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Carolina Cousins #1

A Perilous Proposal

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Two years have passed since the conclusion of the Shenandoah Sisters series, and Katie and Mayme are young women with big dreams, running Rosewood with the help of their two uncles and their friends Emma, Josepha, Jeremiah, and Henry. Jeremiah proposes to Mayme, but she is hesitant to accept. She loves him but does not want to give up her life at Rosewood. Local whites are furious at the Daniels brothers for harboring blacks at Rosewood and treating them like equals. The newly rising KKK kidnaps Jeremiah and plans to hang him. Will the brothers rescue him in time? Or will Mayme live to regret not saying yes to Jeremiah when she had the chance? Carolina Cousins Book 1.

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2005

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About the author

Michael R. Phillips

250 books610 followers
Librarian Note: there is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.

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5 stars
513 (47%)
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295 (27%)
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206 (19%)
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43 (3%)
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22 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
Profile Image for Kellyn Roth.
Author 28 books1,128 followers
February 19, 2024
I didn't finish this book. I got about 80 pages in before I just couldn't stand it. I skimmed for a while longer before I quit. Why didn't I finish it?

-The writing was simplistic. As I've stated before, if I can write better, I don't read it (unless it's for a favor/everything else is just so amazing/for review).

-The POV just bugged me. I usually like omniscient, but it just didn't work for the author's writing style. I felt so distanced from the characters and added to the simplicity.

-Jake is just annoying. He continually does dumb things. I don't like characters who do stupid thing after stupid thing and don't realize it. I mean, seriously. Why would I want to read that?

-Jake's dad. He's supposed to be this amazing person ... the one slave who won't rebel, who is respectful to his "master", who works hard no matter what ... and yet he does dumb things, too! His owner wants Jake's dad to call him "master," but he insists upon calling him "mister." This is just dumb. I understand Jake's dad's reasoning (not wanting anyone to be his master but God), but if someone in authority to you, no matter how unfair he may be, wants you to do something (that isn't a sin) and holds terrible power over you, you'd think you'd just call him "master" for peace's sake! What does it hurt other than your pride?

-Hatred towards Southerners. Lines such as "he was a loyal Southerner and hated everyone from the North" and other such general statements against the Southerners was another big turn-off for me. Yeah, some Southerners had slaves and were cruel to them ... but some were kind or simply didn't have slaves. Not all white Southerners were evil. This book seems pretty prejudiced against them. That said, I am not a supporter of the Confederacy.

-It reads like a textbook. Endless facts and stories about people and things unrelated to the story, endless general information about this time ... it doesn't feel like a novel. It feels like a story written for children to amuse them and teach them something at the same time. Which is not a bad thing, but just not something I expected from this book. Especially as the content's not really suitable for children, anyways.

-In the first 80 pages, two women almost get raped, described in some detail. Er, no. I just would rather not read about that. Perhaps it's realistic, but I felt like a: there were too many details and b: it was just talked about/mentioned too much.

-It's sometimes hard to understand the slaves' speech. I know it 's realistic, but it drives me crazy. I don't mind it so much in Elsie Dinsmore or Uncle Tom's Cabin because they're classics, but in a modern-day book, I feel like the author should tone it down so it's easier to understand.

-Can I say again how annoyed I was about all the Southerners being hateful?

And that's only about 150 pages in! Goodness knows what lurks beyond ...

Note: I didn't mean to offend any lovers of this book, the author, or anyone else who reads thing review and thinks I'm being a little harsh. These are my honest opinions, and I hope I don't cause any waves. :)

~Kellyn Roth
Profile Image for Melody.
144 reviews18 followers
August 9, 2016
A Perilous Proposal is the first book in the Carolina Cousins series which follows the Shenandoah Sisters series. I highly recommend reading the Shenandoah Sisters series first. Even if the author summarizes all four books fairly well along the way, it just wont be the same if the reader is not familiar with the characters and events of Shenandoah Sisters.

The book starts with Jeremiah's (Jake's) story. I really enjoyed getting to know this important character from Shenandoah Sisters, and the reader will also get to know some new characters along the way.
Then, the author retells the events of the three last books in the previous series mainly from Jeremiah's point of view. This was my favorite part of the book for sure. It was like reading "deleted scenes" of some of my favorite novels of all time.
As for the end, you'll have to read the book to find out. ;)

While the Shenandoah Sisters books used the first person narrative (Mayme was the one telling the story), A Perilous Proposal is told alternatively by a third person narrator, from Jeremiah's point of view, and Mayme's first person narration. This makes for some awkward passages where Mayme says she will tell the reader what Jeremiah was feeling or thinking at a certain time. Then, the narration switches back to the third person. It made me wonder if the third person narrator was still Mayme telling the story, but if so, she refers to herself in the third person... and the different text formatting to set the first person narration apart from the rest of the book would be useless.
The confusing narration is, however, the only think I didn't like from the book. The rest was just perfect! :)

I'm really looking forward to reading the second book, and I highly recommend A Perilous Proposal to anyone who enjoyed the Shenandoah Sisters series. It really is its sequel, so much so that I feel it could have been only one series instead of two. And if you haven't read the Shenandoah Sisters books yet, I recommend you start right away. ;)
Profile Image for Wendy.
1 review
July 8, 2013
I think there was way too much repetition from the first set of books in this one. I wish it had simply continued the story/added to the story without having to read parts from the Shenandoah Sisters books. It seemed like a lot of wasted space to skim through to get back to the story.
Profile Image for Tawallah.
1,154 reviews61 followers
February 1, 2020
We live in a culture where anger is rampant. Currently there seems to be a movement for authentic writing for marginalised people. This book would have been a great counter to anger especially in light of prejudice and hatred. Yet, I felt it failed to take the necessary steps to truly speak to an issue that has plagued America for over 200 years. But I admire the intent of the author to giving as true representation to this situation. Even if I felt it was too sanitized and would have been better served to be a more realistic book. Set in the southern America during part of the Civil War and early Reconstruction Era we are given a dual narrative tale mainly from the perspective of a young black couple. The first narrator is the angry young man, Jeremiah "Jake" Patterson who is found at the beginning of the novel in the grips of a lynch mob. The other narrator is Mary Ann Jukes who lives at Rosewood. The tale then recalls how the prologue occurs. I have no issue with the author being white. He respected the characters with use of dialect and gave a nuanced view of the decisions and motivations. He clearly has done his research and talked with black people. But his intent is clearly to deal with anger with a major view to forgiveness and being a united community. That is done well even if it is predictable and diminished the tension and pathos of the tale. As much as I liked this novel, I wished that it would have dealt with the very likely outcome for Jake and its aftermath. That would have been the story that would have resonated then in the timeline shown and even now. And it would made it such a powerful and redeeming tale. And that would have earned this book more accolades from this reader.
Profile Image for Olivia.
65 reviews6 followers
July 31, 2015
I guess I should've gone into this book expecting it since I've read other Michael Phillips books, but I was really disappointed in the seeming lack of education on the Civil War shown through the writing. Statements like "he was a loyal southerner and hated everyone from the north." and "while a northern soldier in blue would usually help a black in need, a southern soldier in gray would be happy to kill him if given the opportunity." make me wonder just how ignorant of the war mr Phillips is. But I've ranted about this in my other reviews on Michael Phillips books.

Oh and I was also upset about the swear words used by a supposedly Christian author.
800 reviews3 followers
August 19, 2018
This story of blacks in the South in the years before and including emancipation tells a very harsh story of the treatment of blacks and the terrible slowness with which people change. It's also a story of how what we think we know may not be the truth and how the emotions that color our impressions change our lives. This book will send you through a lot of emotional wrestling that is often difficult. It is a story of our nation as well as a family. Worth the read.
Profile Image for Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays).
5,149 reviews3,114 followers
May 22, 2019
2.5 stars
As the Civil War draws to a close, freed black slaves find themselves in a precarious position. No longer owned and abused by their masters, they are in a different, yet still horrible, situation. Prejudices among whites are cropping up at every turn. Whites who previously owned slaves, and even those who didn't, are freely expressing disgust and hatred toward black people. Lynching takes place with sickening regularity, and most feel powerless to stop it.

Jeremiah is a boy who lived a turbulent life on a plantation. His father Henry was sold when Jeremiah was young. Henry, although respectful and obedient, believed in God and never called his owner master. This infuriated the owner, and thus Henry was sent from all he held dear. Told that his father despised him, Jeremiah grew up hating Henry. After a terrifying incident with his mother, Jeremiah runs away and joins a Civil War regiment. Eventually, he finds his way to Carolina, where he re-connects with his father. Times are seriously changing, and the newly formed KKK is coming into power. Is there hope for free blacks?

This novel continues with many of the characters from Michael Phillips' Shenandoah Sisters in this new Carolina Cousins series. The war has ended, but are things changing for the better or worse? The reader is given a great deal of background about new characters Jeremiah and Henry. Continuing characters Katie and Mayme figure into the story as well. Unfortunately, it suffers from this attempt at integration. Too much information is given and a large amount is told about rather than shown to the reader as it's happening. Some things are even reported after the fact, even though they figure heavily into the plot.

Endearing characters save the story. The reader gets to know Jeremiah and Henry and to care about what happens to them. It's obvious the author did tremendous research into the time period, and the facts are communicated in a fascinating way that makes them personal to the reader. Though A Perilous Proposal is not a light story, it touches the heart and helps us to understand the horror behind prejudice and how it affects us all. The characters' ability to trust in God and His protection offers hope and encouragement.
Profile Image for Margaret.
279 reviews8 followers
August 3, 2011
I loved the Carolina Cousins series, it was realistic, accurate and engaging.

Two years have passed since the conclusion of the Shenandoah Sisters series, and Katie and Mayme are young women with big dreams, running Rosewood with the help of their two uncles and their friends Emma, Josepha, Jeremiah, and Henry. Jeremiah proposes to Mayme, but she is hesitant to accept. She loves him but does not want to give up her life at Rosewood. Local whites are furious at the Daniels brothers for harboring blacks at Rosewood and treating them like equals. The newly rising KKK kidnaps Jeremiah and plans to hang him. Will the brothers rescue him in time? Or will Mayme live to regret not saying yes to Jeremiah when she had the chance? Carolina Cousins Book 1.

I have read all of the books in Shenandoah Sisters and Carolina Cousins collection. I enjoyed each one a little more. I LOVE how the author wove all of the characters stories together. Each book could be read by itself but you definitely get more from them if you read the whole series. I think the author accurately reflected the mood of the time and the relevant events.

This particular book introduces the romance of Mayme and Jeremiah. It starts with Jeremiah's troubles with the local Ku Klux Klan. But as with the other books, the narrator, Mayme, reflects back on Jeremiah's story of how he left the slave plantation, to his meeting of Micah Duff to meeting his father and back to the current events. I love how the details are included without weighing down the story. Yes there is some repetition but it's necessary for those who have not read the other books. There are a lot of happy endings but there is enough drama to keep you interested. As I finished this book I was very excited to go onto the next one!

This book was from my personal collection.

Love & Blessings!
Margaret
Profile Image for Kelly.
125 reviews
January 18, 2016
Many reviewers complained about the fact that this book repeats a lot from the Shanendoah Sisters series. It is more than just a repeat. It looks at the story (mostly) from a different perspectives and adds more to both the beginning and end of the story filling out for us the characters of Jeremiah and Henry. Since it has been over a year since I read the previous series, I was very grateful for the brief revisits to the last four books to get me reacquainted before moving forward. I still feel that there are many things that a little too conveniently happen at the last minute but I find the characters enjoyable.
Profile Image for Linda.
2 reviews
February 18, 2014
I enjoy this author's work (especially the series that preceded this one...Shenandoah Sisters) but, I have to say I was book was a disappointment because so much of it was copied word for word from the last book in the Shenandoah Sisters series. Since I read right from that book to this, I felt bad that I had purchased a book with so much repeated material. On the other hand, this book takes us beyond the story events of the preceding book and I'm sure the remaining books in this series will be good and worth the read.
Profile Image for Trish Boese.
826 reviews6 followers
January 27, 2016
3* I enjoyed reading Jeremiah's side of the story (this book is about the same characters as the Shenandoah series). The story takes place amid the Civil war. At the end of the war, Katie and Mayme work together to pick cotton and pay the bank in order to keep their home. Jeremiah travels a long and angry road from slavery to freedom. If this was classified as young adult fiction, I would give it 4 stars or more. This book is gentle and easy reading, which I think any girl age 10 and up could enjoy.
124 reviews4 followers
August 25, 2014
This book I didn't know what to expect... with it being written during slavery times and plantations but it was good. I felt like I was right along with the slave girl as she tried to escape and with her as she hit with the white plantations owners little girl that took her as her family got murdered. But love how the two of the girls saw pass the color of their skin and past what people where saying around them and worked together to get the crops in and survive.
Profile Image for Nancy.
1,610 reviews49 followers
January 7, 2015
I have read other books in this series, and I was looking forward to reading this one. It tells the same story from the perspective of Jake and Mayme, the former slaves. I'm a strong believer in forgiveness, but I got really tired of the way it dragged on during the Civil War section of the book. I did appreciate the lessons the solider was trying to teach Jake, which finally sunk in towards the end of the book. I am planning to read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Gail.
289 reviews
April 24, 2015
This is the second of the Shenandoah Sisters series that I've read. I really enjoy the history in the books, the struggles of the era etc., but I do think it's somewhat unrealistic to think a couple of young girls could successfully run a plantation without help. It took so many people to run a plantation, mostly slaves that worked long days. Getting past that it contained a lot of intrigue, some romance, a lot of sadness and also race relations of that era.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Joy.
226 reviews17 followers
January 13, 2014
I enjoyed reading the new chapters however so many chapters were word for word chapters from the last book I read of the series so I was disappointed with half of this book being the same thing from the others , repetitive. I am going to read the other 3 books and hope they are not so repetitive as this one was.
20 reviews
July 2, 2015
Great novel

A Perilous Proposal was s wonderful novel. It takes place before, during, and after the Civil War. It dealt with the terrible treating and injustice of black slaves and later. Freed black men and women. It was also about forgiveness and how unforgiveness can eat away at your being. This was an easy read and I never wanted to stop reading. Hope I can find Book #2!
593 reviews
January 22, 2016
This is a very good story that takes place mostly post civil war. It is told through the eyes of several blacks, although there are white characters in it. So many parts broke my heart. I was a little disappointed at the end because it did leave you hanging and waiting for the next book. Otherwise, a great read.
4 reviews
January 31, 2016
Repeat of Shenandoah Sister serirs

I really enjoyed the Shenandoah series so I purchased all the Carolina Cousins series. I was disappointed that this book repeated so much of the story from the other books. I don't feel the author put much effort into this book. I'm sure hoping the rest of the books are not this way. I've enjoyed the other books and love the story line.
Profile Image for A Busscher.
798 reviews
September 16, 2017
Very well written as always. Some parts were a bit slow. I am always amazed at how people were treated each other during the war bt the states- it absolutely disgusts me and that the sheriff wouldnt do anything bc he didn't care if Jeremiah got hurt bc he wasn't going to punish his son or other towns folks for being "right".
FYI The ending is a cliff hanger!!
Profile Image for Rachel.
178 reviews
September 24, 2013
About 85% of this book was a recap from the previous series, Shenandoah Sisters. I felt forced to finish the book just to see if there was any new material. I won't waste my time reading the others in this series.
Profile Image for Linda.
646 reviews19 followers
July 29, 2016
This is the story of Jeremiah a former slave, friend of Maymee and Katie, and the entire Shenandoah Sisters Series in miniature. Topics of anger, slavery, freedom within make for a good read. Spiritual insight and wisdom outweigh mediocre storyline.
Profile Image for Ogz.
188 reviews5 followers
June 1, 2015
This was actually a "short" story about the life of Jeremiah but the book was unnecessarily long with so many repetitions. This is my least favourite of these books. I'll give me a break from books on slavery for a long time.
Profile Image for Juliann.
85 reviews9 followers
March 28, 2015
ok

I liked the Shenandoah sisters series and thought this would be a nice follow-up but a large part of it is retelling that story through the eyes of other characters. thus it's a good starter for someone who hasn't read the prior series.
52 reviews
May 12, 2019
Reading this made me want to go back and re-read the Shenandoah Sisters Series. I am enjoying Michael Phillips works all over again. And looking through my library to see which of his books I already have and which I need to plan on getting SOON.
Profile Image for Lisa Morrow.
407 reviews47 followers
May 4, 2020
This book was not as good as the books in the "Shenandoah Sisters" series. I expected this series to continue from the end of the "Shenandoah Sisters" series. However, it told the story of Jeremiah's life and recounted everything that had happened in the prior four books.
Profile Image for Linda Klager.
1,016 reviews48 followers
March 23, 2017
I liked the way the author described Jake and what happened in his life. I did not like the repetition of what happened in books 1 - 4. That was the biggest part of this book #5. That made this book so tiring. I liked the ending of this book. I do hope book #6 is a better read.
Profile Image for Edge .
Author 4 books28 followers
October 1, 2024
WARNING! This series contains sad stuff…I really wish I’d read it better. 🙄 but I know they drown her son and it made me cry! But yet it’s still true for the hatred people had towards the slaves and even after the Civil war. We all know what happened. But God made everyone equal and we should never treat someone different because of their skin color or because they seem weird.

For those of you who feel like no one could possibly love them because of their past or because of anything that causes them to doubt their need for existence please know that GOD LOVES YOU AND HE MADE YOU FOR PURPOSE!! YOU ARE MADE IN HIS IMAGE!! YOUR SPECIAL AND HE LOVES YOU!
12 reviews2 followers
September 5, 2007
I am currently reading the first installment of the Carolina Cousins series. It was recommended to me by my bosses 14 year old daughter. It is a Christian fiction novel set immediately after the Civil War. It centers around the life of Jeremiah Patterson, a former slave, and his road to freedom, both internally and externally. It is definitely a good light read!
14 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2008
I really liked this book. Some parts were a bit graphic but it gave me a feeling of being back in the days of slavery and the Civil War. This is the first book of four in the "Carolina Cousins" series. It is a real fast read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews

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