Review: Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County: A Novel by Amy Hill Hearth

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books (September 8, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 147676574X
• ISBN-13: 978-1476765747

Book Description

 In this sequel to Amy Hill Hearth's "funny and charming"(Publishers Weekly) debut novel, Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society, the eponymous book club reunites one year later, in the late summer of 1964.

Their mission: to fight a large development along the tidal river where member Robbie-Lee grew up and where his mother, Dolores Simpson, a former stripper turned alligator hunter, still lives in a fishing shack.

The developer is Darryl Norwood, ex-husband of narrator Dora Witherspoon, who returns to Collier County to assist in the battle. An old land deed, the discovery that one of the key characters has been using a false name, and a dramatic court hearing are just a few of the highlights. Not to mention the reappearance of the Ghost of Seminole Joe.

Just as Hearth's debut explored the ways we can find a sense of belonging in other people, her latest novel shows how closely tied each of us is to our sense of home - and the conflicts that can arise when our idea of that home becomes threatened. For Darryl, the river is a place ripe for development. For Dora, who is known as the Turtle Lady because she rescues Everglades "snappers," it's a place that belongs to the critters. And for Dolores, former stripper, it's a place to hide from the world.


About the Author

Amy's sequel, MISS DREAMSVILLE AND THE LOST HEIRESS OF COLLIER COUNTY, is now available for Pre-Order! Visit http://books.simonandschuster.com/Mis... or http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Dreamsvill... For early reviews and book tour information, please visit www.amyhillhearth.com
Amy is a New York Times Bestselling Author and an ALA "Notable Book" and Peabody Award Winner. Born in New England, she spent her childhood in Columbia, South Carolina. After graduating with a B.A. in Writing/English from the University of Tampa, Amy was a newspaper reporter in Florida. In 1993, she published her first book, HAVING OUR SAY: THE DELANY SISTERS' FIRST 100 YEARS, an oral history of two centenarian sisters which was a New York Times Bestseller for 113 weeks, as well as a Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller. In 1995, the book was adapted for the Broadway stage and, in 1999, for an award-winning film in which Amy was portrayed by the actress Amy Madigan. In 2012, Simon & Schuster's Atria imprint published Amy's first novel, MISS DREAMSVILLE AND THE COLLIER COUNTY WOMEN'S LITERARY SOCIETY.


My Review

I just devoured Amy Hill Hearth's first book set in Collier County, Floria: Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society. It was just delightful as is the second book, Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County.

When I read the first book I had never been to Florida. Now I've been there twice. Florida is a steamy, magical place and author Amy Hill Hearth captures it beautifully. I discovered a new town in this book, Everglades City, that we will need to check out next time. The Florida of the early 1960s was not filled with snowbirds but would soon be due to the widespread integration of air conditioning into homes. Civil rights had not yet come to Florida. In fact segregation was still in full of effect.

Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County is a story of friendships and of family and the families that develop through friendships. It is a story of the strength of women. And it is a story of secrets and of secrets revealed. It is a loving, touching and heart-warming tale.

I highly recommend reading the two Miss Dreamsville books. You can read the Lost Heiress as a stand-alone but your heart needs to read both. They are both so good. Miss Dreamsville and the Lost Heiress of Collier County is out in September...don't miss it!