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Laine's Beech Mountain Story #4
Jonas Jones
Excerpt from a portion of Chapter One that got edited out:
Jonas has changed from the man I married and I don't know what I'm going to do about it. I'm racking my brain trying to figure out what to do. What makes a good man change into a troubled one? How in this world am I going to help him change back? I'm more alone with him here than I was when he was gone off to the war.
Excerpt for the end of Chapter 12:
“That’s the truth. Son, how are you and Laine getting along?”
“Fine.”
“Are you sure? I’ve heard talk.”
“Talk?” Jonas scorned. “How could there be talk? Besides, since when do you believe vicious gossip?”
“When there’s some truth to it,” Pete told him calmly. “It’s easy to tell you’ve not been yourself since you came home. It’s a fact that war does bad things to a man, life altering things.”
“I’m glad you told me or I might not have known.”
“Don’t get smart-mouthed, son. You know I only have your best interest at heart.”
“Leave Laine out of it. She’s my problem.”
Problem? Jonas saw me as his problem? His problem!
“You’re lucky to have her,” Pete added.
“So I’ve been told, and only by men,” he said again. It was easy to tell Jonas wasn’t liking what Pete was saying about me.
Pete didn’t accuse him of being jealous this time. “Daren looks exactly like you,” he said instead.
“I know.”
“You can’t deny that boy.”
“I’ve never tried to deny him.”
“Yet, you were gone when he came about.”
“No Dad, not gone – only AWOL for a few hours.”
“So, that’s how he happened?”
“Right.”
“Laine never said a word, even when the gossip turned bad. Her own mother accused her of being a tramp.”
How was there gossip? How did Pete know about Daren? Even Momma had to know if she called me a tramp – but maybe not.
“That shouldn’t have surprised anyone.”
“Doubt it did.”
“What else did you come here to find out about?” Jonas asked him outright.
“Like I said, I came to see my grandchildren. I also came to make sure my only son was doing all right. Sometimes a man needs somebody to confide in, even if it’s only his dad. I don’t want you festering up from self-pity until you lose the best things in life a man can have. To allow that to happen would be plain stupid.”
Jonas has changed from the man I married and I don't know what I'm going to do about it. I'm racking my brain trying to figure out what to do. What makes a good man change into a troubled one? How in this world am I going to help him change back? I'm more alone with him here than I was when he was gone off to the war.
Excerpt for the end of Chapter 12:
“That’s the truth. Son, how are you and Laine getting along?”
“Fine.”
“Are you sure? I’ve heard talk.”
“Talk?” Jonas scorned. “How could there be talk? Besides, since when do you believe vicious gossip?”
“When there’s some truth to it,” Pete told him calmly. “It’s easy to tell you’ve not been yourself since you came home. It’s a fact that war does bad things to a man, life altering things.”
“I’m glad you told me or I might not have known.”
“Don’t get smart-mouthed, son. You know I only have your best interest at heart.”
“Leave Laine out of it. She’s my problem.”
Problem? Jonas saw me as his problem? His problem!
“You’re lucky to have her,” Pete added.
“So I’ve been told, and only by men,” he said again. It was easy to tell Jonas wasn’t liking what Pete was saying about me.
Pete didn’t accuse him of being jealous this time. “Daren looks exactly like you,” he said instead.
“I know.”
“You can’t deny that boy.”
“I’ve never tried to deny him.”
“Yet, you were gone when he came about.”
“No Dad, not gone – only AWOL for a few hours.”
“So, that’s how he happened?”
“Right.”
“Laine never said a word, even when the gossip turned bad. Her own mother accused her of being a tramp.”
How was there gossip? How did Pete know about Daren? Even Momma had to know if she called me a tramp – but maybe not.
“That shouldn’t have surprised anyone.”
“Doubt it did.”
“What else did you come here to find out about?” Jonas asked him outright.
“Like I said, I came to see my grandchildren. I also came to make sure my only son was doing all right. Sometimes a man needs somebody to confide in, even if it’s only his dad. I don’t want you festering up from self-pity until you lose the best things in life a man can have. To allow that to happen would be plain stupid.”
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2013
49 people are currently reading
26 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 25, 2022
Peggy Poe Stern regained her writing strength in this fourth book in the series. The author continues to develop new layers to the main characters by drawing to the forefront mental illness and the tragedy it can create. Again, the writing puts the reader in the head of a person who suffers from mental illness. The reader is also shown through great dialogue and action how others try to understand, what doesn't make sense, and cope. Love this author's style.
August 30, 2021
Laine Book 4
Damn Jonas and PTSD and mental health issues!
Damn Susie.
So much drama up on the Mountain!
Laine always busy and dealing with crisis on a daily basis.
Keep reading kids! Ms Peggy has written another great sequel!!
#TeamLaine
#TeamRupert
#TeamPearl
I love Maw and the Big B Brothers. They are the one continued sane effect in Laine and her Babies lives!!
Life sure is hard up on Beech Mountain
Damn Jonas and PTSD and mental health issues!
Damn Susie.
So much drama up on the Mountain!
Laine always busy and dealing with crisis on a daily basis.
Keep reading kids! Ms Peggy has written another great sequel!!
#TeamLaine
#TeamRupert
#TeamPearl
I love Maw and the Big B Brothers. They are the one continued sane effect in Laine and her Babies lives!!
Life sure is hard up on Beech Mountain
September 27, 2019
This was the most attention holder yet ! I am amazed at the story content that has alot to do with the mental capacity of the characters in the book . The authoress has a remarkable imagination and can captivate a reader with a few words. This one I think held my interest longer than the 3 before it. I definetly enjoy her writings and plan to follow hwith her future writings.
August 16, 2021
Great Reading!
I am hooked on Peggy Poe Stern's Mountain series set in the Appalachian mountains. There is always something interesting happening and lots of old time lore and ways of the mountain folk.
I am hooked on Peggy Poe Stern's Mountain series set in the Appalachian mountains. There is always something interesting happening and lots of old time lore and ways of the mountain folk.
February 17, 2022
Double wow!!
Book 4 sure did rile me up a bit!
Every chapter was a page turner!!
Be sure not to pass on this.
I can't wait to open book #5!
I can only speculate where each chapter will take me!!
Book 4 sure did rile me up a bit!
Every chapter was a page turner!!
Be sure not to pass on this.
I can't wait to open book #5!
I can only speculate where each chapter will take me!!
June 13, 2024
Another splendid book by Peggy! I can read one book in less than a day and they always keep me on my toes! Gonna get the last book in the series and can't wait to see how it ends. I want Laine to finally get a happy ending 😭
January 28, 2018
Good read
Excellent series. Very real to life in those times and conditions couldn’t put any of them down until finished. Can’t wait to start the next one
Excellent series. Very real to life in those times and conditions couldn’t put any of them down until finished. Can’t wait to start the next one
August 16, 2022
good story
This continuation of Laine’s story is well told. Some interesting events keep it perking along. One fussy thing: spelling and homonym errors break the flow.
This continuation of Laine’s story is well told. Some interesting events keep it perking along. One fussy thing: spelling and homonym errors break the flow.
September 18, 2022
Very good book. Didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the other 3 but it was sill very good it’s just that the first three were exceptionally good.
March 20, 2016
Appalachian history told at its best
I'm a little dissatisfied with the ending he there is another story I have read this whole series in a week Peggy Poe is an amazing story teller I want to know what happens next
I'm a little dissatisfied with the ending he there is another story I have read this whole series in a week Peggy Poe is an amazing story teller I want to know what happens next
August 1, 2016
How mental illness can effect a family.
Laine is dealing with the effects of mental illnesses in her mother and sister. Then she finds out her husband is also suffering from severe depression inherited from his mother.
Laine is dealing with the effects of mental illnesses in her mother and sister. Then she finds out her husband is also suffering from severe depression inherited from his mother.
April 29, 2016
Book 4
I have throughly enjoyed all 4 books! Good reading with a touch of suspense and comedy! Love love to visit Beech Mountain!
I have throughly enjoyed all 4 books! Good reading with a touch of suspense and comedy! Love love to visit Beech Mountain!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews