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Recommend this book:
Beneath The Flame Azalea
Mitch Goddard
2026 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In Mitch Goddard’s Beneath The Flame Azalea, Jeff returns to the western North Carolina trail years after his Appalachian Trail hike left him reeling from Beckham Sheridan’s unexplained death. During a storm cleanup led by Luna Kramer, Jeff finds a waterproof action camera buried under leaves near a stream, and the memory card shows a fisherman named Brett running through the woods from something he believes is a bear. The footage has no matching report and no body, so Jeff turns to Michael Anderson’s Southern Crime All the Time podcast for help. As callers connect Brett to stolen gear from an older missing man, Wampus Cat stories keep circling the same woods where another trail death still has not let Jeff go, as memory keeps pressing beside evidence.
Mitch Goddard’s Beneath The Flame Azalea is a well-executed Southern mystery, and Jeff is a protagonist we want to root for, especially when curiosity pushes him into grief he has been trying to leave behind. Goddard fleshes him out as someone decent before he is brave, running uphill to find Jimmy after the chainsaw accident because wounded volunteers need a medic. The trail setting is fantastic, from rain hammering a repair camp under the azaleas to the abandoned homestead where a hidden well changes the investigation. I love how the podcast structure lets folklore brush against testimony around one recovered camera. Ji-an is my favorite supporting character because her knowledge of plants and trail life gives every scene with Jeff a natural ease. Well written and atmospheric, readers who enjoy Southern mysteries with contemporary sleuthing in old folklore will adore this book.
In Mitch Goddard’s Beneath The Flame Azalea, Jeff returns to the western North Carolina trail years after his Appalachian Trail hike left him reeling from Beckham Sheridan’s unexplained death. During a storm cleanup led by Luna Kramer, Jeff finds a waterproof action camera buried under leaves near a stream, and the memory card shows a fisherman named Brett running through the woods from something he believes is a bear. The footage has no matching report and no body, so Jeff turns to Michael Anderson’s Southern Crime All the Time podcast for help. As callers connect Brett to stolen gear from an older missing man, Wampus Cat stories keep circling the same woods where another trail death still has not let Jeff go, as memory keeps pressing beside evidence.
Mitch Goddard’s Beneath The Flame Azalea is a well-executed Southern mystery, and Jeff is a protagonist we want to root for, especially when curiosity pushes him into grief he has been trying to leave behind. Goddard fleshes him out as someone decent before he is brave, running uphill to find Jimmy after the chainsaw accident because wounded volunteers need a medic. The trail setting is fantastic, from rain hammering a repair camp under the azaleas to the abandoned homestead where a hidden well changes the investigation. I love how the podcast structure lets folklore brush against testimony around one recovered camera. Ji-an is my favorite supporting character because her knowledge of plants and trail life gives every scene with Jeff a natural ease. Well written and atmospheric, readers who enjoy Southern mysteries with contemporary sleuthing in old folklore will adore this book.
Recommend this book:
Whispers of Blue Ridge
One Night. One Cabin. There's No Going Back.
Nina Purtee
2026 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by Ronél Steyn for Readers' Favorite
Nina Purtee brings us romance with a splash of cabernet and a good dose of rodeo in Whispers of Blue Ridge. It’s time for the annual festival in Blue Ridge, Georgia, and Savannah Gray is still coming to terms with the tragic deaths of her parents three years back. Her grandfather, Duke, has decided to sponsor the famous Jake Rollins for this year’s rodeo. There is an instant connection between Savannah and Jake. However, navigating their feelings for each other might have to take a back seat to the revelation of secrets between two feuding families and one tragic accident. And Jake Rollins didn’t only come to Blue Ridge for the rodeo. He’s been there before and desperately wants to learn the truth behind his memories.
Author Nina Purtee has created a beautiful story full of hope and Southern charm. The character growth is evident throughout this book, which makes for a compelling plot. The chapters are just long enough to really drive the pace, which I enjoyed. Combined with the slow unravelling of years of secrets and the steady build of a connection between the two main characters, this creates a perfect balance. There is a resounding theme of truth and reconciliation throughout the book, accompanied by friendship and family. The characters are so relatable and likable that I could easily imagine myself as part of the community. Whispers of Blue Ridge is wholesome women’s fiction suitable for young adult readers as well. The combination of cowboys and vineyards makes for an interesting pairing, and it works.
Nina Purtee brings us romance with a splash of cabernet and a good dose of rodeo in Whispers of Blue Ridge. It’s time for the annual festival in Blue Ridge, Georgia, and Savannah Gray is still coming to terms with the tragic deaths of her parents three years back. Her grandfather, Duke, has decided to sponsor the famous Jake Rollins for this year’s rodeo. There is an instant connection between Savannah and Jake. However, navigating their feelings for each other might have to take a back seat to the revelation of secrets between two feuding families and one tragic accident. And Jake Rollins didn’t only come to Blue Ridge for the rodeo. He’s been there before and desperately wants to learn the truth behind his memories.
Author Nina Purtee has created a beautiful story full of hope and Southern charm. The character growth is evident throughout this book, which makes for a compelling plot. The chapters are just long enough to really drive the pace, which I enjoyed. Combined with the slow unravelling of years of secrets and the steady build of a connection between the two main characters, this creates a perfect balance. There is a resounding theme of truth and reconciliation throughout the book, accompanied by friendship and family. The characters are so relatable and likable that I could easily imagine myself as part of the community. Whispers of Blue Ridge is wholesome women’s fiction suitable for young adult readers as well. The combination of cowboys and vineyards makes for an interesting pairing, and it works.
Recommend this book:
What Is Unseen
Texas Porch Stories
J. Andrew Rice
2026 Bronze Medal
362 Pages
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by Mary Clarke for Readers' Favorite
What Is Unseen: Texas Porch Stories by J. Andrew Rice tells the story of Kyle Luman, a corporate lawyer who loses his wife, Victoria, to cancer. Lost in depression and alcoholism, he decides to go back to his hometown, Three Oaks, Texas, with his two children as a way of leaving his past and finding healing. There, he starts a relationship with Phylicia Jones, a Black civil rights attorney, and reconnects with his lifelong friends, Ben Mueller, a successful logger, and Adam Lovelady, a truck-fleet owner. Kyle's relationship with Phylicia and his friends starts to bring him deeper spiritual strength and a new sense of purpose, but at the same time gets him involved in fights against corruption and racism in the local government and justice system. What starts as a quiet journey of recovery quickly turns into a battle against injustice in their community, leading to a dramatic political clash and personal struggle with faith and survival.
This deeply engaging novel covers themes of hope, grief, corruption, love, and community. What I loved most was how honest it feels. The author shows in detail the pain, sadness, and brokenness Kyle felt and how he made a big decision that changed his life's direction. The author was very descriptive in his writing, which I appreciate, and the way he developed the characters is really commendable. The title was the first thing that captivated me about it. By the time I finished the book, I understood the message behind the title. Just like Kyle's world, it tells us that the hard times we face are not the end of our story, and there is a lot ahead of us that we have not seen. Kyle's relationship with Phylicia added warmth; it was genuine, respectful, grounded in grief and spiritual values, and was a second chance for both of them. I loved how this book touched on important social and political issues like racism, corruption in the justice system, and the importance of faith during tough times. I recommend What Is Unseen: Texas Porch Stories by J. Andrew Rice to readers who enjoy stories about finding hope after loss, politics, and a touch of romance.
What Is Unseen: Texas Porch Stories by J. Andrew Rice tells the story of Kyle Luman, a corporate lawyer who loses his wife, Victoria, to cancer. Lost in depression and alcoholism, he decides to go back to his hometown, Three Oaks, Texas, with his two children as a way of leaving his past and finding healing. There, he starts a relationship with Phylicia Jones, a Black civil rights attorney, and reconnects with his lifelong friends, Ben Mueller, a successful logger, and Adam Lovelady, a truck-fleet owner. Kyle's relationship with Phylicia and his friends starts to bring him deeper spiritual strength and a new sense of purpose, but at the same time gets him involved in fights against corruption and racism in the local government and justice system. What starts as a quiet journey of recovery quickly turns into a battle against injustice in their community, leading to a dramatic political clash and personal struggle with faith and survival.
This deeply engaging novel covers themes of hope, grief, corruption, love, and community. What I loved most was how honest it feels. The author shows in detail the pain, sadness, and brokenness Kyle felt and how he made a big decision that changed his life's direction. The author was very descriptive in his writing, which I appreciate, and the way he developed the characters is really commendable. The title was the first thing that captivated me about it. By the time I finished the book, I understood the message behind the title. Just like Kyle's world, it tells us that the hard times we face are not the end of our story, and there is a lot ahead of us that we have not seen. Kyle's relationship with Phylicia added warmth; it was genuine, respectful, grounded in grief and spiritual values, and was a second chance for both of them. I loved how this book touched on important social and political issues like racism, corruption in the justice system, and the importance of faith during tough times. I recommend What Is Unseen: Texas Porch Stories by J. Andrew Rice to readers who enjoy stories about finding hope after loss, politics, and a touch of romance.
Recommend this book:
In Jake's Shoes
A Father's Journey Through Loss and Redemption
Andrew C. Phillips
2026 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In the book In Jake's Shoes by Andrew C. Phillips, when Jake Gatlin is killed while serving overseas, his family gathers at their home in Oakton, North Carolina, as winter rain falls and Christmas approaches. During the hours following the funeral, his father, Marshall, slips away to the attic and opens a notebook he has never seen before. Inside are letters Jake wrote throughout his childhood to his grandmother, Mary Claire Gatlin, known as Gammy Gat. As Marshall reads, the letters trace Jake’s private record of school discipline, friendships, loss, family conflict, and the decision to enter military service. The house below is active as Millie and their daughters search for Marshall, uncertain where he has gone. In the quiet attic, the letters reshape Marshall’s understanding of his son and force him to confront years of silence, distance, and missed conversations.
In Jake's Shoes by Andrew C. Phillips takes its title from Marshall slipping into his son’s sneakers, a private gesture of connection that feels so beautiful. Jake's letters are a mix of heartening, such as when we learn that his enlistment was partly a desire to stay with people who feel isolated, and incredibly sad, like a suicide note, where Jake was thanked for his friendship. Honestly, Randy's story had me choked up. Marshall Gatlin is a good vessel for readers to learn about Jake, and we learn about him also. Marshall feels like an authentic person with flaws and emotional distance. Through Jake's letters, he chooses presence over retreat, which speaks volumes. The settings described are textured and atmospheric, from diesel-tainted air and mortar thuds at a base, to cracked winter windows, rain, and a crowded place of grief in the family home. Overall, this is touching literary fiction, elegantly written and worth reading. Recommended.
In the book In Jake's Shoes by Andrew C. Phillips, when Jake Gatlin is killed while serving overseas, his family gathers at their home in Oakton, North Carolina, as winter rain falls and Christmas approaches. During the hours following the funeral, his father, Marshall, slips away to the attic and opens a notebook he has never seen before. Inside are letters Jake wrote throughout his childhood to his grandmother, Mary Claire Gatlin, known as Gammy Gat. As Marshall reads, the letters trace Jake’s private record of school discipline, friendships, loss, family conflict, and the decision to enter military service. The house below is active as Millie and their daughters search for Marshall, uncertain where he has gone. In the quiet attic, the letters reshape Marshall’s understanding of his son and force him to confront years of silence, distance, and missed conversations.
In Jake's Shoes by Andrew C. Phillips takes its title from Marshall slipping into his son’s sneakers, a private gesture of connection that feels so beautiful. Jake's letters are a mix of heartening, such as when we learn that his enlistment was partly a desire to stay with people who feel isolated, and incredibly sad, like a suicide note, where Jake was thanked for his friendship. Honestly, Randy's story had me choked up. Marshall Gatlin is a good vessel for readers to learn about Jake, and we learn about him also. Marshall feels like an authentic person with flaws and emotional distance. Through Jake's letters, he chooses presence over retreat, which speaks volumes. The settings described are textured and atmospheric, from diesel-tainted air and mortar thuds at a base, to cracked winter windows, rain, and a crowded place of grief in the family home. Overall, this is touching literary fiction, elegantly written and worth reading. Recommended.
Recommend this book:
Blood Rivalry
A southern novel of power, deceit, and rebirth
Paul Attaway
2026 Gold Medal
410 Pages
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Blood Rivalry is the third book of Paul Attaway’s Atkins Family Low Country Saga series. In this story, two brothers, Walker and Eli Atkins, are living in Charleston, South Carolina. Eli is a well-known chef, and Walker is a lawyer. A murder that happened fifteen years ago still haunts them; it was the murder of Eli’s high school sweetheart. Today, Walker Atkins is defending the elderly from a lending scheme orchestrated by the Dunsmore political dynasty. When he takes on Rebecca Dunsmore as a client in a bitter trust dispute, the litigation opens a can of worms and shocking family secrets that include Rebecca’s tragic birth, a twin brother, and murder. Rebecca is an environmentalist and the niece of Governor Dunsmore, and the discoveries put her life in danger. Can they get justice for the victims and dismantle the corrupt Dunsmore dynasty as they uncover fraud and corruption?
I love thrillers with strong and complex characters, and Blood Rivalry delivers on this, offering characters that are genuinely flawed, yet appealing in the choices they make. Walker is a broken man, and the past frequently touches his heart, but his quest for the truth and justice makes him one of those characters who keep readers' attention. The author succeeds in presenting different teams in a struggle that grows in stakes as the story moves forward. Paul Attaway uses courtroom strategy, covert investigations, and reprisals to scale the conflict. At times, it felt like reading a legal thriller, and at times it was a well-crafted mystery. I loved the suspense, the tension, and the cleverly developed conflict that made this story into a page-turner for me.
Blood Rivalry is the third book of Paul Attaway’s Atkins Family Low Country Saga series. In this story, two brothers, Walker and Eli Atkins, are living in Charleston, South Carolina. Eli is a well-known chef, and Walker is a lawyer. A murder that happened fifteen years ago still haunts them; it was the murder of Eli’s high school sweetheart. Today, Walker Atkins is defending the elderly from a lending scheme orchestrated by the Dunsmore political dynasty. When he takes on Rebecca Dunsmore as a client in a bitter trust dispute, the litigation opens a can of worms and shocking family secrets that include Rebecca’s tragic birth, a twin brother, and murder. Rebecca is an environmentalist and the niece of Governor Dunsmore, and the discoveries put her life in danger. Can they get justice for the victims and dismantle the corrupt Dunsmore dynasty as they uncover fraud and corruption?
I love thrillers with strong and complex characters, and Blood Rivalry delivers on this, offering characters that are genuinely flawed, yet appealing in the choices they make. Walker is a broken man, and the past frequently touches his heart, but his quest for the truth and justice makes him one of those characters who keep readers' attention. The author succeeds in presenting different teams in a struggle that grows in stakes as the story moves forward. Paul Attaway uses courtroom strategy, covert investigations, and reprisals to scale the conflict. At times, it felt like reading a legal thriller, and at times it was a well-crafted mystery. I loved the suspense, the tension, and the cleverly developed conflict that made this story into a page-turner for me.
Recommend this book:
 by Ashley Thomas Sheikh is a dark Southern saga drenched in violence, prophecy, and family dysfunction. The ruthless Cunningham clan are hunting for The Temple, a mythical source of power and riches. In the 1990s, their brutal quest leads them to kidnappings, betrayals, and a descent into madness. ...){kind=link}
Kentucky Blood
The Kentucky Blood Series (Book I)
Ashley Thomas Sheikh
2025 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Kentucky Blood (The Kentucky Blood Series, Book 1) by Ashley Thomas Sheikh is a dark Southern saga drenched in violence, prophecy, and family dysfunction. The ruthless Cunningham clan are hunting for The Temple, a mythical source of power and riches. In the 1990s, their brutal quest leads them to kidnappings, betrayals, and a descent into madness. Meanwhile, the origins of their nightmare unravel in the 1970s, when young Bill Cunningham forms a ruthless gang to claim his own kingdom. Two timelines, one destiny, but will the family’s pursuit of power destroy them all?
Author Ashley Thomas Sheikh has a real talent for atmospheric writing, and this gives the whole novel a powerful mood and attitude right from the start that says you’re in for a seriously good read. The chilling, blood-soaked Southern Gothic feel permeates the elegant prose and razor-sharp dialogue, yet it’s never at the expense of the pace or the twists to ensure that this thriller pulls no punches. There are certainly some shocking scenes worthy of the likes of any great horror novel, but everything feels suitably justified and balanced for a gripping, violent, and haunting tale where the characters and their actions take center stage. It was also interesting to explore how a multi-generational crime saga works as it explores the depths of human obsession and brutality over the years and from person to person. This element was well-crafted in the plot to connect interesting threads of the story in unique, unexpected ways and to maximum dramatic effect. Overall, Kentucky Blood is a thriller oozing with chills that I would not hesitate to recommend, especially to fans of Southern Gothic moodiness and powerful, character-driven narratives.
Kentucky Blood (The Kentucky Blood Series, Book 1) by Ashley Thomas Sheikh is a dark Southern saga drenched in violence, prophecy, and family dysfunction. The ruthless Cunningham clan are hunting for The Temple, a mythical source of power and riches. In the 1990s, their brutal quest leads them to kidnappings, betrayals, and a descent into madness. Meanwhile, the origins of their nightmare unravel in the 1970s, when young Bill Cunningham forms a ruthless gang to claim his own kingdom. Two timelines, one destiny, but will the family’s pursuit of power destroy them all?
Author Ashley Thomas Sheikh has a real talent for atmospheric writing, and this gives the whole novel a powerful mood and attitude right from the start that says you’re in for a seriously good read. The chilling, blood-soaked Southern Gothic feel permeates the elegant prose and razor-sharp dialogue, yet it’s never at the expense of the pace or the twists to ensure that this thriller pulls no punches. There are certainly some shocking scenes worthy of the likes of any great horror novel, but everything feels suitably justified and balanced for a gripping, violent, and haunting tale where the characters and their actions take center stage. It was also interesting to explore how a multi-generational crime saga works as it explores the depths of human obsession and brutality over the years and from person to person. This element was well-crafted in the plot to connect interesting threads of the story in unique, unexpected ways and to maximum dramatic effect. Overall, Kentucky Blood is a thriller oozing with chills that I would not hesitate to recommend, especially to fans of Southern Gothic moodiness and powerful, character-driven narratives.
Recommend this book:
Green Forest, Red Earth, Blue Sea
Jim Gulledge
2025 Honorable Mention
326 Pages
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite
Green Forest, Red Earth, Blue Sea by Jim Gulledge will appeal to mature fans of drama, Southern, and literary fiction. The book has three interconnected parts set in various areas of North Carolina at different times. In the post-Civil War Saluda, Josiah Buckland meets the beautiful Vancie Keller and falls in love with her. Vancie gets pregnant, but her strict mother, Lois, forces her to marry the wealthy and cruel Jagger Hill. Vancie treasures a gold pocket watch she got from Josiah and hopes that her beloved son, James, will find his father one day. Paul Elliott returns from the Great War to tend his family farm in the Piedmont. Paul brings with him a man who saved his life but got wounded and lost his memory. Paul works hard and tries to protect his family from a powerful enemy. A teenager named Tristan McClure finds a golden coin near the coastal town of Beaufort. His uncle, Marcus, starts a treasure hunt, putting their lives in danger.
Jim Gulledge's Green Forest, Red Earth, Blue Sea will haunt readers long after they turn the last page. The author's vivid descriptions and captivating writing style transform the beautifully diverse North Carolina into a battlefield for good and evil. Love and lust, kindness and brutality, loyalty and betrayal fight within human hearts, and readers have a unique opportunity to follow these dramatic battles. Strong Christian faith gives hope to those who are desperate, and the ancestors guard them during the darkest hours. There is a strong element of magical realism without which this incredible tale wouldn't be complete. A great storyteller, Gulledge creates fascinating characters. He opposes the immorality of Jagger Hill and Dred Mabry with the noble intentions of Sam West, reminding readers that wealth and power corrupt some but uplift others. All three parts are mesmerizing, yet Tristan's story is the most touching and offers a thought-provoking twist at the end. I hope for more of this riveting saga.
Green Forest, Red Earth, Blue Sea by Jim Gulledge will appeal to mature fans of drama, Southern, and literary fiction. The book has three interconnected parts set in various areas of North Carolina at different times. In the post-Civil War Saluda, Josiah Buckland meets the beautiful Vancie Keller and falls in love with her. Vancie gets pregnant, but her strict mother, Lois, forces her to marry the wealthy and cruel Jagger Hill. Vancie treasures a gold pocket watch she got from Josiah and hopes that her beloved son, James, will find his father one day. Paul Elliott returns from the Great War to tend his family farm in the Piedmont. Paul brings with him a man who saved his life but got wounded and lost his memory. Paul works hard and tries to protect his family from a powerful enemy. A teenager named Tristan McClure finds a golden coin near the coastal town of Beaufort. His uncle, Marcus, starts a treasure hunt, putting their lives in danger.
Jim Gulledge's Green Forest, Red Earth, Blue Sea will haunt readers long after they turn the last page. The author's vivid descriptions and captivating writing style transform the beautifully diverse North Carolina into a battlefield for good and evil. Love and lust, kindness and brutality, loyalty and betrayal fight within human hearts, and readers have a unique opportunity to follow these dramatic battles. Strong Christian faith gives hope to those who are desperate, and the ancestors guard them during the darkest hours. There is a strong element of magical realism without which this incredible tale wouldn't be complete. A great storyteller, Gulledge creates fascinating characters. He opposes the immorality of Jagger Hill and Dred Mabry with the noble intentions of Sam West, reminding readers that wealth and power corrupt some but uplift others. All three parts are mesmerizing, yet Tristan's story is the most touching and offers a thought-provoking twist at the end. I hope for more of this riveting saga.
Recommend this book:
Deadly Ripples
Penny Goetjen
2025 Bronze Medal
302 Pages
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by Priya Mathew for Readers' Favorite
Penny Goetjen's Deadly Ripples is a mystery with multiple layers that seem to shift like the tides against the historic shores of Charleston, where the novel is set. Kathryn Moore inherits her uncle Gray Moore’s historic home, The Pink Lady, after his untimely death. She arrives in Charleston expecting a short visit and a quick sale of the estate, only to be greeted by cryptic visions, neighbours with guarded secrets, and discovers fragments of a private investigation her uncle was pursuing before his death. As Kathryn moves closer to the answer, she must trust her visions that might hold the key to unlocking the mystery.
Penny Goetjen’s prose was so emotive, colored by metaphors and sensory detail, that she pulled me into the story and made me feel like I was with the characters as the story progressed. It felt like I was alone in the old house, where time moved at its own pace, and was haunted by memories. The story unfolds in a measured cascade of revelations, one event tipping the next into motion, creating much larger and more disruptive waves. The characters are authentic. You can feel Kathryn’s internal conflict between duty and dread. The memory of her uncle and the strained relationship with her parents are at the core of the story. Supporting characters like Mason, Stella, and others help create contrast in a world where everyone is hiding something, and no one is quite what they say they are. Deadly Ripples is a mystery where the true horror lies within, and the journey toward seeking justice is as much about healing as it is about solving a crime. If you crave mysteries with emotional stakes and undercurrents, Deadly Ripples is an engaging read.
Penny Goetjen's Deadly Ripples is a mystery with multiple layers that seem to shift like the tides against the historic shores of Charleston, where the novel is set. Kathryn Moore inherits her uncle Gray Moore’s historic home, The Pink Lady, after his untimely death. She arrives in Charleston expecting a short visit and a quick sale of the estate, only to be greeted by cryptic visions, neighbours with guarded secrets, and discovers fragments of a private investigation her uncle was pursuing before his death. As Kathryn moves closer to the answer, she must trust her visions that might hold the key to unlocking the mystery.
Penny Goetjen’s prose was so emotive, colored by metaphors and sensory detail, that she pulled me into the story and made me feel like I was with the characters as the story progressed. It felt like I was alone in the old house, where time moved at its own pace, and was haunted by memories. The story unfolds in a measured cascade of revelations, one event tipping the next into motion, creating much larger and more disruptive waves. The characters are authentic. You can feel Kathryn’s internal conflict between duty and dread. The memory of her uncle and the strained relationship with her parents are at the core of the story. Supporting characters like Mason, Stella, and others help create contrast in a world where everyone is hiding something, and no one is quite what they say they are. Deadly Ripples is a mystery where the true horror lies within, and the journey toward seeking justice is as much about healing as it is about solving a crime. If you crave mysteries with emotional stakes and undercurrents, Deadly Ripples is an engaging read.
Recommend this book:
Margaret of Thibodaux
A Novel
Jo Taylor
2025 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by Keana Sackett-Moomey for Readers' Favorite
Set in 1974 in south Louisiana, Margaret of Thibodaux by Jo Taylor centers around a 14-year-old girl who tries her best to cope with the loss of her beloved mother, Veone, who died six years earlier. Margaret can still sense the gentle presence of her mother, even though others cannot. When she discovers that her father is engaged to Muriel, the beloved town doctor, Margaret is heartbroken. A visit to Veone's grave further increases Margaret's anxieties after she discovers a strange poem at the site that generates more questions than answers. Set on making contact with her mother's spirit again, Margaret visits Jezebel, a Voodoo spiritualist, hoping to fulfill this heart-pounding request. Over time, she is guided on a journey that compels her to acknowledge loss beyond her own isolated experiences while being mindful of the adversities of others.
Margaret of Thibodaux by Jo Taylor is a compelling historical drama that takes readers on a bewitching journey into Louisiana's rich social and cultural dynamics in the early 1940s. This immersive story keenly demonstrates social change, a well-fleshed-out illustration of Southern life in America, and intense coming-of-age junctures. Margaret's story is one of intrepidity as she maneuvers the intimidating moral dilemmas and social settings of her era. Her sense of loss (and her journey toward inner healing) will be deeply felt by every reader of this breathtaking tale. Taylor flawlessly weaves invaluable historical insights into the plot. Each chapter feels like a thrilling quest deeper into Margaret’s profound and vulnerable world. This compelling tale is perfect for historical fiction fans or book lovers who value novels that personify the strength of the human spirit, grief, and closure.
Set in 1974 in south Louisiana, Margaret of Thibodaux by Jo Taylor centers around a 14-year-old girl who tries her best to cope with the loss of her beloved mother, Veone, who died six years earlier. Margaret can still sense the gentle presence of her mother, even though others cannot. When she discovers that her father is engaged to Muriel, the beloved town doctor, Margaret is heartbroken. A visit to Veone's grave further increases Margaret's anxieties after she discovers a strange poem at the site that generates more questions than answers. Set on making contact with her mother's spirit again, Margaret visits Jezebel, a Voodoo spiritualist, hoping to fulfill this heart-pounding request. Over time, she is guided on a journey that compels her to acknowledge loss beyond her own isolated experiences while being mindful of the adversities of others.
Margaret of Thibodaux by Jo Taylor is a compelling historical drama that takes readers on a bewitching journey into Louisiana's rich social and cultural dynamics in the early 1940s. This immersive story keenly demonstrates social change, a well-fleshed-out illustration of Southern life in America, and intense coming-of-age junctures. Margaret's story is one of intrepidity as she maneuvers the intimidating moral dilemmas and social settings of her era. Her sense of loss (and her journey toward inner healing) will be deeply felt by every reader of this breathtaking tale. Taylor flawlessly weaves invaluable historical insights into the plot. Each chapter feels like a thrilling quest deeper into Margaret’s profound and vulnerable world. This compelling tale is perfect for historical fiction fans or book lovers who value novels that personify the strength of the human spirit, grief, and closure.
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/mean-low-water&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81YucXLez7L._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=Mean Low Water by Stephanie Alexander will appeal to fans of drama, mystery, literary, and Southern fiction. Lisa Lightstone, or LeeLee, does her best to suppress her gift. LeeLee can read people's thoughts. Also, she gets "readings" of past and future events. Her best high school friend, Ginny Blankenship, has similar abilities. She keeps LeeLee's...){kind=link}
Mean Low Water
Stephanie Alexander
2025 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite
Mean Low Water by Stephanie Alexander will appeal to fans of drama, mystery, literary, and Southern fiction. Lisa Lightstone, or LeeLee, does her best to suppress her gift. LeeLee can read people's thoughts. Also, she gets "readings" of past and future events. Her best high school friend, Ginny Blankenship, has similar abilities. She keeps LeeLee's secret and cherishes their close friendship until the handsome Peace Smith stands between them. LeeLee works hard and, at thirty-five, can be considered successful with a family court attorney's career, a wealthy lawyer husband, Clay Moretz, three sons, and a beautiful house in Charleston. But Peace returns to South Carolina after years of absence. He tells LeeLee that Ginny is missing, and her mother, Cheryl, suspects he could do something bad to her. LeeLee knows that Ginny struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and doesn't believe that Peace is the one to blame. Torn between Peace and Clay, LeeLee starts her investigation.
In Mean Low Water, Stephanie Alexander explores the themes of belonging, friendship, love, loyalty, and duty. Alexander compares romantic first love to married life with its routines and predictability and nudges us to reach unexpected and eye-opening conclusions. The author creates a cast of profound characters. LeeLee and Ginny have much in common, yet they are different. LeeLee craves stability and rejects Ginny's way of life. But she is capable of a wonderful and surprising gesture, showing how much she values their friendship. Ginny proves that the prophetic gift borders on insanity and may be destructive. We respect her for her big heart and courage to stay true to herself. Peace's character is romantic and tragic at the same time. Alexander crafts a nail-biting mystery and keeps us guessing about LeeLee's life-changing decision until the last chapters. I appreciated the gentle touch of magical realism, vivid descriptions of Charleston, one of America's most beautiful cities, and the stirring scenes at the end.
Mean Low Water by Stephanie Alexander will appeal to fans of drama, mystery, literary, and Southern fiction. Lisa Lightstone, or LeeLee, does her best to suppress her gift. LeeLee can read people's thoughts. Also, she gets "readings" of past and future events. Her best high school friend, Ginny Blankenship, has similar abilities. She keeps LeeLee's secret and cherishes their close friendship until the handsome Peace Smith stands between them. LeeLee works hard and, at thirty-five, can be considered successful with a family court attorney's career, a wealthy lawyer husband, Clay Moretz, three sons, and a beautiful house in Charleston. But Peace returns to South Carolina after years of absence. He tells LeeLee that Ginny is missing, and her mother, Cheryl, suspects he could do something bad to her. LeeLee knows that Ginny struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and doesn't believe that Peace is the one to blame. Torn between Peace and Clay, LeeLee starts her investigation.
In Mean Low Water, Stephanie Alexander explores the themes of belonging, friendship, love, loyalty, and duty. Alexander compares romantic first love to married life with its routines and predictability and nudges us to reach unexpected and eye-opening conclusions. The author creates a cast of profound characters. LeeLee and Ginny have much in common, yet they are different. LeeLee craves stability and rejects Ginny's way of life. But she is capable of a wonderful and surprising gesture, showing how much she values their friendship. Ginny proves that the prophetic gift borders on insanity and may be destructive. We respect her for her big heart and courage to stay true to herself. Peace's character is romantic and tragic at the same time. Alexander crafts a nail-biting mystery and keeps us guessing about LeeLee's life-changing decision until the last chapters. I appreciated the gentle touch of magical realism, vivid descriptions of Charleston, one of America's most beautiful cities, and the stirring scenes at the end.
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