The Book Woman's Daughter

The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson
I thoroughly enjoyed this book’s predecessor The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, and I’m happy to say that The Book Woman’s Daughter is just about perfect sequel. It preserves the tone, the setting, and some of the characters of the original book, and yet it is a new story that provides us more insights into the lives of the characters. It is different enough to be a standalone novel, meaning that readers don’t necessarily have to read the first book, but I’m guessing they will want to because it does provide some background and context for this new book.
In this story we follow Honey, the baby girl that Cussy Mary adopted in the first book. We are now in 1950s Kentucky, and 16-year-old Honey’s parents are being taken away to jail for that problem that has dogged them all their married lives: miscegenation laws. Honey’s mother is what they call a “blue,” a person who has a genetic condition that keeps her from absorbing as much oxygen in her blood as most people, and renders her skin a bluish color. In the twisted logic of the times, she is considered a colored person and is not allowed to be married to her husband, who is considered white.
Honey, who has a tinge of blue herself, is now left on her own to manage. She shows as much resilience and fortitude as her mother, and has to negotiate many of the same things: getting enough money to survive, dealing with people’s prejudices, and men who are abusive and violent.
It would be only fair to point out that it’s also a story of the people who support and help her, not paying any mind to others’ prejudices: the kindly doctor, the lawyer who works to keep her from being sent to a workhouse, and the women who befriend her and stand behind her. Bibliophiles will be pleased to learn that she travels in her mother’s shoes and becomes a book woman herself when the program is brought back to the hills of Kentucky.
This is a book that makes you feel. There are enough villains to spark righteous anger. There are enough good guys and women to make you feel hopeful, and there is Honey, a young woman which readers are pulling for every step of the way.

I could hardly put this book down. It grabs you from the very start with characters drawn so true to life you can imagine meeting them and having heartwarming conversations with them. There are new characters with their challenges and lessons to learn and to teach.
Honey is such a resilient, smart and compassionate person; truly a product of the love and character of her parents.
I truly hope Ms. Richardson has the next installment up her sleeve. Her understanding of the culture of Appalachia and of the time of her stories is spot on. She pulls the reader right in, bringing the story to life.

Fans of the first installment will be pleased with this sequel. Readers meet a 16 year old Honey, daughter of the Troublesome Creek book woman. Further exploration of discrimination based on skin color as well as a look at the roles of women. Engaging and interesting.

I was very excited to read the followup to The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek, of which I have hand-sold many copies. I didn't find The Book Woman's Daughter to be quite as engrossing, but I still think fans of the first book will enjoy reading about how Cussy's daughter carries on her legacy in the face of many challenges and obstacles. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance e-copy.

I absolutely loved this story, the follow up to the Book Woman of Troublesome Creek! Although I did read the previous novel, I don't think you'd necessarily need to have read that book to enjoy this one.

In this book, we are following Honey Lovett, the teenaged daughter of Cussy Mary Carter-Lovett. in Appalachia in the 1950's. When Honey's parents are arrested, Honey goes to live with her former babysitter, Retta, back in Troublesome Creek. It's not long before Honey is on her own. Honey understands that she needs to become self-sufficent in order to stay out of the work camp for orphans, so she takes a job as a pack horse librarian, like her mother before her.

Widely appreciated by the people in remote area, Honey soon has a full book delivery route. Honey's story is a good coming of age story, at times heartbreaking and other times heartwarming. I really did love this book and highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good fiction book.

I received an advance copy of this book through the publishers and #NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was one of my favorite reads back in 2019, so the minute I saw the ARC for The Book Woman's Daughter, I knew I had to read it.

Much like the original, the book does not disappoint. Cussy and Jackson have been settled for years, raising their adopted daughter, Honey. When they are sent to prison for violating the terms of their probation on miscegenation laws, Honey returns to Troublesome Creek, resuming her mother's role as a packhorse librarian, delivering books and hope to rural Kentuckians, while fighting to ensure she can stay free to live her own life.

For fans of the first book, it makes a wonderful sequel, yet it could stand alone for those just meeting the characters. Definitely my first 5 star read of the year.

This follow-up to The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek doesn’t disappoint in the least. Cussy Mary is no longer a packhorse librarian but is facing prison because she and her husband have been found together. Their interracial marriage is against the law in Kentucky and both face imprisonment. Miscegenation laws do not distinguish between what categorizes one as non-White so Cussy, who’s Blue because of a medical condition, is the same as any other “colored” person.

Honey is Cussy’s daughter and under age so the government is prepared to send her to live in a juvenile detention center and forced to do hard labor. With the help of others, Honey tries to avoid the government’s plan but her efforts to stay out the clutches of the authorities, becomes even more complicated. Luckily the local library is looking for help with their outreach program. They want to send librarians out into the hills with books for their remote patrons. So Honey follows in her mother’s footsteps and brings reading materials to folks in the far reaches of the hills.

Like Cussy, Honey runs into some opposition but most folk are appreciative of her providing reading material. These are people who would never have the opportunity to procure books and articles for themselves. In a life of drudgery that’s filled with hard work and little else, books, magazines and newspapers are a welcome respite.

The government once again becomes the heavy in this book. They are determined to prosecute any who are different – even someone who is blue colored. They perform horrific procedures to prevent the spread of blueness and they are prepared to treat an innocent girl as a hardened criminal, because of her familial connections.

Not only is Honey a loveable girl but her friends will leave an indelible mark on readers. Those who support Honey show courage and great kindness. This sequel is as fascinating as the first book and will remind us why we fell in love with the brave women who delivered reading materials to so many. It reinforces the idea that reading is a gift that entertains as well as instructs. But there’s also the importance of friends that makes life worthwhile. A heartwarming and delightful book that will touch all who read it.

Wow! Kim Richardson has done it again. This book was so good. I loved hearing about the characters in the first book and the story continuing.

This book is perfection! For those who loved Cussy Mary Carter’s story in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, you will love Honey Lovett’s even more. Not only is this book an entertaining read, it is an informative glimpse into 1930’s Appalachia and the prejudices of the time. Families are torn apart, and new ones rise from the ashes. I could not recommend this book more; as an Appalachian bookwoman who is also a descendant of the real blue folks of troublesome creek, I heartily give it my endorsement!

Thank you NetGalley and Landmark Books for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Once again this author doesn’t disappoint! This is a stand-alone novel that the reader does not need to read the Book Women of Troublesome Creek to understand what or who the characters are in order to understand the story. In my younger years I thought I would have wanted to live in bygone times such as these but I realize I don’t know how well off I am living in this time when women’s rights, opinions and lifestyles are welcomed and often times sought after.

The author draws a picture of independent women who don’t feel the need for a man to control their life through marriage. As the reader may consider it would be easier to marry someone you don’t love than to be put through the things Honey must endure. But as a reader you have a definite inclination that a legal union would also not alleviate all that these women went through like Guyla Belle.

The author paints a beautiful picture of eastern Kentucky and the people that reside in the towns as well as the hollers. Her history of Kentucky and the Pack Horse Library Project is well researched. And in this story, even more so than the first novel, she demonstrates the effects of literacy on the individual as well as the state as a whole.

This novel was a delight to read and will enrich those that read it as well

THE BOOK WOMAN'S DAUGHTER
BY: KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON

"The Book Woman's Daughter," is both an endearing and inspirational sequel that can be read as a stand alone written by the gifted Michele Richardson. It can be pretty heartbreaking yet at the same time illuminating and hopeful with the courage and perseverance that both Honey and the good people who grace this historical novel. I was pulled in from the very beginning and my concern for Honey that she would stay safe among some very cruel bigots and racists that grace this beautiful book. Honey Mary Angeline Lovett is the kind and gentle daughter of the beloved book woman carrying on the tradition of her mother before her who delivered books in the rugged Appalachian Kentucky Mountains and hollers. She witnesses her mother and father being carted off to prison in the very beginning because of the archaic laws of ignorance and hate forbidding what is perceived to be mixed race marriages.

Honey has inherited a non life threatening condition called methemoglobinemia which makes her skin a blue color. It is caused by deficiency leading to a higher than normal levels of methemoglobin carried throughout her blood. It reduces oxygen capacity carried in the blood which causes the skin to appear blue. She is of the purest, kindness and gentleness of souls who is fighting for her life at sixteen to remain free and not similarly be carted off to a situation where she would be institutionalized until she reaches the age of twenty-one. So Honey goes to live with a kind old woman named Loretta until Retta passes away from old age. Retta took Honey into her home to save her from being unfairly imprisoned.

Honey has her protective mule named Junia who as animals often do-protect their meek and kind owners and applies for the job that she saw posted as a Packhorse Librarian delivering books to people who love them. She is earning her living of $98.00 per month and keeping a clean home and she is holding out hope to be granted from the court her emancipation, which means that she is able to keep her freedom. She is brave and resourceful and this story is about her journey to live free. She is always kind and helpful delivering library books on her mule to the people who have a desire to read. She is thoughtful and she has an innate knowledge of what the people on her route would love to read but don't have access to a library nearby.

This is just about the most touching and moving book about how with the friendships that are evident in the decent and good people she interacts with and the proof that there exists a kind and warmth in the people of Kentucky. The Author's ability to juxtapose that besides the mean and racist there is also a noble and goodwill. There are scenes throughout this book that took my breath away. I knew that I would love this and I absolutely did! It is a stunning portrait of the power of Sisterhood and the power of books is never so evident as it is illustrated in this unique tale. I highly, highly recommend this to all readers who already understand the transforming difference loving the written words on a page can elevate us to the highest realm.

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

A Huge Debt of Gratitude and Thank you to Net Galley, Kim Michele Richardson and SOURCEBooks Landmark for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All Opinions are my own.

#TheBookWoman'sDaughter #KimMicheleRichardson #SourceBooksLandmark #NetGalley

The Book Woman's Daughter is an amazing historical fiction novel about Kentucky's packhorse librarians. Sixteen-year-old Honey Lovett is following in her mother's footsteps delivering books to families around the coal mining town of Troublesome Creek. Though having to deal with hatred and prejudice from some of the townsfolk, she also encounters kindness and understanding from others. Honey learns to be strong and brave from the friendships she develops with other young women of this community. Thanks to author Kim Michele Richardson, publisher Sourcebooks Landmark, and to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.

In this sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, after both of her parents are arrested for having an illegal marriage, Honey Mary-Angeline Lovett, the daughter of the Troublesome Creek book woman realizes that she is on her own. Determined to avoid the House of Reform or the orphan's home, Honey sets out with Junia, their difficult mule on the long journey to Miss Loretta's house in Troublesome. On the way to Miss Loretta's, Honey stops at the Troublesome Creek Library branch and is surprised to see a posting for an assistant librarian, pay is $98 a month. Taking over her mother's route may be the answer that will keep her free. Hoping to find a safe haven, Honey is unprepared for the way women are mistreated and the harshness of some of the miners. Making friends with Pearl, the new female fire-tower watcher, helps ease the burden of being without her mother and father. Standing up to the societal norms that allow medical experimentation, imprisoning orphans, sexual harassment, and murder is no easy task, however, Honey is tough and up to the challenge.

I was so excited to receive a copy to review and I read it in two days. Sometimes, sequels disappoint, not this one! Life is grim in the hills and Richardson doesn't pull any punches. Women are treated as a commodity and have no independence. The Fugates, or the Blue People of Kentucky are discriminated against and prohibited from marrying a person of another race. Fans of the first book will thoroughly enjoy this one too. A Note from the Author is a must read, complete with pictures, Richardson has thoroughly researched before writing this story. As a retired librarian, I question whether I would have survived the roughness of the terrain and the harshness of life in the hills. This title will make an excellent Book Club choice, many topics to be discussed.

Excellent historical fiction…blending women’s rights, the plight of the Kentucky hill people and early literacy programs. Prejudice, violence, corruption, female bonding, bravery, loss, books and love….this tale has it all and is delivered in a narrative that keeps the pages turning.

There are so many times I read a book and the characters are so dear to me that I feel disappointed that I’m done getting to know their story so I was extremely excited when I saw this book was being released.
16 years after Cussy’s story ended the family is still struggling with many of the same hardships due to the discrimination and prejudices of the time which leaves Cussy’s daughter, Honey, to struggle on her own without her parents. Luckily for Honey she has a strong network of friends to support her but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t face many trials along the way showing she is just as fierce and smart as her mother. The friendships she found and the love and respect Honey receives from those who see her for who she is and not the color of her skin was heartwarming. I really enjoyed revisiting the characters from the previous book and couldn’t help but love the new ones.. Junia may be on the top of my list for favorite book animals but Tommie takes a close second!
I am so grateful to the publisher for allowing me to review a copy of this book on Netgalley prior to publication. It was everything I had hoped it would be!

I LOVED this book so very much. It is a wonderful follow up to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, but definitely does not have to be read first. These characters have my heart. Their will to survive, their toughness, their love for each other, their fight against wrongful laws...the entire story is so well written and so heartwarming. Highly highly recommend!

Thank you to net galley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of the prequel to this book, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, will NOT be disappointed by this sequel that follows Cussy and Jackson’s daughter Honey in her late teens as she carries on her mother’s legacy while learning to fend for herself in the trying times of rural Kentucky in the mid 1950’s. I liked this book even more that the prequel as I enjoyed visiting with past characters, as well as, meeting new ones. It was well-written, perfectly-paced, and addressed many important topics. And how fun that the author referenced in her note one of my fave book’s author Bren McClain (One Good Mama Bone)! This book was also well-researched and I enjoyed the photos at the end of book. How true that books have always had and continue to have the powerful potential for connection and healing! Highly recommend!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader’s copy of this book.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was one of my favorite books so I was so excited to see a sequel was coming out. There's just something about this author's writing that makes you feel like you're right there, along for the ride. You feel every emotion her characters feel and they're hard to forget. This story has a little bit of everything in it! I recommend the first book to everyone and now I'll happily do the same with this one.

This is not only an amazing sequel to The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek, but also an amazing stand-alone book! Kim Michele Richardson goes back to Kentucky's Appalachian region, in the 1950's, and introduces Cussy Mary Bluet and Jackson's 16-year-old daughter, Honey Mary Angeline. Faced with the unfair imprisonment of her parents and fearing she could be sent to a juvenile facility and hard labor, Honey proves herself to be an intelligent, resilient, resourceful young woman, determined to remain free. She follows in her mother's footsteps and helps to revive the Packhorse Librarian program. The book is filled with remarkable, memorable and sometimes frightening characters. It celebrates the friendships, sisterhood and strength of women in a time when women had few freedoms and rights, and prejudices were many. The book brings alive the beauty of the Appalachian region, and the power of books and education. It is definitely a 5 star plus read! I was so excited to receive an ARC of this from Netgalley and the publisher and the book did not disappoint! I hope there will be a continuation of the story in a third book!

Absolutely hard to put down! This story is so engaging, and the characters so well crafted, I felt like I was riding Junia through the hills myself. It's intriguing, raw, and yet a beautiful story.

This book takes up where The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek ended - it's rural Kentucky in the '50s , and it opens right with Honey’s parents being taken away by the Sheriff enforcing miscegenation laws.. Only 16, Honey escapes and heads to Miss Loretta's - she's intended to be her guardian until she comes of age. Only life doesn't always go as planned and Honey finds herself alone again. Until the wonderful cast of characters show up to help her - such strong women characters, Pearl, Martha Hannah, Bonnie, Wrenna, etc. It shows the community pulling together to help their beloved Book Woman's daughter.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Nothing compares to the excitement of finding out there’s a sequel to a book you loved. That’s how I felt about The Book Woman’s Daughter after having loved The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek a couple of years ago. And yet, The Book Woman’s Daughter could also be enjoyed on its own merit if you haven’t read the prior book. In this book we catch up with Honey Lovett, the orphan who Cussy Mary took in as an infant and raised. Honey is on her own, as Cussy and Robert have been sentenced to prison, accused of miscegenation, as Cussy is a “Blue”. Cussy takes on her Mother’s job of delivering books to the isolated Appalachian residents. Holly becomes friends with a young fire spotter, Pearl, new to the area. Together they share many adventures while evading the county social worker who wants Honey committed to the state youth work farm. The book is set in the early 50s, and the references to the 50s pop culture were fun. I especially enjoyed reading the local history and colloquialisms, ie “Sneezing before seven brings unfriendly company before eleven..”. Domestic violence, and other crimes against women are rampant at the time and place, but the laws are not supportive of women. As Pearl says, “Laws about females never make a lick of sense because they’re made and run by men and meant to keep us in bondage. I appreciated the opportunity for an advance read of this book in return for my honest review in my own words. #NetGalley. #thebookwomansdaughter

Historical fiction, women's lit, books, book club worthy...4.5*
Thank you Netgalley & publishers for an ARC copy of The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson (The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek #2).
I requested this arc because I loved The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I had never heard of the blue people of Kentucky and I loved learning about the traveling library. I did a dual audio/physical read.
The Book Woman's Daughter is a continuation of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and it did not disappoint. I loved it. I read the e-copy.
" Honey Mary Angeline Lovett, the daughter of the beloved Troublesome book woman, who must fight for her own independence with the help of the women who guide her and the books that set her free.
As the daughter of the famed blue-skinned, Troublesome Creek packhorse librarian, Honey and her family have been hiding from the law all her life. But when her mother and father are imprisoned, Honey realizes she must fight to stay free, or risk being sent away for good....
... learn that the extraordinary women who run the hills and hollers can make all the difference in the world."
This book is book club worthy and I would be happy if there is a number 3. Thank you by Kim Michele Richardson for another great novel.

You know the book that you think about ling after you finish? Well, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was one of my favorite novels of 2019 and a novel that most definitely stayed with me. I was ecstatic to learn that Kim Michele Richardson had written a follow up novel centered around, Honey Lovett, the daughter of Troublesome’s book woman and I jumped at the opportunity to read it.

Not surprisingly, I devoured The Book Woman’s Daughter in record time! Kim Michele Richardson does a fantastic job in writing this novel for readers who have and have not read the first installment. I love reading novels with strong leading women and even in the face of so much adversity, Honey Lovett wow’ed me at every turn and I adored reading her journey! From the moment I start reading The Book Woman’s Daughter, I felt like I immediately transported back to rural Kentucky and as I predicted, I was completely captivated the entire way through by this 5 star book. If you haven’t started this fantastic series I truly recommend you put them at the very top of your TBR list! I am so excited to read what Kim Michele Richardson comes out with next!

Sequel to the 2019 best seller, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, one of my favorites of that year. This may be a sequel but is easily a stand alone novel. Honey, as was her mother, is one of the blue-skinned people of Kentucky Appalachian mountains, her father is white. When her parents are imprisoned for breaking the miscegenation laws and then her guardian dies, Honey must find her way at only fifteen. She’s returns to the family homestead and gets a job reprising her mothers role as a horseback librarian. Faced with the reality of either becoming a child bride or facing a child reformation farm, she sets out to be emancipated. Richardson’s grasp on this subject manner, research, and writing skills are excellent; the “Note From the Author” and pictures at the end of the novel are a must read.

The Book Woman's Daughter is the sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. However, I think its fair to say it can also be as a stand alone novel. I sometimes avoid sequels since they never live up to the original, but this book absolutely did.
It takes place in the Eastern Kentucky mountains as Honey Lovett learns to fight for her freedom after her mother and father are imprisoned and she is left alone. Honey picks up her mothers old book route in Troublesome Creek and meets some familiar faces, some new ones, and some that aren't too happy to see her.
I loved reading about Kentucky and continuing to learn about the pack horse librarians, the "blue people", and miscegenation laws - All of which I knew very little of until I read these books.
The Book Woman's Daughter was a story of hope and resilience. As a reader I became connected to Honey and was rooting for her from the first page. I highly recommend this book. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

Southern Historical Fiction is my favourite genre and I loved the first book in this series, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek so much and I just couldn't wait to dig into this one. This is my fifth book by this author and every single one was a four or five star read for me and she is an automatic add to my huge to be read pile. This one did not disappoint.

This is a well written exploration of a second generation bookwoman. The sense of time and place was near perfect. I felt I was there in Kentucky with Honey dealing with sexism and prejudice right along with her in the postwar period. Like the other books I have read by Kim Michele Richardson this is well researched fiction, I have always enjoyed and admired how real her characters are and how many emotions she can make me feel with her writing. From the first word to the last page this book was perfection.

The Bookwoman's Daughter is a sequel to The Bookwoman if Troublesome Creek, but also reads ok as a standalone. I would suggest reading both and in order to get the most from both. It was beautiful. The sequel focuses on the lives of women in the highly patriarchal society of a Kentucky coal mining town in the early 1950s. We follow Honey as she navigates life alone, supported by her friends and patrons.

I loved It the Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek, so I was delighted to be grant an advanced copy of The Bookwoman’s Daughter! I loved everything about this sequel! Richardson’s characters are rich, fierce and beautiful! They drive the story of 16year old Honey Lovett, on her own back in Troublesome when her parents are incarcerated. Her struggles as a woman in a world dominated by men in 1950’s resonate. The women in this novel are portrayed as strong, smart and resilient. Themes of books and reading and self education are woven around very different women that forge a sisterhood. I would to see both books as series on HBO or Netflix. You will cheer and ugly cry,! Just get your hands on this book!

I loved the first book in this series, and I was so excited to contribute reading the story of Honey and her family. Old and new characters alike made this book special, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a book that will draw you in and keep you reading until the very end.

The Book Woman’s Daughter is the sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, which happens to be one of my all-time favorite books. Imagine my surprise when I heard there would be another Book Woman book….be still my heart.

Honey is the 17-year-old daughter of Cussy, known as the Book Woman. The story starts right off with Cussy and Jackson being taken to prison for breaking the miscegenation laws and leaving Honey to fend for herself in a time when misogyny was rampant, discrimination was the norm and living conditions were tough. Not only does Honey find herself battling the rugged terrain, but she also has to battle those who want to see her fail in all that she does, simply because she’s a woman, and a Kentucky Blue.

Ms. Richardson brings a depth to her characters that makes us feel as if we are right there struggling alongside them, we can feel the female friendships, and we can feel the terror when Honey is tormented by some of the menfolk. I adore the band of “sisters” that surround Honey and guide her through a life that she must maneuver through without a mother. But my absolute favorite part of the Troublesome story is the packhorse library. Both Honey and Cussy traverse not only the rugged terrain on their beloved mule, Junia, they also traverse the ups and downs of the lives of their patrons.

This is an amazing story of friendship, injustice, fear and resilience. Not a dull page to be found. Five huge stars from this satisfied reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of this stunning story. This is my honest review

Loved, loved this book! I was so excited to see that there was going to be a second novel after 'The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek' as I thoroughly enjoyed that one. This did not disappoint. It follows Honey as she heads back alone to Troublesome Creek after her parents are arrested. We learn more about the families we came to love in the previous book and watch Honey follow in her mom's footsteps as an Outreach Librarian. The story is beautifully written and I loved learning where past characters have ended up. The new characters are just as enjoyable. I highly recommend this one!

1953, abuse, PTSD, Appalachia, beatings, National Parks Fire Service, grief, grieving, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, hope, horror, Kentucky*****

Honey Mary Angeline Lovett and her mother are fiction. The horrors of spousal abuse, starvation, prejudice against yellow/ indigenous/ blue/ black skin colors, and coal mining are real. Also real is the recessant gene for methemogobinemia with the dubious studies and treatment of the 1930s (and beyond, including forced sterilization of Blues), the pride and perseverance of the people of Appalachia, the WPA Pack Horse Project librarians including the kindness of those who donated reading materials, the Frontier Nurse Service, the National Parks Fire Service, and dialectical issues.
This book is as riveting a story as the first. DON'T MISS IT!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley. Thank you!

This was an excellent sequel and would be an excellent read as a stand alone as well. This book picks up the story of Honey, the 16 year old daughter of the blue book woman of Troublesome Creek. Due to prejudice, Honey is separated from her parents. She has to prove resourceful in order to take care of herself. Great writing, great characters; I loved it! A definite must read! I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

REVIEW - The Book Woman’s Daughter
Wow, this book left crying happy tears! If you loved The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek then you must read this sequel. Honey, (who is Bluet and John’s adopted daughter from book #1) takes on the job of pack horse librarian, delivering books in the remote regions of the Kentucky Mountains. Honey and several other female leads face major adversity along the way but these strong and powerful women will not let the likes of some outdated laws and misogynistic men stop them from achieving their dreams! Several characters from book #1 make a reappearance including Junia, the ornery and stubborn mule. She is back with an attitude and loyal as ever!
This book contains:
-loveable characters
-strong women
-a despicable villain
-action/suspense
-page turner
-courtroom drama
Thank you for writing such an amazing sequel @kimmichelerichardson ! Now I need to know, will there be a third book?!
Thank you to @netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmarks @bookmarked for providing me with a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
#bookstagram #canadianbookstagram #thebookwomansdaughter #kimmichelerichardson #bookadoration

This book was sent to me by Netgalley electronically for review. I was excited to read it as I had read the previous book by Richardson...the Book Woman...two great books. This one is a continuation of the first...the Blue people of Kentucky and the dedicated women who rode horses and mules to deliver books to the hill people. The characters are realistic...some likable...some not so much...the story moves quickly and is difficult to put down. The horrible things that happened to this family, and as strong as they were, they often faltered. In the end, despite prison for the parents, the main character, the daughter, made a life for herself. Stong women...dedicated readers...it almost seems as if the books are characters also...the reading is important to even the poorest...this is a great book. I can't imagine what the author will write about next. A winner. I will recommend this on book store sites...to my friends...to those who read my column in a small newspaper. Do NOT miss this book.

Having read The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek, I was so excited to see the story continue with The Bookwoman’s Daughter. I was not disappointed either and enjoyed it tremendously. Again, this is a story of the courage and coming of age of a girl and the heartwarming friends she finds who look beyond the color of her blue skin but instead to the inner goodness within her. Honey, a lover of poetry, felt that the words that were quoted by her mother to one of the patrons, spoke to her. “Faith is the bird that feels the lift and sings when the dawn is still dark.”

Honey, also a Blue of the Kentucky hills, was adopted by Cussy Mary and Jackson Lovett after the death of both of her parents. Cussy Mary, too was a Blue, one who had the genetic condition of methemoglobinemia or blue skin. Now 16 years later, when her parents were arrested for miscegenation and imprisoned, Honey must figure out how to survive. She travels to Troublesome Creek to live with her elderly guardian, Retta. There she meets Pearl the new fire watcher and finds a lifelong friend. But after the death of her guardian, Honey must work to gain her freedom to avoid going to the child’s work farm for orphans. Bullied by some men and others, she fights to rise above the prejudice and hatred and protect not only herself but other women whom the law cannot protect. Honey sets out to prove this by getting a job as an assistant pack horse librarian and tending to her family’s cabin and mule, Junia. Honey discovers that like her mother, books and literacy, would save her and were the path to freedom.

I loved this book and the whole history of the pack horse librarians. Just the thought of bringing literacy to people and showing how books uplifted people from their trials of day to day is inspiring. What courage these women showed as they traveled through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and also those who took on traditional men’s roles such as in the mines or forest. As one character stated, women had to use smarts to win. The author, with her descriptive writing, makes this moment in history come alive and gives great insight to the area and people as well. Strong characters are portrayed showing courageous women. This book is a great read, whether as sequel but also as a stand-alone book. I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to #netgalley, #thebookwomansdaughter, #kimmichelerichardson for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The first book in this series; The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek;
I read and learned a part of history that I did not know. I was excited to go back.

Travel back to 1953 in Thousandsticks, Kentucky
The descriptions had me right there with the characters I was rooting for.

I love and have said myself -
"Can you believe it, ... they're going to pay me to deliver my favorite thing - book. Books!"

This is another good read, I both learned and enjoyed reading.

The Book Woman’s Daughter is the follow-on to Richardson’s 2019 book, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. In this story we follow Honey Lovett as she sees her parents incarcerated and she finds her way by becoming a packhorse librarian like her mother, traveling the remote areas of Kentucky. There are new friends, old acquaintances, and hardships along her way that shape Honey into a strong and lovable character. Fans of The Book Woman will not be disappointed!

This book was rich in history, drama, and wonderful characters. The author's upbringing in the Kentucky hills helps greatly in giving the book vivid descriptions and entertaining dialogue. It really was a difficult time to be a woman! I liked all the tiny details - the food which I was dribbling at the thought of, the clothing that was so clear in my mind, and Junia the stubborn mule and her vocals were music to my ears.

This book was about overcoming the man heavy laws of the State and the awful miscegenation laws that kept people in love apart. It was about sisterhood and women working together to find some control over their lives and it was about love and strength.

Loved it as much as the first. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

In the ruggedness of the beautiful Kentucky mountains, Honey Lovett has always known that the old ways can make a hard life harder. As the daughter of the famed blue-skinned, Troublesome Creek packhorse librarian, Honey and her family have been hiding from the law all her life. But when her mother and father are imprisoned, Honey realizes she must fight to stay free, or risk being sent away for good. Picking up her mother's old packhorse library route, Honey begins to deliver books to the remote hollers of Appalachia. Honey is wanting to prove that she doesn't need anyone telling her how to survive. The route can be treacherous, and some folks aren't as keen to let a woman pave her own way. If Honey wants to bring the freedom books provide to the families who need it most, she's going to have to fight for her place, and along the way, learn that the extraordinary women who run the hills and hollers can make all the difference in the world.

I loved the author's first book, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, so when I saw this follow up story, I immediately requested it. The author again describes in vivid detail the Appalachia area of Kentucky and the people who live there as she knows it from having grown up there. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for granting me the privilege to read this wonderful book.

Kim Michele Richardson's The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was a wonderful Appalachian tale. I loved it. Five stars.

"The Book Woman's Daughter" is a historical fiction novel by Kim Michelle Richardson. The book is a sequel to "The Book Woman Of Troublesome Creek." Following in her mom's footsteps Honey continues riding the hills of Kentucky as the book woman. The novel tells of Honey's trials and tribulations. The novel also is a tale of sisterhood and the power of the written word. One of my favorite quotes from the book is "Books are the cornerstone to greater minds." I will definitely be recommending "The Book Woman's Daughter" to patrons at my library. Thank you for the advanced copy.

I was so excited to see a sequel to Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (and I am not usually a sequel kind of girl.) Kim Richardson does not disappoint with her newest title Book Woman's Daughter. This book felt like walk back home to your favorite group of friends and starting right back up like you hadn't been away for years (even though Richardson did not make us wait that long to get to know Cussy's daughter, Honey).

I am appreciative this book can be read alone, but the reader would be missing out if they don't read Book Woman of Troublesome Creek as well.

I truly appreciate the strength of female friendship on the pages. We get to know Honey as she navigates life once her parents are taken to jail. Honey, being 17, could be a ward of the state, required to work slave labor until her 21st birthday. Fortunately, she has a host of people who try to work within the 1950's Appalachian ways to keep Honey free. Honey, herself is a formidable character. She's strong willed and has a good head upon her, mostly due to a mothers love and the opportunity to learn via reading/books.

I am also appreciative that this book addresses other female characters and their roles within Kentucky in the 1950s. I learned much about female forestry thanks to Honeys relationship with Pearl, a girl not much older than her, but from an entirely different background. I loved that these two completely different women could both face challenges within society and have each others backs. Its not so different today, where social economic class separates us and yet drive and determination can connect us.

Lastly, I enjoyed Junia's antics. The pack mule kept humor going even when she was downright being obstinate and running away. Working in a library, I enjoy the looks of patrons when they pick out a book. I can imagine the feeling both for the pack librarian carrying precious materials to those not able to come to the library, but also the young (and not so young) budding readers. It's great to learn and understand the true gift of reading.

Thank you to Kim Michelle Richardson and Net Galley for this advanced reading copy. I sincerely appreciated it and am hopeful Richardson will continue to write about this amazing group of people!