South of the Buttonwood Tree

Buttonwood, Alabama, was named for the enormous buttonwood tree outside of town, which dispenses wisdom and advice via its wooden buttons. Blue Bishop, a children's book illustrator, finds an unexpected surprise there: an abandoned baby with a button inscribed, "Give the baby to Blue Bishop." Blue's desire to be a mother is well known, but so is her troubled family, and small-minded community members won't let her forget the Bishop family legacy. Ginny Landreneau has an axe to grind with the Bishops, and she insists that her daughter, Sarah Grace, would be a better mother to the baby. But Sarah Grace is tired of trying to live up to her parents' expectations, and of her picture-perfect but loveless marriage to a politician wannabe. The custody battle opens old wounds and sets in motion a series of revelations that will transform the lives of everyone involved. Webber's second foray into Southern women's fiction (after Midnight at the Blackbird Café, 2019) is an engrossing exploration of love and family, with likable, well-drawn characters and a dash of magic. It's ideal for fans of Joshilyn Jackson and Sarah Addison Allen.