This was a DNF for me. I just couldn’t get into the story or connect with the characters. I thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Book Woman's Daughter is the next generation's story, a sequel to The Book Woman from Troublesome Creek. It follows the story of Honey, the daughter of Cussy and Jackson Lovett, who is forced to find her way to independence and freedom after losing her parents. A number of memorable and lovable characters return in this installment, as well as new faces and challenges.

This book turns away a bit from the struggles of the blue people of Kentucky, and focuses more on the struggles of the women living in this time period. There are women who rise to the challenge of working outside the home and face the harassment and torment received by men who believed their places were at home and not in the workplace. It recognizes the struggles women faced when the man or husband has left or passed, and what women tolerated to provide for her remaining family. This story is about Honey's fight for freedom, but also about the fight of many women to live and make their way during this time.

While I did enjoy the book, I was disappointed more stories of the blue people were not included. Granted, Cussy was the considered the last of these people, I had hoped for more of the subject in this book. Regardless, the book is interesting, with good plots and subplots, and has a wonderful ending, leaving the story completely open to the possibility of a third installment, which I hope to see in the future.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, publisher and NetGalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Book Woman's Daughter is an emotional read. You will laugh and cry with the main character, Honey, as she navigates life without her parents to guide her. A sequel and standalone story, it will give you a serious book hangover. Highly recommended!!

5 out of 5 stars.

The Book Woman's Daughter is a wonder sequel that did not disappoint. I did not love is as much as The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, but I really did enjoy the book. Honey Lovett's story was heartwarming and heartbreaking. Kim Michele Richardson does an amazing job with her writing, you really feel like your in the Kentucky Mountains on your own book route. I look forward to more novels from this talented author.

Thank you #KimMicheleRichardson #SourceBooksLandmark and #NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Book Woman's Daughter continues the story of pack horse librarians. A particular one - Cussy Mary, who as a blue, had to live under a different set of society's rules. Honey Mary-Angeline, raised by Cussy Mary, is the focus of this book as she fights for her safety and her freedom. Her family is imprisoned under the miscegenation laws, and Honey is faced with "correction" and hard labor since she is an unsupervised minor. The town doctor and lawyer come to her aid as she faces various dangers of her parents' imprisonment. A job as a pack horse librarian helps Honey find stability.
This book also addresses the prejudice against women in the male-dominated work place of this era (miners and fire-tower lookouts). It includes historical photos of women as pack horse librarians, coal miners, frontier nurses and fire tower lookouts. A reading group guide is included.
The Book Woman's Daughter is quickly paced and will keep the fans of historical fiction intrigued.
Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and Kim Michele Richardson for this ARC.

I was over the moon to receive an advanced copy of this book. Kim Michele Richardson returns to take us back to eastern Kentucky and to the life of Honey Lovett--daughter of the famed blue-skinned pack horse librarian, Richardson's novel reminds us of the resiliency of the human spirit, and of the injustices that women faced and continue to face in society. This book will remain in my heart for a very long time.

Thanks to NetGalley, for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I loved revisiting the characters from the first book, and the writing was top-notch. I really felt for Honey and all the trials she had to go through.

The Books Woman's Daughter is a splendid follow-up to the first book. The main character, Honey, is a spunky, courageous girl living and working in the depths of Appalachia in the middle of the 20th century. Life is not easy for anyone, much less a teenager hiding from the law after her parents are arrested for violating Kentucky's miscegenation laws. Richardson evokes the places, poverty, and people of the area with a deft hand. Despite the many hurdles Honey faces, she meets a few people who are willing to support her, regardless of the cost.

I have been waiting anxiously since I finished The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek for a sequel. While this is a fine stand-alone book, I was somewhat disappointed that this book did not have the flair and excellent writing that the first book had (which is one of my all-time favorite novels). Maybe my expectations were too high.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a good book. As a stand-alone novel, the reader will find the story interesting and the aspects of living in the ruggedness of Kentucky fascinating. The characters are colorful and memorable. If you haven’t read the first book, or it’s been a while, I would suggest reading or re-reading it prior to beginning this book. It is certainly not necessary but would help in remembering who the characters are as Honey travels throughout the hollers.


I received an ARC from Sourcebook Landmark through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

I read the first book in this series and loved it. The sequel did not disappoint. This book also could be read as a stand alone.

If you read and enjoyed The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek then you'll need to read Kim's follow up about Cussy Mary's daughter, Honey, who follows in her footsteps as a book woman in the Kentucky hills. It's inspiring to read about how dedicated these women were to get books to the families in the backwoods of Kentucky back in the day. I'd like to think if I had lived back then that I'd jump on my horse...or mule... and get my very own book route. I learned a lot about the lady coal-miners and the women who were the country's first lookouts at the fire towers. I feel like when I learn about something new and I am entertained at the same time that I have the best of both worlds.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Published 3 May 2022.

Several books have been published in recent years about the packhorse librarians of Kentucky who brought literacy to residents of Appalachia starting around the time of the Great Depression. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is one of them. This is its sequel, and like it, you can tell the author knows the setting and has researched the parts she wasn’t already well-aquainted with by her writing style. This novel will be snatched up by readers of the first book, but she manages to write a book that could be a stand alone with The Book Woman’s Daughter. Enough background is given to fill the reader in if they haven’t read the first one, though they’ll most likely immediately want to grab it afterwards to get to know Cussy Mary better. I found myself hoping for happy endings for all of the characters who deserved it in this book (and just desserts for the ones who had them coming), and mostly I got them, but Richardson gives this book enough realism to avoid tropes that shouldn’t exist in this setting. I’m glad for that, because it gives the book more depth. She addresses issues that our world still wrestles with, such as womens’ rights, prejudice, and misogyny, and by giving the main character, Honey, a rare genetic condition, she also addresses bigotry and hatred stemming from misinformation and fear. The Bookwoman’s Daughter is a good mix of history and realism, with some romance and humor mixed in. It has something for every reader, and I predict will be a fast best seller.

The Book Woman's Daughter definitely builds on the amazing story of Cussy Mary. Cussy was a force to be reckoned with, and she definitely passed that tenacity on to her daughter, Honey. Honey's story, while heartbreaking, is an amazing journey to follow. This book is a must read (preferably after you read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek- but I'm a series girl. You could read this book as a stand alone and not miss a thing)

Another wonderful historical fiction book steeped in the real life history of the Appalachian women of Kentucky! This story features Honey, the daughter of much beloved Cussy Mary who we met in The book woman of Troublesome Creek. Like her mother, Honey is also a member of the Blue-skinned people of that region who suffer from a non-life-threatening genetic blood condition.

Honey's story begins in the 1950s when both her parents have been imprisoned for breaking the miscegenation laws of the state (Cussy Mary being considered no better than other lesser races of the time). Hiding from authorities who would seek to lock her up, Honey stays with her friend and neighbor and gets a job like her mother working as a pack horse librarian. Unfortunately trouble finds her when she upsets the husband of a family she delivers books. Forced to fight for her freedom in court Honey has to defend her honor as both a librarian and a person with a right to live as she chooses.

Equally maddening and uplifting, I couldn't get enough of Honey and the strong but humble Appalachian women she served and befriended. I really loved the letters from Cussy Mary in the story and hearing that she found a way to share her love of books in prison by teaching the other inmates how to read and write.

Yet again the author did a fantastic job weaving historical facts into her story, including archival photos and a detailed note at the end of the book. While technically a sequel, the book does work as a standalone. Highly recommended and great on audio too. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy!

I was a huge fan of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson when it came out a few years ago. It was the story of Cussy Mary, a blue-skinned packhorse librarian determined, even in the face of extreme prejudice because of her rare skin color, to bring books and literacy to the folks living in the hills of Kentucky. Cussy Mary captured my heart as well as that of many other readers, so when I heard we were getting another book set in this world that focuses on Cussy Mary’s daughter, I couldn’t get my hands on a copy fast enough. I’m so glad I did too because I loved this book even more than the first!

When we first meet Cussy Mary’s daughter, Honey Mary Angeline Lovett, she is learning firsthand just how cruel and unfair, life can be because her parents have just been arrested and charged with miscegenation. They are each looking at several years in prison and because Honey is only a teenager, the court wants to have her committed to a home until she’s 21 years old. The majority of the story follows Honey as she tries to figure out how she can, first, evade capture by law enforcement, and second, find a way to secure her freedom, a journey that has her following in her mother’s footsteps.

Honey is such an easy character to fall in love with. She’s passionate, quick-witted, resourceful and determined, just like her mother, and she’s also born into the role of an underdog because she has inherited her mother’s blue-tinted skin, although in Honey’s case, the blue is confined to her hands and is easily hidden by gloves. I always love a good underdog story and became immediately invested in Honey’s journey, particularly after she declares that she wants to be emancipated and that a bunch of random powerful men shouldn’t be allowed to determine whether or not she can be free.

I loved Honey and I also loved the assorted cast of characters who stepped up to help her because they loved her mother so much and because they knew Honey’s family had been dealt an unfair hand. They treat Honey like family and it’s wonderful to see. One young man even offers to marry her because he knows that will keep her from being committed, but Honey, even though she is immensely grateful he offered, doesn’t want her freedom to come at the cost of marrying for a reason other than love.

Honey’s story is so compelling and the author also does a wonderful job once again exploring the important role of the packhorse librarians and literacy. In many ways, both Book Woman books are love letters to books and reading, both for education and for escape. If you love books about books and books that feature strong resilient female characters who want to smash the patriarchy, you’ll want to check out The Book Woman’s Daughter.

What a unique slice of history to revisit! THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER follows Honey Lovett, the daughter of Cussy Lovett from Kim Michele Richardson’s debut novel THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK. The history of the Blue people of Kentucky and the Pack Horse Librarians in the 1930s is incredibly fascinating and it was fun to be back in this world.

When Cussy and her husband find themselves in trouble with the law due to their interracial marriage, 16 year old Honey is left to her own devices. She must search for independence while staying out from under the nose of law enforcement.

I love reading about women with moxie and this story was no exception. The characters were bold and courageous as they stood up against racism and misogyny. While this story could be read as a standalone novel, reading THE BOOK WOMEN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK will enrich the reading experience.

A big thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

RATING: 4.5/5 stars (rounded up to 5)

After her parents are arrested for miscegenation under Kansas law - her mother is blue and her father is white - Honey Lovett is forced to fend for herself. It isn’t easy for her and she encounters prejudice because she is also a blue (though just in her hands and feet) as well as ignorance and cruelty. Fortunately, she also finds many people to help her along the way and when she takes over her mother’s position of book woman, she and her friends can work together to help bring change.

The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson is the sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and it is just as beautiful and beautifully written as the first book. It kept me riveted to the page from first to the last. Although it covers many highly charged emotional issues like prejudice, domestic assault, bullying, and poverty, it never slips into schmaltz or emotional manipulation.

It can be read as a standalone but I recommend anyone who loves intelligent stories should read both. This is one of my favourite books so far this year and is now on my short list of books I know I will read again and again. I would like to thank Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded to 5

"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sing when the dawn is dark... as long as you have the books, you'll always have the light."

wow! what another beautiful and inspirational story about the blue skinned people of Kentucky, the struggles they went through to live a peaceful life and the fight they had in their hearts. I just recent read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and I loved it, but I loved this one even more. Honey saw the heart and fight her mama had and she worked even harder to be brave and stay strong. The fight and spirit she had was so amazing. While this book has ALOT of prejudice, racism and really horrible people, the love and and compassion the community had not only for Honey and her family, but for the books that helped the people come together, really outweighed the bad. It showed a little hope that there are still good people in the world.

"Knowing that the books had not only saved me, her and others, but had given us something even buffer and more precious-- freedom."

Thank you Sourcebook Landmark, Netgalley and Kim Michele Richardson for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Triggers: Medical trauma, Sexism, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Racism

This is an excellent sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I loved learning more about the Women of the Pack Horse Library Project. they were such strong and dedicated women who served an amazing service to the people of Kentucky. The previous book deals with Cussy Mary Carter, while this one covers the life of her daughter, Honey Mary Angeline Lovett. Between being judged for her physical condition of having blue skin, being a woman trying to serve those who live in a remote region of Appalachia, and the ability to survive so many dangers has you cheering her on. Another positive aspect of the book provides information about the women who worked in the mines as well as served as fire lookouts for the forest towers. Their strength and dedication was astonishing. The prejudices they suffered and mistreatment they endured will break your heart and enrage you for all they experienced. Such well-developed characters come alive on the page. I would encourage you to absorb the author’s notes at the end of the book. Important information is shared and the amount of research the author conducted supports the details shared on the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

While this book was well written and well researched. It felt like the author was trying to add a lot of women's first into it well as Kentucky history into one novel. I can understand her wanting to show the power of sisterhood. But this reader finds it hard to believe that a packhorse librarian who is local to area would be friends with the first female fire watcher as well as a frontier nurse midwife. As both these women would have been say as outsiders, though the nurse midwife would be welcome for her medical care. Now one of the first female coal miners and a packhorse librarian being friends is believable as it quite possible as they would have grown up together. I'm not saying it was a bad book I'm just saying it's a little hard for this Kentucky girl to swallow.