From the author of The Happy Hour Choir comes a Romeo and Juliet story with Southern flair—witty, warm, and as complex and heart-wrenching as only love and family can be.
For a century and a half, the Satterfield and McElroy farms have been separated by a narrow creek and a whole lot of bad blood. Both sides have done their share of the damage. But the very worst crime either family can commit is to fall in love with the enemy. As teenagers, Romy Satterfield and Julian McElroy did exactly that. Then, on the night they were secretly married by a justice of the peace, Julian stood Romy up.
Ten years later, Romy is poised to marry the scion of one of Nashville’s most powerful families. First she has to return home to Ellery to help her injured father—and to finalize her divorce. For Julian, seeing Romy again brings into relief the secrets he’s kept and the poison that ran through his childhood. Romy has missed the farm and the unpretentious, downright nosy townsfolk. In spite of her efforts, she’s also missed Julian. But though she suspects there’s more to that long-ago night than Julian ever revealed, the truth will either drive her away for good, or reveal what is truly worth fighting for…
What People Are Saying
“Kilpatrick’s sophomore effort is a Southern take on Romeo and Juliet. The reader may believe they are listening to a tale from their favorite country neighbor! The story explores nature versus nurture in chapters told in alternating POVs. The characters deftly illustrate that leaving the bitter in the past can pave the way for a sweet future.”
— RT Book Reviews, 4 of 5 stars
“Sometimes you just need a comfort read ... (lost count of how many times this makes). Love me some Julian, you know I do.”
— Janette, Sally’s bestie from kindergarten
“Fun and easy read, with a quippy, casual tone that was enjoyable even when it dug into some tough content.”
— Lindsey, goodreads review
“This isn't one of those stories that ties up in a huge pretty red bow on a Mustang hood. Rather, it ties up like the innards of a cell phone...all those mysterious parts come together to make it work. You wonder how in the hell the author did it. Ponder it. Then, throw your hands and attribute it to magic.”
— Anna Steffl, author of the Solace trilogy
Awards
Finalist in the 2015 OKRWA National Readers’ Choice Awards