Review: Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women’s Literary Society : a novel by Amy Hill Hearth

If you are a fan of Fannie Flagg and enjoy quirky characters, you will love Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women’s Literary Society.

Set in 1962 Naples, Florida, the book tells the tale of a group of misfit citizens who decide to start a book club.  The misfits include: Jackie, a Boston transplant who doesn’t understand Southern ways and has a hard time fitting due to her Northern temperament. Dora, also known as Turtle Lady because she saved a large snapping turtle from the middle of Highway 41, is divorced. Robbie-Lee, known for being “different”, is the son of a stripper. Mrs. Bailey White, an 80-year old ex-con, who was in prison for killing her husband and hides the truth about what happened. Plain Jane, an unremarkable woman who has a shocking secret identity. Priscilla, a young black woman trying to improve herself in 1960’s segregated Florida. The group is guided by Miss Lansberry, the town Librarian, who also has her own secret she is hiding.

While selecting, reading, and discussing books, the group slowly becomes more than a book club. They become friends.  When Jackie and the group get involved in a scary racial incident, things start to get a little sticky.

I really enjoyed how these characters developed such strong connections to the point that they all were comfortable enough to reveal their secrets.  So, I suggest that you take a trip to the past, down the Tamiami Trail, and enjoy meeting The Collier County Women’s Literary Society.  You won’t be sorry.

Thanks for reading.

You can find the book on Amazon or at your local bookseller or library

I am really looking forward to the upcoming sequel, Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County. It is scheduled for publication in September 2015.