Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

I received a free electronic copy of this compilation of short southern tales on November 1, 2019, from Netgalley & BookReviewBuzz, author Nancy Hartney, and Pen-L publishing. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I am pleased to recommend this work to friends and family. Every story reminded me of one or another of my Ketner family.

These shorts are an excellent window into the mid-20th century south as I knew it, and some take you all the way back to those stories told by our older generations, back into the start of the 20th with my parents and grandparents tales. I usually have a firm favorite in an anthology like this, but these were all equally excellent. If you love the South you can't go wrong with Nancy Hartney. I have added her to my favorites listing.

'If the Creek Don’t Rise' is a compilation of short stories from the Deep South. It’s not all about grand homes and polite women. The blurb says “a collection of hard-used characters, tangled relationships, family angst, and fortitude” and I believe that’s exactly what I got.

To me, the book had a raw, rich feel. I admit that what I know about the south has come mostly from reading (aside from Texas where I’ve visited) but to me, the stories felt authentic. The variety was welcome though some stories I liked more than others. 

A few of my favourites were:
Ads for Mule Feed -  Hal gets himself a job, a wife, a daughter, and finally an education and some strength. 
King David and the Bookstore - A homeless man regularly visits a bookstore. 
The Girl who Carved Wood - A young woman learns the truth about her mother.
The Roses are Beautiful This Year - About two spinsters living in an old home with a charming, rambling garden and…was that some Hoodoo stuff in that one? I think it was and it was welcome!
The Trickster - A sex-worker connects with one of her johns (not in the way you’re probably thinking :P). 

One or two stories didn’t end satisfactorily for me, but that happens (and depends on the reader). Also, a few times I was confused by the plot.

On the whole this was a clever and very enjoyable collection of short tales.

Thank you to Netgalley for the copy in exchange for honest review.