Home Cries the Soul

by Leah Dawkins

The author’s debut adult fiction novel is the first book in the Beauregard Family series about family ties, long- buried secrets, dead bodies, scandal, and one woman’s journey from discarded to redeemed. Laura Lynne, youngest daughter of the Beauregard family receives a call from her uncle. He is in jail for murder. Laura Lynne’s adult life has involved a divorce, remarriage, blended family, move, and career change. She has become a confident and successful woman in her new life. But one call and she feels like a teenager back in Mississippi being cast out of her parent’s home and privileged life for circumstances beyond her control. She has not returned to the family farm, Tea Olive Plantation, since 1985.
Skeletal remains have been unearthed, and along with them secrets and demons, demons that Laura Lynne has kept hidden well and has no desire to unleash. Faced with family obligations and her past, Laura Lynne returns to Venice, Mississippi. Here she rekindles relationships with her best friend, Grace, and her high school English teacher, Mary. Laura Lynne discovers a pattern of missing girls, stories all too similar to her own that fateful summer of her sophomore year. While she works to hold on to the amazing life she has created, she knows she must confront the evil that has haunted her for decades and bring to justice the man who is still actively pursuing other victims.
What she discovers is chilling and freeing.

Genres: Fiction

503 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 19, 2024

About the author

A lifelong reader and avid diarist, chronicling her experiences as a divorcee, single mom, Christian, yogi, nurse, and now Lola. Leah and her husband live in a small southern town with their chickens and a stray cat, Atticus.

Reviews

[Lisa M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

From the first page, I was hooked. I am so invested in the characters, I can’t wait to read book 2!
I met Leah Dawkins at our local farmer’s market and was intrigued by her as she passionately revealed the plot for each of her books. I was pleasantly surprised and found her writing to be similar to Dorothea Benton Frank.

[Crystal DeBoard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written, descriptive, enjoyable read with a rural setting. The author did a great job with character building and the setting was so well described you can picture it while you are reading.

[Kathy Butterworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm looking forward to the next book.

This was a great story about a southern woman dealing with her past and how she became a stronger woman because of it.

[Jennifer Henn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely worth the read! It kept my attention, very well written.

[Christian Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a great read!! Having met the author at a local store made it all more interesting to want to pick it up as she shared some tidbits. I’m glad I did! Now I’m invested in the characters and I’m looking forward to books two and three. Thank you Leah for taking the faith plunge and doing what you love. God has given you a gift!!! Hope to meet you again!!

[Carmen Grice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough about how great this book is. I have read a lot of books in my life and this is by far one of the best, if not the best! Leah is an incredibly talented writer and you truly feel like you are apart of Laura Lynn’s journey. It has everything from suspense, murder, and secrets revealed. 10/10 recommend. I can’t wait for the next book.

[C Geo · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the mysteries (and there are a few in this book), there were a few things that I think kept me from giving a five star review. Some of these items probably wouldn’t bother others, and they may even find these things endearing, but here we go…
The good
1. Character development was good. I always enjoy when an author fully fleshes out the characters.
2. The mysteries in the book were interesting enough to keep me reading.
3. The social interactions of the characters were also well written and fun to read and understand.

The not so good (IMO)…
1. The Southernness was WAY over the top. I have lived in the South my entire life, so I get it. But starting with the characters names, to the “baby girl” reference, to the Old South Plantation life that makes it seem like life in The South in The 80s and up until today is unchanged from the 50s and earlier, is not something I have ever experienced. So it felt like a lot of Southern stereotypes were littered throughout this book. It was my biggest annoyance with this book. The South in the 80s and today is not like the book/movie “The Help” I understand that the Author is also from the South, so I will concede that maybe she had different experiences than I have had. And maybe people not from the South will find that aspect charming.
2. I felt like the mysteries were not resolved. I understand that this is the first of an upcoming series, so I get that the author would want to leave something hanging to make you want to read the next book to see what happens, but for me, it left me unsatisfied with the conclusion of this book. We still don’t know who the body was, or who killed them, and the characters just seem to be okay with that. We never found out what was going on with the sister. That one is the one I would have left to carry on to the next book, but not the murder. I would have liked to see that resolved then we, as readers, could move on to a new mystery in the next book. Not solving that mystery, and the way the characters seemed to let it go, makes me wonder if that will even be addressed in the next book. If it isn’t, then will all of the books leave the mystery unsolved, or will you have to read the whole series to get to those answers. I don’t know if I can hang in there that long. After over 500 pages, and no answer to that storyline, I’m not sure I want to continue.
3. No page #s. As someone who is an avid reader, and slightly OCD, it drove me crazy that there were no page #s. If I am missing a bookmark (as I read actual books not ebooks) I will just make a mental note of what page I stopped at so I can pick back up at the same spot. You cannot do that with this book. I also like to know that I can see how many pages are left in the current chapter I am reading, so I know if I can finish a chapter before I fall asleep.

Overall it was a good book. I’m glad that I read it, but I am on the fence of whether or not I will read the next one. Maybe if I could get it at a used bookstore for less $, I would give it a try to see if the original mystery gets resolved and if the author eases up on the Old South Stereotypes, but I am afraid those are now too ingrained into the story to change that aspect of the future books.

[Rhonnie Cough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy to support a local author! This book definitely kept me interested. She’s great with storytelling, character development, pace. It just left me wanting a lot more, and as other reviewers have said, the main mystery wasn’t solved by the end. I wouldn’t mind continuing the series but that was a big one that I think should’ve been resolved. Because without that, there wasn’t really much suspense or grit. It was more of a personal journey and a family drama. My copy of the book has page numbers which some other people commented about. It just does need a lot more editing, sometimes she changes from present tense to past tense, etc. She mostly doesn’t use contractions which I found to be unnatural and distracting. I thought it was funny that we had so many G names - Grady, Gray, Grace, Gabe, ha!
Anyway, I’m glad I read it and I think it’s a good read overall.

[Sarah McKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway and am thrilled that I did. Having not read Dawkins' work before, I wasn't sure what to expect. Her character development was on point. I found myself rooting for Laura Lynne to find closure. To me, the murder on the property was secondary to the story of Laura Lynne finding her truth, revisiting past relationships, forming new ones, and seeking justice. The banter and interpersonal relationships seemed genuine, as did the setting Dawkins' built.

I'm looking forward to the reading more from Dawkins.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Leah Dawkins at a local craft fair and she had me very much intrigued as she talked about her books. I was hooked from the beginning! I felt as if I was on the journey with Laura Lynn. Finding the truth, and remembering past relationships, experiences in order to move forward.
Southern women are strong. How strong? Laura Lynn is about to find out.
Family secrets, murder, small town, suspense, tragedy. Family history that was interesting and am looking forward to reading book two to learn about the little town in Mississippi, more of the family and friends.

[Cindy Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

A lady at a local farmers market recommended this book and I couldn't put it down! I loved the 'heroine's' narrative. The author is a gifted story teller and has combined tragedy, mystery, history and family in this tale. I am looking forward to the next book. I want to know what was happening with the sister, and more about the dead body. Tell me more about the family and friends in this little town in Mississippi.

[Mitzi Dawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admittedly am not a good writer, however I love a good read! I started and finished this book within 24 hours, wondering what would happen next! Now I almost wish I hadn’t read it until the next book is published….there are some mysteries yet to be revealed.

[Samantha Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the read! Give this a try!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Anxiously awaiting Book 2!

[LynnT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot, but a gratuitous f word and terrible editing detract from the story. Plus, who publishes a book with no page numbers?

[Barbara Senesac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

A phenomenal story of life, death, hope, grace and forgiveness. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!