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Love, Charleston
Charleston's past is full of romance. Does Anne's future hold the same?
Charleston's Anne Brumley has long dreamed of love while ringing the bells at St. Michael's, but those dreams are beginning to fade. Her sister Alisha and cousin Della encourage the thirty-six year old to move somewhere new for a fresh start.
Widower Roy Summerall has happily ministered to the country folks of Church of the Good Shepherd for years. So why would the Lord call him and his daughter away to Charleston--the city that Roy remembers from his childhood as pretentious and superficial? Surely the refined congregation of St. Michael's won't accept a reverend with a red neck and a simple faith.
Meanwhile, Anne's sister, Alisha, struggles with her husband's ambition, which seems to be taking him further from their dreams of a happy family. And Cousin Della's former fiance has returned to Charleston, making her wonder if she chose the wrong path when she married her gifted but unemployed-artist husband.
Family, friendship, and faith converge in a beautiful story about how God's transforming love works in the Holy City of Charleston.
Charleston's Anne Brumley has long dreamed of love while ringing the bells at St. Michael's, but those dreams are beginning to fade. Her sister Alisha and cousin Della encourage the thirty-six year old to move somewhere new for a fresh start.
Widower Roy Summerall has happily ministered to the country folks of Church of the Good Shepherd for years. So why would the Lord call him and his daughter away to Charleston--the city that Roy remembers from his childhood as pretentious and superficial? Surely the refined congregation of St. Michael's won't accept a reverend with a red neck and a simple faith.
Meanwhile, Anne's sister, Alisha, struggles with her husband's ambition, which seems to be taking him further from their dreams of a happy family. And Cousin Della's former fiance has returned to Charleston, making her wonder if she chose the wrong path when she married her gifted but unemployed-artist husband.
Family, friendship, and faith converge in a beautiful story about how God's transforming love works in the Holy City of Charleston.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2010
30 people are currently reading
525 people want to read
About the author
Beth Webb Hart
10 books87 followersBeth Webb Hart holds a B.A. in English Literature from Hollins College and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. Her first novel, Grace at Low Tide, was one of three finalists for the 2006 Christy Awards in the general/contemporary fiction category. She lectures on a variety of topics and has taught creative writing on the college and high school level. She serves as a writer-in-residence at Ashley Hall in Charleston, SC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
May 16, 2019
Hart's story will keep readers interested from the beginning, and the characters shine with Southern charm. Yet much of the action takes place outside of the scope of the book, it makes the reader feel as if important chapters have been skipped and makes the pace of the story choppy. Overall, it is a heartwarming tale with some touching moments dealing with the realities of mental illness.
SUMMARY: Charleston is home to sisters Anne and Della and their cousin Lish. Anne is frustrated waiting on God for a husband while watching her sister and cousin marry and raise their children. Della harbors some jealousy at Lish's ideal wealthy life while Della's family struggles to make ends meet. Their new minister, Roy Summerall, seems like he might be able to help all of the women with their troubles, but he has issues of his own. How will God help each of them find their way?
SUMMARY: Charleston is home to sisters Anne and Della and their cousin Lish. Anne is frustrated waiting on God for a husband while watching her sister and cousin marry and raise their children. Della harbors some jealousy at Lish's ideal wealthy life while Della's family struggles to make ends meet. Their new minister, Roy Summerall, seems like he might be able to help all of the women with their troubles, but he has issues of his own. How will God help each of them find their way?
November 9, 2010
From the publisher: Family, friendship and faith converge in a beautiful story about how God’s transforming love works in the Holy City of Charleston.
If you tend to pick a story based on the back cover and the first chapter, and don’t much like to be surprised, you’ll find Love, Charleston, rather a surprise.
The back cover claims a Jan Karon-esque story line about a lonely Episcopal priest, Roy Summerall, sent to Charleston and encouraged by his friends and family, which includes a precocious daughter, to find a new soul mate. Spinster Anne has long dreamed of love…and so on. Unfortunately, Anne’s sister Alisha has more than “issues” with her husband’s ambitions and hijacks the story early on, forcing all of the characters to revolve around her. Anne and Alisha’s cousin, Della, is the one with “issues,” and what should have been the pivot, the fact that these four people have a history, is shunted aside by only passing mention.
Love, Charleston is really the story of two marriages: one seemingly weak and one apparently strong, and how they eventually change places. The reader is present for the conception of the third marriage between Roy and Anne, but we never get to know Anne. Roy and his daughter are beyond too good to be true; although for me, the best parts of the book were Roy’s country-boy attempts to fit in with the high-society crowd.
For Alisha, Anne’s sister, and Della, their cousin, painful and disturbing medical and emotional troubles bubble to the surface. Lish and her husband, the “doctors Sublime” in Della’s view, have it all—the house Della was raised in, plenty of money, two children with a third on the way and no worries, while Della and her husband, who is currently out of work, can hardly make the mortgage and barely afford one child, let alone the houseful that Della desires. Even though the cousins are close, they are not close enough to see the warts under the skin, and when Lish’s world crumbles, it threatens to take Della and Anne with it.
Anne, who is the faithful one of the girls, Roy, and Della, who has had a long-standing argument with God, rally to help Lish, with all four of them conquering their demons.
Although the story was lovely, it felt like a series of vignettes instead of a cohesive entity. I would have been content with a meatier tale tackling at most two of the stories instead of threads of all three. Anne was a fascinating character who deserved more, as did the city of Charleston, which felt more like a travelogue than a setting. Readers who like stories of broken people put back together again with the help of family and friends will find ample heartache and faith in Love, Charleston.
If you tend to pick a story based on the back cover and the first chapter, and don’t much like to be surprised, you’ll find Love, Charleston, rather a surprise.
The back cover claims a Jan Karon-esque story line about a lonely Episcopal priest, Roy Summerall, sent to Charleston and encouraged by his friends and family, which includes a precocious daughter, to find a new soul mate. Spinster Anne has long dreamed of love…and so on. Unfortunately, Anne’s sister Alisha has more than “issues” with her husband’s ambitions and hijacks the story early on, forcing all of the characters to revolve around her. Anne and Alisha’s cousin, Della, is the one with “issues,” and what should have been the pivot, the fact that these four people have a history, is shunted aside by only passing mention.
Love, Charleston is really the story of two marriages: one seemingly weak and one apparently strong, and how they eventually change places. The reader is present for the conception of the third marriage between Roy and Anne, but we never get to know Anne. Roy and his daughter are beyond too good to be true; although for me, the best parts of the book were Roy’s country-boy attempts to fit in with the high-society crowd.
For Alisha, Anne’s sister, and Della, their cousin, painful and disturbing medical and emotional troubles bubble to the surface. Lish and her husband, the “doctors Sublime” in Della’s view, have it all—the house Della was raised in, plenty of money, two children with a third on the way and no worries, while Della and her husband, who is currently out of work, can hardly make the mortgage and barely afford one child, let alone the houseful that Della desires. Even though the cousins are close, they are not close enough to see the warts under the skin, and when Lish’s world crumbles, it threatens to take Della and Anne with it.
Anne, who is the faithful one of the girls, Roy, and Della, who has had a long-standing argument with God, rally to help Lish, with all four of them conquering their demons.
Although the story was lovely, it felt like a series of vignettes instead of a cohesive entity. I would have been content with a meatier tale tackling at most two of the stories instead of threads of all three. Anne was a fascinating character who deserved more, as did the city of Charleston, which felt more like a travelogue than a setting. Readers who like stories of broken people put back together again with the help of family and friends will find ample heartache and faith in Love, Charleston.
January 10, 2011
A nice refreshing story about three women who encounter 'real' life problems... really enjoyed the descriptions of Charleston!!!
August 31, 2024
I wanted to give this book a 4 star because I thought it was well written, but each storyline could almost have it's own book. There was a lot in this book that could have been expanded. As the pages dwindled I kept thinking, but there's more to read about. The last few chapters it felt like, let's wrap this up. For instance, one secondary character, I was hoping to learn what his motive was in how he acted. And, there became a budding romance but it wasn't explored much. So, I really enjoyed reading this book but it felt like there needs to be a sequel to flesh out the rest of the stories.
January 8, 2023
Sweet story of two sisters and their cousin, as well as a reluctant widowed pastor all of whom God put together in the wonderful city of Charleston to heal each other. Father Roy Summerall is called to be the Rector of St. Michael’s the stately historic downtown church in Charleston. Never married, Anne Brumley is a bell ringer at said church. Her sister, Lish and cousin, Della live nearby and all of them are going through major crisis in their lives, but the good Lord has an amazing plan for them all.
November 12, 2017
I expected this to be a light, cheesy story. Instead, it was clearly about the value of female friendships and the hardships of depression. How can we reach out and support each other, even in time of extreme sickness? This book showed how compassion and friendship are truly essential in life. A pleasantly surprising read!
June 15, 2024
While this book is just like how I would picture a southern twist being, it seemed to skip around a bit more than I would’ve liked and almost made it seem as if some important parts were outside of the south. I did enjoy this book very much, but it felt like it needed to be read before publication..
July 29, 2017
This was the first Beth Webb Hart book I've read, and I loved it! Beautiful setting, (Charleston, SC), deep and real issues, and complex characters. I enjoyed reading about Anne, Roy, Lish, Della, and Peter!
May 8, 2018
It was good. Three girl cousins who spent summers in Charleston with their grandmother, all different. This book explores post partum depression deeply. The cousins are still close and come together to help one of them heal.
August 5, 2018
I was expecting a fun beach read for vacation. The blurb on the back of the book was COMPLETELY different from what the book was actually about. I forced myself to keep reading but had I known what this book was actually like, I would have passed. Consider yourself warned.
June 13, 2020
This story was not really what I was expecting, but I still liked it. I picked up this book on a bargain table years ago because it was set where I had just been on my honeymoon. It was neat to read about places and streets where I've actually been.
March 29, 2021
Read in a day and a half. Touches on lots of different emotions, with Bible verses to combat the things going on( no spoilers here). This was my first time reading from this author I’ve order more books!
August 7, 2017
This was a wonderful book! I will read more of hers. A realistic story, no fairy tale, with life depicted with its ups and downs.
January 23, 2020
Great book .
March 19, 2020
Another great book by this author. She tackles some tough subjects (postpartum depression) but handles them with faith and hope.
March 16, 2017
Great read. there are a lot of spiritual lessons here. Love the attention to detail in this novel also. having never traveled much, I found myself wanting to go to Charleston and smell the salt air and eat from the loquat tree. Hart paints a vivid portrait of the city: its smells, sounds and the overall cadence of the ancient city. you also get a history lesson on the church and the struggles of the parishoners in the early days of settlement. Hart wevesa it all together with poise and southern grace leaving the reader satisfied yet wanting more.
September 2, 2010
I absolutely, positively LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. It is now one of my absolute favorites & I'm going to recommend it to everyone I know! This book is amazing. I was going to sit here & type out a long review. But first, I want to introduce you separately to the characters, because I fell in love with all but one!
Della- I would have to say that she is my favorite. She is placed in the position where she basically has to choose money over love, and I am so proud of her for her decision because it was heart-warming and tear-jerking, all at the same time. She cares so much for her daughter Cozy and she also cares deeply for her cousin, Lish. I loved her the most and I guarantee you will fall in love with her as well.
Roy- I was disappointed that I didn't get to see much from his point of view, there were some, but not as many as I would have liked. But, you also fall in love with his character. He's a widower and his daughter Rose desperately wants a mother. His word from God convinces him to come pastor at the church in Charleston and he's iffy at first, but God convinces him to go. Rose is adorable and you can tell she loves her father very much. The two of them are the perfect daughter and father & you'll cling to them and their pain through the whole book.
Lish- I thought at first she wasn't going to become one of my favorites and although she didn't, she's still the one I feel sorry for. She's going through a lot. At first she is so happy and content with her "perfect life", I mean for Heaven's sake, she and her husband are doctors, two beautiful children and another baby girl on the way. What more could she ask for? But you'll learn, she's not as perfect as you think. You cry for her, you laugh for her, but most of all you pray for her character because she needs it more than any of them do.
Drew- Not much to say about him, honestly. Because what I want to say will automatically give it away, but let me tell you, if you're like me, you will know what he's going to do the second you are introduced to him. He's not what I call a good husband.
Last but not least, Anne. You don't get to know much about her either besides that she rings the bells for the church, but she does fall in love and you fall in love right with her. It's magical and you will cry, trust me.
I loved this book not only for the love and the tears that it brought, but for the story that it told. It was NOT a preachy book, and to be honest I was scared of that when I first read about it. But no, it's a love story if anything. Not just a love story about a man and a women, but the love of family. & That's why I love this book so much!
Della- I would have to say that she is my favorite. She is placed in the position where she basically has to choose money over love, and I am so proud of her for her decision because it was heart-warming and tear-jerking, all at the same time. She cares so much for her daughter Cozy and she also cares deeply for her cousin, Lish. I loved her the most and I guarantee you will fall in love with her as well.
Roy- I was disappointed that I didn't get to see much from his point of view, there were some, but not as many as I would have liked. But, you also fall in love with his character. He's a widower and his daughter Rose desperately wants a mother. His word from God convinces him to come pastor at the church in Charleston and he's iffy at first, but God convinces him to go. Rose is adorable and you can tell she loves her father very much. The two of them are the perfect daughter and father & you'll cling to them and their pain through the whole book.
Lish- I thought at first she wasn't going to become one of my favorites and although she didn't, she's still the one I feel sorry for. She's going through a lot. At first she is so happy and content with her "perfect life", I mean for Heaven's sake, she and her husband are doctors, two beautiful children and another baby girl on the way. What more could she ask for? But you'll learn, she's not as perfect as you think. You cry for her, you laugh for her, but most of all you pray for her character because she needs it more than any of them do.
Drew- Not much to say about him, honestly. Because what I want to say will automatically give it away, but let me tell you, if you're like me, you will know what he's going to do the second you are introduced to him. He's not what I call a good husband.
Last but not least, Anne. You don't get to know much about her either besides that she rings the bells for the church, but she does fall in love and you fall in love right with her. It's magical and you will cry, trust me.
I loved this book not only for the love and the tears that it brought, but for the story that it told. It was NOT a preachy book, and to be honest I was scared of that when I first read about it. But no, it's a love story if anything. Not just a love story about a man and a women, but the love of family. & That's why I love this book so much!
January 6, 2011
First, I have to comment on the cover of this book. It's dreamy! Looking at the cover and reading the author's descriptions of the city of Charleston make you long to live in a city with so much history and variety.
This is the first book I have read by Beth Webb Hart. She has a very good writing style. Beth is a master story teller keeping the reader's interest. I enjoyed the dialogue between all the characters of the book. It was real.
A few things I would like to mention that stood out to me. Prior to reading the book, I read the above description from Goodreads as well as the back cover of the actual book. I had the impression the book was about a character named Anne and the widower, Roy and their story. At the beginning of the book, both characters were introduced as well as some "secondary" characters. But shortly into the book, the two main "secondary" characters became the primary story lines. This confused me after a bit and I was anxious to get back to Anne and Roy's story. They did not pick back up until shortly before the story ended and their story was not really developed. I felt a bit cheated.
Overall, I felt there were too many story lines for one book and was a bit disappointed that the main characters, Anne and Roy, were not given the spotlight. But, I wouldn't let that discourage you from picking up this book and reading it for a number of reasons. After all, I read all the way through because it intrigued me to some extent. I wanted to find out what happened to everyone. Beth writes in such a way to keep you interested. The story lines all flowed and were very easy to follow. Each story line has an element of real-life issues that many people deal with on a daily basis and may be of encouragement to someone experiencing some of the same types of situations.
Pick up a copy of Love, Charleston here.
**Disclaimer - This book was received through Goodreads First Reads giveaway program. Prerelease books are listed for giveaway by publishers and authors, and members can enter to win. Winners are picked randomly at the end of the giveaway. These thoughts are my own opinion and expressed independently of the publisher and author.
This is the first book I have read by Beth Webb Hart. She has a very good writing style. Beth is a master story teller keeping the reader's interest. I enjoyed the dialogue between all the characters of the book. It was real.
A few things I would like to mention that stood out to me. Prior to reading the book, I read the above description from Goodreads as well as the back cover of the actual book. I had the impression the book was about a character named Anne and the widower, Roy and their story. At the beginning of the book, both characters were introduced as well as some "secondary" characters. But shortly into the book, the two main "secondary" characters became the primary story lines. This confused me after a bit and I was anxious to get back to Anne and Roy's story. They did not pick back up until shortly before the story ended and their story was not really developed. I felt a bit cheated.
Overall, I felt there were too many story lines for one book and was a bit disappointed that the main characters, Anne and Roy, were not given the spotlight. But, I wouldn't let that discourage you from picking up this book and reading it for a number of reasons. After all, I read all the way through because it intrigued me to some extent. I wanted to find out what happened to everyone. Beth writes in such a way to keep you interested. The story lines all flowed and were very easy to follow. Each story line has an element of real-life issues that many people deal with on a daily basis and may be of encouragement to someone experiencing some of the same types of situations.
Pick up a copy of Love, Charleston here.
**Disclaimer - This book was received through Goodreads First Reads giveaway program. Prerelease books are listed for giveaway by publishers and authors, and members can enter to win. Winners are picked randomly at the end of the giveaway. These thoughts are my own opinion and expressed independently of the publisher and author.
October 11, 2011
I did enjoy this book. There is a lot of reference in it to the Bible which could put some people off. The story is about a minister and his daughter, his wife died 6 monhths after she was born, who is called to minister a church in Charleston. Roy Summerall has happily been the minister of a much smaller church to country folks in another much smaller city for years and he has no idea what he can bring to the members of this very old, very rich church in Charleston. He keeps asking but he doesn't get an answer from God other than that he should go there. In spite of himself he does get the job and moves to Charleston.
There are also Anne a bell ringer who has been looking for love for years, her sister Alisha and cousin Della. Della, Anne and Alisha all have personal problems which are helped by Roy, and Roy falls in love with Anne on sight only to find that she has left town to go on a church exchange for bell ringers so that she may experience a foreign city.
Della wonders if her husband who is unempoloyed, at times, is truly the right man for her and Alisha is dealing with a very strong case of postpartum depression and becomes suicidal. So many small stories within the larger and they do all work themselves out. Great book, fast read, I enjoyed it very much.
Here is the information from Good Reads on this book: An inspiring, heart-warming novel set in romantic Charleston, South Carolina.
"Stay and wait." Anne Brumley heard these words years ago in the bell tower at Saint Michael's Church in Charleston. She's certain they were from God and has been waiting for true love ever since. But her sister, Della, and their cousin, Alicia, have their doubts. Could Anne have misunderstood His calling?
Saint Michael's new rector may be the answer to Anne's prayers. Good-old-boy and widower Roy Summerall can't believe he's been called to pastor such an historical and a decidedly rich congregation. He can't possibly measure up to their expectations.
It will take a miracle of extraordinary love to provide a happy ending for each of these four Charleston friends.
There are also Anne a bell ringer who has been looking for love for years, her sister Alisha and cousin Della. Della, Anne and Alisha all have personal problems which are helped by Roy, and Roy falls in love with Anne on sight only to find that she has left town to go on a church exchange for bell ringers so that she may experience a foreign city.
Della wonders if her husband who is unempoloyed, at times, is truly the right man for her and Alisha is dealing with a very strong case of postpartum depression and becomes suicidal. So many small stories within the larger and they do all work themselves out. Great book, fast read, I enjoyed it very much.
Here is the information from Good Reads on this book: An inspiring, heart-warming novel set in romantic Charleston, South Carolina.
"Stay and wait." Anne Brumley heard these words years ago in the bell tower at Saint Michael's Church in Charleston. She's certain they were from God and has been waiting for true love ever since. But her sister, Della, and their cousin, Alicia, have their doubts. Could Anne have misunderstood His calling?
Saint Michael's new rector may be the answer to Anne's prayers. Good-old-boy and widower Roy Summerall can't believe he's been called to pastor such an historical and a decidedly rich congregation. He can't possibly measure up to their expectations.
It will take a miracle of extraordinary love to provide a happy ending for each of these four Charleston friends.
February 9, 2011
SUMMARY (source: http://booksneeze.com/blogger/resourc...)
An inspiring, heart-warming novel set in romantic Charleston, South Carolina.
“Stay and wait.” Anne Brumley heard these words years ago in the bell tower at Saint Michael’s Church in Charleston. She’s certain they were from God and has been waiting for true love ever since. But her sister, Alicia, and their sister, Alicia, have their doubts. Could Anne have misunderstood His calling?
Saint Michael’s new rector may be the answer to Anne’s prayers. Good-old-boy and widower Roy Summerall can’t believe he’s been called to pastor such an historical and a decidedly rich congregation. He can't possibly measure up to their expectations.
It will take a miracle of extraordinary love to provide a happy ending for each of these four Charleston friends.
MY REVIEW
Despite the summary above, I found the novel to be very little about the love of Anne and Father Summerall and it focussed more on three cousins (Anne and her sister Alicia and their cousin, Della). Each of these women represent different aspects of marital status and content. One woman searching for love at a later age in life, one married with a child who yearns to grow her family, and the other married and growing her family but having a difficult time in the process. It seems the grass is greener on the otherside for these cousins yet they stand strong by each others side despite the heartache it may personally cause them.
Observing each woman's journey touched me personally on a few different levels. I could relate to the post-partem depression, the discontentment in a relationship only to find it is actually exactly what I want. The story was a bit slow, however, and with chapters from the perspective of four characters didn't allow the author to get deep enough into each character's story. Overall, this was a light-hearted novel. I would suggest it was "okay" and give it 2 stars out of 5.
An inspiring, heart-warming novel set in romantic Charleston, South Carolina.
“Stay and wait.” Anne Brumley heard these words years ago in the bell tower at Saint Michael’s Church in Charleston. She’s certain they were from God and has been waiting for true love ever since. But her sister, Alicia, and their sister, Alicia, have their doubts. Could Anne have misunderstood His calling?
Saint Michael’s new rector may be the answer to Anne’s prayers. Good-old-boy and widower Roy Summerall can’t believe he’s been called to pastor such an historical and a decidedly rich congregation. He can't possibly measure up to their expectations.
It will take a miracle of extraordinary love to provide a happy ending for each of these four Charleston friends.
MY REVIEW
Despite the summary above, I found the novel to be very little about the love of Anne and Father Summerall and it focussed more on three cousins (Anne and her sister Alicia and their cousin, Della). Each of these women represent different aspects of marital status and content. One woman searching for love at a later age in life, one married with a child who yearns to grow her family, and the other married and growing her family but having a difficult time in the process. It seems the grass is greener on the otherside for these cousins yet they stand strong by each others side despite the heartache it may personally cause them.
Observing each woman's journey touched me personally on a few different levels. I could relate to the post-partem depression, the discontentment in a relationship only to find it is actually exactly what I want. The story was a bit slow, however, and with chapters from the perspective of four characters didn't allow the author to get deep enough into each character's story. Overall, this was a light-hearted novel. I would suggest it was "okay" and give it 2 stars out of 5.
May 18, 2012
Title: LOVE, CHARLESTON
Author: Beth Webb Hart
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
August 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59554-201-4
Genre: Inspirational/women’s fiction
Anne Brumley has dreamed of love as a child when she used to ring the bells at St. Michael’s, but now those dreams are fading. Her sister Alisha and cousin Della try to encourage Anne to move somewhere new for a fresh start.
Widower Roy Summerall has ministered at his current post for years. He’s finally healed from the death of his wife, but is flabbergasted when he’s assigned a post in Charleston—the city that Roy thinks is pretentious and superficial. No one there will accept him—not with his accent, his crooked teeth, his red neck, not to mention his simple faith.
Anne’s sister struggles with her husband’s ambition, and Della’s former fiancé has returned to Charleston—all three women struggle with love issues—but can God transform each of these women’s hearts—and Roy’s?
LOVE, CHARLESTON is another of the books I’ve had for ages on my to-read pile and I finally decided to just do it. Roy is a very real character, set in his ways and opposing change, and while his daughter and mother are thrilled at the idea of him going to Charleston, he goes with a chip on his back. Anne, Alisha, and Della all struggle with very real issues and are well written characters.
There is some telling in the story and some point of view switches that were jarring, but all in all the story is well told. There are also some “soft” swear words that won’t bother most readers but the more conservative ones will be bothered by them. There is also some drinking in moderation and adultry. If you like women’s fiction and haven’t read LOVE, CHARLESTON when it first came out, then don’t miss it. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $14.99. 311 pages.
Author: Beth Webb Hart
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
August 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59554-201-4
Genre: Inspirational/women’s fiction
Anne Brumley has dreamed of love as a child when she used to ring the bells at St. Michael’s, but now those dreams are fading. Her sister Alisha and cousin Della try to encourage Anne to move somewhere new for a fresh start.
Widower Roy Summerall has ministered at his current post for years. He’s finally healed from the death of his wife, but is flabbergasted when he’s assigned a post in Charleston—the city that Roy thinks is pretentious and superficial. No one there will accept him—not with his accent, his crooked teeth, his red neck, not to mention his simple faith.
Anne’s sister struggles with her husband’s ambition, and Della’s former fiancé has returned to Charleston—all three women struggle with love issues—but can God transform each of these women’s hearts—and Roy’s?
LOVE, CHARLESTON is another of the books I’ve had for ages on my to-read pile and I finally decided to just do it. Roy is a very real character, set in his ways and opposing change, and while his daughter and mother are thrilled at the idea of him going to Charleston, he goes with a chip on his back. Anne, Alisha, and Della all struggle with very real issues and are well written characters.
There is some telling in the story and some point of view switches that were jarring, but all in all the story is well told. There are also some “soft” swear words that won’t bother most readers but the more conservative ones will be bothered by them. There is also some drinking in moderation and adultry. If you like women’s fiction and haven’t read LOVE, CHARLESTON when it first came out, then don’t miss it. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $14.99. 311 pages.
September 20, 2010
The story revolves around the lives of sisters Alisha and Anne, their cousin Della and a priest named Roy. Alisha has always wanted a happy family, but it seems his husband's ambitions are getting in the way. Anne had heard God tell her to wait in Charleston for the love of her life to come. But she's getting impatient, and Alisha and Della are encouraging her to find it elsewhere. Della's former fiance returns and she doubts she had made the right choice when she married her talented yet unemployed husband. Roy, a widower, had been ministering to a country church when God calls Him to serve at a prestigious church in Charleston. He couldn't help but wonder why...
Love, Charleston is a fitting title as the book centers on love in several aspects - romantic, familial, and spiritual, which take place in a historical city called Charleston and how the characters relate to it. I find the book quite riveting and as a Christian and a married woman with kids of my own, I could relate to the characters on different levels. It made me think of making decisions in life. Are they for selfish reasons? Or are they centered on God's will? And children, even if they are still young, play a vital role in the family. The insights they unknowingly let our hearts see us are amazing. Though I get distracted by the unnecessary actions and mannerisms described in the book that accompany dialogues, the progress of events made me unable to put the book down sometimes. The author did not create perfect characters, which is great, but I think Anne and Roy seem too good to be true. I would recommend this book as it made me appreciate, look unto God, and hope.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson.
Love, Charleston is a fitting title as the book centers on love in several aspects - romantic, familial, and spiritual, which take place in a historical city called Charleston and how the characters relate to it. I find the book quite riveting and as a Christian and a married woman with kids of my own, I could relate to the characters on different levels. It made me think of making decisions in life. Are they for selfish reasons? Or are they centered on God's will? And children, even if they are still young, play a vital role in the family. The insights they unknowingly let our hearts see us are amazing. Though I get distracted by the unnecessary actions and mannerisms described in the book that accompany dialogues, the progress of events made me unable to put the book down sometimes. The author did not create perfect characters, which is great, but I think Anne and Roy seem too good to be true. I would recommend this book as it made me appreciate, look unto God, and hope.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson.
November 3, 2010
"Love, Charleston" by Beth Webb Hart is the warmest, most charming novel I've read in a long time. It was a real page-turner, and I found myself picking it up every chance I got. I'm so happy that I was chosen to receive it from the Goodreads First Reads Program.
It, initally, starts out about Rev. Roy Summerall, and his not wanting to move to Charleston after a job proposal has been presented to him. As time goes on, this move proves to be the best thing for him and his family.
However, the real heart of the novel takes place between two sisters and a cousin, Anne, Lish and Della. Even though these three women are different, they have a bond that's untouchable and unbreakable. Anne, single and very tall, believes that she heard God speak to her about waiting for a mate. As a result, she's been doing just that, but she's starting to wonder if she heard correctly afterall...Lish is a doctor, mother of three, and has a doctor for a husband as well, and her life "seems" to be picture-perfect. But, is it? And, Della, mother of one, and married to an artist, isn't sure if she made the right decisions with her life, and begins to contemplate it all. She begans to wonder whether life on the other side of the fence is greener, or did she always have everything she ever wanted all along.
"Love, Charleston" by Beth Webb Hart is a definite read for anyone that enjoys good chistian romance with sides of family, love and old-fashioned human spirit mixed in.
I give it 5 stars.
It, initally, starts out about Rev. Roy Summerall, and his not wanting to move to Charleston after a job proposal has been presented to him. As time goes on, this move proves to be the best thing for him and his family.
However, the real heart of the novel takes place between two sisters and a cousin, Anne, Lish and Della. Even though these three women are different, they have a bond that's untouchable and unbreakable. Anne, single and very tall, believes that she heard God speak to her about waiting for a mate. As a result, she's been doing just that, but she's starting to wonder if she heard correctly afterall...Lish is a doctor, mother of three, and has a doctor for a husband as well, and her life "seems" to be picture-perfect. But, is it? And, Della, mother of one, and married to an artist, isn't sure if she made the right decisions with her life, and begins to contemplate it all. She begans to wonder whether life on the other side of the fence is greener, or did she always have everything she ever wanted all along.
"Love, Charleston" by Beth Webb Hart is a definite read for anyone that enjoys good chistian romance with sides of family, love and old-fashioned human spirit mixed in.
I give it 5 stars.
August 24, 2010
Love, Charleston is an amazingly well written book, with characters so real that you totally relate to their feelings. You can feel the ties that bind families together.
Roy Summerhill is a minister to a small country church, even though he has suffered personal tragedy he continued to serve God faithfully, so when he is chosen by the prestigious St. Michael's as their new rector he reluctantly accepts. He is sure he will never fit in but he knows God is leading him to Charleston.
Anne Brumley is a bell ringer at St. Michael's. She wonders if she will ever find love. Her sister Lisha and her cousin Della has suggested she needs to move and start fresh but Anne is sure she got a message from God telling her to stay here and wait, but at 36 she isn't sure how much longer she can wait!
The secondary story line with Lisha suffering with postpartum depression and the effects on her family were truly eye opening for me.
This was a great book from beginning to end, the characters in this book just jump off the page as they deal with the struggles and the challenges they face, and even though the book didn't have a happily ever after ending, it had a real and believable ending.
If your interested in reading a great story that you wont be able to put down then pick up this book you won't be disappointed.
I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!
Roy Summerhill is a minister to a small country church, even though he has suffered personal tragedy he continued to serve God faithfully, so when he is chosen by the prestigious St. Michael's as their new rector he reluctantly accepts. He is sure he will never fit in but he knows God is leading him to Charleston.
Anne Brumley is a bell ringer at St. Michael's. She wonders if she will ever find love. Her sister Lisha and her cousin Della has suggested she needs to move and start fresh but Anne is sure she got a message from God telling her to stay here and wait, but at 36 she isn't sure how much longer she can wait!
The secondary story line with Lisha suffering with postpartum depression and the effects on her family were truly eye opening for me.
This was a great book from beginning to end, the characters in this book just jump off the page as they deal with the struggles and the challenges they face, and even though the book didn't have a happily ever after ending, it had a real and believable ending.
If your interested in reading a great story that you wont be able to put down then pick up this book you won't be disappointed.
I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review!
September 14, 2016
Wonderful story of three relatives who go through the struggles of life. Charleston history and land marks are included helping me remember sights we enjoyed during our years there. God's love, promises, and love are entwined throughout.
August 30, 2010
I was really excited to read this since the cover was so beautiful and Beth Webb Hart was a new author to me. While I did like it Love, Charleston wasn't one of the best books that I've read. I believe that it is part of Thomas Nelson's women's fiction line so I wasn't expecting a lot of romance so I wasn't disappointed in that respect. I did like the characters but I felt that there were too many of them for one book! Lish, Anne, and Della deserved their own full length stories. There was just too much going on and the fact that the book covered so much time, April 2008 to June 2009, in so few pages there wasn't a lot of room for details and I don't think I became as attached to the characters as I should have. However, they were some of the most realistic fictional characters I've been introduced to in a while. They all had insecurities. They had to deal with things such as debt, marital issues, illness and death and they were dealt with in true to life ways. I would consider reading this author's work in the future because I like that authenticity and would like to see how she focuses on one or two characters rather than a big group.
*I received my complimentary review copy through Thomas Nelson's blogger book review program, Booksneeze in exchange for posting my honest review.*
*I received my complimentary review copy through Thomas Nelson's blogger book review program, Booksneeze in exchange for posting my honest review.*
August 26, 2010
While a fast read, I have to say that I enjoyed LOVE, CHARLESTON. The story took off right from the start and I was pulled in when likable characters were pushed into difficult situations. What followed was filled with dips and dives from valleys to mountain tops with the characters.
There were several characters view points, but never did I get their storylines confused; the story flowed well and I had a difficult time putting it down. The pacing was good, the character growth and change kept me reading and holding my breath, hoping they wouldn’t make that bad decision.
The only thing I felt a little disquieted about is, I wish the relationship between Lish and her husband had been cleared up more. I felt I was left hanging a bit.
L
ike I said, this is a fast read, but I don’t think that took away from the enjoyment I spent while reading. There was one comment to “prehistoric life” that I did not appreciate, but it was never brought up again. Just something to keep in mind.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I had different angles and turns to keep me invested in the pages.
This is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.
There were several characters view points, but never did I get their storylines confused; the story flowed well and I had a difficult time putting it down. The pacing was good, the character growth and change kept me reading and holding my breath, hoping they wouldn’t make that bad decision.
The only thing I felt a little disquieted about is, I wish the relationship between Lish and her husband had been cleared up more. I felt I was left hanging a bit.
L
ike I said, this is a fast read, but I don’t think that took away from the enjoyment I spent while reading. There was one comment to “prehistoric life” that I did not appreciate, but it was never brought up again. Just something to keep in mind.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I had different angles and turns to keep me invested in the pages.
This is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.
August 31, 2010
Well, I have mixed feelings about this book. The author has a unique writing style that appealed to me, where she often includes little details that other authors would leave out. One unusual thing is that the “main” characters don’t even meet until you are over 150 pages into the book. But, the storylines for the other characters kept me interested, so it worked out alright.
There was one thing that I didn’t care for, and that would be Lish’s situation. It broke my heart to read what she was going through. Her storyline basically gave me a mixture of sadness and anger. But, in the end she is doing better and you have hope for her character.
So, mixed feelings. I can’t say that DIDN’T like it, but I can’t say that I completely ENJOYED it either. I would recommend this to the person who likes books that are a little different from your average read. It’s not a typical romance, or any other genre that I can think of.
There was one thing that I didn’t care for, and that would be Lish’s situation. It broke my heart to read what she was going through. Her storyline basically gave me a mixture of sadness and anger. But, in the end she is doing better and you have hope for her character.
So, mixed feelings. I can’t say that DIDN’T like it, but I can’t say that I completely ENJOYED it either. I would recommend this to the person who likes books that are a little different from your average read. It’s not a typical romance, or any other genre that I can think of.
October 21, 2010
While a fast read, I have to say that I enjoyed LOVE, CHARLESTON. The story took off right from the start and I was pulled in when likable characters were pushed into difficult situations. What followed was filled with dips and dives from valleys to mountain tops with the characters.
There were several characters view points, but never did I get their storylines confused; the story flowed well and I had a difficult time putting it down. The pacing was good, the character growth and change kept me reading and holding my breath, hoping they wouldn't make that bad decision.
The only thing I felt a little disquieted about is, I wish the relationship between Lish and her husband had been cleared up more. I felt I was left hanging a bit. I usually like historical fiction/romance/mystery yet this kept my attention so that is saying alot. I won this from "First Reads". (thanks!) I would recommend this book to friends.
There were several characters view points, but never did I get their storylines confused; the story flowed well and I had a difficult time putting it down. The pacing was good, the character growth and change kept me reading and holding my breath, hoping they wouldn't make that bad decision.
The only thing I felt a little disquieted about is, I wish the relationship between Lish and her husband had been cleared up more. I felt I was left hanging a bit. I usually like historical fiction/romance/mystery yet this kept my attention so that is saying alot. I won this from "First Reads". (thanks!) I would recommend this book to friends.
October 31, 2010
Love, Charleston seems, in the beginning, like any other work of Christian Fiction. You think you know exactly where everything is going, what the characters will do, and what they represent. However, keep reading. You will be surprised. The stories in Love, Charleston are very real. The characters are well developed and complex. Readers, especially those also from the south, will feel they know the people in the text. It never takes on the "preachy" tone so often associated with this genre. You can see the Christian influence throughout the book. However, the story never leads you to believe that Christianity means having a life free of problems. Instead, Love, Charleston is a realistic portrayal of faith, life, and love in one of the South's most enchanting cities.
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