Loved this story! Set in the Great Depression, this is a tale of hardship and overcoming. I have to be honest and say that it didn't follow the 'formula' and go the way that I thought it was going to, but that actually made it a lot better. So many different issues are touched upon within these pages, the historic struggles of this era, domestic abuse, distrust of the different, family dynamics....so much packed into one story. The only thing that could make this better is a follow up that continues Addie & Emmett's story and gives us Bettina's, too...because she deserves a happy ending!

In the beginning I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. However, once the author got into the main story of the book it changed. The author shoes well the life of living in the hills. She weaves the story of their lives and that of a newcomer. She effectively deals with the issues of abuse and discrimination. Through the main character she shows what determination and faith in God works. The end however seems to be a little rushed. It's as if everything sort of gets fixed to quickly. I would love for there to be a sequel.

Addie Cowherd has been called to the Dean's office just weeks before the finals week of her junior year in college. She is being barred from finishing her term because of non-payment of her tuition and board. She can stay in her room because she paid that up with funds from her job at the library in town. She went to the post office on campus to see if she had any letters from her parents, who were paying faithfully for her college. She found that her father had lost his job when the bank where he worked had been sold. Her parents had lost their house and were living in a boarding house.

Addie goes to the end-of-the-term bonfire and meets Emmett Tharp, a business major who is graduating. Neither of them think anything of that brief meeting.

Addie is allowed to stay with one of the librarians she works with until her job with the library is finished. Before her job is finished, the head librarian tells her of a job as a horse-back librarian in Boone's Hollow, Kentucky, as part of the WPA program started by President Roosevelt. Boone's Hollow is one of those back-woods areas where newcomers are not easily welcomed. Because of the lady Addie chooses to live with while she's in Boone's Hollow, she is particularly not welcomed by any of the customers on her route.

When the head librarian for Boone's Hollow takes ill, Emmett Tharp takes over as the head librarian. One of the horse-back librarians, Bettina, thought she and Emmett had an understanding and saw Addie as competition for Emmett's attentions, and tried to thwart her whenever and wherever she could.

One of Addie's innovations for the library was to take well used magazines and make themed scrapbooks with them. She worked hard to find a way to gain acceptance, and her first foot in the door was to write the story of her landlady's years in the Hollow.

Kim Vogel Sawyer is one of the quality writers I am always excited to read. This book kept me involved from the very first page to the very end. Her setting of the Great Depression makes the story very real, and reminds me of a book I read last year. Both dealt with the mining areas of Kentucky, and the horseback librarians. Kim's characters are unusual in that they are college educated during a time when money for that education was hard to come by.

This is a five star book, two thumbs up, and someone willing to write your story.

WaterBrook/Multnomah and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow is an interesting tale of a woman sent to be a packhorse librarian in the 30's. When she gets there, the woman that runs the library falls ill and has to move away. She finds that a man lives there that she met in college. Soon, he becomes her boss. His name is Emmett, and they become closer friends as time goes on. Addie has trouble with the other ladies in the program, particularly a girl named Bettina, who sees herself marrying Emmett, even though he isn't the least bit interested. Great story, well written, and very clean.

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by author Kim Vogel Sawyer, is a story following the Pack Horse Library Project,the real-life WPA program that was developed in the 1930s-1940s. Taking books into the Appalachian coal mining country.

Addie Cowherd finds herself dismissed from the University of Kentucky with only weeks from graduation. Her parents aren't paying tuition. She must put aside her dream of being an author and leave the school to find a job to pay the bill and help her family.

Upon graduation, Emmett Tharp finds he is unable to get a job with his new degree in commerce. When all else fails, he finds himself working in the coal mines along with his father.

The Appalachian communities are steeped in prejudice and superstitions. But as Addie befriends Nanny Fay, the truth finds its way out in the open. Bettina Webber's life is one of pain and rejection, yet she finds her way by letting go of her prejudice.

This story covers lessons in family, prejudice, and forgiveness. Sawyer weaves faith throughout as each character finds their reliance on God.

"Books, Addie, have the power to change people for the better." That was precisely the goal of the WPA program. Sawyer's research and writing encapsulated the spirit of the time. I think you will find this to be an intriguing heartwarming read.

I received a copy of the book from WaterBrook & Multnomah via Net Galley. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

As a former librarian, I enjoy the stories of these brave souls who ventured into the mountains to deliver literature. In The Librarian of Boone's Hollow, Addie's life is opened to a whole new world she never imagined. Set in the time following the Great Depression, Addie takes the only job she can find. I love the Kentucky mountain setting and variety of characters. Addie, Bettina, and Emmett venture into a time where they need to rely on God and one another, even when they think they can't. I love how the author brings out important issues and effortlessly weaves them into the story. Her writing offers hope. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow" by author Kim Vogel Sawyer is a Christian historical novel based on the Pack Horse Library Project. It was set in mid 1930’s Kentucky in the coal mining hill country. I began reading it and found myself mesmerized by the story.

This is the tale of Addie Cowherd, a young woman from the University of Kentucky, that encounters some problems. She comes from a family of strong faith and uses that faith to guide her throughout her life. It is also the story of Emmett, from Boone’s Hollow that she meets at the University.

The author has penned a realistic Appalachian tale that is centered around the WPA program that was developed to assist families. I enjoyed all of the characters. They were gritty, true to life, giving, and had a naivety that comes from living outside of the city. Nanny Fay was one of my favorites. The conversations were delightful. I had no trouble imaging the setting or the characters. The love story is light and sweet.

The author wove a message of faith throughout the entire book. I loved that! She included timeless life lessons on family, superstitions, prejudice, and forgiveness that are noteworthy. There are discussion questions in the back of the book, and I would recommend this to any book club.

This is a well researched and wonderfully written book. I highly recommend it to anyone. It receives 5 out of 5 stars from me. I received a copy from Net Galley, but these are my honest words.

This book was very well written and well researched. It was a bit formulaic and predictable but overall, it was interesting.

"The Librarian of Boone's Hollow", by Kim Vogel Sawyer, is based on the real-life WPA program that was developed in the 1930s-1940s in rural, Appalachian communities. The Pack Horse Library Project provided reading materials to all families, respective of their community standing or financial resources. Addie, a faith-filled young woman displayed a hard work ethic and learned how to love people who were so very different from her. Along the way, she fell in love with Emmett, a member of the community who was also learning how to pave his own path. This book reminds me of "Giver of the Stars" by Jojo Moyes, but has a faith-based focus.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

THE LIBRARIAN OF BOONE'S HOLLOW by KIM VOGEL SAWYER is a beautiful story about love, grace, forgiveness, overcoming hard times and the importance books play in a person's life.
The story takes place in 1936 with the effects of the Depression being felt all over the country. Facilities such as the packhorse libraries were set up where people could borrow free books. This enriched their lives and those of their children.
When Addie Cowherd has to leave her university studies because of the problems her adoptive parents are going through, she gets a job in Boone's Hollow as a packhorse librarian. She is not well received by the largely superstitious folk in the area, and things are made worse when she goes to live with Nanny Fay, who some say is a witch!
Whilst Emmett Tharp has graduated with a business diploma, he still finds it hard getting a job and starts out working in the coal mine with his father, before being employed by the Works Progress Administration to manage the distribution of books from the library.
The book is full of interesting characters, from the flamboyant yet unhappy Bettina to the mountain folk with their distrust of newcomers and the ongoing feud between the people of Boone's Hollow and those of Tucker's Pass - and they all have a story to tell. I like the way Addie, following her loving adoptive parents' example, yearns, not only to be accepted by the locals but to understand them and tell their often heart wrenching stories.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian historical romance. The story is inspirational and the Christian message strong.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from WaterBrook & Multnomah. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Following the Great Depression, Addie Cowherd is forced to end her college career early to seek employment to support herself and her family. She lands in the rural hills of Kentucky where she becomes a horse-back librarian to a poor coal-mining community. However, things are not as smooth as she had hoped since it will be quite an uphill task to overcome the people's superstitions. and generational feuds. When she crosses paths with local Emmett Tharp, she hopes to make a difference...

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow was what the doctor ordered! Written in multiple voices, the book gives the reader's multiple perspectives on their inner struggles and thoughts and get to see shed their prejudices. It was interesting to note that most of the people in Boone's Hollow had accepted Christianity but still clung to long-held feuds and superstitions which clearly showed the impact of culture and heritage on one's religious beliefs.

One of my favourite passage's in the book is:
"Books open up worlds beyond the view from one's own window. Stories can stir compassion, can inspire integrity, can show different lifestyles and problem-solving skills, Books, Addie have the power to change people for the better."


Though this seems like a standalone book, it would be interesting to get to read about Bettina in the future, because it's like her story is not over yet. If you liked Kim M. Richardson's The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, then you will most definitely like this one.