My story is about when they did. About when the truth about Avery Dawson came to light with his congregation witnessing the proof of his evil ways.

Southern Comfort
by Andrea Smith

My review:

This review Will contain light spoilers.

This book is about Sociopathy. And Religious Hypocrisy. It is about dishonesty, fakery and secrets all wrapped in a pretty and duplicitous bow.

The bow of the Catholic Church.

This story takes place in a small town in Alabama in the Nineteen Seventies. Sunny is the main character. She is a High School student whose mom has married.

Her step dad is the preacher of the local church. And his exterior does not match his interior at all. He is a disturbed and pathological individual. Sunny knows this. The people in this small town do not know this.

This is a very good book and I do not want anyone thinking otherwise despite my three rating. (Man, I wish Goodreads had 1-10 star ratings!).

It is extremely upsetting..Misogyny in the form of Religion. I am sure, as constant readers, many of you have read your share of books with this theme.

This story is about how Sunny decides to take him down.

It was tough reading and I did not love everything about it.But it is a GOOD read and very relevant. I think many will like this.

I sure liked Sonny and enjoyed reading about her. Two things I did not like?

One..the volume of sex in this book was to much for me. It was not happy sex. It was sex between a Sociopath and his clueless victims. And I just felt it was to much.

Also..and I realize this is my humble opinion only..but the word "Dick" is not erotica. Not for me anyway. I never understood why a man's..well..you get it..was called that. It makes the male anatomy sound goofy. When I think of the word "Dick" I think of a sign that used to exist on my street that was spray painted with one word: Dick. And it was glow in the dark spray paint so one could only see it at night. I used to laugh about it. But sadly, the word "Dick" is used here to describe the evil preacher's private part, over and over. I started to laugh. I mean..lots of other better words. Can we, as the cancel culture we have sort of become, cancel the word Dick? Please? Please?

The second thing I disliked..the preacher is a nasty business. He is such a scumbag it made reading about him tough. It is worth it though to see how the story progresses. I like how the writer wraps things up. Very well done.

I am sure this type of town exists all over. What really makes this book good, is that the writer is unafraid in exploring the good and bad in many of her characters. They come off as very human and the story, sadly is utterly believable. The writer also says it is loosely based on a true story.

And lastly, the book is available on Amazon as "The Preacher" although I like Southern Comfort better as a title.

3.5 stars and not a read I will forget any time soon. ( )

**THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE** That being said its so worth the read even though it creeped me out more times than I care to admit. No, its not a thriller or about a serial killer. Its about a preacher who preys on vulnerable women and whose 17 year old step daughter makes it her life mission to bring his injustices out into the open.

The author chose to tell this story from both the 17 year old Sunshine Gardner's POV and the Minister, Avery Dawson POV. Yes, you get a front row seat to his sick twisted mind.

This mainly is Sunny's story from being an unhappy 17 year old high schooler who no longer gets along with her mom since she married her 3rd husband. She cannot stand Avery and when he tries to start imposing strict rules on her things get even worse at home for her. He also gives her the creeps and she has a feeling he isnt who he pretends to be.

There are a few shocking twist towards the end that leads up to one heck of a confrontation. ( )