The Librarian of Boone's Hollow, by Kim Vogel Sawyer, takes place during the Great Depression.  Addie Cowherd is working hard on her college degree at the University of Kentucky when she suddenly learns that her tuition is no longer being covered.  Her father has lost his job and can no longer make any payments.  Addie must go out into the world and find a way to support herself!
When Addie's part-time job, at the college library, suddenly opens a full-time position at another library in Kentucky, she knows she must take it.  It is not like any job Addie has held before.  This job is not at a library in a building, rather Addie must hop into a saddle and ride a horse through the hills of rural Kentucky!

The citizens Addie must serve are not very welcoming to outsiders.  Addie must find a way to overcome their suspicions.  When Addie runs into Emmett Tharp (a former schoolmate) in Boone's Hollow, she feels relieved to see a familiar face.  Emmett has returned home because even with a degree he is unable to land a paying position!

Watch as Addie and Emmett attempt to find their way in this backward world of rural Kentucky.  You will be pleased to see the warmth and friendship they form along the way!

A love of books and a desperate need for work bring together outsider Addie and returned local Emmett in Boone's Hollow's library program, where books are taken out to the surrounding community on horseback. The two met briefly at college, so Addie is glad to see a familiar face when she arrives. But local girl Bettina, who also works at the library, is desperate too - desperate to escape her father's heavy hand - and has decided that Emmett is to marry her when he returns from college. As an outsider, Addie faces hostility from many of the villagers as well as from Bettina - will she be able to win through and help bring the benefits of books to Boone's Hollow?

I have found this a little hard to review and rate. I had high expectations based on past experience with this author, and was probably more disappointed in it than I would otherwise have been as a consequence. Though well written and a good story, it wasn't always great at holding my attention and I felt like the starting section was longer than necessary and dragged a bit, whereas the ending was quite abrupt. I'm probably exaggerating, but it felt like they took forever to get to Boone's Hollow and settle in, then everything developed at a good pace until the climax, after which everything was fixed almost with the snap of one's fingers. All in all, I hope to read more by the author but personally found this one somewhat disappointing in regard to pacing, though I did enjoy the character development.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

This was my first book by this author and it will not be my last!!!
I adored this book!!! Last year I read two books that were similar about living in Kentucky and delivering books to those who couldn't get them but this one takes the cake!
I adored this book! 
I loved the Great Depression setting and the characters in this book. 
I will be recommending this book to everyone!

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

I adored this book and couldn’t put it down. I ended up reading within twenty four hours and enjoyed every minutes. So glad I came across it.

What a moving story! I really hope Kim Vogel Sawyer writes a follow up book to this! This book touches on so many current topics… how we treat people, prejudice, abuse and more! Hmmm maybe even a book about the families of Boone’s Hallow!!!! The author writes in a way the holds your attention and draws you in! Enjoy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

Kim Vogel Sawyer’s newest book The Librarian of Boone's Hollow, portrays the juxtaposition of the depression era time-frame and the despair of the deep South in so very haunting a way. I was intrigued and fascinated with learning about this period of time in our nation’s history. Her writing pulls you into the story in a way that leaves you feeling as if you were there, too, experiencing everything the cast of characters experiences.

I have read many of Kim Vogel Sawyer’s books, but I think this is my favorite. The people are easy to love, and having lived the largest part of my life in the South, I can attest to the superstitions and old wives’ tales that used to run rampant (and in some areas still do) through its annals.  Sawyer has done a wonderful job of capturing the desolation and isolation in the hills of Kentucky, and her superlative research shines throughout the story.

The Christian element runs compellingly through the book in the female protagonist, Addie Cowherd, who exemplifies her faith in steadfast, infallible ways. And, even though she is not accepted as she hoped she would be, she carries on, nonetheless. Sawyer’s ability to interweave convincing and effective scriptural truths without beating one over the head with it is much needed and refreshing.

I hated to leave Boone’s Hollow as each character became as real to me as possible. I would love to see a sequel to The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow.

I received The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow from Waterbrook through NetGalley. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

A sweet story set in the 1930’s, coal-country Kentucky.  A city girl goes to the KY mountains to be a librarian with the WPS program... talk about culture-shock...

Ok, I have to admit, this book really surprised me! I don't know what I expected from The Librarian of Boone's Hollow, but what I got was much more!

I haven't read many Depression era books, but the ones I have I've enjoyed and they've pulled on my heart strings. This one was no different.

My heart immediately went out to Addie as the story started. She gets quite a surprise and her world is turned upside down. Thankfully she works with ladies at the library who are kind a supportive. I enjoyed getting to know her co-worker, Griselda Ann. She was definitely quirky, but also very kind and giving.

At the same time, Addie has a quick run-in with Emmett Thorp. Actually, twice. The first time she's rather perturbed by him. Actually a pretty funny scene. And poor Emmett. He's the first in his little town to goto college and because of the Depression, he can't find a job so he tucks his tail between his legs and heads home hoping he can find something in the neighboring town.

As timing would have it, Addie ends up heading to Boone's Hollow where Emmett is from to become one of the WPA girls who delivers books to the residents of the town. Enter, Bettina. Oh my goodness, that girl is a firecracker. Super easy to dislike because she's downright sneaky. And Emmett has no idea what's coming when he gets home and she's there to greet him!

One of the facets I loved about this story is how we see people, but how God would have us see them. That's where the librarian, Lydia West, has such an impact on Addie and on me! Because she is also an outsider, she's able to guide Addie on what life is like there for the people and for the outsiders. They both experience first hand how people behave when they believe in superstitions.

Thankfully, both ladies know that Jesus would have them loving those around them, even when it's difficult. And difficult it is! Addie decides to live with Nanny Fay who everyone avoids because she'd been married to a Cherokee and was from Tuckett's Pass. The town folk also see Nanny Fay as a witch. Nanny Fay just gives grace upon grace to those around her.

There's a lot that happens in the story. Emmett trying to tighten his relationship with his father, a miner. He continues trying to find a job while keeping Bettina in check. Whew, that girl has a story! Addie gives being a packhorse librarian a good go and does everything she can to reach out and befriend the people in her town.

All throughout the story, you see or hear about God's hand moving. So many great truths about grace and mercy abound through the story and through the lives of the people.

Set during the Depression, Addie Cowherd had been living a fairly comfortable college life protected from the hardships of the times. She suddenly had to stop her studies and find a job. 

Emmet Tharp had just graduated from college but couldn’t find a job in his field, so he returned home to Boone’s Hollow, in the hills of Kentucky. Addie ended up in Boone’s Hollow working as a packhorse librarian.

The story followed a cast of well-developed characters as Addie struggled to find her way and acceptance into a culture which was fraught with superstition and the residents were leery of outsiders. Emmet had his own struggles trying to make a life in the place where he grew up but didn’t fit in anymore. 

Through the author’s descriptive writing, I felt transported to another time and place. The characters were real and the settings were vividly presented.

I received an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book from WaterBrook & Multnomah Fiction Team and NetGalley for the purpose of review and the opinions are my own. I received no other compensation.

I could not put this wonderful book down.  I loved all the characters.  This story didn’t go too far into how the program for the women horseback librarians really worked but the story delved into other problems.  There is romance and some intrigue.  These characters learn to treat each other in better ways.  I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook and Multnomah for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This story is set in 1936 in Kentucky, during the great depression.  Addie is enjoying her junior year at college when she gets called to the office and told she is no longer a student.  At the rally at the end of the year, which she was able to attend, she briefly meets Emmett.   She agrees to take a job as a horseback librarian to deliver books up in the hills of Kentucky and accepts, looking forward to her new venture and making new friends in a new town.  Little does she realize how small this town is and how challenging that will be.  Emmett has just graduated, yet has no work to put his degree to work.  Things are thrown in both their paths as they work through the challenges that are before them.  We meet other librarians, Bettina, Glory and Alba, along with Miss West, as well as some townspeople including the Tharp family and Nanny Fay.  Engaging story that draws you right in and wonderful characters.
A complimentary copy was provided by Waterbrook via NetGalley.  A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a beautifully written historical novel.  The author captured the time-period and locale.  I felt that the author transported me into the hills of Kentucky where working in the coal mines was the main occupation.  There are some great characters in this story.  Addie Cowherd was fortunate when she was adopted by Fern and Penrose Cowherd.  They raised her to be resilient and to rely on God.  Emmett Tharp is proud to have completed high school and college.  He is a hard worker and a gentleman.  Nanny Fay was my favorite character.  She had such a cheery attitude despite how she is treated and the hardships she endures.  Nanny Fay was a woman of strong faith.  It was fascinating learning about the Kentucky Pack Horse Project.  Eleanor Roosevelt wanted to feed people minds.  Women worked long hours transporting reading materials by horseback or mule to remote farms.  The point-of-view switches between Addie, Emmett, Nanny Fay, and Bettina (a horseback librarian from Boone’s Hollow).  The author captured the mountain vernacular spoken by Bettina and the other mountain folk.  I like how the Christian message was present through the whole book.  It is wonderful that we are reminded to be kind to others and despite how one may be treated to “kill them with kindness” (a phrase my mother used with me when I was growing up).  I also liked the Scripture passages used in the book that supported the various messages.  The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow was a joy to read.  There are references to physical abuse in the story which, unfortunately, was common.  I like that the romance was not at the forefront.  Some wonderful classic books are mentioned in the story.  My favorite phrase came from Addie who loved books and said, “nothing more magical or as satisfying as a book.”  If you like to read Christian historical novels, then you should read The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow.  The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow is a special Christian tale with beloved books, a stubborn steed, a persistent person, a missing manuscript, surprising superstitions, and a gracious God.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah and NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.

"These feuds an' fear gotta end."

That line resonated so loudly as I was reading this timely book.

This beautiful story touched my heart on multiple levels. Its exquisite depth and rich atmosphere immersed me into the quaint mountain town of Boone's Hollow, where I met a quirky cast of amazing characters that each wriggled their way into my heart.

Mrs. Sawyer once again created characters worth caring about. The depth to which she develops her cast is something to not only admire but also to study, if you're a writer like me. The way she captures a local way of speaking amazes me every time, and this talent of hers is one of the many reasons why her characters pop off the pages.

The glimpse at coal mining reminded me of Homer Hickam's true-life story in the movie October Sky. Another similarity between that film and this book was the difficult and sometimes heartrending father-son relationship.

What really made this book stand out among the 150+ books I've read this year is how a library was used to bring hope to families struggling through the Great Depression years. I had never before heard of packhorse librarians, but this story made me want to learn more. The way this novel was written -- filled with hope, love, and lots of grace -- kept me intrigued throughout, and I can hardly wait to read it again. It has moved itself into a tie with My Heart Remembers for my favorite KVS book -- and I wasn't sure that would happen after years and years of MHR reigning alone in that spot.

"What I want is for you to fully use the abilities God has given you."

The above quote really spoke truth into my soul. I'm not fully sure in how many ways God wants to fulfill this in my life, but I am eager to find out.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow is an amazing Christian fiction novel with engaging characters and a heartfelt plot. The pacing pulled me into the story from the first page to the last page. The book gave me a true sense of the backcountry of Kentucky.

Addie Cowherd’s character desperately needs a job after she learns she can no longer stay in college and finds out her parents have lost their home when her father lost his position at the bank. I loved her indominable spirit, even when faced with a new community that practically shuns her because she lives with an elderly woman that the superstitious folks of Boone's Hollow believe is a witch. My hearts went out to her when she is unable to do her job because of the townsfolk's distrust.

Emmett Tharp has finished his business degree but cannot find employment in such a depressed economy, so he ends up in Boone’s Hollow faced with taking a job in the mines with his father, something he didn’t want to do. To his surprise, he discovers the young woman he’d met at his school prior to his graduation. I enjoyed his easy acceptance of his situation as he faces what had to be a blow to his pride and ego. Then his hesitation when he at last obtains a position and the head librarian.

As with most clean and wholesome romances, the love story blossoms from the friendship that grows between Addie and Emmett as they end up working together at the library. Their affection is sweet and lovely, and I truly wanted them to find their way to each other.

If you enjoy sweet and tender romances with endearing characters and a fulfilling plot, then you will love The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow as much as I did. While this is not the first book I’ve read by Ms. Sawyer, it is one that touched me. Happy reading!

Words have power. It doesn’t matter if we’re speaking them, reading them, or writing them. Words can build up and destroy. They can inspire and deflate. They can start wars and end them. Would be writer Addie knows this. Words in books gave her an escape as a child, and now she wants to share them with others. But the absence of certain words spoken by her adoptive parents leads to a shock that upends her life. Then, after taking a job in Boone’s Hollow, she discovers that words can mean the difference between acceptance and exile.  How can she turn things around so that words can be used for good?

Maybe it’s me, but it feels like Appalachia has been a popular setting for Christian historical fiction this year. I’ve reviewed a couple of titles, and this is the second I’ve read in as many months set during the time of the Great Depression. Kim Vogel Sawyer’s new novel takes readers into the hills, where poverty, prejudice, discrimination, and other hardships are considered normal, and where outsiders and different ways of living are regarded with suspicion. Every character has a story and depth to them: Addie was adopted, Emmett obtained a college degree and now feels alienated from his father, Bettina dreams of escaping her troubled home, and Nanny Fay’s behavior is a result of previous events in her life. Vogel Sawyer’s genius is in introducing characters in such a way that I formed an opinion before I got to know them and then had to revise that opinion: a perfect example of prejudice at work.

Kim Vogel Sawyer always writes good books and I think I’ve enjoyed almost each one I’ve read over the years. This is no exception. It made me think about how we treat others without being preachy about it. If I’ve one criticism, it’s that I wanted more. Secondary character Bettina, a young woman I disliked at first, is someone I’d enjoy reading more about. I feel she has more to tell, and I’d love for her to get her happy ever after. 4.5 stars.
 

Disclaimer: Although I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, the words and opinions above are my own.

If you loved The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek, you will love The Librarian of Boone's Hollow. The story is set first in Lexington and then in Boone's Hollow, Kentucky in 1936. The country is still struggling following the stock market crash of '29, and Addie Cowherd's world has just come crashing down. Suddenly she finds herself dismissed from school with no place to go, and only a part time job. Emmett Tharp, a recent graduate of the University of Kentucky, the first from Boone's Hollow, unable to find a job in the city, returns to his hometown hoping to find something there. Boone's hollow is not a place that easily accepts strangers or those who leave and come back different. The mountain people have a code of their own, and Addie and Emmett must find a way to become part of the community and part of the healing. 

The themes of this book are very timely for today. The story is both encouraging and entertaining. It allows one to escape to another time and place, but not run away from the challenges of the here and now. I am grateful to have received a copy of The Librarian of Boone's Hollow from Waterbrook via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow is a wonderful fast-paced read that pulls you in from the beginning. The characters are realistic, well-written, and depicts life in Kentucky during the Great Depression.

The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow takes readers back in time during the days of the depression to Boone’s Hollow, a mining town in the hills of Kentucky. Addie Cowherd’s family has experienced financial difficulties that have forced her to leave her college classes as well as her beloved part-time job in the library. She has no choice but to find a full-time job but the only one available requires her to move to Boone’s Hollow to work for the horseback library delivery there. As a city girl, Addie finds life in the hills to be more difficult than she expected and learns more than she ever wanted to know about rivalries and feuds among the hill people. Only her determination and the Lord could help her succeed.

Emmett Tharp is the first resident of Boone’s Hollow to graduate from college but a degree has not been enough to secure him a job during such hard times. He is forced to return home, certain someone will have a job for him but only a job working underground for the mining company is available. Naturally Emmett and Addie crossed paths at some point and worked together to make the library system a success despite subtle attempts to sabotage their friendship and even more blatant attacks when those did not succeed.

Strong and lifelike characters populate the pages of this story. Not only are Emmett and Addie well-developed but other characters also come to life. I appreciated the way one particular unlovable and sometimes vindictive character was portrayed in a way that offered understanding and sympathy for the reason she acted the way she did. This wonderful tale presents a strong  story of forgiveness and illustrates how showing the love of Christ can bring a divided community together.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A new aspect of history, the great depression in the hill country of Kentucky. Setting in the city with modern developments and then in a mining community in the hills with poverty.  Fascinating as it explains the WPA program and the start of libraries getting the books out to the people in the rural hills.   Loved feeling a part of history, the characters became like friends and a timely perspective on accepting others.  Faith through the Word of God in the hearts and minds of the characters also made the book more enjoyable.  I hope this book becomes a best seller and impacts the world with the perspective it brings.  It is my favorite fiction book this year.

This is a book that I would recommend.  I chose this book because of the beautiful cover and that it was written by Kim Vogel Sawyer.  
	Addie Cowherd was a typical college student until the day when she was summoned to the office of the dean.  Her part-time job at the city library would not pay for her college tuition so she was forced to find another job since she could not continue her education.  With the help of her friends at the city library, Addie was able to accept a position as a circuit-riding book delivery for the library in the hills of Kentucky.
	Emmett Tharp, whom Addie chance met just before leaving college, graduated with a business degree and after pounding the pavement searching for employment went back to his hometown in the hills of Kentucky.  After many frustrating attempts to find suitable employment, he finally settles on working with his father in the mines.  Emmett finds that that job is ill-suited for him and he jumps at the chance to accept the position of the librarian in Boone’s Hollow.  
This job comes with its own headaches and drama among the book delivery gals and the local superstitions of the people among the hills.   
I was given a free copy of this book for review by Net Galley and the opinion is my own.  #TheLibrarianofBoone’sHollow #KimVogelSawyer  #NetGalley