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Laine's Beech Mountain Story #1
Heaven-high and Hell-deep
A mountain girl in the early 1900’s copes with a marriage arranged by her dad. Her story is titled from an old saying “I own my land, heaven-high and hell-deep.”
“Your pa gave his consent for us to marry,” he said the words as though it was a simple matter. It wasn’t a romantic proposal of love and devotion. It wasn’t a proposal at all. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I tried again.
“I don’t know your name,” I managed to say as I felt my chest constrict. There was a pain in me that started at my toes and went to the roots of my hair. Dad had come up with a solution to his problem. I could either marry this stranger, go to Granny Mable, or I could join the little Munson girl and sleep in barns and steal food from people. Great choices I had been given by the man I thought would love me regardless.
“My name is Rafford Johnson. You can call me Rafe for short.”
I swallowed a couple of times.
“You’re a man. Why would you want to marry me? I’m not really old enough to marry a grown man.”
“Your pa gave his consent for us to marry,” he said the words as though it was a simple matter. It wasn’t a romantic proposal of love and devotion. It wasn’t a proposal at all. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I tried again.
“I don’t know your name,” I managed to say as I felt my chest constrict. There was a pain in me that started at my toes and went to the roots of my hair. Dad had come up with a solution to his problem. I could either marry this stranger, go to Granny Mable, or I could join the little Munson girl and sleep in barns and steal food from people. Great choices I had been given by the man I thought would love me regardless.
“My name is Rafford Johnson. You can call me Rafe for short.”
I swallowed a couple of times.
“You’re a man. Why would you want to marry me? I’m not really old enough to marry a grown man.”
- GenresHistorical Fiction
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2003
107 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Peggy Poe Stern
53 books42 followersPeggy grew up on small farm in the Appalachians near Jefferson, NC; married young; finished school; made handcrafted folk toys; established her own farm on Grandfather Mountain near Boone; raised six children in a single-wide while growing burley tobacco, Christmas trees, and small fruits; built a house; raised small animals – all – while helping her husband do land surveying. Still farming, she enjoys her grand and great-grandchildren while creating novels sprinkled with the flavor of her mountain heritage. Since 2003 she has been writing about three books a year.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 21, 2022
Love, love, this book. Set in the hills of North Carolina, this story is harsh, humorous, and uplifting. I could not stop turning the pages. Filled with mystery, love, and hardship, the story has heart. Fifteen-year-old Laine accepts that her lot in life is destined to be a struggle. But she's not a whiner. Oh no! She's a fighter and a smart one too. Her choice of weapons is creative. I laughed at her use of the pitchfork. Laine is tough with a strong sense of right and wrong, but at the same time she has a tender loving side. The imagery is brilliant and fresh. Powerful action makes the reader feel a part of the scene. Highly recommend this book.
July 6, 2013
My dad talked me into reading this book. I'm very glad he did as it turned out to be a very interesting read. If you have any interest in the culture of the hills of North Carolina, you'll learn quite a lot. It's more than that though, it's full of interesting characters, some mystery and plenty of plot twists. There are some great sections where she uses all the senses to describe a scene, so anyone looking to learn about such things for their own writing would benefit.
The story is written in first person from the point of view of Laine, a 15 year old who is more an adult than most 30 year olds I know. It's starts off as a turn of the century Cinderella story where Laine is essentially a slave to her mother and sister. Her father is a nice man, but weak when it comes to dealing with his wife and standing up for Laine. It's her father's inability to stand up to his wife that causes a huge change in Laine's life. By the end of the story I was practially cheering Laine as she dealt with all of the jerks in her life and set about making a true life for herself.
Definitely five stars. I will be reading more of Ms. Stern's work.
The story is written in first person from the point of view of Laine, a 15 year old who is more an adult than most 30 year olds I know. It's starts off as a turn of the century Cinderella story where Laine is essentially a slave to her mother and sister. Her father is a nice man, but weak when it comes to dealing with his wife and standing up for Laine. It's her father's inability to stand up to his wife that causes a huge change in Laine's life. By the end of the story I was practially cheering Laine as she dealt with all of the jerks in her life and set about making a true life for herself.
Definitely five stars. I will be reading more of Ms. Stern's work.
May 5, 2022
O-M-G Another TRASHY book by this author! I won't bother with another. Graphic,decriptive grisly gore and violence!
Hateful,despicable characters.NOTHING PLEASANT ABOUT THESE SICK BOOKS!
Do not recommend!
Hateful,despicable characters.NOTHING PLEASANT ABOUT THESE SICK BOOKS!
Do not recommend!
July 21, 2011
Fantastic!!! I love this character and the mountain life Peggy Poe Stern portrays.
January 30, 2016
This series is awesome. I've read all 4 books. My question is when is the 5th book coming out?
January 20, 2023
Set on the NC/TN border in the early 1900’s, this is kind of a harsh book filled with violence and turmoil- some of it graphic. Laine’s story sucked me in right from the beginning. Her father marries her off to a stranger hoping she’ll have a better life away from her crazy mother. Turns out her new husband is almost as crazy. But Laine is a fighter, hard working with a lot of common sense and smarts. She loves her new home (more than her no account husband) and is determined to make it work. Couldn’t put it down. Ready to start book 2.
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May 24, 2020I was amazed at how skillfully this author served up so many unexpected plot twists and turns. I read 'Granny's Will' before I read this one and enjoyed it enough to try another one of Stern's novels, and chose this book. I'm not much for reading series of books, but I am going straight on to the next one in this series, 'Above-all'. I'm so glad to be able to spend more time with Laine, the main character.
August 28, 2021
Laine
Oh. My. Gosh.
What a fine story Ms Peggy.
Twisted storyline just kept flappin' n twistin'...
Life on Beech Mountain and hillfolk!!
I cannot wait to read the next story in this series!!
#PickThisBook
#ReadThisSeries
#TeamRafe
#TeamJonas
Mental health. Inbreeding. Poverty.
#Junie?
Oh. My. Gosh.
What a fine story Ms Peggy.
Twisted storyline just kept flappin' n twistin'...
Life on Beech Mountain and hillfolk!!
I cannot wait to read the next story in this series!!
#PickThisBook
#ReadThisSeries
#TeamRafe
#TeamJonas
Mental health. Inbreeding. Poverty.
#Junie?
December 31, 2021
Amazing Story telling
This was one of the best flowing books I have read in a long, long time. It had me hook, line and sinker right from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down, and He can’t wait to start on the next book in the series.
This was one of the best flowing books I have read in a long, long time. It had me hook, line and sinker right from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down, and He can’t wait to start on the next book in the series.
April 23, 2023
Surprise
What an incredibly nice surprise. I enjoyed the style of writing, the storytelling and the detail in these series. Once I completed book one there was no way I could stop reading.
What an incredibly nice surprise. I enjoyed the style of writing, the storytelling and the detail in these series. Once I completed book one there was no way I could stop reading.
October 20, 2025
Great
I loved this book. The main character was so real, and I cared about her right away. There were secrets, and lies, and also some love and happiness. I hope the second book is as good.
I loved this book. The main character was so real, and I cared about her right away. There were secrets, and lies, and also some love and happiness. I hope the second book is as good.
August 10, 2021
Just what the Dr. ordered!
I enjoyed this exciting, twisting and turning Appalachian mountain folk tale and I'm very much looking forward to the next volume!
I enjoyed this exciting, twisting and turning Appalachian mountain folk tale and I'm very much looking forward to the next volume!
October 20, 2021
Wonderful read. I've only started the 2nd. book in this series and plan on reading the series. If you want a good series to read this is it.
November 17, 2021
Good series
I am enjoying this series so far. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes stories about a woman’s life.
I am enjoying this series so far. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes stories about a woman’s life.
February 13, 2022
Great write
This story could be anyone's life written out in chapters!
Read this book as a life event and you won't feel empty when you finish!!
This story could be anyone's life written out in chapters!
Read this book as a life event and you won't feel empty when you finish!!
March 31, 2023
Life in the early 1900s was difficult in the Appalachians. A 14-year-old girl forced into marriage to a man she hardly knew. The book is about her life, very interesting, I couldn't put it down.
June 7, 2024
Such a good book. I live in TN and this book really gives that feeling of around here. She is such a good writer and I love her books so much. I can't wait to read the second book in this series.
February 26, 2025
Captivating from page 1
This is the first book I've read from this author. It captured my interest from the beginning to the end. I did not want to put it down.
This is the first book I've read from this author. It captured my interest from the beginning to the end. I did not want to put it down.
May 31, 2017
Love this book...am halfway through the sequel and very happy to know there are at least more in this series! And the author has written others too. Will read every one of them.
October 19, 2024
Good book. Couldn’t stop reading. Definitely a different type of reading than most books of the Appalatchin mountain area. The people have a life of violence turmoil and hard living. Hard death to follow. Not a love story for sure. The main characters have a struggle for survival and the problems they face are definitely attention getting. Nothing but strife and hardship from beginning to end and happiness is to just be able to live in peace.definitely not typical love stories. Cold and hard lives. You never know what could happen next but you can figure it’s not like a typical book. Read this book again. Was as good and couldn’t stop reading as the first. Excellent work
October 23, 2013
Not my usual type of book, but kept me reading. Actually read all three books of the series over a weekend.
April 19, 2015
Loved this!
Great book. Had a hard time putting it down! Loved the main character Laine. Anxious to read the next book in the series!
Great book. Had a hard time putting it down! Loved the main character Laine. Anxious to read the next book in the series!
April 26, 2016
5 Stars
Really enjoying reading Peggy Poe Stern' s stories!! This one kept me in my reading chair!! How so much happens to one girl?!?
Really enjoying reading Peggy Poe Stern' s stories!! This one kept me in my reading chair!! How so much happens to one girl?!?
June 8, 2012
This author is really a good story teller!!!
Currently reading
February 8, 2019I loved this book and couldn’t wait to read the rest of the series. Laine had the love of the land like Scarlett O’Hara! This series caused me to lose sleep because I did not want to put the book down. I’ve been researching my family roots and the majority were farmers. Peggy made their lives real to me!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews