I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

The history and setting of this book is spot on. It's tangle of wonderful characters and imagination also give it a very distinctive quality.

I absolutely loved this fascinating sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Do you remember that cantankerous mule from the first book? Well Junia is back, and Cussy’s daughter now has her own story to tell.

Honey Lovett, the adoptive daughter of our beloved packhorse librarian Cussy Carter Lovett from book #1, is seeking to gain her own independence after her adoptive parents are both incarcerated and her current caregiver passes. She faces unimaginable odds at beating the system that wants to place her in The Kentucky House of Reform until she’s twenty-one. She applies to work as a packhorse librarian same as her mama did. Along her route, honey makes new friends, meets her mama’s patrons, and helps those in need.. one woman who married into the infamous Gillis family, the other currently terrorized by them. Her interfering takes a dark twist as she comes to blows with the Gillis family who hate the Blue people of eastern Kentucky.. Cussy and Honey the last of their kind. Yes you’ll find cruelty and sadness within this story, but there’s also romance, friendship, and a view firsthand of strong women working together to overcome the difficult times of that day. A real treat for historical fiction readers!

*Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

As enchanting, infuriating, and inspiring as the first book in the series, this one follows Honey Lovett after her parents are arrested for breaking miscegenation laws and Honey is forced to fight for her independence and keep from being sent to a children's workhouse. Once again, the book centers around books and the small town of Troublesome Creek. I love how the writing puts the reader into the characters' world and highlights the issues of the time. It is honestly so impressive that the author is able to get so much history into her books and still keep them lively and entertaining. If she keeps writing, I'll keep reading!

I loved this sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. It follows the daughter of Cussy Mary, Honey Lovett. Honey has been all but abandoned by her family (parents in prison, Grandmother passes, Uncle sells her cabin and belongings) and has to find a way to survive. Facing more hardship and bigotry (she, too, is a "blue") than most readers could imagine, she finds work and meaning as a next generation book woman. Honey is a no-nonsense, hard working woman with a huge heart who makes her way a daunting situation and charms readers page by page.

Another great novel about the lives of the Kentucky women who endured great hardships to get books into readers hands. I could not put this book down! I loved the photographs at the end of the book of real life in 1950 Kentucky.

I read the first book in this series a month ago and it wasn’t a favorite of mine. I wasn’t sure it needed a sequel either, but I am really glad the author decided to write this one. I loved the history in this book. I found it really interesting and shocking as Honey goes down the path to seek freedom. Parts of the book were slow for me and a little drawn out, but I enjoyed the focus being on Honey and the life she was building for herself. I wish we got more closure with Honey’s parents, but that is just life and their situation in the 1950’s I guess. Overall, I believe I enjoyed this one more than the first in the series!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

The Book Woman's Daughter is a sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I really enjoyed the first book and this is a worthy follow-on. The reader learns about the discrimination against the blue people and the role of woman in 1950s rural Kentucky. While her mother, Cussy, is in prison for marrying her white husband, 16-year-old Honey Lovett takes over the library route that her mother once serviced. The status of "blues" and woman has not changed in 20 years.

As a minor, Honey must fight the authorities who want to send her away until she is 21. On the plus side, many of her neighbors welcome the return of the books. Unfortunately, some of the mine workers do not want their wives and children to read and be exposed to the outside world.

Through all of this, Honey perseveres and discovers her strengths.

In the sequel to Richardson's "The Book Woman of Trouble Creek", her latest novel continues the story of the protagonist's daughter, Honey Lovett, in rural Kentucky in the 1930s. At 16 years of age, Honey is forced to uproot her life when her mother and father are forcibly taken by the law (for having an "illegal marriage"). She needs to legally escape being forced into the Children's Prison, and is able to find employment with the Women's Packhorse Librarian Project - following in the footsteps of her mother.

As Honey tries to make a new life for herself, she finds help and solace in many of her family friends and is able to meet new ones in her community. She also encounters a number of individuals who are against her - either because of her mother, her gender, or her background as a Blue. There are some truly tragic individuals and situations that are highlighted as well, and it's an eye-opening look at American society and norms at the time, which aren't so terribly far behind our current day and age.

While I found Richardson's writing more developed in this novel, it was still difficult to get engrossed in the storyline as much of the phrasing and prose felt undeveloped and surface level for me. I understand part of that is because the story is told from the perspective of 16 year-old Honey, but it was nonetheless a slow and surface level read. While I appreciate the novel as a whole - it's messaging and historical basis were very unique - much of the plot was predictable and the characters felt one-dimensional.

Thank you @bookmarked for a copy of The Book Woman's Daughter. I highly recommend reading The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek to get a good background on Honey's mom and her amazing story.

This story focuses on Honey's survival as her parents are imprisoned and how she fights to law to be independent at the age of 16. This book is so well told about the book prejudice against her condition as well as working women.

I love Honey and her mule which had so much personality. I adore her friendship with Pearl and how they helped each other.

A wonderful sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek full of interesting characters and drama.

Sixteen year old Honey is left on her own after her parents are incarcerated and there is no one to care for her. She applies for a job as a Book Woman, as her mother was, to supply books to the families and people living in the hills of Kentucky. Honey faces many obstacles along the way including being a Blue, someone with hereditary condition that makes the skin appear blue. Facing racism, poverty, ignorance, and the treatment of women, Honey manages to rise above it. The power of books is indeed a powerful thing and this novel celebrates it.

This was a strong follow up to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek but nothing will compare to the first reading and meeting of the traveling librarians and being introduced to the hills of Kentucky so while the first got a strong 5 stars this one follows up well with 4 stars. These can be read out of order but I loved going back to KY in the 50s, seeing some of the previous characters and meeting new ones as well. This is not an uplifting read by any means, in fact it's quite dark at times but I feel like we get a really strong sense of what these hills and these times felt like to those living there. Initially I did not connect with the writing but once I got going it was fine so if you start out not sure keep going as you will be immersed in the story soon enough. Make sure to read the Author's Note at the end. Overall, I recommend this to anyone who loved The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

I read the first book that the author wrote on the topic and it was a nice read to revisit the next generation of the family. I don't know much about Kentucky history and this was a very interesting look into the lives and hardships the country folk had to endure. I would highly recommend this book.

Three years ago, Kim Michele Richardson introduced us to “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” Cussy Mary, a packhorse librarian devoted to bringing books to the Appalachian community she loves. She was not only a book woman, but also the last of her kind with skin a shade of blue.

With “The Book Woman’s Daughter,” we learn that there’s another who shares her skin condition and passion for books. Meet Cussy Mary’s daughter, Honey Mary Angeline Lovett, a young woman trying to find her way during changing times and remaining prejudices.

It’s the early 1950s, but in many ways, little has changed in the Kentucky mountains since Honey was born 16 years ago. It’s still against the law for different races, including the “blues,” to marry. Honey’s family has been forced to hide from the law in their remote cabin with neighbors who have their own reasons for living below the radar. However, time has run out and Cussy and her husband Jackson have been arrested and taken to prison.

Honey could face a similar fate if she’s caught, especially since her appointed guardian and beloved friend Retta has died. When she takes a job as a book woman delivering books by mule, it’s a chance for her to remain free and possibly free her parents.

The plot may sound familiar to other tales, but its characters and setting set this novel apart from others. Honey’s treks to deliver books, something few have and many long for, allow readers to picture the beautiful hills, feel for the impoverished and yearn to do something as worthwhile as Honey does. People in the hollers still live with few conveniences and the book woman’s deliveries are their primary source of mental escape from dark mining shafts, towering fire lookout posts and hard-scrabble lives.

Honey is determined to prove that she doesn’t need anyone telling her how to survive or act, but her routes are treacherous and some folks aren’t keen to let a woman pave her own way. Not everyone shares her love of books, learning and independence. Besides being a female, she’s a freak with blue hands.

In the nearby towns, people are driving cars and using telephones. It’s a modern life that while it’s near, it’s too far away for many hillfolk to imagine. Honey and the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project are their lifelines, and in return and in their own special ways, the mountain women give her the strength to endure and prosper. In town, women have a small, yet still audible voice. In the mountains, they’re subjected to the cruelest of conditions as the voices were stamped out and nearly silenced.

Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the packhorse library service, The Book Woman’s Daughter” is a story of courage, determination, and the belief that books can carry us anywhere.

Whether you read Honey’s story as a stand-alone novel or as a sequel to Cussy Mary’s adventure, the novel is a story of resilience and strength.“The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” became a best-seller. “The Book Woman’s Daughter” will surely do the same.

This was such a neat book! I really loved how much books are loved and respected throughout this story, and you can really see the true power books hold! A book about loving books? Count me in!

This book does a great job in using care and compassion, but also remaining steadfast in their truth when dealing with the tough situations of prejudice the Blue people have experienced, and are still very much experiencing throughout the book.

This book was full of strong, amazing, intelligent women. I loved Honey, our lovable, independent main character. She had been through SO much in her 16 years, but she remained strong and persevered through it all to make it to her goals. I loved Pearl, the smart and fesity fire keeper, who was also Honey's first and true friend. I loved Retta, the sweet, stubborn older woman who had a very important role in Honey's life. And of course, you can't help but love Honey's Mom Cussy! Though she wasn't in this book a lot, fans will know and love her from Book 1 - The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

Overall, I thought this was fun and unique story, that was full of strong women, friendships, following your dreams, fighting prejudices and never giving up.

Thank you SourceBooks Landmark for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is due for publication 3/3/22 and I recommend it . This review will be posted to my blogs soon and to Amazon on publication day!

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This is the sequel to [book:The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek|40914165] [bookcover:The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek|40914165], and if you have the time, I would highly recommend that you read this book first before reading The Book Woman's Daughter. You don't NEED to, but it will help better understand some of what happens during this novel. Also, if you have a Kindle and Kindle Unlimited, I would like to let you know that The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is free to borrow.

Now the reason for my long-winded start, The Book Woman's Daughter was fabulous. Set in Eastern Kentucky during the early 1950's when extreme prejudice was going strong, this book tells the story of one of the last 'Blue' people out there. These people have methemoglobinemia, which literally turned their skin blue. Honey is not totally blue, just her hands and feet, but that is enough to mark her. In Kentucky, as well as other places, they have laws that forbid people from marrying outside of their color, and this is how the book starts out with Honey's parents being arrested for breaking the miscegenation laws. Honey is hiding, in a way, from Social Services, who threaten to put her in a "working camp" (prison) until she is 21. She is 16 when the book starts.

This story is actually a bit more about how women were treated in this time and place and the continuation of the of the Kentucky Pack Horse Librarians, which was started in the 1930's as a
WPA project. This is a story of a young woman seeking emancipation. This is a story of women and girls overcoming antiquated laws, horrid behavior from the government and the locals, men, the Kentucky Coal Miners, and of course, books and the love of reading.

I can't seem to give a better review than this-I am so in awe of this dualogy that all I can do is give it 5 Stars and recommend the heck out of it. And if you do read this, make sure to view the pictures at the end of the book and read Ms. Richardson's reasons for writing this book and all about the author's research!

*ARC was supplied for early review by the publisher SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, The author, and NetGalley. Thank you.

Just like its predecessor, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, The Book Woman's Daughter is a wonderful story. We are introduced to Honey Mary Angeline Lovett, the daughter of Cussy Carver, who resides in the Hills of a gorgeous Kentucky mountains, she too, is so like her mother, a blue skinned packhorse librarian. Because of their skin color, the family had been in hiding and when her parents are imprisoned because of miscegenation, (interbreeding of people of different racial backgrounds), Honey is left in the care of another woman. She is threatened with reform school because of her age and of course what she is. The blue people were different, a scourge and many felt they should not be permitted to live. Later when Honey's elderly custodian dies, Honey is bigger danger of winding up in that school that she dreads until she reaches age twenty-one.

Honey vows to stay free and in her endeavors, she becomes what her mother once was a packhorse librarian. Honey is full of spirit and the love of family and book traveling on her cantankerous mule, she travels the hills of Kentucky through dangers and threatening people to deliver her books and bring joy to her readers. However, so many seem to be against her but she does have some in her corner. For Honey, her blue skin appears on her hands so she wears gloves hiding her hands. Through all of her trials, Honey shows her steadfast desire to remain a bookwoman and as she tries to obtain, her freedom, (emancipation) the perils seem to come faster and one wonders if she indeed will be free.

This is a marvelous story, told in the tradition of the first book with vivid description of the life and beauty of the Kentucky, the simplicity of life as well as its hardships. What is apparent was the people that Honey and Cussy served were delighted having books brought to them. They were thought of as treasures and a way for them to escape to another world. Both women not only delivered books but they also delivered help and hope to the people who were dirt poor.

Women are strong and in this story their stamina and fortitude made for a most vital book that praised the ability of people who lived in that time and place.

This wonderful book comes highly recommended because of its high lighting of the spirit, the resiliency, and the courage of these women who was able to bring literacy to so many.

Thank you to Kim Michele Richardson, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for a copy of this fantastic story due out May 3, 2022.

The joy of this book is the language of the people in the story. It is a tale of being different and still finding a way to be of benefit. It is hoping this contribution will be seen as worthwhile that hold the story and Honeys struggle for freedom that gives it depth and the reader solace. Honey, like her mother is one of a group that through genetics turns blue when stressed or excited. It is her color difference that sets her aside. Her description of the hills that are Kentucky that bind the reader and the people of this state. Determined to stay out of state care she finds the people who knew her parents offer sanctuary at a time when she has few solutions. Following the path started by her mother, Honey agrees to reviving a traveling library in the hills, in hopes to avoiding the state childrens work farm. Pushing for emancipation she enlists a young lawyer familiar with the prejudices of the locals Honey sets in motion a showdown that is cinema worthy. Happy reading

"The Book Woman's Daughter" by Kim Michele Richardson

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Honey Lovett and returning to Troublesome Creek. Richardson's story of the brave women of Kentucky is both horrifying and inspiring. I enjoy learning about the packhorse librarians and the importance of books and literacy. A great read!

Honey has been raised by Cussy Mary, a packhorse librarian and one of the Blue people of Kentucky, since she was a baby. At sixteen years old, the parents who raised her are imprisoned for illegally marrying and Honey returns to Troublesome Creek to escape being sent to the House of Reform. Honey must overcome many obstacles including prejudice for being a woman and for the color of her skin. The story was interesting, but wasn't quite as compelling as the first. Some of the themes were repetitive.

The Book Woman's Daughter was everything I didn't know I needed in this stunning follow-up to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

This powerful portrait of Appalachia demonstrates not only the struggles people (especially women) in Eastern Kentucky faced but also the power they had inside them to fight for justice and for themselves. I loved how Richardson highlighted strong female characters in this book. It was hard as a women anyway, but sometimes especially so for women on their own, trying to make a living. The strong sense of community in Appalachia and how they take care of their own is something that still holds true today, as is the power of words and books and knowledge.

This book probably could be read as a standalone but I wouldn't recommend it. Nearly all of the characters have roles in the first book and I think to really understand Honey's story and that of the blue people of Kentucky, you really need to read about The Book Woman first.

I look forward to hopefully many more books from Richardson, whether a continuation of Troublesome Creek or a new adventure.

Thank you NetGalley, Richardson and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.