Blackberry Winter

by Cheryl Reavis

I am illegitimate. But this was never a problem for me—it was just me and my mother against the world. Mother never told me much about her past, and after a couple of unanswered questions in childhood, I stopped asking. Now, Mother is sick, and she's decided to revisit the past—literally—by taking an unexpected trip to the mountains where she was born.

I was worried; I was scared. I followed her. And my mother's journey became my journey, too. I discovered that I have a father—and my parents are still in love. Their life together just took a detour that lasted over forty years.

Their relationship was like a blackberry winter…the colder the weather, the sweeter the berries in spring. And now that I've found the truth, will I have the strength to make it through my own blackberry winter?

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2012

About the author

AKA Cinda Richards

Former public health nurse, now award-winning romance novelist, Cheryl Reavis, describes herself as a "late bloomer." Her Silhouette Special Edition™, A CRIME OF THE HEART, reached millions of readers in Good Housekeeping magazine and won the Romance Writers of America's coveted RITA award the year it was published. She has also won the RITA award for her Harlequin-Silhouette novels, PATRICK GALLAGHER'S WIDOW, THE PRISONER, and THE BRIDE FAIR. BLACKBERRY WINTER, THE BARTERED BRIDE and a Berkley novel, PROMISE ME A RAINBOW, have been RITA award finalists. She has received numerous awards from Romantic Times magazine.

Her award-winning literary short stories have appeared in The Crescent Review, The Bad Apple, The Mosaic, The Sanskrit, Laurels, The Emrys Journal and Writer's Choice.

Publishers Weekly described her Berkley single-title novel, PROMISE ME A RAINBOW, as "...an example of delicately crafted, eminently satisfying romantic fiction."

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather confusing story about woman Loran who finds out her mother is dying and follows her to try and find out the truth about her father. She finds more than she expects. The story has a mother who can’t be believed, a self righteous woman who caused heartache for so many.

[Kathy Knutsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story in the Midwest over three generations. Broken promises and secrets and confusion come to a head when Maddie of the middle generation is told she was dying. The long lost daughter comes to make amends and find out some details of her birth and the name of her father that she has never met.

The matriarch tells of her sins that prevents her son ( the absent father) from his choices and duties. All ends well and lives move forward.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 Stars! ~ Loran's mother, Maddie, is dying and she suddenly has a desire to go home after 40 years away. Seeing her mother in the mountain town of North Carolina and the people there who welcome her home, confuses Loran. All her life, Maddie never spoke of her past, who Loran's father was or where she had grown up. Loran finds herself charmed by the people and welcomed as if she too where coming home. Loran is introduced to the father she never knew and a story of a love betrayed by evil parents. Meyer is a mountain man come home after years away in the Army. He loves his community and finds himself yearning for Loran. Meyer seems to always be there, just when Loran needs him the most.

This is a story of secrets and homecoming, of betrayal and love everlasting, of death and learning to live again. Well done, Ms. Reavis! Although the romance in this story is secondary, Meyer and Loran find a love that is deep and binding. Loran's new relationship with her father is equally compelling. But foremost is the bond between mother and daughter and a mother's wish to give her daughter some roots.

There is much in this story that stands out. Ms. Reavis is a very talented story teller. She describes her setting and the wonderful characters of the town with such flare that the town and the people become alive. The story tells of dying and about those that are left behind. Ms. Reavis handles this topic with compassion and with joy as well. Maddie's quiet acceptance of her fate brings a certain tranquility to the lives around her. This is an awesome book, one I'm sure I'll be reaching for again.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

From back cover:

"I am illegitimate. But this was never a problem for me - it was just me and my mother against the world. Mother never told me much about her past, and after a couple of unanswered questions in childhood, I stopped asking. Now, Mother is sick, and she's decided to revisit the past - literally - by taking an unexpected trip to the mountains where she was born.

I was worried; I was scared. I followed her. And my mother's journey became my journey, too. I discovered that I have a father - and my parents are still in love. Their life together just took a detour that lasted over forty years.

Their relationship was like a blackberry winter...the colder the weather, the sweeter the berries in spring. And now that I've found the truth, will I have the strength to make it through my own blackberry winter?"

[Jecefel]

I love the story itself because it shows the relationship with the daughter to her mom who has bad past but still giving her daughter a positive outlook of life. eventhough for the mom its not good .. still it makes us realize that even if we're not so good at bonding with your family .. still it's your family and whether you like it or not .. You loved them .. and at the end you will know what the right decision would be on deciding big decisions in life

[Skye Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a cryer by nature but this one made me reach for the tissues more than once. Ms Reavis has such a wonderful gift of creating characters that touch your heart and stories that take you for a marvelous ride. Such a beautiful, satisfying ending too. Another late, late night with Cheryl Reavis - finished this one at 2:00 am even after I promised I was going to put it down and go to sleep at a decent hour. Just can't put this lady's books down.

[NatalyaVqs · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a somewhat slow beginning, when i almost dropped it since the daughter seemed such an overwhelming control freak, it picked up into an exquisitely poignant and heartbreaking tale; a story of coming home; a patching up against the odds of time passed and a change of life/pace; a keeper to reread again

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What interested me to read this book was hearing the expression "blackberry winter" for the first time from a client of mine. I had never heard it before, just like the main character in the book.

I love how the author wove the story around this phrase. It was a very pleasant read for an afternoon.

[Aadams30 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I loved this book. It was very well written. I thought it was slow in the beginning but I was drawn into the characters and couldn't let it go. I loved the relationships, although they were estranged there was something felt even in what wasn't said. Book made me smile, laugh, cry and think. 4 stars........

[Miki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. The people are real, the story is real, and it makes me feel real, too. I've probably read it about six times and it still makes me cry.

[Janga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Reavis. A women's fiction/romance hybrid with interesting family dynamics and an endearing beta hero set in a community that rings true it is one of my comfort reads.