Reviews

Having grown up in the Arkansas delta myself, I can vouch for the authenticity of Sally Johnson's depiction of life, at its best, in that culture at this time in history. I was born during the early years of this novel so know only my parents' description of what went on in the twenties, but I have personal memories of what she describes in the 1930s, such as school years shortened by lack of funds and teachers being paid with warrants instead of cash. This is an up-beat plot that I found so fascinating I was loathe to put the book down at bedtime.
-- Reverend Donald K. Campbell, IISally Johnson has crafted an engaging account of loss and love set in Northeast Arkansas during the early 20th century. Its story offers a richly detailed account of the lives of its characters against the backdrop of racial and economic turmoil in the 1930s South. The central character, Ella Wood, struggles to cope following the death of her husband, and is further challenged by the arrival in her life of the Reverend Jack MacLean. Both experience challenges to their faith and their sense of place in a rigidly ordered society. Together they discover along the way the power of love over despair. This is a timely and timeless story.
-- Sally Browder (PhD), Psychologist