Category: Southern

“Claiborne County Breakdown” by Patrick Watts

November 4, 2024

“Claiborne County Breakdown: Nine Short Stories Inspired by Old Time Folk Songs” is a great group of short stories that are inspired, not only by Author Patrick Watts, but by various old folk songs that were popular long ago in the South. Each episode in this book is a well-developed story that seems to take its own path and it makes for an interesting collection that will be enjoyed by many. … More “Claiborne County Breakdown” by Patrick Watts

“The Snow Goose and Other Tales” by Ellen Eschell Murphy

June 18, 2024

Ellen Eschell Murphy’s “The Snow Goose and Other Tales” offers the necessary nuance to convincingly capture life in the rural South for families who were affected by the four-year-long Civil War, an atrocious dispute that sowed dissension against brothers. The set of three tales, set in Northern Virginia, are compelling and succeed in humanizing civilians on the home frontier; those who are seldom discussed in history books. … More “The Snow Goose and Other Tales” by Ellen Eschell Murphy

“The Lost and the Found” by Ellen Eschell Murphy

May 30, 2024

“The Lost and the Found” is a resonant text set during the Civil War period in the United States and written by Ellen Eschell Murphy. The book is a collection of three tales, and is the second installment in a series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Here Ellen offers a sharp and authentic portrait of life on the Virginia home front during a critical period in American history amid pathos and chaos. … More “The Lost and the Found” by Ellen Eschell Murphy

“Wild Conviction” by Mary Dezember

January 31, 2024

I simply adore a historical fiction book that is accurate and interesting but, when combined with magnificent writing and incredible characters, the book becomes even more of a success. I can happily tell you that “Wild Conviction: Sixteen is Power” by Mary Dezember is just such a book and, in my opinion, a complete homerun for this author that will pull in both young adult and adult readers from the very first page. … More “Wild Conviction” by Mary Dezember

“A Forever Love” by Tracy A. Daigrepont

December 21, 2023

“A Forever Love: A Sedipar Trilogy” is the first book in a three-part series by author Tracy A. Daigrepont and I must say that the story will really hold the attention of the reader. It is a young adult novel about a group of high school friends and, while I thought it would not be a book for me, I will happily admit that I was wrong. While teen romance is a major part of the lives of these characters in the small town of Sedipar, Louisiana, there is so much more to the story that I did not expect that made it really great. … More “A Forever Love” by Tracy A. Daigrepont

“A Place to Rest” by Tom Miller

November 25, 2023

“A Place to Rest” by Tom Miller is an absolutely wonderful book that I could not put down once I started. It is apparent from the beginning of the story that this author put a lot of effort into researching the period the book covers as well as the development of each of the characters in the story.  I was very impressed with every part of the writing and think that it is a story for anyone, regardless of the genre that you are most partial to. … More “A Place to Rest” by Tom Miller