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Skip Rock #3
Buttermilk Sky
Weary of the expectations imposed on her by her strict upbringing, eighteen-year-old Mazy Pelfrey prepares to leave her home in the Kentucky mountains for the genteel city of Lexington, where she’ll attend secretarial school. She knows her life is about to change—and only for the better. Everything will be blue skies from now on.But business school is harder than she thought it would be and the big city not as friendly, until she meets a charming young man from a wealthy family, Loyal Chambers. When Loyal sets his sights on her, Mazy begins to see that everything she’d ever wished to have is right before her eyes. The only hindrance to her budding romance is a former beau, Chanis Clay, the young sheriff she thought she’d left firmly behind.Danger rumbles like thunder on a high mountain ridge when Mazy’s cosseted past collides with her clouded future and forces her to come to terms with what she really wants.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2014
154 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
Jan Watson
18 books110 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Jan Watson won the 2004 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest for her first novel, Troublesome Creek. Her other awards include a nomination for the Kentucky Literary Award in 2006 and second place in the 2006 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest sponsored by the Faith, Hope, and Love Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Willow Springs and Torrent Falls are the sequels to Troublesome Creek. Jan was a registered nurse for 25 years at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. She incorporated her nursing experience in the hospital's mother/baby unit into her novels. Jan resides in Kentucky.
Jan Watson won the 2004 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest for her first novel, Troublesome Creek. Her other awards include a nomination for the Kentucky Literary Award in 2006 and second place in the 2006 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest sponsored by the Faith, Hope, and Love Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Willow Springs and Torrent Falls are the sequels to Troublesome Creek. Jan was a registered nurse for 25 years at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. She incorporated her nursing experience in the hospital's mother/baby unit into her novels. Jan resides in Kentucky.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
November 28, 2015
I adore Jan Watson's novels ... every time! They're such rich historicals! Bringing you to another time and another place; giving you a wondrous peek into the past. Into the lives of young people such as myself, yet in quite a different world. I love it! And I loved Buttermilk Sky! (Not to mention, that title is adorable!! ^_^)
Buttermilk Sky is about Mazy Pelfry, the younger sister of Lilly (from Skip Rock Shallows and a few of the other books). Mazy has left the country home, and is in town, studying shorthand and other such typing duties. She struggles to fit in. To please her friends. Should she befriend the poor girl that everybody laughs at? Should she send home her old-time beau and accept the attentions of a dashing, young gentleman from town?
Jan Watson wove together another simply beautiful story. Her stories are just so simple, real, and sweet that they're completely unique! I don't think I've read other historicals quite like them. I adore Copper, Lilly, and Mazy and their stories! So thoughtful. So endearing. So captivating. There's humorous situations; sad happenings; real-life scenarios (just in a different era); gentle moments ...
Mazy goes on a journey of realizing who she really wants to be, and what is truly important in life. I so enjoyed journeying along with her. She has such a gentle spirit. I loved the cats. And Cinnamon!! And just everything! *huggles book* If you're into historical, you so need to check these books out!
I can't wait to read more. I don't think I will ever tire of Jan's writings!
Buttermilk Sky is about Mazy Pelfry, the younger sister of Lilly (from Skip Rock Shallows and a few of the other books). Mazy has left the country home, and is in town, studying shorthand and other such typing duties. She struggles to fit in. To please her friends. Should she befriend the poor girl that everybody laughs at? Should she send home her old-time beau and accept the attentions of a dashing, young gentleman from town?
Jan Watson wove together another simply beautiful story. Her stories are just so simple, real, and sweet that they're completely unique! I don't think I've read other historicals quite like them. I adore Copper, Lilly, and Mazy and their stories! So thoughtful. So endearing. So captivating. There's humorous situations; sad happenings; real-life scenarios (just in a different era); gentle moments ...
Mazy goes on a journey of realizing who she really wants to be, and what is truly important in life. I so enjoyed journeying along with her. She has such a gentle spirit. I loved the cats. And Cinnamon!! And just everything! *huggles book* If you're into historical, you so need to check these books out!
I can't wait to read more. I don't think I will ever tire of Jan's writings!
September 30, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!
Buttermilk Sky takes readers back to a simpler time (1914 Kentucky). Main character Mazy has moved to Lexington to attend typing school. She learns a number of life lessons during her time there.
Main male character Chanis was so likable and believable. He is a good man. I especially loved how he befriended criminal Frank (Frank was a riot).
I didn't realize this novel followed what happened in prior series by the author. This is my first novel by Jan Watson and will not be my last.
Buttermilk Sky takes readers back to a simpler time (1914 Kentucky). Main character Mazy has moved to Lexington to attend typing school. She learns a number of life lessons during her time there.
Main male character Chanis was so likable and believable. He is a good man. I especially loved how he befriended criminal Frank (Frank was a riot).
I didn't realize this novel followed what happened in prior series by the author. This is my first novel by Jan Watson and will not be my last.
November 20, 2014
Young sheriff, Chanis Clay, looks forward to eventually settling down with his sweetheart, Mazy Pelfrey. He's just waiting until she finishes secretarial school, which he considers a bit of a whim to get out of her system. He doesn't stop to consider that things may have changed for Mazy while she's away. She's been enjoying a more fashionable lifestyle in a bigger town, and the flattering attention of Loyal Chambers, a young man who is completely different to Chanis.
A strong romantic thread is hinted at, especially with the addition of the lover's triangle, but as Mazy and Chanis are in different scenes, living their separate lives, for such a large part of the book, it lost some of its impetus with me. It wasn't the sort of novel I wanted to grab every spare moment to find out what was going to happen next. Having said that, I was vaguely curious to eventually find out why Mazy would choose one of the fellows when her heart seemed to be so wrapped up in the other.
It's clear this is a character driven book. Many of the secondary characters are well-depicted. The 'girl stuff' at secretarial school seems true to life. Eva is the ringleader, who all the others tread carefully around because her opinion carries weight. I felt 'princess' was a good appellation for this entitled girl who felt she should have even been exempt from the dishwashing roster. In contrast, there's Cinnamon Spicer, the cheerful, poverty-stricken girl we first see raking through garbage dumps, intending to sell other people's trash as treasure. As Cinnamon was the first character in the story, I'd expected to see more of her than we did. She seems like such a strong, unique person to end up with what turned out to be a supporting role in which nothing much happened to her.
Overall, although the characters were really well-depicted, I found the plot itself to be a bit episodic and rambling to carry them well. Still, some other readers may well love it, as I've seen books of a similar style do well for themselves. Jan Karon's books set in Mitford spring to mind. If 'Buttermilk Sky' does suit you, I see there's a whole series, featuring other members of Mazy's family, to pick up next.
By the way, I don't know if this was intentional, but it would seem Chanis might have been right about secretarial school.
Thanks to Net Galley and Tyndale House for my review copy.
A strong romantic thread is hinted at, especially with the addition of the lover's triangle, but as Mazy and Chanis are in different scenes, living their separate lives, for such a large part of the book, it lost some of its impetus with me. It wasn't the sort of novel I wanted to grab every spare moment to find out what was going to happen next. Having said that, I was vaguely curious to eventually find out why Mazy would choose one of the fellows when her heart seemed to be so wrapped up in the other.
It's clear this is a character driven book. Many of the secondary characters are well-depicted. The 'girl stuff' at secretarial school seems true to life. Eva is the ringleader, who all the others tread carefully around because her opinion carries weight. I felt 'princess' was a good appellation for this entitled girl who felt she should have even been exempt from the dishwashing roster. In contrast, there's Cinnamon Spicer, the cheerful, poverty-stricken girl we first see raking through garbage dumps, intending to sell other people's trash as treasure. As Cinnamon was the first character in the story, I'd expected to see more of her than we did. She seems like such a strong, unique person to end up with what turned out to be a supporting role in which nothing much happened to her.
Overall, although the characters were really well-depicted, I found the plot itself to be a bit episodic and rambling to carry them well. Still, some other readers may well love it, as I've seen books of a similar style do well for themselves. Jan Karon's books set in Mitford spring to mind. If 'Buttermilk Sky' does suit you, I see there's a whole series, featuring other members of Mazy's family, to pick up next.
By the way, I don't know if this was intentional, but it would seem Chanis might have been right about secretarial school.
Thanks to Net Galley and Tyndale House for my review copy.
April 23, 2015
This review is also posted on Book by Book.
Jan Watson’s Buttermilk Sky is an all-around heartwarming story. Largely a character-driven novel, its characters face realistically challenging problems and decisions and I really enjoyed seeing the process of growth and choice. I loved the slower pace of the novel, which was a nice change for me to read. And as Mazy, Chanis, Loyal and the rest of the characters interact, I was particularly intrigued by the way Watson highlights the differences between city life and rural life. A great story of romance and faith, Buttermilk Sky is well-told and entertaining. I would recommend it to readers of historical romance looking for a nice read.
Thanks to Tyndale BlogNetwork, I received a copy of Buttermilk Sky and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
Jan Watson’s Buttermilk Sky is an all-around heartwarming story. Largely a character-driven novel, its characters face realistically challenging problems and decisions and I really enjoyed seeing the process of growth and choice. I loved the slower pace of the novel, which was a nice change for me to read. And as Mazy, Chanis, Loyal and the rest of the characters interact, I was particularly intrigued by the way Watson highlights the differences between city life and rural life. A great story of romance and faith, Buttermilk Sky is well-told and entertaining. I would recommend it to readers of historical romance looking for a nice read.
Thanks to Tyndale BlogNetwork, I received a copy of Buttermilk Sky and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
November 14, 2014
I was attracted to Buttermilk Sky by the beautiful cover, and the interesting blurb:
Weary of the expectations imposed on her by her strict upbringing, eighteen-year-old Mazy Pelfrey prepares to leave her home in the Kentucky mountains for the genteel city of Lexington, where she’ll attend secretarial school. She knows her life is about to change—and only for the better. Everything will be blue skies from now on.
But business school is harder than she thought it would be and the big city not as friendly, until she meets a charming young man from a wealthy family, Loyal Chambers. When Loyal sets his sights on her, Mazy begins to see that everything she’d ever wished to have is right before her eyes. The only hindrance to her budding romance is a former beau, Chanis Clay, the young sheriff she thought she’d left firmly behind.
Danger rumbles like thunder on a high mountain ridge when Mazy’s cosseted past collides with her clouded future and forces her to come to terms with what she really wants.
Unfortunately, this is one of those books where the person who wrote the blurb can’t have read the book. Mazy isn’t about to start secretarial college. She’s almost finished. Mazy is never in any danger. And she doesn’t even seem to be the main character: I first thought the novel was going to be about Cinnamon, who makes a living picking out rubbish at the dump. Then I thought it was Sheriff Chanis Clay, who was pining for a character who hadn’t yet been introduced, Mazy. Then the story introduced Mazy, and it became apparent she was the main character (which begs the question: why wasn’t she the first character we met?).
There were good things about the book. The writing was solid with flashes of brilliance (although there were also passages best described as pedestrian). The minor characters like Cinnamon, Clare and Eva, were interesting. And, as I’ve said, the cover is lovely, and it was obvious the author knew a lot about the time period she was writing in.
But that’s not enough to make up for the deficiencies. Mazy was an annoying character, in that I never understood why it was so important to her that she finish secretarial school, and she didn’t seem to have any plan for what she would do after. I also had no idea how old she was—while that was in the cover blurb, it wasn’t at all apparent from the text (her tender age may partially explain her lack of depth). Chanis was almost a comic figure, and it made for a confusing ‘romance’ when he didn’t have any day-to-day relationship with Mazy.
But the main problem for me was simply a lack of a coherent plot. There were plenty of things that happened, but there was no overall pattern, no story, to engage me. It read more like a series of scenes about some characters who may or may not be related. Perhaps the plot was supposed to be the love triangle between Mazy, Chanis and Loyal, but it was pretty obvious who she was going to choose (well, I thought so, after one of the pursuers showed himself to be charming yet ruthless). But all the interesting character change happened between the end of the final chapter and the epilogue. It felt like I'd read the entire book waiting for something to happen, then that bit got cut.
This is the first novel I’ve read by Jan Watson, and I suspect it will be the last. I think some of the characters (e.g. Mazy’s older sister) have featured in her previous novels, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed Buttermilk Sky even if I had read the earlier books.
Thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Weary of the expectations imposed on her by her strict upbringing, eighteen-year-old Mazy Pelfrey prepares to leave her home in the Kentucky mountains for the genteel city of Lexington, where she’ll attend secretarial school. She knows her life is about to change—and only for the better. Everything will be blue skies from now on.
But business school is harder than she thought it would be and the big city not as friendly, until she meets a charming young man from a wealthy family, Loyal Chambers. When Loyal sets his sights on her, Mazy begins to see that everything she’d ever wished to have is right before her eyes. The only hindrance to her budding romance is a former beau, Chanis Clay, the young sheriff she thought she’d left firmly behind.
Danger rumbles like thunder on a high mountain ridge when Mazy’s cosseted past collides with her clouded future and forces her to come to terms with what she really wants.
Unfortunately, this is one of those books where the person who wrote the blurb can’t have read the book. Mazy isn’t about to start secretarial college. She’s almost finished. Mazy is never in any danger. And she doesn’t even seem to be the main character: I first thought the novel was going to be about Cinnamon, who makes a living picking out rubbish at the dump. Then I thought it was Sheriff Chanis Clay, who was pining for a character who hadn’t yet been introduced, Mazy. Then the story introduced Mazy, and it became apparent she was the main character (which begs the question: why wasn’t she the first character we met?).
There were good things about the book. The writing was solid with flashes of brilliance (although there were also passages best described as pedestrian). The minor characters like Cinnamon, Clare and Eva, were interesting. And, as I’ve said, the cover is lovely, and it was obvious the author knew a lot about the time period she was writing in.
But that’s not enough to make up for the deficiencies. Mazy was an annoying character, in that I never understood why it was so important to her that she finish secretarial school, and she didn’t seem to have any plan for what she would do after. I also had no idea how old she was—while that was in the cover blurb, it wasn’t at all apparent from the text (her tender age may partially explain her lack of depth). Chanis was almost a comic figure, and it made for a confusing ‘romance’ when he didn’t have any day-to-day relationship with Mazy.
But the main problem for me was simply a lack of a coherent plot. There were plenty of things that happened, but there was no overall pattern, no story, to engage me. It read more like a series of scenes about some characters who may or may not be related. Perhaps the plot was supposed to be the love triangle between Mazy, Chanis and Loyal, but it was pretty obvious who she was going to choose (well, I thought so, after one of the pursuers showed himself to be charming yet ruthless). But all the interesting character change happened between the end of the final chapter and the epilogue. It felt like I'd read the entire book waiting for something to happen, then that bit got cut.
This is the first novel I’ve read by Jan Watson, and I suspect it will be the last. I think some of the characters (e.g. Mazy’s older sister) have featured in her previous novels, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed Buttermilk Sky even if I had read the earlier books.
Thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
January 7, 2015
Procured via: Goodreads
Book Title and Author: “Buttermilk Sky” by Jan Watson
RELEASE DATE: September 30, 2014
RATING: 3 Stars Worth requesting at library or buying in paperback
GENRE: Christian Fiction / Historical Fiction / Romance
AUDIENCE: Fans of historical romantic Christian fiction will truly enjoy this book. Secular readers who would enjoy a sweet tale of a young woman trying to discover her true place in the world would also highly likely enjoy this story.
SERIES: Standalone
SUMMARY: Blurb from Goodreads:
“Weary of the expectations imposed on her by her strict upbringing, eighteen-year-old Mazy Pelfrey prepares to leave her home in the Kentucky mountains for the genteel city of Lexington, where she’ll attend secretarial school. She knows her life is about to change—and only for the better. Everything will be blue skies from now on.
But business school is harder than she thought it would be and the big city not as friendly, until she meets a charming young man from a wealthy family, Loyal Chambers. When Loyal sets his sights on her, Mazy begins to see that everything she’d ever wished to have is right before her eyes. The only hindrance to her budding romance is a former beau, Chanis Clay, the young sheriff she thought she’d left firmly behind.
Danger rumbles like thunder on a high mountain ridge when Mazy’s cosseted past collides with her clouded future and forces her to come to terms with what she really wants.”
REVIEW: "Buttermilk Sky" was a really enjoyable book to read. The characters were well thought out and their relationships within the story were nicely defined. I like non-preachy Christian fiction and Jan Watson sets a good example for how to write for a more secular crowd.
I was really impressed by Mazy’s compassion for others. She’s a nice girl without being holier than thou. Chanis and Loyal were both well-written characters with a great divergence in character between the two. I did feel as though Chanis had already made up his mind about what Mazy should do, and it felt like Mazy’s only two options were Loyal or Chanis. It was as though Chanis got her by default once Mazy found out about Loyal and his mother’s machinations to get Loyal wed.
The minor characters in the story were really intriguing, particularly Cinnamon Spicer. The author did a great job crafting her character as a smart but poor young girl hanging on by the skin of her teeth. I would love a follow up story focusing on her as she and Mrs. Pearl build their business together. Truthfully, I was interested in ALL of the characters because they were so well crafted throughout the book.
Tremendous thanks to Goodreads, Tyndale House Publishers, and Jan Watson for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
FYI: Jan Watson is quite the prolific writer. Rather than listing her books, I’m adding the link to her website for interested readers.
http://www.janwatson.net/
Book Title and Author: “Buttermilk Sky” by Jan Watson
RELEASE DATE: September 30, 2014
RATING: 3 Stars Worth requesting at library or buying in paperback
GENRE: Christian Fiction / Historical Fiction / Romance
AUDIENCE: Fans of historical romantic Christian fiction will truly enjoy this book. Secular readers who would enjoy a sweet tale of a young woman trying to discover her true place in the world would also highly likely enjoy this story.
SERIES: Standalone
SUMMARY: Blurb from Goodreads:
“Weary of the expectations imposed on her by her strict upbringing, eighteen-year-old Mazy Pelfrey prepares to leave her home in the Kentucky mountains for the genteel city of Lexington, where she’ll attend secretarial school. She knows her life is about to change—and only for the better. Everything will be blue skies from now on.
But business school is harder than she thought it would be and the big city not as friendly, until she meets a charming young man from a wealthy family, Loyal Chambers. When Loyal sets his sights on her, Mazy begins to see that everything she’d ever wished to have is right before her eyes. The only hindrance to her budding romance is a former beau, Chanis Clay, the young sheriff she thought she’d left firmly behind.
Danger rumbles like thunder on a high mountain ridge when Mazy’s cosseted past collides with her clouded future and forces her to come to terms with what she really wants.”
REVIEW: "Buttermilk Sky" was a really enjoyable book to read. The characters were well thought out and their relationships within the story were nicely defined. I like non-preachy Christian fiction and Jan Watson sets a good example for how to write for a more secular crowd.
I was really impressed by Mazy’s compassion for others. She’s a nice girl without being holier than thou. Chanis and Loyal were both well-written characters with a great divergence in character between the two. I did feel as though Chanis had already made up his mind about what Mazy should do, and it felt like Mazy’s only two options were Loyal or Chanis. It was as though Chanis got her by default once Mazy found out about Loyal and his mother’s machinations to get Loyal wed.
The minor characters in the story were really intriguing, particularly Cinnamon Spicer. The author did a great job crafting her character as a smart but poor young girl hanging on by the skin of her teeth. I would love a follow up story focusing on her as she and Mrs. Pearl build their business together. Truthfully, I was interested in ALL of the characters because they were so well crafted throughout the book.
Tremendous thanks to Goodreads, Tyndale House Publishers, and Jan Watson for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
FYI: Jan Watson is quite the prolific writer. Rather than listing her books, I’m adding the link to her website for interested readers.
http://www.janwatson.net/
October 27, 2014
Buttermilk Sky was an interesting story, however, I did not really connect with the main characters in the book. Strangely enough, even though I was not emotionally tied to the main characters, I still had trouble setting the book down because I was anxious to see where the story led.
The author is a true wordsmith, and the way she writes a scene is just gorgeous. I really did feel immersed in the time period. The cover is also very striking and I felt that it fit the story well.
I just did not ever develop a connection with Mazy or Chanis. The storyline was interesting, but since there was never any real attraction between them during the story, I ended up not really being concerned with whether they ended up together, or not. This detracted from the overall story for me.
I do think the author did a good job of showing how uncertain and confusing the young adult years can be. Mazy spent most of the book unsure about herself, what she really should do with her life, how she wanted to spend her life and who she wanted to share it with. She has to learn many lessons in this book about how to choose friends and which relationships were worth cultivating. By the time the story ends, she has obviously matured emotionally quite a bit.
Buttermilk Sky was an interesting story that kept me reading, but I still desired more from both Chanis and Mazy. I imagine that there are probably many readers out there who will love this story, even though it wasn’t really a great fit for me. (3.5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
You can read this review on my blog at:
http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co...
The author is a true wordsmith, and the way she writes a scene is just gorgeous. I really did feel immersed in the time period. The cover is also very striking and I felt that it fit the story well.
I just did not ever develop a connection with Mazy or Chanis. The storyline was interesting, but since there was never any real attraction between them during the story, I ended up not really being concerned with whether they ended up together, or not. This detracted from the overall story for me.
I do think the author did a good job of showing how uncertain and confusing the young adult years can be. Mazy spent most of the book unsure about herself, what she really should do with her life, how she wanted to spend her life and who she wanted to share it with. She has to learn many lessons in this book about how to choose friends and which relationships were worth cultivating. By the time the story ends, she has obviously matured emotionally quite a bit.
Buttermilk Sky was an interesting story that kept me reading, but I still desired more from both Chanis and Mazy. I imagine that there are probably many readers out there who will love this story, even though it wasn’t really a great fit for me. (3.5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
You can read this review on my blog at:
http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co...
March 9, 2015
What is a Buttermilk Sky? As you read this story, you will
discover!!!
This is a simple, sweet and enjoyable story set in the early
twentieth century. It follows Mazy Pelfrey who is a small
town girl from the woods of Kentucky as she goes to
secretarial school in the big city of Lexington. You will
Follow her as she matures from the shy, trying to fit in girl
into her own person.
The story also follows Chanis Clay, the small town sheriff Mazy
left behind. The chapters keep Mazy & Chanis separate for the
majority of the story until near the ending.
The characters are very realistic, well developed and vivid. The
story shows the social issues of the times by beginning with the
character of Cinnamon Spicer, a poverty-stricken, ambitious
girl . Cinnamon goes raking through garbage dumps to find
other people trash to sell to support her sick father and keep
the shanty where they live over their heads.
The story is a Christian historical fiction with some suspense,
romance and shows how faith in God influences our daily lives.
Thank you to book fun.org for this book. My opinion is my own.
discover!!!
This is a simple, sweet and enjoyable story set in the early
twentieth century. It follows Mazy Pelfrey who is a small
town girl from the woods of Kentucky as she goes to
secretarial school in the big city of Lexington. You will
Follow her as she matures from the shy, trying to fit in girl
into her own person.
The story also follows Chanis Clay, the small town sheriff Mazy
left behind. The chapters keep Mazy & Chanis separate for the
majority of the story until near the ending.
The characters are very realistic, well developed and vivid. The
story shows the social issues of the times by beginning with the
character of Cinnamon Spicer, a poverty-stricken, ambitious
girl . Cinnamon goes raking through garbage dumps to find
other people trash to sell to support her sick father and keep
the shanty where they live over their heads.
The story is a Christian historical fiction with some suspense,
romance and shows how faith in God influences our daily lives.
Thank you to book fun.org for this book. My opinion is my own.
October 29, 2014
Buttermilk Sky is a fabulous read. I really enjoy reading Jan Watson's books and love how she updates the readers on what is going on with the characters from her past books. I loved how Mazy is the main character in this book. I enjoyed reading her time being away from home and becoming a young woman on her own.
I loved this book and I highly recommend it.
5 stars.
I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for my honest reivew which was given.
I loved this book and I highly recommend it.
5 stars.
I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for my honest reivew which was given.
April 20, 2020
Library closed and Libby app inexplicably offline so I turned to a stash of books passed on to me by a friend. I was pleasantly surprised to find a local Christian author. I loved the historical settings of Lexington and the Kentucky mountains. This book was a delight to read and I’m excited to add a new author to my reading list.
February 16, 2015
Buttermilk Sky
is a turn-of-the-century tale that follows Jan Watson's previous historical novels: Tattler's Branch, Skip Rock Shallows, Still House Pond, Sweetwater Run, and the Troublesome Creek series which includes Troublesome Creek, Willow Springs, and Torrent Falls. The book stands completely on its own although reading her other books would deepen the atmosphere and heighten our appreciation of the sub-culture captured in these books.
Young Sheriff Chanis Clay is following in his father's rather large shoes as peacekeeper and law enforcement officer in a Kentucky mountain county and specifically the community of Skip Rock. He loves his work, but has much to learn about human nature and life in general. Still, he feels he's ready to settle down and has his heart fixed on Mazy Pelfrey for his life's companion. He loves her and all his dreams and goals include her. He even bought a house and started its renovation. But Mazy is not ready to commit herself to marriage yet. She feels restless and unsettled; she wants to experience a bit of life first. So Mazy leaves her family, her twin, her beau, and her mountain community to live in Lexington, take a secretarial course and make some new friends. Most of this story focuses on Mazy as she tries to find her place as a single girl in life.
This book was a fun, quick read for me. The author sprinkles in plenty of humor and laughs for both Chanis and Mazy in their separate worlds. The sheriff deals with incidences among the mountain folk with amusing tongue-in-cheek wit. My favorite episode was when he nearly lost Frank Cheney, a giant of a man turned bank robber, when transporting him from one community's jail to another nearby jail. Eventually, Chanis' dealing with Frank literally changed his life. Mazy's way of adapting to city life, trying new foods, wearing new clothes, all the while trying not to look like a country bumpkin, is often rib tickling.
At first, Mazy appeared to me to be a shallow, unthinking piece of fluff, content to imitate everyone else and gain favor with her study group's leader, Eva, no matter what it took. But eventually she realized the futility of her efforts, and the real Mazy emerged. The Mazy of the final chapters was a 180 degree turn-around from the Mazy of the beginning of the story. Her journey from first to last is what makes this book great reading for women.
Finally, as a faith-based read, the author includes many thought-provoking moments of revelation for both the main characters, without being preachy. Character development and faith in God with all its practical implications were woven together seamlessly throughout the book. A real, vital relationship with God should be as natural as breathing. The author demonstrates this in her writings. It is something I greatly appreciate among authors I read the most. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley on behalf of Tyndale House Publishers. 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.”
Young Sheriff Chanis Clay is following in his father's rather large shoes as peacekeeper and law enforcement officer in a Kentucky mountain county and specifically the community of Skip Rock. He loves his work, but has much to learn about human nature and life in general. Still, he feels he's ready to settle down and has his heart fixed on Mazy Pelfrey for his life's companion. He loves her and all his dreams and goals include her. He even bought a house and started its renovation. But Mazy is not ready to commit herself to marriage yet. She feels restless and unsettled; she wants to experience a bit of life first. So Mazy leaves her family, her twin, her beau, and her mountain community to live in Lexington, take a secretarial course and make some new friends. Most of this story focuses on Mazy as she tries to find her place as a single girl in life.
This book was a fun, quick read for me. The author sprinkles in plenty of humor and laughs for both Chanis and Mazy in their separate worlds. The sheriff deals with incidences among the mountain folk with amusing tongue-in-cheek wit. My favorite episode was when he nearly lost Frank Cheney, a giant of a man turned bank robber, when transporting him from one community's jail to another nearby jail. Eventually, Chanis' dealing with Frank literally changed his life. Mazy's way of adapting to city life, trying new foods, wearing new clothes, all the while trying not to look like a country bumpkin, is often rib tickling.
At first, Mazy appeared to me to be a shallow, unthinking piece of fluff, content to imitate everyone else and gain favor with her study group's leader, Eva, no matter what it took. But eventually she realized the futility of her efforts, and the real Mazy emerged. The Mazy of the final chapters was a 180 degree turn-around from the Mazy of the beginning of the story. Her journey from first to last is what makes this book great reading for women.
Finally, as a faith-based read, the author includes many thought-provoking moments of revelation for both the main characters, without being preachy. Character development and faith in God with all its practical implications were woven together seamlessly throughout the book. A real, vital relationship with God should be as natural as breathing. The author demonstrates this in her writings. It is something I greatly appreciate among authors I read the most. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley on behalf of Tyndale House Publishers. 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.”
October 22, 2014
I must confess, I am a sucker for historical romance so I was expecting to like Buttermilk Sky for at least that aspect of it. I wasn’t expecting much beyond that, but the book did surprise me with how well it was written and for the occasional moment that made me chuckle. Overall it was quite a pleasant book and I’m not sorry I read it, though it was more of an “indulgence” book than a “wow this blew me away it was so good” book.
The one thing that stops me from really enjoying it, though, is the incredibly obvious romance and the overused plot devices. It’s obvious from the back cover that Mazy is going to end up with Chanis, and I’m actually okay with that…if Watson had done something more original with the other suitor, Loyal. The moment he appears, I thought, “He’s going to turn out to be some sort of insensitive cad, isn’t he?” Virtuous, hard-working country boy versus dashing rich city boy—not that hard to figure out that the country boy will win, because the rich boy will end up abusing the poor under his care to show how unsuitable he is for anyone, least of all a good Christian girl. Check. That really disappointed me because I thought Watson was bringing up some good points with Mazy’s hesitation between the two men. Choices like that are hard and it would have made Mazy’s development that much stronger if she actually had to make a difficult choice about whether to stay in Lexington or go back to her mountain town. It would have been much more interesting if Loyal had been a genuinely nice guy and took care of his tenants properly. But then he does, of course, turn out be an insensitive (and completely clueless) cad, and that’s a lot of development that’s just wasted right there.
Speaking of development, I’m not sure if Mazy actually got any. She had misgivings the entire book about whether or not she really thought she could marry Chanis, but those misgivings are never addressed fully—the book just ends with them happily married, without any explanation for what changed Mazy’s mind. It also bothered me that Eva was just completely written off without so much as even a mention at the end, and I can only assume it’s because she was a jealous, spiteful rich girl (they never get redeemed). More lost potential for a turn-around from her.
So, while I did enjoy Buttermilk Sky, I would have enjoyed it more if it had been less obvious and relied less on overused tropes to carry the plot. The fact that Watson completely misses out on what could have been a really strong conflict of choice that, given the Christian element, could have resulted in Mazy praying more than just once annoys me, along with the fact that Loyal and Chanis are cut straight out of TVTropes.
The one thing that stops me from really enjoying it, though, is the incredibly obvious romance and the overused plot devices. It’s obvious from the back cover that Mazy is going to end up with Chanis, and I’m actually okay with that…if Watson had done something more original with the other suitor, Loyal. The moment he appears, I thought, “He’s going to turn out to be some sort of insensitive cad, isn’t he?” Virtuous, hard-working country boy versus dashing rich city boy—not that hard to figure out that the country boy will win, because the rich boy will end up abusing the poor under his care to show how unsuitable he is for anyone, least of all a good Christian girl. Check. That really disappointed me because I thought Watson was bringing up some good points with Mazy’s hesitation between the two men. Choices like that are hard and it would have made Mazy’s development that much stronger if she actually had to make a difficult choice about whether to stay in Lexington or go back to her mountain town. It would have been much more interesting if Loyal had been a genuinely nice guy and took care of his tenants properly. But then he does, of course, turn out be an insensitive (and completely clueless) cad, and that’s a lot of development that’s just wasted right there.
Speaking of development, I’m not sure if Mazy actually got any. She had misgivings the entire book about whether or not she really thought she could marry Chanis, but those misgivings are never addressed fully—the book just ends with them happily married, without any explanation for what changed Mazy’s mind. It also bothered me that Eva was just completely written off without so much as even a mention at the end, and I can only assume it’s because she was a jealous, spiteful rich girl (they never get redeemed). More lost potential for a turn-around from her.
So, while I did enjoy Buttermilk Sky, I would have enjoyed it more if it had been less obvious and relied less on overused tropes to carry the plot. The fact that Watson completely misses out on what could have been a really strong conflict of choice that, given the Christian element, could have resulted in Mazy praying more than just once annoys me, along with the fact that Loyal and Chanis are cut straight out of TVTropes.
October 6, 2014
Buttermilk Sky is the first book I have read by Jan Watson, and now have to say she has another fan. Watson has a great way of making you love the characters. They are all so easy to relate to in different ways. Through the whole book I was rooting for them to do better and make the right decisions. Watson made the relationships between the characters like many are today. There is often a pull of power here and there, and some people are afraid to be themselves for fear of losing the friendship. The characters had several flaws and made mistakes, which caused me to love them more. The book also showed that beautiful blessings can come out of those mistakes.
God has a plan for our lives and it’s way better than anything we can imagine, we just need to learn to trust in Him. This book started in a very interesting way, giving me a glimpse into the past. It opened my eyes to the fact that life wasn’t always easy like it is in many historical romance books. It reminded me that there were people back then that had to do some crazy things in order to put food on the table and pay the bills for their families. Some working many odd jobs anywhere they could find work. When one person in the family is sick or can’t work, the rest of the family would do whatever they could to make ends meet. And those are some of the best people around. Watson inspires you to look beyond a persons appearance, and never judge someone based on that alone.
Mazy Pelfrey wanted to spread her wings and at the age of 19, going to secretarial school seemed like the perfect thing. She was excited to move to a bigger city in Kentucky, and see what life had in store for her there. Lexington was everything she expected, but once her sisters left she realized she was all alone. Luckily Mazy made friends easily, even if one of them is a little bossy. In a fun turn of events Mazy catches the eye of one of the most gorgeous guys around, Loyal Chambers. Not only is he gorgeous but he is a charmer. Is Loyal the man for Mazy? Or is she supposed to be with Chanis Clay, the generous sweet man she left behind? How can she choose?
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance. A great book with romance, suspense, and action all mixed in to create a hard to put down read. All the characters you meet are interesting and I would love to see more books in this series where we learn even more about them. I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
God has a plan for our lives and it’s way better than anything we can imagine, we just need to learn to trust in Him. This book started in a very interesting way, giving me a glimpse into the past. It opened my eyes to the fact that life wasn’t always easy like it is in many historical romance books. It reminded me that there were people back then that had to do some crazy things in order to put food on the table and pay the bills for their families. Some working many odd jobs anywhere they could find work. When one person in the family is sick or can’t work, the rest of the family would do whatever they could to make ends meet. And those are some of the best people around. Watson inspires you to look beyond a persons appearance, and never judge someone based on that alone.
Mazy Pelfrey wanted to spread her wings and at the age of 19, going to secretarial school seemed like the perfect thing. She was excited to move to a bigger city in Kentucky, and see what life had in store for her there. Lexington was everything she expected, but once her sisters left she realized she was all alone. Luckily Mazy made friends easily, even if one of them is a little bossy. In a fun turn of events Mazy catches the eye of one of the most gorgeous guys around, Loyal Chambers. Not only is he gorgeous but he is a charmer. Is Loyal the man for Mazy? Or is she supposed to be with Chanis Clay, the generous sweet man she left behind? How can she choose?
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance. A great book with romance, suspense, and action all mixed in to create a hard to put down read. All the characters you meet are interesting and I would love to see more books in this series where we learn even more about them. I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 7, 2015
Alright, I admit it. The main thing that drew me to this book was the gorgeous cover. I mean, LOOK AT IT. The hat, Her blue eyes. The house in the background. The elegant swirly designs. I was bewitched into buying it partly because it would just look so pretty on my shelf.
Heehee. Not entirely. The synopsis intrigued me too, and at the time I needed a light-hearted romance, so I gave it a try. I'm glad I did. This book is not amazing, heart-throbbing or life-changing, but it was perfectly adorable and just what I needed. It's a simple story, a sweet story, with sweet and quirky characters.
The writing didn't stand out to me as being particularly good, but I enjoyed reading every bit, so it was good in a simple sort of way. Nothing flashy. I did like the way the author simply told the story without over describing things and people's feelings and intentions, though, because that can often get too weighty and make a book less enjoyable. I loved how she somehow bottled up the 1910s period and gave it to the reader. That was maybe the thing I enjoyed most about this book-- the way it fully immersed you in its time. And that, my friends, is good writing, even if it doesn't stand out at you immediately.
The characters weren't particularly memorable, but cute. I liked them a lot better than most characters in a lot of Christian fiction I've read. Mazy Pelfry is a darling, Chanis Clay is awkwardly charming, and they all had quirky, nostalgic personalities. I especially loved Mazy's circle of friends, particularly Ernestine and Polly.
This is kind of a typical Christian historical romance. But even so, I think it's a sweet little book. It's not as mundane as some I've read and, though the ending made me turn a little bit green (you know, everyone ends up happily, the so-called antagonists are magically reformed, everyone's marrying everyone else), I could deal with it because most of the book was a genuinely good story. I don't regret buying it. I might even read it again sometime, just to revisit the places and the time and the folks I met, cuz I like them. :-)
My rating: 8/10
Heehee. Not entirely. The synopsis intrigued me too, and at the time I needed a light-hearted romance, so I gave it a try. I'm glad I did. This book is not amazing, heart-throbbing or life-changing, but it was perfectly adorable and just what I needed. It's a simple story, a sweet story, with sweet and quirky characters.
The writing didn't stand out to me as being particularly good, but I enjoyed reading every bit, so it was good in a simple sort of way. Nothing flashy. I did like the way the author simply told the story without over describing things and people's feelings and intentions, though, because that can often get too weighty and make a book less enjoyable. I loved how she somehow bottled up the 1910s period and gave it to the reader. That was maybe the thing I enjoyed most about this book-- the way it fully immersed you in its time. And that, my friends, is good writing, even if it doesn't stand out at you immediately.
The characters weren't particularly memorable, but cute. I liked them a lot better than most characters in a lot of Christian fiction I've read. Mazy Pelfry is a darling, Chanis Clay is awkwardly charming, and they all had quirky, nostalgic personalities. I especially loved Mazy's circle of friends, particularly Ernestine and Polly.
This is kind of a typical Christian historical romance. But even so, I think it's a sweet little book. It's not as mundane as some I've read and, though the ending made me turn a little bit green (you know, everyone ends up happily, the so-called antagonists are magically reformed, everyone's marrying everyone else), I could deal with it because most of the book was a genuinely good story. I don't regret buying it. I might even read it again sometime, just to revisit the places and the time and the folks I met, cuz I like them. :-)
My rating: 8/10
August 25, 2015
Buttermilk Sky**** by Jan Watson
19 year old Mazy Pelfrey leaves her home in 1913's rural Kentucky to the big city of Lexington to attend secretarial school. She attends school with Polly, Ernestine, Eva and Clara, who also board in the same boarding house she does. It is hard to fit in with this group of friends at times, especially Eva who makes fun of her and often turns her nose up at Mazy. School is a lot harder than Mazy thought it would be and she has to work extra hard in her classes. Mazy becomes very ill and is put on bed-rest for a week at the doctor's home. Her doctor hires a young girl, Cinnamon Spicer, to care for her during the day. Mazy had seen Cinnamon before wondering the streets with tattered clothes, her friends always made fun of the poor girl. But as Cinnamon cares for Mazy, she learns that Cinnamon does odd jobs to care for her ill father and they become friends.
Sheriff Chanis Clay has been in love with Mazy for many years and buys an old house and fixes it up for the future—a future he hopes includes Mazy as his wife. However, Mazy meets a charming wealthy gentleman, Loyal Chambers, who is looking for a bride and sets his path on Mazy. Mazy overhears something that opens her eyes to the true reason he is looking for a bride and makes her reevaluate her plans and goals. What does God want her to do? Is her future with Loyal or with Chanis? Chanis must make some decisions of his own and decides to step aside if Loyal is who Mazy wants. He now feels that God is leading him in a different direction from being a sheriff.
Buttermilk Sky is a heartwarming story with characters that face very real problems and challenges as we face. They learn life doesn't always go as planned and must make new choices. Drama, surprising turns in the story, romance, love and a strong Christian faith are woven throughout the story. I truly enjoyed Cinnamon.
~~I received a copy of this book from the Book Club Network for my review~~
19 year old Mazy Pelfrey leaves her home in 1913's rural Kentucky to the big city of Lexington to attend secretarial school. She attends school with Polly, Ernestine, Eva and Clara, who also board in the same boarding house she does. It is hard to fit in with this group of friends at times, especially Eva who makes fun of her and often turns her nose up at Mazy. School is a lot harder than Mazy thought it would be and she has to work extra hard in her classes. Mazy becomes very ill and is put on bed-rest for a week at the doctor's home. Her doctor hires a young girl, Cinnamon Spicer, to care for her during the day. Mazy had seen Cinnamon before wondering the streets with tattered clothes, her friends always made fun of the poor girl. But as Cinnamon cares for Mazy, she learns that Cinnamon does odd jobs to care for her ill father and they become friends.
Sheriff Chanis Clay has been in love with Mazy for many years and buys an old house and fixes it up for the future—a future he hopes includes Mazy as his wife. However, Mazy meets a charming wealthy gentleman, Loyal Chambers, who is looking for a bride and sets his path on Mazy. Mazy overhears something that opens her eyes to the true reason he is looking for a bride and makes her reevaluate her plans and goals. What does God want her to do? Is her future with Loyal or with Chanis? Chanis must make some decisions of his own and decides to step aside if Loyal is who Mazy wants. He now feels that God is leading him in a different direction from being a sheriff.
Buttermilk Sky is a heartwarming story with characters that face very real problems and challenges as we face. They learn life doesn't always go as planned and must make new choices. Drama, surprising turns in the story, romance, love and a strong Christian faith are woven throughout the story. I truly enjoyed Cinnamon.
~~I received a copy of this book from the Book Club Network for my review~~
February 9, 2015
Mazy Pelfrey left her home in the Kentucky Mountains to go to secretary school in Lexington. She was hoping for the better, nothing but clear skies. But, business school is hard, the big city isn't friendly. There is one person there though that catches her eye. Loyal Chambers. She thinks that her life is perfect when he sets his sights on her. The only thing is-Chanis Clay-her former beau, the young sheriff she thought she left behind.
I thought that the female characters were a lot stronger than the male characters. If I had to choose a male character though it would definitely be Chanis. I thought that Loyal was a little too good to be believable. I really loved the secondary female character Cinnamon the most though. She was so believable and even though she was going through some rough times she was exceedingly strong.Overall it was a good book, and would definitely recommend this. This was my first book by this author, i liked her style of writing and would read her again.
I thought that the female characters were a lot stronger than the male characters. If I had to choose a male character though it would definitely be Chanis. I thought that Loyal was a little too good to be believable. I really loved the secondary female character Cinnamon the most though. She was so believable and even though she was going through some rough times she was exceedingly strong.Overall it was a good book, and would definitely recommend this. This was my first book by this author, i liked her style of writing and would read her again.
June 19, 2018
Buttermilk Sky by Jan Watson
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction
Format: Kindle
Timeframe: 1913
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Characters:
Mazy Pelfrey: 18 years old, attending secretarial school
Cinnamon Spicer: Extremely poor girl Mazy befriends
Polly, Eva, Clara and Ernestine: Mazy’s classmates
Loyal Chambers: Mazy’s new love interest
Dr. Chambers: Loyal’s mother
Chanis Clay: Skip Rock’s sheriff, in love with Mazy
Mrs. Pearl: Owner of the boarding house where the girls lived
The last in the line of the connected Copper Brown/Lilly/Mazy books by Jan Watson (so far). It has been such a pleasure reading such clean, interesting books. I’m so glad I’ve become familiar with this author’s work.
In this story Mazy has left Skip Rock. Her sister Lilly has paid for her to attend secretarial school in Lexington, KY. In the last two years Mazy has apparently grown up quite a bit because in the previous book, Tattler's Branch she was sweet, but lazy. She allowed others to do things for her and was a dreamer. But in this book she is so helpful and sweet causing others to consider her basically a goody-goody. She is likeable, though, albeit still a bit of a dreamer.
She is somewhat influenced by the fashionable girls in the class and dreams of being more like them, wanting to leave Skip Rock and the sheriff there behind. This influence will put her in some circumstances that might not have been the best for her, but she handled them like a champ. However, her rose-colored glasses don’t allow her to see the truth about some people until quite late… and things happen.
I love her faith though. She is easily influenced, but even in the midst of it her strongholds are the Word of God and prayer. I love the way she sees the truth about her shallow influences, eventually realizing what she truly cherished.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction
Format: Kindle
Timeframe: 1913
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Characters:
Mazy Pelfrey: 18 years old, attending secretarial school
Cinnamon Spicer: Extremely poor girl Mazy befriends
Polly, Eva, Clara and Ernestine: Mazy’s classmates
Loyal Chambers: Mazy’s new love interest
Dr. Chambers: Loyal’s mother
Chanis Clay: Skip Rock’s sheriff, in love with Mazy
Mrs. Pearl: Owner of the boarding house where the girls lived
The last in the line of the connected Copper Brown/Lilly/Mazy books by Jan Watson (so far). It has been such a pleasure reading such clean, interesting books. I’m so glad I’ve become familiar with this author’s work.
In this story Mazy has left Skip Rock. Her sister Lilly has paid for her to attend secretarial school in Lexington, KY. In the last two years Mazy has apparently grown up quite a bit because in the previous book, Tattler's Branch she was sweet, but lazy. She allowed others to do things for her and was a dreamer. But in this book she is so helpful and sweet causing others to consider her basically a goody-goody. She is likeable, though, albeit still a bit of a dreamer.
She is somewhat influenced by the fashionable girls in the class and dreams of being more like them, wanting to leave Skip Rock and the sheriff there behind. This influence will put her in some circumstances that might not have been the best for her, but she handled them like a champ. However, her rose-colored glasses don’t allow her to see the truth about some people until quite late… and things happen.
I love her faith though. She is easily influenced, but even in the midst of it her strongholds are the Word of God and prayer. I love the way she sees the truth about her shallow influences, eventually realizing what she truly cherished.
August 19, 2022
Historical fiction 1917-8 Lexington Ky Mazy leaves her home in the mountains of Ky to attend secretarial school in Lexington. She befriends her classmates even one who belittles her. She has to decide whether she loves the charming well to do Loyal Chambers of Lexington or sheriff Chanis Clay of her hometown Skip Rock? What is real, honest living her Faith and what is window dressing?
Quotes: 199 Sheriff Chanis Clay’s mother: The rapture won’t catch me with a full cellar while other folks go hungry.
250 Mazy: if she were ever really challenged, would the easy Faith of her childhood stood up the test?
373 Frank: I wonder how my life might have been different if there’d been one man who talked to me, that cared for me as much as you cared for that boy. You probably don’t know, but you’ve made me want to be a better man.
Frank tempted by a fruit stand with a cash box Chanis reminded they trusted him. Frank put his hands in his pockets. When asked about it, “ Thinking Anthis same thing as doing, Sheriff. If that was so, there’s not a man alive who wouldn’t be incarcerated.
Quotes: 199 Sheriff Chanis Clay’s mother: The rapture won’t catch me with a full cellar while other folks go hungry.
250 Mazy: if she were ever really challenged, would the easy Faith of her childhood stood up the test?
373 Frank: I wonder how my life might have been different if there’d been one man who talked to me, that cared for me as much as you cared for that boy. You probably don’t know, but you’ve made me want to be a better man.
Frank tempted by a fruit stand with a cash box Chanis reminded they trusted him. Frank put his hands in his pockets. When asked about it, “ Thinking Anthis same thing as doing, Sheriff. If that was so, there’s not a man alive who wouldn’t be incarcerated.
March 31, 2021
Predictable and heavy-handed
This is the 5th book I’ve read by Jan Watson and the first to disappoint. Following a succession of bright, capable heroines who find their way through interesting circumstances, Mazy is annoyingly naive. The spiritual themes which have been so delicately woven throughout several series’ worth of books are heavy-handed. Loyal, who had the potential to be an interesting character study was written as a plot point. His tacked-on character arc in the epilogue felt lazy and unrewarding. I muscled through the second half of the book out of loyalty to Watson and determination to see if the predictable ending was what was telegraphed from the start of the book. It was exactly as expected.
This is the 5th book I’ve read by Jan Watson and the first to disappoint. Following a succession of bright, capable heroines who find their way through interesting circumstances, Mazy is annoyingly naive. The spiritual themes which have been so delicately woven throughout several series’ worth of books are heavy-handed. Loyal, who had the potential to be an interesting character study was written as a plot point. His tacked-on character arc in the epilogue felt lazy and unrewarding. I muscled through the second half of the book out of loyalty to Watson and determination to see if the predictable ending was what was telegraphed from the start of the book. It was exactly as expected.
December 2, 2021
I really enjoyed the sweet pace of this story. This is part 3 of 4 in the series and looks like I’m gonna have to scramble to find the other parts. But I think they are gonna be stand alones. Young Mazey leaves her boring small town and the sheriff who loves her for secretarial school. Once she gets there she finds the true meaning of boredom.
I think we all have had those moments of the grass looking greener somewhere else.
Since this is a Christian fiction I would caution against young girls reading only bc there is a baby born out of wedlock, but there are not any details about how that happened. But an enjoyable read and I look forward to more of her books. This was a large print book from my library
I think we all have had those moments of the grass looking greener somewhere else.
Since this is a Christian fiction I would caution against young girls reading only bc there is a baby born out of wedlock, but there are not any details about how that happened. But an enjoyable read and I look forward to more of her books. This was a large print book from my library
January 20, 2023
good wholesome reading
Jan Watson books are always very good. Have read several and most are actually a continuance of another whether parfait of a series or not. Christian based. Books from Kentucky mountain people. Mountain values and closeness. With a touch of humor. Could easily be real life from that timeframe. Like to read about the application people their way of life and struggles Very good book. Even when separated by miles and cities the characters never lost their love of God and the act of brotherly love
Jan Watson books are always very good. Have read several and most are actually a continuance of another whether parfait of a series or not. Christian based. Books from Kentucky mountain people. Mountain values and closeness. With a touch of humor. Could easily be real life from that timeframe. Like to read about the application people their way of life and struggles Very good book. Even when separated by miles and cities the characters never lost their love of God and the act of brotherly love
August 3, 2018
My complaint is similar to the one I had for "The Maiden of Mayfair": maybe this isn't the most interesting part of these people's lives, but added to that, I wasn't a fan of Maizie. There's a fine like between Pollyanna-like sweetness and being genuinely, truly dumb and naive enough to think that the dude you met a week ago discussing how they are going to marry you only for money and because you're a dumb pushover, and deciding maybe you should check to make sure.
September 3, 2017
So organic!
Another trip to Skip Creek and not a moment too soon! It was lovely getting to know Lilly's little sister Mazy and getting carried away in the romance that wasn't and the coming of age that couldn't come fast enough! Learning what became of Mazy's friends has me hoping that a particular one will be featured in a story with her own brand of spice!
Another trip to Skip Creek and not a moment too soon! It was lovely getting to know Lilly's little sister Mazy and getting carried away in the romance that wasn't and the coming of age that couldn't come fast enough! Learning what became of Mazy's friends has me hoping that a particular one will be featured in a story with her own brand of spice!
September 1, 2023
Heartwarming
The second book in the series is just as good as the first! The focus is on Mazy and her new life and adventures while at secretarial school. Secondary is Chandis and his goings on back at home.
Lot's of amusing things, a few not so nice characters, and it just made me feel good to read it.
The second book in the series is just as good as the first! The focus is on Mazy and her new life and adventures while at secretarial school. Secondary is Chandis and his goings on back at home.
Lot's of amusing things, a few not so nice characters, and it just made me feel good to read it.
September 30, 2017
Wonderful clean christian historical novel
These characters were so easy to connect with even though the main characters were so different. This book had so many dramatic things going on I couldn't figure out the mystery until it was revealed at the end. I left a
These characters were so easy to connect with even though the main characters were so different. This book had so many dramatic things going on I couldn't figure out the mystery until it was revealed at the end. I left a
February 7, 2018
OH MY GOSH IM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK!!! So much so that I sought out all the books she has written and bought them! I’m so excited for them all her writing style is simply brilliant!!! Chanis and Mazy are perfect it’s a book that will stay with you! Their story is so sweet!
February 19, 2018
Enjoyed the delightful descriptions of characters and setting, fitting the country background and the simple pace of the character.
Had several threads of mystery and suspense that propelled the reader through the book.
Had several threads of mystery and suspense that propelled the reader through the book.
April 11, 2018
Flighty as a bits!
Mazy keeps her head in the clouds and barely keeps her feet on the ground! But her heart is pure. But the attention of two men keep her busy and confused. Will she make the right choice?
I do hope Jan Watson gifts us with another excellent book!
Mazy keeps her head in the clouds and barely keeps her feet on the ground! But her heart is pure. But the attention of two men keep her busy and confused. Will she make the right choice?
I do hope Jan Watson gifts us with another excellent book!
September 24, 2018
Wonderful story about Copper's granddaughter, who is in secretarial school in the city. Who will she choose? The good looking city slicker or rough but loving mountain sheriff. I really enjoyed the characters in this book.
September 27, 2021
I am very sad that this is the last of Jan Watson's books (at least as of today). I have thoroughly enjoyed the journeys of these characters and the lovely, pure, simple life they lead. I cannot say this particular book was my favorite of the series, but it was still a pleasure to read.
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