Along a Storied Trail
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4.3 • 7 Ratings
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
Kentucky packhorse librarian Tansy Calhoun doesn't mind the rough trails and long hours as she serves her Appalachian mountain community during the Great Depression. Yet she longs to find love like the heroines in her books. When a charming writer comes to town, she thinks she might have found it--or is the perfect man actually closer than she thinks?
Perdita Sweet has called these mountains home for so long she's nearly as rocky as the soil around her small cabin. Long ago she thought she could love, but when the object of her affection up and married someone else, she stopped giving too much of herself away to others.
As is so often the case, it's easier to see what's best for others than to see what's best for oneself, and Perdita knows who Tansy should choose. But why would anyone listen to the romantic advice of an old spinster?
Saddle up for a heartfelt story of love--love of family, love of place, and the love of a lifetime--from bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Gabhart (An Appalachian Summer) introduces two strong women who persevere without the help of men in 1930s Appalachia. As a packhorse librarian, Tansy Calhoun delivers books, magazines, and newspapers to townsfolk living across the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Mountains. When Damien Felding arrives as part of the Federal Writers' Project, Tansy and Damien strike up a friendship, and Tansy begins to wonder if she's met the hero of her own love story. Caleb Barton has been in love with Tansy since they were young—despite the fact everyone thinks he had his heart set on Tansy's now-married sister. As Caleb tries to muster up the courage to tell Tansy how he really feels, he fears he may have missed the opportunity. Tansy's elderly cousin, Perdita Sweet, who believes she lost her one chance at happiness when the man she loved chose someone else, is skeptical of newcomer Damien and doesn't want to see Tansy make the same mistake. But meddling doesn't always work, and Tansy must to her own conclusions. While the faith elements are subtle, Gabhart's skillful use of period details and the Appalachian landscape lend plenty of atmosphere to accompany the lessons of hope, compassion, and fortitude amid hardship. This is her best historical inspirational yet.
Customer Reviews
Don’t miss this book!
I love how the author has woven the the history of the packhorse librarians into the story of Tansy Calhoun, a young woman with a love of the written word and longing for something just out of reach.
She must soon choose between the familiar offered by Caleb her friend from childhood and Damien a writer offering adventure she’s only read about.
The characters are unique and well written lending authenticity to the rich depiction of life in the hills of Kentucky during the 1930s.
Aunt Perdy is lonely when a young pregnant girl shows up on her doorstep in the middle of winter. With no food to share she isn’t sure what to do but she finds a tender place in her heart for Coralee.
Fire takes her house, bringing them into the Calhoun home, making it the centerpiece of the story, showing family is much more than blood, love overcomes many circumstances, and faith brings the unexpected.
God has a way of orchestrating life in the best possible ways, proving that good comes out of every situation.
This was one of my favorite books so far this year.
I was given a copy of this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group through Interviews and Reviews via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.