The Christmas Heirloom by Karen Witemeyer, Kristi Ann Hunter, Sarah Loudin Thomas, and Becky Wade | Christmas Book Review

The Christmas Heirloom

Karen Witemeyer, Kristi Ann Hunter,

Sarah Loudin Thomas, and Becky Wade

Historical Romance

In Kristi Ann Hunter's "Legacy of Love," Sarah Gooding never suspected returning a brooch to an elderly woman would lead to a job . . . and introduce her to the woman's grandson, a man far above her station.

In Karen Witemeyer's "Gift of the Heart," widow Ruth Albright uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from the local banker. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love.

In Sarah Loudin Thomas's "A Shot at Love," Fleeta Brady's rough-and-tumble childhood means she prefers hunting to more feminine activities. She never expected her family's brooch might be how a fellow hunter turns her attention from competition to romance.

In Becky Wade's "Because of You," Maddie Winslow has spent years in love with a man whose heart was already spoken for. When a church Christmas project brings them together and she stumbles upon an old family brooch, might it finally be her turn for love?

My Thoughts

This was the choice of my book club for our annual Christmas book. What a perfect pick! There are four short stories from four very talented writers. I felt like each story could be read in an evening. During this busy time of year that is a real bonus. While each story is a stand alone novella there is a theme that pulls all of them together. The connecting thread that weaves throughout each story is a brooch that is passed from mother to daughter.

I enjoyed each of the stories and can't say that I preferred one over the other. The continuity between the stories was very smooth and made for an overall good read.. The last two stories, A Shot At Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas and Because of You by Becky Wade, are off shoots from their current series. If you're fans of these two authors you definitely don't want to miss this book.

So far this is my favorite Christmas read of the season. If you're looking for a stocking stuffer for your favorite reader this would be a wonderful choice.

Disclosure statement

I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Historical Fiction Review

The Sound of Rain

Sarah Loudin Thomas

Historical Fiction

In the Dark of the Mine, In the Face of Rising Water, 

In the Shadows of the Hills, Faith Will See Them Through

Judd Markley knows he can never set foot underground again. The mine collapse that nearly killed him and claimed his brother's life means leaving West Virginia forever. Although that hard Appalachian world is all he knows, he puts it behind him and heads for the open sky of the thriving town of 1954 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Larkin Heyward's life in the beach town is uncomplicated, mostly volunteer work and dancing at the Pavilion. But she dreams of one day doing more and being more--maybe moving to the hills and hollers of Kentucky to help the poor children of Appalachia. But she's never even met someone who's lived there--until she encounters Judd, the newest employee at her father's timber company.

Drawn together in the wake of a hurricane that changes Myrtle Beach forever, Judd's and Larkin's dreams pull them in divergent directions. It will take a significant sacrifice to keep them together--or maybe, it will take a miracle.

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

I have been reading and enjoying Sarah Loudin Thomas' books from the beginning. When I saw that The Sound of Rain was available I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. If you've read her works you know that the stories are mostly set in West Virginia. Through her words I've fallen in love with West Virginia even though I've never set foot in that state.

The Sound of Rain begins deep in a coal mine of West Virginia. The opening scene made me catch my breath. I'm not going to spoil the effect by talking about it but let's just say that my admiration of coal miners and the risks they encounter every day has gone up considerably. 

Judd Markley is our main character and after a life-changing event he chooses to leave the mountains of West Virginia and make his way to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I love South Carolina and Sarah's descriptive words capture the essence of the place perfectly. 

In South Carolina Judd trades in his minor's hat for a logger's chainsaw. Another fascinating job with a lot of risk involved. Shortly after arriving in Myrtle Beach Judd meets Larkin Heyward who just happens to be the daughter of the logging company's owner. The Heyward family appears to be a pillar of the community but underneath the surface are hurts that have torn the family apart. 

The stories of Judd and Larkin continue to intersect in ways that Judd never intended but the draw of Larkin continues to bring him back again and again. I enjoyed going on this journey with them. Sarah's writing is very emotional which takes the story beyond the surface and goes deep to the root of the situation. 

At the end of the book I wasn't ready for the story to be over. To me that's the sign of a good book. I'm hoping that we'll get to travel back in time and revisit this beautiful place and these interesting people again in a future book.

Other Reviews For This Author

Appalachian Serenade

Miracle in a Dry Season

Until the Harvest

A Tapestry of Secrets

Connect With The Author

Photo Credit: © Kristen Delliveniri

www.SarahLoudinThomas.com

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A Tapestry of Secrets (Appalachian Blessings #3) by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Contemporary Fiction Review

A Tapestry of Secrets

Appalachian Blessings #3

Sarah Loudin Thomas

Contemporary Fiction

What is the weight of a secret?

And what happens when that burden becomes 

almost too much to bear?

For decades, Perla Phillips has hidden the truth of a decision that still fills her with guilt. But now, seeing her granddaughter, Ella, struggle in a similar way, she's prepared to finally open the past to her family, no matter the consequences. But when the opportunity is snatched from her in a most unexpected manner, will she have waited too long?

Spanning generations, this moving family drama weaves together the interlocking stories of two women as they navigate relationships, family, faith, and the choices that will shape their lives. Heartwarming and nostalgic, the story explores the courage to share the wounds of the past and celebrates the legacy a family passes from one generation to the next.

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

My favorite type of series includes an ongoing story that crosses from one generation into the next. The Appalachian Blessing series does that in a beautifully stirring way. The first book, Miracle in a Dry Season, introduced us to Perla Long and her daughter Sadie as they arrive in Wise, West Virginia. Perla wants to live a quiet life and raise her daughter but winds up instead leaving her mark on everyone within miles, especially Casewell Phillips.

The second novel, Until the Harvest, shifted the focus from Perla and Casewell to their son Henry. I particularly enjoyed this storyline. I felt like it was a little bit lighter in tone but still dealt with serious heart issues. We get a bigger picture of this family but there are still some loose ends hanging out there that made me eager for the next book.

Now we come to A Tapestry of Secrets and we shift back to Perla and her story. Perla is the grandma now and has an especially close relationship with her granddaughter Ella which is in distinct contrast to her strained relationship with her own daughter Sadie. Way back at the beginning we knew that Perla was a single mother. She didn't speak about Sadie's daddy and Sadie didn't ask. But over the years the tension over the subject has just tightened. As Perla faces her own mortality she feels the need to speak about it to Sadie but the actual words prove to be a struggle. So in essence the story has come full circle. 

I can't possibly put into words how moving this series turned out to be. It is Sarah Loudin Thomas' debut work and she followed it up with continuing stories that were every bit as strong as the first. I found it very interesting to read in the author's notes that A Tapestry of Secrets was the original story. I am so thankful that her editor and publisher had her turn it into a series. It is well worth the read and all three books are on my top books of the year list. I highly recommend them. 

Other Reviews For This Author

Appalachian Serenade (novella prequel to the series)

Miracle in a Dry Season

Until the Harvest

Connect With The Author

Photo Credit: © Kristen Delliveniri

www.SarahLoudinThomas.com

Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Goodreads

Until The Harvest by Sarah Loudin Thomas ~ Contemporary Fiction Reviw

Until The Harvest

Sarah Loudin Thomas

Contemporary Fiction

Take This Journey of Broken Souls Restored

and Tentative Hearts Brought Fully to Life

When family tragedy derails Henry Phillips's college studies, he's left unmoored and feeling abandoned. The only things that can tamp down his grief are the family farm, his fiddle, and an unexpected friendship with sweet but unusual preteen Mayfair Hoffman.

Unfortunately, Mayfair's older sister, Margaret, despite her spray of freckles and cute, turned-up nose, has a completely different effect. His grandmother's helper, she's always around, ready to push his buttons, and it seems at first that she doesn't care about his troubles.

Henry soon realizes, though, that Margaret's facing her own struggles. Mayfair's health and unique gift sit at the heart of those worries. Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as potential tragedy collides with growing hope in a warm story of family bonds and the surprising ways healing finds us all.

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

I fell in love with Sarah Loudin Thomas' writing with her debut novel Miracle in a Dry Season. The story centered around Casewell & Perla Phillips before they were married. I became so attached to the characters and looked forward to reading about what they had been up to since the closing chapter.

In Thomas' newest novel, Until the Harvest, we get to see where the people of Wise, West Virginia have been and continue our acquaintance with these complex citizens. The story begins on New Year's Eve of 1975. With the opening lines we are introduced to Casewell and Perla's son Henry. Henry is a talented fiddle player and takes any opportunity he can to play and earn a bit of extra cash.

In fact Henry loves playing the fiddle so much that he has decided to put that first ahead of his college studies. This causes a bit of a rift with his parents but when a tragedy unexpectedly strikes the Phillips family all thoughts of music and college are put on the back-burner.  

We're also introduced to Margaret Hoffman and her sister Mayfair. Margaret is a part-time housekeeper for Emily Phillips, Henry's grandmother. Margaret and Mayfair come from a stressful home and find solace in spending as much time as possible at Emily's house. Mayfair is a quiet soft-spoken girl that Margaret does all she can to protect.

In the town of Wise there is much healing that needs to take place, both physically and spiritually. It is soon discovered that Mayfair has somewhat of a gift of healing. But the gift comes at a great cost to Mayfair. 

I am holding my breath and crossing my fingers that this story line continues on into several more novels. There are so many people that I would love to know more about. Thomas' writing style is engaging and allows you to step into the story as if you were a bystander in each scene. The setting is unique and I enjoy the way that the author allows the idiosyncrasies of the place and dialect of the people to come through without it becoming a mockery of the native residents.

If you like Jan Karon novels I think you may be interested in this set of stories as well. Start with the novella Appalachian Serenade that sets the stage for Miracle in a Dry Season. You'll fall in love with some lovable and eccentric people like Frank Post and the Talbot sisters. You'll also discover what it is like to live in a small town. The good, the bad and most importantly the love and concern shown to neighbors and friends.

Connect With The Author

 

Photo Credit: © Kristen Delliveniri

www.SarahLoudinThomas.com

Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Goodreads

Miracle in a Dry Season by Sarah Loudin Thomas ~ A Contemporary Fiction Review

Miracle in a Dry Season

Appalachian Blessings, Book 1

Sarah Loudin Thomas

Contemporary Fiction

Back of the book:

In a Drought, It's the Darkest Cloud 

That Brings Hope

It's 1954 and Perla Long's arrival in the sleepy town of Wise, West Virginia, was supposed to go unnoticed. She just wants a quiet, safe place for her and her daughter, Sadie, where the mistakes of her past can stay hidden. But then drought comes to Wise, and Perla is pulled into the turmoil of a town desperately in need of a miracle.

Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to life as a bachelor...until he meets Perla. She's everything he's sought in a woman, but he can't get past the sense that she's hiding something. As the drought worsens, Perla's unique gift divides the town in two, bringing both gratitude and condemnation, and placing the pair in the middle of a storm of anger and forgiveness, fear and faith.

READ AN EXCERPT

My thoughts:

My first introduction to Sarah Thomas' writing was her novella Appalachian Serenade. That story sets the stage for Miracle in a Dry Season. I was thoroughly enchanted by that tale and the characters. I couldn't wait for the release of Miracle in a Dry Season just to find out where the story was going.

The time frame is the mid '50s and the setting is the rural community of Wise, West Virginia. The main character is Perla Long. She's a young mother that has come to stay with her aunt and uncle to hopefully escape some of the nasty things being said about her in her hometown.

Perla is looking for a chance to start fresh with her daughter and she's hoping that is possible in Wise. Unfortunately small towns are small towns. Tongues begin to wag and speculations abound. The one person that Perla confides in begins to distance himself from her. A never married woman with a child is like a pariah in a pious church congregation.

Through a very dire set of circumstances the townspeople begin to realize that they need the gifts that God has bestowed upon Perla. The journey through the crisis is a heart rending experience for everyone. Casewell Phillips is attracted to Perla, but he just can't seem to get past the idea of her having a child out of wedlock. But as the days go on and he begins to submit to God's leading, he teams up with Perla to help the townspeople.

 Miracle in a Dry Season is a beautiful love story. It reminds you that God's ways are not our ways. Things that seem to be a stumbling block can easily be removed when God is in control. It is also a story about forgiveness. We're reminded that we are called to forgive just as we've been forgiven. That also pertains to forgiving ourselves and continuing on the path that has been set before us.

I look forward to reading more of Sarah Thomas' work in the future. If this debut novel is any indication of what her potential is, I'm betting we're going to be reading her novels for some time to come.

Connect with the author:

Photo Credit: © Kristen Delliveniri

www.SarahLoudinThomas.com

Facebook

Twitter ~ @SarahAnneThomas

Appalachian Serenade by Sarah Loudin Thomas ~ A Contemporary Romance Review

Appalachian Serenade

An Appalachian Blessings Novella

Sarah Loudin Thomas

Contemporary Romance

About the novella:

Delilah Morrissey has always wanted to be a mother, but when she becomes a young widow, that dream now seems farther away than ever. Unable to continue to live alone in Chicago, her only option is to accept her sister's offer to move in with her family back in West Virginia. Will Delilah have the faith to pursue a new dream--even if it means giving up the old?

In this charming novella, debut novelist Sarah Loudin Thomas introduces readers to Wise, West Virginia--a small town nestled in an Appalachian valley where the everyday miracles of life and faith play out in stories of healing, hope, and love.

Includes an excerpt of Miracle in a Dry Season, the first full-length novel in the Appalachian Blessings series--a book New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber called, "Wonderful, simply wonderful."

For the present time you can download this novella FREE on AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

My thoughts:

I love a good novella, especially when it sets the stage for a great series. Appalachian Serenade is the story of Delilah and Robert. Delilah is a young childless widow that is forced to move in with her sister and her sister's family in rural West Virginia. Although she is welcome, it is a difficult time to have an extra person in the household. In order to relieve some strain Delilah sets out to find work so that she can contribute to the household.

Robert runs the local dry goods store. It's been in the family forever and Robert enjoys all the interaction with the townsfolk but he begins to think about hiring some help to free him up a bit. Along comes Delilah and before either one of them knows it Robert has offered her a job.  

The job is great but changes are coming that make Delilah consider a home and family of her own. She has always envisioned herself as a mother to several children. She is sure that nothing would make her happier. But what if God has different plans?

Meanwhile, Robert finds himself more and more attracted to Delilah. But Robert has a secret that keeps him from approaching her. He longs to have a wife but can he be content without one if that is what God's plan is?

This is a beautiful story about learning to trust God with everything. His ways are always better and if we will just surrender to what He has for us we will receive so much more than we ever imagined.

I do have a warning for you! At the very end of this novella is an excerpt from the first book in the Appalachian Blessings series, Miracle in a Dry Season. I'm not going to give anything away but I will say that you should be prepared to NEED a copy of this book. No it isn't going to be just a WANT, it will definitely be a NEED!

Connect with the author:

Photo Credit: © Kristen Delliveniri

www.SarahLoudinThomas.com

Facebook

Twitter ~ @SarahAnneThomas