Along a Storied Trail

 

Back Cover

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 the books she loves. 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 that 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. Perdita knows who Tansy should choose, but why would anyone listen to the romantic advice of an old spinster?

Review

In true Ann H. Gabhart fashion, Along a Storied Trail is a beautifully penned story about a community of people as strong and resilient as the mountains they inhabit. For these hill-born folks, they are no stranger to hardships. Death comes far too frequent and sudden, often in the most tragic of ways. Each day can be a test of survival whether it be a fight against illness, sorrow, hunger, or the inclement weather. But amongst these trials is a yearning for love and belonging. 

Tansy has long oft dreamed of a husband and family to call her own. She's watched her older sister and other young people in the region fall in love, exchange wedding vows, and raise their families. Some stay in the hill country they were born in, but others, like Tansy's sister, left for the city. When the dashing city reporter, Damien comes to town in his flashy automobile, Tansy feels the tug of adventure and desire to explore places bigger than she'd ever known. But she loves her community and her family and the rugged forests she traverses on her daily packhorse routes. And she thrives in her job whereby she brings smiles and good to cheer to all on her book route with her gifts of books to read. But along with Damien's appearance is another man from her past, one who opens up other possibilities she had long since buried. Along a Storied Trail explores Tansy's fears, hopes, and dreams and pulls in not one, but two other endearing love stories. 

I have long been a fan of Ms. Gabhart's novels and her beautiful writing style. She creates places I wish I could explore, and people I would love to meet. It's always bittersweet closing the final page on her novels; bitter in that it's the end of that particular wonderful story, but all too sweet with anticipation for the next one that will be written. Pick up Along a Storied Trail, and you will enjoy a lovely historical tale of love lost and found.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.