A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro - by Heather Smith (Paperback)

About the Book

"Andy Clark has always been different. But it isn't just the tumorous mass covering half his face that sets him apart, it's the quiet kindness instilled by his mother. Gloria Clark was determined not to let her son's difference define him. As an anonymous do-gooder in Flatsboro, North Carolina, Andy lives out what his Mama taught him, even though she's no longer there with him. Della Rose Miller, a well-known former beauty queen, escapes her crumbling marriage with her arrogant and pretentious high school sweetheart and moves back to the childhood hometown. Della Rose and her daughter find themselves in a little Flatsboro apartment, the same complex as her former classmate whose heart she broke in third grade. As Della Rose navigates the end of her marriage, and Andy continues his secret philanthropy, they navigate grief and trusting God in the endings . . . and the beginnings. This heartwarming story reminds readers of the power of kindness"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A small dose of kindness can go a long way

Andy Clark has always been different. But it isn't just the tumorous mass covering half his face that sets him apart--it's his quiet kindness. As an anonymous do-gooder in Flatsboro, North Carolina, Andy lives out what his mama taught him, even though she's no longer there.

Della Rose Miller, a well-known former beauty queen, escapes her crumbling marriage to arrogant Wade Miller and moves back to her hometown in hopes of finding reprieve. She and her daughter settle into a little Flatsboro apartment and quickly learn that they're in the same complex as a childhood classmate whose heart Della Rose broke in third grade.

With her life turned upside down, Della Rose is uneasy about starting fresh, but when unassuming Andy turns his generosity toward her daughter, an unlikely friendship rekindles. When a heroic act suddenly pushes Andy into the spotlight, he risks his anonymity and quiet day-to-day habits to stand up for what's right.

As Della Rose navigates the end of her marriage and Andy continues his secret philanthropy, they navigate grief and trusting God. Heather Norman Smith weaves a charming and heartwarming Southern story to remind you of the power of simple kindness.

"Settle in for a story as sweetly delicious as lemonade on a summer afternoon."

&mdashSarah Loudin Thomas, award-winning author of These Blue Mountains

Review Quotes

A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro tells a powerful tale of what it means to be a friend. Heather Norman Smith takes us on an emotional journey into the lives of characters facing extraordinary challenges and life-altering events, yet the pages are filled with real hope. This is a story that will teach, edify, and change perceptions in the best ways possible.--Michelle Shocklee, award-winning author of All We Thought We Knew (4/17/2025 12:00:00 AM)

A sweetly poignant story of love, loss, and friendship that comes to life beneath the pen of a master wordsmith, A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro takes readers on a journey to remember a world of kindness that seems to have been lost in our modern society.--Lori Altebaumer, award-winning author and 2025 president of Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (4/17/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Heather Norman Smith has penned a sweet story of second chances, redemption, and the power of faith. A story that initially feels like a modern take on Beauty and the Beast offers just the right twists and turns to keep readers cheering on Andy, Della Rose, and a full cast of small-town characters to a satisfying conclusion. A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro reminds us that sometimes we have to let go of the past in order to seize the future. Settle in for a story as sweetly delicious as lemonade on a summer afternoon.--Sarah Loudin Thomas, award-winning author of These Blue Mountains (4/17/2024 12:00:00 AM)

Heather Norman Smith strikes a chord with A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro. From the first line, 'Even with only one good eye, ' she draws you in and refuses to let you go. An engaging story with characters that won't leave you alone when the story is done. This must-read should be on your nightstand--now!--Cindy K. Sproles, award-winning author of Coal Black Lies (4/17/2025 12:00:00 AM)

In A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro, Heather Norman Smith weaves a tender tapestry of second chances and redemption in the North Carolina foothills. When a former beauty queen returns home with her daughter, seeking refuge from a fractured marriage, she discovers that true beauty often lies in life's most unexpected places. Through the portrayal of an unlikely friendship marked by physical and emotional scars, Smith masterfully explores how trust, forgiveness, and faith can transform even the deepest wounds into stepping stones toward healing. This poignant story reminds us that sometimes our greatest purpose emerges from our darkest moments, wrapped in the simplest acts of kindness.--Amy Grochowski, Publishers Weekly best-selling author of An Amish Love to Remember (4/17/2025 12:00:00 AM)