I feel I must start this review with a disclaimer. Sean Dietrich is my favorite present day author. With that being said, I do try to be objective when I am reading a book for review purposes. If I hadn't been reading this for review, however, my reaction and review would be the same.

Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, writes from the heart. Whoever said that writers write what they live would reinforce this idea after reading Sean Dietrich's latest book - "Kinfolk". Full of emotion and characters who are so real the reader feels that they are best friends by the end of the book, this book is one that is easily read in one sitting. Once I started it, I just could not stop.

The book starts with a very difficult scene - a suicide and the grief that follows in a small Alabama town in the 1970's. If you are familiar with Mr. Dietrich's back story you can understand that that is a real and personal subject matter to him and one that he writes about often. But just like the author, the main character, Nub, is able to overcome the sadness and the life situation that he found himself in and is eventually able to live a life with love and happiness.

This is not an easy book to read at times due to the themes of alcoholism, suicide, loss, racism, and crime but the overall theme is love and that is indeed the message that the reader comes away with in the end. Redemption prevails as a strong theme and what a joy it is to read this book to see how the story unfolds.

The author has a unique way of telling a story. His true Southern charm bleeds through every page and his witty descriptions had me laughing out loud several times. He definitely knows how to evoke an image in your mind as you read with his descriptions.

The main characters, Nub, Emily and Minnie are so well defined and described that it was easy to fall in love (and sometimes dislike) at their antics and actions. They are just plain folk who are the type of folks that we run into every single day in our lives. Thankfully these were ones that were not ignored and it reminded me that each and every person has worth and value in this world despite their circumstances. Sometimes we need to be reminded of that.

If you have the chance to read this book I would highly recommend that you pick up a copy. Better yet, get an audiobook so you can hear the author read it to you in his own voice. This was one that I listened to at regular speed and did not speed up because I wanted to enjoy every drawn out word and hear every inflection of Mr. Dietrich's voice.

Huge thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me an advance copy for review. This is my honest review of Kinfolk.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Kinfolk by Sean Dietrich, published by Harper Muse.
I just loved this novel, something about the characters, the writing style, the story, the setting. The author really made it all come together. It's full of heartache, betrayal, death, regrets but also love and people helping people. I never wanted to put this novel down. It made me laugh out loud and cry real tears. I was so attached to Minnie and Nub as characters, but loved them all. I would read another novel like this in a heartbeat. Absolutely unforgettable!
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this novel

Absolutely loved the authors note at the end and the couple of scattered facts about The Ryman and Grand ol Opry that are incorporated into the story.

My second novel by this author and absolutely love his ability to tell a small town story that has every emotion present. You will gasp, cry, feel fear, mystery, joy and much more.

Love before her, Love behind her, Love above her, Love beneath her.

Love on the crown of her head, Love on the soles of her feet, Love way down in her heart.

These are the words/song that start the relationship between “Nub” Jeremiah Taylor and “Minnie” Minifred Bass and so it’s appropriate that these words close out their story as well. Story gives segments of several characters and weaves all these characters lives together beautifully. I loved the characters and that they each have flaws, and are so relatable.

Can’t recommend this book enough!! Please check it out!!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Harper Muse for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Jeremiah Lewis Taylor, Nub to all who know him, has seen a lot of living. Not all of it good. Years of too much drinking have gotten him in too much trouble to list, but losing his wife and the respect of his daughter were the hardest. After an accident that should have killed him, Nub shares a hospital room with fifteen year old Minniford Hazel Bass. While her singing greatly annoys the grumpy old man, she somehow gets under his skin and soon he’s become her savior, but can a leopard change his spots. His daughter, Emily, is going through her own crisis at the moment and thinks he’s crazy! How can he be there for Minnie when he was never there for her? When Nub takes Minnie in he has no idea how much things are about to change or how much he’s bitten off, not to mention the danger he and Minnie are now in. Is it too late for Nub to change or does he finally have the chance to redeem himself after all these years? This was a heartwarming, beautiful story about change, redemption and unconditional love. Once again Dietrich takes us on an unforgettable journey. A journey that will make you laugh out loud, shed some tears, but most of all give you hope. A dual read/listen, this book was voiced perfectly by the author himself, this book is not one that will be forgotten anytime soon as he brings this powerful story to life showing us that love and forgiveness are the most important things of all! Thank you to Harper Muse and Netgalley for an ARC AND ALC of this book.

I am always so thankful when I receive a Sean Dietrich book from NetGalley. I had read the blurb and some reviews. Takes place in the south, Alabama. Good. Features folks facing tough times- down on their luck, with family problems. Yep, sounds like a Sean Dietrich book. Some music, church and Jesus, ok! A sweet, easy read, right? I couldn’t wait to open this book!

And then, I’m crying by the second page. And I really don’t stop sobbing until the end of the book. The main character, “Mr. Nub” , age 62, has spent 50 years thinking he’s a loser. And most of the town of Park, Alabama, including his daughter and ex-wife would agree with him. And then he meets 15 year old Minnie and a second-chance becomes a reality for Nub.

While there are many scenes that will make you smile, such as the church services, and the baked bean and Tabasco sandwiches, readers will have to realize that most of the time they’ll be in pain. Some of the parts of this story are similar to the author’s own life.

Thanks to Sean Dietrich for another inspirational and stirring story. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.

Kinfolk... the people who are related to you by blood. But sometimes, it is so much more than that. Sean Dietrich has done it again. I adore his way with words. There is always a gift in them and I am so grateful that I got the chance to read/listen to this story, read by the author himself. It is the story of Nub Taylor, Minnie Bass, and the folks they call family. Nub is the town drunk. His child is in her forties and they are estranged. His ex-wife hates him and the town of Park, Alabama (population around 1000), hates him too. Minnie is a very tall young lady who is an outcast, as she is as poor as they come. And in the seventies, Nub and Minnie will find each other. In the process, they will find family, and, just maybe, bring some healing to themselves and their town. I laughed out loud so many times during the telling. I also dabbed my eyes and wished it wouldn't end. When I realized I was moments from finishing it, I wanted to rewind and listen some more. Dietrich has a gift, and I am so grateful he shares it with us. Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher. #Kinfolk

Another wonderful, uplifting, well written story of those on the fringes of what most people consider normal. No one - and I mean NO ONE - can tell their story like Sean Dietrich!

As always, a humorous, heartwarming and encouraging look into the innate goodness of man.

I was most grateful to get this early readers’ review copy from Net Galley and the publisher, Harper Muse, in exchange for an unbiased review. This book and all previous books by Sean Dietrich are highly recommended for all ages.

Kinfolk is my first Sean Dietrich novel, by it certainly won’t be my last. I loved the southern setting, the gloomy but hopeful tone, and the writing which included funny metaphors and similes (i.e. “Waffle House was like the Vatican, only with better hash browns.” Or, “The motor idled like a man choking to death.”)

The story starts with death and shows the ripple effects of suicide and grief. Heartbreak is woven throughout the narrative, but there is a hopeful undertone that keeps you turning the pages to see how it will all turn out ok in the end. This is a story full of outcasts, those who everyone else has given up on. It is a story of redemption, second chances, found family, and community. I loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

This book is many things. It has laugh out loud humor and poignant scenes that make me cry but what it really has is larger than life character Nub, hero and hellion. When we first know Nub he’s a raging alcoholic, separated from almost everyone he loves. Nothing he’s done in his life is positive, his daughter grows up without him, and he leaves a trail of destruction everywhere he goes. Until he meets a 15 yr old who is an orphan, alone, unloved and pregnant. When he decides to help Minnie, putting her first, changes sweep into his life. He’s sober for the first time, gets to know his daughter all over again, and discovers life can be very different.
This is a novel of love, a novel of what the human spirit can endure, a novel of loving family who aren’t always related to you. Above all this is a novel not to be missed.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This story surprised me, I wasn't so sure at first, but it actually was pretty good. It's an excellent book about being down on your luck and needing a second chance but at the same time offering someone else who could really use it a second chance too. Surprisingly enjoyed this book!

Sometimes a book paints a picture that resonates with your past. The portrayal of a small Alabama town in the 1960's is vivid and wrenching. If you grew up in the south during this period you will recognize many of these people, you just called them by different names.

Nothing is held back here, alcoholism, suicide, racism, crime, love and loss are all woven into the landscape of life in this era. The characters are so embraceable, Nub has a good heart, but alcohol and a dark family legacy keep him from a life with his daughter and on the edge of society.

Emily wants to love her Father, but the level of abandonment and humiliation over her lifetime looms large.

Minnie has been abandoned all her life, even when she lived with her mother.

Dietrich has woven all these personalities and the times into a book that will grab your heart. It's hard to put down once you start, the writing is mesmerizing and you feel part of the conversation.

This book was an absolute page turner. I had to finish the book in one setting. I instantly feel in love with every character. The story was so interesting and I loved the way that Sean dealt with everyday life problems. The book teaches so much about suicide and the effects on everyone not just the person. The book was exceptional well written and planned out. I can’t wait for other readers to read this book.,Keep writing and telling your story Sean of the South.

I have read all of Sean Dietrich's book and have loved all of them....however....he has surpassed himself with this book! Rich with emotions and characters, this book will resonate long after you've read the last page. I laughed, cried and cheered throughout the entire book and against my better judgement, finished it in one day...I really didn't want the book to end. Kudos Mr. Dietrich and please don't wait so long to write you next GREAT READ!!! This book deserves 20+ stars!

"Life can play tricks on you. Life can be funny. Not funny ha-ha. Funny weird. The thing is, you never know what's happening in life. The only thing you really know about life is that it is happening. You thought you knew how today would go, but you were way off base. You thought you had everything figured out, but you couldn't have been more wrong if you had been born a pineapple."

"People are what makes life worth it. People are the buried treasure. People who understand you. People who will bleed with you. People who will make your life richer. Your people. Kinfolk."

Sean Dietrich is a rarity in my opinion. So glad to have his books to rely on. The humor is spot on. The worldview is Christian. But there is a lack of stuffiness and piety that just makes these extra outrageously great.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the chance to preview this book.

What can I say about Kinfolk? My, my, there is so much.

It was filled with a lot of hope, a lot of kindness. It was about people who had made a mess of life, who had caused too much pain, disappointment, and grief to feel like they could ever make it right.

A man realises that he's made mistakes and hurt people, but he has the incredible courage to start healing, and moving onward. Deciding that despite what he'd done in the past, today he could do something good and kind. He might not be able to undo all he'd done, but he could help others instead of being crushed by his own failure. It's really a story of how to became strong enough for someone else, to help them not make the same mistakes.

And it wasn't pretty. It wasn't easy. And not everyone thanked him for it.
But he kept going, and when he turned around, he saw that he had made something beautiful, that would outlast his own life. A different legacy than the one his regret and shame told him he would leave.
The questions and themes this book brought to the surface were so powerful. How many lives can you touch when you try to change something that looks unchangeable? How can you accept love when you feel like you don't deserve it? How can you make the world better than when you found it?
The raw dynamics between the characters is what made it so alive. It must have been so courageous to write this. Completely vulnerable, no callouses for cover. It was real, and exposed, and beautifully woven. Truly incredible bravery is not so readily seen in such works, and I have gratitude to the author for writing such a courageous work.

One of the best hearwarming and emotional roller coaster book I've read. Simply has to be in the top 3 of all time. The essence of the book has been wonderfully summarized,according to me, in the author's own words: "But then, life was full of overlooked miracles. And miracles never happen the way you expect them to. They are softer than a baby’s breath. They are, at times, as noticeable as a ladybug. A miracle is not a big thing. A miracle is millions and millions of small things working together. But then, this didn’t matter. Not really. Because Minnie had come to believe that life was not about finding miracles, or happiness, or success, or purpose, or about avoiding disappointment. It was about find-ing people. People are what make life worth it. People are the
buried treasure. People who understand you. People who will bleed with you. People who make your life richer. Your people.
Your kinfolk."

Extremely powerful and definitely a winner.

Sean Dietrich does it again! A great story of second chances and redemption that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Kinfolk by Sean Dietrich is the thoroughly enjoyable story of Nub Taylor who hasn’t had the easiest of lives and hasn’t been easy on those in his life.

Nub had musical talent and he had opportunities, but drink got in the way of that and perhaps his time in the War was the reason for the drinking problems. He was a disappointing husband to Loretta and an embarrassment of a father to Emily and not much of an employee either.

Set in small-town Alabama, Kinfolk is a detailed and interesting exploration of southern people, their relationships and mid-70s rural-Alabama culture.

Nub turns his life around after an especially problematic drinking session and a chance encounter when he sees a local teenage boy harassing Minnie, a girl who works in a local Waffle House. AA meetings help, a blossoming relationship with the bar maid who also attends AA, and Minnie who turns out to be 15, pregnant to that boy who was harassing her and newly-orphaned. Minnie proves to be a talented singer and Nub encourages her to achieve the dreams he once had.

Nub is a likeable drunk and the reader quickly sides with him in the neighbourly and family disputes as well as his brushes with the law.

There’s a parallel plot that involves a newly-released prisoner, the mafia from which he stole and hid a serious load of cash and their intention to get that cash back by threatening Minnie, but I think I shouldn’t write much more about that, other than to say it adds some excitement and tension to the story.

I really enjoyed reading this well-constructed story. The characters are well-developed as are the eb

This is literally one of the best books I’ve ever read. Couldn’t put it down! Sean Dietrich is an excellent writer, especially if you like/identify with Southern themed books. Nub’s compassion towards Minnie, the stories about the Ryman and country music, family tensions, and time period it was taking place all make this a great read. Excellently written. Don’t skip this one!!!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy

Kinfolk
by Sean Dietrich
This book was a good one. It had some very odd corrections and the book was out of line.But, I did read it with some difficulity.