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The Other Morgans
"She'd been born and raised on her Fayette County mountain in West 'by God' Virginia, and in all her thirty-three years had never stepped foot outside the state's borders. Her family and that mountain had overshadowed her entire unremarkable life. It wasn't that she didn't love both, or, for that matter, every inch of her farm in Gimlet Hollow. She did, deeply. But as she stood, letter in hand, she allowed herself to dream . . ."
The Other Morgans is a riveting novel about home, history, race, ancestry, and love. Yearning for a better life for herself and her daughter, AJ is suddenly challenged to make a life-altering decision by the terms of an unexpected inheritance. Once she tentatively accepts the conditions of that inheritance, she encounters stories of her family's history that both attract and repel her. As Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz says, "There's no place like home." But what constitutes home? Where you're born, or where your ancestors came from? It's a question AJ must answer.
Poverty or pipe dream? West Virginia or Virginia? AJ has one year to decide.
The Other Morgans is a riveting novel about home, history, race, ancestry, and love. Yearning for a better life for herself and her daughter, AJ is suddenly challenged to make a life-altering decision by the terms of an unexpected inheritance. Once she tentatively accepts the conditions of that inheritance, she encounters stories of her family's history that both attract and repel her. As Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz says, "There's no place like home." But what constitutes home? Where you're born, or where your ancestors came from? It's a question AJ must answer.
Poverty or pipe dream? West Virginia or Virginia? AJ has one year to decide.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2020
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Carter Taylor Seaton
10 books19 followersCarter Taylor Seaton is the award-winning author of two novels, Father’s Troubles, and amo, amas, amat…an unconventional love story, numerous magazine articles, and several essays, short stories, and the non-fiction, Hippie Homesteaders: Arts, Music, and Living on the Land in West Virginia. Her biography of the late Congressman Ken Hechler, The Rebel in the Red Jeep, was released in 2017. Her chapbook, Me and MaryAnn, is a compilation of stories of her mischievous childhood and youth. In 2020, two new books will be released: We Were Legends in Our Own Minds, the memoir of her husband’s career that brought him in contact with the rock stars of the 70s and 80s and a novel, The Other Morgans. She has been a regular contributor to Huntington Quarterly Magazine for over twenty years.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 1, 2020
A sweet story about realising what is most important to you
When AJ gets the opportunity of a lifetime, she has to figure out what it is she really wants from life. I liked the themes of family - of preserving and valuing family history and traditions. Family is one of the most important things in my life, and while I didn't always agree with AJ's priorities I really liked the ending of this book. It was not what I expected it to be, but it fit really well with the rest of the story.
When AJ gets the opportunity of a lifetime, she has to figure out what it is she really wants from life. I liked the themes of family - of preserving and valuing family history and traditions. Family is one of the most important things in my life, and while I didn't always agree with AJ's priorities I really liked the ending of this book. It was not what I expected it to be, but it fit really well with the rest of the story.
October 11, 2020
If you should listen when E.F. Hutton talks, then you should read when Carter Taylor Seaton writes. Carter’s new book, The Other Morgans, takes place in West Virginia and Virginia and tells the story of A.J. a young widow living in Gimlet Hollow with her young daughter and mother. Life isn’t easy. The farm is hard work and the taxes get harder and harder to pay with each passing year.
One day the mail brings a letter that will set forth a chain of events that will change A.J.’s life forever. A relative she never knew has left his estate to her and to A.J. this could be the answer to her prayers. She’s hopeful there’s some money involved, or at least something of value that can be sold and put towards the tax bill. But, before she can collect, she must agree to the conditions set forth in the will. Deciding to abide by them, and now understanding how much money is at stake, A.J. moves alone to Langford Hall where she’ll live and learn to manage the estate for the next year. During her time in Virginia she finds her new life competing with her old and winning. After all, twelve million dollars would make you rethink a lot.
So, what do you do when a life you never knew you wanted comes calling? Do you give up the only life you’ve known, or do you grab the new life and never look back? AJ finds herself wrestling with this decision as life in Gimlet Hallow is all she’s ever known. Will she give up everything and make Langford Hall her new home? Will she find a way to have a life in both, or will she finally decide that there’s no place like home?
This book had me from page one. Carter does a great job at making the characters come to life and writing them in a way where you love some, doubt others and wonder who can be trusted. The descriptions of both West Virginia and Virginia are well crafted and I could visualize every detail from the drives on interstate 64 to the mannerisms and traits of the people. She takes the story through plot twists and turns and by the end I found myself rethinking my stance on what A.J.’s decision should be. The Other Morgans should definitely find its way onto your reading list. Who knows, you might find yourself wondering if there’s a life out there beyond what you’ve always known waiting for you and what you would do if one day the mail brings you a letter.
One day the mail brings a letter that will set forth a chain of events that will change A.J.’s life forever. A relative she never knew has left his estate to her and to A.J. this could be the answer to her prayers. She’s hopeful there’s some money involved, or at least something of value that can be sold and put towards the tax bill. But, before she can collect, she must agree to the conditions set forth in the will. Deciding to abide by them, and now understanding how much money is at stake, A.J. moves alone to Langford Hall where she’ll live and learn to manage the estate for the next year. During her time in Virginia she finds her new life competing with her old and winning. After all, twelve million dollars would make you rethink a lot.
So, what do you do when a life you never knew you wanted comes calling? Do you give up the only life you’ve known, or do you grab the new life and never look back? AJ finds herself wrestling with this decision as life in Gimlet Hallow is all she’s ever known. Will she give up everything and make Langford Hall her new home? Will she find a way to have a life in both, or will she finally decide that there’s no place like home?
This book had me from page one. Carter does a great job at making the characters come to life and writing them in a way where you love some, doubt others and wonder who can be trusted. The descriptions of both West Virginia and Virginia are well crafted and I could visualize every detail from the drives on interstate 64 to the mannerisms and traits of the people. She takes the story through plot twists and turns and by the end I found myself rethinking my stance on what A.J.’s decision should be. The Other Morgans should definitely find its way onto your reading list. Who knows, you might find yourself wondering if there’s a life out there beyond what you’ve always known waiting for you and what you would do if one day the mail brings you a letter.
July 12, 2021
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Other Morgans
Author: Carter Taylor Seaton
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 7/10
Of the 16 readers:
11 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
11 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
11 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“The author did a marvelous job of depicting the rural setting of this novel. Although it's a little slow in parts for me, I did very much like AJ and the strength she showed. I think a lot of readers will relate to the dilemma she faced in the story: where is home?” Female reader, age 36
“Do you stay where you are or risk everything and follow the money? Such a clever premise resulting in an enthralling novel.” Male reader, age 60
“AJ, the central protagonist of this novel, is a strong-willed, smart woman who must try to decide what is best for her. I enjoyed the way the story developed, and the cast of characters were enjoyable to get to know. There's a strong ‘family’ feel to the novel which I also like.” Female reader, age 52
“Many of us wonder what it would be like to suddenly inherit a vast amount of money. In this novel, the author works hard to explore this concept. This is a story packed full of dilemmas; but it's also a story of home and family and how complicated life can be.” Male reader, age 30
To Sum It Up:
‘A novel of strong characterization and descriptive settings, this is an enthralling family saga.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: The Other Morgans
Author: Carter Taylor Seaton
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 7/10
Of the 16 readers:
11 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
11 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
11 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“The author did a marvelous job of depicting the rural setting of this novel. Although it's a little slow in parts for me, I did very much like AJ and the strength she showed. I think a lot of readers will relate to the dilemma she faced in the story: where is home?” Female reader, age 36
“Do you stay where you are or risk everything and follow the money? Such a clever premise resulting in an enthralling novel.” Male reader, age 60
“AJ, the central protagonist of this novel, is a strong-willed, smart woman who must try to decide what is best for her. I enjoyed the way the story developed, and the cast of characters were enjoyable to get to know. There's a strong ‘family’ feel to the novel which I also like.” Female reader, age 52
“Many of us wonder what it would be like to suddenly inherit a vast amount of money. In this novel, the author works hard to explore this concept. This is a story packed full of dilemmas; but it's also a story of home and family and how complicated life can be.” Male reader, age 30
To Sum It Up:
‘A novel of strong characterization and descriptive settings, this is an enthralling family saga.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
November 16, 2020
I was so impressed with Carter's story about AJ, a young lady who learns she has inherited a property in Virginia. She lives in West Virginia. The novel works through her dilemma of moving to Virginia to the property or staying where she lives. Carter brings in a very detailed two-sided story where AJ must make her decision. The reader learns a lot about family members on both sides, the Civil War history near Charlottesville, VA and the owning of slaves. Carter even wrote and includes a portion of a slave's diary where he must decide whether or not to support his owner or to flee with his family. AJ's decision will affect many people. This is a story worth investigating.
January 21, 2021
Wonderful story that vividly captures a woman caught between two worlds. The characters are well-written and complex. There are no easy short cuts or cliche tidy wrap-up. I thoroughly enjoyed this book
December 4, 2023
A.J. is a young woman keeping a small farm in the hills of West Virginia. When her father died, she dropped out of college. She had dreamed of being a vet and treating animals. She has a daughter, Annie, and her mom lives with them. Alice is the mother. One day A.J. gets a letter, informing her she's inherited an estate and mansion in Hadleigh, Virginia. She at first thinks it a scam or a mistake. But it's real. She must live at the estate a year prior to getting 12 million dollars and ownership of the estate. Dew, her boyfriend, is against her moving to Virginia and leaving the family farm in Gimlet Hollow. Seaton's characters are well-developed. And the dialogue resonates. The prose is spot on. A.J. decides to move to Hadleigh, and in so doing she matures and gains self-confidence. A.J. faces prejudice at a swanky country club. Two snooty women insult her for being from the backwoods. But she holds her own. It's a fascinating story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews