a minor heart attack just before Sugarberry Cove’s famous water lantern festival, the two sisters come home to run the inn while she recovers. It’s the last place either of them wants to be, but with a little help from the inn’s quirky guests, the sisters may come to terms with their strained relationships, accept the past, and rediscover a little lake magic.
MY THOUGHTS: How I loved the characters in The Lights of Sugarberry Cove! I wanted to move into Sugarberry Cove and be with them. This is a story of second chances, fresh starts, and the art of recognizing what is really in our hearts.
The story is told from the perspectives of Leala Clare, and Sadie her younger sister, both characters easy to relate to and emphasize with, both strong personalities, as has their mother Susannah. So you just know that there are going to be fireworks! Each one of them thinks that they know what is best for the others, and no one wants to back off.
The other characters - Uncle Camp, Teddy, Bree, Buzzy, Iona, Connor, Will and Tucker - all have their own important roles to play, and all are well portrayed and full-bodied. Each character has their own story and these are all woven together to form an intricate and detailed tapestry designed to delight.
The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is delightful, and entrancing, but I don't think some of the magical aspects worked quite as well here as they have in this author's previous books.
There is a lot to love about this read. I loved Sadie's blog, A Southern Hankerin', which explores family recipes, and the stories behind them. What a wonderful idea, and I do wish that recipes had been included.
There are lots of life lessons to be taken away from this read, but they work beautifully in with the story so that the reader is not being 'lectured'. Some of them I have written down in my notebook, well, more than some. Sometimes I need to be reminded to count my blessings, to appreciate my family, my friends.
This story of grief, love, guilt, forgiveness and family will have you reaching for the tissues, but will leave you feeling warm and satisfied.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#TheLightsofSugarberryCove #NetGalley
I: @booksbyheather
T: @BooksbyHeather
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #fantasy #mystery #paranormal #romance
THE AUTHOR: Heather Webber, aka Heather Blake, is the author of more than twenty-five novels. She loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing a digital ARC of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
But I knew why.
The water.
I missed Sugarberry Cove.
I missed my old home.
ABOUT 'THE LIGHTS OF SUGARBERRY COVE': Sadie Way Scott has been avoiding her family and hometown of Sugarberry Cove, Alabama since she survived a near-drowning in the lake just outside her mother’s B&B. Eight years later, Sadie is the host of a much-loved show about southern cooking and family, but despite her success, she wonders why she was saved. What is she supposed to do?
Sadie’s sister, Leala Clare, is still haunted by the guilt she feels over the night her sister almost drowned. Now, at a crossroads in her marriage, Leala has everything she ever thought she wanted—so why is she so unhappy?
When their mother suffers a minor heart attack just before Sugarberry Cove’s famous water lantern festival, the two sisters come home to run the inn while she recovers. It’s the last place either of them wants to be, but with a little help from the inn’s quirky guests, the sisters may come to terms with their strained relationships, accept the past, and rediscover a little lake magic.
MY THOUGHTS: How I loved the characters in The Lights of Sugarberry Cove! I wanted to move into Sugarberry Cove and be with them. This is a story of second chances, fresh starts, and the art of recognizing what is really in our hearts.
The story is told from the perspectives of Leala Clare, and Sadie her younger sister, both characters easy to relate to and emphasize with, both strong personalities, as has their mother Susannah. So you just know that there are going to be fireworks! Each one of them thinks that they know what is best for the others, and no one wants to back off.
The other characters - Uncle Camp, Teddy, Bree, Buzzy, Iona, Connor, Will and Tucker - all have their own important roles to play, and all are well portrayed and full-bodied. Each character has their own story and these are all woven together to form an intricate and detailed tapestry designed to delight.
The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is delightful, and entrancing, but I don't think some of the magical aspects worked quite as well here as they have in this author's previous books.
There is a lot to love about this read. I loved Sadie's blog, A Southern Hankerin', which explores family recipes, and the stories behind them. What a wonderful idea, and I do wish that recipes had been included.
There are lots of life lessons to be taken away from this read, but they work beautifully in with the story so that the reader is not being 'lectured'. Some of them I have written down in my notebook, well, more than some. Sometimes I need to be reminded to count my blessings, to appreciate my family, my friends.
This story of grief, love, guilt, forgiveness and family will have you reaching for the tissues, but will leave you feeling warm and satisfied.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#TheLightsofSugarberryCove #NetGalley
I: @booksbyheather
T: @BooksbyHeather
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #fantasy #mystery #paranormal #romance
THE AUTHOR: Heather Webber, aka Heather Blake, is the author of more than twenty-five novels. She loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing a digital ARC of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 19, 2021
I loved both of this author’s prior books, but in this one the magic fell a little flat for me. I can’t put my finger on where it fell for me, but I had a hard time getting into this story and had to force myself to keep reading. I do like the magical realism and liked the story of the Lady of the Lake. Sadie and her sister Leala rush home when their mother ends up in the hospital with heart issues. Sadie left her home town 8 years ago after she miraculously survived an accident in the lake always in search of a new home base. Leala got married and is a stay at home mother to her 2 year old son, but she’s having issues in her marriage with her workaholic husband Connor. They both will find some Lake Magic when they are back home at their mother’s bed and breakfast.
October 6, 2025
Four and a half stars
Since her drowning experience and being raised to life from the lake, Sadie Way Scott has been avoiding coming back to Sugarberry Cove. These day Sadie is the host of a greatly loved Southern Cooking and family show. But she constantly wonders why she was saved that night eight years ago in the lake at Sugarberry Cove.
Her sister Leala Clare is haunted by a wish she made that night eight years ago and the ensuing guilt she feels for her part in her sister’s lake experience. Plus she is having issues in her marriage with workaholic husband Conner, who is never around when she needs him. Leala feels he barely knows their young son Tucker or her anymore. They are drifting further apart.
When their mother has a heart attack Sadie and Leala head back to Sugarberry Cove, the time is just before the lake's magic lantern festival. Sadie and Leala will need to run the inn till their mother recovers, it is the last place either of them want to be. Leala is concerned about leaving Tucker with Conner, but she really has no choice. Connor assures her it will be fine. But she worries. Some quirky guests help them deal with the past and maybe rediscover a little of the magic the lake is famous for.
Initially I wasn’t sure I wanted both Sadie and Leala’s points of view it soon drew me in to this family and their problems, dealing with their mother Susannah as well as their own issues. And there is also a romance or maybe more than one.
I am not always a fan of magic realism, but this one captured me like starlight on water.
As well as the magic realism and family issues, it contains a lot of thought- provoking homespun advice for living scattered throughout. Yet I never felt I was being lectured as it is part of the characters.
However, I am completely puzzled by this fascination with mac and cheese that occurs in the book.
This is a story of family, lost love, second chances and all with a hint of otherworldly activity helping and some interesting and quirky secondary characters. Maybe a little sweet for towards the end., but overall, I loved it. This is the third book I have read and enjoyed by this author. A recommended read.
And who could resist that beautiful cover!
Since her drowning experience and being raised to life from the lake, Sadie Way Scott has been avoiding coming back to Sugarberry Cove. These day Sadie is the host of a greatly loved Southern Cooking and family show. But she constantly wonders why she was saved that night eight years ago in the lake at Sugarberry Cove.
Her sister Leala Clare is haunted by a wish she made that night eight years ago and the ensuing guilt she feels for her part in her sister’s lake experience. Plus she is having issues in her marriage with workaholic husband Conner, who is never around when she needs him. Leala feels he barely knows their young son Tucker or her anymore. They are drifting further apart.
When their mother has a heart attack Sadie and Leala head back to Sugarberry Cove, the time is just before the lake's magic lantern festival. Sadie and Leala will need to run the inn till their mother recovers, it is the last place either of them want to be. Leala is concerned about leaving Tucker with Conner, but she really has no choice. Connor assures her it will be fine. But she worries. Some quirky guests help them deal with the past and maybe rediscover a little of the magic the lake is famous for.
Initially I wasn’t sure I wanted both Sadie and Leala’s points of view it soon drew me in to this family and their problems, dealing with their mother Susannah as well as their own issues. And there is also a romance or maybe more than one.
I am not always a fan of magic realism, but this one captured me like starlight on water.
As well as the magic realism and family issues, it contains a lot of thought- provoking homespun advice for living scattered throughout. Yet I never felt I was being lectured as it is part of the characters.
However, I am completely puzzled by this fascination with mac and cheese that occurs in the book.
This is a story of family, lost love, second chances and all with a hint of otherworldly activity helping and some interesting and quirky secondary characters. Maybe a little sweet for towards the end., but overall, I loved it. This is the third book I have read and enjoyed by this author. A recommended read.
And who could resist that beautiful cover!
November 9, 2021
💫I picked this book because I was in the mood for a happy story with a little bit of magic... It delivered exactly what I needed! It was such a sweet story with a gallery of interesting and touching characters! The setting was wonderful and the relationships between each family member felt so real. I only wish we had known Will a little more.
The ending added a welcome touch of magic. Really heartwarming!
It lost a star because of some lenghts (it's not always necessary to explain exactly why the characters feel a certain way... the readers can understand by themselves if the personalities and backgrounds are well-developped).
Fans of Sarah Addison Allen like me would appreciate this book. It has some similarities to Lost Lake.
Many thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley for the ARC!
The ending added a welcome touch of magic. Really heartwarming!
It lost a star because of some lenghts (it's not always necessary to explain exactly why the characters feel a certain way... the readers can understand by themselves if the personalities and backgrounds are well-developped).
Fans of Sarah Addison Allen like me would appreciate this book. It has some similarities to Lost Lake.
Many thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley for the ARC!
August 15, 2021
The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a charming magical realism novel with a cozy, small town feel. The characters are well-developed and endearing in all their imperfections. The storyline is very relatable, which makes the magical realism aspects even more special, endowing the everyday with a sense of hope and possibility. This is a feel-good story that also tugs on the heartstrings.
I really enjoyed this book. I'm not ashamed to say it made me cry.
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
ARC provided by for review by Netgalley.
I really enjoyed this book. I'm not ashamed to say it made me cry.
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
ARC provided by for review by Netgalley.
July 18, 2021
2.5 stars rounded up to 3. This book was so saccharin sweet to me that it became not so appealing. All of the characters were waiting on ENLIGHTENMENT and they all got it. Everything tied up in a big bow at the end. I felt the entire book lacked depth and left me wanting more.
September 27, 2021
A cute story great for an afternoon at the beach or by the pool. While it does have a magical realism element, I was looking for something a little deeper in that vein, ala The Midnight Library. Yet it does have likable characters, an uplifting message, with a little bit of pixie dust thrown in.
Recommended for those who like books where all the characters learn what they should and everyone has a happy ending.
A big thank you to Heather Webber, Forge Books, and NetGalley for providing a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.
To grab a copy of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove for yourself, head on over to www.BookShop.org – the online bookstore that gives 75% of each book’s profit margin back to independent bookshops. Find yours at https://bookshop.org/a/13638/97812507....
#TheLightsOfSugarberryCove
#HeatherWebber
#ForgeBooks
#NetGalley
#BookShop
#WomensFiction
#ContemporaryFiction
#SouthernSettings
#DesireeReads
#2021Releases
#July2021Releases
Recommended for those who like books where all the characters learn what they should and everyone has a happy ending.
A big thank you to Heather Webber, Forge Books, and NetGalley for providing a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.
To grab a copy of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove for yourself, head on over to www.BookShop.org – the online bookstore that gives 75% of each book’s profit margin back to independent bookshops. Find yours at https://bookshop.org/a/13638/97812507....
#TheLightsOfSugarberryCove
#HeatherWebber
#ForgeBooks
#NetGalley
#BookShop
#WomensFiction
#ContemporaryFiction
#SouthernSettings
#DesireeReads
#2021Releases
#July2021Releases
September 16, 2021
"History shapes us, molds us, forms us. You're where you are now because of where you've been and the choices you've made. You have to ask yourself, Am I happy? Because if not, every day is a new day to start over." 💜💪💙
Heather Webber has done it again!!! 👏
First of all, let's address this book cover. It has got to be one of the most GORGEOUS book covers I have ever seen! 😍 And yes, the book cover in this scenario is equivalent to the story; beautiful in every way.
This author has a way that draws you in and makes you fall in love with her characters, EVERY SINGLE ONE of them (even though I think my favorite characters are Uncle Camp and two year old Tucker who calls bubbles, boobies 🤣). They are imperfect; they are suffering from grief, relationship problems, financial problems, anything you can think of...which makes them feel SO REAL. You truly do grow attached.
The magical realism is beautiful and incorporated so incredibly well. Her books also have beautiful scenery backdrops that she describes in a way that makes you feel like you have already been there or want to go ASAP. I began reading this book thinking there would be NOOOOO way that I would love this book as much as "Midnight At The Blackbird Cafe", and boy was I wrong!
Sadie Way Scott is from Sugarberry Cove, Alabama but she has not been back in eight years since her drowning accident in the lake. Her sister Leala Clare feels some responsibility for Sadie's accident. Their mother has a minor heart attack and both sisters return home to the inn their mother runs on the lake. There, they all deal with family and relationship problems they have been avoiding for quite some time. "Life tended to set up speed bumps that send us veering off in other directions. If we didn't make changes, shift gears, we'd crash and burn".
This book is filled with family drama and then there is a whole lot of love. "May we always live life to the fullest. Take the trip, take the chance, make the change. Dance. Forgive. Laugh. Always love. Be the light." 💕💕💕
Heather Webber has done it again!!! 👏
First of all, let's address this book cover. It has got to be one of the most GORGEOUS book covers I have ever seen! 😍 And yes, the book cover in this scenario is equivalent to the story; beautiful in every way.
This author has a way that draws you in and makes you fall in love with her characters, EVERY SINGLE ONE of them (even though I think my favorite characters are Uncle Camp and two year old Tucker who calls bubbles, boobies 🤣). They are imperfect; they are suffering from grief, relationship problems, financial problems, anything you can think of...which makes them feel SO REAL. You truly do grow attached.
The magical realism is beautiful and incorporated so incredibly well. Her books also have beautiful scenery backdrops that she describes in a way that makes you feel like you have already been there or want to go ASAP. I began reading this book thinking there would be NOOOOO way that I would love this book as much as "Midnight At The Blackbird Cafe", and boy was I wrong!
Sadie Way Scott is from Sugarberry Cove, Alabama but she has not been back in eight years since her drowning accident in the lake. Her sister Leala Clare feels some responsibility for Sadie's accident. Their mother has a minor heart attack and both sisters return home to the inn their mother runs on the lake. There, they all deal with family and relationship problems they have been avoiding for quite some time. "Life tended to set up speed bumps that send us veering off in other directions. If we didn't make changes, shift gears, we'd crash and burn".
This book is filled with family drama and then there is a whole lot of love. "May we always live life to the fullest. Take the trip, take the chance, make the change. Dance. Forgive. Laugh. Always love. Be the light." 💕💕💕
July 20, 2021
This book is as sweet as the name Sugarberry Cove with characters that are just as sweet and lovable.
Leala and Sadie’s mother, Susannah, still owned Sugarberry Cove Bed and Breakfast but it was falling apart along with their mother.
When Susannah had a heart attack, the girls came back to help but found everything in disrepair even though there were guests staying there.
Wallpaper was peeling off the walls, the windows were filthy, and their mother was getting close to financial troubles.
Both girls who hadn’t been that close in years decided to help spruce up the place. Working together also helped bring them closer, but their mother hadn’t changed from the aloof woman that she was.
You will warm to the things happening and enjoy the stories behind the Festival of Lights that happens each year. The Water Lantern Festival is the big draw for Sugarberry Cove, and it has magical powers.
THE LIGHTS OF SUGARBERRY COVE has lovely characters and a setting you would definitely want to visit.
Anyone who needs a light read that will lift your spirits will enjoy this book.
It will also have you take a look at your life choices and know they can always be changed.
A lovely, sweet read. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Leala and Sadie’s mother, Susannah, still owned Sugarberry Cove Bed and Breakfast but it was falling apart along with their mother.
When Susannah had a heart attack, the girls came back to help but found everything in disrepair even though there were guests staying there.
Wallpaper was peeling off the walls, the windows were filthy, and their mother was getting close to financial troubles.
Both girls who hadn’t been that close in years decided to help spruce up the place. Working together also helped bring them closer, but their mother hadn’t changed from the aloof woman that she was.
You will warm to the things happening and enjoy the stories behind the Festival of Lights that happens each year. The Water Lantern Festival is the big draw for Sugarberry Cove, and it has magical powers.
THE LIGHTS OF SUGARBERRY COVE has lovely characters and a setting you would definitely want to visit.
Anyone who needs a light read that will lift your spirits will enjoy this book.
It will also have you take a look at your life choices and know they can always be changed.
A lovely, sweet read. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2021
Wishes. Choices. Destiny. All of those, or maybe none of those, have led to fragile, cracked relationships in the Scott family of Sugarberry Cove, eight years after the near-drowning of Sadie Way. Sadie left home, closing herself off to her home, her family, and love; her sister, Leala Clare, is near a breaking point in her marriage; but they both return home to their family's B&B after their mother suffers a heart attack. Will their reunion heal the fractures or break them irreparably? The hardest reviews for me to write are for the books that I love the most--it is simply too hard to put all of my feelings about the characters, the story, into words. Each and every page of this book is brimming with love and heart and warmth and laughter and tears and hope and loss and healing. All of the characters, Sadie Way, Leala Clare, Susannah, Connor, Will, Tucker, Uncle Camp, and the other lovely people who are beautifully and honestly brought to life, wedged themselves deep into my heart--I cared very much about what happened to them, and my own wish was that they would all find peace and happiness. The story is universal, one that anyone who is lucky enough to read this book will be able to relate to, because all of us have experienced grief and worry and loss, and we've all longed for ways to solve our problems, wished for things that are sometimes out of our control. But it is the magic that sets this book apart from others, a special kind of lake magic that weaves its spell on everyone who visits Sugarberry Cove, including those of us who only get to read about it. Even now, I can feel the magic that seeped into my imagination and especially into my emotions, and I feel the tingles and smile at all the memories that will stay in my heart always. I'm going to miss Sadie Way, Leala Clare, and the rest of the amazing people of Sugarberry Cove--even now I'm itching to go back and reread chapters and passages and live through those emotions all over again.
July 18, 2022
An enjoyable story with a near-death experience and a paranormal twist. Keep a tissue nearby. Author Heather Webber is excellent at writing beautiful, emotional stories.
September 30, 2021
“Life is hard, Sadie. It’s messy and full of pain and pitfalls, mistakes and regrets. But it’s also full of hope and happiness and love and faith. It’s kind of like my garden. It needs nurturing and tending and caring. You get out of it what you put into it. Sometimes relationships are like that, too. You get out of them what you put in.”
“Where there is dark, there is light; where there is light, there is life; where there is life, there is love; where there is love, there is healing. May we never forget how lucky we are to be here together."
This is the second book I have read by Heather Webber and I just want to say that I love how she uses the magical realism element in her story. Beautiful. Mesmerisingly beautiful and heart touching. She gives a fairy tale like quality to her stories which are set in a small town and are about normal, everyday people and their hopes, dreams, loves, losses and faith. I smiled, laughed and cried with all the characters in this book. The
Lights of Sugarberry Cove was a joy to read ❤️!
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher MacMillan-Tor/Forge and the author for the e-Arc of the book to read and review.
“Where there is dark, there is light; where there is light, there is life; where there is life, there is love; where there is love, there is healing. May we never forget how lucky we are to be here together."
This is the second book I have read by Heather Webber and I just want to say that I love how she uses the magical realism element in her story. Beautiful. Mesmerisingly beautiful and heart touching. She gives a fairy tale like quality to her stories which are set in a small town and are about normal, everyday people and their hopes, dreams, loves, losses and faith. I smiled, laughed and cried with all the characters in this book. The
Lights of Sugarberry Cove was a joy to read ❤️!
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher MacMillan-Tor/Forge and the author for the e-Arc of the book to read and review.
January 1, 2024
I usually enjoy Heather Webber's books quite a lot but with this one I struggled a bit. It's strange because it did have everything I usually enjoy. A cozy setting someone where everyone knows everyone. Family members that have drifted apart and some magic realism thrown in the mix. But, this book was just so-so for me. It was only towards the end that I really felt that it was working the same way it usually did. I don't say it is a bad book. For the right person, it's great. I just didn't love it like I've loved the previous books I've read by Webber.
March 30, 2021
Oh be still my heart. I LOVED THIS BOOK! IT was so great. So down home, I was expecting some homemade mac and cheese and a hug. The characters were well developed, the scenery was so great, I thought I was truly at a lake.
The story needed a bit more work, some of the beginning stuff was a jumble, however, OVERALL a wonderfully great book with magic, improbabilities, and learning to start over again.
TWO THUMBS WAY UP!
The story needed a bit more work, some of the beginning stuff was a jumble, however, OVERALL a wonderfully great book with magic, improbabilities, and learning to start over again.
TWO THUMBS WAY UP!
July 23, 2021
This charming, cozy, down-to-earth story had just enough magical realism to make me believe in the power of wishes. Full of small town Southern charm and a smidge of magically whimsy, THE LIGHTS OF SUGARBERRY COVE is a heartwarming story about second chances and finding your way back home. Even if home isn't what you expected it to be. The characters were well developed, the writing was imaginative and the story was easy to get lost in.
“Perhaps if you stopped looking for the meaning to life, you’d really that there is no meaning other than to live a meaningful life. Love your life.”
(I enjoyed 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦 and 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦 as well)
Thank you to Forge for the free, early copy.
“Perhaps if you stopped looking for the meaning to life, you’d really that there is no meaning other than to live a meaningful life. Love your life.”
(I enjoyed 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦 and 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦 as well)
Thank you to Forge for the free, early copy.
August 11, 2021
Thank you, Forge Books, for my gifted copy of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove! {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Magical Realism
Pub Date: 7.20.21
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
“Perhaps if you stopped looking for the meaning to life, you’d really that there is no meaning other than to live a meaningful life. Love your life.”
Heather Webber has done it again. I have no idea how she always manages to write such deeply imaginative and thoughtful books, but she does, and I keep reading them, loving them and wishing I could transport myself within the pages of the story. I didn’t think anything could top Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, but Sugarberry Cove has done just that. Sadie, Leala, Susannah, Teddy, Bree, Buzzy, Uncle Camps, Connor, Iona, and Tucker are characters that will take me a very long time to forget.
I will say that The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is meant to be savored so take your time while reading the book; each page and character has something unique to offer the storyline, and it’s best to take your time, get to know the book, the characters, and get lost in the story. Reading this novel almost felt like a mini-vacation as it took me out of my struggles and distracted me with magic. I can’t recommend it enough.
✨ Magical Realism in all its pure and beautiful glory
❤️ Characters I will cherish, always
📖 A book that I will likely reread
💪🏼 Lessons on loss, moving on, and accepting that life isn’t always the way we thought it would be
🥺 An ending that will leave you in tears
I recommend you read the Lights of Sugarberry Cove if you’re a fan of Virgin River, Fried Green Tomatoes, Steel Magnolias, or any of Webber’s other novels.
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Genre: Fiction
Trope: Magical Realism
Pub Date: 7.20.21
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
“Perhaps if you stopped looking for the meaning to life, you’d really that there is no meaning other than to live a meaningful life. Love your life.”
Heather Webber has done it again. I have no idea how she always manages to write such deeply imaginative and thoughtful books, but she does, and I keep reading them, loving them and wishing I could transport myself within the pages of the story. I didn’t think anything could top Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, but Sugarberry Cove has done just that. Sadie, Leala, Susannah, Teddy, Bree, Buzzy, Uncle Camps, Connor, Iona, and Tucker are characters that will take me a very long time to forget.
I will say that The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is meant to be savored so take your time while reading the book; each page and character has something unique to offer the storyline, and it’s best to take your time, get to know the book, the characters, and get lost in the story. Reading this novel almost felt like a mini-vacation as it took me out of my struggles and distracted me with magic. I can’t recommend it enough.
✨ Magical Realism in all its pure and beautiful glory
❤️ Characters I will cherish, always
📖 A book that I will likely reread
💪🏼 Lessons on loss, moving on, and accepting that life isn’t always the way we thought it would be
🥺 An ending that will leave you in tears
I recommend you read the Lights of Sugarberry Cove if you’re a fan of Virgin River, Fried Green Tomatoes, Steel Magnolias, or any of Webber’s other novels.
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....
Follow my blog: https://thebookenddiner.com/
April 28, 2022
This is the first book I have read by Heather Webber and now I am wondering why I've waited so long.
You could say Sugarberry Cove is a place of magic, a place of new beginnings.second chance relationships. Sisters, Sadie Way Cross and Leala Clare do not have the best relationship with their mother, she raised them as a single parent while running a bed and breakfast on the shores of the lake. After almost drowning there years ago Sadie moves away wanting no reminders of her time there.
The story will give you all the feels as you read about Sadie coming back to Sugarberry when her mother has a heart attack. She may not even admit it to herself but Sadie actually missed Sugarberry and reminisces about good times there.
Leala never left Sugarberry, instead staying there,marrying and having a child.
Sadie assumes she is happy there and all is well, but is it?
Dealing with mending relationships and they really talk , this mother and daughters based book is brimming with love,compassion and truths revealed you won't want to miss, The Lights of Sugarberry Cove.
Pub Date: 20 Jul 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
You could say Sugarberry Cove is a place of magic, a place of new beginnings.second chance relationships. Sisters, Sadie Way Cross and Leala Clare do not have the best relationship with their mother, she raised them as a single parent while running a bed and breakfast on the shores of the lake. After almost drowning there years ago Sadie moves away wanting no reminders of her time there.
The story will give you all the feels as you read about Sadie coming back to Sugarberry when her mother has a heart attack. She may not even admit it to herself but Sadie actually missed Sugarberry and reminisces about good times there.
Leala never left Sugarberry, instead staying there,marrying and having a child.
Sadie assumes she is happy there and all is well, but is it?
Dealing with mending relationships and they really talk , this mother and daughters based book is brimming with love,compassion and truths revealed you won't want to miss, The Lights of Sugarberry Cove.
Pub Date: 20 Jul 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
June 23, 2021
The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber is a sweet read. Well it is set in Sugarberry Cove after all!
It's about a mother and her two daughters told from the two daughters point of view. Sadie and Leala. All three are in hard places of various kinds and it takes coming together to sort out all the grief and events that have walled them off from each other and love.
There is a variety of characters who all play there part in making this story a heart warming one with moments of grief. I especially loved the wisdom of Uncle Camp and the child joy of Tucker.
And is has a smidgeon or more of magical realism, something I am a little partial to. I didn't see how the final twist of this aspect was going to turn out but I loved it.
Family, found family, guilt, grief and love all mingle to make this a book I was sorry to see the ending arrive.
It's about a mother and her two daughters told from the two daughters point of view. Sadie and Leala. All three are in hard places of various kinds and it takes coming together to sort out all the grief and events that have walled them off from each other and love.
There is a variety of characters who all play there part in making this story a heart warming one with moments of grief. I especially loved the wisdom of Uncle Camp and the child joy of Tucker.
And is has a smidgeon or more of magical realism, something I am a little partial to. I didn't see how the final twist of this aspect was going to turn out but I loved it.
Family, found family, guilt, grief and love all mingle to make this a book I was sorry to see the ending arrive.
August 19, 2023
Another win for this genre and this author. I was completely swept away and my emotions were alive, all of them.
Such a sweet and magical tale of love, hope, forgiveness, loss and again, love.
It was beautiful.
Such a sweet and magical tale of love, hope, forgiveness, loss and again, love.
It was beautiful.
July 14, 2021
Reading this book was like coming home and being wrapped in the warm glow of a hug.
This new novel by Heather Webber has a cast of unforgettable characters that you won't forget in a hurry (looking at you, Tuck and Nigel!). I love the small town set by the lake, and all of the local legends that come along with it. Being a foodie, I LOVED all of the Southern Hankerin' video scenes. This book has a whole lot of heart and more than a lot of magic. I think it's even better than Heather Webber's previous two standalones, although those are very much worth checking out as well.
Thank you, Netgalley, for my arc!
This new novel by Heather Webber has a cast of unforgettable characters that you won't forget in a hurry (looking at you, Tuck and Nigel!). I love the small town set by the lake, and all of the local legends that come along with it. Being a foodie, I LOVED all of the Southern Hankerin' video scenes. This book has a whole lot of heart and more than a lot of magic. I think it's even better than Heather Webber's previous two standalones, although those are very much worth checking out as well.
Thank you, Netgalley, for my arc!
December 21, 2022
Genres: Magical Realism/Contemporary
I've read a hand full of books by this author and for the most part, I have really enjoyed them. This one however, was my least favorite. The characters were all blended into the same thing....anger and no control over their lives that seem to spinning in the opposite direction they'd like to travel. It was too much of the same thing. So 2 stars.
I've read a hand full of books by this author and for the most part, I have really enjoyed them. This one however, was my least favorite. The characters were all blended into the same thing....anger and no control over their lives that seem to spinning in the opposite direction they'd like to travel. It was too much of the same thing. So 2 stars.
October 28, 2022
Very light, well-intentioned characters… happily ever after all of the way. Touches of magic, threaded with homilies that love makes everything wonderful for everyone in the end and all will be healed. Not quite as creative as more recent books I’ve read by this author, but a pleasant time filler.
April 13, 2022
I enjoyed, Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, more. This was a bit too sweet for me. A cute story nonetheless.
July 26, 2021
Sometimes it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission!
Alongside Midnight at the Blackbird Café and South of the Buttonwood Tree, The Lights of Sugarberry Cove earn a three’s the charm award. Heather Webber is a magical realism whiz, and I love all those touches of atmospheric magic that appear in her awe-inspiring writing style that offers comfort, joy and happiness.
In her latest, the welcome mat is laid out extending a hearty southern-style greeting to Susannah Scott’s Sugarberry Cottage, a bed & breakfast in the small tourist town of Sugarberry Cove, Alabama – where there’s always a sense of magic in the air – and a bit of mystery, too.
No matter how far you go, home is where the heart is -- even more so when it involves a mother’s failing health and broken family ties in need of mending and forgiveness. Two sisters – the younger a creative tumbleweed and the older a by-the-book-of-rules personality, Sadie Way Scott and Leala Clare Keesling narrate this story through alternating chapters.
According to folklore, Lady Laurel – the lady of the lake -- grants wishes every August during the annual lantern festival that celebrates the power of love. Eight years ago, a trio of selfish and self-centered wishes came true – splitting a family apart. Sometimes it takes a big spoonful of life’s bitterness before we can fully appreciate the sweetness.
As per my usual stance on avoiding spoilers, I’m not going to retell the author’s story. Read the blurb – if you must! Although sometimes it’s okay to judge a book by its cover – especially if it’s by this talented author. I assure you that the pages are overflowing with richly drawn characters in a deeply human story about family and friends, self-discovery, and most of all – the magical healing power of love. Everyone can use a little magic in their life.
The test of a truly good book is the dread you feel reading the last chapter. This one reached extraordinary status as it encircled my heart and squeezed tightly. Reaching those final pages found me wishing that it would never end. With a little lake magic and The Lights of Sugarberry Cove, readers will find a great way to add a sprinkle of magic and extra sunshine in their day!
October 11, 2023
Is there anything better than reading a new book from a new favorite author? I think not. Heather Webber won me over with Midnight at The Blackbird Café and sealed the deal with South of the Buttonwood Tree. I LOVE The Lights of Sugarberry Cove.
Sadie left her hometown of Sugarberry Cove years ago. But what is the true “why” behind her departure? Her sister, Leala, has everything she wants, so why is she so unhappy? This story beautifully unfolds the complexities of our decisions, our relationships, our pasts, and our path to the future we truly desire.
After they both return home to help their mother with her B&B, they discover they have closed themselves off from the love, family, and peace they both want. This book is full of well-developed characters in a beautiful setting on a magical lake. The characters work their way into your heart. The story is universal. We all experience worry and loss at some point in our lives, and we all want to find resolution, peace, and joy.
Weaving in the lantern festival, a magical lake, and a double surprise ending makes this book shine. Webber’s use of light magical realism will keep you smiling. There are too many great moments and feels to describe. Just read it!
I have no doubt I’ll read it again this year. It’s that special. I’ve already recommended it to several friends and will continue to recommend not only The Light of Sugarberry Cove but all of Webber’s books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Forge Books with an ARC in exchange for my review.
Sadie left her hometown of Sugarberry Cove years ago. But what is the true “why” behind her departure? Her sister, Leala, has everything she wants, so why is she so unhappy? This story beautifully unfolds the complexities of our decisions, our relationships, our pasts, and our path to the future we truly desire.
After they both return home to help their mother with her B&B, they discover they have closed themselves off from the love, family, and peace they both want. This book is full of well-developed characters in a beautiful setting on a magical lake. The characters work their way into your heart. The story is universal. We all experience worry and loss at some point in our lives, and we all want to find resolution, peace, and joy.
Weaving in the lantern festival, a magical lake, and a double surprise ending makes this book shine. Webber’s use of light magical realism will keep you smiling. There are too many great moments and feels to describe. Just read it!
I have no doubt I’ll read it again this year. It’s that special. I’ve already recommended it to several friends and will continue to recommend not only The Light of Sugarberry Cove but all of Webber’s books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Forge Books with an ARC in exchange for my review.
July 24, 2021
I just love this author's books. They are pure magic!
November 9, 2022
RATING: 3.5 stars
The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a charming and sweet, mystical realism novel about family and healing. An entertaining read for when something light is required.
The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a charming and sweet, mystical realism novel about family and healing. An entertaining read for when something light is required.
March 22, 2021
Looking for some light in your life? Visit Sugarberry Cove, or even just read this book. A family torn by an accident eight years finds the potential to heal after coming back together when the mother has an heart attack. Written with Heather Webber's sure touch of creating characters that we care about and a sprinkling of magical realism. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this delightful book in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2023
There's something so special about Heather Webber's writing. It draws you in and makes you feel like you're part of the family. I've read everything I could get my hands on by her since reading Midnight At the Blackbird Cafe a year ago.
At it's heart this book is about hope, love, the power of believing wishes can come true, and knowing you can come home. Every year, the people of Sugarberry Cove float paper lanterns on the lake with their wishes. This is Sadie's first year back for the festival since a near drowning experience when she was eighteen. She's been traveling, doing a cooking show, and trying to find a meaning to why she was saved. After her mother suffers a heart attack, Sadie comes home and reconnects with her mother and sister.
I loved everything about this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
At it's heart this book is about hope, love, the power of believing wishes can come true, and knowing you can come home. Every year, the people of Sugarberry Cove float paper lanterns on the lake with their wishes. This is Sadie's first year back for the festival since a near drowning experience when she was eighteen. She's been traveling, doing a cooking show, and trying to find a meaning to why she was saved. After her mother suffers a heart attack, Sadie comes home and reconnects with her mother and sister.
I loved everything about this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 14, 2021
THE LIGHTS OF SUGARBERRY COVE
Heather Webber
So, this was a sweet story that included romance, dissatisfied sisters, magic, a lake, and a bed and breakfast. Two sisters, one LC, and the other Sadie come home because Mom has a heart attack.
The magic has sparkles around it and the book turned sappy sweet as it neared the end. There was one passage when they were lighting candles on the lake that the word love was used 100s of times, I thought it was banal.
Everything is buttercup perfect in this story and you can hear the magic tinkle around the words. I used it as a filler read, and it was ok.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
Heather Webber
So, this was a sweet story that included romance, dissatisfied sisters, magic, a lake, and a bed and breakfast. Two sisters, one LC, and the other Sadie come home because Mom has a heart attack.
The magic has sparkles around it and the book turned sappy sweet as it neared the end. There was one passage when they were lighting candles on the lake that the word love was used 100s of times, I thought it was banal.
Everything is buttercup perfect in this story and you can hear the magic tinkle around the words. I used it as a filler read, and it was ok.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
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