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The River Widow
From the bestselling author of The Whiskey Sea comes a stirring novel of a young woman’s survival and liberation during the Great Depression.
In 1937, with flood waters approaching, Adah Branch accidentally kills her abusive husband, Lester, and surrenders his body to the raging river, only to be swept away herself.
So begins her story of survival, return to civilization, defense against accusations of murder, and the fight to save herself and her stepdaughter, Daisy, from the clutches of her husband’s notoriously cruel family, who have their sights set on revenge for Lester’s death. Essentially trapped, Adah must plan an escape.
But when she develops feelings for the one person essential to her plan’s success, she faces a painful choice: Will she choose to risk everything saving Daisy or take the new life offered by a loving man?
In 1937, with flood waters approaching, Adah Branch accidentally kills her abusive husband, Lester, and surrenders his body to the raging river, only to be swept away herself.
So begins her story of survival, return to civilization, defense against accusations of murder, and the fight to save herself and her stepdaughter, Daisy, from the clutches of her husband’s notoriously cruel family, who have their sights set on revenge for Lester’s death. Essentially trapped, Adah must plan an escape.
But when she develops feelings for the one person essential to her plan’s success, she faces a painful choice: Will she choose to risk everything saving Daisy or take the new life offered by a loving man?
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2018
3928 people are currently reading
6709 people want to read
About the author
Ann Howard Creel
16 books485 followersAnn Howard Creel writes guaranteed heart-wrenching historical fiction. In her novels, strong female characters face unforeseen obstacles and then have to make life-changing decisions.
After first writing for children, she turned her attention to Historical Fiction. Her first novel for adults, THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS, was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie on CBS. Her recent titles have been Kindle bestsellers and include WHILE YOU WERE MINE, THE WHISKEY SEA, THE UNCERTAIN SEASON, THE RIVER WIDOW, and MERCY ROAD.
She now writes full-time. Ann's main characters are always strong women facing high-stakes situations and having to make life-changing decisions. Her historical settings have ranged from Victorian-era Galveston to World War II in New York City. Her latest novel, A LIFE CAME CALLING, coming in August 2025, takes readers to the Smoky Mountains near the end of World War II.
WHY I WRITE ABOUT WORLD WAR II
My biggest inspiration has been my parents, who lived the war. Due to the courage and unity of their time, they have been called "the greatest generation," and WWII has also been called "the last good war."
After first writing for children, she turned her attention to Historical Fiction. Her first novel for adults, THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS, was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie on CBS. Her recent titles have been Kindle bestsellers and include WHILE YOU WERE MINE, THE WHISKEY SEA, THE UNCERTAIN SEASON, THE RIVER WIDOW, and MERCY ROAD.
She now writes full-time. Ann's main characters are always strong women facing high-stakes situations and having to make life-changing decisions. Her historical settings have ranged from Victorian-era Galveston to World War II in New York City. Her latest novel, A LIFE CAME CALLING, coming in August 2025, takes readers to the Smoky Mountains near the end of World War II.
WHY I WRITE ABOUT WORLD WAR II
My biggest inspiration has been my parents, who lived the war. Due to the courage and unity of their time, they have been called "the greatest generation," and WWII has also been called "the last good war."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 441 reviews
November 11, 2018
I picked The River Widow as my November Kindle first book because it was marked in the historical fiction genre (which is one of my favs)...sadly, this book disappointed me. It was filled with suspense, which I normally enjoy, but this story made me uncomfortable and angry. And some of it felt too rushed and unrealistic (romance development)...and there were times when the dialogue was overly cheesy - I literally said out loud, “gross. Did he really just say that?” Overall, it was a quick read and I kept turning the pages out of genuine intrigue, but felt let down.
February 5, 2019
Okay.
It was between 3 stars and 4 stars. Few reasons for 3 stars:
-) repetitive
-) with the main character background it seems odd that she would be so in shock of her in-law's behavior.
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It was between 3 stars and 4 stars. Few reasons for 3 stars:
-) repetitive
-) with the main character background it seems odd that she would be so in shock of her in-law's behavior.
🇺🇸🐾
November 14, 2018
This book had a lot of promise, but it fell flat for me. The characters were all confused. Their character traits and original personalities were abandoned to fit the narrative of the story. The author left nothing to the imagination, spelling out every detail, including Adah's every inner thought--which all happened to be in the form of questions, for some reason. What was up with that? There were literally paragraphs full of obvious questions that were bouncing around Adah's head. Those series of questions were the most annoying part of the entire book for me. Implausible plans were hatched and abandoned throughout the book, ignoring obvious simple solutions to Adah's situation. Instead of having some of the characters provide input to their actions, we had to suffer through Adah's wild assumptions. And I'm sorry, but Jack's statements of Adah's beauty ("your hair is chocolate", "your neck is white cake" ?? What was that supposed to be? Certainly not romantic!) The whole plot about the title of the farm transferring to Buck was a lazy (and unlikely) way of dismissing that part of the story. This was one of those books that I just wanted to finish so I could end the misery. I would not recommend this book.
November 1, 2018
River Widow and so much more
Normally my pick of the Kindle First books would be the thriller or the suspense choice, but being I had read Ann Howard Creel before -I went with the historical fiction choice. The book I had read before was While You Were Mine, and I enjoyed it immensely.
This book is set in time during the Great Depression- the main character Adah had a very hard life from her early teens, but yet she just persevered and made the best life she could. She met her husband while reading Tarot cards, it's rather ironic that she didn't see him for what he was - a wife beater. In the midst of a flood, he beats her-she strikes back and he dies. She gets rid of the body, nearly losing her own life.
Adah's in-laws are evil people, she has no choice but to live with them and try to find some kind of life for herself and her step-daughter. I won't inject spoilers, I do think this book is an accurate portrayal of the times. It isn't a feel good book, but it is a good read.
Normally my pick of the Kindle First books would be the thriller or the suspense choice, but being I had read Ann Howard Creel before -I went with the historical fiction choice. The book I had read before was While You Were Mine, and I enjoyed it immensely.
This book is set in time during the Great Depression- the main character Adah had a very hard life from her early teens, but yet she just persevered and made the best life she could. She met her husband while reading Tarot cards, it's rather ironic that she didn't see him for what he was - a wife beater. In the midst of a flood, he beats her-she strikes back and he dies. She gets rid of the body, nearly losing her own life.
Adah's in-laws are evil people, she has no choice but to live with them and try to find some kind of life for herself and her step-daughter. I won't inject spoilers, I do think this book is an accurate portrayal of the times. It isn't a feel good book, but it is a good read.
March 17, 2021
"The problem with still, dark nights was their witchy emptiness, which allowed all manner of fears to form and grow."
Some lovely lines in here...
Some lovely lines in here...
December 20, 2018
The Branch family are all bullies, liars and cheats, and Adah Branch, wife of Lester, had been beaten, kicked, bruised and bloodied by his hand. It’s early 20th century in Paducah, Ky, and the area flooded. Lester went missing, and Adah herself was swallowed up by the flood waters. After she was able to find a way out of the river, she faced being accused of murdering Lester by Buck Branch the patriarch. She and her stepdaughter Daisy, were held prisoners in Hell.
The author has penned a powerful story of fear and repression and a woman’s fight to keep what is hers. Ann Howard Creel has created another excellent work, and I am happy to have discovered her craft. Highly recommended.
The author has penned a powerful story of fear and repression and a woman’s fight to keep what is hers. Ann Howard Creel has created another excellent work, and I am happy to have discovered her craft. Highly recommended.
January 29, 2019
3.5
"Over the course of her life, she had learned that people could hold inside the brightest peaks and the darkest pits, and there were those who straddled the break--half of them drawn to evil, half drawn to beauty. Those people could step from one side to the other and back again as if the line were as thin as a hair. Her husband had been one of those people. Was she one of them, too?" from The River Widow by Anne Howard Creel
In 1937 Paducah, KY as the Ohio River was flooding, Adah's husband Lester once again lost his temper and began to beat her. In desperation, Adah grabbed a nearby shovel and lashed out at Lester, striking him in the head.
Horrified by what she had done, she dragged his body to the raging river, desperately hoping it would carry away the evidence of her crime.
Adah's guilt is heavy, but she has the motivation to carry on. She loves Daisy, Lester's daughter from his first marriage. Lester's family insist that Daisy and Adah stay with them.
The Branch clan is feared for their violence and imperious disregard for decency and the law. They suspect there is more to the story of Lester's death. Adah works on the tobacco farm like an indentured servant and hires herself out to do laundry to add to the family's income. She is unable to protect Daisy from the harsh punishments and rough treatment meted out by her father's kinfolk, but at least she can comfort and love the child.
As the months go by, Adah struggles with one question: how can she get Daisy out of the Branch family's clutches? In the meantime, she learns more about Lester and his family--and meets a man who offers her an alternate future.
The River Widow by Anne Howard Creel has an almost Gothic atmosphere, the story of a woman isolated and held against her will, powerless and unprotected. The bulk of the novel is psychological and internal. The suspense comes not in action as much as through emotion and insight. At times I was reminded of Jane Austen's character Fanny from Mansfield Park, a girl completely dependent, suffering, without any power for self-determination, but with a moral clarity that sets her apart.
I thank the author for a copy of her book and other gifts, a win through the American Historical Novels Facebook Group.
"Over the course of her life, she had learned that people could hold inside the brightest peaks and the darkest pits, and there were those who straddled the break--half of them drawn to evil, half drawn to beauty. Those people could step from one side to the other and back again as if the line were as thin as a hair. Her husband had been one of those people. Was she one of them, too?" from The River Widow by Anne Howard Creel
In 1937 Paducah, KY as the Ohio River was flooding, Adah's husband Lester once again lost his temper and began to beat her. In desperation, Adah grabbed a nearby shovel and lashed out at Lester, striking him in the head.
Horrified by what she had done, she dragged his body to the raging river, desperately hoping it would carry away the evidence of her crime.
Adah's guilt is heavy, but she has the motivation to carry on. She loves Daisy, Lester's daughter from his first marriage. Lester's family insist that Daisy and Adah stay with them.
The Branch clan is feared for their violence and imperious disregard for decency and the law. They suspect there is more to the story of Lester's death. Adah works on the tobacco farm like an indentured servant and hires herself out to do laundry to add to the family's income. She is unable to protect Daisy from the harsh punishments and rough treatment meted out by her father's kinfolk, but at least she can comfort and love the child.
As the months go by, Adah struggles with one question: how can she get Daisy out of the Branch family's clutches? In the meantime, she learns more about Lester and his family--and meets a man who offers her an alternate future.
The River Widow by Anne Howard Creel has an almost Gothic atmosphere, the story of a woman isolated and held against her will, powerless and unprotected. The bulk of the novel is psychological and internal. The suspense comes not in action as much as through emotion and insight. At times I was reminded of Jane Austen's character Fanny from Mansfield Park, a girl completely dependent, suffering, without any power for self-determination, but with a moral clarity that sets her apart.
I thank the author for a copy of her book and other gifts, a win through the American Historical Novels Facebook Group.
January 24, 2019
Tarot card reader, Adah, chooses a better life for herself with Les, a widowed rancher with a young daughter Daisy to raise. Too bad that it didn't turn out that way-- her husband was a mean, abusive cuss, who beat her. When the floods came he flew into a rage because she brought their daughter's doll when they escaped-- Adah fought back with a nearby shovel-- that changed everything in her life. She hit him and he died-- This is not a spoiler, since it is revealed on the back cover! What unfolds is Adah's struggle with his suspicious family, the police, and a handsome stranger who offers her something she's never had-- security and love. But the discovery of Les's dead wife's letters brings Adah the key to a brighter future, which come with an impossible choice.
River Widow is a great mystery, adventure, and beautiful love story.
River Widow is a great mystery, adventure, and beautiful love story.
March 27, 2019
beautiful cover. interesting premise but i was disappointed.
it fell flat for me b/c it got a little repetitive.
I felt like i was slugging thru the marshes looking for the few flowers that grow in b/w the weeds.
there were a few spots of good writing but it got bogged down & moved too slow. and once i figured out the family secret/mystery, i got bored.
also, alot of the characters weren't nice so it was hard to read about their treatment of Adah.
while the ending was justified, it didn't have enough closure for me.
i did like that it was a historical taking place during the depression which isn't something you see often.
it fell flat for me b/c it got a little repetitive.
I felt like i was slugging thru the marshes looking for the few flowers that grow in b/w the weeds.
there were a few spots of good writing but it got bogged down & moved too slow. and once i figured out the family secret/mystery, i got bored.
also, alot of the characters weren't nice so it was hard to read about their treatment of Adah.
while the ending was justified, it didn't have enough closure for me.
i did like that it was a historical taking place during the depression which isn't something you see often.
March 2, 2021
Ahhh, what a romance! I truly loved this beautiful book by Ann Howard Creel. It has to be 4 shiny stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Come live with me and be my love.” ~ P179
“Your skin is vanilla.” ~ P212
“She spotted a single pure-white feather on the ground, picked it up carefully and slipped it into her pocket.” ~ P191
“Come live with me and be my love.” ~ P179
“Your skin is vanilla.” ~ P212
“She spotted a single pure-white feather on the ground, picked it up carefully and slipped it into her pocket.” ~ P191
December 5, 2019
This book was like a well of darkness. Adah and Les are trying to save livestock and belongings from their home while it is raining and the river is flooding. Les is abusive and even though they are in a precarious situation, Les still finds some time to start beating the snot out of her. But today, Adah can't stand it. She picks up a shovel and kills him. That was not her intention, but she throws his body in the river. She wants to make a run for it, but there's a step-daughter that she wants to reclaim from the in-laws. And they suspect foul play.
This book sounded so intriguing. I had never heard of it, read the back and was hooked. And from page 1, I just wanted it to be over. You don't realize that even in books full of darkness, you can cling to those lighter and happier moments. And there was none. Even when Adah meets another man and starts a romantic relationship with him, it's just clouded in sadness.
It was a well written cloud of sadness, so it gets a couple of stars, but jeez.
This book sounded so intriguing. I had never heard of it, read the back and was hooked. And from page 1, I just wanted it to be over. You don't realize that even in books full of darkness, you can cling to those lighter and happier moments. And there was none. Even when Adah meets another man and starts a romantic relationship with him, it's just clouded in sadness.
It was a well written cloud of sadness, so it gets a couple of stars, but jeez.
October 2, 2019
This writing was really pretty bad. Adah's inner monologues were super repetitive to the point I thought I was re-reading a page unintentionally. The dialogue was rough, and the parts that were supposed to be super poetic between Adah and Jack were just creepy.
The story did hold my interest towards the end, but the end was so disappointing, I can't even give the author points for that. It wasn't a tragic and beautiful ending, it was unnecessary and completely avoidable. She could have had both happy endings, but the author made it sound like she could only have one. Obviously, she wanted to make for better drama. I understand not wanting everything to always work out; because, to be honest, that's just life. However, don't give the characters completely reasonable solutions that they ignore. Now I think Adah is a dolt.
Overall, it was pretty lame. I wish I didn't waste my time on something I thought would be more satisfying.
The story did hold my interest towards the end, but the end was so disappointing, I can't even give the author points for that. It wasn't a tragic and beautiful ending, it was unnecessary and completely avoidable. She could have had both happy endings, but the author made it sound like she could only have one. Obviously, she wanted to make for better drama. I understand not wanting everything to always work out; because, to be honest, that's just life. However, don't give the characters completely reasonable solutions that they ignore. Now I think Adah is a dolt.
Overall, it was pretty lame. I wish I didn't waste my time on something I thought would be more satisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2019
The River Widow by Ann Howard Creel is a book I was interested to read. Spoilers follow
Ann Howard Creel writes a beautiful descriptive narrative, so pointed that I could feel the cold and rain. I felt the anguish of losing a cherished quilt, and the desperation of fighting through a flood, finding dubious safety, and waiting for rescue.
I liked that Adah Branch started as an intelligent woman making her way through unfortunate circumstances during the depression, with an attitude of looking forward to the future, while remembering her sad past. She acknowledged the tragedies of her childhood, but she took strength in focusing on the people who helped her and shaped her character. I love that we have a strong female character who doesn't need rescuing, not really, except when she actually DOES... after the flood and she's stranded on the roof of a barn. She is careful, considerate, smart, and a little lucky sometimes.
After the flood, and her husband's death, she is taken in by her in-laws, the EVIL BRANCHES, who apparently run their own four person mafia in the town of Paducah, Kentucky. These people are evil incarnate, and we never learn why.
Mabel and her husband, whose name I cannot remember at all, are cruel vicious people, with no regard for anyone, except family...oh, and their granddaughter Daisy, who somehow doesn't qualify. They are blamed for their younger son, Lester's, tendency to abuse his wife and daughter. Their older son, Jesse, dirty and unkempt, is just as vile and vicious, yet hasn't married. The Branches are notorious for taking revenge for the slightest offense, cheating partners out of business deals, and generally being THE WORST people ever. Everyone hates them so much in this small town that only two people bring casseroles when Lester is killed "in the flood".
Adah is forced to move in with her step-daughter, Daisy, and becomes a virtual slave, except she can't help in the kitchen. (??? This is where I started wondering)
Creel tells this story with crisp inner monologue, in the form of Adah mulling over and wondering about anything and everything, but lying low, because she has nowhere else to go. The questions. I began to wonder just what percentage of sentences were questions...then I realized, they all are. But they are never addressed or answered. We have no idea just why the Branches hate their granddaughter, or why they are so cruel, or why they get away with it time and time and time again, even though everyone knows.
Then we meet Jack. Love interest. Her neck is cake, and he wants to sop her up like a biscuit. Not the worst love dialogue written in 2018 at all, but we don't really get to understand him well either, beyond the fact of his existence, and desire for cake.
Adah begins to form a plan for escape, but then Jack proposes, then she does escape, deciding that she has to rescue Daisy, the daughter she has grown to love dearly, leaving Jack behind for reasons unknown. Why couldn't he follow? Was his foot nailed to the floor?
In the end, Adah and Daisy are headed for a new life in California, leaving everything behind. We never discover any possible repercussions to her actions.
I felt unsatisfied at the story untold, but I did appreciate a woman not afraid to struggle to do what she knew was right for herself.
Ann Howard Creel writes a beautiful descriptive narrative, so pointed that I could feel the cold and rain. I felt the anguish of losing a cherished quilt, and the desperation of fighting through a flood, finding dubious safety, and waiting for rescue.
I liked that Adah Branch started as an intelligent woman making her way through unfortunate circumstances during the depression, with an attitude of looking forward to the future, while remembering her sad past. She acknowledged the tragedies of her childhood, but she took strength in focusing on the people who helped her and shaped her character. I love that we have a strong female character who doesn't need rescuing, not really, except when she actually DOES... after the flood and she's stranded on the roof of a barn. She is careful, considerate, smart, and a little lucky sometimes.
After the flood, and her husband's death, she is taken in by her in-laws, the EVIL BRANCHES, who apparently run their own four person mafia in the town of Paducah, Kentucky. These people are evil incarnate, and we never learn why.
Mabel and her husband, whose name I cannot remember at all, are cruel vicious people, with no regard for anyone, except family...oh, and their granddaughter Daisy, who somehow doesn't qualify. They are blamed for their younger son, Lester's, tendency to abuse his wife and daughter. Their older son, Jesse, dirty and unkempt, is just as vile and vicious, yet hasn't married. The Branches are notorious for taking revenge for the slightest offense, cheating partners out of business deals, and generally being THE WORST people ever. Everyone hates them so much in this small town that only two people bring casseroles when Lester is killed "in the flood".
Adah is forced to move in with her step-daughter, Daisy, and becomes a virtual slave, except she can't help in the kitchen. (??? This is where I started wondering)
Creel tells this story with crisp inner monologue, in the form of Adah mulling over and wondering about anything and everything, but lying low, because she has nowhere else to go. The questions. I began to wonder just what percentage of sentences were questions...then I realized, they all are. But they are never addressed or answered. We have no idea just why the Branches hate their granddaughter, or why they are so cruel, or why they get away with it time and time and time again, even though everyone knows.
Then we meet Jack. Love interest. Her neck is cake, and he wants to sop her up like a biscuit. Not the worst love dialogue written in 2018 at all, but we don't really get to understand him well either, beyond the fact of his existence, and desire for cake.
Adah begins to form a plan for escape, but then Jack proposes, then she does escape, deciding that she has to rescue Daisy, the daughter she has grown to love dearly, leaving Jack behind for reasons unknown. Why couldn't he follow? Was his foot nailed to the floor?
In the end, Adah and Daisy are headed for a new life in California, leaving everything behind. We never discover any possible repercussions to her actions.
I felt unsatisfied at the story untold, but I did appreciate a woman not afraid to struggle to do what she knew was right for herself.
January 31, 2019
The River Widow was so sad and depressing. Imagine killing your abusive husband and letting his body wash away in a flooding river. Rid of him at last, but wait. Now, you are forced to live with his horrible abusive family for the sake of your stepdaughter. It's such a no win situation. The story felt full of despair. It's not the story itself, it's just my feelings about it.It's a great piece of historical fiction. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2018
"The River Widow" takes place in depression-era Kentucky and opens with the 1937 Ohio River Valley flood. As they try to escape the rising waters, Adah is once again beaten by her husband Lester. In self defense, she hits him with a shovel and inadvertently kills him. Homeless and at the mercy of her cruel, controlling, manipulative in-laws, Adah cares for her young step-daughter, Daisy, the best she can while trying to find a way out for both of them. The book explores themes of fear and guilt as the result of repeated abuse; I was intrigued by the story and wanted to find out what happens in the end. However, it was difficult at times, to get there. I found some of the dialogue rather cheesy especially that of Jack, one of the folks Adah turns to for help and who becomes a romantic interest. I also didn't think Daisy's character was very well developed. She is a central figure in Adah's life and the main reason Adah wants to escape, yet I finished the book feeling like, other than her dysfunctional circumstances, I didn't know anything about Daisy. I would have liked the author to develop Daisy's relationship with Adah on a deeper level. Even Adah’s new love interest didn’t add to the depth of either character. Although many of the characters in "The River Widow" are not very likable, I would have enjoyed the book more had there been more substance to them, likable or not.
November 22, 2018
“The River Widow” by Ann Howard Creel is about a woman during the depression era living with an abusive husband and his very young daughter. A flood of biblical proportions changes the direction of Adah’s life drastically as her life becomes a living nightmare when she desperately tries to save her life and that Of her step daughter’s. Also, this book illustrates what abuse can look like and how far women have come as far as legal rights and protections.
November 5, 2018
Got this one as a November kindle “first read” and could not put it down. So glad I stayed up late to finish it!
February 14, 2019
GAb Adah found herself orphaned at 13 years of age by the 1918/1919 flu epidemic. Her only living relative couldn't or wouldn't take her in, but turned her over to Father Sparrow at Saint Mark's Church in the Bowery in New York City. Adah spent a year studying under Father Sparrow and developed a love for books before Father Sparrow passed away, and fairly soon thereafter she gave up on the foster system and lived among thousands of other young rootless children who worked and slept and wandered the streets of NYC. She learned how to jump trains from a couple of brothers, and found herself enamored of the green verdant lands and waters of Kentucky. In Louisville she settled among some carnival folk and her friend Jessamine encouraged Adah to finished her high school education, and taught her to read tarot cards as a means to an itinerant income before she, too, dies.
Adah marries into the clannish and egomaniacal Branch family when she takes on handsome widower Lester Branch and his baby daughter Dolly. Three and a half abusive years later, the 1937 flood of the Ohio River washes through Kentucky. Adah and Lester have dropped daughter Daisy off at his parent's farm and returned to their riverside farm to save what they can before flood waters take the house and barn. The second punch to the face that day was one too many - for the first time Adah grabs something - anything - a handy shovel - to protect herself and accidentally kills Lester. Adah knows that Daisy would be parentless at four years old if she admits to the murder of her husband, even with self-defense as a defense. In an attempt to drag Lester into the flooding river as a means of covering her crime, she too is sucked into the stream, and Adah gave herself up to what she considered to be just punishment. But the will to live was stronger than her guilt. That will, and some astonishingly good luck, saw her drag herself from the flood and atop a barn where she was eventually rescued and returned to the family Branch.
She might have been better off had she drowned and was carried down the Ohio alongside her dead husband. It turns out Lester was the best of the Branches....
Amazon First Reads
Pub date Dec 1, 2018
Lake Union Publishing
Adah marries into the clannish and egomaniacal Branch family when she takes on handsome widower Lester Branch and his baby daughter Dolly. Three and a half abusive years later, the 1937 flood of the Ohio River washes through Kentucky. Adah and Lester have dropped daughter Daisy off at his parent's farm and returned to their riverside farm to save what they can before flood waters take the house and barn. The second punch to the face that day was one too many - for the first time Adah grabs something - anything - a handy shovel - to protect herself and accidentally kills Lester. Adah knows that Daisy would be parentless at four years old if she admits to the murder of her husband, even with self-defense as a defense. In an attempt to drag Lester into the flooding river as a means of covering her crime, she too is sucked into the stream, and Adah gave herself up to what she considered to be just punishment. But the will to live was stronger than her guilt. That will, and some astonishingly good luck, saw her drag herself from the flood and atop a barn where she was eventually rescued and returned to the family Branch.
She might have been better off had she drowned and was carried down the Ohio alongside her dead husband. It turns out Lester was the best of the Branches....
Amazon First Reads
Pub date Dec 1, 2018
Lake Union Publishing
December 6, 2018
A frustrating book. I’m giving it three stars for a really clever concept, but it ultimately fell flat. The characters waffled back and forth between one-dimensional and confusing. The ending felt rushed and was very disappointing. And Jack’s dialogue! Oh my word. He talked about Adam like she was a dessert bar, not the love of his life. Two and a half stars.
November 17, 2018
I received this book from Book Sparks for honest review.
This book will keep you up reading long past your bedtime! It has a gripping plot and page-turning suspense…but that's about all. And it's such a shame! The characters are so one-dimensional that it actually becomes a drag on the book. The bad people are so bad it's almost not believable, and the good people are so good, they don't feel authentic.
The story opens in 1937 on a farm in Paducah, Kentucky as what is now known as the Great Flood submerges the land. Lester Branch, who has a habit of viciously beating his wife, Adah, is at it again—even as the water from the Ohio River is rising and threatening everything they own. Adah does something she has never done before: She fights back. And Lester is dead. She pushes his body into the rising river and in so doing she is also washed away. This is not a spoiler. This all happens on the first few pages and is the beginning of Adah's tale of survival in a family that despises her and hopes to utterly destroy her. Adah's only beam of hope and love is in little Daisy, Lester's four-year-old daughter born to his first wife. Daisy thinks of Adah as her mama, and Adah is laser-focused on saving Daisy from her hateful, vindictive and physically-abusive family. And then true love enters Adah's life, changing everything.
Author Ann Howard Creel has written a tale that is indeed spellbinding, which is why I have given it four stars instead of three stars, but also it is such a disappointment. Almost every chapter has several paragraphs or even pages that do nothing but meaninglessly stretch out the story and add nothing to the plot or characters' development.
The ending is bittersweet; that is, it is not altogether happy. That said, the way is clear to a sequel; in fact, it is so clear that I would be shocked if there isn't one!
I highly recommend everybody read this.
This book will keep you up reading long past your bedtime! It has a gripping plot and page-turning suspense…but that's about all. And it's such a shame! The characters are so one-dimensional that it actually becomes a drag on the book. The bad people are so bad it's almost not believable, and the good people are so good, they don't feel authentic.
The story opens in 1937 on a farm in Paducah, Kentucky as what is now known as the Great Flood submerges the land. Lester Branch, who has a habit of viciously beating his wife, Adah, is at it again—even as the water from the Ohio River is rising and threatening everything they own. Adah does something she has never done before: She fights back. And Lester is dead. She pushes his body into the rising river and in so doing she is also washed away. This is not a spoiler. This all happens on the first few pages and is the beginning of Adah's tale of survival in a family that despises her and hopes to utterly destroy her. Adah's only beam of hope and love is in little Daisy, Lester's four-year-old daughter born to his first wife. Daisy thinks of Adah as her mama, and Adah is laser-focused on saving Daisy from her hateful, vindictive and physically-abusive family. And then true love enters Adah's life, changing everything.
Author Ann Howard Creel has written a tale that is indeed spellbinding, which is why I have given it four stars instead of three stars, but also it is such a disappointment. Almost every chapter has several paragraphs or even pages that do nothing but meaninglessly stretch out the story and add nothing to the plot or characters' development.
The ending is bittersweet; that is, it is not altogether happy. That said, the way is clear to a sequel; in fact, it is so clear that I would be shocked if there isn't one!
I highly recommend everybody read this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2019
Amazing plot
I loved this book. it takes place in 1937 depression era. While trying to save their possessions from a raging flood that is threatening the whole town, Adah accidentally kills her abusive husband. While trying to push his body in the raging river, she gets swept away. What follows is a fight for survival in this extremely well written story about the desperate love a Adah has for her 4 year old step child and the extreme means she will go through to be with her and save her from her abusive in laws.
The characters....I didn't like the in laws who were well written mean people. Adah seemed conflicted. She could have walked away and left the child but I think her own past demons made her stay and fight for her. I loved her character and how The author wrote her story.
.The plot was well thought out and kept me guessing what was going to happen.
I dove into this story and could not put it down! In fact I pulled an all nighter reading it. It it's a 5 star rating from me because of the way it pulled at my heart.
I loved this book. it takes place in 1937 depression era. While trying to save their possessions from a raging flood that is threatening the whole town, Adah accidentally kills her abusive husband. While trying to push his body in the raging river, she gets swept away. What follows is a fight for survival in this extremely well written story about the desperate love a Adah has for her 4 year old step child and the extreme means she will go through to be with her and save her from her abusive in laws.
The characters....I didn't like the in laws who were well written mean people. Adah seemed conflicted. She could have walked away and left the child but I think her own past demons made her stay and fight for her. I loved her character and how The author wrote her story.
.The plot was well thought out and kept me guessing what was going to happen.
I dove into this story and could not put it down! In fact I pulled an all nighter reading it. It it's a 5 star rating from me because of the way it pulled at my heart.
November 1, 2018
Rating: 3.5/5
During the Great Depression, there is a massive flood in Ohio. While attempting to retrieve items from her house, Adah kills her husband in self-defense. Adah attempts to cover up the crime by taking her husbands body to the river and let it float away. Adah ends up in the river herself and is swept away until rescued by local farmers.
Adah moves in with her in-laws who are long time locals that other townspeople avoid because of their reputation. Adah's husband had a daughter that she raised since the girl was 6 months old. Adah does not want to live with her in-laws, but she knows that she has no legal rights to her step-daughter and does not want to leave her behind.
The story-line was a bit predicable, however the writing was easy and enjoyable. I felt like the writing and conversation was historically accurate for the time. If I were to rate the book solely on writing, I would rate it 4/5.
The ending of the book seemed a little absurd. I am not sure that I felt like the options that Adah debated and chose were the most realistic. That is the overall reason that I gave the overall book a 3.5/5.
Thank you to Book Sparks for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
During the Great Depression, there is a massive flood in Ohio. While attempting to retrieve items from her house, Adah kills her husband in self-defense. Adah attempts to cover up the crime by taking her husbands body to the river and let it float away. Adah ends up in the river herself and is swept away until rescued by local farmers.
Adah moves in with her in-laws who are long time locals that other townspeople avoid because of their reputation. Adah's husband had a daughter that she raised since the girl was 6 months old. Adah does not want to live with her in-laws, but she knows that she has no legal rights to her step-daughter and does not want to leave her behind.
The story-line was a bit predicable, however the writing was easy and enjoyable. I felt like the writing and conversation was historically accurate for the time. If I were to rate the book solely on writing, I would rate it 4/5.
The ending of the book seemed a little absurd. I am not sure that I felt like the options that Adah debated and chose were the most realistic. That is the overall reason that I gave the overall book a 3.5/5.
Thank you to Book Sparks for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2018
Well.. yup!! It was another fabulous read by Ann Howard Creel. One of those stories where family isn’t about blood but more about love and sacrifices. Powerful and full of suspense! The book is set during and after the Ohio River Flood Of 1937 super interesting time period and event!
Flashback from a few days ago when I said 🥰 “I’ve been listening to a wonderful audiobook. It’s my second book by Ann Howard Creel.. and she is truly an artist. I adore her writing style. Her character development is always so strong! I think it’s her forte! I’m a little less than halfway done with it, but I can say pretty confidently that this is a five star read.”
Well, I was correct! it’s a FIVER
Flashback from a few days ago when I said 🥰 “I’ve been listening to a wonderful audiobook. It’s my second book by Ann Howard Creel.. and she is truly an artist. I adore her writing style. Her character development is always so strong! I think it’s her forte! I’m a little less than halfway done with it, but I can say pretty confidently that this is a five star read.”
Well, I was correct! it’s a FIVER
December 11, 2018
I thought this book had a promising beginning, but for me it almost devolved into a story from the vintage True Confessions magazine. I didn't like the characters who often put Snidely Whiplash to shame. Where's a railroad track when you need one? I don't have to like all the characters in a book because if I did, that would be boring, but I felt the in-laws were almost too sinister. And then, Dudley Do-Right came along, yet to the author's credit, she didn't create a totally happy ending. Otherwise, I would place the book in the True Romance genre.
May 31, 2022
This had such potential. Not only was the heroine the dumbest person ever, the ending was so ridiculous I was sorry I stayed up. After all that nonsense about blowing up the still, lightning does the job and she's just able to leave?
And the "romance" is just a guy comparing parts of her body to cake.
And the "romance" is just a guy comparing parts of her body to cake.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2018
The author does a fantastic job of forcing you to empathize with a woman you'll never find yourself in the position of. Detailed were so accurately described, I had to keep reminding myself the great story I couldn't wait to get home to was not a TV series.
March 27, 2019
Thought Provoking
My first time reading this author. Writing was excellent and storytelling was descriptive, yet left enough to wonder. Not the ending I expected, yet a satisfying conclusion.
My first time reading this author. Writing was excellent and storytelling was descriptive, yet left enough to wonder. Not the ending I expected, yet a satisfying conclusion.
May 29, 2019
Believable but depressing
When an act of violence frees Adah from an abusive relationship she finds she's traded one horror for another. While her entrapment is realistic it doesn't make for a very interesting story.
When an act of violence frees Adah from an abusive relationship she finds she's traded one horror for another. While her entrapment is realistic it doesn't make for a very interesting story.
Read
July 18, 2019Far too long. Farrrrrrrrrr too long. And although there were elements of suspense in it, I was disappointed with the ending. Deus ex machina much ???????
Listened to it as an audible audiobook. The narrator was good.
Listened to it as an audible audiobook. The narrator was good.
February 8, 2020
My dad often spoke of the 1937 flood of the Ohio River, so I was excited to read this book. It does have an interesting premise and setting. However, some of the descriptive language put me off, e.g., one character’s neck is “a slice of white cake (mentioned multiple times);” another had thighs like urns; and a love interest stated “I’m going to sop you up like a biscuit.” Just not the type of writing style that appeals to me.
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