The Librarian's Journey: 4 Historical Romances

by Patty Smith Hall, Cynthia Hickey, Marilyn Turk

A brave fight for literacy during the Great DepressionFour women set out on horseback to bring the library to remote communities

Part of FDR’s New Deal was the Works Progress Administration, which funded the Pack Horse Library Initiative. Ride along with four book-loving women who bravely fight for literacy in remote communities during the Great Depression by carrying library books via horseback. Will their efforts be rewarded by finding love in the process?

Love’s Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey
1936, Ozark Mountains
Grace Billings jumped at the chance to be a traveling librarian, but she didn’t anticipate the long days of work, the intense poverty, or the handsome new schoolteacher whose love for the mountain people surpasses even her own.

In This Moment by Patty Smith Hall
1936, Pine Mountain, Georgia
Forced out of her nursing job due to budget cuts, Ruth Sims applies for a position with the Pack Horse Library incentive, only to discover she must go to the one place she swore never to return. The children instantly steal her heart with their thirst for books, and she’s happy in her post until she meets their teacher, Will Munroe—the man who broke her heart. 

Book Lady of the Bayou by Marilyn Turk
1936, Mississippi
Forced out of her comfort zone, Lily Bee Davis travels by mule or boat taking books to remote areas. When she meets little Evie and her reclusive father at dilapidated plantation house, she is drawn by their losses and longs to draw them out into life again. 

The Lawman and the Librarian by Kathleen Y’Barbo
1936, Kentucky
Lottie Trent connects with a backwoods bully’s wife by secretly carrying messages for her in exchange for books. FBI agent Clayton Turnbow is on the trail of a criminal gang and discovers the packhorse librarian maybe a key member. 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Christian Fiction, Christian Romance, Christian, Historical

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2021

About the author

The author of over 30 books and novellas, Patty lives near the North Georgia Mountains with her husband, Danny. When she's not writing, she's spending time with her family or playing with her two grandsons. Connecting with people who love to read as much as she does is one of her favorite things!.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three sweet, very quick stories about packhorse librarians in inventive locations, along with one more mysterious selection set in the more traditional setting for the WPA program. The first three were a little on the too quick and predictable side for me, but the last one had a little more spice and vigor that made it a great way to end this collection!

I would have to say Love’s Turning Page had the sweetest romance. It was also the most descriptive of the Great Depression. It would’ve made a great full-length novel.

In This Moment had some very interesting characters. I liked the angle of using the packhorse librarian position to show Ruth, a nurse, how she could help her community. Wrapped up too quickly, another 20 pages would’ve done wonders here.

Book Lady of the Bayou really focused on the job part, and the secondary characters are delicious! I loved Joseph and Mary. The only drawback is that because of those things, the romance was crazy rushed and contrived, even though the main characters were both great.

The Lawman and the Librarian was a fun change! I loved the premise! I do wish the intrigue was a tad more fleshed out, I got confused once or twice. I liked it though, I wanted to read it through from the moment I started.

After fleshing out my thoughts, I think I could’ve enjoyed all these stories a lot more if the authors had each been given just a couple extra chapters. I usually can give a lot of leeway to novellas with rushing and cramming, but it was a little much in these.


I received a free copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kremena Koleva · Rating 3 out of 5]

" Losing hope was a terrible thing... "

С The Librarian's Journey попаднах на любимата си тема - пътуващите библиотекарки на САЩ през 30 - те години на миналия век. Четири исторически разказа, които ме зарадваха и осведомиха допълнително за правителствената програмата за образоване и ограмотяване в хаоса на Голямата депресия. Възхищавам се на тези жени и винаги, когато имам възможност, избирам такъв роман. А тук , в един сборник, имах 4 възможности. Разказите бяха като приказки, изпънени с приключения, романтика и искрена любов към четенето. Мисля, че всеки, който страстно е отдаден на книгите, с удоволствие ще иска да споделя и да радва други хора. Да запалиш някого по четенето е сякаш мисия за всеки читател. А във времена, когато освен труд и мисъл за прехрана и оцеляване, сякаш хората не са имали време за забавление, книгата е била празник. Често невъзможен за мнозина. Заради отдалечеността на библиотеките, заради затворените училища или заради неумението да четат. Дори разглеждането на снимки в списанията или на картинки в книгите е запълвало жаждата на планинците за информация и знания. Но в такива несигурни времена и места, една жена да се качи на кон или магаре, да вземе куп книги и да тръгне по пътищата, които понякога направо липсват, през мочурища, сечища, гори и кози пътеки, за да среща непознати в различен стадий на гостоприемство и любезност, трябва да е изисквало нещо повече от отпусканата заплата. Освен страст към книгите и загриженост за другите, не знам какво би било то.
С The Librarian's Journey се смях на чувството за хумор на автори и на герои, попаднах на различни типове жени, по различна причина включили се в програмата. Но във всеки разказ се усещаше удовлетворението от създаването на общност. Макар и разхвърляни по била, хълмове, поляни и сред горите, онова, което свързваше планинските хора, бяха момичетата на коне с дисаги, пълни с книги и със сърца, изградени от съпричастност и доброта. Къде ти сега такова нещо? Макар че имаме по няколко коли под ръка, пак ни е трудно да отделим време да предложим внимание и подкрепа на ближния.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After completing and loving the first novella in this collection of four, I had to stop myself from impulse buying a paperback copy to own. I wanted to make sure I would like most or all of the stories before buying. Needless to say, I placed my order halfway through the third. Each story was unique and exciting. I loved learning about the historical, brave book ladies. Love's Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey was my favorite of the four because I liked the main characters best. The fourth novella, The Librarian and the Lawman, was also a close contender. The story was structured so it seemed more like a full length novel. I plan to read more from each of these ladies in the future. If you enjoy historical romance with a little adventure, I recommend giving this collection a try.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Pegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical romance collection themed around the packhorse librarians of the Great Depression. It's a fun read. My favorite was For Such a Time by Patty Smith Hall. That story introduced the real-life character of Cason Callaway! (Great Lakes boatnerds will know that name!) And it was a charming story about choices in hard times. I also really enjoyed the last story, The Librarian and the Lawman by Kathleen Y'Barbo, which had a bit of a mystery to it. Well worth reading!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

It hasn't been that long ago that I reviewed a book about the WPA horseback librarian program in the Appalachians. In the last year or so, it has become more common to write about this obscure part of history. It is fascinating to read history woven into fiction and this was such a great topic to tackle in that regard. Some of the authors in this collection of stories took liberties with the settings of the actual history of the program, but the novellas are still enjoyable.

It saddened me to see that one of the authors passed away and another author stepped in to write the story in her stead. Darlene Franklin is a favorite writer and her loss will leave a hole in the world of Christian fiction. My thanks go to Kathleen Y'Barbo for stepping in and doing an admirable job of filling her shoes.

All of the novellas are enjoyable to read and will while away a too-hot afternoon (I'm currently in a heatwave of epic proportions), especially with a glass of iced tea at the ready.

The horseback librarian program took books to the most rural areas to encourage literacy and learning for families who had no other way to get to town to borrow books from the library. The people were poor but proud and it was hard for some to accept that the books were not charity, but something that was available to everyone.

A couple of these novellas offer second chances between youthful sweethearts and grown-up love with a bit of intrigue thrown in for good measure, others are just the sweetness of love that grows from friendship.

In some respects, Dolly Parton has taken a page out of President Roosevelt's book and is providing books to children to encourage a love of reading and learning. All a parent or grandparent or friend has to do is sign the child up on this website.

Four strong stars.

Barbour Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed quite a few of the Barbour collections, and especially like the opportunity to try new-to-me authors. I liked learning about FDR’s Packhorse Librarian Initiative, one of the creative programs created under his New Deal. Each story has a unique premise and presents a different aspect and geographical area. Love’s Turning Page has wonderful characters along Grace’s route, and the romance between her and Anthony unfolds naturally as they find common ground after a rocky start because of his opinion about the program. Each of them grow and develop and learn to appreciate the other’s point of view. In For Such a Time Ruth is a nurse, and I was fascinated how she uses her skills to supplement her job as she visits the folks in remote areas. She doesn’t push herself or her knowledge onto them, but still manages to help them in many ways as she gains their trust. The second-chance-romance aspect of the story was fun. Book Lady of the Bayou takes the reader to the swamps, and thanks to vivid description and dialogue, I could imagine the sights and smells of the marshland. Lily Bee finds courage to do her job, and I loved seeing the difference she made in people’s lives. The Librarian and the Lawman was a mystery, and I had fun trying to solve it (I was partially successful!). The topic of mental illness is handled with sensitivity and realism and adds depth to the story. A heart-warming collection of stories.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of stories about Packhorse Librarians in rural Appalachia during the Great Depression. These librarians were hired to ride out into the very rural areas and bring books for people to read to inspire literacy. It was part of a WPA program funded by the US Government to give people job opportunities.



What I enjoy about these types of books is that each story is a comfortable length for sitting and reading all at once. I recommend this book to those who want a quick, satisfying read.



I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion

[Melmo2610 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic collection for my library and book loving self. I really enjoyed these historical packhorse librarian romances. Good stories and fun characters make this a novella collection not to be missed!

[linda hole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read

[Riella Cristobal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of stories about the traveling librarians of the early 1900s, The Librarian's Journey consists of Love’s Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey, For Such a Time by Patty Smith Hall, Book Lady of the Bayou by Marilyn Turk, and The Librarian and the Lawman by Kathleen Y’Barbo. It is a piece of history that I have never heard of, and I was so excited to read it! I actually saw it through bookstagram which is cool! Each of these stories is about the women's journey, how they grew and found their place within a difficult and changing world, as well as how they find love. Each story was different, but they were all so enjoyable to read. I mean what bookworm hasn't thought about being a librarian at one point or another?
Love's Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey
Grace and her family live in the Ozark mountains amidst the Great Depression. With a large family, times are tight. When a position as a traveling librarian opens up, Grace jumps at the opportunity. But there are dangers and secrets in the mountains, Grace will need to find help from the local schoolteacher. I really liked Grace and her family. It was fun to see how close they were and how they supported one another. Grace was very relatable, doing her best to work hard and help out her family. I enjoyed reading about all the interesting characters she met along her route too! Anthony was also a sweetheart! He really wanted people to learn and was willing to help. Even though he was also trying to keep his focus on work, he was interested in Grace. They both had to get past what they thought that their futures should look like, especially once their hearts got involved. There were also some suspenseful parts of the story that Grace and Anthony went through, which gave the story a bit more excitement.
For Such a Time by Patty Smith Hall
Ruth Sims is disappointed to be back in her hometown working as a traveling librarian after losing her nursing position in Atlanta. She feels aimless and adrift. Having to work alongside her one-time fiance doesn’t make it any easier, especially with so much unresolved history. As they seek to aid their community with books and medical care, they also have to re-evaluate their lives and hearts. This one had a little bit of angst. Ruthie and Will were both dealing with past hurts and secrets. Neither was quite where they thought they would be and were adjusting to the changes of their lives. I was a little frustrated with Ruthie because she seemed a bit stuck in what she thought that her life should look like. But it was sweet to watch how her community (and Will!) changed her mind and helped her see that she could have a future there. Will was also very sweet, I loved his family!
Book Lady of the Bayou by Marilyn Turk
In the bayou of Mississippi, Lily Bee Davis travels to the remote areas by horse and boat to bring books as a traveling librarian. Coming upon a little girl named Evie and her reclusive father in a run-down plantation pulls at her heart, she hopes to help them find life and light again. This one was cute too! I love children and families in stories, so this appealed to me right off the bat. Evie was really cute and she took to Lily so fast. It was really sweet the way that the whole community took to Lily. That was an element that I enjoyed in all of the stories actually, the connections each woman made along her trail. Lily’s grandpa was also such a lovely character, I loved his faith. I also enjoyed how they all grew and went outside of their comfort zones, and found blessings through it.
The Librarian and the Lawman by Kathleen Y’Barbo
Lottie Trent finds more excitement than she expects when she connects with the wife of a backwoods bully and starts carrying messages for her in exchange for the books she carries. But FBI agent Clayton, who is on the trail of a criminal gang is also looking for answers and Lottie might be one of them. I enjoyed the second chance romance in this one, it was really sweet. It is always nice for the couple to have some prior history, it feels like the romance has more to help it move along. This one had more of a suspense element with Clay being an FBI agent and the investigation. It was fun to read about! The characters were really fun to read about, I enjoyed their dynamic. It was cool to read about the FBI back then because it is not something I usually see in historical fiction.
Overall, this was a fun collection! I generally enjoy anthologies and this theme was especially fun! Like I said, I have always had a dream of being a librarian and I liked the community aspect of these stories with the librarian’s trails. I would recommend this to those who enjoy historical fiction with romance and some had a bit of suspense too! This is clean with faith elements.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

[Aminata Coote · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Love’s Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey

Living in the Ozark Mountains during the Depression was tough. So when Grace Billings gets the chance to work as a traveling librarian she jumped at the chance. So what if the handsome new teacher Anthony Lawrence thinks it's a job better suited for a man?
This was a sweet story showing how the love of books and storyteller can be the catalyst to unite people. It also showed there are some people who are always willing to take advantage of others inspire of the circumstances.
I liked how the romance between Anthony and Grace unfolded as they served their community. Readers will be reminded that God is always with them working things out for their good.

For Such a Time by Patty Smith Hall
When Ruth Sims lost her job as a nurse in an Atlanta hospital and has to return home, she doesn't understand why. Especially she has to work with Will Munroe, the man who had broken her heart six years earlier.
As a traveling librarian, Ruth finds ways to use her skills as a nurse to serve her small mountain community. Working with her, Will is also able to use his gifts to serve the children of Pine Mountain.
The banter between Ruth and Will was fun and both of them had to make adjustments as they accommodated for the gifting and choices of the other person.
This second-chance romance was a reminder that God's timing is perfect and that His plan doesn't always align with ours.

Book Lady of the Bayou by Marilyn Turk
When Lily Bee Davis is offered the job as traveling librarian, she jumps at the chance. As someone who lived books, she was excited for the chance to share that opportunity with others.
Lamar Stewart is a former concert pianist who had become reclusive after his wife died.
It was obvious that Lily Bee loved her job and the people were receptive of the service that she provided as a traveling librarian.
I liked watching Lily Bee's international with the people on her route and with Evie but didn't really feel that there was enough contact between herself and Lamar to justify a romance.
Still, this was a clean, sweet read that will remind readers that God is always listening and always has a plan.
The Librarian and the Lawman
When Clay confesses his love for Lottie at age seventeen and expresses a desire to court her, she knew things wouldn't work out. Her family had secrets that could destroy everything. When they meet again ten years later, things are different but will these two have a second chance?


I liked Lottie's determination to not let fear rule her life and her willingness to believe that God would protect her. Clay's passing for his job and his desire to protect Lottie were sweet.

The Librarian and the Lawman is a second-chance romance that has a hint of mystery. The focus of the story was more on uncovering the mystery than showcasing the romance but you'll still get a sense of how the characters felt about each other.
Readers will be reminded that Gid has a plan for their lives but it will unfold in His timing and not theirs.


Overall review
It was interesting to learn about these brave women who traveled into the potentially dangerous  hill country to deliver books to those who wouldn't have had access otherwise.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.

[Ebosereme Nwamu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love's Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey.

To say I enjoyed this this book would be an understatement. I loved every bit of it. The author did an amazing job. The story further strengthen the fact that books are an amazing way to living life. I loved how Grace and Anthony used books to change people's lives and open them up to endless opportunities.

For Such A Time by Patty Smith Hall.

This was a delight!

Love lost and love found again. Will and Ruthie's story was touching. I loved the restoration I read about and how books transform lives.

Book Lady Of The Bayou by Marilyn Turk

Lily Bee brought light into the lives of people through the books she took to them. Her's and Lamar's love story was a classic. They were brought together by the power of books of love of God that always prevails.

The Librarian And The Lawman by Kathleen Y'Barbo.

Exciting mystery and intrigue in this one. I liked how Lottie and Clay got to be together. Beautiful story.


Wonderful, heartwarming and inspiring stories.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Evangeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to FDR's Pack Horse Library Initiative during the Great Depression, women had the opportunity to work for $28 a month delivering books to rural communities. The four stories in this collection were eye-opening and provided a look into a time when times were bleak, 1 in 4 people were jobless, and few women had the chance to work outside the home. Although all four stories are about traveling women librarians, they each brought to the table different bits of information about the WPA program and different experiences had by the heroines of the stories.

Love's Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey

What happens when two people, who adamantly claim they have no interest in getting married, are thrown together by their passion in caring for mountain people? Grace is a spitfire who dreams of being a career-woman and balks at marriage the more she's pushed towards it. Anthony is set on his new career as a schoolteacher and no, he isn't totally Mr. Perfect; his archaic ideas about women being homemakers is a sore topic between the both of them.

This story is set in the Ozarks rather than the Appalachia where most of FDA's program was carried out, but you'd barely notice the difference in scenery. Whenever I think of the Appalachians, I think of moonshine and poverty, two elements that are present in Love's Turning Page. The only thing missing is Ozark English, a dialect present in the Ozark region, akin to Appalachian English, which is present in the Appalachians.

Although Love's Turning Page is a short story, the plot isn't rushed. Significant details pertaining to life in 1936 are included; I could imagine someone in 1936 winning a glass bottle of Coca-Cola in a three-legged race or eating chipped beef toast for dinner. However, these details are not overly-done nor do they get in the way of the storyline.

There's also sociological insight given regarding family life during the Great Depression. Prior to reading this story, I knew textbook facts about the Great Depression, but I never thought much about how it affected marriages or family dynamics. There are a few mentions in Love's Turning Page about how some family men left their wives and homes either to look for jobs elsewhere or because they were too embarrassed about not being able to provide for the family any longer (the story called it a 'poor man's divorce'). The history buff in me savored these gleanings from the reading.

I've seen the name Hickory Hollow used in other books, but as always, it makes me think of a sleepy, quaint town where families cooked simple but delicious dishes and everyone knows everyone else's name. The Hickory Hollow in Love's Turning Page was the same in that aspect.

The one odd thing in this story were the repeat names. It's a little hard to scroll back to previous pages in an e-ARC, but I'm almost positive there are a couple repeat names: Hank and Mabel. I thought it was a little unusual of the author to reuse names for different characters even though they had vastly different personalities. It didn't affect the plot, but it was a tad bit strange.

In This Moment by Patty Smith Hall

This story is set in Georgia, and a few of the characters are friends of President Roosevelt. Cotton farms are mentioned and there's also a nod given to Roosevelt's polio condition. I was surprised by a brief mention of the famed Varsity restaurant in Atlanta. And since the setting is 1936, we also have the token mention of the female lead being told a woman's place is in a home.

My favorite scene was Ruthie and Will driving in his Model T. I imagined her wearing a dress, him wearing a suit, and both of them speaking in the twang we hear in old Hollywood movies. I also thought it was interesting how she only has to work 2 days a week, which kind of made sense because this story's library initiative isn't part of the official Roosevelt program.

Unfortunately, that's as far good as it gets because I had a very hard time liking the female main character, Ruthie. She's a nurse and with her masquerading as a librarian, the entire story seems more suited in a collection titled, 'The Nurse's Journey.' There was nothing "librarian" about her; her first instinct wasn't to read books to the children in the homes they visited, but to perform health check-ups on their occupants on the sly.

Not only that, she also often came across as judgmental, a know-it-all, and short-tempered. I love reading about spunky characters, but there is a huge difference between a spunky character and an irritable, b-word-that-shall-not-be-used character. Sometimes, books tend to reduce female main characters to hot-headed, closed-up people, and this story did just that. I was greatly disappointed. I want to read a story about a strong character who has faults just like any other human, but stories that play up the irrational woman trope aren't stories that I reread.

There were also double standards in the plot. The story highlighted the importance of nurses keeping patients' information confidential. And oh, how Ruthie fought to keep her patient's health needs confidential. But, even though she couldn't, wouldn't disclose to Will, her ex-boyfriend (also the town's schoolteacher and the real librarian in the story), the health problem another character had, she had no qualms telling her dad what the gist of the problem was a few hours later. And even though she self-righteously preaches about patient confidentiality, she gets miffed when she discovers Will didn't tell her about his mother's health problem.

Book Lady of the Bayou by Marilyn Turk

This story is set in Mississippi, and there are swamps and (former) cotton fields galore. Lily Bee loves books and works as a book restorer before she becomes the town's traveling librarian. Reading about her duties as a book restorer brought back memories of my summer job working in the university library. Like Lily Bee, I also had to repair books and I could identify with her sense of fulfillment after fixing a well-read book.

Her passion for reading is clear in the way she gets tingles just thinking about bringing books to people who don't have them. And in all honesty, she has got to really love books if she's putting up with traveling through a bayou that's home for alligators and other swampy creatures (including the mysterious Hoodoo creature that can't count to thirteen). The story has its comedic relief moments and I found myself chuckling while making my way through the chapters.

The diversity of the story's characters stuck out. All of them are so friendly and open, to the point of being gossipy. There are a few black characters, a cat called Mozart and of course, Lily Bee's love interest, Lamar, with the disheveled appearance, and his Shirley Temple-lookalike daughter, Evie. There are also bayou people who live in stilt houses and eat frog legs.

There are a couple social commentary points of note. It was interesting and sad to read how even back then, lumber companies were already destroying the ecosystem with careless logging or how cotton plantations wore out the ground by not rotating crops.

While reading all that made me feel angst, I had to smile when I read titles of books I read growing up, like Little Women or my all-time favorite, Anne of Green Gables. The one part that did not make me smile was Joseph's comment about how dressing immodestly causes men to fall in sin. I had to pause and wonder if that comment was a reflection of the thought back then or if it was the author's voice coming into play.

There was also something else that made me wonder if it reflected behavior back then. Maude, the black housekeeper in Lamar's family plantation house, always stays at the door of whichever family room Lamar and Evie are in, rather than joining them in the room. Even in regency novels, servants, particularly nannies, don't stand at the doorway but stand closer to their young charges.

My favorite quote comes from Miss Ida, the town's librarian: "(Books are) educational food to feed their minds." I thought that quite neatly summed up what should have been the mission statement of workers in the Pack Horse Library Initiative. When one doesn't have the resources to provide food or clothes for others, bringing joy into their lives through books and education is an alternative.

The Librarian and the Lawman by Kathleen Y'Barbo

This story is set in West Virginia and Kentucky. Unlike the other 3 stories, this story has a strong mystery element. The mystery begins right from the first couple pages when it's hinted that something happened to Charlotte Rose's family when she was 12 years old. When the story opens in 1925, Charlotte, known as Lottie, is 15 years old and her beau, Clay, is 17 years old. A couple chapters later, it's 1936 and both of them are living separate lives after their budding relationship was thwarted by her father 11 years earlier.

I found it odd that it took Lottie's parents more than a decade to tell their adult daughter what happened when she was 12. Sure, I could understand not telling her when she was 15 and still growing up, but to belligerently hold on to it and intentionally live lives of fear for years and years? Even when she was told the secret, it was her mom who caved and revealed what it was after Lottie pleaded to know. Lottie's father, like most of the other men in the story, was an authoritarian figure living a life of cowardice.

The male characters in The Librarian and the Lawman left much to be desired. They were all quite frustrating to read about, from her dad who thinks his adult daughter incapable of handling the truth about their past, to Chester from the post office who refuses to acknowledge the dangers of her delivery route, to the sheriff who doesn't offer to ride with her on a dangerous trip, to Stanton from the FBI who hard-headedly doesn't want to consider advice from those working for him.

Infuriating characters aside, I enjoyed the mystery and suspense in the story. While the other books in The Librarian's Journey focused a lot on the book delivery aspect, this story was mainly about the good guys trying to catch the FBI's target. However, after chapters of waiting for a grand resolution, I was rather disappointed when the resolution was a mere whimper rather than the anticipated bang.

There were a couple of factual discrepancies in the story. First, when the story moved to 1936, it's written that Lottie just celebrated her 24th birthday. I was a little confused and double-checked the dates. If she was 15 in 1925, she'd be 26 in 1936. Second, towards the end of the story, Lottie tells Myrtle that she has the latter's jar of honey and will give it to her later. A dozen pages earlier, it was noted that Lottie placed Myrtle's jar of honey in the drop-off location, a tree stump.

Although the mystery was central in this book, the author still manages to weave in nuggets of information about packhorse librarians, such as how some of them created scrapbooks for their patrons when there weren't enough books for everyone or how some of these women doubled up as mail carriers as well.

Disclaimer: Thanks, Barbour Publishing, for a free copy of The Librarian's Journey in exchange for an honest review.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Librarian's Journey
4 Historical Romances
by Patty Smith Hall, Cynthia Hickey, Marilyn Turk, Kathleen Y'Barbo
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Rating: 3
Back of the Book: “A brave fight for literacy during the Great Depression four women set out on horseback to bring the library to remote communities
Part of FDR’s New Deal was the Works Progress Administration, which funded the Pack Horse Library Initiative. Ride along with four book-loving women who bravely fight for literacy in remote communities during the Great Depression by carrying library books via horseback. Will their efforts be rewarded by finding love in the process?
Love’s Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey
1936, Ozark Mountains
Grace Billings jumped at the chance to be a traveling librarian, but she didn’t anticipate the long days of work, the intense poverty, or the handsome new schoolteacher whose love for the mountain people surpasses even her own.
In This Moment by Patty Smith Hall
1936, Pine Mountain, Georgia
Forced out of her nursing job due to budget cuts, Ruth Sims applies for a position with the Pack Horse Library incentive, only to discover she must go to the one place she swore never to return. The children instantly steal her heart with their thirst for books, and she’s happy in her post until she meets their teacher, Will Munroe—the man who broke her heart.
Book Lady of the Bayou by Marilyn Turk
1936, Mississippi
Forced out of her comfort zone, Lily Bee Davis travels by mule or boat taking books to remote areas. When she meets little Evie and her reclusive father at a dilapidated plantation house, she is drawn by their losses and longs to draw them out into life again.
The Lawman and the Librarian by Kathleen Y’Barbo
1936, Kentucky
Lottie Trent connects with a backwoods bully’s wife by secretly carrying messages for her in exchange for books. FBI agent Clayton Turnbow is on the trail of a criminal gang and discovers the packhorse librarian maybe a key member.
My Thoughts: As this is four different authors and stories, I will comment on them each.
Love’s Turning Page- The romance in this story was a little too quick for me. The characters were still trying to get to know one another and just like that Anthony was calling Grace “darlin” and “sweetheart.” It felt too swift of a romance for me when the characters had no prior history together. I also didn’t care for this statement from Anthony, “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying each other’s company and seeing what happens.” For context, they had just shared a kiss so it was confusing as to what their relationship meant to him. I believe kisses are more special than, “let’s see what happens.”
In This Moment- This was a sweet inspirational romance.
Book Lady of the Bayou- I did not care for this story and ended up skimming through it. I didn’t care for the characters. The story felt boring, there was no sparks.
The Lawman and the Librarian- This was the best story in this collection. I enjoyed the characters, plot, and suspense. It had a good backstory to make the shortness of the novella work.
Inspirational Thoughts: “‘How can I trust God any more than I already do?’ The older woman’s hand covered hers. ‘Instead of worrying about a job, ask Him (Jesus) for direction. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this life, it’s that God has a greater plan for me than I ever imagined. He’ll provide your needs.’”
I received an ARC copy of this book via the publisher in exchange for my honest review shared here.

[Ayla Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Librarian's Journey is a collection of novellas that tell the tales of four packhorse librarians during the Great Depression. Each of these brave women fought many challenges in an effort to bring literacy and knowledge to the mountain people they hold close to their hearts.

The first novella, Love's Turning Page, introduces us to Grace Billings. Grace had no idea what she was really signing up for when she took a job as a travelling librarian. She only wanted to help the people around her experience the books she loved so much, and help out her family while she was at it. She had no idea that the mountain people, and the handsome schoolteacher, would completely capture her heart. I really enjoyed this one. Grace bravely faced every challenge that came her way, and Anthony's love for the people (and Grace) was sweet to see.

For Such A Time is the second story, and my personal favourite. Ruth Sims thought she had left the mountain life behind for good when she left to become a nurse. However, recent job cuts have sent her back to the hills where she grew up, and she's left with no other option than to take a job as a packhorse librarian. Imagine her surprise when she finds herself working with the man who stole her heart, only to leave it shattered on the ground when she left. I loved Will and Ruth's story. Despite the pain they shared, they kept their faith strong and found their way past the secrets that had hurt them so deeply while also working together to bring a love of reading to the people around them.

The third novella is Book Lady of the Bayou. Lily Bee Davis finds life as a book lady much more difficult than she'd imagine. Travelling through swamps on horseback and even taking a few boat rides, she does her best to bring literacy to the people of the bayou. On one of her trips, she meets a sweet little girl named Evie who lives at a rundown plantation with her reclusive musician father. Lily Bee is smitten with both Evie and her father immediately and wants nothing more than to help them find joy again. Personally, I struggled with this one. I felt like it was very rushed and the characters fell in love unrealistically quickly.

Finally, The Librarian and the Lawman wraps up this little collection quite nicely. Lottie Trent has always been hiding from something, but that all changes when she finally uncovers the family secret and takes a job as a librarian. She never dreamed her new job would bring her face-to-face with a backwoods bully or that her long-lost love would suddenly reappear in her life. But Clay isn't the young boy she fell in love with any longer. He has become an FBI agent, and he's hot on the tail of a gang located somewhere in the nearby mountains. I really enjoyed this novella. The plot was interesting and easy to follow, and although I quickly figured out who was behind the gang, I was surprised by some of the twists.

All in all, The Librarian's Journey is a fantastic collection. As a major bookworm myself, I've always been fascinated by the idea of a packhorse librarian and read as many novels about it as I can find. If you enjoy historical fiction or just love a good story about books, you won't want to miss this one.

*I received a complimentary copy of The Librarian's Journey through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Librarian's Journey is a novella collection published by Barbour. It contains four novellas--all historical romance. The theme is FDR's pack horse librarian program part of the Works Progress Administration during the Depression. Essentially, librarians traveling in country/rural areas where bookmobiles did not/could not go.

Overall, the book collection only gets better and better as you go along. I would rate the first story as two stars. The second as three stars. The third as four stars. The fourth as five stars. I am glad the stories were arranged this way.

Love's Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey is set in the Ozark Mountains. FDR's program technically didn't serve this area/community. So the author took a few liberties. I wouldn't have minded those liberties with location, but, I wasn't a fan of the story overall. This book had...UNNECESSARY villains. Characters that serve absolutely no purpose whatsoever except to wear the bad guy villain hat and provide a cheap excuse for a hero to emerge as THE HERO and save the heroine. It's bad enough when a romance has one...but when a story has more than one...well...I have a hard time liking it. I also thought the hero wasn't all that likable.

For Such A Time by Patty Smith Hall is set in Georgia. Ruth Sims, our heroine, is a former nurse. She lost her job due to budget cuts due to the Depression. She never wanted to be "a librarian," but she needs a job. She's returned home to the community she grew up in, and she's reunited with a former love--now a school teacher. Reunited as in they are now working closely together to serve the community. She longs to serve the community...but as a nurse...not a librarian. Can this new job give her the opportunity to do a bit of both? I liked this story. I did.

Book Lady of the Bayou by Marilyn Turk is set in Mississippi. I really liked this story. Lily Bee Davis is the book woman. She meets a little girl, Evie, and Evie's reclusive father. (The father just happens to be super cute.) As she begins to serve the community, she loses her heart as well....I already mentioned I enjoyed this one. I thought the characters were well done. I loved that this story loves calling out certain books by name. Like Lily choosing The Velveteen Rabbit and Winnie the Pooh for Evie especially. Other titles are included as well for other patrons--I remember someone reading Little House in the Big Woods and maybe Pollyanna.

The Librarian and the Lawman by Kathleen Y'Barbo is set in West Virginia. It may just be my favorite and best from this collection. (Though I also really loved the third novella). Lottie Trent, the heroine, hasn't had the easiest life. Her family has secrets. Secrets BIG enough that they've had to change their name and move around a bit. Secrets that keep her parents a little jumpy and over-protective. Lottie falls in love--sorta instantly--with Clay Turnbow. Clay has declared his love and his intentions to marry her. She thought about it for like five minutes and was like WOW that would be great. Things didn't work out then--1925? 1926?--but ten years later when they are both in different places in their lives and careers...it might just. Clay is now an FBI agent going undercover...and Lottie is a book woman. I really loved this last story so much. I loved the characters and the plot.

[Terri Gillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four women. Four stories of bravery.

The Librarian’s Journey has four stories, in four locations, written by four gifted writers. With the heart of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, The Librarian’s Journey is a historical romance with a bit of suspense.

Set during the Great Depression, as part of FDR’s Works Progress Administration, four women are hired as Pack Horse Librarians and set out on horseback—or mule—to bring the library to remote and often dangerous communities.

Each author gives the reader a different insight into the trials and dangers of the Pack Horse Librarians. Each author sheds light on the silent and stoic bravery of these women. To think there were actually women who risked their lives for the sake of literacy is both inspiring and thought-provoking. I kept asking myself: What do I to risk helping others?

The first story, Love’s Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey, was one of my favorites. It gave me bits of history and of course, a believable love story.

For Such a Time by Patty Smith Hall, was another favorite. I hadn’t thought that taking such a potentially dangerous job was imperative for some families to put food on the table. What begins as just a job, turns into a love and appreciation for each family receiving a treasured book.

Book Lady of the Bayou by Marilyn Turk, had an altogether different flavor, but continued the insights into the bravery of the women who brought more than books to the secluded homes—they brought the world.

The Librarian and the Lawman by Kathleen Y’Barbo, had intrigue, suspense, and, of course, a love story.

The common thread within all these stories—and what was most endearing to me—were the recipients of the tattered and worn books and magazines. The families, especially the children, whose worlds were suddenly opened to possibilities. Evermore speaking to the power of good stories.

I highly recommend The Librarian’s Journey for those interested in good stories highlighting little-known times and heroes in history. And, of course, clean, believable romance.

I received an advance ebook from #Barbour the publisher and #Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

[Courtney | Soul of a Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for any story that talks about packhorse librarians. Blame it on my eastern Kentucky roots or my love of reading, but I will almost always want to read a book about these courageous people of our history. These four offerings all take place in different settings, which was fun!

“Love’s Turning Page” tells the story of Grace and Anthony. I loved how each caused the other to grow throughout the story, stretching their perspectives.

“In This Moment” tells Ruth and Will’s story, which was lovely. I enjoyed their interactions with each other as well as with the community. The shared history made for such a sweet story.

“Book Lady of the Bayou” is Lily Bee and Lamar’s story. I low-key loved this pairing AND this setting. Perhaps because I had just finished another book I loved that was set in Louisiana and my heart hadn’t quite left yet, but I wanted SO MUCH MORE of this story. I needed a full-length novel. I enjoyed what I was given, but man. I would have loved a slow, sweet development between Lamar and Lily Bee. I really enjoyed these characters and wanted to know more about them, especially Lamar and Evie and Maude and Mary and Joseph and the bayou people. There was just so much there to dive into and I felt a little robbed because we weren’t given the time to develop much depth. But this one was my favorite of the novellas for that very reason! It made me want more from the story.

“The Lawman and the Librarian” tells of Clay and Lottie’s story. I loved the setting and the idea of this novella. There was also a plot twist that I did not see coming, but I greatly appreciated!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed these stories! I recommend them for anyone who is fascinated by packhorse librarians or who enjoys shorter works of historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All expressed opinions belong to me.

[Betsy Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Librarian’s Journey is a compilation of four excellent books set in the Great Depression from Barbour Publishing. Cynthia Hickey wrote Love’s Turning Page which takes place in the Ozark Mountains. Grace Billings was delighted when she got the job as a traveling librarian. She knew she would be bringing joy in the delivery of the books and with the aid of the local schoolteacher, she was able to help them even more.
Patty Smith Hall wrote For Such a Time which took place in the Pine Mountain, Georgia. Having just lost her nursing job, Ruth Sims returns home to accept the job as the traveling librarian. Her nursing skills come into play for one of her readers.
Marilyn Turk delivers Book Lady of the Bayou. Borrowing a horse from her family, she sets out to deliver books throughout the county over many treacherous paths and swamps. One little girl captures her heart and so does her daddy.
Kathleen Y’Barbo brings us The Librarian and the Lawman. This starts out in WV but then the story moves to Kentucky years later when Lottie Bee Trent accepts the position of a traveling librarian for a small library in the hills of Kentucky. Her childhood flame has moved up to become an FBI agent tracking a criminal gang in the same area. The two must forget the past hurts and join forces to help each other.
This historical compilation was a great read about the packhorse librarians, and I highly recommend it.
I was given a free copy of this book for review and the opinion is my own. #TheLibrarian’sJourney #BarbourPublishing #CynthiaHickey #PattySmithHall #MarilynTurk #KathleenY’Barbo

[Robbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've recently become entranced by stories of librarians who ride pack horses (and sometimes pack mules). Many novels have been written about these brave women and their sometimes risky jobs. The Librarian's Journey tells the story of four fictional females and their motivations for becoming pack horse librarians, as well as the hardships they faced.

The women who worked as packhorse librarians were employed as part of the New Deal's Works Progress Administration (WPA). Although the program was officially limited to Kentucky, there were sponsors from other states, as indicated in a couple of the book's stories. These sponsors provided financial support to the young women who were fortunate enough to be chosen for the positions.

I enjoyed reading each story because they detailed the different personalities of the librarians and the terrain the ladies experienced. My heart ached, however, because practically everyone they serviced was impoverished and lived in abject and seemingly hopeless circumstances. They all greatly appreciated the librarians and the books and magazines they furnished.

Patty Smith Hall, Cynthia Hickey, Marilyn Turk and Kathleen Y'Barbo have all done an outstanding job by strikingly portraying the subject of packhorse librarians, as well as the obstacles, challenges, heartaches and joys inherent in their duties and responsibilities.

I received an advanced review copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Nyla Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of four historical Christian novellas is fabulous. Set in the 1930’s when the government had established horseback librarians, it takes readers to Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, and the Ozarks on various adventures. I was fascinated by all four of these tales. Times were very different and much harder then.

Novella compilations are a great way to sample new authors. I had not read a couple of these authors, but really enjoyed all four stories. They were entertaining, based on history, and taught me more about the program. It was hard to pace myself and not read this entire collection in one sitting.

I highly recommend this. It gets a 4 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Net Galley, but these are my honest words.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshingly good book about traveling librarians on a horse to sometimes dangerous territory. The books and magazines were delightful for the families who could not get to town to the library. Some even were given reading lessons!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read! I particularly enjoyed the unique premises - depression era historical romance, with a focus on travelling librarians. I will be sharing this book with my mom <3

[Karen Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four great adventures with four Pack Horse librarians in the 1930s in four remote communities; one in the Ozark Mountains, followed by Pine Mountain, GA, then Mississippi and finally the state of Kentucky.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four great stories!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Librarian’s Journey is a collection of four historical novellas about the pack-horse librarians of 1936. Part of FDR’s campaign to lift America out of The Great Depression, he instituted this service to have mobile libraries go where cars and bookmobiles couldn’t go. Librarians filled their saddle packs and rode to families that could not or would not visit the library in town. These stories are about four such fictional women.

Love’s Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey is a delightful story about a librarian and a schoolteacher who team up to teach reading and deliver books to the community. I loved the danger aspect in this story, too.

In This Moment by Patty Smith Hall is a story of lost love and rekindled friendship. It was fascinating how nursing could work along side the librarian’s work.

Book Lady of the Bayou by Marilyn Turk is set in a formidable location. The librarian crosses the path of alligators and snakes to deliver her books. The path of a recluse with a daughter who loves to read, too.

The Lawman and the Librarian by Kathleen Y’Barbo is another story that wrapped danger into the life of a pack-horse librarian. The second half of the story had intrigue, rekindled relationship, and wonderful happy ending.

—
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Barbour Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

[Joleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I rate this book as 3.8 stars. A pretty good read with a solid finish.

I had only heard of one of the authors before and I enjoy reading compilation books such as these to get to know other authors--so thank you Barbour Publishing for putting this together. The stories are such that I would let my teen daughter read them--clean, cute, about books and history. The last story by Kathleen Y'Barbo stole me away. I was hooked from the beginning and only put it down a couple times to go do something I had to. Excellent storytelling with an unexpected approach to telling a story about the Book Women. That portion gets 5 stars from me. For Such a Time by Patty Hall was a solid 4 stars for me--I enjoyed these characters very much. I felt like it was a little bumpy of a beginning but I got into the character's pursuits and story, especially once we hit chapter 8. Hall leaves the reader with quite a few memorable quotes and thoughts.

I most enjoyed the stories that prefaced the truth of the WPA with the librarians and the location that the story took place. When placed outside of a "normal" packhorse librarian state, I appreciated the authors who gave reason for it through their characters. (We think it's a great idea so we're going to support it here on our own.) I like the more "true to history" storytelling.

[Emily Kleykamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good collection although the third story dragged a bit then felt too rushed. My favorite stories were the first and last ones.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traveling through rough terrain, encountering all types of people: friendly, lonely, courageous, and even some unscrupulous, these women librarians’ stories show how extraordinary they were. Each novella was unique in showing strong, wonderful women who saw a need beyond themselves. They combined their love for books and people to risk their own safety to help those they served. I enjoyed the relational element that each story told of the people the librarians befriended and the men who came to love them. After reading these interesting novellas I thought it would have been an amazing job and ministry for those rural librarians who served during the Great Depression.

The story that I liked the most was Book Lady of the Bayou. Lily Bee helps bring the reclusive widower Lamar Davis back to life, much like the story of the Velveteen Rabbit that Lily Bee gives to his daughter, Evie. This is a sweet, tender love story that gives the gift of hope where it was desperately needed.

I enjoyed the entire collection of novellas. I recommend reading this if you like wholesome and uplifting Christian stories similar to Christy by Catherine Marshall. Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an advanced reader’s copy; a positive review was not required.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unaware of the traveling librarians during the depression before reading this book and found that fascinating. Also a little scary. Those women were brave.

Love's Turning Page by Cynthia Hickey
Interesting story of romance that showed well the poverty of the time and how hard life was. The set up kind of reminded me of The Waltons.

For Such a Time by Patty Smith Hall
This is a second chance romance which is one of my favorite tropes. It had a great ending satisfying the needs of both characters well.

Book Lady of the Bayou by Marilyn Turk
I loved how the librarian became so attached to her patrons and through her service wins them over.

The Lawman and the Librarian by Kathleen Y’Barbo
This one had a different feel to it. It took a while into the story before we got to the traveling librarian job. There was a lot of set up for it. And there was a bit of a mystery/suspense in the plot along with the romance.

Overall, I found the stories interesting and they each drew a good picture of what life was like in these areas during the depression.

Strong Christian themes
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: a little-mild
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.