River's Bend

by Charlsie Russell, Nancy McDowell (Editor)

Rafe Stone came back to Mississippi seeking justice and a house reputed to hold the secret to a fortune in Yankee gold. But the magnificent structure that began life as a one-room, French-Dominion log cabin and grew into an antebellum showcase south of Natchez has fallen into disrepair and into the hands of a savvy Mississippi City businessman by the name of Josephus Collander. The astute Collander has no use for the tax-draining piece of real estate; moreover, he needs to unburden himself of a recently acquired orphaned niece who, through no fault of her own, is wreaking havoc within his household. The house is not for sale, Collander tells the disappointed Rafe, but he can have it for nothing, if he will accept it as Delilah Graff’s dowry. Rafe’s desperation, coupled with Delilah’s beauty, makes the decision, albeit a reckless one, easy. But what secret in the siren’s past would cause a seemingly kind and responsible kinsman to barter her to a stranger? Tragedy, followed by a difficult childhood, has left Delilah jaundiced toward life, bitter toward men, and eager for the independence she is sure is coming. Instead, the financial support her beneficent Uncle Joe promised is suddenly forfeit, and he has called in his markers, compelling her to wed a man she does not know. Worse yet, her uncle doesn’t appear to know much about the handsome Rafe Stone either. Adding to her discomfort, this Mr. Stone takes her to Natchez, a city where her name is synonymous with disgrace. There he moves her into a house rumored, over the course of its nearly two hundred years, to have hosted treason, robbery, adultery, and murder. A house still reputed to harbor the specter of a vicious killer. And who is Rafe Stone, the man to whom she has sworn her troth and under whose roof she sleeps at night? A man, who claims to be a stranger to Mississippi, yet knows more about the ominously majestic River’s Bend, and its past, than he should? What is his link to the dark legends haunting River’s Bend and to the ghost walking its rambling halls? Is he the personification of her nightmare or an unbidden dream come true? Mystery, suspense, romance, and history, dear reader. Enjoy this look back to the time when the memory of the Old South blossomed into legend.

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Charlsie Russell is the oldest child of a Mississippi father and an Arkansan mother. After graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1972 with a degree in archaeology, she entered the Navy's Officer Candidate School from where she emerged an ensign. She retired in 1993 as a full commander in Naval Intelligenge, and returned with her family to her home state of Mississippi. After the last of her five children entered kindergarten she indulged her loves of reading, history,and the South, delving into the world of writing.

After seven years of rejection, she woke up one morning and decided she did not have enough years left on this planet to sit back and hope a New York publisher would one day take a risk on her novels. Thus resolved, she expanded her horizons into the publishing realm with the creation of Loblolly Writer's House. She focuses her writing on historical suspense set in Mississippi.

Reviews

[Michele Zito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Excellent story line , well written and most interesting description of that era of the South, I would have give five stars, except I found it a bit difficult to follow all the characters. Who was who and what and where. Otherwise a good book . I recommend it if you like a good southern story. Also will be reading more from this author.
Michele Zito

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlsie Russell's books

I love reading every book Russell has written. I too am Southern and love reading these stories around war times and reconstruction. Her characters are so real. Keep writing!

[Judy Hannigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical (gothic) mystery and love story. Complicated plot. Enjoyed the interaction between H&H.

[Patricia McAlexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this novel because of the Mississippi setting! I saw it on Facebook and couldn't resist. The cover really appealed to me--that river boat. It's been a couple of weeks since I read the book, but I remember it was a rather ingenious situation that led to the romance--a marriage of convenience, I guess it could be called, mixed with a mystery in a Southern setting. The mystery accompanying the romance was hard to follow. I notice the author put a cast of characters at the beginning of the novel to help readers sort it out.

[Hope Denney · Rating 5 out of 5]

“River’s Bend” is a strong Southern Gothic suspense novel that begins on a gripping note of intrigue and steadily ratchets up the tension throughout the development of the plot and leaves the reader satisfied (but depressed that the book had to end).

Set in Mississippi around 30 years after the War of Northern Aggression, handsome and wealthy Rafe Stone visits the home of businessman Joseph Collander hoping to buy the majestic River’s Bend home. Mr. Collander has no intention of selling the place; he has more pressing matters on his hands. He has an orphaned niece, Delilah, who has drawn the eye of his daughter’s intended and tells Rafe he can have the place for free if he’ll marry her.

Delilah is a veritable beauty and a spitfire. The reader feels nothing but sympathy for her as she has become the Collander family scapegoat through no fault of her own and wrestles throughout the course of the novel with her desire to belong to and be loved by another with the emotionally safer course of going into business for herself. A secret family tragedy that taints her name with scandal becomes apparent when Rafe takes her to Natchez to live in River’s Bend.

It is the looming phantom that is River’s Bend which haunts and drives the plot of the book and serves further to heighten the tension between newlyweds Rafe and Delilah. River’s Bend, which began as a humble cabin nearly two centuries before and grew to a magnificent showplace replete with tales of misdeeds, towers above Rafe and Delilah as well as the other colorful citizens of Natchez. It reeks of murder, adultery, and treason–not to mention whispers of stolen gold. No buyer has managed to live there long before fleeing the premises. As Rafe and Delilah investigate each other’s secretive origins and struggle to trust one another, the shadows and noises at River’s Bend loom over them and manage to cast doubt even at relatively peaceful times.

As Rafe and Delilah get to know one another, delightful antics ensue. Their conversations range from distrustful to flirty to angry as they waltz about the uncomfortable dance floor of marriage to a complete stranger. It would also be remiss not to mention the sexual tension between the two. The chemistry between this couple is evident in every conversation and every spat. Delilah, who has a history of feeling abandoned, experiences disappointment and feelings of rejection that are nearly palpable when Rafe decides to try to be respectful of her and let them get to know one another before they consummate the marriage. The language regarding their relationship as it progresses is lush and invigorating:


She hadn’t known how to kiss a few mornings ago in New Orleans, but had been
game to learn, and he’d spent the next three days helping her perfect the technique.
She’d mastered it now, better than any whore on Bourbon street, and he was
eager to teach her more in the way of a whore’s tricks.

Rafe’s and Delilah’s sparring comes to a delightful head against the ghosts and mysteries of Riverside, to an ending that feels all the more complete for the two coming clean about their respective identities. The reader also garners closure regarding the scandals of the house, closure that is well-rooted in Mississippi history. Well-researched and with plenty of romance and suspense, River’s Bend is a novel that I wish I had known about sooner. This book is what I’ve been hoping for since I last read “Steamboat Gothic” by Frances Parkinson Keyes. I have already picked up Camellia Creek, also by Mrs. Russell, in the hope of making some new friends with her richly developed characters.

[P.A. Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting mystery. I found myself trying to guess not only who did the main mystery, but also who the main characters were. A complex and well written story.

[Lynn Shurden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have had this book for a while but just got around to reading it. Frankly, I thought it would be just another MS river book of romance but I did enjoy it.

[CHARLES KING · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story.

Never a boring moment. couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Great elements of surprise throughout the book. Ended just right. More please.

[Kathryn Beland]

I *really* enjoyed this book. Much different than I thought it would be.

Completely recommend it.