Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joanne Bischof

Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joanne Bischof
(Blackbird Mountain #1)
389 pages / 10 hrs, 6 mins

"After the tragic death of her husband, Aven Norgaard is beckoned to give up her life in Norway to become a housekeeper in the rugged hills of nineteenth-century Appalachia. Upon arrival, she finds herself in the home of her late husband's cousins--three brothers who make a living by brewing hard cider on their three-hundred-acre farm. Yet even as a stranger in a foreign land, Aven has to hope to build a new life in this tight-knit family.

"But her unassuming beauty disrupts the bond between the brothers. The youngest two both desire her hand, and Aven is caught in the middle, unsure where--and whether--to offer her affection. While Haakon is bold and passionate, it is Thor who casts the greatest spell upon her. Though Deaf, mute and dependent on hard drink to cope with his silent pain, Thor possesses a sobering strength.

"A haunting tale of struggle and redemption, Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a portrait of grace in a world where the broken may find new life through the healing mercy of love."  --from the publisher

Had I read this summary I probably wouldn't have read the book. I'm not much into romance novels. It must have been recommended to me and I downloaded it before reading about it. That said, it is pretty well written and I enjoyed the farm setting and time period. I gave it three out of five stars. If I continue with the series I'll know what to expect next time.

The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate

The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate
(Carolina Heirlooms #2)
438 pages / 11 hrs, 52 mins

"Successful New York editor Jen Gibbs is at the top of her game with her new position at Vida House Publishing - until a mysterious manuscript from an old slush pile appears on her desk. Turning the pages, Jen finds herself drawn into the life of Sarra, a mixed-race Melungeon girl trapped by dangerous men in turn-of-the-century Appalachia. A risky hunch may lead to The Story Keeper's hidden origins and its unknown author, but when the trail turns toward the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a place Jen thought she'd left behind forever, the price of a blockbuster book deal may be higher than she's willing to pay."  --from the publisher

This one took a bit for me to get interested, but once the story moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains I was hooked.  Wingate has a knack for weaving great stories from bits of history.  By the way, although part of a series this is a stand-alone with none of the characters from the first book.  Four out of five stars for me.

Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen

Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen - 243 pages

Snow in Summer, called Summer by her family and friends, believes in True Love.  After all, her father was so consumed by grief after her mother died that it caused him to basically shut down.  That is the power of True Love.  So when her father brings a new mother home she believes that once again it is True Love and that everything will be wonderful again.  But soon after the wedding, her father grows old and is no longer able to do anything but sit in the rocking chair.  Snow, as she is called by her stepmother, does most of the work in the house and on the farm.  But she is fine with that as her stepmother loves her . . . right?
This is a great retelling of Snow White with an Appalachian  setting.  It was unusual in that every element of the story is set in real life - except the mirror.  It is the one bit of fantasy in the story.  I liked the short chapters added in from the viewpoints of some of the more minor characters.  It added new perspective to the story as it was seen from many different sides.