Geneva Garner's mind was fixed on survival, her unborn child, escaping out of Savannah, and getting away from the men in the white robes with hoods over their heads. Covered in dirt and smoke from the cellar where she took refuge when the Klan burned her plantation home, she fled on the first stagecoach headed north. She vowed never to trust a man again as long as there was breath in her body. They were all scoundrels and the past would haunt her forever. Harry Reed Hamilton was on his way home from Savannah to Love's Valley, Pennsylvania. The Civil War had been over for two years and his term of enlistment was finally over. The only thing marring his happiness was the fact that he was riding with a dirty, heavy woman in the stagecoach. After consoling himself that it was only for a day, he was surprised to find himself and the large woman tossed out on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere after a stage heist. Trapped together by fate, they travel by any means possible heading to Lynchburg, VA, where she hopes to find relatives. A friendship buds amidst the difficulties they face. A love is born from the friendship but neither of them are willing to admit that the past can truly be forgotten and a sweet future can lie ahead.
Hi! I'm twenty five years old and movie star gorgeous. The camera added thirty plus years and a few wrinkles. Can't trust those cameras or mirrors either. Along with bathroom scales they are notorious liars! Honestly, I am the mother of three fantastic grown children who've made me laugh and given me more story ideas than I could ever write. My husband, Charles, is my strongest supporter and my best friend. He's even willing to eat fast food and help with the laundry while I finish one more chapter! Life is good and I am blessed!
Reading has been a passion since I was five years old and figured out those were words on book pages. As soon as my chubby little fingers found they could put words on a Big Chief tablet with a fat pencil, I was on my way. Writing joined reading in my list of passions. I will read anything from the back of the Cheerio's box to Faulkner and love every bit of it. In addition to reading I enjoy cooking, my family and the ocean. I love the Florida beaches. Listening to the ocean waves puts my writing brain into high gear.
I love writing romance because it's about emotions and relationships. Human nature hasn't changed a bit since Eve coveted the fruit in the Garden of Eden. Settings change. Plots change. Names change. Times change. But love is love and men and women have been falling in and out of it forever. Romance is about emotions: love, hate, anger, laughter... all of it. If I can make you laugh until your sides ache or grab a tissue then I've touched your emotions and accomplished what every writer sets out to do.
I got serious about writing when my third child was born and had her days and nights mixed up. I had to stay up all night anyway and it was very quiet so I invested in a spiral back notebook and sharpened a few pencils. The story that emerged has never sold but it's brought in enough rejection slips to put the Redwood Forest on the endangered list. In 1997 Kensington bought two books for their Precious Gems line. Two years and six books later the line died with only four of those books seeing publication. But by then Avalon had bought a book and another, and another. Ten years later the list has grown to thirty nine. Last year Sourcebooks bought the Lucky Series which is in the bookstores now. They've also bought The Honky Tonk Series which will debut with I LOVE THIS BAR in June and will be followed by HELL, YEAH, MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED, and HONKY TONK CHRISTMAS.
Folks ask me where I get my ideas. Three kids, fifteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren. Note: I was a very young grandmother! Life is a zoo around here when they all come home. In one Sunday afternoon there's enough ideas to keep me writing for years and years. Seriously, ideas pop up at the craziest times. When one sinks its roots into my mind, I have no choice but to write the story. And while I'm writing the characters peek over my shoulder and make sure I'm telling it right and not exaggerating too much. Pesky little devils, they are!
I have a wonderful agent, Erin Niumata, who continues to work magic and sell my work. I'm very lucky to have her and my editors who continue to believe in me.
This was another great read from Carolyn Brown. This is a story about a woman running from the miserable life that she lived and was falsely accused of murder. On her long journey to start a new life she meets Reed. He is a man returning home from serving in the military during the civil war. This was a page turner and a lesson about love, sacrifice and new beginnings.
This book, "Love's Valley 4," introduces us to Reed Hamilton, brother to Monroe (book1) and Reuben (book 3), and BIL to Ellie's husband Colum (book 2). Reed is the youngest of the Hamilton boys. Like his brothers Monroe (who had been sent to TX) and Reuben (who had been sent to New Orleans), Reed, stationed in GA, had functioned as one helping the Reconstruction but also functioned as a spy. His enlistment now up, he is headed to D.C. with reports for Pres. Andrew Johnson, who'd recently nearly been impeached. He buys passage on a stage. Geneva O'Grady Garner was nearly 6 ft tall. Her mom had eloped with a tinker, aka the Tuatha'an, a group much like the Romanies aka the so-called "gypsies," because the young hired man with whom she was in love had fled her father's ire after being fired. Her mother was faced with a choice - run or marry someone distasteful by her father's ultimatum. She had never heard her mom complain, though. Geneva's life went from bad to worse when she was gambled away by her father. Pregnant and a friend to recently freed slaves, she had raised the ire of the Klan, who lynched her husband when they couldn't find her. She had hidden in one spot, slipping into the house to the basement to hide, when the Klan fired the house. She barely escaped. She took the money she had found behind the cans down there, and slipped out, hiding until the Klan was gone - for now. Since the sheriff ran the Klan for the region and his deputies were members, there was no point in finding the law and reporting the lynching. She slipped in the stage office at rhe last minute and bought a ticket on the same stage as Reed. The stage is robbed, and Reed finds himself with what he thinks is a fat, smelly woman, out of the stage on the side of the road. A freed slave woman chats them up a bit amd points them to the ruins of a plantation that is nearby and still has slave sheds made up as nice as possible. When the former slave returns for her things a few days later, Geneva has been delivered of a healthy baby girl, with the help of Reed, who had assisted the camp doctor, his friend, with all sorts of things, including a birth for one of the camp followers. He has planned to leave, since she seems OK and uninterested in men, plus, aside from the lynching and arson and the Klan looking to kill her as well, she has learned her father has died. But when a wild boar shows up and enters the cabin after the baby when her momma goes to the outhouse, Reed kills it and yanks the baby up to safety in his arms. He then decides it would be best if they traveled under his protection as far as Lynchburg, VA, where she has an aunt. The many scrapes they escape on the way and once in Lynchburg draws them into friendship. Baby Angelina has wrapped Reed around her tiny fingers. But is anything beyond friendship real, or only from the intensity of the scrapes they've had, one after another, and the pure adrenaline disrupting their systems?
I’ve read a few Carolyn Brown thrillers before but this was my first foray into her historical fiction novels. “Redemption” takes place during post-reconstruction in the deep south where southerners don’t take kindly to yankees. Reed Hamilton left Savannah by stagecoach, headed to his family home in Pennsylvania when he meets Geneva Garner who has fled Savannah after witnessing her husband’s lynching. She’s sooty, smelly, and appears to be obese but is actually heavy with child. She not only doesn’t mourn her abusive husband’s death, she has the utmost contempt for men in general and is determined to never be dependent on one again. Throughout the long journey, Geneva and Reed are thrown together in some unique situations and deep bonds of trust and friendship form between them. Geneva has a solid backstory that isn’t especially pretty but is believable, and it carries this tale and saves it from being sugary. She’s a really strong character and totally believable and Reed is no slouch either. The pacing is very even and moves right along but some of the dialogue was stilted and just off. Several times Geneva’s speech would swing from typically southern, dropping “g” sounds, to very correct sounding enunciation and I’m thinking; Whoa, who’s talking here? Then it would revert to familiar sounds and all would be well. But as a counterweight to that, some of the descriptive phrasing shone like a new penny. Consider this gem. “The air was still, sultry, as if the breeze waited on the outskirts to see what would happen before it swept down the streets.” That’s good stuff!
The Northern Aggression aka Civil War is over. But the south was devastated, namely "Sherman's March thru Georgia, also called "The March To The Sea" burned every building in sight. This is a love story, or some may read it as the aftermath of wounded nation. There's mention of the Klu Klux Clan and the useless rampaging they did to both sides. President Jackson had sent out spies to report to him in person how these southern states were responding to their lost and surrendering to General Robert E. Lee. Not only the KLAN, but there's bushwackers, land grabbers and this was being done by ruffians, for example, they would kill plantation owners to acquire their land which they knew they would never own. Just pay the taxes due and the land was yours. Lots of history and it tells about "tinkers", or gypsies as we know them today. GREAT enjoyment, you won't want to put the KINDLE down until you've finished reading or you have no choice because you need to recharge again.. Good reading📘📘📘🎶🎶
From Savannah to DC to Love's Valley, PA, -A Great Trip
I kept thinking the next book in the series couldn't be as good as the one I just finished, and Carolyn Brown comes through every time! The third Hamilton brother,Reed, has finished a job for President Johnson after the Civil War has ended, and is on his way to DC to drop off papers to the President, before returning to Loves Valley, PA, when he crosses paths with Geneva, a tinkers daughter,, who was married to a man her father had lost a bet on and she was the wager! She'd been married a year when she hid in the basement of their home when the Ku Klux Klan came to hang her for the sin of having a Negro friend. When they couldn't find her they hung her husband instead, and now she was on the run. She meets Reed Hamilton as she flees and together and together they start on a journey neither ever thought would happen.
I love this series! All the Hamilton brothers are "yummy." Other than poor Ellie, Geneva had the most traumatic history. She experienced bullying, verbal abuse, terrorists threats, and discrimination. Along comes TDH Reed who assumed the worst about Geneva because she looked fat and dirty. She and Reed go on a log and adventurous journey North via stagecoach and train. Toward the end of their journey they realize they love one another and get married. BTW, kudos to Geneva for slapping that brat Indigo (lol).
I enjoyed this part of the Love Valley series. I am new to American historical romance, and found it through Ms. Brown's many books. I'm a fan. This has been a lovely series, and this installment was a good one. There were even historical facts that sent me down a Wikipedia hole for awhile. I'm off to read another one as I sit in self containment due to Covid-19. I highly recommend this series to pass the time!
Fall in love with Reed Hamilton? Not a problem. When you are raised by a tinker, sold to a plantation owner, sought by the Klan for being kind to black folks. Wanted for murder and arson and huge pregnant. The only thing you can do is run. Fate steps in and puts you in the path of a yankee gentleman heading home to Love's Valley PA. Carolyn Brown weaves this yard to where everyonr is in love with Mr. Hamilton before this book is finished.
It was disappointing to see the entire book was only 200+ pages. But it's enough. So much happens. And it's well written. The dialogue has improved out of sight from the first book. The plot is the same. But it's clever. I knew there were many scenarios one could apply to a set plot and this series shows just how well done it can be. Kudos.
Love these characters. True to a strong woman with qualities that anyone is drawn to for a life partner. The men stand strong to defend the women as well. These Hamilton men don't flaunt their wealth but quietly use it. One never knows how a life we think we have laid out for ourselves hits a roadblock and we find a better way to go!
Carolyn Brown’s Love’s Valley stories have been very enjoyable. Each one has dealt with a part of our country’s history (post Civil War) that was full of change, loss, and prejudice but she has shown it to be a time of human caring and rebirth. When I read her stories, I always find entertainment and a bit of history. Thanks Carolyn.
The Love’s Vally series is a passionate journey of family trust foundation respect & devotion. I started the series reading the fifth book first and now I’ll be re-reading it knowing all the characters in the family from the first four books. Carolyn Brown thank U for keeping me so happily entertained.
It does work out for the best again. Geneva is pregnant and running from the Klan which is run by the local sheriff. She manages to hide in Reed’s wagon to get away and escapes notice because they were looking for a pretty blonde girl as opposed to a fat nondescript woman who escapes right under their nose.
Once again, Ms. Brown, you've given us, your loyal fan base, a very good book to enjoy. I have a good imagination; however, you make me look like a nonstarter! I Iove it! Thank you again for all you do.
I love the bravery of geneva. She never gave up .She is a survivor and she got her happy ending. She deserved it after almost losing her life so many times. I loved this book it was awesome.
This book was one of Carolyn Brown's better books. Geneva was a very brave woman going through so much. And Reed became her hero. I got lost in this book as I usually do with her books. Very good book!! I loved it!!
Wonderful reading!! Loved the detail of the town's in Pennsylvania as that is my state I know some of the places and the coal business that is shipped to Philadelphia As coal is still shipped by train to Philadelphia and Baltimore to go over seas!
I enjoyed this book. The author showed much imagination & thought as to the content of the book. I love her writing.She is wholesome, & clean.You should read her books.
I cried happy tears at the ending of this story! Geneva had been through such a horrible year and so much danger. It was a miracle that she and Reed found each other and a greater miracle that their hearts led them past their notions of what the future would hold!
Once again Carolyn Brown has crafted another thought provoking Southern tale. Love the historical tidbits and the depth in looking into other worlds and lifestyles. Thanks.
Another interesting book in the Hamilton saga. Hopefully marriage will mellow Indigo. Can’t wait to find out! The next installment should be interesting.