Powerful story of taking responsibility for the needs of others. Worie is only seventeen, but finds her thrust into the position of surrogate mother for the children of Sourwood Mountain after her mother passes away. Worie wasn't aware of her mother's generosity, but it now falls to her to continue taking care of the least of these.

Worie's brothers are pretty much useless-- one has a lust for money, the other for drink. Understanding that she must continue helping the children who have come to depend on her mother's provision, Worie fights to make sure everyone gets what they need, no matter the sacrifice.

"What Momma Left Behind" is a story of fighting against obstacles that seem to be around every corner and finding hope in what seems to be a hopeless situation. A powerful read, this is one you will be thinking about long after you finish the story.

I was an early reader, thanks to #NetGalley and Revell publishers.

A new to me author Cindy K. Sproles created a vivid view of life on the Appalachian Mountains. Her descriptions of the scenery, the mountains, and the geographical location of the characters were very engaging and interesting to read. I enjoyed Cindy K. Sproles's way of engaging my imagination with the world she created for her characters, it reminded me of Pepper D. Basham and Joanne Bischof’s style of writing. I truly loved the environment she created and was sorry to see the story come to an end.




The plot was very unexpected for me. Whether due to the synopsis not doing the story justice, or my preconceptions going into the book. Either way, it was a surprising storyline that turned out to be a sweet and encouraging read on how to find your place in this world, and where you should place your trust.

Favorite Quote:
“The mountain air brings newness, seeps down deep, and cleans out the things that weigh heavy on a body’s soul. Despite how hard things are, it’s like the mountain is forgivin’. It demands a man’s hard work to survive, but then it wraps its soul and spirit around you, claimin’ you as its own child.”

The characters in this story were interesting and relatable. I enjoyed getting to read about Worie Dressar and loved seeing her growth progress throughout the story, I thought she was a unique character and I enjoyed her journey. Throughout the story, she overcomes much sorrow and pain, mixed in with some truly joyful moments. Worie learns who God wants her to be and the plans that He has for her and her family. The other secondary characters added some much-needed layers to this story, they were interesting, and I would love to read more about their personal stories as well (Hint, hint). Worie Dressar has some very thought-provoking thoughts in this book, and I have written down many of them as reminders for when I need God’s guidance in something. A good book overall.



I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the deep thought-provoking lessons, the vivid descriptions of mountain hardships, and the moral of trusting God through it all. The only thing I would have like to see more of would have been a better developed secondary character for Worie Dressar.


*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

“What Momma Left Behind” by Cindy K. Sproles is a novel that takes place in the Smoky Mountain area. In 1877, because the gaps and hollers were so isolated, sickness came to the hill people with a vengeance. At the beginning of this novel, Worie Dressar finds her mother bloodied and dead. The truth of that death will come out later in the novel. With the help of a freedman and his wife, Worie buries her mother and gets on with the business of life as her mother would expect.
During a few weeks, Worie finds that her mother, who was a healer for the mountain people, has been keeping the children of parents who both died of the fever from starving by delivering what she could to them and their siblings, now that they were alone. Worie finds out when the children come to the two room cabin wondering where Worie’s mother is. Worie ends up keeping and feeding the orphans as her mother did.

Worie has two brothers, Justice a drunk and Calvin, a mean individual who only causes trouble. Worie is settling in with the children when Calvin shows up and demands the money that their mother supposedly hid. When he doesn’t find it, he comes back with the sheriff and a cockamamie story that gives him the land. Worie is not a stupid girl and not one to back down from a fight. If a fight is what they want, a fight is what they’ll get. Follow the story of this headstrong, capable and clever mountain girl who, with the help of a local pastor and her friends finds a way to thwart those who would take from her and her charges.

I liked the fact that Ms. Sproles wrote this book in the spirit and vernacular of the mountains. It made the story feel more real and I was drawn to the characters’ strength of spirit and her uncanny way of finding the truth.

I was a little in awe of the way the author maintained the voice of Worie in her speech and her thoughts throughout the story! Narrated in the first person, the entire story was told with an Appalachian accent. I have not often seen this done – it certainly worked here. Though I was dyin’ to add ‘g’s to words as I began to read, as I continued, the cadence and the music of the language began to feel natural and appropriate.

Worie was fascinating. She was selfish in many ways – always thinking about how things affected her more than others. Yet she also had a heart filled with compassion for the children who came to her in need. She never hesitated to embrace them, and never considered how she would afford to feed them. She struggled with grief and anger over her mother’s death, feeling inadequate despite the sacrifices she had made. She was courageous and became like a mother bear when the children were threatened!

The plight of the children in the face of the epidemic was tragic. They showed such courage and love for one another. I just wanted to wrap each one up in a great big hug!!

It was a tragedy to see the evil man her younger brother had become, filled with greed and selfishness! His actions were despicable. Her older brother underwent a transformation as well, though he went from being a drunkard to a man who cared for his family. I really liked Justice!

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Worie changed through learning the truth and reading the Word. Despite having her world shaken, or perhaps because of it, she learned to trust others and more importantly, to trust God. And as she got a better glimpse of herself, she was able to surrender her imperfections to the Lord so He could make her new.

Amid dark situations with trouble after trouble, author Cindy K. Sproles has written a poignant tale filled with glimmers of faith and hope and lots of love.

I love reading stories about the folks in the Appalachian mountains. This book did not disappoint. I did not want to put this book down. I cried a lot throughout this book. Worse is a great character. She had some problems but she works these out. You root for her at all times. This was the first book I read by this author and I hope it will not be my last. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

What Momma Left Behind is a very well written inspirational book. This is a historical book set in the Appalachian mountains after the Civil War. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

What Momma Left Behind is Cindy K. Sproles’s debut novel. The author takes readers to the Appalachian Mountains in the late 1870s. Worie Dressar loses her mother, her home and security in a short span of time. Influenza and typhoid are afflicting the residents of the mountain leaving numerous people dead. Worie had dreams of becoming a teacher, but there was no way she could leave her mother alone to care for the farm. Her brother, Justice took to drink after their father passed. Her other brother, Calvin is a greedy man who is also a liar and a conniver. Thankfully, Worie has good friends in Ely and Bess Merrell. She then meets Pastor Jess who will prove invaluable in helping Worie. I thought the author captured the speech of the Appalachian people along with the living conditions and their struggles. Worie is a simple person with a limited education which is evident from her speech and knowledge. Worie’s mother was a woman of great faith, but it is something Worie has struggled with despite her mother’s teachings. I thought What Momma Left Behind was a slow starter, but, as I got further into the book, I become more engrossed. I wanted to find out how the story would play out. There were some interesting surprises along the way. I appreciated the epilogue which nicely wrapped up the book. The story is told in the first-person from Worie’s point-of-view. It gives the reader an opportunity to really understand this feisty young woman. Worie is only seventeen at the beginning when she begins taking in the orphans. I just loved Pastor Jess who kept popping up when you least expected him. Worie has a great deal to learn and understand. Her spirited nature will stand her in good stead, but Worie does need to control her temper. The one thing I did not like was how the book started. I just found it off-putting which made it hard for me to get into the story. I wish the author had put that scene in the second chapter. Faith plays a big part of the story. There are scripture passages along with religious talks. What Momma Left Behind is an interesting historical novel that gives readers a glimpse at what life was like for residents of the Appalachian Mountains in the late 1870s.

# What Momma Left Behind# by Cindy Sproules is a historical Christian book. "This book takes place in the Appalachian Mountains in 1877. During this time period there was a influenza and dysentery epidemic. There were lots of orphans since many of their parents died with these bad epidemics. The story helps the reader understand the challenges of the epidemics during that time. The themes are forgiveness, self sacrifice. The writer weaves in Christian values in the beautiful story. It is an old fashioned story with Christian values. The writer helps the reader understand the people who lived in the Appalachian Mountains. Thank you to netgalley, the author, the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Revell Publishing and Cindy K. Sproles for my copy of What Momma Left Behind.

In 1898, Worie Dressar is only seventeen when she discovers her mother Louise has passed away and she has no idea why? To make matters worse an influenza and dysentery outbreak occurs in the small Tennessee mountain community and more lives are lost in and leaving so many children orphaned and hungry. Worie has no time to grieve for her mother; she’s busy taking care of hungry, homeless children and just like her Momma did. She also has her two brothers to deal with Calvin who’s mean and nasty and Justice a hopeless alcoholic.
Calvin tosses Worie and her menagerie of children out of the cabin; he’s greedy and wants the contents of a jar Momma has hidden in the cabin? Worie has no idea why her brother’s wants with a few notes written by her Momma, she’s keeping her last link to her mother and no way will she willingly give the jar to Calvin.
When she discovers two of the orphaned children have gone missing and her brother Calvin is involved she sets out to find them with Pastor Jess. For the first time Worie leaves the mountain's, she travels to Chattanooga by train and she’s like a fish out of water and a feisty one!
What Momma Left Behind is a story about a young woman trusting in her faith when at times she questions what god has planned for her and why life has to be so hard? It’s a story about injustice, greed, sacrifice, forgiveness, hope and love. Like her Momma, Worie discovers the love she can have for children not born from her own body, they find a special place in her heart and bring her so much joy.
I gave the book four stars, a quick easy read and with mild christian dialog.

What Momma Left Behind by author Cindy Sproles is a captivating, powerful book. It is one of those special novels that grabs you as soon as you begin reading it and simply refuses to let you go, even after you have finished the entire book. There were no “just one more chapter” for me with this book. It was a stay up all night until you know what happens to Worie and the others.

This emotional, haunting tale is about family. Everything about a family is somehow touched in the pages of this novel, including family secrets, disappointments, death, charity, faith, sibling rivalry, redemption, forgiveness, and love. There are twists and turns to match the curvy mountain roads in the setting. They make this a page turning masterpiece.

Author Sproles is an extraordinary storyteller. I was so caught up in the story that I felt what Worie felt. It was an emotional roller coaster ride reading this exquisite book. There are so many levels to it. This would be a book club’s perfect book because there is so much to discuss.

Young Worie finds herself saddled with unforeseen responsibilities after her mother’s untimely death. As the story unfolds we meet her two older brothers and some neighbors. The characters are crafted with such detail that they seem real. The setting is easy to imagine and soon I was there, with Worie. I loved the realistic conversations.

With loving so much about this riveting book, I can only hope to see it made into a movie one day. I highly recommend it to everyone. It will have you ruminating for a long time. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by NetGalley but these are my honest words.

A powerful story set in the rugged, yet beautiful mountains of Appalachia.



Seventeen year old Worie Dressar is left to contend with the realities of her mother's death and the secrets that her passing uncovers. Worie is a spunky, headstrong, and mule-stubborn heroine, with a fierce love for her family. I really liked how we see that she is a young woman who has grown up quickly, yet she doesn't have it all figured out and there are moments when her youth shows and she is more vulnerable.



The story is told in first person through Worie's eyes, and it did take me awhile to acclimate to her distinct dialect, slowing me down at first as sometimes I would have to re-read a section to make sure I hadn't missed anything. I loved the setting, wild, lawless, rugged and strong like the people who made it their home. I thought that it was really striking just how young the main characters are, and just how much harshness they have seen in their lives. One of my favorite characters was Pastor Jess, he is patient and humble, slow to speak, very mature for his age, yet also very much a twenty year old man.



This is a story about family, faith, and love, with a sassy heroine willing to go the distance. I loved the unexpected twists that this story takes, with colorful characters, and precious children. The characters are intriguing and well built, and they do a great job of evoking the realities of life in the mountains. I enjoyed the unexpected twists to the story, as well as the heartwarming aspects. A perfect read for fans of Christy, and Appalachian fiction.



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was unsure what to expect from What Momma Left Behind since there are so many intriguing plotlines mentioned.

Getting in to the story, I quickly find so much more at work, there was so much mystery, so much pain, so much love, and yet every single plotline fell in to place with such easy that the whole book was a masterpiece. The relationship between Worie and each of the other characters was so sweet, except for the bad guy, of course.

My only concern with What Momma Left Behind was inappropriate content that bordered on rape, if you want details message me.

And the ending, awww, I loved it!

“What Momma Left Behind” follows Worie Dressar, a 17 year old young woman living in the Appalachian Mountains in 1898. The book is told in first person perspective and in a culturally authentic tongue. As jarring as it was to read at times, the dialect did transport me to 1898 Appalachia. The author did a wonderful job of showing Worie’s world through her eyes.

Worie’s life is hard. She is resilient and outspoken, her pluckiness carrying her from the tragic beginning of the story to the satisfying ending. I struggled to like Worie despite her toughness. I found her emotional outbursts childish at times and her short sightedness frustrating. I wanted to like her, but I just couldn’t. I did enjoy Ely, Bess and the assortment of children I met along the way. I did find Worie’s passion for caring for them endearing. I liked Pastor Jess even if I found his role in the story a bit confusing.

Overall this was a worthwhile read with hearty Biblical truths woven through Worie’s story arc. The plot is one I will not soon forget even if the heroine was one I couldn’t connect with.

*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Occasionally I find a book that will make me read into the wee hours of the morning until I completely finish the book. What Momma Left Behind is one such book. This isn't a romance novel, but it is historical, taking place in the post-Civil War-Era.

Worie Dressar lives in the back hills of the Appalachians during an epidemic of influenza in the 1880s. The first action in the book is Worie burying her mother after her mother shot herself. After the body is buried, Worie finds three young children who were looking for food after their parents both died from the disease. Worie's Momma spent a lot of her time and resources taking care of people in the area who needed food, and now it has fallen to Worie to take care of them.

Worie's nearest neighbor, Ely finds a young girl stealing his chickens because her father has died and she has no food. So now Worie has four children and nowhere to put them. The pastor of the area comes by and asks how he can help, and she gives him the task of building beds for the children. She has plenty of food to feed them, but she needs something more substantial than pallets for the children to sleep on. This is only the beginning of Worie's troubles. Her brothers are another case entirely and bring their own troubles to Worie's doorstep.

With Ely's and the pastor's help, Worie sets out to undo what her brother, Calvin, has done--taking two of the children, kicking her out of her cabin, and trying to rob her of the last three coins she had.

What Momma Left Behind is her caring attitude, her willingness to give aid where it is needed, and her love for children. Cindy K Sproles has written a book that tugs on heartstrings, restores faith in most of humanity, and points out the abject depravity in all of us.

This is a five star book with two thumbs up and a red stone to get you through the hard times.

Revell Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This book has so much Appalachian flavor! I am always interested in Christian fiction set in Appalachia, and this book delivered some great elements of it.
This story takes Worie and the reader on a journey that reveals that those we know best, we may not know at all. I loved seeing how Worie grew and changed in regards to her mother, as she recognized the facets of her character she’d never seen before, and the woman she really was. The tensions between these characters is very strong at times, and there were moments I wondered if a happy ending could truly be found.
The author crafted the ending very well, I thought. I’m always a big fan of romance, but that wasn’t the aim of this book, and it suited the characters and the story the author was trying to tell.
In the end, the truth Worie grasps ahold of is timeless: that of learning to trust God and trust others. The give and take of that, and what it really means when it comes down to it is explored, and I liked how that was written.
I really enjoyed this read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

This was a very good book. It was a bit difficult to get past the slang. It kept distracting me. The historical setting and the obvious research that was done was fascinating. I enjoyed the story but (spoiler alert)....... - I do wish that there had been a romance involved.

A beautiful story of sorrow, hardships, faith and ultimately of new beginnings against the backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains.
This story gripped me from the first chapter. I sacrificed sleep to finish it in less than one day. I could not put it down! My heart connected so well with Worie and her indomitable spirit. She had her own demons to slay but her character matured as she became a woman who trusted in God and less in herself. She had a spunk and feistiness that mountain women would have needed to survive. She reminded me of my own little Granny who was known in our area as “Granny” to everyone and loved so many without reservation.
I loved the setting of this story and the visual storytelling that painted a picture for me. Each chapter revealed new things about the mountains, the people, and their deeply rooted faith in God.
We are hoping to grow our family through the beautiful means of Adoption and this story resonated within my heart. I love how the author reminds readers that love is stronger than blood. Family is the people you love. Beautiful, exceptional read.

I was given this copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are completely my own.

This is the new book by Cindy K. Sproles.

This historical fiction book is focused on a time in the Appalachian Mountains when flu and typhoid fever killed many adults, leaving many orphan children to fend for themselves in the mountains. Women like Worie (the main character in the book) and her mother, mountain women, chose to care for these children even when their own meager supplies were low.

I chose to read this book because of an interest in the Appalachian Mountains. The story is unusual in its focus on orphan children. The story tells of a culture different from most of America. The people are independent and must survive by the work of their own hands, mostly isolated, and with little education, they depend on the wisdom passed down to them from their momma. That is what this book is about — “What Momma Left Behind”.

The author herself was raised in the Appalachian Mountains, and lives in the mountains of East Tennessee. She wants their way of life to be preserved in our minds.

It is an historical story taking place in the Appalachian mountains in 1898.
Worry Dressar has just lost her mother, she killed herself. Worry has two older brothers Calvin and Justice.
Calvin is a selfish man always trying to get in trouble with others and Justice struggles with alcoholism.
After the death of her mother, Worry decide to continue her work she used to do helping children and famillies
who were devastated by the fever. But she will have to fight against Calvin and his schemes to separate her from the children and take their home. With the help of friends and the pastor, she will be able to help her other brother Justice and rescue several children. They will learn all the secrets hidden by their mother but also realize the love she has for orphans and pursue her legacy.

It is a beautiful story, sometimes sad Calvin was so mean... Worry is a strong-willed woman courageous but who will have to learn to deal with her anger and trust God concerning the wellfare of those children and her future. Justice was broken but the truth about his past set him free from alcoholism.

I received a copy of this book and this is an honest review.

There are some Christian historical fiction writers whose newest novels I cannot wait to read. Cindy Sproles is one of that select group. I have read her previous novels, Mercy’s Rain and Liar’s Winter, and loved them both. In my mind, they were both five star reads. I was excited to get a copy of What Momma Left Behind, even if it was an electronic version marked “not final text.”

Cindy Sproles is from Appalachia, so her books are set in the Tennessee part of that area. It’s not an area I’ve visited. Yes, technically western New York, western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are all parts of Appalachia, and I have lived in two out of those three locations, but I always got the feeling that where I’ve lived is not quite the same as where these books are set. But Sproles writes in a wonderful local dialect and, when I read her new book, I could hear Worie in my head clear as day.

The story itself is powerful. It’s about family secrets, and the power of good and evil. It’s about trust, bitterness, and forgiveness. It details the harsh realities of mountain life and death, and gives a different perspective on orphan trains other than the one I’ve read about in other Christian fiction tales. The narrative provides examples of a class divide we try not to think about. Worie has more in common with the former slave, Ely, than the white people in the city who look down on her homespun ways.

I read What Momma Left Behind in one sitting. There was no way I could pick up anything else until I finished. Worie spoke to me and I had to listen. Cindy Sproles has done another amazing job at turning a story about hardship and strength into something beautiful. Without a doubt, this is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.

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