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Tangled: A Southern Gothic Yarn
DeCe Kirkland has a secret. She doesn’t think anyone knows.
But her half-brother, Pup, knows it all, even more than DeCe. He may have arrived eleven years late, dumped like a litter of puppies, peculiar, and unable to communicate, but Pup knows the secret DeCe has hidden since childhood.
When Tessie comes to work at the ranch and starts talking about the well, DeCe’s daughter, Nettie, watches Pup. He’s nervous and hides in his room, afraid of something. But it will be her great uncle’s bird book and the Kiskadee that will unravel the mystery and explain Pup’s fear. DeCe has no idea what secrets are hidden on the Kirkland Ranch. Her father has hidden the worst part of the family history from everyone. It would have stayed hidden, but Pup realized the devil wasn’t coming.
But her half-brother, Pup, knows it all, even more than DeCe. He may have arrived eleven years late, dumped like a litter of puppies, peculiar, and unable to communicate, but Pup knows the secret DeCe has hidden since childhood.
When Tessie comes to work at the ranch and starts talking about the well, DeCe’s daughter, Nettie, watches Pup. He’s nervous and hides in his room, afraid of something. But it will be her great uncle’s bird book and the Kiskadee that will unravel the mystery and explain Pup’s fear. DeCe has no idea what secrets are hidden on the Kirkland Ranch. Her father has hidden the worst part of the family history from everyone. It would have stayed hidden, but Pup realized the devil wasn’t coming.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2016
119 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis H. Moore
32 books58 followersPhyllis H. Moore wants to live life experiences more than once: doing it, writing about it and reading about it. She’s had two careers and two retirements. Both careers gave her inspiration for her novels: The Sabine Series, Sabine, Billy’s Story, Josephine’s Journals and Secrets of Dunn House,
She's written three stand-alone novels: Opal’s Story, Tangled, a Southern Gothic Yarn, The Bright Shawl, Colors of Tender Whispers, The Ember Months, Birdie & Jude, and an anthology of spooky short stories inspired by real places and events, The Bridge on Jackson Road. She has authored one nonfiction book, Retirement, Now What?
Phyllis has been published by Caffeinated Press in the anthology, Brewed Awakenings 2, Fifteen Tales to Jolt Your Mind Awake. She blogs on her web site http://www.phyllishmoore.com. Follow her on Pinterest and Facebook.
Phyllis is a retired social worker and former owner/operator of a small bed and breakfast. She’s lived in the rural areas and cities of south Texas. She currently lives on Galveston Island with her husband, Richard.
She's written three stand-alone novels: Opal’s Story, Tangled, a Southern Gothic Yarn, The Bright Shawl, Colors of Tender Whispers, The Ember Months, Birdie & Jude, and an anthology of spooky short stories inspired by real places and events, The Bridge on Jackson Road. She has authored one nonfiction book, Retirement, Now What?
Phyllis has been published by Caffeinated Press in the anthology, Brewed Awakenings 2, Fifteen Tales to Jolt Your Mind Awake. She blogs on her web site http://www.phyllishmoore.com. Follow her on Pinterest and Facebook.
Phyllis is a retired social worker and former owner/operator of a small bed and breakfast. She’s lived in the rural areas and cities of south Texas. She currently lives on Galveston Island with her husband, Richard.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 10, 2016
Well this book had a lot of promise. And old mansion, filled with family secrets and haunted by ghosts. The writing wasn't bad, it just wasn't great. Very very chatty. What could have been a short conversation turned into page after page. So much explaining. It made my head hurt. There were a lot of characters to try and keep straight too. While I appreciate the author's attempt to give Tess personality, her way of speaking got on my nerves, fo sho. I'm not kidding. The ending was what I'd expected. My favorite part of the book was little Gilly, the dog who could communicate with the humans. Not a bad read, but I don't think I'll look for anything else by Ms. Moore.
April 23, 2016
Suspenseful
It's 3:30 am. That should tell you that I had to get to the end and find out about CeCe's secrets....and if Nettie would survive. I can nap tomorrow! I loved the introduction of Tess...who helped Nettie and encouraged her to use her "gifts". I for one like the spirits....evil and good!
It's 3:30 am. That should tell you that I had to get to the end and find out about CeCe's secrets....and if Nettie would survive. I can nap tomorrow! I loved the introduction of Tess...who helped Nettie and encouraged her to use her "gifts". I for one like the spirits....evil and good!
July 12, 2023
Tangled: A Southern Gothic Yarn
This is not my normal reading choice & although it wasn't "bad", I didn't enjoy it as well as I thought I might. The story itself was a good idea, I just think it could have been "done" better. One thing I would say that WAS done well, was to show that "ghosts", as most people see them, are really just mental health conditions! Don't get me wrong, I know there are spirits (aka Angels & demons), but I don't believe God would allow human spirits to wander endlessly lost! It could be that the spirit shows itself in appearance to be someone from the past, but is not that person's spirit! The devil is a liar & the father of lies, & if he thinks my seeing G'G'Grandpa haunting me would be the best way to hurt me, that's what he'll do! That said, I suppose the writing just isn't my style. It was too simplistic in some areas, while in others so complex that it was never fully explained. I also felt the dialectal speech was WAAAY overdone! As someone born in the South & raised by rural Southern Appalachian parents from the Great Depression Era, in my 67 years all put together I have NEVER heard so many "sho do's" "sho nuff's", "sho will's", "sho did's", etc than in one chapter of this book! OK, the whole book, but you catch my meaning! Anything can be overdone, but especially something like local or regional dialect! Especially for those not used to hearing it! Kinda like the "Gangster-eze" of the Godfather upon my Southern brain! This is how many negative stereotypes begin, & continue, despite their obvious falseness! Another example would be the Beverly Hillbillies! Oh, how my Mama hated to be called a "Hillbilly"! I get it! When we were in Chicago I was a Hillbilly too, but in Georgia I was a "Yankee"! I have no problem with using dialect occasionally to remind us where the story is planted, in fact I enjoy reading terms that I haven't heard in 40+ years, but give me a break! Sometimes there were 2 "sho whatevers" in the same sentence?? One other dislike is how the book ended. Or rather DIDN'T end! How did Nettie do at school? Was life suddenly perfect? How did DeCe come through rehab? Was she finally successful? I hope so! I hope that she, Nettie, May, & Bobbie spent many happy years getting to know each other! What about Pup? Was he able to get rid of the "ghost" Old Nate planted in his poor soul? No, most definitely an unfinished story in my mind. This poor family was cursed from the beginning, directly due to Miss Roberta! But I wonder...how much further back did it really go??
This is not my normal reading choice & although it wasn't "bad", I didn't enjoy it as well as I thought I might. The story itself was a good idea, I just think it could have been "done" better. One thing I would say that WAS done well, was to show that "ghosts", as most people see them, are really just mental health conditions! Don't get me wrong, I know there are spirits (aka Angels & demons), but I don't believe God would allow human spirits to wander endlessly lost! It could be that the spirit shows itself in appearance to be someone from the past, but is not that person's spirit! The devil is a liar & the father of lies, & if he thinks my seeing G'G'Grandpa haunting me would be the best way to hurt me, that's what he'll do! That said, I suppose the writing just isn't my style. It was too simplistic in some areas, while in others so complex that it was never fully explained. I also felt the dialectal speech was WAAAY overdone! As someone born in the South & raised by rural Southern Appalachian parents from the Great Depression Era, in my 67 years all put together I have NEVER heard so many "sho do's" "sho nuff's", "sho will's", "sho did's", etc than in one chapter of this book! OK, the whole book, but you catch my meaning! Anything can be overdone, but especially something like local or regional dialect! Especially for those not used to hearing it! Kinda like the "Gangster-eze" of the Godfather upon my Southern brain! This is how many negative stereotypes begin, & continue, despite their obvious falseness! Another example would be the Beverly Hillbillies! Oh, how my Mama hated to be called a "Hillbilly"! I get it! When we were in Chicago I was a Hillbilly too, but in Georgia I was a "Yankee"! I have no problem with using dialect occasionally to remind us where the story is planted, in fact I enjoy reading terms that I haven't heard in 40+ years, but give me a break! Sometimes there were 2 "sho whatevers" in the same sentence?? One other dislike is how the book ended. Or rather DIDN'T end! How did Nettie do at school? Was life suddenly perfect? How did DeCe come through rehab? Was she finally successful? I hope so! I hope that she, Nettie, May, & Bobbie spent many happy years getting to know each other! What about Pup? Was he able to get rid of the "ghost" Old Nate planted in his poor soul? No, most definitely an unfinished story in my mind. This poor family was cursed from the beginning, directly due to Miss Roberta! But I wonder...how much further back did it really go??
April 28, 2016
very good book!! I was so confused at first if I really liked it even thought about not finishing and moving on to another one a couple of times but something about Nettie's story pulled me in and I had to find out what happened to everyone in her family that made them so fcked up (that's honestly the only word i can use to describe it). the editing or the way it was downloaded was a little annoying but well worth finding my spot again and continuing on. because I couldn't put it down 4 stars !!
April 19, 2016
I finished this book because I can't just stop reading a book.
It was written as a YA book but rewritten to be an adult book. I don't think it made the cross very well.
It's confusing and full of so many characters. Plus ghosts.
It was written as a YA book but rewritten to be an adult book. I don't think it made the cross very well.
It's confusing and full of so many characters. Plus ghosts.
May 5, 2016
ToobTangled
Star 2. Difficult to read because of publishing errors--material repeated many times. The story line was drawn out and then finished quickly. It could have been a good book. Rating 2
Star 2. Difficult to read because of publishing errors--material repeated many times. The story line was drawn out and then finished quickly. It could have been a good book. Rating 2
April 24, 2016
A strange book about a very disturbing family. I was confused sometimes about references to people--I couldn't remember who that person was. It eventually came together.
July 20, 2017
Not the greatest writing, but an intriguing story! Love Southern Gothic....!!!!
April 21, 2019
Yep, definitely a “Southern Gothic Yarn”. Very suspenseful. Interesting characters. Could have used a bit more editing. Liked the ending. A solidly ok read.
Read
March 20, 2017This book was ok. Very long in some parts - the beginning was tough to get through - once I got half way done, it was more captivating.
June 13, 2016
TANGLED. DeCe’s secrets are unimaginable! Unthinkable! She has debilitating depression and haunting dreams. No motivation and is withdrawaling from everything. Her childhood was dysfunctional, and now her life is erratic. The only way of survival is to put mechanisms in place deflecting all her hurt and pain. What goes around eventually comes back around and the generations of this family have continuously repeated bad habits. DeCe’s daughter Nettie, feels an obligation to care for her mother and family. Yet, all she really wants is find answers to DeCe’s horrible past. Nettie is not prepared for all the hurt and pain her mother is carrying. She is trying desperately to develop a connection with her mother before her unstable acts became destructive. Nettie refuses to fall into the dysfunctional patterns of her of her families past. She becomes hopeful about college and moving out of the house, but the hidden secrets her mother holds keeps is holding her back. We find Nettie in a circumstance many young people encounter when caring for a family member or choosing a future. TANGLED includes several different topics of society and personal choices. The characters each have a deep connection and purpose in DeCe’s life. The end is not the really the end! These are the only truths spoken! DeCe is left considering rehabilitation for the first time. Nettie is withholds critical information about her family and it’s past. Should she squeal, and upset the town? Who knows! The plot continues throughout the storyline to add shocking events. Things you would never imagine. Then it spins again. We are left feeling compassion for DeCe, and her decisions. I joyfully accepted this book in exchange for an honest review. Rating it 4 out of 5 stars. It would be interesting to have a possible sequel, unveiling the hidden secrets. Kris
May 11, 2016
I almost gave up on this book several times due to the poor grammar, confusing text, and frequent duplication of text. That being said, I'm glad I didn't because it was a very entertaining read. Although it was on the dark side with death everywhere, depression, and negativity, it was not very graphic, and there was a positive side to it. In fact, the main character was a beacon of positive energy amidst all of the darkness.
The characters were well-developed, except for the believability of one that I will not name because it would be a spoiler alert. There are many twists and turns that kept my interest.
As for the poor editing, I reached out to the author because, reading that she had an experienced copy editor, it appeared she may have published the unedited version of her book, and I hoped she would be able to publish a revised edition for her sake and that of the future readers. She claimed all responsibility for that as she is in the process of learning the self-publishing process. That being said, I look forward to reading more of Ms. Moore's books.
The characters were well-developed, except for the believability of one that I will not name because it would be a spoiler alert. There are many twists and turns that kept my interest.
As for the poor editing, I reached out to the author because, reading that she had an experienced copy editor, it appeared she may have published the unedited version of her book, and I hoped she would be able to publish a revised edition for her sake and that of the future readers. She claimed all responsibility for that as she is in the process of learning the self-publishing process. That being said, I look forward to reading more of Ms. Moore's books.
August 4, 2016
Inner demons
Life for Nettie and her outlook on life is distorted by the haunting realities that lie in the past. Unable to surmount the unknown turmoil the past seems to provide,her struggle for clarity and ability to seek her goals is fought with the grim determination that has allowed her to carry on for so many of her young years. As she begins to learn her past ,will she find the strength to commit to a future? PS.This book has several editing errors.portions of text are repeated. Please have the fortitude to push past the errors,as the meat of the story is sound,and the book a good read.
Life for Nettie and her outlook on life is distorted by the haunting realities that lie in the past. Unable to surmount the unknown turmoil the past seems to provide,her struggle for clarity and ability to seek her goals is fought with the grim determination that has allowed her to carry on for so many of her young years. As she begins to learn her past ,will she find the strength to commit to a future? PS.This book has several editing errors.portions of text are repeated. Please have the fortitude to push past the errors,as the meat of the story is sound,and the book a good read.
June 7, 2016
This was not an easy book to read
This book is about a horribly dysfunctional family--probably the worst I've ever read about. It's good that the author claims it is total fiction. It is well written, but needs a lot of editing. There are several sets of duplicate pages that repeat themselves. In some cases it seems to be close to whole chapters or at least whole sections of chapters. There is also a lot of R-rated language. I can't in all honesty recommend this as a fascinating read.
This book is about a horribly dysfunctional family--probably the worst I've ever read about. It's good that the author claims it is total fiction. It is well written, but needs a lot of editing. There are several sets of duplicate pages that repeat themselves. In some cases it seems to be close to whole chapters or at least whole sections of chapters. There is also a lot of R-rated language. I can't in all honesty recommend this as a fascinating read.
May 2, 2016
Amazing
This is one of the best written books I have read in a long time. Well written, engaging, enthralling, and more. The characters are well fleshed out and the storyline is presented in a way that keeps you tuning the page. I will gladly re-read this book as it has become one of my "favorite classics". Well done!
This is one of the best written books I have read in a long time. Well written, engaging, enthralling, and more. The characters are well fleshed out and the storyline is presented in a way that keeps you tuning the page. I will gladly re-read this book as it has become one of my "favorite classics". Well done!
April 19, 2016
I give up. Per my kindle I am 30% done with this book and nothing has happened yet. The entire book has thus far been describing the past of each of the characters, none of which have been interesting. It is very rare for me not to finish a book, but I am deleting this tonight. So glad I got it for free.
August 9, 2016
Tangled yarn is correct
I wanted to like this book and the characters, but I found both to be rather dreary and somewhat pointless. While Nettie appears to have risen above her upbringing and circumstances, which is admirable, everyday of her life seems to be consumed with her family's past to the point she doesn't really live her life.
I wanted to like this book and the characters, but I found both to be rather dreary and somewhat pointless. While Nettie appears to have risen above her upbringing and circumstances, which is admirable, everyday of her life seems to be consumed with her family's past to the point she doesn't really live her life.
May 31, 2016
You never what was coming from one page to the next!
I couldn't put this book down. Couldn't wait to see what happened next. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good puzzle and excellent writing.
I couldn't put this book down. Couldn't wait to see what happened next. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good puzzle and excellent writing.
August 5, 2016
Tails from the darkside
I enjoyed reading this story. Recommend it for a summer read. There were times the characters were confusing, so many of them, part and present. Every thing is tidied up in the end.
I enjoyed reading this story. Recommend it for a summer read. There were times the characters were confusing, so many of them, part and present. Every thing is tidied up in the end.
October 19, 2017
A nice read to loose yourself in
Not predictable at all. The physical book has issues with the repeat of sections but the story is worth the extra effort
Not predictable at all. The physical book has issues with the repeat of sections but the story is worth the extra effort
April 24, 2016
3 1/2 stars
Read
November 27, 2016No comment on the story, but the work needs some serious editing.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews