Along a Storied Trail
by Ann H. Gabhart
Back of the Book: “Kentucky packhorse librarian Tansy Calhoun doesn't mind the rough trails and long hours as she serves her Appalachian mountain community during the Great Depression. Yet she longs to find love like the heroines in her books. When a charming writer comes to town, she thinks she might have found it--or is the perfect man actually closer than she thinks?
Perdita Sweet has called these mountains home for so long she's nearly as rocky as the soil around her small cabin. Long ago she thought she could love, but when the object of her affection up and married someone else, she stopped giving too much of herself away to others.
As is so often the case, it's easier to see what's best for others than to see what's best for oneself, and Perdita knows who Tansy should choose. But why would anyone listen to the romantic advice of an old spinster?
Saddle up for a heartfelt story of love--love of family, love of place, and the love of a lifetime--from bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart.”
Impressions: This was a sweet, inspirational romance with lots of love to go around.
Rated: minimal kissing
Liked: The pull of lust is impatient but true love is patient. I liked that the characters in this book were thoughtful about who they let their hearts be given to. I also enjoyed the multiple love stories and relationships that blossomed throughout this book. Although there were many relationships being followed in this book the story remained smooth and easy to follow.
Disliked: I don’t think Damien’s character was necessary. There was enough going on in this story to make it interesting.
Quotes: “…books took her beyond the mountains. Let her fly like an eagle to take in the view of other places and ways.” – This is why I love reading!
“Perdita didn’t know what to think about her being the answer to somebody’s prayer whilst she kept wondering if this girl was here because of her own prayer.” – Have you ever been surprised to be the answer to someone’s prayers?
“‘Let’s take it a day at a time. Seems I remember that’s what the Lord tells us to do in the Good Book. Don’t be thinking on tomorrow while we’re still in today.’” Just good advice here.
“’ I like a book that stretches my thinking.’” – Yes!
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

With triple the romance, this book packs a lot into a little space! Our protagonists are Tansy and Caleb, but it seems to me that the real story here lies with Perdita...an older woman who thinks life has passed her by, only to learn that sometimes prayers are answered in the most unusual way! The author puts you right into Depression-era and the hills of Kentucky, sending you on a time travel field trip that twists and turns with the narrative just like those hill trails...

Ann H. Gabhart has a way of bringing the mountains of eastern Kentucky to life. I enjoyed her story of packhorse librarian, Tansy Calhoun, as she traversed the hollows and hills of the mountain. Tansy treasured her books more than anything. So much so, she chose to be single until she found a love to measure up against her stories. When an old friend returns home and a new fellow arrives from New York City, Tansy has to sort through her idea of the man she’s meant to marry. There are three romances in Along a Storied Trail, each one charming and enjoyable. At first, I wasn’t sure about Perdita, but by the end of the book I found her a delight. If you’d like to get lost in a great story, read Along a Storied Trail. As a former library worker, I admire the packhorse librarians and their tenacity and determination to deliver books to all the folks on the mountain, no matter the weather. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

'The way the Lord can bring blessings at hard times can confound a body for certain.'

The time is the Great Depression, the setting is Appalachia, and the story is full and rich. Tansy Calhoun is a WPA packhorse librarian (this was a real program) and she thoroughly enjoys bringing the richness of books to those up in the hills and other areas of her county. Folks that are barely surviving at times and they sure do love these books Tansy brings every few weeks. Tansy doesn't just drop books off; she visits and reads to them, listens to their problems and prays for them. She discovers that everyone has a story to tell, some painful and hard to hear. But she presses on.

I find it amazing that these women were willing to endure so much to bring books to folks in this remote area of Kentucky in such hard times. Being a book lover, this story is particularly interesting to me. I would have loved seeing a book woman ride up on a horse, bringing me a new book to read.

'Sometimes Tansy thought every prayer she'd ever thought to pray and some she hadn't though up had been answer the day she got one of the book routes here in Owsley County.'

Ann Gabhart opens the door up to these people and their lives in Appalachia and we are able to feel what they feel and also experience their hurts. All because of her gift at story telling. She makes them come alive.

Told in her signature style, Gabhart's cadence rolls sweetly along throughout the book. I found myself invested in their lives as I let myself be carried away with the flow. Such wonderful characters and powerful emotions they had! I was captivated! I can highly recommend this one. And, in my opinion, it'd make a most excellent movie. Well done!

My thanks to Revell Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. I was not expected to leave a positive review. The opinion here is entirely my own.

Ann Gabhart always writes lovely tales that take place in her home State of Kentucky. Having married a Kentucky man, I appreciate learning more about the State's history and get a good dose of that from Gabhart's books. This book takes place in the hills of Eastern Kentucky after the Great Depression. The book's main character, Tansy Calhoun, is a packhorse librarian or a "book woman" as the mountain folk call her, meaning she takes books from the library donations and delivers them via horseback to those in the hills that can't get to town for a book. This was a fascinating occupation to me and one I'd not encountered before. In addition to learning about the folks that Tansy encounters in her travels, we see what life was like in the mountains during those times and the trials of life both in that time and that place. The character development in this book was spot on. There was a sweet romance (or 2 or 3!), as well as a solid faith thread. I loved how God answered the prayers of "Aunt Perdie" throughout the book. I enjoy that pets tend to have a decent-sized role in most of Ms. Gabhart's books and this one had lots of fun pet characters - from Prissy the cat to Rusty the dog to Ebenezer the mule and all manner of horses and hounds. There were fun moments and sentimental moments and a rather happy ending for most everyone. If you enjoy inspirational historical romances in rural mountain areas, this is one I'd strongly recommend! Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

A very enjoyable story about the packhorse library. This Kentucky author does a wonderful job weaving a tale about the program and the Appalachian people. Tansy represents the commitment the librarians hard for their job and the people they served. Appalachia has a rich history and the people a deep faith as portrayed in this book. Highly recommended!

It seems that the latest "thing" in historical novels is the Depression Era Works Progress Administration horseback librarians. Over the last year, I've read at least three novels describing the lives of these librarians, their hardships, their commitment to the goals, and the work that they do. All of the authors bring a new viewpoint to the stories they are telling, but overall the plots are the same in some regards. There is only so much that can be said of these intrepid women who rode up into the hills of Appalachia to bring literacy to the families there. The stories are different, but yet oh so similar.

Ann Gabhart is an author who knows how to weave a tale to keep her readers engaged and involved. She writes great dialogues and plots that compel the readers to dive into her narratives with both feet. Along a Storied Trail is similar to the other books of this era, but it does stand out because the author is so good at taking her readers along on the ride.

Tansy Calhoun has taken one of the routes for the county horseback librarians and has also become tasked with guiding the Federal Writer through the hills to collect the stories for the project. He comes to town in a car thinking it will get him where he needs to go, but doesn't realize that most of where he needs to go doesn't have a road to get there and his car won't travel the trails and the hills.

Caleb has come back to town after learning his brother was killed in a freak accident. He had been working with the WPA in Tennessee but his project has finished. He has always been in love with Tansy and can't quite get over the amount of time she's spending with the "city-slicker" writer.

It's interesting to read the folklore of the hill people of Appalachia and part of that has been woven into the warp and woof of this novel. That alone makes it worth the time to read it. If the story hadn't been done so many times in the last year or so, this would be a five star book, but because it is so like others I have read already, I give it four stars.

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

I was really hoping to like this book, but it just didn't resonate with me. It was going along okay until we got to the part with the "aunt" and the sudden diversion from the main storyline to this random addition of a pregnant teen finding refuge in a snowstorm. It wasn't a small diversion, it was almost an entire chapter, and I was thrown off my "groove," so to speak. One second we're enjoying the spark of romance, next we're seeing the POV of a grumpy elderly woman. Was a bit odd. Then when we're pack on schedule with the romance, in walks this young man who is clearly going to be the other point in the anticipated love triangle, and all the heroine sees is his big city sparkle. I understand where her naivete came from, given where she grew up, but I was already anticipating that I was not going to enjoy watching her fawn over a big city guy and completely disregard the boy next door she had in the man we all know she'll end up with. Just seemed very predictable, and I wasn't interested in reading further.

I understand her books are really well liked, so I'll definitely give this author another try with a different book. This one just wasn't for me.

This beautifully written book caught my attention from the beginning and held it to the end. The multi-layered plot flows at a steady pace with a few surprises here and there! The characters are engaging and believable. You are kept guessing about the outcome of the relationship between packhorse librarian Tansy Calhoun, her childhood friend Caleb Barton, and visiting writer Damien Felding. Two other romances may be blooming, also! Ms. Gabhart’s research and descriptions of the historical WPA Packhorse Library Project and the people it helped expressively and poignantly reflect the courageous, resilient spirit of the Appalachian Mountain people during the Great Depression Era. The references to Jane Austin and Pride and Prejudice are delightful. I also loved the strong faith element that permeates the story. I totally enjoyed this heartwarming, captivating story. This book left me smiling, and I highly recommend it.
This book was provided courtesy of Revell through NetGalley and Interviews and Reviews for my honest opinion.

I love novels like this! This is a historical fiction novel about a packhorse librarian in Kentucky. I've read several along these same lines and could read many more. This author brought Tansy to life in these pages. Thank you Net Galley for a copy of this ARC.

When I saw a new book by Ann H. Gabhart I knew I was in for a treat, and she sure didn't disappoint.

Wasn't long and I was ridding with Tansy Calhoun bring much loved books to the remote mountain people. This is the time of the Great Depression and as part of getting people back to work the government has developed jobs, and and Tansy has one. She rides horse back up the Appalachians in Kentucky to bring books, and messages.

Now a young writer has come to let visitors to the area know about historic events, and our girl will be taking him up into the mountains to help him meet and gather stories.

Will our girls head be turned by this worldly fellow? Or will she see what is right before her eyes?

We meet so many folks and see their lives during this page-turning read, and some are so memorable, you won't want to leave, and yes, there is another book coming!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

An interesting story of Tansy, who did the library by horseback in the 1930s in rural Kentucky. When she meets up with Caleb, the one she had a crush on as a kid, things are looking up for her. Throw in a cocky journalist from NY, and a feisty old lady Aunt Perie, and things get even more so. Some discussion of the government programs set up by FDR, which shows them in a better light than I've heard before, but for the most part skimmed those parts. Also didn't see a strong need for the love triangle, but might just be me. overall though, a good read, and would recommend.

ALONG A STORIED TRAIL by Ann H. Gabhart

Imagine my excitement, when I found out that I was approved for this wonderful novel about a young woman's packhorse librarian adventures. I have read several other fictional books of this same genre, for I like to see the different author's sentiments on this important time in Kentucky's history. I find it intriguing that it was only instituted in Kentucky, not any of the other poor states at the time.

The packhorse library was instituted as a WPA, Works Progress Administration approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was instrumental in getting the project going as a way to bring reading materials to isolated families in the Appalachia Mountains. By hiring mostly women to deliver the books on horseback or by mule also gave families hard hit by the depression a small income to help support their families.

This book joins my list of most favorite books, with mixed emotion, though I am happy to have received an advanced eBook that will expire, however, I will remedy that lack pretty soon, by purchasing my own print copy and it will have an honorary spot on my favorite book's shelf. Highly recommend.

Tansy Calhoun is a twenty-year-old young woman who has her dream job of carrying library book loans to the rural Appalachia community that she lives near. She rides a dependable rented horse. She has had a crush on Caleb Barton for years, but Caleb left the area a few years ago and went to work for the CCC in a different part of Kentucky. She always assumed he had a crush on her sister.

Caleb Barton has only ever loved Tansy Calhoun. When it looked like she might marry someone else, he skedaddled out of the area, with the excuse of working for the CCC to earn some money to send home to his mother, because his father had already passed on and there are no local jobs due to the depression. He is a thinker and likes to think about anything before he makes a decision.

Tansy Calhoun is approached by her boss, Mrs. Weston at the library to take Damien Felding, a writer who has taken a job with the Federal Writer's Project and needs to be introduced to some of the locals in the area who might be willing to tell Mr. Felding some of their life story's and interesting things about the area to be included in a book about Kentucky, that would be used for tourism. Tansy is awed by Mr. Felding. He's visiting all the way from New York City. He's handsome and cocky. She feels like she has been placed under his spell.

Who will Tansy end up with? Caleb a true friend, who is dependable, or Damien who is a city guy with his flashy ways? This book is so much more than a romance, you get to know all of the people in Tansy and Caleb's lives that make living in their rural Kentucky location a heartwarming adventure.

Thanks a million to #netgalley #revell #bakerbooks #annhgabhart for the complimentary copy of #alongastoriedtrail I was under no obligation to post a review.