Sweet, clean, entertaining book set during the time of Book Women delivering library books through the Kentucky mountains. Great characters, some interesting situations, and a happy ending for everyone. Great light and happy read for summer.

This was a wonderful book! I have read several books about the 'Book Women', and this ranks near the top of the list of them all. What a sweet, and informative story! The setting and characters make the storyline so charming. I really felt like I was part of their community as I read.

There are so many lessons on faith and family woven throughout this story. It was masterfully done. God does not always answer our prayers the way we expect. Sometimes He gives us burned down cabins, and wayward children who've made bad decisions and need help. It's always for our good, and to make His name known.

I loved Tansy, and Caleb, and enjoyed seeing the locals' opinions of Damien. They quickly switch from interested and excited to offended and put-off. He just doesn't get their ways.

The pacing of the book was perfect. I really didn't want the story to end. I would definitely read more if this became a series, and I will check out more books by this author.

Along A Storied Trail by Ann H. Gabhart was delightful. I've always loved the stories and the concept of librarians delivering books with packhorses. Ms. Gabhart painted a fantastic setting with believable characters. It was a story I became invested in. Well Done.

A gentle tale of the librarians on horseback in the Appalachians during the Great Depression.

Tansy lives with her family in a cabin in the woods. Life is tough for her family, especially since her father left to find work and hasn't been heard from since. Tansy loves books and she takes a job as a packhorse librarian, bringing joy to families in the rugged hills of her home. Caleb is a local boy who would like to get to know Tansy better, but she only sees him as a friend, and when a smooth talking city boy comes for a visit, Tansy finds her head turned a little by him.

Perdita is a grumpy old woman who lives alone with her cranky cat. When circumstances mean that she has to leave her home, she comes into Tansy's orbit. These two women seem to have nothing much in common but as the story unfolds, we find they both have a deep faith, a love of family and a gentle yet pragmatic way of seeing the world.

I really enjoyed this story. I especially liked "hearing" the Appalachian turns of phrase. I spent a bit of time looking up words in Google, it has to be said, lol.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell.

Another fantastic book by Ann H. Gabhart! Along a Storied Trail will bring a smile to your face and a lift to your heart as you read Caleb and Tansy's tale. Tansy is a packhorse librarian who finds joy in bringing books to the readers on her route in the Appalachian mountains. She sets off every day in all kinds of weather to deliver books to those who can't get to town. She adores her job and is excited to share her love of reading as well. Caleb has known Tansy her entire life, and loved her about that long too. But, he went away to help his family, and now that he is back, he isn't sure how Tansy feels about him. Add in his mama complicating things by trying to marry him to his brother's widow and it gets a little bit more messy. Then there is the flatlander from New York who is trying to catch Tansy's attention. All in all, too many things seem to be in the way. But God has a way of working things out for His people. The story also follows Perdie Sweet, an older woman who takes in a young pregnant girl only to have her cabin burn down the very next day. As Tansy's family and the community work to help them, Perdie may discover that life has more for her than she ever imagined, especially at her age. All in all, a delightful tale of love and the power of God to transform hearts and lives. Five stars! I'd give it more if I could! Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read the book. All opinions are my own. #AlongaStoriedTrail #Bookstagram #all_the_pages

Along the. Storied Trail is a very well written historical novel. I enjoyed the plot and character dynamics as well as the setting. I highly recommend this book.

Along a Storied Trail
by Ann H. Gabhart
Published June 1, 2021

Ann sure knows how to write excellent historical fiction with a little bit of romance thrown in. I have read several of Gabhart's books and they always check out well at our library. I think this is another one our patrons are going to want to put a reserve on. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I found it to be an excellent story and will share it with others.

5 star

Tansy loves books and is thrilled to be a packhorse librarian - even if her mother thinks she should be married! Before he left to look for work, her father used to say that reading romances in books would give her wrong ideas, but Tansy disagrees - though she would like a man with aplomb. Then Caleb returns from his work in the CCC. Caleb, who she always cared for but who wanted her sister (or so she believed). And before she's fully got over that shock, a writer who's been sent to write a guidebook for the area shows up and she is tasked with taking him around to hear some of the older locals' stories. Damien is smooth and plausible, always ready with a compliment, and full of what she considers aplomb. But is he really what she wants? As she sees the two together, she begins to doubt herself. And Caleb has other responsibilities too. Can Tansy work out where her heart truly lies?

No brief summary of this book can do it justice. The happenings of both Tansy's (extended) family and Caleb's family are what really make it the memorable and layered book it is. And when one throws in a beautiful setting and intriguing characters like Aunt Perdie and Preacher in the background, what could be better? The idea of packhorse librarians was a great one, and makes for a very interesting story. All in all, this is a very satisfying book, and I hope to read more by the author.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Be prepared to enter the colorful world of Depression era Kentucky, as Ann Gabhart weaves together a rich story following the lives of very different people who become family. Tansy is a pack horse librarian who treks across the hills and mountains to brings carefully preserved books to the people living in the, at time, harsh mountains. I love how Gabhart ties together elderly Aunt Perdie’s life with Tansy’s family and reading the story from a couple different perspectives. Colorful dialect, rich characters, and sweet romance make this latest novel a pleasure to read!

Set in the Kentucky hills during the depression, Tansy Calhoun is a packhorse librarian delivering books throughout the hills and hollows of Owsley County Kentucky. When an author is sent through the federal government's writing program to develop a tourist guide for the county, Tansy is assigned to show him around. As an avid reader, Tansy has always dreamed of having a prince fall in love with her. But will she find out that sometimes a scoundrel is hidden behind the looks of a prince and that true love may be closer than she knows.

There were so many things to like about this book. Gabhart does an excellent job of including the dialect and colloquialisms of the Kentucky hills. The way the families supported one another in hard times as food was short and men were off looking for jobs depicted how difficult the depression was especially for those in rural areas.

The creativity of the packhorse librarians was amazing: worn out magazine pictures were reused to create children's books, wives were encouraged to share recipes for a put together cookbook along with quilt patterns for another one, as well as books to help children continue to learn to read as there was no teacher for the school. Also no matter what the weather, the packhorse librarians rode their horses and/or mules every day to make sure those families had books available. They were definitely a role model for the families in their county during the hard times.

Well written, historical fiction that sheds an interesting light on this federal program during the Great Depression.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Tansy Calhoun is a packhorse librarian during the Great Depression she loves her job and loves delivering the books up the mountain. She got the job to help her family when her father left to find work. Caleb Barton left the mountains when he thought Tansy was going to get married. he worked for a Civilian Conservation Corp. When his brothers dies he returns home. Can Tansy and Caleb find love or has Tansy found the new man in town more suitable? This story is about the love of family and the mountains. I loved this book and it was hard to put down.

Tansy Calhoun was blessed to be able to help her family with her paycheck as a packhorse librarian in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, especially after her dad took off looking for work. Most mountain girls her age were already married with a baby or two to care for, but Tansy figured there was no rush, after all she didn't even have a beau. Caleb Barton had left the mountain to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps after figuring Tansy was to marry another man. It wasn't until his brother's death brought him back to the mountain that he learned he'd figured wrong. The question the reader pursues the answer to is if and how will Caleb achieve his heart's desire with obstacles appearing all along his path. Secondary plot lines involving an unwed mother; a young widow; and a crotchety, old lady also spur the reader along. Gabhart does a wonderful job at including the culture of the place and time, valuing it and its differences from mainstream society.

I am grateful to have received a copy of Along a Storied Trail from Revell via NetGalley without obligation, and am happy to recommend it to fans of historical fiction and tales of Appalachia. All opinions expressed here are my own.

This was one of my favorite stories that talks about the packhorse Librarians that were used during the depression era in the mountains of Kentucky. This story really gets into many different peoples lives and how they each handle what is thrown at them as they go through their daily lives. My favorite character has to be Aunt Perdie. I also love the descriptions of the area and the emotions shown by each character. I think this has been one of my favorite books by this author. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Along a Storied Trail is a lovely story about the Kentucky Packhorse Librarians during the Depression, who travelled through mountain passes to bring books to family to read.

The author does a fantastic job in creating the setting for readers. It’s easy to picture the challenging trails Tansy Calhoun has to navigate with her horse. Nature is beautiful, but deadly in those parts. I could almost picture the tide of the creek in a rainstorm that washed a building away.

There are two parallel love stories that take place, which are sweetly resolved in the end. There are plenty of characters with lively Kentucky dialogue to pepper the pages. Each character has his/her own struggles and it’s satisfying to watch each one work through them until the end.

The cover is beautiful! And much like I imagine the trail would have been like for Tansy to travel.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

4 stars
Along a Storied Trail
by Ann H. Gabhart

This is a phenomenal book. I was instantly enchanted with the story from the first page. I do hope this is a first in a series because I would love to read more about Tansy, Perdita and Coralee.
I had not heard of book women and this book intertwined a fascinating look at Book women and their place in library history. Ann Gabhart is a wonderful writer who I have never read prior to this but I am off to search for more of her books!
This book would be considered Christian historical fiction with some romance, but romance is not the theme of the book. I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

This was a great book! I was drawn in from the first page. The author does a good job of balancing likable characters, good plot line, and wonderful descriptions all in one story.

There are a few side plots and many characters, but mostly the story is about Tansy and her family. Tansy is a book librarian who rides a horse to deliver library books to the people scattered all over the hills and valleys of the Appalachian mountains. She is thankful to have a paying job during the Great Depression; many families are not so lucky. When a distant aunt's house burns down, Tansy's family gains the aunt and a pregnant girl of only sixteen who was turned out of the house by her father. Add to that, Tansy's old childhood friend, Caleb has returned to his hometown and finds Tansy still unmarried. He can't believe his good fortune as her upcoming engagement is the reason he left. As Tansy juggles all the circus going on around her, she must also find time to examine her heart and see if she could possible love Caleb in return.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, give this book a try. You won't be disappointed!

I love how the author has woven the the history of the packhorse librarians into the story of Tansy Calhoun, a young woman with a love of the written word and longing for something just out of reach.
She must soon choose between the familiar offered by Caleb her friend from childhood and Damien a writer offering adventure she’s only read about.
The characters are unique and well written lending authenticity to the rich depiction of life in the hills of Kentucky during the 1930s.
Aunt Perdy is lonely when a young pregnant girl shows up on her doorstep in the middle of winter. With no food to share she isn’t sure what to do but she finds a tender place in her heart for Coralee.
Fire takes her house, bringing them into the Calhoun home, making it the centerpiece of the story, showing family is much more than blood, love overcomes many circumstances, and faith brings the unexpected.
God has a way of orchestrating life in the best possible ways, proving that good comes out of every situation.
This was one of my favorite books so far this year.
I was given a copy of this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group through Interviews and Reviews via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.

Along a Storied Trail was my first book by Ann Gabhart and I loved it! The title was so well chosen and the tagline from Gabhart's website "can love bloom in such rocky soil?" was perfect! The mountain setting, the appealing characters and the historical storyline all make for a wonderful reading experience.

Packhorse librarian Tansy Calhoun and teacher Caleb Barton were great as childhood friends, but mountain woman Perdita Sweet, better known as Aunt Perdie, all but stole the show. In fact the whole book is overflowing with the most quirky and delightful characters.
Caleb had some of my favorite quotes, "Caleb felt guilty thinking that, but a person had no way of hiding his thoughts from himself."
I had a good laugh at Caleb's response to being thought a preacher, "I haven't felt the call. I did once hear a preacher claim how the Lord can hit a mighty straight lick with a mighty crooked stick. Maybe we were the crooked sticks the Lord used today."

I loved Gabhart's honest portrayal of Depression era life struggles. Her folksy homespun dialect beautifully fit both the 1930's time period and the Appalachian mountain location. The sense of community and neighborliness was so endearing.

Ann Gabhart has totally charmed me with her winning story. I'll be hunting down more of her older books while looking forward to any upcoming books too. I appreciate Revell Publishing making a copy of Along a Storied Trail available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

“Along a Storied Trail” by Ann H. Gabhart is a poignant, heartfelt tale of love, celebrating the love of family and places, encapsulated deeply in the love of a lifetime. This book brings a small part of American history to life, with a realistic plot and characters that leap into readers’ hearts. It is a dramatic story of resilience, very much needed in our times. The storyline is about two sturdy women who persevere in 1930’s Appalachia. In this historical, inspirational novel, with subtle faith elements, Ann Gabhart teaches priceless lessons of hope, compassion, and fortitude amid trials and hardship.

Along A Storied Trail is a warm, comfortable book that wraps you up in love, family, community and God's goodness. It is multiple tales combined to tale one big story. It is the story of Tansy Calhoun, a pack horse librarian in the Kentucky mountains, during the depression. Ann H. Gabhart does an incredible job of describing the people and scenery of this small community. Tansy delivers books to people along her routes and we are given a glimpse of the lives of these people. There is Aunt Perdie, one of the most cantankerous old women around, until Coralee a young, pregnant girl shows up in the middle of a snow storm seeking shelter. Then there is Caleb Barton whose brother was killed while felling a tree. He left behind a wife and two children. There is Preacher Rowlett, who isn't really a preacher. But in the midst of all of these people there comes a writer from New York City, Damien Felding. He is handsome, smart, has aplomb, and catches Tansy's eye. He has come to write a guide book that will draw people to the area. There is so much going on in this book that you don't want to miss one word of it. This book is one of those books you can't wait to seee how it ends but then you are sad that it ended.

I would like to thank Revell Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. It in no way influenced my review.