South of the Buttonwood Tree by Heather Webber

Buttonwood, Alabama is home to a very special buttonwood tree and also two women who've led very different lives.  Blue Bishop has lived in Buttonwood all her life and her family's reputation has followed her every day in every way. Blue longs for a new beginning, but can't part from her sister or Marlo and Moe, who have been substitute parents for her.  Sarah Grace also would like a fresh start, but for different reasons.  Sarah Grace finds herself in a loveless marriage and wishes she had never walked away from her true love and high school sweetheart Shep, who also just happens to be back in town.  If Sarah Grace could only be her real self and open up her secrets to her family, would she find some peace in her life?  Blue and Sarah Grace have been distant acquaintances all their lives but then Blue finds a baby in the woods with a button from the Buttonwood Tree that says give this baby to Blue Bishop. Blue has longed to adopt a baby for some time, but Sarah Grace's demanding mother has decided the baby is the perfect solution to Sarah Grace's marriage problems.  Who should have the baby and more importantly, where did the baby come from?  

This magical novel is so vividly written that you can visualize the Buttonwood Tree and each colorful character as well.  I wanted to curl up and read a good book in Marlo and Moe's bookstore.  I also wanted to read one of Blue's picture books and see her illustrations.  When a book is so well written that you want to meet the characters and see where they live, I take that as a good sign.  I also liked the twist at the end and was taken by surprise in how that played out.  I hope you enjoy reading South of the Buttonwood Tree as much as I did.  Five stars!

I received this book courtesy of Forge Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.   

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