Set in the North Carolina Mountains, Tamara Leigh’s tale of Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan, is a wild and bumpy ride.  Although struggling to get over the loss of her husband 4 years ago, Bridget is on a mission to save her family’s land. Her family, like all families, is a mix of crazy and downright embarrassing, but it doesn’t stop Bridget from trying.

I must admit, the story was a little difficult to get into. Bridget talks to herself, argues with herself (and others), all in her head, all while narrating her story. The banter back and forth is as realistic as what I hear in my own head, but a little disconcerting nonetheless.

Once you get used to Bridget’s “frame of mind” it’s easy to fall in love with her.  Bridget’s shedding of her “widow’s weeds” gets tangled into a story of her family’s sorted past. While her family holds tight to their beliefs and pray that Bridget can find her way back to her own faith, Bridget becomes the family spokesperson to JC Dirk, a Developer from Atlanta, who’s dealing with demons from his own closet full of ghosts.

The “widow sniffers” abound in this story, chasing poor Bridget and confusing her with what their true intentions are. The competition for JC Dirk is Caleb Merriman, who seems to have all the right answers.  JC on the other hand, is poking holes in Caleb’s story faster than a treehugger chased by a bulldozer. Bridget thinks JC’s heart seems like it is in the right place, but his heart is exactly what she’s afraid of.

Can Bridget find her own “happily ever after” or will her heart remain, “constipated” in the words of her little nephew? Readers wont be disappointed as Bridget’s road through family strive and intrigue find her renewing her relationship with a God she left behind.

Tamara’s story makes a trio of others including Leaving Carolina and  Nowhere, Carolina, in her “Southern Discomfort” series.  After reading “Restless”  readers will be wanting to pick up the other two.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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