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Simone Doucet #1
Tainted Harvest: Simone Doucet Series
She escaped servitude for a worse fate. Now she wants everyone to know what happened.
Simone Doucet is searching for a meaningful life. As a travel writer, she’s searched but hasn’t found a purpose yet. She accepts an assignment that takes her to Magnolia Sunrise, a historical bed-and-breakfast on the bluffs of Natchez, Mississippi. Soon, frightful images of a young slave girl, Delphine Randolph, haunt her every evening. Are the dreams related to the assignment? Will she find answers in Natchez?
The first night at the B&B, a ghostly visitation transports Simone to 1863, antebellum Natchez. Through spectral eyes, Simone sees Delphine’s history. Her servitude as a wet nurse to her master’s wife, rape, and forced pregnancies, her daring escape, and early demise inside a Civil War contraband camp known as the Devil’s Punchbowl. Delphine wants everyone to know what happened to her at Magnolia Sunrise and inside the Union soldier’s encampment. She won’t stop haunting Simone until she TELLS HER STORY.
But why has Delphine chosen Simone? Will this awakening bring a new purpose to Simone’s life? Or more untold mysteries to be discovered?
Simone Doucet is searching for a meaningful life. As a travel writer, she’s searched but hasn’t found a purpose yet. She accepts an assignment that takes her to Magnolia Sunrise, a historical bed-and-breakfast on the bluffs of Natchez, Mississippi. Soon, frightful images of a young slave girl, Delphine Randolph, haunt her every evening. Are the dreams related to the assignment? Will she find answers in Natchez?
The first night at the B&B, a ghostly visitation transports Simone to 1863, antebellum Natchez. Through spectral eyes, Simone sees Delphine’s history. Her servitude as a wet nurse to her master’s wife, rape, and forced pregnancies, her daring escape, and early demise inside a Civil War contraband camp known as the Devil’s Punchbowl. Delphine wants everyone to know what happened to her at Magnolia Sunrise and inside the Union soldier’s encampment. She won’t stop haunting Simone until she TELLS HER STORY.
But why has Delphine chosen Simone? Will this awakening bring a new purpose to Simone’s life? Or more untold mysteries to be discovered?
179 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2021
About the author
E. Denise Billups
16 books131 followersE. Denise Billups is an American author born in rural Alabama, raised in New York City, formed by a multicultural environment. Previously a Wall Street Portfolio Analyst, Denise now writes haunting paranormal mysteries, suspense, and thrillers. The rigors of ballet shaped her childhood and earlier years — a discipline she carried into her writing. Today, Denise lives in New York City, where she’s a fitness fanatic by morning, a writer by day, and an avid reader during her free time. When she’s not penning her next thriller, she’s lost in the pages of a book, indulging her passion for literature or surrounding herself with friends and family. For more insight into Denise’s world of fiction, visit her website at edenisebillups.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 21, 2021
Tainted Harvest is the first in the Simone Doucet Series written by E. Denise Billups. I've read most of the author's previous works, save a couple of short stories that are on my TBR. I'm always impressed with her talent; a true writer's writer in my opinion. Billups has a marvelous way of building plot, characters, and tone in a method that brilliantly creates the images in your head with minimal effort, all wrapped together in a package filled with intrigue.
Simone is a travel writer, and immediately we connect with a woman who's coming back from France after a long trip where she enjoyed herself but is also in need of some downtime. A potential fling with one of three roommates has her out of sorts, and the recent death of her mother has kept Simone from recovery. Now her boss wants her to write an article on an inn located in Natchez, Mississippi. After a slightly paranormal nightmare leaves her breathless and confused, Simone agrees to take the assignment. Something about the dream and its connections to her mother and a dark poem stuck in her head is the driving force... and let me tell you, it is a creepy little tale!
Simone is a remarkably charismatic character who immediately makes herself reachable and favored. I want her to succeed from the beginning, whether it's accepting her mother's death, drafting a superb article, or finding romance with a roommate (whom we never meet). As she researches the inn's history and hears the voice of a female slave, readers tense up at the underlying tension and drama. Just when Billups decides to offer us a bone, a major component of the story flairs up, the chapter ends, and a new one begins in a very different place. Our POV is now that of Delphine, the slave who's been calling to Simone.
Delphine is a beautiful, tragic character. While I've read many accounts of the torture female slaves dealt with in our nation's history, this one elevated the shock to a new level. Delphine's relationship with her owners is magnificently displayed, in terms of the horror and safety it offered compared to a life on her own after emancipation. While slavery was undoubtedly wrong, just because a person was freed didn't mean their life would get better. Watching a few days unfold in Delphine's life tugged at my heart, and when she gave birth to her fourth child, isolated from everyone, I couldn't be sure what Fate had in store for her.
Simone returns soon after, and we learn of her connection to Delphine. It's a wonderful story filled with stellar imagery, tone, and creativity. Billups has done a splendid job traversing the slightly paranormal with Gothic and historical realities. I continue to be a fan of this author's work and can't wait to see how this series develops.
Simone is a travel writer, and immediately we connect with a woman who's coming back from France after a long trip where she enjoyed herself but is also in need of some downtime. A potential fling with one of three roommates has her out of sorts, and the recent death of her mother has kept Simone from recovery. Now her boss wants her to write an article on an inn located in Natchez, Mississippi. After a slightly paranormal nightmare leaves her breathless and confused, Simone agrees to take the assignment. Something about the dream and its connections to her mother and a dark poem stuck in her head is the driving force... and let me tell you, it is a creepy little tale!
Simone is a remarkably charismatic character who immediately makes herself reachable and favored. I want her to succeed from the beginning, whether it's accepting her mother's death, drafting a superb article, or finding romance with a roommate (whom we never meet). As she researches the inn's history and hears the voice of a female slave, readers tense up at the underlying tension and drama. Just when Billups decides to offer us a bone, a major component of the story flairs up, the chapter ends, and a new one begins in a very different place. Our POV is now that of Delphine, the slave who's been calling to Simone.
Delphine is a beautiful, tragic character. While I've read many accounts of the torture female slaves dealt with in our nation's history, this one elevated the shock to a new level. Delphine's relationship with her owners is magnificently displayed, in terms of the horror and safety it offered compared to a life on her own after emancipation. While slavery was undoubtedly wrong, just because a person was freed didn't mean their life would get better. Watching a few days unfold in Delphine's life tugged at my heart, and when she gave birth to her fourth child, isolated from everyone, I couldn't be sure what Fate had in store for her.
Simone returns soon after, and we learn of her connection to Delphine. It's a wonderful story filled with stellar imagery, tone, and creativity. Billups has done a splendid job traversing the slightly paranormal with Gothic and historical realities. I continue to be a fan of this author's work and can't wait to see how this series develops.
November 8, 2021
I am so glad that I accepted this blog tour for Tainted Harvest By E. Denise Billups.
I had earlier read Keepers Of The Gate by the same author and knew that I was definitely going for a journey with this. Tainted Harvest is of course a journey but one that evokes all kinds of emotional upheaval.
E. Denise Billups writes exceptionally well in bringing the Magnolia Sunrise at Natchez alive, brimming with equal parts beauty and the ugly. While it is Simone whose travel assignment takes us to Natchez, it is Delphine who then captures our heart and shreds it to pieces. As the plight of the slaves during the 1860s comes to light, the readers are made to cry and hope along with Delphine as she fights against fate to escape the drudgery of her life. The heartbreaking tale of her struggles has been captured so wonderfully by the author that for a time, the words do become blurred with the sheen of tears in the reader’s eyes especially knowing that her pain is that of a young girl, not even 15 yrs old. To endure the trauma that is being heaped on her young shoulders, Delphine shows such incredible strength in carrying on and never letting the hope of a better life die.
Mixing up genres is not always easy but the author’s writing makes it feel so, the paranormal elements with a bit of gothic and historical details blended so perfectly to provide the reader with one delicious smoothie. Simone and Delphine are both characters that one can root for, even though Delphine’s story gets an ending in this book #1 of Simone Doucet Series, I can’t wait to see which part of the history we get to travel with Simone in the upcoming book in the series. There are some lovely threads that the author has opened up in the story with Simone, her psychic ability, her grief in losing her mother, and of course I would want that snippet of romance mentioned to develop wholly too.
Many thanks to BlackThorn Book Tours and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
I had earlier read Keepers Of The Gate by the same author and knew that I was definitely going for a journey with this. Tainted Harvest is of course a journey but one that evokes all kinds of emotional upheaval.
E. Denise Billups writes exceptionally well in bringing the Magnolia Sunrise at Natchez alive, brimming with equal parts beauty and the ugly. While it is Simone whose travel assignment takes us to Natchez, it is Delphine who then captures our heart and shreds it to pieces. As the plight of the slaves during the 1860s comes to light, the readers are made to cry and hope along with Delphine as she fights against fate to escape the drudgery of her life. The heartbreaking tale of her struggles has been captured so wonderfully by the author that for a time, the words do become blurred with the sheen of tears in the reader’s eyes especially knowing that her pain is that of a young girl, not even 15 yrs old. To endure the trauma that is being heaped on her young shoulders, Delphine shows such incredible strength in carrying on and never letting the hope of a better life die.
Mixing up genres is not always easy but the author’s writing makes it feel so, the paranormal elements with a bit of gothic and historical details blended so perfectly to provide the reader with one delicious smoothie. Simone and Delphine are both characters that one can root for, even though Delphine’s story gets an ending in this book #1 of Simone Doucet Series, I can’t wait to see which part of the history we get to travel with Simone in the upcoming book in the series. There are some lovely threads that the author has opened up in the story with Simone, her psychic ability, her grief in losing her mother, and of course I would want that snippet of romance mentioned to develop wholly too.
Many thanks to BlackThorn Book Tours and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
June 5, 2021
This was a quick read, a story about a slave’s hard life and the injustices they suffered in the hands of their masters.
Simone is a travel writer from Brooklyn on an assignment in Natchez, at a plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast. She’s plagued with dreams of a slave girl even before leaving her Brownstone in Brooklyn, but it’s only when she’s already at the bed and breakfast and Delphine shows her the truth that we learn what’s going on.
There were moments in the story where I had to take a breather and dab my eyes, emotional and heartbreaking scenes that, despite being fiction, depicted the hard reality of slaves in that time period.
The writing is descriptive and colorful, the setting coming alive as one read, the emotions evoked strong.
This is a fast read, but the story remains with you long after the end. I recommend it!
Simone is a travel writer from Brooklyn on an assignment in Natchez, at a plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast. She’s plagued with dreams of a slave girl even before leaving her Brownstone in Brooklyn, but it’s only when she’s already at the bed and breakfast and Delphine shows her the truth that we learn what’s going on.
There were moments in the story where I had to take a breather and dab my eyes, emotional and heartbreaking scenes that, despite being fiction, depicted the hard reality of slaves in that time period.
The writing is descriptive and colorful, the setting coming alive as one read, the emotions evoked strong.
This is a fast read, but the story remains with you long after the end. I recommend it!
June 14, 2021
Tainted Harvest by E. Denise Billups is a Southern-Gothic story that combines history and paranormal elements. It opens in current times with a travel writer named Simone who lives in New York City.
After a brief introduction to the main character, the reader discovers more in dream-like and surreal moments with a ghost named Delphine who at first contact is quite terrifying and with a questionable agenda.
I am not sure how I would respond or if I would get on an airplane so easily or search to find out why these visitations were occurring. I was riveted and read faster, wondering what was going to happen.
The poem used to bring the reader closer to the past was superb! I would love to quote it, but I will leave that discovery to you, as it would potentially be a spoiler.
The fairy-tale beauty of Natchez, Mississippi comes alive, as does the flip side of darkness when a geographical area just outside of the city is revealed for what it is, a place of devastation, a place of deep sorrow and a place that history forgot.
The added details of the specific fruit (its symbolism made me squirm in my chair,) images of blood, and flowers make for an unforgettable read that allows you to walk in a tumultuous time of upheaval during Reconstruction.
American slavery was in its final hour when Delphine recalls her experience. The Freemen joined the Union Army, women and children suffered in other unimaginable ways, as the more intrepid chose new paths in an attempt to flee the plantations and to reinvent their lives.
This is not easy topic matter, yet somehow the talented author managed to make the story flow and engage, it was the dead opposite of reading a textbook and made me think about a lot of things.
Often it felt intimate and conversational, as if Delphine the ghost was here with me sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch telling her story directly to me.
I have read everything this author has written and highly recommend this book to help you celebrate Juneteeth, (June 19th.) It would make a terrific book club read.
Take the time to remember the past and please support writers and creatives brave enough to talk about it. Whew! What a ride. I loved the connective twist at the end as we return to the present and the final scene upstairs in the closet. Wow.
After a brief introduction to the main character, the reader discovers more in dream-like and surreal moments with a ghost named Delphine who at first contact is quite terrifying and with a questionable agenda.
I am not sure how I would respond or if I would get on an airplane so easily or search to find out why these visitations were occurring. I was riveted and read faster, wondering what was going to happen.
The poem used to bring the reader closer to the past was superb! I would love to quote it, but I will leave that discovery to you, as it would potentially be a spoiler.
The fairy-tale beauty of Natchez, Mississippi comes alive, as does the flip side of darkness when a geographical area just outside of the city is revealed for what it is, a place of devastation, a place of deep sorrow and a place that history forgot.
The added details of the specific fruit (its symbolism made me squirm in my chair,) images of blood, and flowers make for an unforgettable read that allows you to walk in a tumultuous time of upheaval during Reconstruction.
American slavery was in its final hour when Delphine recalls her experience. The Freemen joined the Union Army, women and children suffered in other unimaginable ways, as the more intrepid chose new paths in an attempt to flee the plantations and to reinvent their lives.
This is not easy topic matter, yet somehow the talented author managed to make the story flow and engage, it was the dead opposite of reading a textbook and made me think about a lot of things.
Often it felt intimate and conversational, as if Delphine the ghost was here with me sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch telling her story directly to me.
I have read everything this author has written and highly recommend this book to help you celebrate Juneteeth, (June 19th.) It would make a terrific book club read.
Take the time to remember the past and please support writers and creatives brave enough to talk about it. Whew! What a ride. I loved the connective twist at the end as we return to the present and the final scene upstairs in the closet. Wow.
July 19, 2021
What a powerful paranormal story!! One thing that I’ve loved about all of Billups’ books that I’ve read thus far (which is most) is her instant character building. Tainted Harvest is no different, I was hooked and reeled in - right out the gate. I read the entire book in two sittings, and that’s only because I had mommy responsibilities that pulled me away for about an hour in the middle in the book -- which, let me tell you, I was worthless at these duties because my head was very much stuck with the unforgettable characters that Billups had planted in my mind.
Simone is a travel writer with quite the story to tell. It’s the first book in a presumably ongoing series and to say that I’m curious about what kind of adventures that Simone may be in store for in the future would be a massive understatement. After the death of Simone’s mother, and a personal trip to France, she’s requested to travel for work without a moment of rest. Although a bit exasperated, she takes the job with gratitude and winds up on a journey that no one could possibly be prepared for.
Natchez Mississippi is an historically rich place with a very dark pastime. Simone finds herself having disturbing dreams, very disturbing, and it turns out she’s been transported in time to witness firsthand the dark pastime that Natchez truly has. You see, in the 1800s there was a woman by the name of Delphine who lived through some of the most horrendous slavery treatment, and died an extremely tragic death. Delphine means to haunt Simone, but only because she wants Simone to tell her story. Simone does just that, and the things she sees in order to do so is absolutely heart wrenching.
E. Denise Billups is a very talented writer, and the bouncing from historic times to the current is flawless. It’s horrible to imagine what American history entails during the Antebellum era, yet it’s even more horrible to ignore it. The people tortured deserve to have their stories told, and although this book is a work of fiction it feels as real as can be. For such a short read, it really packs a punch! Hands down five stars for me and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Simone is a travel writer with quite the story to tell. It’s the first book in a presumably ongoing series and to say that I’m curious about what kind of adventures that Simone may be in store for in the future would be a massive understatement. After the death of Simone’s mother, and a personal trip to France, she’s requested to travel for work without a moment of rest. Although a bit exasperated, she takes the job with gratitude and winds up on a journey that no one could possibly be prepared for.
Natchez Mississippi is an historically rich place with a very dark pastime. Simone finds herself having disturbing dreams, very disturbing, and it turns out she’s been transported in time to witness firsthand the dark pastime that Natchez truly has. You see, in the 1800s there was a woman by the name of Delphine who lived through some of the most horrendous slavery treatment, and died an extremely tragic death. Delphine means to haunt Simone, but only because she wants Simone to tell her story. Simone does just that, and the things she sees in order to do so is absolutely heart wrenching.
E. Denise Billups is a very talented writer, and the bouncing from historic times to the current is flawless. It’s horrible to imagine what American history entails during the Antebellum era, yet it’s even more horrible to ignore it. The people tortured deserve to have their stories told, and although this book is a work of fiction it feels as real as can be. For such a short read, it really packs a punch! Hands down five stars for me and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
June 6, 2021
Tainted Harvest: by E Denise Billups.
This is the type of book where, once you start it, you can’t put it down!
Simone Doucet a travel writer is offered a new assignment. She is to go to Natchez, Mississippi, a place famous for its historical tourist attractions and abundant peach orchards. However, from the moment she accepts the job, strange things begin to happen. She smells the aroma of fetid peaches in her home, and the obscure lyrics to an ancient song seem to be whispered incessantly in her ear:
‘Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace, the Devil’s Eden lies in waste.´
Her dreams are plagued by a young slave girl named Delphine, who is heavy with child. And the ever-present plump, juicy peaches, which somehow seem devilish and seductive, that taunt Simone to take a bite.
Arriving at the elegantly named ‘Magnolia Sunrise, Bed and Breakfast’ to begin her assignment, she is surprised when the owner, Parker, hugs her like a long lost relative. He takes her to her room where once again she is plagued by strange occurrences. On her first night, she is transported back to 1863, where she unearths the sad story of whom the slave girl was. We learn of Delphine’s miserable life on a plantation as a wet nurse and her virtual imprisonment within the walls of the huge mansion in which she lived.
By the end of the story, Simone discovers that she is more embroiled in the slave girl’s history than she could have ever imagined, and she learns the truth behind why Delphine sought her out. Will the ghost of Natchez finally rest in peace if her story is told to the world? Will Simone be able to move on, or has Delphine’s story changed the course of Simone’s life forever? You will have to read the novel to find out.
This is a beautifully written book. The descriptions were so vivid, the reader can imagine themselves there, living the experiences side by side with Simone and Delphine. Highly Recommended.
This is the type of book where, once you start it, you can’t put it down!
Simone Doucet a travel writer is offered a new assignment. She is to go to Natchez, Mississippi, a place famous for its historical tourist attractions and abundant peach orchards. However, from the moment she accepts the job, strange things begin to happen. She smells the aroma of fetid peaches in her home, and the obscure lyrics to an ancient song seem to be whispered incessantly in her ear:
‘Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace, the Devil’s Eden lies in waste.´
Her dreams are plagued by a young slave girl named Delphine, who is heavy with child. And the ever-present plump, juicy peaches, which somehow seem devilish and seductive, that taunt Simone to take a bite.
Arriving at the elegantly named ‘Magnolia Sunrise, Bed and Breakfast’ to begin her assignment, she is surprised when the owner, Parker, hugs her like a long lost relative. He takes her to her room where once again she is plagued by strange occurrences. On her first night, she is transported back to 1863, where she unearths the sad story of whom the slave girl was. We learn of Delphine’s miserable life on a plantation as a wet nurse and her virtual imprisonment within the walls of the huge mansion in which she lived.
By the end of the story, Simone discovers that she is more embroiled in the slave girl’s history than she could have ever imagined, and she learns the truth behind why Delphine sought her out. Will the ghost of Natchez finally rest in peace if her story is told to the world? Will Simone be able to move on, or has Delphine’s story changed the course of Simone’s life forever? You will have to read the novel to find out.
This is a beautifully written book. The descriptions were so vivid, the reader can imagine themselves there, living the experiences side by side with Simone and Delphine. Highly Recommended.
July 21, 2021
One of the best books written by author E. Denise Billups. Her writing had a haunting quality that many a time raise goosebumps across the skin. I could feel the prose as it touched my soul.
Simone was a travel writer until an assignment took her to Natchez, where Delphine began to make her presence felt. A slave in the 1860s, she wanted her story to be told, and the truth to be laid bare out there as they made their journey from slavery to freedom. But did they ever get what they struggled so hard to survive for?
Delphine’s story written by this brilliantly talented author brought a lump to my throat. Slavery and escape, pain and hope, truth and alternate realms were admixed so well that they seemed real.
There was a perfect balance in the past and present where every line was well thought of, revealing the truth in every page. The only teeny tiny niggle I had was that initially, it took me some time to understand the relationships between some of the characters, though the prose did explain it later.
There was so much I wanted to say in this review, but my emotions kept choking my words. I just felt too much. Every moment, it felt I was right there in their midst, crying silent tears as the truth ravaged me. Abuse and punishment, disease and hardships and ultimately freedom in death made me want to rant that no human should be treated this way.
Oh Denise, what you did to me? You broke me with this story even when the illumination of the fireflies gave me some amount of hope. There was so much maturity in the way the words were chosen and juxtaposed, almost gave it an ethereal quality, as if the story came from some part of the author’s soul, just to touch all of mine.
Though book 1 of trilogy, this was a complete story and something that touched my heart and mind. There was so much I wanted to write here, but as Delphine would say – tell my story, I would say – read this story!!
Simone was a travel writer until an assignment took her to Natchez, where Delphine began to make her presence felt. A slave in the 1860s, she wanted her story to be told, and the truth to be laid bare out there as they made their journey from slavery to freedom. But did they ever get what they struggled so hard to survive for?
Delphine’s story written by this brilliantly talented author brought a lump to my throat. Slavery and escape, pain and hope, truth and alternate realms were admixed so well that they seemed real.
There was a perfect balance in the past and present where every line was well thought of, revealing the truth in every page. The only teeny tiny niggle I had was that initially, it took me some time to understand the relationships between some of the characters, though the prose did explain it later.
There was so much I wanted to say in this review, but my emotions kept choking my words. I just felt too much. Every moment, it felt I was right there in their midst, crying silent tears as the truth ravaged me. Abuse and punishment, disease and hardships and ultimately freedom in death made me want to rant that no human should be treated this way.
Oh Denise, what you did to me? You broke me with this story even when the illumination of the fireflies gave me some amount of hope. There was so much maturity in the way the words were chosen and juxtaposed, almost gave it an ethereal quality, as if the story came from some part of the author’s soul, just to touch all of mine.
Though book 1 of trilogy, this was a complete story and something that touched my heart and mind. There was so much I wanted to write here, but as Delphine would say – tell my story, I would say – read this story!!
January 13, 2023
This is a twisty tail, set in the mid to late 1800s, that brings in the horror of slavery and what they were forced to endure. But it is also a tale of hope that one woman's story will not be forgotten.
While not a long story, it still packs a punch, and it reminded me of what slaves had to endure during that time. While we can't change the past, we can learn from it and recognize that some were not kind to their slaves/servants, as depicted in this story.
I found myself engaged in this story as I watched Simone deal with some cryptic dreams, and by the end, all questions were answered. I loved the trip to Natchez, and the description of the area was beautiful and horrifying, especially when it came to the Devil's Punchbowl area. So much death and destruction during the civil war. The story is told from Simone's POV and also from Delphine's, a slave girl from the past that sought a better life for herself and her family.
While most of the story is heavy with what Delphine goes through, there is hope at the end for better times.
I'm excited that this is a series, and I already have the second book queued up and ready to read.
If you are looking for a different point of view on the civil war, I suggest picking up this book. We give it 5 paws up.
While not a long story, it still packs a punch, and it reminded me of what slaves had to endure during that time. While we can't change the past, we can learn from it and recognize that some were not kind to their slaves/servants, as depicted in this story.
I found myself engaged in this story as I watched Simone deal with some cryptic dreams, and by the end, all questions were answered. I loved the trip to Natchez, and the description of the area was beautiful and horrifying, especially when it came to the Devil's Punchbowl area. So much death and destruction during the civil war. The story is told from Simone's POV and also from Delphine's, a slave girl from the past that sought a better life for herself and her family.
While most of the story is heavy with what Delphine goes through, there is hope at the end for better times.
I'm excited that this is a series, and I already have the second book queued up and ready to read.
If you are looking for a different point of view on the civil war, I suggest picking up this book. We give it 5 paws up.
March 7, 2024
Keeps pages turning
This book is about Simone Doucet, who learns about the sad story of Delphine, a young girl who was a slave long ago. The story happens in a beautiful old house in Natchez, Mississippi. Simone sees and feels what Delphine went through because of ghostly visions. The book mixes past events with ghostly mysteries and shows how important it is to remember history.
It's a moving and interesting story that teaches about the past and makes you think.
This book is about Simone Doucet, who learns about the sad story of Delphine, a young girl who was a slave long ago. The story happens in a beautiful old house in Natchez, Mississippi. Simone sees and feels what Delphine went through because of ghostly visions. The book mixes past events with ghostly mysteries and shows how important it is to remember history.
It's a moving and interesting story that teaches about the past and makes you think.
October 25, 2021
"Below the bluffs of Natchetz Trace, the Devil's Eden lies in waste."
The Story: Travel writer, Simone Doucet accepts an assignment that brings her to Magnolia Rise, a Victorian B&B on the bluffs of Natchetz, Mississippi. Soon after, a young slave girl, Delphine Randolph begins to haunt her in her dreams. But why?
My thoughts: This was a quick read with a blend of history, mystery and supernatural. Told in past and present timelines, I enjoyed the story of Delphine a bit more. Her slavery and escape, hope and pain were emotional to read yet it was an important part of history.
The writing was great and I loved the creepy moments in the plot. For a quick read, I think the characters are pretty well developed and I absolutely adore Simone.
I loved how the ending brings everything together which makes this a delightful and an emotional read for me.
***Thank you Blackthorn Book Tours and author E. Denise Billups for this gifted copy to read and review and for having me in this tour. All opinions expressed are my own.***
The Story: Travel writer, Simone Doucet accepts an assignment that brings her to Magnolia Rise, a Victorian B&B on the bluffs of Natchetz, Mississippi. Soon after, a young slave girl, Delphine Randolph begins to haunt her in her dreams. But why?
My thoughts: This was a quick read with a blend of history, mystery and supernatural. Told in past and present timelines, I enjoyed the story of Delphine a bit more. Her slavery and escape, hope and pain were emotional to read yet it was an important part of history.
The writing was great and I loved the creepy moments in the plot. For a quick read, I think the characters are pretty well developed and I absolutely adore Simone.
I loved how the ending brings everything together which makes this a delightful and an emotional read for me.
***Thank you Blackthorn Book Tours and author E. Denise Billups for this gifted copy to read and review and for having me in this tour. All opinions expressed are my own.***
November 8, 2021
If I’ve learned anything in my 11 years as a paranormal investigator, it is that a high percentage of hauntings are the result of a ghost—a sentient being with emotions, moods, and wants—who needs to tell their story. The reasons vary… unresolved issues, revealing a secret, acknowledgment, and the seeking of justice are the major motivations, with the last being the subject of this review.
Tainted Harvest is a ghost story in the grand tradition. It takes as its time and place (in addition to the present) the Deep South during the U.S. Civil War. Cities in the South (Savannah, Charleston, Harper’s Ferry) owe their atmosphere and personality to the aftermath of the war and the stain of slavery. Their navigation of the history of slavery and Jim Crow alongside the tourism industry has been the subject of countless academic studies. The ghosts of slaves and the oppressed are everywhere. In the North, Civil War–era hauntings tend to be contained to battlefields and nearby. Gettysburg comes to mind.
This is not to say that the North does not have its own secrets and stains when it comes to the Civil War. It does. Aplenty. Colored Troops, as Black soldiers were called, were met with dismal treatment by many townsfolk and by White soldiers and officers (the highest rank a Black man could attain was sergeant, and they were few and far between). The film Glory gives one a general sense of the conditions these men faced—lower pay, substandard uniforms and equipment, and the South proclaimed that the Confederate Army would return captured Black soldiers to slavery and White officers would be executed. Less talked about are the riots in cities like Boston when the Colored Troops were formed and how they had to be shipped out secretly on trains to avoid violence.
Out of this historical backdrop comes the bones of the Tainted Harvest story. It opens with a quote and a dedication. The quote is from W. E. B. Du Bois, giving the book immediate gravitas. If you want readers to pay attention to your story about the plight of Blacks in America, quote Du Bois. The dedication reads:
“For those whose story was never told.”
The narrative opens in the present, in Brooklyn Heights, New York. It is told in third person present (not all readers are comfortable with this, so I had to mention it early on). The central character, Simone, is a travel writer who shares a brownstone with three other people who travel for work. On one level, these are the first “ghosts” we encounter. As she arrives home to an empty space, exhausted from a recent assignment in Paris, she receives an email asking her to go to Natchez, Mississippi within a few days to cover a bed and breakfast for Happy Brides Magazine. Although this is against her protocol (she typically waits a few weeks between travel) she accepts, the assignment triggering memories of the recent death of her mother by heart attack and her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
It’s at this point that the story becomes a ghost story, beginning with the smell of peaches, followed by a vision and introduction of a poem that is lengthened and contextualized as the narrative unfolds. The poem first contains just a single line: Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace, the Devil's Eden lies in waste.
As Simone arrives in Natchez, Billup pens details that sound very much like Savannah and other well-known Southern towns: antebellum mansions, magnolia trees, oaks and Spanish moss, angel effigies in cemeteries, and haunted ghost tours. Think an Anne Rice novel set in New Orleans or Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Amid the opulence and tourism, there is also poverty—a reminder of the deep racism that exists all over America.
Settling in at the B & B, Simone has another vision—this one engaging all of her senses, the peach again the central symbol in an increasingly detailed dream sequence. Now another layer is added, with a mystery to solve, involving Simone’s deceased mother, a long-time family friend at the Museum of African History, the owner of the B and B, and a new central character—the source of the vision.
The ghost whose story Simone must tell.
By this time, the poem has grown to 12 lines, ending with:
Deeply seeded,
Root-to-leaf fodder,
For the Devil’s harvest,
Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace.
Having taken up the mantel to solve the mystery, Simone employs her journalism skills to delve into the history of Natchez. Now that the narrative has been carried by third parties, tainted and diluted—horrific as it is—by time and multiple tellings, the spectre herself, Delphine, appears:
Mud drips from her hair revealing reddish-brown strands, coiling her girlish face. Her breasts and lifeless belly swell with milk and a phantom child. Her agape mouth spills silt loam snaking around her slender throat, sliding beneath her collarbone, a cascading ribbon entwined with breast milk, white and black, burying Simone shoulder to feet.
Then it’s 1863, and Delphine tells her tale.
Billups’s writing shines as she takes us back in time, with the dialect, atmosphere, and descriptions of life during the Civil War in the South in all its slavery-related horrors. Somewhere between what we know of Thomas Jefferson and Sally and the more extreme tropes of the slaveowner/“massa” with his abject cruelty and free reign over the female slaves is Henry Randolph, whose barren and equally cruel wife Lorelei adds an even more abhorrent twist to this tale.
Circumstances force Delphine to make life–death choices as her situation quickly deteriorates. We have all heard the stories of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad as slaves tried desperately to escape the plantation for a new and better life in the U.S. North or in Canada. This is a different type of tale—one that illuminates the prejudices and harsh hands of the Union soldiers when they encountered runaway slaves. This story within a story is also one needing to be told. Again, the film Glory touches on it a bit, but this is a true “out of the frying pan and into the fire” situation, as hard as it might be for a reader to believe.
As the narrative returns to Simone—the spell broken as dusk dissipates—we now carry the burden right along with them. It is our story now as well, having heard it told so honestly. Simone is not just custodian of the story however—realizations and revelations in the third act set her mission before her in new terms, with career decisions and life priorities shifting considerably. This is the power of story.
Finally—and I speak from over a decade of experience here—when you communicate with the Other Side, there are those who are listening whom you never could have imagined.
Tainted Harvest is a ghost story in the grand tradition. It takes as its time and place (in addition to the present) the Deep South during the U.S. Civil War. Cities in the South (Savannah, Charleston, Harper’s Ferry) owe their atmosphere and personality to the aftermath of the war and the stain of slavery. Their navigation of the history of slavery and Jim Crow alongside the tourism industry has been the subject of countless academic studies. The ghosts of slaves and the oppressed are everywhere. In the North, Civil War–era hauntings tend to be contained to battlefields and nearby. Gettysburg comes to mind.
This is not to say that the North does not have its own secrets and stains when it comes to the Civil War. It does. Aplenty. Colored Troops, as Black soldiers were called, were met with dismal treatment by many townsfolk and by White soldiers and officers (the highest rank a Black man could attain was sergeant, and they were few and far between). The film Glory gives one a general sense of the conditions these men faced—lower pay, substandard uniforms and equipment, and the South proclaimed that the Confederate Army would return captured Black soldiers to slavery and White officers would be executed. Less talked about are the riots in cities like Boston when the Colored Troops were formed and how they had to be shipped out secretly on trains to avoid violence.
Out of this historical backdrop comes the bones of the Tainted Harvest story. It opens with a quote and a dedication. The quote is from W. E. B. Du Bois, giving the book immediate gravitas. If you want readers to pay attention to your story about the plight of Blacks in America, quote Du Bois. The dedication reads:
“For those whose story was never told.”
The narrative opens in the present, in Brooklyn Heights, New York. It is told in third person present (not all readers are comfortable with this, so I had to mention it early on). The central character, Simone, is a travel writer who shares a brownstone with three other people who travel for work. On one level, these are the first “ghosts” we encounter. As she arrives home to an empty space, exhausted from a recent assignment in Paris, she receives an email asking her to go to Natchez, Mississippi within a few days to cover a bed and breakfast for Happy Brides Magazine. Although this is against her protocol (she typically waits a few weeks between travel) she accepts, the assignment triggering memories of the recent death of her mother by heart attack and her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
It’s at this point that the story becomes a ghost story, beginning with the smell of peaches, followed by a vision and introduction of a poem that is lengthened and contextualized as the narrative unfolds. The poem first contains just a single line: Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace, the Devil's Eden lies in waste.
As Simone arrives in Natchez, Billup pens details that sound very much like Savannah and other well-known Southern towns: antebellum mansions, magnolia trees, oaks and Spanish moss, angel effigies in cemeteries, and haunted ghost tours. Think an Anne Rice novel set in New Orleans or Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Amid the opulence and tourism, there is also poverty—a reminder of the deep racism that exists all over America.
Settling in at the B & B, Simone has another vision—this one engaging all of her senses, the peach again the central symbol in an increasingly detailed dream sequence. Now another layer is added, with a mystery to solve, involving Simone’s deceased mother, a long-time family friend at the Museum of African History, the owner of the B and B, and a new central character—the source of the vision.
The ghost whose story Simone must tell.
By this time, the poem has grown to 12 lines, ending with:
Deeply seeded,
Root-to-leaf fodder,
For the Devil’s harvest,
Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace.
Having taken up the mantel to solve the mystery, Simone employs her journalism skills to delve into the history of Natchez. Now that the narrative has been carried by third parties, tainted and diluted—horrific as it is—by time and multiple tellings, the spectre herself, Delphine, appears:
Mud drips from her hair revealing reddish-brown strands, coiling her girlish face. Her breasts and lifeless belly swell with milk and a phantom child. Her agape mouth spills silt loam snaking around her slender throat, sliding beneath her collarbone, a cascading ribbon entwined with breast milk, white and black, burying Simone shoulder to feet.
Then it’s 1863, and Delphine tells her tale.
Billups’s writing shines as she takes us back in time, with the dialect, atmosphere, and descriptions of life during the Civil War in the South in all its slavery-related horrors. Somewhere between what we know of Thomas Jefferson and Sally and the more extreme tropes of the slaveowner/“massa” with his abject cruelty and free reign over the female slaves is Henry Randolph, whose barren and equally cruel wife Lorelei adds an even more abhorrent twist to this tale.
Circumstances force Delphine to make life–death choices as her situation quickly deteriorates. We have all heard the stories of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad as slaves tried desperately to escape the plantation for a new and better life in the U.S. North or in Canada. This is a different type of tale—one that illuminates the prejudices and harsh hands of the Union soldiers when they encountered runaway slaves. This story within a story is also one needing to be told. Again, the film Glory touches on it a bit, but this is a true “out of the frying pan and into the fire” situation, as hard as it might be for a reader to believe.
As the narrative returns to Simone—the spell broken as dusk dissipates—we now carry the burden right along with them. It is our story now as well, having heard it told so honestly. Simone is not just custodian of the story however—realizations and revelations in the third act set her mission before her in new terms, with career decisions and life priorities shifting considerably. This is the power of story.
Finally—and I speak from over a decade of experience here—when you communicate with the Other Side, there are those who are listening whom you never could have imagined.
March 28, 2022
I received a free copy from the author and Voracious Readers and leave this review voluntarily.
I made myself comfortable to read this crime and mystery and after the first few pages I was wide awake and living Simone’s nightmare. The author had a way of writing such that you were immersed in the horrors and emotions of the characters. I couldn’t put this down until the last few ‘happy’ pages.
Although the first in a trilogy this story is complete in itself. It is a heartbreaking story well written. The story described some of the cruelties, hardships and conditions of the slaves at the end of the Civil War. Full credit to the author that the slavery appeared to be a sub plot, but in fact was the main one. Many heart breaking and emotional descriptions as the "ghost" Delphine, a young black slave tells her story to Simone. The prose switches to the dialect of the southern slaves invoking the atmosphere and description of life during the Civil War. Delphine's story starts with the cruelty of the slave owner/’massa’ Henry Randolph and his cruel and barren wife Lorelei. and then unfolds to describe the prejudices and harsh treatment of runaway slaves by the Union soldiers.
Thoroughly recommended.
I was curious to find out more and discovered that The Devil’s Punchbowl is remembered as post American atrocity in Black history which took place in Natchez, (Adams County) Mississippi. Also “Natchez” a book dedicated to Louise and Mary by Nola Nance Oliver describes the derivation of the name and describes the area. Although the inroads of the river have washed away the streets, and only a few buildings remain, one very interesting home, “Magnolia Vale”, has been preserved and is presented in her book.
I made myself comfortable to read this crime and mystery and after the first few pages I was wide awake and living Simone’s nightmare. The author had a way of writing such that you were immersed in the horrors and emotions of the characters. I couldn’t put this down until the last few ‘happy’ pages.
Although the first in a trilogy this story is complete in itself. It is a heartbreaking story well written. The story described some of the cruelties, hardships and conditions of the slaves at the end of the Civil War. Full credit to the author that the slavery appeared to be a sub plot, but in fact was the main one. Many heart breaking and emotional descriptions as the "ghost" Delphine, a young black slave tells her story to Simone. The prose switches to the dialect of the southern slaves invoking the atmosphere and description of life during the Civil War. Delphine's story starts with the cruelty of the slave owner/’massa’ Henry Randolph and his cruel and barren wife Lorelei. and then unfolds to describe the prejudices and harsh treatment of runaway slaves by the Union soldiers.
Thoroughly recommended.
I was curious to find out more and discovered that The Devil’s Punchbowl is remembered as post American atrocity in Black history which took place in Natchez, (Adams County) Mississippi. Also “Natchez” a book dedicated to Louise and Mary by Nola Nance Oliver describes the derivation of the name and describes the area. Although the inroads of the river have washed away the streets, and only a few buildings remain, one very interesting home, “Magnolia Vale”, has been preserved and is presented in her book.
July 23, 2021
Tainted Harvest by E. Denise Billups is the first in the Simone Doucet Series. Having read most of this author’s previous work, and absolutely loving every one, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this. I absolutely love following authors that I may not have met without this blog. E. Denise Billups is so talented, and once again, she shows it with Tainted Harvest!
This is a very powerful, paranormal story. I was hooked iimmediately, and couldn’t set this one down. As usual, with this author’s books, I was up late to finish it!
I really enjoyed the mix of historic times and current times. It was an emotional read that had an air of dread around it. This is a short read that packs a punch, and I can honestly say, I’m so excited for the rest of this series.
Easy five stars. Don’t miss this one!!
Thank you to Digital Reads Book Tours for the copy of the book and the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
This is a very powerful, paranormal story. I was hooked iimmediately, and couldn’t set this one down. As usual, with this author’s books, I was up late to finish it!
I really enjoyed the mix of historic times and current times. It was an emotional read that had an air of dread around it. This is a short read that packs a punch, and I can honestly say, I’m so excited for the rest of this series.
Easy five stars. Don’t miss this one!!
Thank you to Digital Reads Book Tours for the copy of the book and the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
November 3, 2021
This is the first in a new series and right away I was drawn in and breezing through. It's a pleasant mix of present-day life with a splash of historical and paranormal elements.
I really enjoyed the dual timelines and different POVs of Simone and Delphine. I also loved the gothic atmosphere surrounding Simone as she is plagued by dreams and visited by Delphine's ghost.
Delphine's journey is a hard one to read at times. Her strength, determination and resilience is amazing and easily felt through the author's words.
Although this is on the shorter side, it is very well-done and I look forward to reading more in this series and from this author.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
I really enjoyed the dual timelines and different POVs of Simone and Delphine. I also loved the gothic atmosphere surrounding Simone as she is plagued by dreams and visited by Delphine's ghost.
Delphine's journey is a hard one to read at times. Her strength, determination and resilience is amazing and easily felt through the author's words.
Although this is on the shorter side, it is very well-done and I look forward to reading more in this series and from this author.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
March 29, 2022
Tainted Harvest starts out slow building up revealing one secret after another that kept me on the edge of my seat wondering and waiting how everything was going to intertwine in the end. There were more twists and turns than a roller coaster. I was drawn in from the first page wondering what was going on as each character was introduced giving us a little insight into each as their stories were revealed. The suspense and mystery alone are enough to keep those pages turning. I received this novel through StoryOrigin. This is my true and honest review.
October 10, 2024
This is a very interesting historical supernatural story that kept me reading late into the night.
I loved how atmospheric it was in Simone's timeline, and I think the hardship of Delphine's life came across very well, too.
What I did find a bit grating was Simone's quick to judge attitude when she arrived at Magnolia Sunrise. She didn't really come across as someone who had independent journalist views...
But still a cracking October read...
I loved how atmospheric it was in Simone's timeline, and I think the hardship of Delphine's life came across very well, too.
What I did find a bit grating was Simone's quick to judge attitude when she arrived at Magnolia Sunrise. She didn't really come across as someone who had independent journalist views...
But still a cracking October read...
November 10, 2021
First of all, I was a little disappointed that this book did not reach my level of horror expectation. I sadly didn’t get what I was expecting when I first read it. But I truly think that the book’s message of looking back at our history and tell it as a way to honoring our ancestors is pretty awesome. I think if the book is longer it will have a great impact with how the author wrote the backstory. I was really amazed at how the suffering of people in this book is shown because it doesn’t filter their experiences. They are brutally shown and it makes me feel bad for the characters.
But I don’t really know if I’m exaggerating while saying this, but I feel like the book is a little bit spoon-feeding information to the reader rather than just let the readers realized it on their own. The first chapter is so info-dumpy. It gives too much information and backgrounds of the character in only the first chapter instead of scattering it throughout the book. The thing that I love about this book is how descriptive it was when it comes to surroundings. It was so detailed and helps the reader picturing out the scene.
As for the main character, Simone, I think she is pretty good as a protagonist. When reading the book, I can clearly see that her way of dealing with grief is her travelling spree, which I found quiet interesting. I love how the author wrote that grief that way. Most main characters that I’ve read that deals with grief is being angry and has attitude. But Simone’s character was really nice and I can’t help myself loving her.
Overall, I rated this 3.5 out of 5 stars. This is a good book if you’re looking for some quick read. Although I rather much preferred to be much longer, I still enjoy reading Delphine and Simone’s stories.
But I don’t really know if I’m exaggerating while saying this, but I feel like the book is a little bit spoon-feeding information to the reader rather than just let the readers realized it on their own. The first chapter is so info-dumpy. It gives too much information and backgrounds of the character in only the first chapter instead of scattering it throughout the book. The thing that I love about this book is how descriptive it was when it comes to surroundings. It was so detailed and helps the reader picturing out the scene.
As for the main character, Simone, I think she is pretty good as a protagonist. When reading the book, I can clearly see that her way of dealing with grief is her travelling spree, which I found quiet interesting. I love how the author wrote that grief that way. Most main characters that I’ve read that deals with grief is being angry and has attitude. But Simone’s character was really nice and I can’t help myself loving her.
Overall, I rated this 3.5 out of 5 stars. This is a good book if you’re looking for some quick read. Although I rather much preferred to be much longer, I still enjoy reading Delphine and Simone’s stories.
November 5, 2021
"Those are your tears...Delphine's tears manifested through your eyes. She brought you to where most mornings she weeps over those books...so we can tell her story and never forget."
Tears streamed down my face reading Tainted Harvest by E. Denise Billups. In its most simplistic form it is a harsh reminder that we should never forget the suffering of humans perpetrated by other humans.
Written with poetic descriptive imagery the author uses her modern day protagonist Simone to introduce us to the heart of the story the spirit of Delphine. Delphine is a slave on a plantation and a wet nurse for her owners. She is also a pregnant mother. She is also dead.
Simone, a travel writer, in need of a respite from the grief of her mother's death and the stress of life, is on assignment at an antebellum B & B when the ghost of Delphine appears in a somewhat surreal almost nightmarish image. She needs Simone to hear her story, her horrific suffering, her sacrifices and, most of all, to make sure what happened on this land never happens again. She needs the freedom she found in death to have meaning in life.
This book is not long but it is powerful. It is often too quick in explanations but it will nevertheless give you a very vivid picture with artistic composition of a world many would like to forget or rewrite to preserve their privilege in the future. Read the book. Talk about the book. Let the truth in fiction always be heard and read.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Tears streamed down my face reading Tainted Harvest by E. Denise Billups. In its most simplistic form it is a harsh reminder that we should never forget the suffering of humans perpetrated by other humans.
Written with poetic descriptive imagery the author uses her modern day protagonist Simone to introduce us to the heart of the story the spirit of Delphine. Delphine is a slave on a plantation and a wet nurse for her owners. She is also a pregnant mother. She is also dead.
Simone, a travel writer, in need of a respite from the grief of her mother's death and the stress of life, is on assignment at an antebellum B & B when the ghost of Delphine appears in a somewhat surreal almost nightmarish image. She needs Simone to hear her story, her horrific suffering, her sacrifices and, most of all, to make sure what happened on this land never happens again. She needs the freedom she found in death to have meaning in life.
This book is not long but it is powerful. It is often too quick in explanations but it will nevertheless give you a very vivid picture with artistic composition of a world many would like to forget or rewrite to preserve their privilege in the future. Read the book. Talk about the book. Let the truth in fiction always be heard and read.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 6, 2021
First I would like to thank BookTasters and the author for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
It was okay. It has the southern charm but it was a short read with supernatural elements. The story is too short for me although if it was expanded I could see that it would be dull. As a stand alone novel, it's nice to read but if you are going to have a series, it loses it's appeal.
It was okay. It has the southern charm but it was a short read with supernatural elements. The story is too short for me although if it was expanded I could see that it would be dull. As a stand alone novel, it's nice to read but if you are going to have a series, it loses it's appeal.
December 14, 2023
Newly returned from an assignment in France, Simone Doucet finds herself having the strangest dream. When the opportunity to write a new story appears, Simone heads from New York City to Natchez, Mississippi, where she will find more about herself than she ever imagined.
Tainted Harvest is a beautifully written paranormal story. Though it is of a shorter length, the emotions it evokes are heart-rendering.
Tainted Harvest is a beautifully written paranormal story. Though it is of a shorter length, the emotions it evokes are heart-rendering.
June 27, 2023
Heartbreaking tale of the antebellum south.
November 8, 2021
WOW. I only put this story down once and that was because I needed sleep. I picked it right back up in the morning and didn't stop until I was done. This story gave me all the feels. It’s the second book I’ve read by E. Denise Billups and I enjoyed this one equally as much as the first. Her vivid, lyrical descriptions left my senses enraptured. She describes bone-chilling scenes with extraordinary detail, putting me right there in the story. I love how the past and present collide, first in dreams and then in ethereal experiences. The ancestry is of particular interest as well, as I love stories dealing with aspects of genealogy. She also includes haunting stanzas of a poem of great significance to the story, clues to her main character’s journey of discovery and understanding.
“Such atrocities stain this country’s history.” This line really stuck out to me. The historical story deals with accounts of so many horrors that were forced upon slaves, and the aftermath of the wickedness inflicted on so many. It dives deep into the condemnable segregation of cultures and races, the physical, emotional, and psychological pain it imprinted on those who experienced it, and how the repercussions of those heinous crimes against humanity have carried on to this day.
My heart broke for Delphine, her babies, and Maw, and I found myself in tears more than once in reading this book. It was excellently written with so much emotion.
If you’ve followed my writing posts on IG or Twitter, you’ll know I really love the supernatural aspect that ties it all together, too. I thoroughly enjoy eerie ghosty scenes, and Billups has nailed the creepiness once again.
Thank you to the author and Blackthorn Book Tours for allowing me the chance to read and review.
Content Warnings: allusion to rape; racism and slavery issues; disrespectful language
“Such atrocities stain this country’s history.” This line really stuck out to me. The historical story deals with accounts of so many horrors that were forced upon slaves, and the aftermath of the wickedness inflicted on so many. It dives deep into the condemnable segregation of cultures and races, the physical, emotional, and psychological pain it imprinted on those who experienced it, and how the repercussions of those heinous crimes against humanity have carried on to this day.
My heart broke for Delphine, her babies, and Maw, and I found myself in tears more than once in reading this book. It was excellently written with so much emotion.
If you’ve followed my writing posts on IG or Twitter, you’ll know I really love the supernatural aspect that ties it all together, too. I thoroughly enjoy eerie ghosty scenes, and Billups has nailed the creepiness once again.
Thank you to the author and Blackthorn Book Tours for allowing me the chance to read and review.
Content Warnings: allusion to rape; racism and slavery issues; disrespectful language
July 8, 2021
A short but unforgettable read.
Tainted Harvest is mystery thriller novel combined with history and a bit of supernatural horror.
Simone Doucet, a travel writer, was assigned to do a project on a historical bed-and-breakfast, 'Magnolia Sunrise, at Natchez, Mississippi. But days before her departure to Natchez, she started to have frightful dreams of her deceased mother, a young slave girl, and a familiar poem that, as she had discovered, is related to her destination. Once she arrived at Magnolia Sunrise, she soon learned the story about Delphine Randolph, the young girl who plagued her dreams. As she discovered the truth about Delphine and their connection, she must now tell the world the story about the young slave girl.
Such a heartbreaking story. The topic may be a heavy one, but with the way the author tells it, you can't help getting absorbed right into the story. It was eloquently written. I love that I have learned a lot of new words from this book. The world-building was fantastic. It has a way of connecting you to the character's emotions and feelings. I have read thriller books before, but this? I know and am certain that this story will stay with me. It evoked a lot of emotions from me; anger, pain, sorrow. Knowing that what Delphine had experienced really happened in the past only adds more pain. A heartbreaking yet a wonderful read that I will highly recommend.
Thank you so much to Booktasters, and to the author, E. Denise Billups.
Tainted Harvest is mystery thriller novel combined with history and a bit of supernatural horror.
Simone Doucet, a travel writer, was assigned to do a project on a historical bed-and-breakfast, 'Magnolia Sunrise, at Natchez, Mississippi. But days before her departure to Natchez, she started to have frightful dreams of her deceased mother, a young slave girl, and a familiar poem that, as she had discovered, is related to her destination. Once she arrived at Magnolia Sunrise, she soon learned the story about Delphine Randolph, the young girl who plagued her dreams. As she discovered the truth about Delphine and their connection, she must now tell the world the story about the young slave girl.
Such a heartbreaking story. The topic may be a heavy one, but with the way the author tells it, you can't help getting absorbed right into the story. It was eloquently written. I love that I have learned a lot of new words from this book. The world-building was fantastic. It has a way of connecting you to the character's emotions and feelings. I have read thriller books before, but this? I know and am certain that this story will stay with me. It evoked a lot of emotions from me; anger, pain, sorrow. Knowing that what Delphine had experienced really happened in the past only adds more pain. A heartbreaking yet a wonderful read that I will highly recommend.
Thank you so much to Booktasters, and to the author, E. Denise Billups.
August 6, 2021
This book is not for all, I must tell you. It unfolds end number of historical events. It requires a certain level of understanding, it’s a masterpiece.
I liked the way author has takeover the story from past to present and had perfectly balanced. Unique storyline, beyond the horizon.
The characterisation is different, seemed like living characters. It’s about hope, revenge, tears, slavery, pain, and a lot more.
Proses are beautiful.
“Skeletal antiquity,
Deeply seeded,
Root-to-leaf fodder,
For the Devil’s harvest,
Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace.
When Sumter thundered, plantations shuttered,
Relented barbarous tricentennial bondage,
Jubilant cries of freedom followed,
‘til Union Armies hollered, halt,
Thwarting thousand’s glory walk.
Detained, rerouted, entrapped, encamped on banks,
Flesh and bone buried where they sank.
Oh, what spoilage stains the bowl-shaped gulch,
Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace.
A forsaken, veritable unwritten history,
A parable of tainted harvest,
Forbidden fruit,
Tacit townsfolk dare not savor,
Oh, what mystery,
Deep in the Devil’s Eden,
Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace.”
The language is simple and easy to understand. The cover is decent with an appreciable title. A perfect read !
I liked the way author has takeover the story from past to present and had perfectly balanced. Unique storyline, beyond the horizon.
The characterisation is different, seemed like living characters. It’s about hope, revenge, tears, slavery, pain, and a lot more.
Proses are beautiful.
“Skeletal antiquity,
Deeply seeded,
Root-to-leaf fodder,
For the Devil’s harvest,
Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace.
When Sumter thundered, plantations shuttered,
Relented barbarous tricentennial bondage,
Jubilant cries of freedom followed,
‘til Union Armies hollered, halt,
Thwarting thousand’s glory walk.
Detained, rerouted, entrapped, encamped on banks,
Flesh and bone buried where they sank.
Oh, what spoilage stains the bowl-shaped gulch,
Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace.
A forsaken, veritable unwritten history,
A parable of tainted harvest,
Forbidden fruit,
Tacit townsfolk dare not savor,
Oh, what mystery,
Deep in the Devil’s Eden,
Below the bluffs of Natchez Trace.”
The language is simple and easy to understand. The cover is decent with an appreciable title. A perfect read !
March 25, 2022
I enjoyed this haunting story. This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed and look forward to reading more from them in the future. This is a well written story about a young woman, Simone who is determined to figure out her life. Her problem is that for some reason she is being haunted by a young slave girl, Delphine. The question is why and what is the story behind this slave girl? I enjoyed the characters and how connectable they are. They bring the story to life and made the story feel realistic. They pulled me into the story from the beginning and kept me turning pages fast. This is a fast paced historical story that was not only hard to put down but also kept me coming back for more. I enjoyed their growth throughout as well as the plot growth, it made the story easy and entertaining to read. I really enjoyed this story and what the characters brought to the story. I highly recommend this book.
June 28, 2021
We are an accumulation of legacies. We carry our family ties in us. Our being is informed by generational history we seldom know of. Ancestral experiences find their subtle ways of becoming part of the descendants.
But what if these experiences and dreams came vivid, compelling, and charging a descendant to take an action? This is the case for Simone. With crisp written imagery for the mind's eyes, the story of Simone and the legacy of her blood is told.
The writing is well enough to immerse a reader into the pages and experience the tale.
Though sometimes this book seems too reluctant to progress, it is still an interesting experience. Also, I wish Parker's background had more pages and we got to know him and his wife better.
There is something unique about this author's writing voice/style that I love and I hope everyone gets to experience it too.
I love this book.
But what if these experiences and dreams came vivid, compelling, and charging a descendant to take an action? This is the case for Simone. With crisp written imagery for the mind's eyes, the story of Simone and the legacy of her blood is told.
The writing is well enough to immerse a reader into the pages and experience the tale.
Though sometimes this book seems too reluctant to progress, it is still an interesting experience. Also, I wish Parker's background had more pages and we got to know him and his wife better.
There is something unique about this author's writing voice/style that I love and I hope everyone gets to experience it too.
I love this book.
September 16, 2021
The story revolves around slavery and all the horrible things that have happened to children at a very young age. The book starts off well with story being built around the dreams but as you move further in the book the plot seems very predictable which more then being haunted is more like a story being told.
The story is no doubt good and the reality with what has happened in slavery but was accepting more from the writing .Some parts were difficult to Read and Understand.
But hats off to the author to bring out a story which is very difficult to understand the pain and horror of slavery.But it needed more to it then just the part where she needs her story to be told and all the people around are her descendants.
Thank you.
The story is no doubt good and the reality with what has happened in slavery but was accepting more from the writing .Some parts were difficult to Read and Understand.
But hats off to the author to bring out a story which is very difficult to understand the pain and horror of slavery.But it needed more to it then just the part where she needs her story to be told and all the people around are her descendants.
Thank you.
November 8, 2021
This is the first book in a new series and it's a pretty short one (so I won't say too much and give anything away), making it great for reading over the spooky season and despite its short size, it packs a punch!
We follow our main character, travel writer Simone Doucet who takes on an assignment at Natchez, mississippi on a b&b and finds herself having terrible nightmares and being visited by the spirit of Delphine who was a slave.
For such a short book the authors character building is great and you want to learn more about the story. It's got some hard to read moments due to the subject matter of slavery, and some pretty creepy scenes.
All round this was a great first book and I want to know what the series has in store.
We follow our main character, travel writer Simone Doucet who takes on an assignment at Natchez, mississippi on a b&b and finds herself having terrible nightmares and being visited by the spirit of Delphine who was a slave.
For such a short book the authors character building is great and you want to learn more about the story. It's got some hard to read moments due to the subject matter of slavery, and some pretty creepy scenes.
All round this was a great first book and I want to know what the series has in store.
July 10, 2021
Thanks to Booktasers and E. Denise Billups for giving me this book to read for free
I was really hooked right from the beginning I started reading it, the book is all about a girl named Simone trying to figure out her dreams which is linked to her mother who recently died.
Simone is a travel writer who is assigned a new job by her boss to a city. Something about her nightmare drives her more in accepting the job.
I like how everything links to each other in this book, it was well thought of and it wasn't a long read. I'm really excited for the rest of the series, I honestly can't wait
I was really hooked right from the beginning I started reading it, the book is all about a girl named Simone trying to figure out her dreams which is linked to her mother who recently died.
Simone is a travel writer who is assigned a new job by her boss to a city. Something about her nightmare drives her more in accepting the job.
I like how everything links to each other in this book, it was well thought of and it wasn't a long read. I'm really excited for the rest of the series, I honestly can't wait
August 14, 2021
I might have said this before, my point of reference for the American Civil War, and Slavery is Gone With The Wind. And as I read more historical fiction about that period in time, I begin to realise how limited my perspective was.
This book sheds light on a concentration camp in the aftermath of the American Civil War - Devil's Punchbowl, located in Natchez, Mississippi.
Told through the ordeals of one young woman - Delphine... this story will break your heart... and definitely needs to be heard. It was the heart rending reality of thousands of freed slaves who set out in search of freedom, only to find disease, starvation, and death.
This book sheds light on a concentration camp in the aftermath of the American Civil War - Devil's Punchbowl, located in Natchez, Mississippi.
Told through the ordeals of one young woman - Delphine... this story will break your heart... and definitely needs to be heard. It was the heart rending reality of thousands of freed slaves who set out in search of freedom, only to find disease, starvation, and death.
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