Barbara G. Tucker is proof that exquisite storytelling can and does happen far from the massive New York City publishing houses with their army of gatekeepers and yes-men and women whose focus is less on craft and more on fickle trends in the market. Her brilliantly-written novel, Lying In, (Colorful Crow Publishing 2024) explores the […]
“That Which Binds Us” by Cathy Rigg
September 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment
In an exploration of the influences that bind us to people and place, to conviction and dream, Cathy Rigg’s That Which Binds Us makes a tumultuous journey from 1854 to 1866. Set in the mountains of southwestern Virginia and told from the perspective of five first-person characters, the novel rings with intimacy and authenticity, deftly […]
“Charlotte’s Story,” by Laura Benedict
October 31, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Reviewed by Donna Meredith Charlotte’s Story (Pegasus Crime, 2015), by Laura Benedict, takes your classic Southern gothic novel and spices it up a notch with a whodunit. If you like gothic and mystery, this spooky tale is sure to entertain. The story takes place in 1957 in Old Gate, Virginia, on a picturesque estate complete […]
“Here and Again,” by Nicole R. Dickson
October 31, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Reviewed by Jessi Lewis Here and Again is the story of the widow Virginia (Ginger) Martin, the repercussions of her husband’s death in the Iraq War, and how her loss is a repetition of grief from other generations. Through Ginger’s familial struggles with her three children, the reader is introduced to the parallels of loss. […]
February Read of the Month: “Appomattox: Victory, Defeat, and Freedom at the End of the Civil War,” by Elizabeth Varon
February 12, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Reviewed by Miles Smith, IV Appomattox: Victory, Defeat, and Freedom at the End of the Civil War offers the first cultural, political, and social history of the Army of Northern Virginia’s surrender at Appomattox Court House. Elizabeth Varon’s elegant narrative, provocative argument, and skillful use of sources make this work an interesting addition to the […]
“Spare Change,” by Bette Lee Crosby
July 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Reviewed by Patricia O’Sullivan Award-winning author Bette Lee Crosby is a prolific writer who has penned six novels in the last six years. Her latest work of fiction is Spare Change, the story of a troubled orphan and an independent older woman. Susanna Doyle dreams of becoming a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall in […]