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Sweet Hope: An Appalachian Ghost Story
Assistant professor of anthropology Parry Euphrates is ready for a change, and when her friend, guitar-playing legend Adam Manly Singer, shows up, she is more than willing to lend an ear to Adam’s proposal: to dig up the grave of a man made famous in a murder ballad. Adam sweetens his bid with descriptions of the peace and beauty of Hoagland Holler, West Virginia where the man is supposedly buried; also with nights spent around a campfire, sipping moonshine and serenading the stars with their guitars.It all sounds great to Parry. Yet little does she realize that in digging up the grave, she will also be resurrecting an old feud, and when the bullets start flying, she’ll be looking for help from beyond the grave.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2019
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 4, 2022
First and foremost, the writing is absolutely superb. A strong voice and unique style that is so entertaining and really breathes life into the story.
I love a good ghost story and this did not disappoint. A song sends our characters on an adventure to find and dig up the grave of a murdered man. There were twists and turns, great suspense, beautiful settings, intriguing history, and romance. How do ya beat that??
I love a good ghost story and this did not disappoint. A song sends our characters on an adventure to find and dig up the grave of a murdered man. There were twists and turns, great suspense, beautiful settings, intriguing history, and romance. How do ya beat that??
February 25, 2022
Michael Easterling sends us on an exciting and fun ghost adventure in Sweet Hope! When music star Adam Singer approaches anthropologist Parry Euphrates with a proposal to go dig up the grave of a man from a famous murder ballad, she can hardly refuse. An adventure in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains seems like the dream, but the two quickly discover that the dead are sometimes better left undisturbed. Easterling masterfully mixes great characters, a wonderful locale, and a really intriguing adventure into a really fun read! It was also really fun and unique to have a ghost story be adventurous instead of being horror. If you’re looking for a thrill ride that’s also wholesome, head on up to the Appalachians and hunt some ghosts with Sweet Hope!
April 13, 2022
Great Story
This was a strange story about ghosts! I never read a story like this,but did enjoy it! I do not think I would read a book like this again though!
This was a strange story about ghosts! I never read a story like this,but did enjoy it! I do not think I would read a book like this again though!
March 1, 2024
Littered with lyrics, Sweet Hope takes us on a journey with Adam and Parry as they travel together in West Virginia, bantering and adventuring. The relationship between them is palpable; they care for one another, and have an unspoken fondness and mutuality that can be sensed hopping off the pages. It is no surprise, therefore, that despite the majority of the novel focusing on them and their interactions, it does not feel slow or stuck, as we are constantly witnessing a refreshing and deeply engaging friendship manifest in different ways.
Other characters are introduced, such as Junie, Brother Lillard, Granny Estey, and their introductions and arcs make for a seamless story, expanding on Parry’s experience in Hoagland Holler.
Although starting off lighthearted, the story touches on a lot of interesting and often serious topics, all basked under the thick umbrella of a southern setting. It is refreshing and enjoyable to be so immersed in the music, speech, and even the ambiance of these arenas, which Easterling scribes with precision.
A clear work of love and passion, Sweet Hope is recommended for anyone looking for an immersive adventure that takes place in the backwoods of West Virginia.
https://www.editorsweekly.com/book-re...
Other characters are introduced, such as Junie, Brother Lillard, Granny Estey, and their introductions and arcs make for a seamless story, expanding on Parry’s experience in Hoagland Holler.
Although starting off lighthearted, the story touches on a lot of interesting and often serious topics, all basked under the thick umbrella of a southern setting. It is refreshing and enjoyable to be so immersed in the music, speech, and even the ambiance of these arenas, which Easterling scribes with precision.
A clear work of love and passion, Sweet Hope is recommended for anyone looking for an immersive adventure that takes place in the backwoods of West Virginia.
https://www.editorsweekly.com/book-re...
May 20, 2019
When assistant professor Parry is asked by her friend Adam to go to his hometown to dig up a long dead man to help stop a curse, she agrees not knowing it will change her entire life.
Parry digs up what appears to be a grave, but it’s nothing. Then she finds what appears to be another grave, where she finds a headless skeleton. Her and her new friend, Junie, go off to another town to do some research and end up meeting with the county historian. They learn an awful lot about the guy they are looking for, but nothing to help them identify if they have indeed found who they are looking for.
Upon returning back to the gravesite late at night, during a storm no less, Parry finds herself shot and bleeding to death...
This is a fantastic story that offers everything: a ghost story, a love story for the ages, murder, lies, friendship, family, adventure, and learning to accept yourself, especially when you feel like you don’t belong. By the end of chapter 2 I was completely hooked on the great conversation, the laugh out loud jokes, and the names, the history, it all felt so real. Some of the history is actually true, and told in a beautiful way. I highly recommend this book!
Parry digs up what appears to be a grave, but it’s nothing. Then she finds what appears to be another grave, where she finds a headless skeleton. Her and her new friend, Junie, go off to another town to do some research and end up meeting with the county historian. They learn an awful lot about the guy they are looking for, but nothing to help them identify if they have indeed found who they are looking for.
Upon returning back to the gravesite late at night, during a storm no less, Parry finds herself shot and bleeding to death...
This is a fantastic story that offers everything: a ghost story, a love story for the ages, murder, lies, friendship, family, adventure, and learning to accept yourself, especially when you feel like you don’t belong. By the end of chapter 2 I was completely hooked on the great conversation, the laugh out loud jokes, and the names, the history, it all felt so real. Some of the history is actually true, and told in a beautiful way. I highly recommend this book!
March 1, 2023
I really loved this book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews