Tansy Calhoun is a young packhorse librarian in the Kentucky mountains. She loves to read and loves to pass that love onto her Appalachian community. Though not all are supportive of the Packhorse librarian program or learning to read. But Tansy presses on hoping she can bring that love to anyone she can. The job also helps her struggling family to pay bills. Her father left to find work and they haven't heard from him since they left. Though Tansy is single she dreams of finding her perfect mate there is no one in the mountains whom Tansy is drawn towards. Then her dear friend Caleb moves back home with the intent of letting Tansy know that she has his heart but his plans are foiled when a stranger comes to town. One from the big city who is charming and can easily turn a young lady's head. When Caleb and Tansy help Perdita, an old spinster, out after her home burns to the ground, they might be in for more than they bargained for. Perdita does not have any friends and most folks are scared of her and she definitely would rather keep to herself. But now circumstances force her to receive help. As she sits and observes the goings on around her she knows whom Tansy should be choosing but who's going to listen to her?
This is the second "packhorse librarian" book I have read this year. While the first took on lots of deep issues with a grit and rawness this story was more of a light hearted read. While it did describe some of the poverty and characteristics of the Appalachian mountain people of the time it didn't go deep. And while the main character is a pack horse librarian I would say that part is on the surface of the story and secondary to help to move the light romance along. The characters are fun to get to know and grumpy old Perdita was a favorite and I loved her growth through the book. This was a good, faith based story if you are wanting an easier read of the time period and region without quite the "heaviness".
I gave it a solid 8/10
Reading Goals Met: September - On Hold At the Library
Great review. I'll probably pass on this though as one of those pack horse library books was enough for me. I do enjoy novels set in Appalachia though and read one earlier in 2021 that i just loved. Had nothing to do with Pack horse librarians though.
ReplyDeleteI saw this book recently - not sure where. Maybe at the library? Anyway, I thought it sounded good, so now I know that next time I see it again, I will check it out. Have your read the book by JoJo Moyes about the pack horse librarians? I got it a couple of months back from a thrift store, but have not read it yet. Thanks for the review. .
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