Appalachian Serenade by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Overview: Delilah Morrissey has always wanted to be a mother, but when she becomes a young widow, that dream now seems farther away than ever. Unable to continue to live alone in Chicago, her only option is to accept her sister's offer to move in with her family back in West Virginia. Will Delilah have the faith to pursue a new dream--even if it means giving up the old?

In this charming novella, debut novelist Sarah Loudin Thomas introduces readers to Wise, West Virginia--a small town nestled in an Appalachian valley where the everyday miracles of life and faith play out in stories of healing, hope, and love.

ISBN-13: 9781441264985
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Publication date: 6/4/2014
Series: Appalachian Blessings
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 128

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My Review: I absolutely loved this short little novella. The characters are sweet and charming. The story is well written and interesting; the dialogue is full of Southern charm. I also appreciate the fact that the author shows the passage of time, even though the story is only 70+ pages.

Delilah and Robert were fun to watch fall in love. They both had ideals they had to overcome and they both had to learn to accept the hand that God gave them.  Delilah is a very admirable character. She is modern, yet traditional. She is down-trodden, yet hopeful. Robert is much the same.

The best part of reading this sweet little novella was some of the charming sayings in the book! I'll list a few of my favorites below (and don't worry, they won't spoil the story for you!):
* "Why, thank you, Robert. That's a....regionally specific compliment."
* "We all need a little pretty in our lives."
* "Oh well, my mother always said if wishes were horses, paupers would ride."
* "Like a hound dog staring at the last piece of cornbread on the plate."
* "But I figure God knows better than I do, and this is the life he's given me. Might as well make the most of it."

I am so looking forward to diving into Miracle In a Dry Season shortly!

About the Author: Sarah Loudin Thomas grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, WV, the seventh generation to live there. Her Christian fiction is set in West Virginia and celebrates the people, the land, and the heritage of Appalachia. Her first novel, Miracle in a Dry Season, releases August 2014 through Bethany House. Sarah is represented by Wendy Lawton of Books & Such Literary Agency.

A graduate of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC, Sarah once dreamed of being a marine scientist. But her love for words won out and she has spent much of her career in public relations and marketing. She currently oversees fundraising and communications for a Christian children’s home in Black Mountain, NC.

Sarah and her husband Jim live in the mountains of Western North Carolina with Thistle–the canine equivalent to a personal trainer pushing them to hike, run, and throw sticks. Sarah is active in her local church and enjoys cooking and–you guessed it–reading.

Connect with Sarah: Twitter | Facebook | Website