Five Miles South of Peculiar: A Novel [Paperback]

Angela Hunt (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 5, 2012

If these three sisters don’t change direction, they’ll end up where they’re going.

Darlene Caldwell has spent a lifetime tending Sycamores, an estate located five miles south of a small town called Peculiar. She raised a family in the spacious home that was her grandfather’s legacy, and she enjoys being a pillar of the community. Sycamores is the kingdom where she reigns as queen . . . until her limelight-stealing twin sister unexpectedly returns.

Carlene Caldwell, veteran of the Broadway stage, is devastated when she realizes that an unsuccessful throat surgery has spelled the end of her musical career. Searching for a new purpose in life, she retreats to Sycamores, her childhood home. She may not be able to sing, but she hopes to use her knowledge and experience to fashion a new life in Peculiar, the little town she left behind.

Haunted by a tragic romance, Magnolia Caldwell is the youngest of the Caldwell girls. Nolie has never wanted to live anywhere but Sycamores. She spends her days caring for her dogs and the magnificent gardens she’s created on the estate, but when she meets a man haunted by his own tragedy, she must find the courage to either deny her heart or cut the apron strings that tie her to a dear and familiar place.

Can these sisters discover who they are meant to be when life takes an unforeseen detour? In a season of destiny, three unique women reunite and take unexpected journeys of the heart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Angela Hunt has penned another winner! From the opening scene, she had me wanting to find out what would happen next to the people of Peculiar, peculiar and otherwise." (Robin Lee Hatcher, bestselling author of Heart of Gold and Belonging)

"Hunt (The Nativity Story) bakes up a Southern confection of a novel that’s on the sweet side but satisfying. The three Caldwell sisters are as different as can be, though two of them are twins. Carlene left their small home town of Peculiar, Fla., to sing on Broadway, but botched throat surgery steals her voice and sends her home, where twin Darlene is still nurturing jealousy of her glamorous sister despite her own considerable but more domestic talents. Magnolia, the youngest, has a sad backstory, a set of quirks, and two scene-stealing dogs, Lucy and Ricky. Hunt folds into this recipe for family dramedy two men, tangled family history, and smalltown dynamics. The result is deeply engaging characters that readers will care about—enough to overlook some minor problems with credibility and coincidence in plot development. Hunt writes with crisp confidence. Readers will appreciate the bonus of Southern dessert recipes from Darlene’s kitchen, unless they’re watching cholesterol." (Publishers Weekly)

"Hunt has penned another winner with this down-home novel. Readers will find elements to identify with in each of the three sisters, who at times come across as caricatures. Yet they have endearing qualities, and overall themes of family and following God’s lead in life make this book shine." (Romantic Times (four stars))

“…this small-town southern story has a big heart and refreshing characters.” (Booklist)

About the Author

Angela Hunt is the bestselling author of more than 100 books, including The Tale of Three Trees, Don’t Bet Against Me, The Note, and The Nativity Story. Her nonfiction book Don’t Bet Against Me, written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Angela and her husband make their home in Florida with their dogs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (June 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439182043
• ISBN-13: 978-1439182048
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With over four million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 100 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels.

Now that her two children have reached their twenties, Angie and her youth-pastor husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City. Afterward, the dog gave out paw-tographs at the airport.

When she's not home writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers' conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.

Readers may visit her web site at www.angelahuntbooks.com and write her at [e-mail].

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sisterly Love June 5, 2012

By C. Yates

Format:Kindle Edition

Five Miles South of Peculiar by Angela Hunt grabbed me with it's title and fun, airy cover. Once I dove into the pages of the book I was delighted to find a tale set in the South, where I live. I loved the descriptions of the house, the trees, and the other people and places that were in the story. I felt more than read those descriptions and didn't feel that the author was actually describing things and what was going on at all.

I grew up as an only child, so the interactions between the sisters made me both long for the connection shared between them and also kind of glad I didn't have to deal with those issues! But aside from all that, the author gave each sister a unique personality and also showed multiple sides to those personalities. I like that because it makes the characters feel like real people that you could possibly know and care about.

I do recommend this book and since it was my first ever by Angela Hunt, I look forward to reading her many other works!

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Book by Angela Hunt June 14, 2012

By Miriam from Wheels Have Eyes

Format:Paperback

I have read many of Angela Hunt's books. In fact, she is one of my favorite authors. If you are also a fan of her's, you will not be disappointed in this book. The characters are likable and seem like women you would want to know for one reason or another. I found it a little odd that Nolie seemed to live such a sheltered life and I kept thinking she was much younger than she really was, but her situation only added to the entire plot as the book continued on. I can find myself easily getting lost in this kind of book. As I was reading I felt like I was staying in the Caldwell home with the sisters. I have nothing but positive to say regarding this book. It could easily be read for a reading group as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected Journeys of the Heart December 15, 2012

By Khamneithang Vaiphei

Format:Paperback

With about 4 million copies of her books sold worldwide, you can only expect the best from best-selling author Angela Hunt. And her latest offering, "Five Miles South of Peculiar" published by Howard Books is a poignant yet joyful novel of a Southern family finding its way home.

The book revolves around the Caldwells, who lived in an estate named The Sycamores, which is located five miles south of a small town peculiarly named Peculiar. The book follows the footsteps of the three Caldwell sisters who embarked on a voyage of discovery and the back cover of the book says, "If these three sisters don't change direction, they'll end up where they're going."

Meet the three sisters: Darlene Caldwell - who spent a lifetime tending the estate, The Sycamores, which is her kingdom and where she reigns as the one and only queen. Carlene Caldwell - a veteran of the Broadway stage whose career is cut short by an unsuccessful throat surgery. She returns home to Sycamores, her childhood home. And the youngest of the Caldwell sisters, Magnolia - better known as Nolie - who spent here entire life inside the estate caring for her dogs and the magnificent gardens she has created.

Three sisters, three different lives, three different dreams together in one estate! And each with big secrets!

Can these sisters discover who they are meant to be when life takes an unforeseen detour? In a season of destiny, three unique women reunite and take unexpected journeys of the heart.