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Hazel Creek
Sugar Fork
THIS CAPTIVATING STORY takes place in the Sugar Fork Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains wilderness during 1925 & 1926. Nate Randolph and his five unique daughters wrestle to survive after the death of Callie (his wife and their mother) as well as to maintain their farm, forests, family, and faith against an evil lumber company manager seeking to clear-cut their virgin woodland.
A cast of delightful characters, including gypsy siblings, Cherokee Indians, a granny midwife, a world-famous writer, and even a flesh-and-blood Haint, join our heroine, sixteen-year-old Abbie Randolph, in her life-and-death struggle. Abbie falls in love for the first time, helps run the farm, and mothers her independent sisters while battling to preserve her faith when senseless murders threaten to destroy her family and way of life.
Will the Randolph family survive intact? Will the farm be saved? Only a miracle could make it happen.
With the march of the industrial age, especially industrial lumbering, the roaring twenties, Prohibition, the increasing momentum for a national park, and the onslaught of a modern world, trains, and radio communication, the traditional life and ways of our Southern Highlanders were about to change forever.
A cast of delightful characters, including gypsy siblings, Cherokee Indians, a granny midwife, a world-famous writer, and even a flesh-and-blood Haint, join our heroine, sixteen-year-old Abbie Randolph, in her life-and-death struggle. Abbie falls in love for the first time, helps run the farm, and mothers her independent sisters while battling to preserve her faith when senseless murders threaten to destroy her family and way of life.
Will the Randolph family survive intact? Will the farm be saved? Only a miracle could make it happen.
With the march of the industrial age, especially industrial lumbering, the roaring twenties, Prohibition, the increasing momentum for a national park, and the onslaught of a modern world, trains, and radio communication, the traditional life and ways of our Southern Highlanders were about to change forever.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2012
6 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Walt Larimore
73 books120 followersDr. Larimore is one of America’s best-known family physicians and is listed in the Best Doctors in America, Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare, and the International Health Professionals of the Year. His MD degree is from Louisiana State University, with AOA Honors, while his Family Medicine residency, with an emphasis in Sports Medicine was at the Duke University Medical Center, where he was named one of the top twelve Family Medicine residents in the nation. He also completed a Queen’s Teaching Fellowship in Nottingham, England.
After his training, Dr. Larimore practiced 4 years in the Smoky Mountains before moving to Central Florida to practice for 16 years. From 1993-1994 he served as the President of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians. In 1996, he was named America’s Outstanding Family Medicine Educator by the American Academy of Family Physicians. In 2000, Dr. and Mrs. Larimore were named Educators of the Year by the Christian Medical Association.
The Larimores relocated to Colorado Springs in 2001. Besides practicing family medicine, Dr. Larimore is also an author, educator, and medical journalist. He serves on the adjunct family medicine faculty of the In His Image Family Medicine Residency in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver.
As a medical journalist, from 1996 to 2001, Dr. Larimore hosted over 850 episodes of the daily, live Ask the Family Doctor show on Fox’s Health Network, being awarded the prestigious "Gracie" Award by the American Women in Radio and Television. From 2002 to 2004, Dr. Larimore hosted the Focus on Your Family’s Health’s syndicated radio and TV features.
Dr. Larimore is a frequent guest about family health topics on a wide variety of television and radio programs and has appeared on The Today Show, CBS’s Morning Show, several Fox News programs, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360. He provides medical commentary for radio stations in Chicago, Orlando, Baltimore, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Tampa, Albuquerque, and Ft. Wayne.
Dr. Larimore has written or edited over twenty books and over 600 articles in a variety of medical journals and lay magazines. His best-selling books include Bryson City Tales, Bryson City Seasons, and Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook.
Dr. Larimore co-wrote, with Barb, his childhood sweetheart and wife of over 35 years, His Brain, Her Brain: How divinely designed differences can strengthen your marriage. He also wrote the health chapter for Coach Joe Gibb’s best-selling book Game Plan for Life.
Dr. Larimore’s most recent health book is 10 Essentials of Happy, Healthy People, an undated and revised version of his award winning book 10 Essentials of Highly Healthy People. In 2009 he co-wrote his first novel, Time Scene Investigators: The Gabon Virus, with Paul McCusker. The sequel, Time Scene Investigators: The Influenza Bomb will be released in 2010.
After his training, Dr. Larimore practiced 4 years in the Smoky Mountains before moving to Central Florida to practice for 16 years. From 1993-1994 he served as the President of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians. In 1996, he was named America’s Outstanding Family Medicine Educator by the American Academy of Family Physicians. In 2000, Dr. and Mrs. Larimore were named Educators of the Year by the Christian Medical Association.
The Larimores relocated to Colorado Springs in 2001. Besides practicing family medicine, Dr. Larimore is also an author, educator, and medical journalist. He serves on the adjunct family medicine faculty of the In His Image Family Medicine Residency in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver.
As a medical journalist, from 1996 to 2001, Dr. Larimore hosted over 850 episodes of the daily, live Ask the Family Doctor show on Fox’s Health Network, being awarded the prestigious "Gracie" Award by the American Women in Radio and Television. From 2002 to 2004, Dr. Larimore hosted the Focus on Your Family’s Health’s syndicated radio and TV features.
Dr. Larimore is a frequent guest about family health topics on a wide variety of television and radio programs and has appeared on The Today Show, CBS’s Morning Show, several Fox News programs, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360. He provides medical commentary for radio stations in Chicago, Orlando, Baltimore, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Tampa, Albuquerque, and Ft. Wayne.
Dr. Larimore has written or edited over twenty books and over 600 articles in a variety of medical journals and lay magazines. His best-selling books include Bryson City Tales, Bryson City Seasons, and Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook.
Dr. Larimore co-wrote, with Barb, his childhood sweetheart and wife of over 35 years, His Brain, Her Brain: How divinely designed differences can strengthen your marriage. He also wrote the health chapter for Coach Joe Gibb’s best-selling book Game Plan for Life.
Dr. Larimore’s most recent health book is 10 Essentials of Happy, Healthy People, an undated and revised version of his award winning book 10 Essentials of Highly Healthy People. In 2009 he co-wrote his first novel, Time Scene Investigators: The Gabon Virus, with Paul McCusker. The sequel, Time Scene Investigators: The Influenza Bomb will be released in 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 3, 2012
This is a continuation of the story of Hazel Creek, however this story does stand alone. We rejoin the family as they re-group and move on from the death of Callie Randolph, Nate's wife and Abbie's mother. Abbie is doing her best to take care of her four younger sisters, but it seems to take a toll on her. Causing her to be snappy and ill tempered with them, her engagement to her beau Bobby Lee makes life seem a bit easier. Worried about her promise to her momma to take care of the girls and the farm, Abbie is relieved that Bobby Lee is willing to build a house on the farm and to help take care of that. However life takes a drastic turn when her daddy and Bobby Lee are murdered. Will the big timber man get his wish and drive Abbie and her sisters off the farm? Not if the folks in Sugar Fork have any say!
What I loved about this book: Everything, the story is intriguing, the characters are believable, and likable, the moment you start this book, you feel like you are back in the 1920's right there in Sugar Fork. Of course I love the setting, there in the Great Smoky Mountains.
What I did not like about this book: Well truthfully there wasn't anything I didn't like, however I did find it interesting that Nate Randolph delivered "medicinal" moonshine, to make money after his wife died. Abbie was ashamed of it, when she found out, and I found it to be an interesting twist to the story.
Conclusion: This book will make you escape into the Great Smoky Mountains. You will feel the pain and the joys the characters face. Walt Larimore is a very talented story teller and it is obvious over and over in this book! 363 pages US$14.99 5 stars
This book was provided by Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review
What I loved about this book: Everything, the story is intriguing, the characters are believable, and likable, the moment you start this book, you feel like you are back in the 1920's right there in Sugar Fork. Of course I love the setting, there in the Great Smoky Mountains.
What I did not like about this book: Well truthfully there wasn't anything I didn't like, however I did find it interesting that Nate Randolph delivered "medicinal" moonshine, to make money after his wife died. Abbie was ashamed of it, when she found out, and I found it to be an interesting twist to the story.
Conclusion: This book will make you escape into the Great Smoky Mountains. You will feel the pain and the joys the characters face. Walt Larimore is a very talented story teller and it is obvious over and over in this book! 363 pages US$14.99 5 stars
This book was provided by Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review
February 6, 2018
I actually liked this more than a 3 star rating would imply. I didn’t like it as much as its predecessor, Hazel Creek, owing to almost a ridiculous amount of action but not as much emphasis on character development. In Hazel Creek, you really got a feel for each of the Randolph sisters. This is wholly Abbie’s story. It also ends not quite on a cliffhanger, but definitely in a way where you want the story to continue because you don’t really get closure. Given that it’s been 6 years since this was published and Larimore wrote the first two books in the same year, I doubt a sequel is forthcoming. If it does, I really would like to see something later. I want to see Abbie and the birth of the National Park, the construction of the dam that flooded her valley, and the war. And I think that’s what let me down—the blurb on the back of the book make it sound like that’s what Abbie would be up against, but the scope of the book isn’t far enough in time to show that. And I think it would be a fascinating story.
December 29, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this fictional book. I have read Dr. Larimore's other books and enjoy the real-life situations. This is like those of Bryson City and is based in the same area, so I had an idea of the topography and location. If you want a relaxing read, I recommend this book.
August 6, 2023
I stumbled across this book at a thrift store, not realizing it was a sequel to the book Hazel Creek. It was a sweet story about a girl overcoming some terrible circumstances with the help of her mountain town. I have never read this author, but it was very well written and a page turner.
July 5, 2017
Awesome book. I've been to the area and could picture it vividly.
May 3, 2012
A few months back I found a beautiful treasure! To a book lover, one of our greatest treasures is to find an amazing book that transports you as you read it to another time and place. It frees you from the cares of this world and takes you away to live another life. That's just what I found when I read the first book Hazel Creek by Walt Larimore. When I wrote this amazing man to tell him what literal joy his first book brought me, he was flattered, and humbled! He then told me that in the fall of this year, the second book would be released to continue to story of the Randolph girls and the wonderful characters you've come to call friends that live around the Smoky Mountains. This is that treasure!
In the second book by Walt Larimore, Sugar Fork picks up right where Hazel Creek left off. The Randolph girls are now being raised by their Pa, Nate, along with their older sister, Abigail or Abbie since their mom died giving birth to Sarah Beth. Abbie is in the process of being courted by Bobby Lee, the Sheriff's son and also living along the 600 acres of virgin forests that the Randolph's own is the gypsy brother and sister, Daniel and Maria, who are helping their Pa manage the busy farm and family.
Abbie is working hard at raising her sisters while her Pa finds that even during the prohibition, sale of moonshine for medicinal purposes is still allowed. So he finds that by working with the local mountain folks, he can earn enough money through transporting it to town of Proctor so he doesn't have to cut down any of his trees on his property to sell to the local lumber company. While Abbie dreams of the day that Bobby Lee will finally propose, things take a turn for the worse when her Pa doesn't return from hunting one day. Two her of family's friends, James and Jonathan Walking Stick, Cherokee Indians, promise Abbie to go looking for him come daylight. Now Abbie worries just what will happen to her, the girls and the farm if something should happen to her father.
The villian's still exist in this town with L.G. Sanders, a foreman hired by Mr. William Calhoun, the towns largest financial contributor and owner of the lumber company. They are still in the planning stages of doing whatever it takes to buy the property from Nate Randolph, but he has no plans on giving up the family farm and forest. Sanders has had it out for Nate since the first book and will make sure he acquires the land in any manner he can, even if it means killing innocent men.
There are new characters introduced in this series, one of which is the new town doctor, Wade Chandler, working as an apprentice of Dr. Andrew Keller, the long time company physician for Calhoun Lumber company. Also the Earnshaws, Candace and Luke come back to the Randolph farm, who are Abbie's aunt and uncle to see how they can help when tragedy strikes, along with the world-famous writer Horace Kephart, who's trying to find a way for the Smoky Mountains to become recognized as a National Park which would preserve the land for future generations and secure the family forests from the likes of the Calhouns!
I received Sugar Fork by Walt Larimore compliments of the author himself along with Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster for my honest review. Once again, I've been captivated by a different time and place and fallen in love being a part of the Randolph family . In this wonderful sequel to Hazel Creek, the faith of the entire community will be tested and only a miracle may save them from the ultimate fate. For anyone who loves book series like The Little House on the Prairie, then you will LOVE this series of books. The perfect blend of faith in God and learning to deal with the tragedy's that come with living in 1925 are captured perfectly in this wonderful series I can't wait to share with all my readers. Trust me, once you read the first book, you'll be hooked forever!
I easily rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and am keeping my fingers crossed that there will be more in this delightful series! This book is scheduled for release in October of this year, but I know you'll want to make sure that this one goes on your must reads for the fall! Time to fall in love all over again and see how you would weather the storms that are on the horizon for Abbie and her family!
In the second book by Walt Larimore, Sugar Fork picks up right where Hazel Creek left off. The Randolph girls are now being raised by their Pa, Nate, along with their older sister, Abigail or Abbie since their mom died giving birth to Sarah Beth. Abbie is in the process of being courted by Bobby Lee, the Sheriff's son and also living along the 600 acres of virgin forests that the Randolph's own is the gypsy brother and sister, Daniel and Maria, who are helping their Pa manage the busy farm and family.
Abbie is working hard at raising her sisters while her Pa finds that even during the prohibition, sale of moonshine for medicinal purposes is still allowed. So he finds that by working with the local mountain folks, he can earn enough money through transporting it to town of Proctor so he doesn't have to cut down any of his trees on his property to sell to the local lumber company. While Abbie dreams of the day that Bobby Lee will finally propose, things take a turn for the worse when her Pa doesn't return from hunting one day. Two her of family's friends, James and Jonathan Walking Stick, Cherokee Indians, promise Abbie to go looking for him come daylight. Now Abbie worries just what will happen to her, the girls and the farm if something should happen to her father.
The villian's still exist in this town with L.G. Sanders, a foreman hired by Mr. William Calhoun, the towns largest financial contributor and owner of the lumber company. They are still in the planning stages of doing whatever it takes to buy the property from Nate Randolph, but he has no plans on giving up the family farm and forest. Sanders has had it out for Nate since the first book and will make sure he acquires the land in any manner he can, even if it means killing innocent men.
There are new characters introduced in this series, one of which is the new town doctor, Wade Chandler, working as an apprentice of Dr. Andrew Keller, the long time company physician for Calhoun Lumber company. Also the Earnshaws, Candace and Luke come back to the Randolph farm, who are Abbie's aunt and uncle to see how they can help when tragedy strikes, along with the world-famous writer Horace Kephart, who's trying to find a way for the Smoky Mountains to become recognized as a National Park which would preserve the land for future generations and secure the family forests from the likes of the Calhouns!
I received Sugar Fork by Walt Larimore compliments of the author himself along with Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster for my honest review. Once again, I've been captivated by a different time and place and fallen in love being a part of the Randolph family . In this wonderful sequel to Hazel Creek, the faith of the entire community will be tested and only a miracle may save them from the ultimate fate. For anyone who loves book series like The Little House on the Prairie, then you will LOVE this series of books. The perfect blend of faith in God and learning to deal with the tragedy's that come with living in 1925 are captured perfectly in this wonderful series I can't wait to share with all my readers. Trust me, once you read the first book, you'll be hooked forever!
I easily rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and am keeping my fingers crossed that there will be more in this delightful series! This book is scheduled for release in October of this year, but I know you'll want to make sure that this one goes on your must reads for the fall! Time to fall in love all over again and see how you would weather the storms that are on the horizon for Abbie and her family!
October 24, 2012
At the age of sixteen Abbie Randolph is the oldest of Nate Randolph's five daughters,and considered one of the most eligible girls in the valley. She doesn't have a lot of time though, after the death of her mother she finds herself responsible for the tasks that her mother always did, including mothering her siblings, in addition to that she has schoolwork to contend with, but when the sheriff's son comes calling will she be able to find time for him? Abbie's father is determined to keep the timber company from cutting lumber from his land, while trying to support his children. Life is far from easy, will this mountain family be able to survive and thrive as they protect their land?
Life on the Randolph farm isn't always easy, but like most mountain families the Randolph's are made of pretty sturdy stuff. The character of Abbie was great, she had so much responsibility in taking care of her family. I enjoyed watching Abbie's character grow and change as the story progressed.
To say that I loved this book is an understatement! A story that takes place in the Great Smoky Mountains during 1925-26. The author paints a wonderful picture of time and place, bringing the Mountains and its people to life.The author easily pulled me back in time,with a twangy mountain dialect that allowed the characters to really come to life for me. I enjoyed the sense of family and small community that I felt while reading this story. Added to that was an inspirational feel that added to the overall story. I really didn't realize that this book was the second book in a series, and while it took me a few chapters to know the characters, once I did I found it a story that I couldn't put down. I really hope that the author continues this series, and I am anxious to go back and read the first book in the series titled "Hazel Creek."
A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Life on the Randolph farm isn't always easy, but like most mountain families the Randolph's are made of pretty sturdy stuff. The character of Abbie was great, she had so much responsibility in taking care of her family. I enjoyed watching Abbie's character grow and change as the story progressed.
To say that I loved this book is an understatement! A story that takes place in the Great Smoky Mountains during 1925-26. The author paints a wonderful picture of time and place, bringing the Mountains and its people to life.The author easily pulled me back in time,with a twangy mountain dialect that allowed the characters to really come to life for me. I enjoyed the sense of family and small community that I felt while reading this story. Added to that was an inspirational feel that added to the overall story. I really didn't realize that this book was the second book in a series, and while it took me a few chapters to know the characters, once I did I found it a story that I couldn't put down. I really hope that the author continues this series, and I am anxious to go back and read the first book in the series titled "Hazel Creek."
A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2012
Featuring colorful characters and vivid descriptions, Sugar Fork is sure to delight readers who enjoy historical fiction. I loved revisiting the characters I grew to care about in the first book in the series, "Hazel Creek", especially Abbie as she heroically faces heart-breaking events that threaten to break her. The book reminds me of reading the Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, because it hearkens back to a simpler time and place where people lived close to the land and they struggled to grow with the times while holding on to the important things of the past. My heart broke for the Randolph girls as they faced disappointment and loss, and yet it likewise celebrated with them as they were able to also achieve victories as well. Although I didn't find that this book held my interest as much as Hazel Creek did, I again found that Larimore has written a satisfying read that entertains on many levels, and includes some fascinating historical details. The specter of the "haint", Jeremiah, was a favorite of mine, as I imagined stumbling into such a man while roaming the hills of North Carolina! I loved that he plays an integral part in this story (I won't give away more for fear of giving away too much). The author has effortlessly woven faith into this rich tale, and I turned the last page longing for the simplicity of life captured within the pages.
I strongly recommend this book and award it 4 out of 5 stars.
Book was provided courtesy of the publisher, Howard Books (Simon and Schuster) for the purposes of this unbiased review.
I strongly recommend this book and award it 4 out of 5 stars.
Book was provided courtesy of the publisher, Howard Books (Simon and Schuster) for the purposes of this unbiased review.
November 24, 2012
North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains are a tough place to make a living in the 1920s, and life becomes even harder for Abbie Randolph when her mother dies in childbirth. Though she is only fourteen, Abbie is left to raise her four younger sisters while her father works long, hard hours at a mine and supplements his income by running medicinal moonshine.
Two years later the Randolph family may not be prosperous, but they are holding together. Then Abbie’s father fails to return from a deer hunt. Cherokee friends find Nate Randolph grievously wounded by gunshots, and he is certain that a lumber company’s manager is behind the ambush.
Sugar Fork valley’s most valuable asset is the beauty of its ancient chestnuts and oaks, but they are being felled as quickly as the company can buy or lease the land. Despite being shot, Nate refuses to sell his timber, so the company’s agent kills him and Abbie’s beau in a staged rockslide. Surely that will force the Randolph girls off their land, or compel them to sell their timber to survive.
"Sugar Fork," by Walt Larimore, proves that is not necessarily so. The award-winning Dr. Larimore’s historical novel describes how the Sugar Fork community rallies around the Randolph girls, and his clearly-told, tender tale will touch both adult and young adult readers. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Sugar Fork and meeting the tough, winsome Abbie, and so will you.
-- Jo Ann Butler
Two years later the Randolph family may not be prosperous, but they are holding together. Then Abbie’s father fails to return from a deer hunt. Cherokee friends find Nate Randolph grievously wounded by gunshots, and he is certain that a lumber company’s manager is behind the ambush.
Sugar Fork valley’s most valuable asset is the beauty of its ancient chestnuts and oaks, but they are being felled as quickly as the company can buy or lease the land. Despite being shot, Nate refuses to sell his timber, so the company’s agent kills him and Abbie’s beau in a staged rockslide. Surely that will force the Randolph girls off their land, or compel them to sell their timber to survive.
"Sugar Fork," by Walt Larimore, proves that is not necessarily so. The award-winning Dr. Larimore’s historical novel describes how the Sugar Fork community rallies around the Randolph girls, and his clearly-told, tender tale will touch both adult and young adult readers. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Sugar Fork and meeting the tough, winsome Abbie, and so will you.
-- Jo Ann Butler
January 21, 2013
Title: SUGAR FORK
Author: Walt Larimore
Publisher: Howard Books
October 2012
ISBN: 978-1439141908
Genre: historical
Sixteen year old Abbie Randolph and her family struggle to survive in the Great Smoky Mountain wilders during 1925-1926. Her mother has just died in childbirth, and her father is struggling to maintain a living, working in a mine and hunting for food, while trying to protect the family timber land from and evil lumber company manager.
Abbie falls in love for the first time, helps to run the farm, and then battles to preserve her faith when senseless murders threaten to destroy her family and way of life.
Will the Randolph family survive intact? Will the farm be saved? Only a miracle could make it happen.
SUGAR FORK is the first book I’ve read by Dr. Larimore. It started out with the prologue in first person (written by a doctor’s point of view) and then went to the historical part of the story.
Dr. Larimore writes in a style rich with description. It slows the story down, but I could see the mountain timberland during the harsh barrenness of winter and feel the cold wind coming over the ‘hills’.
Readers will grow to care for Abbie, mourn with her during the senseless murders, and applaud this teenage girl’s strength. If you like historical fiction, you won’t want to miss this one set in the Great Smoky Mountains, around the same time frame as Christy. $14.99. 386 pages.
Author: Walt Larimore
Publisher: Howard Books
October 2012
ISBN: 978-1439141908
Genre: historical
Sixteen year old Abbie Randolph and her family struggle to survive in the Great Smoky Mountain wilders during 1925-1926. Her mother has just died in childbirth, and her father is struggling to maintain a living, working in a mine and hunting for food, while trying to protect the family timber land from and evil lumber company manager.
Abbie falls in love for the first time, helps to run the farm, and then battles to preserve her faith when senseless murders threaten to destroy her family and way of life.
Will the Randolph family survive intact? Will the farm be saved? Only a miracle could make it happen.
SUGAR FORK is the first book I’ve read by Dr. Larimore. It started out with the prologue in first person (written by a doctor’s point of view) and then went to the historical part of the story.
Dr. Larimore writes in a style rich with description. It slows the story down, but I could see the mountain timberland during the harsh barrenness of winter and feel the cold wind coming over the ‘hills’.
Readers will grow to care for Abbie, mourn with her during the senseless murders, and applaud this teenage girl’s strength. If you like historical fiction, you won’t want to miss this one set in the Great Smoky Mountains, around the same time frame as Christy. $14.99. 386 pages.
May 27, 2017
3.5 Stars
This novel picked up where Hazel Creek left off. Once again, it's not a happy-go-lucky story. In fact, it is quite a downer, to be honest. At times it felt disjointed, especially the last third or so, but the characters were interesting and believable. I particularly enjoy The Haint, Danya and Maria. Of course Abbie is a favourite as well. This is the kind of story that you can pick up and put down as often as you need to; there's no sense of having to rush through it . I put it on hold a couple of times to read new releases that I just could not put off.
It looks like Walt plans a third installment, but I only recall these two novels so far. I'll definitely pick it up when it comes out.
This novel picked up where Hazel Creek left off. Once again, it's not a happy-go-lucky story. In fact, it is quite a downer, to be honest. At times it felt disjointed, especially the last third or so, but the characters were interesting and believable. I particularly enjoy The Haint, Danya and Maria. Of course Abbie is a favourite as well. This is the kind of story that you can pick up and put down as often as you need to; there's no sense of having to rush through it . I put it on hold a couple of times to read new releases that I just could not put off.
It looks like Walt plans a third installment, but I only recall these two novels so far. I'll definitely pick it up when it comes out.
February 7, 2015
This book for me didn't have near the mountain heart that Hazel Creek had; and I truly missed that. We continue to meet many of the eccentric friends and family of Abbie; but the only person in this story who had a conclusion was Abbie and I was looking for more. This story also took a tragic turn mid-way through that I was most unpleased with. I can't even say I was happy with Abbie's ending; but because I came to know so many people in this series I needed more. I just wanted more.
July 21, 2014
I feel this book would have been better if it would have been in the voice of Miss Abbie. She is the one who introduces her story but as the chapters go on the story is told with info that Miss Abbie would not have experienced.
In this 2nd novel in Hazel Creek, Abbie and her sisters survive even more tragedy and loves.
In this 2nd novel in Hazel Creek, Abbie and her sisters survive even more tragedy and loves.
January 10, 2013
Wanted to like this book, but by page 100 i just could not get into it, far too slow for me. I am sad cause I liked the characters, but the plot was moving way too slow. Had to move on to another book.
June 24, 2015
Another great read from Walt Larimore with descriptions of the Appalachians so real I felt I was a real part of the heritage. Anyone liking the allure of the mountains and having strong faith in what you believe will enjoy this book.
July 15, 2014
Continuation of Hazel Creek
August 18, 2025
Enjoyed. It was a slow starter for me but began to really enjoy it about half way through.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews