Good Ground

by Tracy Winegar

Devastated after the sudden death of his cherished wife during childbirth in the fall of 1908, Jim Hooper loses the will to continue. But God plants the seeds of hope, and a new life begins to take root following the unconventional adoption of Ellis, an orphan baby. As a result of Jim's love, nurturing, and care, Ellis grows into a fine man, the spitting image--inwardly--of his daddy.

Decades later tragedy strikes again, this time for Ellis, and he finds his life turned completely upside-down after rescuing a young woman, Clairey, from a dangerous blizzard and an even more threatening existence. If their relationship ever stands a chance at thriving, it will have to survive ghosts from their respective pasts, endure the many hardships of running a tobacco farm in the rural Tennessee mountains, and Ellis will finally have to face the truth of his controversial origins.

Genres: Fiction

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 29, 2013

About the author

Tracy Winegar enjoys cooking and gardening in her leisure time. She loves all things vintage and considers several family heirlooms to be her prized possessions. She's also always on the lookout to score pieces to add to her growing Jadeite collection.

Tracy lives with her husband Benjamin and their four beautiful children in the Treasure Valley area of Idaho. Born and raised in the Midwest, her philosophies of life, love, and family are deeply anchored in those small town Indiana roots.

Reviews

[Midian Sosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: Good Ground
Author: Tracy Winegar
Rating: 4 Stars.

First off, let me start of saying, what I have to say (Kevin Hart lol).

I LOVED the presentation of this book, all the pages are pretty!! It’s enjoyable to look at. I liked the cover and I think a great job was done with it.

I loved the characters, and I love Ellis (I know, obvious), but I loved this story so much; I can’t even begin to tell you. It touched a bit close to home because my older brother was raised by my parents just like Ellis was raised by Jim, and I love my big brother. This happened because my brother’s parents died, and my parents were happy, they thought mom couldn’t have children, enter me lol.

The thing is, this is a lovely story, and if it wasn’t for the sexy accent (Tracy’s words), you would think this is a contemporary romance.

“Ain’t I your man?” he persisted.
“Yeah, Ellis, you’re my man.” Her lips quaked as she said it.

*Sigh* Ellis…

According to the author, Tracy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt could play Ellis, in my opinion, Joseph could play any character in this world (drools), but every time I tried to picture JGL talking with that accent, I burst out laughing, full on toothy grin :P.

I loved Clairey, I like the woman she is, she is unique, and I like her personality, this coming from a reader who tends to hate all book heroines, this is a big deal, trust me.

This is the type of book that teaches a lot about life, that gives advice, which will stay with you forever, and I can’t wait to get my paperback :D.

I’m going to buy this book for my brother, he will love it.

I received an ARC of this book, grateful forever!!

Did I like it?: Obviously.
Would I recommend it?: Definitely!


Love and Rockets! M.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I know the author I was scared to put it on my currently reading section. I mean, what if I didn't like it? It'd be better to pretend I never read it then to give her a bad review. But I don't have to pretend. I enjoyed this book a lot. I think I'd call it a historical fiction romance parable.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracy, you did an awesome job! It took me a lot of 4 o'clock feedings to get through it but I loved it and found myself looking forward to the next time I could read. I love your characters and I hope it does get turned into a movie sometime and that you get the actor you want too;) Loved it!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was a very good read. The characters were well developed and so was the timing of the plot. I only had one problem sometimes when a sentence was only half done on one page... or just half done... it was never finished. It was a book that showed just normal life for a person, and how he overcame a lot.

[Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very good story. Liked they way it flowed. This is my story that i have made. I wanted an author to read it and tell what I should fix to make it flow better. And all that stuff. Can you read it and tell me how it is. Thanks.
-Abbey Moore P.S. Story below. P.P.S I haven't finished it yet. Did want to go to far. Thanks again.

True Love Chapter 1 Jason
Jason had never felt so foolish before, and he hoped that he would never feel so foolish again. “She really left?!” he said out loud. After 3 hours of waiting to see if she would come back. She left at 12:30 pm on Tuesday, February, 11, 2020. And she still hasn’t come back. This is their story. Jason the spy/hero and Maddie the singer in her band/damsel in distress. Now that’s get back to Jason. He drifted off while thinking of what he should or shouldn’t have done. He wake up from his alarm clock. He got up and got dressed when he remembered that he had History. He loves History. He got to his first class he was always the first to class. That’s when she walked in and he stared at her and thought. Why did he not tell her? Maybe because he was scared of this?! Maybe he just didn’t think she was ready yet? Who knows? His boss, Mr. Guy. He knew! He always knew everything that was going to happen. He had told him to tell her. He just thought he was just joking, but know he knew what he was doing. Warning him! And he didn’t take. Why was he so stupid?! Why didn’t he take it? Wait…… who cares what he should or shouldn’t do! He was begging to act like her! So negative! Why was she so negative about herself? Why didn’t he know? He never thought about what he knew and what he didn’t. His teacher Mr. Whaleis asked him a question,
“Mr. Jason can you tell us what we just learned about hemispheres? Scene everyone is asleep?” He then went to a guy named Ricky and yelled in his ear,
“WAKE UP!!!! NO SLEEPING IN THIS CLASS!!!!!” Ricky jumped up and said,
“Sorry sir” Mr. Whaleis went back to Jason and Jason said,
“Sorry sir. I was dosing because I didn’t sleep well last night. I had to study for a test and I stayed up all night studying. But I’ll try to listen. And its Jason not Mr. Jason sir.”
“Sorry Jason I really want you to sleep better tonight. Because we have a test tomorrow. And I really what you to pass because your one of my best students.” Jason thought well you wouldn’t sleep well if you were a spy. And you worked the night shift. And when you came home you and your girlfriend had a fight and you finally told her you’re a spy. And she gets So Mad she leaves you at midnight. And you can’t sleep well. Well will you?!
He said “Yes sir!” and Mr. Whaleis got back to his lesson. That’s when Jason saw her. She was glaring at him in her mean glare way. She was wearing makeup. He stared at her so much that he could tell when she had makeup on or didn’t. Wow! She was gorgeous! Her tan skin running over her complex cheek bones. Her freckles under her perfect baby blue eyes and running over her nose. Her red lips even more red from her lipstick. And her perfect red hair. All curled and recently brushed through. Her pearly white teeth pocking out from her red lips that soon turned into a smile. Her eyes drifting away from him to someone. He turned at it was the football star Ron Micklyson. She waved her hand to the empty sit next to her and he waved back and started coming over to sit next to her. He did and they started talking. Then she looked back to him and glared at him for a split second he though he saw fear in her eyes then it was gone so was her explicit face. Why was she all of a sodden interested in him? He was just a stupid big shot! And she knew it! Was she just trying to make me jealous? Because it was working. Or was she really interested in him she just never showed it. Like she always did unless she was really mad or sad. End of Chapter 1






Chapter 2 Maddie
She kept on driving. She didn’t know where she was going. She just keep going in a circle around his neighborhood. She tried to stop crying but she couldn’t. So she decided she would go to her parents’ house. She got there about 3:30 am. She knocked at the door her sister Mea answered it she looked at her sister’s red eyes and her dried tears on her face.
Mea asked “What happened?”, “You look like you got hit by a bus?!”
Maddie said “Can I come in?” in a fearful voice that squeaked when she talked. Mea opened the door wider after realizing that she didn’t even let her younger sister in. Then sat on the couch. She got them both a glass of milk. Then asked,
“What happened?” she said with a fearful face.
“Where’s Auntie May?” Maddie.
“She’s in Los Vegas. For another week.”
What’s she doing in Vegas? I thought she was against going there.”
“Well she got a job from working from home and they said that she has to go there to learn how to work the type of computer that there giving her. And she will get paid proximally: $100,000. A month.”
“Wow! That’s a lot of money!”
“I know that’s why she said we might be able to buy a new house, in Michigan! Wouldn’t that be fun? To wake up and see the sunrise across a lake?!”
“No! It wouldn’t be fun?! Our life is here. In Utah! Not Michigan! We can get a better house here not all the way in Michigan!” She had a mean face on. She couldn’t believe it! Two horrible things in the same night! She was going to scream if another thing that’s worse happens next!!!
Her sister had a wired face on. Then she said “Well I can’t help that. Auntie is getting married to a guy that lives in Michigan. And our house isn’t big enough house from his family plus ours. So I can’t help you. I don’t want to leave either, but I’m looking on the bright side.” Maddie couldn’t believe it. She screamed at the top of her lungs for a matter of 2 minutes. Then she said while she started to cry “I can’t anymore!!! I can’t!!!!” She screamed!
Her sister then whispered “What happened?”
Maddie was still crying when she said “I can’t do it anymore! I can’t! I thought he loved me! But he didn’t all he did was break my heart! He lied to me! He lied to me! I thought he cared! Why does this happen to me?! Why?!”
“What did he lie to you about? He wasn’t cheating on you was he? Because if he was then I’ll go over right now and put him right!” She got up and started heading to the door.
Maddie talked through tears “Wait! He didn’t lie to me that he cheated on me. He lied to me that he was a spy. And that’s why he missed some of our dates, my birthday, Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July, thanksgiving, Halloween. But I didn’t listen to him. I told he was an idiot, and he was stupid to think that I would believe him. Why?! Why does this happen to me?! Why?!”
“Calm down or you’re going to faint again! And I don’t want to tell Auntie May that you fated for two hours after midnight!”
“Ok! I’m calm now but can you tell me why this always happens to me?! Why?!” She and her sister fell asleep talking about why Jason would tell her know and not earlier. Maddie wake up the next day and got ready for school. When she got to her first class she sat where she always sat. Right in front of Jason. The spot next to her was empty. She then felt eyes lad on her. And she thought: It’s Jason. She knew it! He always did this. Why? Mr. Whaleis then walked in and started talking about hemispheres and then asked Jason a question.
“Mr. Jason can you tell us about what we just learned about hemispheres?” he then walked over to Ricky the new kid and yelled in his ear,
“THERE IS NO SLEEPING IN THIS CLASS!!!!”
Rick wined “Sorry Sir.” Then Mr. Whaleis went back to Jason and Jason in his deep low tenor voice answered Mr. Whaleis’s question,
“Sorry sir. I was dosing because I didn’t sleep well last night. I had to study for a test and I stayed up all night studying. But I’ll try to listen. And its Jason not Mr. Jason sir.”
“Sorry Jason I really want you to sleep better tonight. Because we have a test tomorrow. And I really what you to pass because your one of my best students.” Maddie stared at him. He was lying. She could tell. She started at him. Wow. His face was well put together. He had dark blue eyes. His tan skin running over perfect forehead, chin, and check bones. Is it crazy that I think his forehead, chin, and check bones are cute? Maddie asked herself. Then she smiled at herself. And said to herself "Yes! She did think they were cute. Everything is cute about him!" She then noticed she had turned around and was staring at him. She frowned. Then she looked from him to the door and there was Ron. He had a crush on her. She could tell by the way he looked at her and talked to her. And Ron said flattered,
“Thanks for letting me sit here. Everywhere else is taken.”
“No problem, Ron.” Exclaimed Maddie.
“There’s this rumor going around that you broke up with your boyfriend……. Is….. That true? “Ron asked anxiously.
Maddie was meanly staring at Jason. She then heard his question and was scared. She hurried and turned around to stare at Ron and worriedly say “Yes! That’s is correct. Why?”
“Well……um…………..uh………well home coming is coming up………and I wanted to go with someone that isn’t one of those type of girls that would oooooo and aaaaaa me…….and well I was wondering…………w-would………..y-y-you want to go with me?” admitted Ron.
“Uh……Sure. I would love to go with you.” Announced Maddie. “I’ll be signing there anyways. So…yes. I would love to go with you.”
“Uuuuuhhhhh. Thanks. I’ll pick……..y-y-y-you……..up at-
Maddie interrupted him by saying “Seven. You’ll pick me up at…..” waiting for him to answer the question.
“Seven. Yeah seven.” Ron said looking worried/glad that she did that. Maddie was all happy inside. That she told herself: I can write my new song, the one I’ll be signing at home coming, could be based on Ron/Jason. Perfect! I’ll practice it tonight when the band comes over to my house to practice. Maddie left class feeling as happy as can be. End of Chapter 2

Chapter 3 Jason
Jason couldn’t believe what he just heard. Maddie’s going to home coming with…….RON!!!!! He was back stabbing, heartless, big two timing big head/big shot/cheater!!! Why would she do that?

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so disappointing. It was like having a couple of bites of an excellent meal and then having the rest taken away. So much potential but no follow through.

[Literati Literature Lovers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robbie’s Review

Ellis,” he said. “You’ re watching a miracle under your nose.” He gave a few of the seeds to Ellis and let him drop them into the hole he had already made.”In each of them little things, God put life. Now you take care with it, and you feed it with water and sunlight. And, most important of all of ‘em, put it in good ground, and that life is gonna sprout right out.” «»Jim Hooper

Ellis Hooper is a good man….his daddy raised him that way. Clairey Davenport is a good woman…in spite of the way her daddy raised her. These two characters form the nucleus of Good Ground by author Tracy Winegar. Ellis Hooper and Clairey Davenport are two people raised in very different environments who come to be together under most unusual circumstances. Ellis and Clairey are trying to make a go of Ellis’ tobacco farm, but seem unable to catch a break in this story that is set in a rural community during a period when the term “making a living” meant exactly that – no luxuries, just having what was necessary to live.

Ellis contemplated how mean this land could be to a man. How it could swallow a person up whole, leaving no trace of him. If it didn’t kill him outright, it took its sweet time, stacking a load of burdens on his back till it broke him down, making him old and weary. In the end, it would have him one way or another.

Yet despite this grim and depressing observation by Ellis, Good Ground is not a tragedy. It is dark at times and at times there seems to be no end to the bad luck. And it is no surprise that at times, Ellis becomes despondent.

There’s them that have and them that don’t have, and we gonna spend the rest of our days with them that don’t have. You can fight, claw, tear your way out, and you just gonna get kicked down again. No point in even tryin’ cause it’s all worked out afore you even done had a go at it.

Clairey, on the other hand, ” grasped an understanding that if there were no challenges, there was no growth.” She is determined to do all she can to preserve this new life she has found for herself. As she goes about her plan to help Ellis save his farm, she sings:

I shall not be, I shall not be, I shall not be moved. Just like a tree that’s planted by the water, I shall not be moved.

On rare occasions a book affects me in such a way that I don’t know what to say about it. Good Ground is just that sort of book. To say it was a good book or that I enjoyed it would not do justice to the level of feeling the author evoked in me. Good Ground is uplifting on so many levels and Ellis and Clairey are so well-written you will find yourself praying at times that something good will happen for them even though they are fictional characters. For me this book was so poignant, bringing back childhood memories of the people who raised me and the lives they actually lived during the era when the story line takes place. Thank you Tracy Winegar for transporting me back to my Big Papa’s front porch. I can hear his voice now telling us grandchildren stories just like this!

ARC Courtesy of Omnific Publishing

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The true definition of family

Good Ground is the story of Jim Hooper, a tobacco farmer who is left a widower when his wife dies during childbirth. A broken man, Jim turns to the bottle to numb his pain. In his mission to apportion blame for the death of his wife, Jim meets a 4 day old baby boy who is the result of a scandalous affair between a 14 year old girl and an unknown man and is to be sent to the local children's home. Jim immediately falls in love with the boy and takes him home to be raised as his own son, named Ellis after Jim's own father. Jim raises Ellis on the farm, teaching him how to farm and tend for animals. Jim protects Ellis from the gossip of his parentage and raises him to be the perfect gentleman. As Ellis grows into a young man, his own story really begins.

I don't really know what to say about Good Ground except that I enjoyed it immensely. Jim and Ellis are wonderful characters and their relationship, hard work and determination are something to be admired.

Good Ground is a wonderful story of love, family, hard work and doing what is right by each other.

[Shani Struthers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the south on a tobacco farm in the 1930's-1950s, this book oozed charm! Gently paced, it held my attention throughout, the characters of Ellis Hooper and Clairey intriguing ones. Although thrust together, their relationship develops as sweetly as the book does and all the way through you're rooting for them to realise just what they could mean to each other if only they would allow themselves too. I also loved how Ellis's father raised him as well as the supporting cast. We only get a glimpse into the lives of people such as Clairey's mother and father but it's a powerful glimpse and, in the context of the story, it's enough. I also love the way Winegar has written dialogue in the southern drawl - it makes for very atmospheric reading. In fact, I found myself thinking in 'southern' when I was away from the book, as well as wondering how this unique story was going to pan out. Very visual writing, this book would make a brilliant film.

[Jenny Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a part of the blog tour for this author and her book and I was very fascinated and intrigued by reading about the book, I had to purchase it myself. So, I started to read the book and WOW.....I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. This story grabbed my heart and soul and kept wanting to know more about these strong willed and amazing characters and the tribes and tribulations they went through to survive. I recommend this book to anybody who loves a good romance story that will make you laugh, smile and cry. As I sit here, writing this review, I find myself thinking back to my favorite parts of this phenomenal story that I will cherish and re-read many times over. Thank you, Tracy Winegar, for this memorable and wonderful story. This book has earned it's 10+*s.

[Tera Shanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Ground was one of those books I looked forward to reading at night. Granted, I ended up reading it in two nights because it was that captivating, but still, I found myself rushing my kiddies' bath time to get back to Ellis and Clairey's slow simmering love story. It was a clean read with tender moments that melted me. The author has a knack for description and for dropping the reader right into that Red Baby pickup truck with these two. I loved it. It is one of those reads that highlights the good and potential in people and just makes you feel better.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another reviewer used the word " gentle" I have to agree. Slow paced, warm description, caring characters. A romance, yes, but the author keeps the reader interested with the relationships of small southern tobacco country. Some domestic violence depicted, along with various scenes of death and grieving, the author offers them as an integral part of the story, treated carefully and respectfully. The descriptions were enough to have feelings for the character without being sensational. Gentle.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful story about simple midwestern folk during what appears to be simpler times. At first it seemed a bit outdated, but I soon began to care about and respect the main characters so much I was sad when the story ended. The writing and dialect seemed spot on. All in all, a wonderful read.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely & sweet, this book pulls you in to the lives of two people who need each other more than they know. Set on a Depression-era tobacco farm, Good Ground makes you cry, and lets you hope. A really wonderful read.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I found myself still thinking about the characters long after I finished reading it. Even though there are sad parts in the book (and I felt myself pulling for the characters as if they were real people), it's an uplifting book that left me feeling happy at the end.

[MaKayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracy, you've done it again! Loved it! It was a very delightful read and a breath of fresh air. It took some getting into, but once I did, I was hooked. Loved the characters and couldn't wait to see how their story ended.

[Cydnee Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, it took me a while to get in to it. As the story progressed I really grew to like the characters. I liked how the author compared the relationships to planting, growing, and harvesting.

[Marley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok read

Honestly, I found this book to be quite boring. I get what the author was trying to say and I did highlight quite a few quotes that I liked...a decent time filler, but that's about it in my opinion.

[lisa memberr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

The story was so very well written. You understand the characters and easily identify with them. The setting is filled with life's hardships, filled with real life events, reminding readers that with faith and determination life can and does go on.

[susan kozoman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

I rarely find a book that I can't put down, but this one kept me up til the wee hours of the morning! Well developed characters and a story with enough tension to keep you wondering what next. Highly recommended!

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story about life

Story about informal adoption long ago and how it changed the life of one person, then two. Also how God works our lives when we don't even know it. I really liked this book.

[Amelia Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely loved it!

[Carri · Rating 4 out of 5]

GREAT story. Loved it!!

[Amy Cottrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very charming and great read! I loved the characters and story. I will definitely read this again!

[Janae · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could I would give this 4.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and could hardly put it down. Enduring characters. Great story.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how Ellis and Clairey helped each other find out who they were.

[Amanda Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely. I will absolutely be reading this one over again.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. It's a quick read, but so sweet and really made me think. Definitely recommend this one to anyone.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story by a wonderful author!!

[Ivomoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful