A very special blog friend Kristy Woodson Harvey of Design Chic

asked me a while ago if I would read and review her book “Dear Carolina”

that was scheduled to launch some time in May.

It launched yesterday, May 5th.

Isn’t this cover gorgeous?!!

I am not quite finished reading the book, but so far, I must say that it is fantastic!

Kristy is an incredibly talented writer . . . This book will make you laugh and cry.

This is the beautiful Kristy.

For those of you who live in my neck of the woods, Kristy will be at

McIntyre’s Book Store at Fearrington Village on Saturday, May 16th, at 11am for a book signing.

You can get the details here.

You can go to the book signing, meet the sweet and talented Kristy, then pop next door to have

a great lunch at the fabulous Granary Restaurant.

McIntyre’s is in the beautiful area of Fearrington Village, NC.

Fearrington Village where they are famous for their Belted Galloway cows.

Also known as the “Oreo Cow”

I actually did a post about it and you can read it here.

I met the fabulous Giada De Laurentiis there when she was also doing a book signing.

I truly love this story and I have been documenting all of the wonderful Southern

quotes/colloquialisms that have made me laugh out loud!

My friend Sherri so happens to be born and raised in the same North Carolina town that Kristy grew up.

So it was fun reading the colloquialisms that I often hear from Sherri.

Here’s what some other great authors had to say about Dear Carolina.

“Characters with rich, complicated lives…beautifully shows how a family comes to be.”

—New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas

“Dear Carolina is Southern fiction at its best.

Lovely and lyrical, with the strong voices of the two female narrators

taking us deep into the heart of what being a mother is about.

It shows us that love is not without sacrifice,

and there’s little in life that doesn’t go down easier with a spoonful of jam.

Beautifully written.”—New York Times bestselling author Eileen Goudge.

Here is a little more about “Dear Carolina”:

A moving debut novel about two mothers—one biological and one adoptive—from a compelling new voice

in Southern women’s fiction.

One baby girl.

Two strong Southern women.

And the most difficult decision they’ll ever make.

Frances “Khaki” Mason has it all: a thriving interior design career, a loving husband and son,

homes in North Carolina and Manhattan—everything except the second child she has always wanted.

Jodi, her husband’s nineteen-year-old cousin, is fresh out of rehab, pregnant, and alone.

Although the two women couldn’t seem more different, they forge a lifelong connection as Khaki reaches out

to Jodi, encouraging her to have her baby.

But as Jodi struggles to be the mother she knows her daughter deserves,

she will ask Khaki the ultimate favor…

Written to baby Carolina, by both her birth mother and her adoptive one, this is a story that proves

that life circumstances shape us but don’t define us—and that families aren’t born, they’re made…

So here is the information on how you can win a $1,000 Spending Spree.

How wonderful is this giveaway.

Purchase Dear Carolina between May 5 and May 10 (pre-orders count too!)

and send proof of purchase of to readdearcarolina@gmail.com (Pictures are fine — and if you buy at a

signing just email) to be entered to win a $1,000 Shop Design Chic Shopping Spree!

And you’ll also get the Dear Carolina Companion Cookbook and fun printable quotes just for entering!

Good luck everyone.

Available for purchase at your local bookstore or:

BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND | BOOKS A MILLION | AMAZON | POWELLS | TARGET | iTUNES | GOOGLE PLAY | KOBO

This is truly a great book!

Have a great day!