The Watsons of Tethertown

by Mary Hopkins Moore

Seventeen-year-old Joel ran down the road with murder in his heart. This was it. His stepfather had gone too far. He would ambush the violent man before he got any closer to his farm — or his mother. The Watsons of Tethertown follows the life of Joel Watson and his family in a small Missouri town from 1886 to 1919. Fun, sensual, and historically accurate, this novel is a window into the texture of everyday life more than 120 years ago. Joel’s adult life begins on the night he flees his family farm and finds refuge with a neighbor who saves him from almost certain hanging. He meets and woos the love of his life Belle and eventually finds his way back to the family farm. Joel and Belle find passion, joy, and sorrow, surviving drought, catastrophic winter weather, and several devastating family tragedies. Joel’s sister-in-law Beatrice moves in with the family after one such tragedy and eventually falls in love – but with a woman. Years later, Joel’s daughters marry and when the Great War begins, their husbands ship out to fight for the United States. As the girls wait for news, the Spanish flu strikes. Will the Watson girls’ husbands return home, and will the family all survive the Spanish flu? And what can Beatrice hope for? Take a trip back in time and discover that no matter how much things change, people remain the same. Family is everything.

Genres: Ebooks, Romance

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2024

About the author

Growing up in Kansas during the 60s and 70s, Mary enjoyed hearing stories about her parents’ families. She has also been a lifelong avid reader who had a secret dream of writing her own book someday.
Today, she is a mother of four adults and four grandchildren. She is a former high school English teacher, where she enjoyed helping students discover the joy of reading.
It had always been a lifelong dream of hers to write a book, but she seemed to lack the time and headspace to do so. She was too busy - raising kids, working at a job she loved, and letting life keep her busy. But once she reired, she was made her dream happen!
Her first book The Watsons of Tethertown is loosely based on her her Great Grandfather Joel Watson's life. Most of the book is a product of Mary's imagination!
Mary lives in Maine with her patient husband Tom and a very silly dog named Albus.

Reviews

[Donna Barrere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and earnest, with engaging characters and steamy love scenes. Plenty of heartbreak and heartache but ultimately optimistic. I feel like a better person having read it.

[Hannah Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this family and seeing the foundations of Joel and Belle, then seeing the beautiful family that came from them!

[Kira Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with heartswelling and unpredictable romance. The big loves made the uncertainty and hardship of life during this time worth it. An easy read and fun debut from Moore, leaving me looking forward to more works!

[Anita Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF- I received the ebook version as a Goodreads give away. I finished over half the story but decided it wasn’t for me. I’m sure others will enjoy the love stories and depiction of family life from this era.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Watsons of Tethertown is a beautifully written, richly textured novel that brings late 19th-century Missouri to life with warmth, grit, and astonishing authenticity. Mary Hopkins Moore captures not only the historical backdrop but also the deep emotional landscape of a family enduring love, loss, and the constant test of time.

Joel Watson’s journey from the night he runs from home with rage in his heart, to the years of rebuilding, loving, and surviving alongside his family is told with striking humanity. The narrative moves through decades of American history with grace, revealing how ordinary people live through extraordinary times: drought, war, tragedy, and the Spanish flu.

What makes this novel exceptional is its emotional honesty. The love between Joel and Belle is passionate and enduring, but Moore also gives voice to the quiet, complex struggles of women like Beatrice, whose forbidden love adds a moving layer of truth and courage. Every scene feels alive full of longing, resilience, and the sense that even in hardship, family remains the heartbeat of life.

I’ve shared this review on Goodreads because The Watsons of Tethertown deserves wider recognition. It’s the kind of historical novel that not only transports readers to another time, but reminds them that human emotion and connection are timeless.

[Dee Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Watsons of Tethertown is a beautiful story that crept up on me in the best way. Mary has crafted a richly atmospheric story that captures the rhythms of small-town life with empathy and nuance. The Watson family is complex, flawed, and deeply human. I especially appreciated how Mary handled generational dynamics and the way history lingers in both places and people. This was a moving, thoughtful read with emotional depth and a strong sense of place.

Thank you Goodreads for the e-copy.

[Wendy Atterberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seems historically accurate. I enjoyed the read. Id recommend to a friend.

[Blair woodley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh Beatrice why

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

💯💯💯💯💯