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Appalachian Blessings #2
Until the Harvest
When family tragedy derails Henry Phillips's college studies, he's left unmoored and feeling abandoned. The only things that can tamp down his grief are the family farm, his fiddle, and an unexpected friendship with sweet but unusual preteen Mayfair Hoffman.
Unfortunately, Mayfair's older sister, Margaret, despite her spray of freckles and cute, turned-up nose, has a completely different effect. His grandmother's helper, she's always around, ready to push his buttons, and it seems at first that she doesn't care about his troubles.
Henry soon realizes, though, that Margaret's facing her own struggles. Mayfair's health and unique gift sit at the heart of those worries. Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as potential tragedy collides with growing hope in a warm story of family bonds and the surprising ways healing finds us all.
Unfortunately, Mayfair's older sister, Margaret, despite her spray of freckles and cute, turned-up nose, has a completely different effect. His grandmother's helper, she's always around, ready to push his buttons, and it seems at first that she doesn't care about his troubles.
Henry soon realizes, though, that Margaret's facing her own struggles. Mayfair's health and unique gift sit at the heart of those worries. Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as potential tragedy collides with growing hope in a warm story of family bonds and the surprising ways healing finds us all.
302 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2015
156 people are currently reading
932 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Loudin Thomas
16 books771 followersSarah Loudin Thomas grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, WV, the seventh generation to live there. Her historical fiction is often set in West Virginia and celebrates the people, the land, and the heritage of Appalachia.
Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Coastal Carolina University and is the author of the acclaimed novels The Right Kind of Fool–winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year–and Miracle in a Dry Season–winner of the 2015 Inspy Award. She has also been a finalist for the Christy Award, ACFW Carol Award, and the Christian Book of the Year Award.
Sarah’s career includes six years in the PR Department at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and she served as the inaugural director of Jan Karon’s Mitford Museum in Hudson, NC. She currently divides her time between ministry work serving foster and adoptive families and writing. She and her husband live in western North Carolina.
Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Coastal Carolina University and is the author of the acclaimed novels The Right Kind of Fool–winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year–and Miracle in a Dry Season–winner of the 2015 Inspy Award. She has also been a finalist for the Christy Award, ACFW Carol Award, and the Christian Book of the Year Award.
Sarah’s career includes six years in the PR Department at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and she served as the inaugural director of Jan Karon’s Mitford Museum in Hudson, NC. She currently divides her time between ministry work serving foster and adoptive families and writing. She and her husband live in western North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
April 8, 2024
Има много ценни неща, които остават в нас след като затворим страниците на книги като Until the Harvest. Едно от тях е възможността да погледнем себе си, характера си, слабостите и грешките си, но пречупени през образа на героите.
* " Никога не знаеш кога може да е последният ти шанс за нещо. "
Само онзи, който не е усещал самотата сред собственото си семейство или не е тръпнел от предчувствие за отказано му щастие, няма да разпознае емоциите в книгата. Въпреки че действието се развива толкова далеч, в Апалачите, съдбите на хората навсякъде са толкова сходни. Едни имат любящи семейства, но в даден момент изгубват един член и стават несигурни и ядосани от загубата. Тръгват по неподозирани пътища, само за да погребат болката. Други никога не са намирали любов и сигурност сред близките си, не знаят какво е доверие, взаимност и любов и когато им се предоставят, те не знаят как да се справят. Загубите са си загуби, без значение дали сме имали и загубили или никога не сме притежавали. Емоционалната бедност е по - страшна от която и да е друга бедност. Трезвото възприемане на живота е просто подозрителност към възможността да ни се случи нещо хубаво. А умението да бъдем силни в този живот е чисто и просто никога не появила се възможност да бъдем безгрижни и обгрижвани. Ако разчитаме само на себе си, ще знаем, че нещата ще се случат по нашия начин. Ако не очакваме щастието, няма да се разочароваме, когато то така и не дойде.
* "Понякога е трудно да разпознаеш любовта, когато никога преди не си я виждал. "
И като разумни, предпазливи и самодостатъчни хора понякога срещаме друг вид люде - безкористни оптимисти, които подават ръка при нужда, помагат със съвет и се усмихват често. Някои като Мейфеър! Тогава се оглеждаме като в огледало в добрите им очи. С всичките си счупени ъгли , ранени сърца и празни домове.
* " Никога не знаеш кога може да е последният ти шанс за нещо. "
Само онзи, който не е усещал самотата сред собственото си семейство или не е тръпнел от предчувствие за отказано му щастие, няма да разпознае емоциите в книгата. Въпреки че действието се развива толкова далеч, в Апалачите, съдбите на хората навсякъде са толкова сходни. Едни имат любящи семейства, но в даден момент изгубват един член и стават несигурни и ядосани от загубата. Тръгват по неподозирани пътища, само за да погребат болката. Други никога не са намирали любов и сигурност сред близките си, не знаят какво е доверие, взаимност и любов и когато им се предоставят, те не знаят как да се справят. Загубите са си загуби, без значение дали сме имали и загубили или никога не сме притежавали. Емоционалната бедност е по - страшна от която и да е друга бедност. Трезвото възприемане на живота е просто подозрителност към възможността да ни се случи нещо хубаво. А умението да бъдем силни в този живот е чисто и просто никога не появила се възможност да бъдем безгрижни и обгрижвани. Ако разчитаме само на себе си, ще знаем, че нещата ще се случат по нашия начин. Ако не очакваме щастието, няма да се разочароваме, когато то така и не дойде.
* "Понякога е трудно да разпознаеш любовта, когато никога преди не си я виждал. "
И като разумни, предпазливи и самодостатъчни хора понякога срещаме друг вид люде - безкористни оптимисти, които подават ръка при нужда, помагат със съвет и се усмихват често. Някои като Мейфеър! Тогава се оглеждаме като в огледало в добрите им очи. С всичките си счупени ъгли , ранени сърца и празни домове.
May 4, 2015
I loved this book! One of the criticisms many people (including myself!) have about Christian fiction is that it is too cheesy, or that the characters are too perfect. This one had neither of those problems: it wasn't cheesy at all, and the characters had more than their fair share of flaws, which made them all the more likeable!
When Henry's father dies Henry is left in shock, dropping our of university and getting involved with a family of illegal moonshiners. He meets Martha, along with her younger sister Mayfair, when she starts working for his grandmother. These two girls have lived a hard life with uncaring parents and find solace with Henry's family. While all the characters in this book are quirky and lovable, Mayfair is by far my favourite. She is a special and unusual girl with a unique gift, and is sure to get right into your heart.
Thanks net galley for the free review copy!
This is such an inspiring read, I believe one of the marks of a great Christian book is that it makes you think deeply and clearly see the sin in your own life in a new light. This book does both, and then some.
I loved this book! One of the criticisms many people (including myself!) have about Christian fiction is that it is too cheesy, or that the characters are too perfect. This one had neither of those problems: it wasn't cheesy at all, and the characters had more than their fair share of flaws, which made them all the more likeable!
When Henry's father dies Henry is left in shock, dropping our of university and getting involved with a family of illegal moonshiners. He meets Martha, along with her younger sister Mayfair, when she starts working for his grandmother. These two girls have lived a hard life with uncaring parents and find solace with Henry's family. While all the characters in this book are quirky and lovable, Mayfair is by far my favourite. She is a special and unusual girl with a unique gift, and is sure to get right into your heart.
This is such an inspiring read, I believe one of the marks of a great Christian book is that it makes you think deeply and clearly see the sin in your own life in a new light. This book does both, and then some.
When Henry's father dies Henry is left in shock, dropping our of university and getting involved with a family of illegal moonshiners. He meets Martha, along with her younger sister Mayfair, when she starts working for his grandmother. These two girls have lived a hard life with uncaring parents and find solace with Henry's family. While all the characters in this book are quirky and lovable, Mayfair is by far my favourite. She is a special and unusual girl with a unique gift, and is sure to get right into your heart.
Thanks net galley for the free review copy!
This is such an inspiring read, I believe one of the marks of a great Christian book is that it makes you think deeply and clearly see the sin in your own life in a new light. This book does both, and then some.
I loved this book! One of the criticisms many people (including myself!) have about Christian fiction is that it is too cheesy, or that the characters are too perfect. This one had neither of those problems: it wasn't cheesy at all, and the characters had more than their fair share of flaws, which made them all the more likeable!
When Henry's father dies Henry is left in shock, dropping our of university and getting involved with a family of illegal moonshiners. He meets Martha, along with her younger sister Mayfair, when she starts working for his grandmother. These two girls have lived a hard life with uncaring parents and find solace with Henry's family. While all the characters in this book are quirky and lovable, Mayfair is by far my favourite. She is a special and unusual girl with a unique gift, and is sure to get right into your heart.
This is such an inspiring read, I believe one of the marks of a great Christian book is that it makes you think deeply and clearly see the sin in your own life in a new light. This book does both, and then some.
May 6, 2015
Until the Harvest by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Sarah Loudin Thomas is a new author to me and an author that I will continue to follow. Until the Harvest is one of those books that you snuggle in and let take you away. The writing is so seamless that you can almost hear the conversations going on around you. I absolutley adored the characters, particularly Mayfield and Emily..
I was not aware that this was the second book about this family and really it I doesn't matter. It is perfectly fine on it's own. I will however go back and purchase Miracle in a Dry Season to get the back story on the Phillips family.
If you are reading this review you will have a good sense that this book is about family, grief, coming of age, and change.
I am not sure if I can express how uplifting and absolutely at peace this book made me feel. I cannot pin point why exactly but it was one of those reading experiences you hope for when you crack the spine (or download) a new novel.
If I haven't convinced you by now to click "buy" then I hope another reviewer will do so because this is a book you should not miss. You will regret it if you do.
Thank you Negalley and Bethany House for the advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.
July 8, 2015
This novel is the sequel to Miracle in a Dry Season and has some of the same characters. Henry, Perla and Casewell Phillip’s son is featured in this story. Henry tells his father how he’s had a gig playing his fiddle and would like to do it full time. His father strongly encourages him to stay the course and graduate. He’d be finished next year.
Margaret Hoffman works for Henry’s grandmother, Emily. She loves working on the farm and helping where she can. She is able to bring her sister Mayfair with her. Margaret is very protective of her sister because of her diabetes.
Henry thought he had more time with his father; how could God take him now? He had no Idea 1976 would start out this way. He starts to make bad choices that alter his life. He ignores that little voice inside that keeps sending out warning signals. He’s angry and impulsive. But since he’s making easy money running moonshine he thinks he’s invincible. Until illegal drugs show up and an unplanned pregnancy. Then he realizes he’s not a superhero but someone in need of help!
“Margaret puffed her breath out in frustration. “I know you love your grandson Henry, but maybe you’re too willing to see past his flaws.”…If you ignore his flaws, how is that going to help him improve?”…
Emily smiles, “Not ignore the flaws, but love the person in spite of them. There’s a difference.””We love because he first loved us.”
Both Margaret and Henry are doing some soul-searching to discover what things are most important in life. They kind of rub each other the wrong way as each seeks meaning-purpose, love and peace of mind. They both think it’s a little silly that Frank and Angie should get married at 90 years old. But when they look at those two and the love inside for one another it makes them stop and think about their own lives.
Margaret shares with Emily her thoughts about Frank and Angie’s marriage. Emily says, “Oh, My dear, it’s the bravest thing two people can do at any age. To pledge yourself to someone forever – no matter what comes-that takes nerve. I suppose the Lord made us to have all the fluttery, falling-in-love feelings because he knew we’d never hitch up otherwise.”
Margaret laughs and wonders, “Why love so hard when they will die?”
Perla says, “It’s hard to lose someone you love, but I guess it’s even harder if you don’t have anyone to lose. I miss Casewell every day, but I wouldn’t trade a moment of the time I had with him, even if it meant missing the pain.”
Margaret, “But loving someone like that, it just, well, giving them access to…” Mayfair finishes, “To your heart,”…Sometimes it’s hard to recognize love when you’ve never seen it before.”
Mayfair is a sensitive soul, has frail health, and has a gift of helping to heal families by showing the love of Jesus to the unlovable people. She cares and people respond to it. Mayfair was an old soul in a twelve year old body. She has wisdom beyond her years.
Angie, “Marrying the right person at the right time can be one of God’s best gifts. But if the times’’ not right, it can ruin your life.”
This book reminds me of a good old country song that explores the simple life, and shows what true love is; all the while revealing the joys and hardship of farm life.
Disclosure of Material Connection: #AD Sponsored by publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
Margaret Hoffman works for Henry’s grandmother, Emily. She loves working on the farm and helping where she can. She is able to bring her sister Mayfair with her. Margaret is very protective of her sister because of her diabetes.
Henry thought he had more time with his father; how could God take him now? He had no Idea 1976 would start out this way. He starts to make bad choices that alter his life. He ignores that little voice inside that keeps sending out warning signals. He’s angry and impulsive. But since he’s making easy money running moonshine he thinks he’s invincible. Until illegal drugs show up and an unplanned pregnancy. Then he realizes he’s not a superhero but someone in need of help!
“Margaret puffed her breath out in frustration. “I know you love your grandson Henry, but maybe you’re too willing to see past his flaws.”…If you ignore his flaws, how is that going to help him improve?”…
Emily smiles, “Not ignore the flaws, but love the person in spite of them. There’s a difference.””We love because he first loved us.”
Both Margaret and Henry are doing some soul-searching to discover what things are most important in life. They kind of rub each other the wrong way as each seeks meaning-purpose, love and peace of mind. They both think it’s a little silly that Frank and Angie should get married at 90 years old. But when they look at those two and the love inside for one another it makes them stop and think about their own lives.
Margaret shares with Emily her thoughts about Frank and Angie’s marriage. Emily says, “Oh, My dear, it’s the bravest thing two people can do at any age. To pledge yourself to someone forever – no matter what comes-that takes nerve. I suppose the Lord made us to have all the fluttery, falling-in-love feelings because he knew we’d never hitch up otherwise.”
Margaret laughs and wonders, “Why love so hard when they will die?”
Perla says, “It’s hard to lose someone you love, but I guess it’s even harder if you don’t have anyone to lose. I miss Casewell every day, but I wouldn’t trade a moment of the time I had with him, even if it meant missing the pain.”
Margaret, “But loving someone like that, it just, well, giving them access to…” Mayfair finishes, “To your heart,”…Sometimes it’s hard to recognize love when you’ve never seen it before.”
Mayfair is a sensitive soul, has frail health, and has a gift of helping to heal families by showing the love of Jesus to the unlovable people. She cares and people respond to it. Mayfair was an old soul in a twelve year old body. She has wisdom beyond her years.
Angie, “Marrying the right person at the right time can be one of God’s best gifts. But if the times’’ not right, it can ruin your life.”
This book reminds me of a good old country song that explores the simple life, and shows what true love is; all the while revealing the joys and hardship of farm life.
Disclosure of Material Connection: #AD Sponsored by publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
July 11, 2016
Until the Harvest is the second book in Sarah Loudin Thomas’ Appalachian Blessings series, coming after Miracle in a Dry Season. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, so I was super excited to read this second installment. I was really disappointed through the first few chapters of this book, but not because it didn’t meet my expectations. I was disappointed because the “family tragedy” that is mentioned in the above description was something I definitely did not see coming, and something I was very, very upset about. I can’t tell you what it is, otherwise that would spoil a decent amount of the plotline, but let me tell you, if you enjoy the first book, you will absolutely have a few issues with the beginning of this book. But, you will soon become caught up in Henry, Margaret, and Mayfair’s story, just like I did, and you will be able to forgive Sarah for writing the plotline that way.
Henry Phillips is a wonderful character. Well, once you get past his somewhat shady actions in the beginning. He has a bit of a rocky start after the “family tragedy” turns his life upside down, but through it all, his true colors still show. He is kind, caring, and full of compassion, and at the end of the day, he just might have a good head on his shoulders. He gets a little lost along the way, but that is part of what makes him so lovable. He isn’t perfect. But he is perfect for Margaret, and that’s what really matters.
Margaret Hoffman loves her sister Mayfair, and all she wants to do is protect her, especially from their not-so-loving parents. That is by far my favorite thing about her. Margaret has been burned enough by their mother and her “efforts” to raise her children right—or at least right in her eyes—but all she cares about is helping her sister. Even though that will make things harder on her, Margaret’s only worry is for Mayfair and her welfare, and I couldn’t help but admire that.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story, and I cannot wait for the third book—A Tapestry of Secrets—to finally come out next month. I’m definitely giving Until the Harvest all five bookshelves, as I completely devoured it, and I know that Sarah is for sure one of my new favorite authors!
(This review is from my blog, spreadinghisgrace.blogspot.com)
Henry Phillips is a wonderful character. Well, once you get past his somewhat shady actions in the beginning. He has a bit of a rocky start after the “family tragedy” turns his life upside down, but through it all, his true colors still show. He is kind, caring, and full of compassion, and at the end of the day, he just might have a good head on his shoulders. He gets a little lost along the way, but that is part of what makes him so lovable. He isn’t perfect. But he is perfect for Margaret, and that’s what really matters.
Margaret Hoffman loves her sister Mayfair, and all she wants to do is protect her, especially from their not-so-loving parents. That is by far my favorite thing about her. Margaret has been burned enough by their mother and her “efforts” to raise her children right—or at least right in her eyes—but all she cares about is helping her sister. Even though that will make things harder on her, Margaret’s only worry is for Mayfair and her welfare, and I couldn’t help but admire that.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story, and I cannot wait for the third book—A Tapestry of Secrets—to finally come out next month. I’m definitely giving Until the Harvest all five bookshelves, as I completely devoured it, and I know that Sarah is for sure one of my new favorite authors!
(This review is from my blog, spreadinghisgrace.blogspot.com)
March 10, 2016
I enjoyed revisiting characters from the first book in this series (Miracle in a Dry Season), but I have to say, Casewell's son Henry is so clueless! He allows his grief and the varying emotions that accompany it derail him from his planned future, and he comes to regret his poor choices- some he's actually embarrassed about, and others he just considers a close call. I felt like his grandmother and mother, Emily and Perla, as I shook my head over him. Margaret is a little lost as well, but since she's the most responsible caretaker of her little sister, she focuses on hard work and serving others as she discovers God's will for her life. There are also themes similar to the ones found in Miracle in a Dry Season such as the sweetness and love of a child transforming a hard and bitter man, grief over the loss of loved ones, uncertainty over one's future, and hesitancy at the opportunity for love.
(Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
(Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
February 5, 2015
Smell the rich farm soil of West Virginia, breathe the cold of a mountain winter, journey with endearing characters searching for wholeness amidst the ache of grief and regret. By turns charming and profound, unfailingly engaging, Until The Harvest will linger with readers long after the last page is turned.
October 20, 2015
4/18/2015: Yay! I've been watching for this book all week--a perfect Saturday treat for it to land in my mailbox today!
Review to follow... :)
4/20/2015: Among Sarah Loudin Thomas's many strengths as a writer is her honest rendering of human beings. Her characters have the same dark and hidden places in their hearts and minds as all the rest of us. It's simultaneously comforting (yay, I'm not the only one!) and alarming (wow, what's ugly on them surely looks no better on me...)
This is one thing that makes Until the Harvest, and indeed the entire Appalachian Blessings series, so addictively readable. The town of Wise, West Virginia is populated with well-intentioned people who are also insecure, full of doubt, and occasionally judgmental and self-justifying in the very same breath. This mirror of humanity makes an apt canvas for grace.
Henry Phillips is in the dead-middle of that awful phase of young adulthood--convinced of his rightness, ignoring wisdom at every opportunity. "I'm 22," he seems to say. "I know what I'm doing."
"And I'm 49/74/90-something," the other characters might reply. "I know what you're doing too, son."
That phase is an especially lousy time to lose a parent. With grief clouding his already not-especially-keen judgment, Henry totters on the decision point of what kind of man he's becoming, and he's not too interested in hearing anyone's opinion of what his Dad might have wanted for him or expected of him. He is easily swayed by his sense of obligation, but youth often speeds him through the process of considering his options or examining what is truly necessary or advisable.
Margaret Hoffman manages heartache by funneling it through her hands, creating order where she can in the midst of life's mess. She probably won't sit and pray you through an illness--but she'll bring a casserole and scrub your bathroom while you're laid up. Considering her disappointing relationship with her parents, her younger sister's Type 1 diabetes, and the freckles that make her feel ugly and unlovable, it's not hard to understand how she came by this manager personality.
Margaret is part of a life that will be lost to Henry as he travels farther down a certain road, and there's little or nothing in Henry's chaos that Margaret can organize. And the two of them don't like each other, anyway. Until they do.
And then there's Mayfair--the twelve-year old sister with diabetes and a wonderful and dangerous ability. In Miracle in a Dry Season, Perla had a gift that felt like a curse, and this time around, Mayfair has a gift that comes with a price. I love that this comes through a child, because I believe that children have a capacity for sacrificial love that is harder for adults. Mayfair's part in the story is its essence:
Until the Harvest is a clean read, dealing tactfully with the social character of the Seventies without skirting the kind of trouble a man could find if he went looking for it. The message is clear and well-timed: when any character gets a dose of God's Word in this book, they really, really needed to hear it.
In summary, Until the Harvest is another winner from a talented new voice in Christian fiction. I'll be looking forward to the third book in this series, The Secret of Being Content, due out next year!
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. My opinions are my own.)
Review to follow... :)
4/20/2015: Among Sarah Loudin Thomas's many strengths as a writer is her honest rendering of human beings. Her characters have the same dark and hidden places in their hearts and minds as all the rest of us. It's simultaneously comforting (yay, I'm not the only one!) and alarming (wow, what's ugly on them surely looks no better on me...)
This is one thing that makes Until the Harvest, and indeed the entire Appalachian Blessings series, so addictively readable. The town of Wise, West Virginia is populated with well-intentioned people who are also insecure, full of doubt, and occasionally judgmental and self-justifying in the very same breath. This mirror of humanity makes an apt canvas for grace.
Henry Phillips is in the dead-middle of that awful phase of young adulthood--convinced of his rightness, ignoring wisdom at every opportunity. "I'm 22," he seems to say. "I know what I'm doing."
"And I'm 49/74/90-something," the other characters might reply. "I know what you're doing too, son."
That phase is an especially lousy time to lose a parent. With grief clouding his already not-especially-keen judgment, Henry totters on the decision point of what kind of man he's becoming, and he's not too interested in hearing anyone's opinion of what his Dad might have wanted for him or expected of him. He is easily swayed by his sense of obligation, but youth often speeds him through the process of considering his options or examining what is truly necessary or advisable.
Margaret Hoffman manages heartache by funneling it through her hands, creating order where she can in the midst of life's mess. She probably won't sit and pray you through an illness--but she'll bring a casserole and scrub your bathroom while you're laid up. Considering her disappointing relationship with her parents, her younger sister's Type 1 diabetes, and the freckles that make her feel ugly and unlovable, it's not hard to understand how she came by this manager personality.
Margaret is part of a life that will be lost to Henry as he travels farther down a certain road, and there's little or nothing in Henry's chaos that Margaret can organize. And the two of them don't like each other, anyway. Until they do.
And then there's Mayfair--the twelve-year old sister with diabetes and a wonderful and dangerous ability. In Miracle in a Dry Season, Perla had a gift that felt like a curse, and this time around, Mayfair has a gift that comes with a price. I love that this comes through a child, because I believe that children have a capacity for sacrificial love that is harder for adults. Mayfair's part in the story is its essence:
Until the Harvest is a clean read, dealing tactfully with the social character of the Seventies without skirting the kind of trouble a man could find if he went looking for it. The message is clear and well-timed: when any character gets a dose of God's Word in this book, they really, really needed to hear it.
In summary, Until the Harvest is another winner from a talented new voice in Christian fiction. I'll be looking forward to the third book in this series, The Secret of Being Content, due out next year!
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. My opinions are my own.)
January 20, 2018
While this is from a decidedly Christian perspective with a few scripture references included, it didn't feel heavy-handed or preachy. The characters were likeable, and the storyline enjoyable. I felt it was wrapped up a bit too neatly, but I appreciate a happy ending. Easy, gentle read.
May 8, 2015
There's something I find most compelling about this series. Maybe it's the freshness of not knowing what to expect. (The first few chapters are guaranteed to make us say, 'Hey, what?) Maybe it's the delicate touch of the supernatural in the real world, proving that it doesn't just happen in fairy tales. In this story, a sudden event upsets young Henry Phillips' plans to return to college, while his grandma's helper, Margaret, is always around the place, rubbing him up the wrong way.
I initially took a dislike to Margaret, for paying a guy out at his own father's funeral, then complaining about his manners to his grandma. But I changed my opinion, and really came to like her. She's an introvert who's uncertain of her value, and has a low expectation of being loved. This is partly because of her freckles and sturdier frame in a decade when Twiggy set the fashion standards, and partly because she was the child of a self-focused, socialite mother and ineffective, but well-meaning father.
It's refreshing to see a heroine who likes tidying and cleaning and just wants to live on a farm and raise a family of her own. For so long, girls have been rebuked for admitting ambitions like this, and told to aim higher. Good on Margaret for recognising the nobility and value in her goal! She's not afraid to wipe a bit of toothpaste from a sink. As the character Beulah Simmons points out, 'Too many young women these days are all caught up in their rights.'
Henry's character comes across believably too. Reeling with grief but still wanting to keep up his man-of-the-family front, he makes some bad decisions while trying to convince himself they're sound. Henry is impulsive at times, and lured by the siren call of prestige and possible influence. His theme turns out to be similar to Margaret's, in his case whether or not the humble peace of what he really wants to do deep down will be enough to carry him through.
The cool, supernatural gift in this story comes through Margaret's twelve-year-old sister, Mayfair. It's activated through love. Mayfair suffers a chronic illness (Type 1 diabetes), and it's nice to see such a young and vulnerable character presented as the voice of wisdom. Often, Mayfair sees to the heart of things when her sister is too close to a situation to do the same. For example, she stands up for Henry, reasoning with Margaret, 'Don't you sometimes act one way when you feel another?'
It's good to see Perla's gift from Miracle in a Dry Season still operating, although I wonder why she kept it secret from her son. He considers at one stage that his dad had done most of the cooking while he was growing up, which I found a bit sad, considering how Perla enjoyed using her special gift in the prequel. Why would she stop? It also seemed a bit odd that Margaret had been working for Emily since she was sixteen, yet comes across as a vague aquaintance of Henry's and Perla's at the start. Still, it might have happened that way.
On the whole, I enjoyed this as much as Miracle in a Dry Season, and it seemed to be better balanced. The first book focuses more on Casewell than Perla, while this story spreads time equally between both main characters, Margaret and Henry. As the first book takes place in the 50s, and this second one in the 70s, I wonder if the third will be set in the 90s. I just hope it won't be at the expense of another lovely Phillips man.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House for my review copy.
I initially took a dislike to Margaret, for paying a guy out at his own father's funeral, then complaining about his manners to his grandma. But I changed my opinion, and really came to like her. She's an introvert who's uncertain of her value, and has a low expectation of being loved. This is partly because of her freckles and sturdier frame in a decade when Twiggy set the fashion standards, and partly because she was the child of a self-focused, socialite mother and ineffective, but well-meaning father.
It's refreshing to see a heroine who likes tidying and cleaning and just wants to live on a farm and raise a family of her own. For so long, girls have been rebuked for admitting ambitions like this, and told to aim higher. Good on Margaret for recognising the nobility and value in her goal! She's not afraid to wipe a bit of toothpaste from a sink. As the character Beulah Simmons points out, 'Too many young women these days are all caught up in their rights.'
Henry's character comes across believably too. Reeling with grief but still wanting to keep up his man-of-the-family front, he makes some bad decisions while trying to convince himself they're sound. Henry is impulsive at times, and lured by the siren call of prestige and possible influence. His theme turns out to be similar to Margaret's, in his case whether or not the humble peace of what he really wants to do deep down will be enough to carry him through.
The cool, supernatural gift in this story comes through Margaret's twelve-year-old sister, Mayfair. It's activated through love. Mayfair suffers a chronic illness (Type 1 diabetes), and it's nice to see such a young and vulnerable character presented as the voice of wisdom. Often, Mayfair sees to the heart of things when her sister is too close to a situation to do the same. For example, she stands up for Henry, reasoning with Margaret, 'Don't you sometimes act one way when you feel another?'
It's good to see Perla's gift from Miracle in a Dry Season still operating, although I wonder why she kept it secret from her son. He considers at one stage that his dad had done most of the cooking while he was growing up, which I found a bit sad, considering how Perla enjoyed using her special gift in the prequel. Why would she stop? It also seemed a bit odd that Margaret had been working for Emily since she was sixteen, yet comes across as a vague aquaintance of Henry's and Perla's at the start. Still, it might have happened that way.
On the whole, I enjoyed this as much as Miracle in a Dry Season, and it seemed to be better balanced. The first book focuses more on Casewell than Perla, while this story spreads time equally between both main characters, Margaret and Henry. As the first book takes place in the 50s, and this second one in the 70s, I wonder if the third will be set in the 90s. I just hope it won't be at the expense of another lovely Phillips man.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House for my review copy.
April 26, 2015
Sarah Loudin Thomas's first book, Miracle in a Dry Season, introduces us to the Phillips family. This book continues with that wonderful family. A tragedy in the family causes young Henry Phillips to reconsider continuing with his college studies. He is not at all sure about anything anymore and feels adrift. He loves his fiddle and considers music as his life's work, but then there's the family farm, his mother and grandmother.
Then there's Mayfair Hoffman, a preteen who has an unusual effect on Henry and they form a bond. Mayfair's older sister Margaret, however, sseems determined to rile Henry. Margaret works for Henry's grandmother, Emily, and brings Mayfair to work with her most days.
Margaret has troubles of her own, including caring for Mayfair and her delicate health. Henry and Margaret are drawn together in the midst of all these troubles and must rely on each other.
Sarah Loudin Thomas has once again written a story set in Appalachia that is rich and full. The reader feels like they're in the story, pulled along by the characters, feeling close to each one as they travel the path laid out before them. Everything and everyone in this book feels a part of you as you read this book. Even the cow and dog! This is a book that makes you wish you could be back in that time and place to experience what the characters experience.
I look forward to more of Sarah's work. She is a very gifted writer and I intend to follow her career always.
*I was provided a free copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.
Then there's Mayfair Hoffman, a preteen who has an unusual effect on Henry and they form a bond. Mayfair's older sister Margaret, however, sseems determined to rile Henry. Margaret works for Henry's grandmother, Emily, and brings Mayfair to work with her most days.
Margaret has troubles of her own, including caring for Mayfair and her delicate health. Henry and Margaret are drawn together in the midst of all these troubles and must rely on each other.
Sarah Loudin Thomas has once again written a story set in Appalachia that is rich and full. The reader feels like they're in the story, pulled along by the characters, feeling close to each one as they travel the path laid out before them. Everything and everyone in this book feels a part of you as you read this book. Even the cow and dog! This is a book that makes you wish you could be back in that time and place to experience what the characters experience.
I look forward to more of Sarah's work. She is a very gifted writer and I intend to follow her career always.
*I was provided a free copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.
June 26, 2015
This novel, much like the first in the series, has a unique style of story – a soft blend of faith amidst loss, pain, doubt, and sin. The rural community paints a sweet and realistic backdrop for the characters, each of whom have their own unique charm. It's a coming-of-age story for both Henry and Margaret, complete with its moments of bruises as well as blessings. It read like a journey, as any book worth its salt should.
However, it progressed at a slow pace for me. At times it felt like there wasn't much happening beyond the normal life day-to-day stuff. I liked the characters, especially young Mayfair, but I didn't see as much growth in them as I would have liked. The romantic feelings between Henry and Margaret didn't really show up until the later half and I struggled connecting to their relationship at that point. The obstacles they faced though were interesting. I had not expected those little twists.
I think readers and fans of "Miracle in a Dry Season" will enjoy seeing many of the characters return in "Until the Harvest". The miraculous and mysterious aspects of the first book show up again in this book in a fresh and different way. You'll have to check it out. I enjoyed it.
However, it progressed at a slow pace for me. At times it felt like there wasn't much happening beyond the normal life day-to-day stuff. I liked the characters, especially young Mayfair, but I didn't see as much growth in them as I would have liked. The romantic feelings between Henry and Margaret didn't really show up until the later half and I struggled connecting to their relationship at that point. The obstacles they faced though were interesting. I had not expected those little twists.
I think readers and fans of "Miracle in a Dry Season" will enjoy seeing many of the characters return in "Until the Harvest". The miraculous and mysterious aspects of the first book show up again in this book in a fresh and different way. You'll have to check it out. I enjoyed it.
April 27, 2015
As we say in our community, "Set a spell. Pull up a chair." That's what it takes to enjoy every nuance of "Until the Harvest." And we don't want to miss a thing.
Sarah Loudin Thomas is a new Appalachian voice drawing us gently into a realm where time pauses, reflects, and teaches. Her debut novel, "Miracle in a Dry Season," introduced us to characters in Wise, a place where everyone knows folks. Or thinks they do. She artfully weaves the stories of Henry and Margaret with several generations of townsfolk caught in a web of past hurts and present tragedy. And then there's Mayfair, who knows folks better than they know themselves.
Thomas demands a read that moves along but won't be hurried. It's like a stream where surprises lurk but not for the impatient.
Sarah's warm descriptions and command of Appalachian lilt invite and mesmerize. Her grasp of people and universal truths leave us satisfied and waiting for the next literary installment. I felt peaceful after this read, not restless.
Bravo, Sarah!
Sarah Loudin Thomas is a new Appalachian voice drawing us gently into a realm where time pauses, reflects, and teaches. Her debut novel, "Miracle in a Dry Season," introduced us to characters in Wise, a place where everyone knows folks. Or thinks they do. She artfully weaves the stories of Henry and Margaret with several generations of townsfolk caught in a web of past hurts and present tragedy. And then there's Mayfair, who knows folks better than they know themselves.
Thomas demands a read that moves along but won't be hurried. It's like a stream where surprises lurk but not for the impatient.
Sarah's warm descriptions and command of Appalachian lilt invite and mesmerize. Her grasp of people and universal truths leave us satisfied and waiting for the next literary installment. I felt peaceful after this read, not restless.
Bravo, Sarah!
June 25, 2015
A wonderful book! The author deals with topics many young adults face. Margaret struggles with her identity and self worth. Henry is grieving and makes some unwise, and illegal, decisions. The book also introduces us to Mayfair, Margaret's younger sister. Mayfair is a shy girl but she is drawn to "help" certain people. Through Mayfair and her gift, Margaret begins to understand love and realize that family isn't limited to your blood relatives. Henry begins to see where he belongs and what is important in life.
I love how Sarah Loudin Thomas writes about spiritual gifts in a way that makes them feel real and wonderful. If you liked Miracle in a Dry Season then you will love this book also.
I love how Sarah Loudin Thomas writes about spiritual gifts in a way that makes them feel real and wonderful. If you liked Miracle in a Dry Season then you will love this book also.
May 19, 2015
Until the Harvest is the second book by Sarah Loudin Thomas (the first, Miracle in a Dry Season, was one of my favorites!), and it centers around Henry, the son of Casewell and Perla, and Margaret, a plain but hardworking girl who works for his grandmother. The plot was rich with characters, and the West Virginia setting came alive. I identified with Margaret and her practical outlook on life, but I struggled to care for Henry because he made so many poor decisions. However, Henry's growth and Margaret's journey made for a satisfying ending.
May 11, 2020
I loved this book. I love how Sarah weaves places from our hometown and our state into her stories. It’s like being an insider in the novel. I cannot wait to read the third book in her series!
April 8, 2018
(read in Dutch)
Hoopvolle Christelijke roman
Sarah Loudin Thomas heeft met De gave van een kind een prettig leesbare roman geschreven. Het is heerlijk om mee te leven met haar personages en met het leven op de boerderij. Haar affiniteit met mishandelde en verwaarloosde kinderen is in dit boek terug te lezen. Ook personages die vanuit boosheid en verdriet verkeerde keuzes maken, krijgen een plekje. Mooi en hoopvol om te lezen hoe hun leven zich ontwikkelt.
Henry studeert en het is de bedoeling dat hij straks op de boerderij gaat werken. Maar eigenlijk wordt Henry het meest blij van vioolspelen. Als hij thuiskomt voor de kerstvakantie probeert hij dit met zijn ouders te bespreken, maar die dringen aan op zijn studie. Als er dan iets ergs gebeurt in zijn gezin, blijft hij thuis en maakt hij vanuit boosheid op zijn vader en vanuit een gevoel van verlatenheid verkeerde keuzes. Bij zijn oma Emily komt hij wat tot rust. Hij helpt haar op de boerderij. Daar ontmoet hij Margaret, die Emily in het huishouden helpt. Margaret zou niets liever doen dan andere mensen helpen met schoonmaken en vindt het heerlijk bij Emily, temeer omdat het bij haar ouders maar een koude, afstandelijke bedoening is. Het zusje van Margaret, Mayfair, heeft suikerziekte en krijgt nadat ze in de buurt is geweest van zieke mensen steeds vaker een aanval. In de zorg voor Mayfair lijken Margaret en Henry naar elkaar toe te groeien, maar zijn verkeerde keuzes krijgen verregaande gevolgen.
Hoopvolle Christelijke roman
Sarah Loudin Thomas heeft met De gave van een kind een prettig leesbare roman geschreven. Het is heerlijk om mee te leven met haar personages en met het leven op de boerderij. Haar affiniteit met mishandelde en verwaarloosde kinderen is in dit boek terug te lezen. Ook personages die vanuit boosheid en verdriet verkeerde keuzes maken, krijgen een plekje. Mooi en hoopvol om te lezen hoe hun leven zich ontwikkelt.
Henry studeert en het is de bedoeling dat hij straks op de boerderij gaat werken. Maar eigenlijk wordt Henry het meest blij van vioolspelen. Als hij thuiskomt voor de kerstvakantie probeert hij dit met zijn ouders te bespreken, maar die dringen aan op zijn studie. Als er dan iets ergs gebeurt in zijn gezin, blijft hij thuis en maakt hij vanuit boosheid op zijn vader en vanuit een gevoel van verlatenheid verkeerde keuzes. Bij zijn oma Emily komt hij wat tot rust. Hij helpt haar op de boerderij. Daar ontmoet hij Margaret, die Emily in het huishouden helpt. Margaret zou niets liever doen dan andere mensen helpen met schoonmaken en vindt het heerlijk bij Emily, temeer omdat het bij haar ouders maar een koude, afstandelijke bedoening is. Het zusje van Margaret, Mayfair, heeft suikerziekte en krijgt nadat ze in de buurt is geweest van zieke mensen steeds vaker een aanval. In de zorg voor Mayfair lijken Margaret en Henry naar elkaar toe te groeien, maar zijn verkeerde keuzes krijgen verregaande gevolgen.
July 10, 2017
Love this author, the story line and the entire Appalachian Blessing series...excellent read!
August 2, 2017
Continuing with many of the same characters from the first book, the plot focuses on Henry, Perla and Casewell's son. Henry struggles with several major decisions and faces them with the help of friends and family. The introduction of Margaret and Mayfair add a satisfying depth of the different aspects of love and faith.
March 10, 2019
Good flow, well developed characters set in West Virginia. This is a new to me author.
May 31, 2017
Blessings
We so often overlook the many blessings in our life to worry about things which the good Lord has told us will be taken care of! This is a rich and abundant book showing us what matters in life, Doing what our hearts desire and waiting on God's timing! Wonderful read!
We so often overlook the many blessings in our life to worry about things which the good Lord has told us will be taken care of! This is a rich and abundant book showing us what matters in life, Doing what our hearts desire and waiting on God's timing! Wonderful read!
September 8, 2025
Bijzondere roman over mensen die met elkaar meeleven, in een kleine gemeenschap wonen, soms foute keuzes maken. Er is iets mysterieus in deze roman. Nadat ik het boek had uitgelezen, bleef dat geheimzinnige in mijn hoofd rondzingen. Denk dat het boek dat op een leesclub veel gespreksstof oplevert.
October 20, 2018
Not very often can you find a series of books with no curse words of sex init. This is a series everyone should read. Great job of showing both male and female basic things we see in others but not ourself.
Do you have value as a person? Do you have a real purpose in life? Were you created with special.talents and abilities? This series will answer all those questions and more in a way that speaks from the Lord without being preachy or religious. Everyone needs to read these books with a open mind and heart. You will be truly bleesed. I have been. Getting to read the third book in the series now. Thank you so much ms. Thomas for writing these for me.
Do you have value as a person? Do you have a real purpose in life? Were you created with special.talents and abilities? This series will answer all those questions and more in a way that speaks from the Lord without being preachy or religious. Everyone needs to read these books with a open mind and heart. You will be truly bleesed. I have been. Getting to read the third book in the series now. Thank you so much ms. Thomas for writing these for me.
May 19, 2015
Until the Harvest (Appalachian Blessings #2)
About the Book:
"Once in a while a new author...makes you sit up and take notice."--"Library Journal" When a family tragedy derails Henry Phillips's college studies, he's left unmoored and feeling abandoned. Although Henry tries to find escape in bad company, the only things that can tamp down his anger and grief are the family farm, his fiddle, and sweet but unusual pre-teen Mayfair Hoffman.
Unfortunately, Mayfair's older sister, Margaret, with the freckles and cute, turned-up nose, has the opposite effect. Worse, she's his grandmother's housekeeper and helper, so she's always around and ready to push his buttons. At first he thinks she doesn't care about his loss, before beginning to understand she's facing her own struggles. Mayfair's health and unique gift sit at the heart of those worries, and Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as both Henry's future and Mayfair's life are put at risk.
My Review:
Henry Phillips has always wanted to play music for a living, all his life. But after is father demanded to he go to school first, he new it may just never happened. Doing as his father says, he studies his best, but yet finds himself barely passing. So one night while home for vacation, he decides to sneak out and play with a local band. But the next morning his life is changed drastically. As soon as his father is covered with dirt, Henry's life is put in a tailspin. At least it is until he meets a little girl by the name Mayfair Hoffman.
Margaret Hoffman help's take care of a nice old lady named Emily. The nice lady makes Margaret actually feel important unlike her parents. And with her little sister, Mayfair, by her side, they help Emily on her small adventures. And since her grandson, Henry is home from college for a semester, he also tags along. Although she isn't having to listen o her mother's degrading comments, Margaret stills feels less attractive, every time she is around Henry. What guy would want a girl covered in freckles anyway?
As they begin to work more and more together, Henry learns that Margaret has more to her than meets the eye. And Mayfair is a young girl suffering from an illness. Margaret soon discover's Henry feels alone, with the weight of the world on his shoulders. With everything falling apart around them, they will have to decide whether things are worth saving.
Until The Harvest is Sarah Loudin Thomas's second novel. This book is just as amazing as the author’s first. She knows without a doubt how to write a good story. I enjoy her books greatly and I’m looking forward to another in the future.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Bethany House.
About the Book:
"Once in a while a new author...makes you sit up and take notice."--"Library Journal" When a family tragedy derails Henry Phillips's college studies, he's left unmoored and feeling abandoned. Although Henry tries to find escape in bad company, the only things that can tamp down his anger and grief are the family farm, his fiddle, and sweet but unusual pre-teen Mayfair Hoffman.
Unfortunately, Mayfair's older sister, Margaret, with the freckles and cute, turned-up nose, has the opposite effect. Worse, she's his grandmother's housekeeper and helper, so she's always around and ready to push his buttons. At first he thinks she doesn't care about his loss, before beginning to understand she's facing her own struggles. Mayfair's health and unique gift sit at the heart of those worries, and Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as both Henry's future and Mayfair's life are put at risk.
My Review:
Henry Phillips has always wanted to play music for a living, all his life. But after is father demanded to he go to school first, he new it may just never happened. Doing as his father says, he studies his best, but yet finds himself barely passing. So one night while home for vacation, he decides to sneak out and play with a local band. But the next morning his life is changed drastically. As soon as his father is covered with dirt, Henry's life is put in a tailspin. At least it is until he meets a little girl by the name Mayfair Hoffman.
Margaret Hoffman help's take care of a nice old lady named Emily. The nice lady makes Margaret actually feel important unlike her parents. And with her little sister, Mayfair, by her side, they help Emily on her small adventures. And since her grandson, Henry is home from college for a semester, he also tags along. Although she isn't having to listen o her mother's degrading comments, Margaret stills feels less attractive, every time she is around Henry. What guy would want a girl covered in freckles anyway?
As they begin to work more and more together, Henry learns that Margaret has more to her than meets the eye. And Mayfair is a young girl suffering from an illness. Margaret soon discover's Henry feels alone, with the weight of the world on his shoulders. With everything falling apart around them, they will have to decide whether things are worth saving.
Until The Harvest is Sarah Loudin Thomas's second novel. This book is just as amazing as the author’s first. She knows without a doubt how to write a good story. I enjoy her books greatly and I’m looking forward to another in the future.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Bethany House.
June 9, 2015
I fell in love with Sarah Loudin Thomas' writing with her debut novel Miracle in a Dry Season. The story centered around Casewell & Perla Phillips before they were married. I became so attached to the characters and looked forward to reading about what they had been up to since the closing chapter.
In Thomas' newest novel, Until the Harvest, we get to see where the people of Wise, West Virginia have been and continue our acquaintance with these complex citizens. The story begins on New Year's Eve of 1975. With the opening lines we are introduced to Casewell and Perla's son Henry. Henry is a talented fiddle player and takes any opportunity he can to play and earn a bit of extra cash.
In fact Henry loves playing the fiddle so much that he has decided to put that first ahead of his college studies. This causes a bit of a rift with his parents but when a tragedy unexpectedly strikes the Phillips family all thoughts of music and college are put on the back-burner.
We're also introduced to Margaret Hoffman and her sister Mayfair. Margaret is a part-time housekeeper for Emily Phillips, Henry's grandmother. Margaret and Mayfair come from a stressful home and find solace in spending as much time as possible at Emily's house. Mayfair is a quiet soft-spoken girl that Margaret does all she can to protect.
In the town of Wise there is much healing that needs to take place, both physically and spiritually. It is soon discovered that Mayfair has somewhat of a gift of healing. But the gift comes at a great cost to Mayfair.
I am holding my breath and crossing my fingers that this story line continues on into several more novels. There are so many people that I would love to know more about. Thomas' writing style is engaging and allows you to step into the story as if you were a bystander in each scene. The setting is unique and I enjoy the way that the author allows the idiosyncrasies of the place and dialect of the people to come through without it becoming a mockery of the native residents.
If you like Jan Karon novels I think you may be interested in this set of stories as well. Start with the novella Appalachian Serenade that sets the stage for Miracle in a Dry Season. You'll fall in love with some lovable and eccentric people like Frank Post and the Talbot sisters. You'll also discover what it is like to live in a small town. The good, the bad and most importantly the love and concern shown to neighbors and friends.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
In Thomas' newest novel, Until the Harvest, we get to see where the people of Wise, West Virginia have been and continue our acquaintance with these complex citizens. The story begins on New Year's Eve of 1975. With the opening lines we are introduced to Casewell and Perla's son Henry. Henry is a talented fiddle player and takes any opportunity he can to play and earn a bit of extra cash.
In fact Henry loves playing the fiddle so much that he has decided to put that first ahead of his college studies. This causes a bit of a rift with his parents but when a tragedy unexpectedly strikes the Phillips family all thoughts of music and college are put on the back-burner.
We're also introduced to Margaret Hoffman and her sister Mayfair. Margaret is a part-time housekeeper for Emily Phillips, Henry's grandmother. Margaret and Mayfair come from a stressful home and find solace in spending as much time as possible at Emily's house. Mayfair is a quiet soft-spoken girl that Margaret does all she can to protect.
In the town of Wise there is much healing that needs to take place, both physically and spiritually. It is soon discovered that Mayfair has somewhat of a gift of healing. But the gift comes at a great cost to Mayfair.
I am holding my breath and crossing my fingers that this story line continues on into several more novels. There are so many people that I would love to know more about. Thomas' writing style is engaging and allows you to step into the story as if you were a bystander in each scene. The setting is unique and I enjoy the way that the author allows the idiosyncrasies of the place and dialect of the people to come through without it becoming a mockery of the native residents.
If you like Jan Karon novels I think you may be interested in this set of stories as well. Start with the novella Appalachian Serenade that sets the stage for Miracle in a Dry Season. You'll fall in love with some lovable and eccentric people like Frank Post and the Talbot sisters. You'll also discover what it is like to live in a small town. The good, the bad and most importantly the love and concern shown to neighbors and friends.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
June 21, 2015
"Closing the bedroom door, Margaret walked into the family room and found Henry standing with his head down and shoulders slumped. She'd heard he was in from college but hadn't seen him. Normally, she wouldn't be seeing him now. Emily always insisted on doing for herself over holidays so Margaret could be with her family. Not that she much enjoyed being with her family, except, of course, with Mayfair. Her sweet little sister was always a bright spot."
I was born in 1961 and so I was a young teenager when this story was set in Wise, West Virginia in 1975. I am a native Virginian and so West Virginia is of course our neighbor to the west. Those two things....the place and the year stirred enough memory within me that it made me want to read this novel. My husband got married for the first time in 1975 and was a young man in the Air Force. Many issues the main male character, Henry, encountered made me think of Harry and wonder if he experienced any similar feelings or occurences. I love historical romance novels also and that created another reason for me to desire to read and review this book.
I was not disappointed. The book had a slow pace to it but it was fitting with the times and the things that were going on in the characters' lives so I made me want to keep on reading....not what you generally think of when you hear a book has a "slow pace". Margaret does not seem to recognize her own beauty and sees only flaws and I felt this way a great deal of the time myself....especially during the late 70's. I grew up in a small rural town that was also known for its slow pace as well. It all just kind of "took me back in time" to recall some similar situations for myself, family members and friends as I read.
During this time period, many fathers also held the view that a career in one of the arts would not create enough income to support a family as Henry's father expressed to him. Can Henry follow his heart and his dreams or will he need to rethink his plans? Is Henry's father correct in his assumptions? Can a small town be the place to follow one's dreams or must one live in a large city for that? Read Until the Harvest and find the answers to these and other questions that are sure to crop up.
I rate this book 5 stars and would love to recommend it to fellow readers.
I received a kindle version of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I was born in 1961 and so I was a young teenager when this story was set in Wise, West Virginia in 1975. I am a native Virginian and so West Virginia is of course our neighbor to the west. Those two things....the place and the year stirred enough memory within me that it made me want to read this novel. My husband got married for the first time in 1975 and was a young man in the Air Force. Many issues the main male character, Henry, encountered made me think of Harry and wonder if he experienced any similar feelings or occurences. I love historical romance novels also and that created another reason for me to desire to read and review this book.
I was not disappointed. The book had a slow pace to it but it was fitting with the times and the things that were going on in the characters' lives so I made me want to keep on reading....not what you generally think of when you hear a book has a "slow pace". Margaret does not seem to recognize her own beauty and sees only flaws and I felt this way a great deal of the time myself....especially during the late 70's. I grew up in a small rural town that was also known for its slow pace as well. It all just kind of "took me back in time" to recall some similar situations for myself, family members and friends as I read.
During this time period, many fathers also held the view that a career in one of the arts would not create enough income to support a family as Henry's father expressed to him. Can Henry follow his heart and his dreams or will he need to rethink his plans? Is Henry's father correct in his assumptions? Can a small town be the place to follow one's dreams or must one live in a large city for that? Read Until the Harvest and find the answers to these and other questions that are sure to crop up.
I rate this book 5 stars and would love to recommend it to fellow readers.
I received a kindle version of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 20, 2021
A nice, sweet story of blooming love in the midst of heartache and bad decisions. This is part two of the series and I recommend reading them in order.
August 19, 2015
Until the Harvest is set in 1975-76 which makes it just on the cusp of being considered historical fiction (up to the end of the Vietnam War -- April 1975.) Though I found it to have a real 1930s vibe, perhaps because of the rural setting.
This is Book Two in the Appalachian Blessings series but reads well as a standalone. If you have read Miracle in a Dry Season you will recognize Perla and Casewell and that's where I ran into difficulties because the author really messes with my preconceived happily ever after for those two.
So my heart hurt during this read. A lot. I don't regret reading Until the Harvest, it was just hard in places. Really hard.
For one thing, Henry is not the son I envisioned for them. I mean if you had Perla and Casewell for parents wouldn't you turn out perfect? LOL. Okay, so that's very unrealistic which makes this a very true to life kind of story. Because, honestly, really good parents have kids who do really stupid things. Kids who don't recognize how good they have it. How much they are loved. How blessed their childhood has been. Sigh. That describes Henry to a T. He's headed in the wrong direction, allowing bitterness and anger to dictate his actions.
I did not like Henry. In fact, I was prepared to dislike him until the bitter end, but Thomas weaves her magic and pretty soon my defences started to crumble. Though there is an awesome scene where Margaret finally lets him have it -- a scathing paragraph that I loved so much I read it several times over. Take that Mr. Self-Absorbed Henry Phillips!
Which brings me to Margaret. Wounded but steadfast. She has emerged from a difficult childhood with an inner strength that is inspiring. One of the delights of this book is watching her blossom under the multi-generational friendship with Henry's mother and grandmother.
And then there's Mayfair, Margaret's fragile little sister. She brings an ethereal quality to the tale. The unexpected anchor for so many people battling life's storms. The sweet purity of her faith brings a special kind of healing.
Emotionally engaging (infuriatingly so at times) -- a memorable story ultimately filled with hope.
This is Book Two in the Appalachian Blessings series but reads well as a standalone. If you have read Miracle in a Dry Season you will recognize Perla and Casewell and that's where I ran into difficulties because the author really messes with my preconceived happily ever after for those two.
So my heart hurt during this read. A lot. I don't regret reading Until the Harvest, it was just hard in places. Really hard.
For one thing, Henry is not the son I envisioned for them. I mean if you had Perla and Casewell for parents wouldn't you turn out perfect? LOL. Okay, so that's very unrealistic which makes this a very true to life kind of story. Because, honestly, really good parents have kids who do really stupid things. Kids who don't recognize how good they have it. How much they are loved. How blessed their childhood has been. Sigh. That describes Henry to a T. He's headed in the wrong direction, allowing bitterness and anger to dictate his actions.
I did not like Henry. In fact, I was prepared to dislike him until the bitter end, but Thomas weaves her magic and pretty soon my defences started to crumble. Though there is an awesome scene where Margaret finally lets him have it -- a scathing paragraph that I loved so much I read it several times over. Take that Mr. Self-Absorbed Henry Phillips!
Which brings me to Margaret. Wounded but steadfast. She has emerged from a difficult childhood with an inner strength that is inspiring. One of the delights of this book is watching her blossom under the multi-generational friendship with Henry's mother and grandmother.
And then there's Mayfair, Margaret's fragile little sister. She brings an ethereal quality to the tale. The unexpected anchor for so many people battling life's storms. The sweet purity of her faith brings a special kind of healing.
Emotionally engaging (infuriatingly so at times) -- a memorable story ultimately filled with hope.
September 27, 2020
Wonderful book, second in the series Appalachian Blessings.
June 25, 2015
Last year, I read Sarah Loudin Thomas's Miracle in a Dry Season and fell in love with the beautiful prose, the characters (especially Casewell Phillips and Perla), and the little town of Wise, West Virginia. In Until the Harvest, readers return to Wise and specifically the Phillips family approximately 20 years after the events of Miracle in a Dry Season.
I had pretty high expectations going into Until the Harvest based on how much I loved Miracle in a Dry Season. These expectations were completely met by Until the Harvest.
Henry Phillips, Casewell and Perla's college-aged son, was a bit hard to like in the beginning—events at the start of the novel sent him into a tailspin that had him making some really boneheaded decisions—but I couldn't help but root for him, anyway. I was so invested in his journey that I couldn't help but yell at him a few times as he continued making poor choices!
Margaret and Mayfair, though, I loved from the get go. These sisters came from a difficult background, yet they grew and flourished under Henry's grandmother Emily's guidance.
As with Miracle in a Dry Season, there's a bit of the supernatural in Until the Harvest. In this case, Mayfair has a unique way of helping people ... but not without causing pain to herself. Really, Mayfair's gift and the way it unfolded was the novel's highlight for me.
There's a bit of a romance, too, but it doesn't overshadow the characters. From Henry, Margaret, and Mayfair to Grandma Emily to moonshiner Clint, each character is fleshed out and imperfect; basically, the characters feel like people you could encounter in real life.
Until the Harvest was a pleasure to read, and I look forward to reading more about the Phillips family when A Tapestry of Secrets releases next year.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I had pretty high expectations going into Until the Harvest based on how much I loved Miracle in a Dry Season. These expectations were completely met by Until the Harvest.
Henry Phillips, Casewell and Perla's college-aged son, was a bit hard to like in the beginning—events at the start of the novel sent him into a tailspin that had him making some really boneheaded decisions—but I couldn't help but root for him, anyway. I was so invested in his journey that I couldn't help but yell at him a few times as he continued making poor choices!
Margaret and Mayfair, though, I loved from the get go. These sisters came from a difficult background, yet they grew and flourished under Henry's grandmother Emily's guidance.
As with Miracle in a Dry Season, there's a bit of the supernatural in Until the Harvest. In this case, Mayfair has a unique way of helping people ... but not without causing pain to herself. Really, Mayfair's gift and the way it unfolded was the novel's highlight for me.
There's a bit of a romance, too, but it doesn't overshadow the characters. From Henry, Margaret, and Mayfair to Grandma Emily to moonshiner Clint, each character is fleshed out and imperfect; basically, the characters feel like people you could encounter in real life.
Until the Harvest was a pleasure to read, and I look forward to reading more about the Phillips family when A Tapestry of Secrets releases next year.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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