Librarians of Willow Hollow #4
by Alicia G. Ruggieri
124 pages // published in 2020 // Christian historical fiction
The mountains have imprisoned her long enough...
Edna Sue O’Connell came back to the Kentucky hills out of duty and can’t wait for the chance to escape again. Her work as a horseback librarian in rural Appalachia provides enough income for her invalid father to survive in the midst of the Great Depression, but it affords her with little else.
When an opportunity arises for Edna to take on an additional book delivery area, she spies a glimmer of hope that she might find a way out of Willow Hollow after all… and that she might actually make something of her life apart from the tragedy that has filled it thus far.
But the new routes give Edna more than she ever bargained for. Slowly, she finds that the mountains contain many valuable secrets – if she has the grit to meet them.
The Secret Place of Thunder is part of the Librarians of Willow Hollow multi-author novella collection. Each novella stands on its own but is connected to the others in this historical Christian fiction series set in 1930s Appalachia.
Other books in the Librarians of Willow Hollow series:
A Strand of Hope by Amanda Tero
I Love to Tell the Story by Faith Blum
Hearts on Lonely Mountain by A.M. Heath
Come along as four packhorse librarians find adventures outside the books they carry!
Within my first minute of starting this new book, I was already loving Edna Sue's character! I could tell that she is an always-on-time, spectacle-wearing, book-loving, logical-thinking, hair-in-tight-bun, no-nonsense kind of gal. The perfect picture of a librarian. Except this librarian has to ride out on Molly the mule's back, up into the Appalachian Mountains to give books to the mountain people.
Most people in town conclude that Edna Sue O'Connell is a spinster, with her age of over thirty years. Edna may be bold and may carry a sharp tongue, but she means well in the tasks she sets out to do. She has a sense of adventure, and longs to go back to the big cities like New York. Duty keeps her chained at home with a bedridden father and an exasperating stepmother. So she sets her fiery mind upon her work as a packhorse librarian, and goes at it with all her might, earning for her future.
One of the homesteads she visits on her library route is inhabited by a reclusive man -- which, of course, Edna Sue is determined to poke her nose into such a mystery, even after a gun is pointed straight back at her. Edna also has to deal with Mr. Gaunt, Willow Hollow's schoolteacher, who may have the slightest of romantic intentions, which she certainly intends to keep at bay.
Through her experiences and interactions with all of these Willow Hollow characters, I enjoyed watching Edna's spiritual journey too.
I had been looking forward to Edna's story so much. I'd seen and heard tiny glimpses of her from the preceding three books in the series (each book is a standalone novella, so you can read them in any order). Meeting her "in person" now has been lovely. This story did NOT disappoint. I even wish it could be turned into a movie!
An excellent work of Christian fiction.
Suitable for: 13 and up - Adults
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Alicia G. Ruggieri grew up breathing in the salty air of coastal New England. She now writes grace-filled, Christ-centered fiction from her home in Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and sweet second-hand mutt. She loves old graveyards, dusty libraries, and excellent cannolis ~ not necessarily in that order.
Visit Alicia online! // Website // Facebook Page // Instagram
Release Week Giveaway! To celebrate this release, Alicia is giving away an Appalachian music CD, a mini Appalachian Breakfast soy candle, and a set of whimsical bronze bookmarks! (Due to shipping costs, the giveaway is limited to the continental U.S.)
Blog Tour Stops:
9/15 Welcome to the Tour at A Brighter Destiny – http://www.aliciagruggieri.com/abrighterdestiny
Amanda @ https://amandatero.com/blog
Raechel @ https://godspeculiartreasurerae.wordpress.com
9/16 Kaitlyn @ www.maidensformodesty.com
J.E. Grace @ http://bizwingsblog.blogspot.com
9/17 Rebekah @ www.readytobeoffered.com
9/18 Jane @ www.janemouttet.wordpress.com
9/19 Connie @ https://connie-oldersmarter.blogspot.com
9/20 Abigail @ http://readreviewrejoice.com
Tarissa @ http://inthebookcase.blogspot.com
9/21 Tara @ www.towerintheplains.wordpress.com
Ryana @ www.lifeofheritage.com
9/22 Wrap-up & giveaway winner announced @ http://www.aliciagruggieri.com/abrighterdestiny
I just love Edna Sue's spunk! Thanks for sharing!
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