Review: Nowhere but Home by Liza Palmer

Nowhere But Home by Liza Palmer
Expected Publication: April 2, 2013
Publication: William Morrow Paperbacks
Format: ARC E-Copy provided by Edelweiss
Rating: 5/5

Summary via Goodreads

Queenie Wake, a country girl from North Star, Texas, has just been fired from her job as a chef for not allowing a customer to use ketchup. Again. Now the only place she has to go is home to North Star. She can hope, maybe things will be different. Maybe her family's reputation as those Wake women will have been forgotten. It's been years since her mother-notorious for stealing your man, your car, and your rent money-was killed. And her sister, who as a teenager was branded as a gold-digging harlot after having a baby with local golden boy Wes McKay, is now the mother of the captain of the high school football team. It can't be that bad…

Who knew that people in small town Texas had such long memories? And of course Queenie wishes that her memory were a little spottier when feelings for her high school love, Everett Coburn, resurface. He broke her heart and made her leave town-can she risk her heart again?

At least she has a new job-sure it's cooking last meals for death row inmates but at least they don't complain! But when secrets from the past emerge, will Queenie be able to stick by her family or will she leave home again? A fun-filled, touching story of food, football, and fooling around.

My Thoughts

I initially picked this out in an effort to read more adult fiction this year. I was glad I did because I truly enjoyed it. I must admit I was sort of worried reading a book with southern characters. I am from Texas so sometimes I get upset that in most books people tend to stereotype us. I am glad to report this isn’t one of them.

Nowhere but Home is the story of Queenie, a chef who is recently fired from her job and returns home to Texas. As in any small town there are subjects of rumors and Queenie’s family is at the top of that list. Her sister got pregnant young by the star football player. Her mom was killed by her best friend after having an affair with her husband. And Queenie has only loved one guy her entire life, her childhood sweetheart whose rich family kept them apart. When she returns home Queenie realizes things never chance in small town Texas. Her family is still regarded as trash and the rich people still run the town and will always look down on them.

She takes a job as chef in charge of cooking the last meals at the prison. In the process of finding her next out of state job she finally finds herself. Eventually all the town secrets come to light. She realizes that she needs to stop running and not let people define who she is.

This book rang so true to me. This is a wonderful book of family, football, love and accepting who you are and most importantly what you deserve. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a good, solid and enjoyable read. You won’t be disappointed at all.