Highland Hopes

Blue Ridge Legacy #1

by Gary E. Parker

A family saga depicting life in early 1900s North Carolina unfolds when 100-year-old matriarch Abigail Porter relates the events of her life to her great-granddaughters, starting with the tragic circumstances of her birth and including the drama of two feuding families, war, and the deadly pandemic influenza. Original.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Novels

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

The only current Southern Baptist pastor to have written 11 novels, 4 novellas and 4 non-fiction books in the last twelve years, prolific best-selling author Gary E. Parker has combined his love of history and the Civil War era to pen his latest historical novel, Secret Tides.

The first novel from Southern Tides (Parker’s latest trilogy of sweeping family sagas), Secret Tides paints a true and compelling portrait of love and forgiveness in a stunningly authentic historical setting.

Selected as a Crossing Book Club featured fiction writer and named a Christy Award finalist for his previous historical series writing, Parker has seen his novels soar up the best-seller charts.

As a boy, long before he became a Christian, Parker read The Robe. That book became an early whisper of the Spirit in his life, driving his interest in spiritual things along with a love for writing. Within a couple of weeks after conversion at 18 years old, Parker felt called to Christian ministry, receiving his Master of Divinity and later his Ph.D. in historical theology from Baylor University.

Referring to his fictional writing as “faith-informed fiction,” Parker feels that his writing makes him a better preacher, and preaching a sermon regularly makes him a better writer. His goal is to tell a quality story and let the message come through the story and character development naturally, rather than trying to make some theological point.

Parker and his wife, Melody reside in Decatur, Georgia with their two teenage daughters. He is Sr. pastor of the First Baptist Church of Decatur, and a frequent conference speaker at seminaries, university campuses, national conventions and convocations. He’s a regular contributor to national Christian publications, and is currently writing Fateful Journey, the second book in the Southern Tides trilogy, along with four new novellas. In his spare time, he enjoys distance biking, golfing, and reading.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

great story that I picked up at the church's library. interesting plot and description of characters. over all well done. now on to the rest of the trilogy

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. A little slow to start but then it took off running

[Rena Glubay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have put book 2 and 3 on my list to read.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book! Meaning so much to me because Mother gave it to me many years ago.❤️

[Marlo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a tender spot in my heart for the Smokies and the Appalachian people. We believe that some of our ancestors came up through an area in Tennessee, so while this book is set in North Carolina, it still touches my heart. I enjoyed the characters and the plot for the most part as well. Occasionally, I found myself skimming, and I didn't feel the author quite captured the dialect. However, it was the ending that disappointed the most because I realized at that moment that this must be a series, and I didn't know that's what I was getting myself into. Although I like the book well enough, I don't LOVE it, and now I feel forced to keep reading the series so I can discover what happens to this family. Grrrrr.

[Deliasue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A baby is born and a mother dies, a family adrift until Elsa comes into their lives, she is from the Blue Ridge Mt. Clack clan, mean, ornery, and full of liquor from their still. A family who loves but doesn't know how to show love, no hugging or touching, each other ever. But in the end love wins out.

[Micheale · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Virginia native and long time resident of North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian stories/culture are important to me. Gary E Parker deftly changed POV between male and female characters bringing this lovely story to life. I can't wait to continue the series.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it was based on a family's history - still fiction but drawn from author's past.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story that takes place in the Blue Ridge Hills of North Carolina.

[Cws]

YA Par

[Tomi Prowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

[Lynn Chappell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Takes place in an interesting place and time.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the sadest books ever but awsome

[Aunttammie Pogue]

Great story. Especially enjoyed the Blue Ridge setting.

[Helen Beesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. A little preachy here and there, but love the characters and setting. Looking forward to the next one in the series.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I spent a couple late nights reading it and am now onto the second book in this series!

[Nancy Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A winner of an author!

[Tom Buske · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mountain story. I really cared about the characters. Will read the next two books in the trilogy.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Family saga set in the early 1900s in Appalachia.