Search This Blog
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (11)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (2)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (3)
- Georgia (4)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (3)
- Illinois (4)
- Indiana (4)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (2)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (4)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada (2)
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (10)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (3)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (5)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming (2)
- Washington, D.C.* (2)
International:
- Argentina (1)
- Australia (6)
- Austria (1)
- Bolivia (1)
- Canada (4)
- China (2)
- England (27)
- France (2)
- Ghana (1)
- India (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (4)
- Italy (1)
- Poland (2)
- Russia (2)
- Scotland (4)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Monday, September 13, 2021
Wholesome Historical Romance a Warm, Uplifting Read
6:15 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
With her father away from home to find work, 20-year-old Tansy Calhoun must pitch in even more than usual to help her family. Not only does she help her mother take care of the home and care for her younger siblings, but Tansy also works as a packhorse librarian. Delivering books to the folks nestled high in the Appalachian Mountains is the highlight of her long days. She loves the freedom, the land, and the people. While there's satisfaction in the simplicity of her life, Tansy can't help but long for the kinds of magical romances she reads about in books. Is it too much to hope for a Prince Charming of her own?
After working out of state with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), 26-year-old Caleb Barton has returned to Kentucky to help his mother after the death of his brother. He's surprised to learn that Tansy—the girl he's been in love with since childhood—remains unmarried. When a smooth-talking writer comes into town looking for stories for the Federal Writers' Project, his sights land on the pretty librarian as well. Can Caleb wrestle up the courage to finally confess his feelings for Tansy before it's too late?
Crochety spinster Perdita Sweet may still be embittered over her own lost love, but she's not about to let Tansy make a poor choice. Can her meddling persuade her starry-eyed cousin to stop looking for love inside the pages of a novel and see that the perfect man is right in front of her? Or will Tansy break all their hearts by falling for the fancy city slicker?
That being said, Along a Storied Trail really is a warm, uplifting story. The characters aren't overly original or memorable, but they're good, kind-hearted people. It's impossible not to like them. The Appalachian setting is vivid and colorful, a backdrop that feels authentic. As I mentioned, the novel doesn't have a lot of plot, so it does get a little dull here and there. There was enough going on in the tale to keep me reading, but it did take me a few days to get through this one (whereas I can speed through an engrossing thriller in a matter of hours). I don't always love Christian novels because they can get preachy and heavy-handed, but Gabhart handles the religious elements in Along a Storied Trail well. She makes faith feel natural, as if it's just a normal, daily thing for the story's hill people. I love that! All these things considered, then, I ended up enjoying this novel. It's the first I've read by Gabhart, but it won't be the last. When I'm looking for another clean, uplifting historical novel, I'll definitely look for other titles by her.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scenes of peril and scary situations
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Along a Storied Trail from the generous folks at Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
3 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
Bookshelf Bounty3 hours ago
-
-
Stacking The Shelves8 hours ago
-
Holiday Weekend Book Deals in December15 hours ago
-
Happy Crossword Puzzle Day!!!16 hours ago
-
-
The Shadowed Land By Signe Pike22 hours ago
-
Love Coupons for Bookworms23 hours ago
-
What your inside cats miss1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
106. Little Christmas Carol2 days ago
-
Swordheart2 days ago
-
-
A Review of The Christmas Mourner2 days ago
-
-
-
-
Review: 1984 by George Orwell4 days ago
-
Hide by Tracy Clark4 days ago
-
-
I have been reading...1 week ago
-
-
-
Sunday Post 5583 weeks ago
-
-
I'm Still Reading - This Was My October5 weeks ago
-
Open for Murder by Mary Angela1 month ago
-
Reading Recap September 20242 months ago
-
-
Review: The Duke and I4 months ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus4 months ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ▼ 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
This sounds like such a lovely story, and since I like books that are mostly romance, I think I'd like A Storied Trail. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI really like that Appalachian setting. And sometimes I want a light-hearted read that doesn't have a lot of conflict and angst in it. I'll have to keep this one in mind. :)
ReplyDeleteI like that this book will make the packhorse librarian story accessible to younger readers since I think it's such a great story in general.
ReplyDelete