Historical fiction with a twist! This story gives a whole new meaning to the term "forbidden romance."This story is not the type I'm typically drawn to, but I'm glad I gave it a chance. It was absolutely not what I would expect from a debut novel by an indie author, but I was very pleasantly surprised and I can't wait to read book two!

This audiobook offers a compelling and immersive listening experience. Stones River is richly atmospheric, pulling listeners into its world with vivid storytelling and strong character development.

The narration enhances the emotional depth of the story, making the stakes feel immediate and real. I appreciated the careful pacing and the way the author layered tension throughout the narrative.

A gripping and thoughtful story that will appeal to fans of character-driven historical fiction.

A unique love story. The faith content and history were outstanding, Amazing narration. I look forward to more in this series and highly recommend.

I was blessed with an audio ARC. Thank you NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased. .

Stone River initially caught my attention with its striking cover and intriguing premise. As someone who also grew up loving Gone With the Wind, I was especially excited to see that the author shared a similar connection, which added a personal and nostalgic layer to the listening experience.

The audiobook is narrated by the author herself, and she delivers the story with authenticity and care. Her pacing reflects the setting of East Tennessee - slow and methodical - which some listeners may find immersive. Personally, I preferred listening at a faster speed to stay fully engaged, but others may appreciate the deliberate rhythm.

The story itself is both sweet and informative. I found the historical elements, particularly those related to the Civil War, to be thoughtfully presented and enriching. The author clearly has a deep appreciation for the region, and her depiction of East Tennessee beautifully captures its history, culture, and distinct sense of place.

While the romance storyline felt somewhat predictable, the faith-based themes offer meaningful moments for reflection and add depth to the narrative.

Overall, Stone River is a heartfelt and educational listen, particularly for those who enjoy historical fiction with strong regional ties and contemplative themes

It's a very interesting concept; when she finally finds someone who catches her attention and she falls in love, he's the ghost of a soldier who died a long time ago, a war she knows quite well.

It's very sad when she hears the recording of them singing again and she can only hear her own voice.

It's very interesting how her romantic connections are made. We root for her to end up with the love of her life, who is the ghost, even knowing it's impossible, and seeing the possibilities of other potential romantic interests around her.

Excellent narration by the author herself, M. F. Jones. As I always say, no one knows better where emotions shift and intensify than the person who wrote the story.

I will definitely read the sequel.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this audiobook for review. All opinions are my own.

First, I want to read the follow up book...which is not always the case.

If you want a sweet, sometimes beautiful and other times heartbreaking, love story this is a fun and quick read.

Things I liked:

- [] The portrayal of family & Love
I especially enjoyed the father to child relationships and vice versa

- [] Lem's point of view & character
The portrayal of war felt very accurate from his perspective compared to some other books I've read set during the same time period.

- [] The supernatural/ ghost/spirit aspect
It reminds me of Outlander & I just love the time period.

Things I struggled with:

- [} There is A LOT more religion in this book than I expected

- [] Jessie's emotions are hard to relate to

I feel like they are muffled as if 1 am looking in at her through a piece of glass. I'm still trying to understand her, and I'm still trying to decide if this is intentional.