Description:
A story of career-driven Abby Carter from a small town that she left behind in some ways but couldn't in others. A twist of romance along with some mystery that holds drama, sacrifice, love and truth.
Brief description: What happens when a writer buys a bookstore? For Deborah Spencer Foliart it meant being surrounded by three stories of books that gave her the inspiration for a novel she'd been thinking about for a long time. She has since sold the bookstore/coffee shop, giving her the time to finally write the story that's been brewing for far too long.She'd already written dozens of business and visitor guides, a ton of marketing copy for Arkansas newspapers, and had hosted leadership seminars that drew in thousands. While she found writing non-fiction satisfying, nothing compared to creating a story filled with characters that took on a life of their own. Deborah spends much of her time traveling and taking stunning photographs with her husband Alan. Often, they take their cat along for the ride when taking a trip in their RV. When she's home in Arkansas, she's usually visiting her family and friends, trying to figure out her mom's famous cinnamon roll recipe, and meeting with her longtime girlfriends, the Leading Ladies.
Review Quotes:
Deborah Spencer Foliart's debut novel, A Small Town Somewhere, captures the quirkiness of a quaint southern town where a loyal, strong-willed group of ladies push Abby Carter to take charge of her chaotic life. The author's humor and poetic talent shine through as she navigates Abby's crowded love life. Which scrumptious man will Abby choose? Deborah also introduces us to the extended Carter clan, who live by the homespun family wisdom handed down through generations. Well, at least they try! Things get even more interesting when twisted small-town politics come into play, and a not-so-nice mayor throws his weight around. This book kept me guessing until the last page!
- Linda O'Brien
"Family dynamics, sister friends, love heartstrings, and dastardly politicians - Foliart's first novel has it all! A witty and delightful read that reminds us all of our hometown values in Any Town USA. I loved 'A Small Town Somewhere'" - Lisa Huckelbury Fort
"A Small Town Somewhere was witty and endearing. I could see the characters so clearly that I think it could easily be a movie. A great read!" - Jan Carr
"I loved this book and can't wait for the sequel. The suspense continued throughout with the mystery and who gets the girl! Everyone will love 'A Small Town Somewhere' of the small town and those who live there." -Diane Brown
Every writer knows that a title is important for their novel if he or she hopes to sell a copy and win a fan. Debbie Foliart has been in the book business for over ten years. As the owner of a successful book store in a small town, she knew how mighty a good title could be. With A SMALL TOWN SOMEWHERE, she reeled me in. Why? Because most of us are from small towns, and we naturally like to read about something that we know will spark a memory. Abby Rose Carter left Logan's Creek, Arkansas, and landed in Chicago, working for a large advertising firm. By the age of thirty, she had a great job, a beautiful apartment, a 401K, and a handsome boyfriend. When a position in the firm opened up, she was passed over in favor of a man who was not as qualified as Abby. In a rash hurt-pride moment, she quit her job and moved home to Arkansas, leaving behind handsome and successful, Ian, who was also in the ad business.
Welcomed by her friends, who are known as the Leading Ladies, she was encouraged to get reacquainted with her high school love, Josh, who was running for mayor against the current and long-time mayor who is "crooked as a corkscrew." Abby and Josh formed a team to beat the mayor, and she managed his campaign. In addition to helping Josh, Abby had her own reasons for wanting to defeat the mayor. On election night, at a town celebration to outdo any celebration I ever attended or heard of, I found out all the answers to the questions that I wondered about while reading the 200+ pages. Even though I write about true crime, I found Deborah Foliart's novel a lovely diversion from murder and mayhem. And there's a racy love scene to boot. - Anita Paddock, best-selling author of Blind Rage, Closing Time, Cold Blooded, The Killing Spree