The Saints of Swallow Hill: Sneak Peek

by Donna Everhart

In this advance sneak peek of Donna Everhart's lyrical new novel, set against the background of the Great Depression, she evokes the complexities of the heart and the gritty fascination of the American South in a powerful story of courage, survival, and friendship . . .In the dense pine forests of North Carolina, turpentiners labor, hacking into tree trunks to draw out the sticky sap that gives the Tar Heel State its nickname, and hauling the resin to stills to be refined. Among them is Rae Lynn Cobb and her husband, Warren, who run a small turpentine farm together.Though the work is hard and often dangerous, Rae Lynn, who spent her childhood in an orphanage, is thankful for it--and for her kind if careless husband. When Warren falls victim to his own negligence, Rae Lynn undertakes a desperate act of mercy. To keep herself from jail, she disguises herself as a man named "Ray" and heads to the only place she can think of that might offer anonymity--a turpentine camp in Georgia named Swallow Hill.Swallow Hill is no easy haven. The camp is isolated and squalid, and commissary owner Otis Riddle takes out his frustrations on his browbeaten wife, Cornelia. Although Rae Lynn works tirelessly, she becomes a target for Crow, the ever-watchful woods rider who checks each laborer's tally. Delwood Reese, who's come to Swallow Hill hoping for his own redemption, offers "Ray" a small measure of protection, and is determined to improve their conditions. As Rae Lynn forges a deeper friendship with both Del and Cornelia, she begins to envision a path out of the camp. But she will have to come to terms with her past, with all its pain and beauty, before she can open herself to a new life and seize the chance to begin again. 

Genres: Fiction

72 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2021

About the author

Donna Everhart is a USA Today bestselling author known for vividly evoking the challenges of the heart and the complex heritage of the American South in her acclaimed novels When the Jessamine Grows, The Saints of Swallow Hill, The Moonshiner’s Daughter, The Forgiving Kind, The Road to Bittersweet, and The Education of Dixie Dupree.

She is the recipient of the prestigious SELA Outstanding Southeastern Author Award from the Southeastern Library Association and her novels have received a SIBA Okra Pick, an Indie Next Pick, and two Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books selections.

Born and raised in Raleigh, she has stayed close to her hometown for much of her life and now lives just an hour away in Dunn, North Carolina. Please visit Donna Everhart online at DonnaEverhart.com.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review
☕☕☕☕☕

The Saints of Swallow Hill.
By Donna Everhart.

The Queen of Southern suspense. My favorite author in this gene. This is my second Book By Everhart I feel her books have a place on Lifetime.

This is my favorite type of Southern suspense set in the great depression time. The years goes back. With so much history..

Ray Lynn,
Grew up in a Orphanage. Life for Ray Lynn wasn't always easy got harder as she went on . But meeting Warren, changed things for a while.. getting married having your own place.
then thigs happen and everything changes.... Not everything will be great but ray Lynn will make the best of what she has..

Del,
A young man not wanting to be with family but on his own. Coming and going as he pleases, One day things don't work out for him at the grain mill.. That could have been catastrophe. Now hes seeing things differently.

Del meets Ray Cobb At Swallow hill, A place where they both end up working.. 2 guys just looking for work.. Though things don't appear to be what they seem. Gotta boss who is angry at the world hes got a sweat Box likes to put everybody in it that's the scary thing.. Working like a dog haven't got much to eat life is hard at swallow hill...

Honestly love every book I've read by this author and so far that's only been too but going to read the rest of her stories she is just an amazing author I would give this Author 10 stars if I could..

Thank you Donna Everhart 🌹🌹

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Donna Everhart is telling a story and it's good. No spoilers here, but in this generous sneak peek, she has already introduced fully developed characters, filled us in on historically correct details, given good descriptions of the areas where the people are and even included a shout out to Nabs crackers. When I reached the end of the sneak peek and had to hit next page on Kindle, I knew it was about to end and was saying to myself "no, no, no!" and that's exactly where it ended. I cannot wait to add this new fifth book to my collection of four when it is published.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh nooooo. Don't keep me hanging! I need to know what happens next!
I hope I get an ARC of this book. I dont know if I can wait till 2022 to read it!
6 chapters of a speak peak is great, but I want more more more!!!!
Up to now its 5 star for me!
Thanks for the speak peak

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Sneak Peek has me wanting to learn more of life at Swallow Hill . Even this small snippet opens up a new world to me and I can't wait to read more so I would be keen to read the entire book and write a review

[Katharine D. Helfman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too short

The story was intriguing but ended way too soon and with no conclusion. It leaves the reader feeling cheated and wondering what would have been the rest of the story. Very disappointed

[Rebecca Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the sample on Kensington books, I am so looking forward to reading The Saints Of Swallow Hill! Donna Everhart sure can write some amazing reads!

[Mary Muse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 star read. This one tugged at my heart all the way through. Rae Lynn Cobb is such a strong female character. Cornelia as well! I love how they became best friends, so sweet and a great story of friendship. Cornelia’s passing had me in tears. Their friendship started with hope and understanding that men can be trash. This book is a good story about how it really probably was in work camps in that time. Brutal, savage and sad. Peewee, Del, Rae, and Cornelia are the Saints of Swallow Hill.

[Gina Wiseman]

DNF 13%
N.I

[Bobbie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rae Lynn and her husband, Warren own a small turpentine farm in North Carolina. Warren has a tragic accident and dies. Rae Lynn knows she needs to find work, because it is the height of the great depression, and her husband has left the house to to his son by another woman. Rae disguises herself as a man and heads for a large turpentine camp in Georgia where she hopes she can find employment. It's hard work and she keeps to herself to hide a great secret. She doesn't expect the pure evil of the woods rider, Crow

[Carla Suto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna Everhart has another winner here! After reading the sneak peek chapters of THE SAINTS OF SWALLOW HILL, I am already hooked on this gripping and atmospheric story set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in the South. I can’t wait to read the whole novel to learn of the journeys of Rae Lynn Cobb, Del Reese and the other characters. I know I will love it as I have all of Donna Everhart’s books.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't know this was a sneak peek!
You read a few chapters about Del, Rae Lynn and Warren. Got a little peek as to how they lived and survived.
Then boom something major happens and the sneak peek is over. Like I mentioned I didn't this was a sneak peek. I will read the whole book after my current read. Let me tell you, I hope it's a good one because it seems Rae Lynn might be in for it. Del, after his little accident seems like he might be on the straight and narrow.

[Elizabeth Sanguedolce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong Characterization Facinates

Donna Everhart brings a detailed look at individuals who are historically interesting as well as personally intriguing. This book is a fascinating look at what makes people tick. I'm very invested in this story and can't imagine the outcome. I'm hooked!

[Pat Mathias · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is so rare that I start a book and put it down unfinished. I gave it three stars to be fair to the author. I just couldn't handle nonstop cruelty and hopelessness. I did check out other reviews to support my decision one way or the other and the negatives won out.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait to read it!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the preview, can't wait until I have the whole story! Love all of Donna Everhart's books.

[Beth Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book that kept you reading from page to page until you are tired and have to go to sleep. Very informative of history. A great book. Highly recommend.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting bit of history! I’m from VA, just over the border from NC, so it was neat to read local historical fiction. I’d never before heard of turpentine camps

[Donna Lange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Very informative about something I knew nothing about, the turpentine industry, but also a wonderful love story & a villain you just loved to hate. Very different & fun!