I couldn't resist selecting this book as it's about a traveling librarian during the Depression. Sign me up! At first, I have to admit I was concerned the book might get too "churchy" since it comes from a Christian publisher, and this might overwhelm the story. But I absolutely loved this book and never felt preached to. The author writes a lovely story about a young woman who gets kicked out of college for non-payment of fees (her parents have lost everything in the Depression), and finds a job as a horseback librarian for a mining community. Addie is motivated to send money to help her parents and endures prejudice, petty jealousies, and hardships in her job.
Everett has just graduated from the same college as Addie, but there are no jobs to be found. He returns home to his mining community -- the one where Addie now works -- and faces his own struggles. Of course, the two are meant for each other. This story is ripe for a happy ending, and we all need a feel-good story, don't we?
I loved that the author gives side characters depth and their own conflicts. Ms. Sawyer is an eternal optimist about the goodness of people. I was heartened to read this story. In a world filled with troubles, it was nice setting aside the news and picking up this book to read. I highly recommend.

I absolutely love books! The best job I ever had was working in an elementary school library. It gave me such great joy to help kids find just the right book to enjoy. Had I lived in the time period of Addie Cowherd, I am pretty sure I would have been competing with her to get the job of being horseback librarian to Boone's Hollow. But since I didn't live back then, I just had to enjoy her adventure vicariously from the comfort of my own home. Once I started reading the book, I did not want to stop! Addie definitely had her challenges with adjusting to a different culture, working thru a long-time family feud, and dealing with a jealous fellow librarian. Would she call it quits, or persevere thru the trials? You will not want to miss out on joining this adventure for yourself!

4.5 stars.

  Set in 1936, The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a heartfelt Christian romance that is based on true life events.

  Adelaide “Addie” Cowherd is almost finished with her junior year of college. Her much older parents have fallen on very hard times and they have been unable to pay her tuition. Thanks to the kindness of her co-worker, Addie has a place to stay until her job at the library finishes.   She is hoping to find a job in Lexington so she can pay her tuition and assist her parents financially until her father can find another job. Just as she is getting desperate, Addie accepts a position as a packhorse librarian in the very small town of Boone’s Hollow.

  Emmett Tharp also attends the same college as Addie but he is a senior who is graduating. Like Addie, he immediately begins his job search, but he is turned down every place he goes. Disappointed, Emmett returns to his hometown of Boone’s Hollow  with hopes of finding employment in one of the nearby towns. On the verge of giving up hope, Emmett finds  unexpected job opportunities.

  Addie is an independent and intelligent young woman with a strong faith. She is very devoted to her parents and she will do what it takes to help them. Kind and compassionate, Addie would never knowingly hurt anyone’s feelings. She also forms her own opinions so she chooses to live with the town’s pariah Nanny Fay Tuckett.

  Emmitt is finding it difficult to settle back into life in Boone’s Hollow. His mom is very proud of him but his relationship with his father remains strained. And once they finally do find common ground, Emmett is uncertain whether or not he should do anything to upset their growing closeness.

  Bettina Webber is thrilled that Emmett has returned from college. She has long harbored a crush on him and she immediately sets a plan in motion to capture his heart. Bettina’s life drastically changed after her mother passed away and she will go to any lengths to escape living with her father.

  The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow is a captivating novel with a vibrant setting and colorful characters. The plot is gripping and Kim Vogel Sawyer’s meticulous research brings this marvelous story vividly to life. The characters are guided by their faith and their ability to forgive and offer kindness no matter the situation reflects their deep spirituality. Although there is a slight romantic element, it is very understated. This heartwarming and engaging novel comes to beautiful, uplifting conclusion. Highly recommend this marvelous story to fans of the genre.

Appalachian Library During The Great Depression
This novel takes place in the mountains of Kentucky during The Great Depression. The story is mostly looking at the hard lives of the Hill people through the eyes of a young and naive city woman. The story is rich in the detail needed to color the mental pictures of that life. There are several background stories that also add depth to the story. I enjoyed this book immensely and plan on reading more of this author's work. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Of all the authors who write historical fiction I love reading Kim Vogel Sawyer's books. Her stories have a way of teaching and enriching my life. The Librarian of Boone's Hollow is set during the Great Depression with the main character Addie must overcome struggles in her life to achieve what she has set out to do. Addie's character is brave, encouraging and faithful. New characters are introduced in the book that you will fall in love with.
I am under no obligation to give a positive review but if I could give it 10 stars I would. Thank you Kim Vogel Sawyer for a fabulous book.

What an absolutely wonderful novel about a persistent and determined young woman named Addie who takes what life sends her [throws at her], and tries to make sense of it all.  She's resilient and resolute.  She loves her family, and she loves lots of other people who don't necessarily love her.  She's unselfish.  

Her father has lost his job, her college fees remain unpaid, her folks' house is in foreclosure, and so she takes a job with the WPA in Eastern Kentucky.

The people who live in Boone's Hollow aren't exactly what she was expecting when she accepted the position as librarian.  For that matter, neither was the library -- which turned out to be an old smoke house and still smelled strongly of ham.  There's no electricity or running water;  the floors are dirt;  there's one phone and it's at the post office.  

One by one, piece by piece, she begins to make sense of generations-long feuds, to understand the residents of Boone's Hollow.  This heartwarming story belongs on everyone's bookshelf -- to be read again and again.

I read this delightful EARC courtesy of WaterBrook & Multnomah and Net Galley.  pub date 09/14/20

Sharing her love of reading and her love of books, a young woman becomes a traveling librarian. While riding horseback to deliver books, she discovers unique personalities in the people she meets. The descriptions that the author provides takes the reader on a journey filled with emotions from heartache to joy. A great read. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.

Addie Cowherd is precisely where she intends to be along her path to becoming an author when the realities of the Depression Era bring her to what seems to be a screeching halt. With her options limited to none, it seems hopeless until she learns of a traveling librarian position in the Kentucky hill country. She is an outsider and her welcome to Boone's Hollow is lukewarm, at best. What is to become of her and her dreams if she can't find a way forward alongside these people?

Just because Emmett Tharp grew up in Boone's Hollow doesn't mean he fits in. The Depression ruined his big city opportunities and his education isn't much help in the mining community he used to call home. How will he make a living when he can't find a desk job and he isn't cut out for work in the mine? And how can Addie and Emmett work together to open up new worlds and new understanding to the people around them?

Kim Vogel Sawyer's latest release felt a little familiar when considered in the scope of, "What happens when the world closes a door on our plans?" And, "How do I trust God to make a way when it seems there is none?" I really enjoyed the story line of The Librarian of Boone's Hollow, as well as the way the author's thoroughly considered characters build a world in which I could become immersed in order to feel the frustration, distrust, affection, and joy woven throughout. The idea that understanding can break down walls and one person can make a difference are timely reminders to us all.

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow releases September 15, but you can pre-order your copy today from your favorite bookseller.

Thank you to the author and to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions in this review are my own and are completely genuine.

*** I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow was an interesting and well written book.  It follows a woman (Addie) during the depression in Kentucky when she gains a job as a pack horse librarian in a small mining community located in the mountains.  The author does a wonderful job describing the mountain setting and the plight of its people during the depression.  This story follows Addie's struggles as an outsider and a "city girl" turned pack horse librarian.  It is a story of dedication, literacy, courage, poverty, friendship, and romance.  It was a tad too religious for me with paragraphs of Bible quotes, but it wasn't too overpowering.  I would recommend this book for sure, especially if you're interested in librarians during the depression and pack horse librarians specifically, until now, this was a topic that I had not explored.

I loved this historical fiction story about a depression era horseback library service in the Kentucky hills.  The story gave me a peek at what life might have been like for rural families in that time and the library girls employed by the WPA who carried books and well-read shared magazines to their homes.  Though there is a just barely there romance brewing, that isn’t the focus of the book.  I enjoyed the characters Bettina and Nanny Fay and their story lines and the issues that they each faced made this book.  While this book is not overly preachy there is one lovely scene where Bettina hears that she was created by God and He loves her.  This was a heart-warming, positive, and easy to read book.  Though she’s written many books this was my first experience with Kim Vogel Sawyer and now I’m interested in checking out some of her other books.  I requested and received this advanced copy to read and review from the publisher WaterBrook and NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Kim Vogel Sawyer’s book, The Librarian of Boone's  Hollow, is fresh glimpse into Great Depression period in Appalachia.  o
Addie Cowherd arrived in Boone's Hollow, part of the Pack Horse Library initiative which was sponsored by the New Deal’s WPA. It was her job along with three other local mountain girls to deliver books on horseback to families in the small mining and mountain communities. Addie was unprepared for the poverty of the community and the superstitious prejudice of its people. 
Her new boss, Emmett Tharp,  is a local young man who has recently graduated from the university. Emmett, unable to find a job in the city, returned to his hometown to look for employment. He struggles to discourage the unwanted affection of a local mountain girl, Bettina and find his true place in the community. Emmett and Addie find they have much in common as they work to place books in the hands of the people. 

The story primarily focuses on the community, the people and their struggle to step away from generations of close mindedness and fear of the unknown. The characters are endearing, my favorite being Nanny Fay whom most of the community believed to be a witch. 
A hint of romance, but heavy on colorful characters and Kentucky mountain charm, I enjoyed this book tremendously as I do most of Kim Vogel Sawyer’s. 
I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher, but the opinion posted is completely my own.

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow tells the story of Addie and Emmett, two young people making the best of a difficult time in our country's history.  

The story is made made up of the small and large events in the lives of ordinary people in 1930's Kentucky.  Addie Cowherd is in her third year of college in Lexington when her father loses his job and she is forced to leave school and take a job in Boone's Hollow Kentucky.  Emmett Tharp is a college grad whose new business degree doesn't guarantee him a job - or a future.

The two meet briefly at the college and then again, after leaving school, in Boone's Hollow - Emmett's home town.

As Addie struggles for acceptance, Emmett works to fit in with family and friends with whom he is no longer close.  The attraction Addie and Emmett feel for each other rings true because it is based on shared interests and values, as much as it is physical attraction.

I appreciated the way the author made the setting come alive and complexity of supporting characters like Bettina Webber.  While I do think that the character of Addie might have been more interesting with a flaw or two, I had no problem connecting with her and stayed up late to find out how her story would end.

In summary this is a lovely well told story Christian love story set in an engaging time and place.

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer was recommended to me by a fellow book lover! This book comes out in a few weeks and I simply can't rave enough about how much I loved this book. The characters, the story, the history and the real story of 'the WPA program that sent librarians out on horseback to deliver books to poor coal mining families in Kentucky'. I think I could have been one of these horseback librarians! Set during the depression, we get to meet Addie, Emmett, Nannie Fay and Miz Tharp.. you won't be able to put this book down!! Thank you to Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

The year is 1936 – the middle of the Great Depression.  When Addie has to leave college due to lack of funds, she knows it will be difficult to find a job.  Addie is offered a job being a packhorse librarian and she is excited as she will be able to share her love of books with others in rural Kentucky.  However, Addie is ill-prepared for life in Boone’s Hollow where superstitions and prejudices have existed for generations.  In The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow, Kim Vogel Sawyer has crafted another well-researched book exploring what can happen when we share the grace and love of Jesus.

I really enjoyed this read. The setting was unique and struggles were interesting. I can’t imagine living in that time period with so much uncertainty and everything you thought about your future can be taken away. Of course we live in uncertain times now, but I don’t believe it compares to what these people had to deal with.
I was curious when and how Addie and Emmett’s paths would cross as they only had a brief interaction early in the book and then it took a while for them to see each other again. But the reader knows it’s going to happen.
I don’t read a lot of Kim’s books but when I do I am always pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy them. If you enjoy historical fiction set in the depression era I am sure you will enjoy this book.

A copy of this book was give to me. All opinions are my own.

"A book takes one into another person's thoughts and emotions.  Books open up worlds beyond the view from one's own window."

This was such an interesting story about a group of people who struggles with the great depression and so much more.  Addie was such a great example of remaining positive during times of trials and loving others even though they treated her with contempt.  I loved how she constantly applied her mother's motto: "Look for the blessings" and how she chose to treat other's as she wants to be treated.

Emmett was a character who had to rise above challenges set by the depression, and in a way had to let go a bit of arrogance because he had a degree.  I enjoyed seeing reconciliation between Emmett and his father.

I loved the secondary characters of Granny Fay and poor Bettina who had me dislike her at times, liking her at others, laughing at some of her actions and mostly had my heart aching for her.

I did experience difficulty in the beginning to follow the "mountain vocabulary" but after I got used to it, it was easier to follow.

Another great story which fans of Kim Vogel Sawyer will love and fans of Historical Fiction should pick up and read.

At first I wasn’t sure about this one. I felt it was unlikely that Addie and Emmett would end up in the same small town after attending college together and I felt this had a slow start. However, I was quickly pulled into the quirkiness of Boone’s Hollow and was surprised about some of the prejudices that surfaced that I never would have thought of in this day and age. Because I love books, I appreciated the library concept that was put in place in order to get books to those that wouldn’t normally have access to them. All in all, I really ended up enjoying this story.

This book was received as an ARC from WaterBrook & Multnomah in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Being a librarian myself, I found a deep appreciation for this book especially since it was during the great depression and reading is important more than ever. I could not help but fall in love with the characters and relate to all their stories and struggles. After you read this book, you'll have a deeper appreciation of the power of reading and how it will get you through any struggle or battle you are going through. I know our community will love this book which will hopefully give them a deeper appreciation of the library. 

We will consider adding this title to our Historical Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I am a huge huge fan of Kim vogel sawyer writing. So when a new book from her Pops up i am here for it. This book is about dreams, it is about starting over, it is about family relationship and Girls relationship. It is about changing your ways. I loved this book. The ONLY minus for.me was i wanted to know more about the hardships in the mountains. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest review

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow is set during the depression in the mountains of Kentucky. I enjoyed the history of that time and the characters in the story. This is an easy read. Especially for me,  since I'm from Tennessee and that's the way I talk. lol!  My only wish, was that there had been a stronger romance between Emmett and Addie. All in all a very good read, and I really enjoyed it.
*I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.