(47)Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman

Looking For Me

by Beth Hoffman

@wordrunner

Publication Date: May 28, 2013

Pages: 368

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Ever since Teddi Overman was little she has had a passion.  A passion for antiques.  It started with a chair abandoned along the side of the road and it escalated to larger and more decrepit pieces. She would find them, restore them, then leave them for sale on the road that ran by her family's farm, saving every penny for the time when she could leave the farm.  The older she got, she knew that restoring antiques was the only thing she wanted to do with her life, despite what her Mama said.

Shortly after her high school graduation Teddi sets off for Charleston in the hopes of finding the gentleman who encouraged her when she needed it the most.  He gave her a job at his popular antique shop and helped her get settled in the city.  And while Teddi is getting settled into her new routine, life back at the farm continues.  Her Daddy is farming, her younger brother, Josh, is rescuing and tending to the local wildlife, and Mama is busy keeping everyone in line.  But one day, Josh takes off into the wild and leaves a note behind that says "Don't look for me."   Even though she is all the way in Charleston, Teddi feels his absence all the way to her core, but she continues on with her passion and opens her own shop.   Years pass and life continues without Josh.  Their parents pass away, Teddi sells their land, and makes a life changing donation, but with each life event that passes, she thinks of Josh and wonders what he is doing and what he would have done in her place.  Her business thrives, she is surrounded by friends and co-workers who love her, and yet she still feels the absence of her brother in her very core.  Will Teddi ever find out what happened to Josh and will she be at peace with his choices?

Beautiful.   The only word that could accurately describe Beth Hoffman's new book, Looking For Me. I was almost finished with the book when I realized that I really didn't want it to end. Teddi is such a great character that I found myself just wanting to be in her presence.   Despite the pressure from her Mama, she asserted her independence in a time where good Southern girls just did what was expected of them and nothing more. She took the risk and followed her dream.  The people that Teddi surround herself with in Charleston are unique, quirky, and absolutely add such warmth to the story that you just can't help but fall a little bit in love with all of them. And the customers that frequent Teddi's shop are just as quirky and fascinating and heart-achingly sweet.

Bottom line, Looking for Me, is one of those books that just brings pure enjoyment with every page turned.  The characters, the scenery, the antiques themselves breath life into the pages of this book. As a reader, prepare yourself to be swept away to another time and another place.  A definite must read book this Summer.