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Stay Sweet: Tales of Quirky Southern Love
Welcome to the land of sweetness, where love is served Southern-side-up. Although she’s made her home in the West for many years, part of this author’s heart still lives in the small central Georgia town where she was born. In this balm for the soul, Chris Chandler invites you into the center of her quirky, loving family via colorful childhood memories filtered through the wisdom of adulthood. This charming retelling of her favorite family tales speaks to a sense of place, belonging, and the way we’re shaped by our stories. Join Chris and her lovable tribe of Southern women on a journey of simplicity and sweetness, sink into the ease of Southern warmth, and the comfort of being known. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll be reluctant to leave and may return for seconds or thirds. Order your copy today!
186 pages, Paperback
Published May 7, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 13, 2023
Praise for Stay Sweet by Chris Chandler!
I cracked open this book on my vacation & was reverently & lovingly transported 1st to Georgia & simultaneously to my own memories of growing up in my tiny hometown in Southern California & especially my childhood spent visiting my relatives across the border in Mexicali, B.C, in the 70s & 80s.
Technology & modern doohickeys were not as readily available in Mexico as they were in California. So crossing the border, where my Nana Alfa lived was like stepping back in time 20 year—or more. I once went with Nana Alfa to visit a neighbor and this woman had swept 🧹 up the dirt floor INSIDE her home & was wetting it down to compact the dirt keep the dust from flying around. I es shocked & amazed at how ingenious it was to wet the floor & at how her adobe house was so much cooler than standing around outside, without air conditioning!
Many of the experiences Chris Chandler are so similar to mine, especially in the little details—the little green-tinged glass cola-cola bottles, yes, “made w real sugar, you had to open on the metal opener” attached to vendor’s counter & my being sent to bed early as a little girl & the adults gathering & my frustration with “being too young,” missing out on the stories they shared late into the night.
Reading Stay Sweet is taking me back to the days & memories I hold dear to my heart.
The 1st 7 chapters just whizzed by for me, in my eagerness to hear more.
I’m stepping back a little to slow down & savor each chapter. It’s not going to be easy to slow down, let me tell you!
I highly recommend this book. It is a beautiful walk down memory lane with Chis & a delightfully surprising walk down my own. Warning: you may get “misty” & warm in the cockles of your soul reliving your own family history, as you share hers.
Thank you, Chris, for this amazing championing & cherishing the stories we tell each other each & every day!
I cracked open this book on my vacation & was reverently & lovingly transported 1st to Georgia & simultaneously to my own memories of growing up in my tiny hometown in Southern California & especially my childhood spent visiting my relatives across the border in Mexicali, B.C, in the 70s & 80s.
Technology & modern doohickeys were not as readily available in Mexico as they were in California. So crossing the border, where my Nana Alfa lived was like stepping back in time 20 year—or more. I once went with Nana Alfa to visit a neighbor and this woman had swept 🧹 up the dirt floor INSIDE her home & was wetting it down to compact the dirt keep the dust from flying around. I es shocked & amazed at how ingenious it was to wet the floor & at how her adobe house was so much cooler than standing around outside, without air conditioning!
Many of the experiences Chris Chandler are so similar to mine, especially in the little details—the little green-tinged glass cola-cola bottles, yes, “made w real sugar, you had to open on the metal opener” attached to vendor’s counter & my being sent to bed early as a little girl & the adults gathering & my frustration with “being too young,” missing out on the stories they shared late into the night.
Reading Stay Sweet is taking me back to the days & memories I hold dear to my heart.
The 1st 7 chapters just whizzed by for me, in my eagerness to hear more.
I’m stepping back a little to slow down & savor each chapter. It’s not going to be easy to slow down, let me tell you!
I highly recommend this book. It is a beautiful walk down memory lane with Chis & a delightfully surprising walk down my own. Warning: you may get “misty” & warm in the cockles of your soul reliving your own family history, as you share hers.
Thank you, Chris, for this amazing championing & cherishing the stories we tell each other each & every day!
May 13, 2023
There seems to be no end of memoirs detailing childhood trauma. While we applaud individuals exposing the ills of families or whole societies, reading too many of these can seem debilitating.
Along comes Chris Chandler's depiction of the happy times she had growing up with two loving parents and visiting two sets of interesting grandparents in a small Georgia town. Her descriptions of her quirky and sometimes downright funny relatives and their ways of dealing with the world are delightful and refreshing.
Research tells us what is good for children and what is not. This book will reinforce what most of us know with specific examples of boundless love and support for growing up sane and empowered.
For parents and grandparents or anybody else who wants to read stories about characters with their individual truths in families and how they love each other.
Along comes Chris Chandler's depiction of the happy times she had growing up with two loving parents and visiting two sets of interesting grandparents in a small Georgia town. Her descriptions of her quirky and sometimes downright funny relatives and their ways of dealing with the world are delightful and refreshing.
Research tells us what is good for children and what is not. This book will reinforce what most of us know with specific examples of boundless love and support for growing up sane and empowered.
For parents and grandparents or anybody else who wants to read stories about characters with their individual truths in families and how they love each other.
July 8, 2023
This book is masterful in how it takes individual childhood memories and weaves it all into one cohesive story while covering several generations and timespans. I couldn’t put this book down. It’s warm, fuzzy, but also highly entertaining, and made me laugh and recall childhood memories of my own. Now that I’ve gotten to know Chris’ family, I’m ready for Book 2 (tell us more stories please)! Grab your favorite cup and blanket and snuggle into this great read.
October 29, 2023
This book is wonderful. It’s pages are filled with delightful stories of supportive relationships, a loving family, and fond memories. Nothing bad happens. So when real life (war, politics, injustice, stress) gets you down, pick up this book. It will help you sleep better at night and restore your faith in love, life, and humanity. As a little bonus - you will also learn a little bit about southern culture/comfort/cuisine.
May 9, 2023
"Stay Sweet" was what Chris Chandler's Grandmother Mae said when they ended a phone call. In this healing and heartwarming book, Chandler invites us to do just that--to join her as she looks back on the joy, ease, and laughter of childhood innocence. I smiled the whole time I read this book and didn't want it to end.
May 10, 2023
This book is like a generous slice of pecan pie for the soul. Yes, it's sweet, but it has a savory depth to it that satisfies our collective craving for authentic hope and deep & lasting love. These true tales of Southern family life are the perfect antidote to this era of dark & snark, of dystopia & myopia. This book is a gift we all need and deserve.
June 12, 2023
i couldn't put this book down - i read it all in one go. the stories of chris chandler's southern childhood are hilarious, unexpected and "feel good" in the most wonderful way. the diverse and loving characters are so real and well described that i feel like i grew up with them too. i highly recommend this book!
May 26, 2023
I absolutely loved reading Chris Chandlers stories from her life with family. I love how so many of her early memories have remained a consistent part of her every day. We should all be lucky enough to experience the unconditional love that Chris describes!
Congratulations on a wonderful book!
Congratulations on a wonderful book!
May 12, 2023
What a delightful tray of morsels. Each tale is a soothing ride.
May 23, 2023
Delicious reading. I couldn’t put it down. It warmed my heart and soul, brought tesrs to my eyes in the best way,made me smile and laugh out loud. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews