When I read the description "Set in the Carolinas in the 1940s" and "life in the Appalachian Mountains" , I knew that I wanted to read The Road To Bittersweet by Donna Everhart! I requested the book at my library! I finally got the book and I wasn't disappointed in reading this book!
The Stamper family were forced to flee their mountain cabin in the middle of the night when the Tuckasegee River overflows it's banks and floods their home and many others! After being separated from her family, fourteen year old Wallis Ann Stamper fights for her life in the river is swept many miles away and then heads back to her mountain cabin! The astounding descriptions and the trials and tribulations of Wallis Ann during this trying time kept me rivited!
Reuniting with her family, Wallis Ann, her parents and her older sister, Laci, a mute and a musical genius, begins a journey with a traveling show as singers! Clayton, a high diving performer, is instrumental in introducing the family to the traveling show owner. Clayton's attention to the sisters caused jealousy and betrayal which divides the family. This will keep you entertained in reading The Road To Bittersweet. Donna Everhart captures the life of the characters with the Hardship of the 1940s with an enduring , heartwarming story of one family's life.
I'm looking forward to reading The Forgiving Kind, The Education of Dixie Dupree, and especially The Moonshiner's Daughter, her next book to be released on December 31, 2019! ( )

Categorized as Southern fiction. Such a miserable story. Girls family (1940) is washed out in flood, but able to rejoin one another but no food is left nor housing. Early on I was engaged in the story thru the flood, but I feel it was unrealistic overall. There were some very good insights into behavior, though. Still not my cuppa tea. ( )

This is a tragic, yet hopeful coming of age story. Wallis Ann is a 14 year old girl, that is much older than her 14 years. Wallis Ann is the middle child but takes care of her older mute sister and her 4 year old brother. The family falls on hard times after a hurricane and dam break levels their home and surrounding area. I feel that Wallis Ann bears the brunt of hurt for the tragedies the Stamper family faces. My heart ached for her.

This story is very well written. This is the second book of Donna Everhart that I have read and she is a wonderful story teller.

I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and Kensington Book ( )

IMG_1660My Review of “The Road to Bittersweet” by Donna Everhart

WOW! Kudos to Donna Earhart, Author of “The Road to Bittersweet” for such an incredible, heartwarming and emotional journey. It was really difficult for me to put “The Road to Bittersweet” down, because I just had to see what happened. I love the author’s description and sounds and scenery of nature, the land, the water, and both the beauty and devastation that can occur. It is just amazing the way Donna Earhart weaves her story and descriptions together. The timeline of the story is 1940, and the story starts in Stampers Creek, North Carolina.

In this story the water seems to be symbolic. The creek rises, and storms and a hurricane destroy what little home is left for 14-year-old Wallis Ann Stamper and her family. The horrific storm causes deaths, and loss of livestock, homes, and almost separates the Stamper family, who luckily find each other. Having only themselves, and very little possessions, they seek to survive by leaving their destroyed homestead and travel on.

The author describes her characters facing and enduring crisis after crisis and emotional and physical hardship. Wallis Ann is my favorite character. Although she is young she is strong-willed, and physically determined to do what has to be done. Wallis Ann is left in charge of her younger baby brother, and her older sister Laci. Laci has never spoken any words, but is intellectually musically gifted. Laci can listen to any sound of music, and reproduce it.

The author describes this as an emotional journey as well as a physical one. It is a journey to finding oneself. I appreciate that the author stresses the importance of family, friends, emotional support, hard work, love, faith and hope. I would highly recommend this bittersweet , captivating, and intriguing story. Happy Reading ! ( )

Donna Everhart takes readers to Stampers Creek, 1940 North Carolina along the Tuckasegee River with the Stampers family. THE ROAD TO BITTERSWEET —a gritty Southern tale of despair, family, and hope. A perfect and fitting title for this coming-of-age journey through life's ups and downs from childhood to womanhood.

"It takes courage to find your way."

In the Appalachian mountains, near Cashiers, NC, we meet Wallis Ann. Fourteen-years-old and wise beyond her years. She takes most of the burden caring for her sister, Laci. Her sister is two years older, yet she will never be able to read or write or solve problems. They all wondered what she must be thinking. There was also the younger brother, Seph; only three-years-old.

Laci is "savant." Gifted. A person affected with a mental disability (such as autism or mental retardation) who exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field (such as mathematics or music).In this case, music. The family played music, known as The Stamper Family. From the piano, banjo, fiddle, among others.

There is a devastating flood after the waters broke over the dam. The worst this area had ever seen. Torrential rains. This event scared Wallis more than anything she had ever experienced. They are swept away by the strong currents.

After losing everything, the Papa takes them to his brother, Hardy in South Carolina. They are on the road trying to survive by singing for money to have enough to eat.

The momma depended on Wallis Ann for so much of Laci's care, and Laci experienced guilt from some of the events happening in the story. Wallis Ann feels somewhat invisible at times due to her sister's disability.

Along the way, there are more struggles, and challenges striving for survival amid life's storms. Burdens to carry. Hearts broken. Dreams unfulfilled. Guilt-ridden. Betrayal.

Heartstrings are pulled especially with Wallis Ann. She is brave, and resilient while suffering from hardships, hopelessness, and other situations and emotions she encounters. Deeply emotional a mix of Southern fiction/Gothic, coming-of-age, historical, and literary fiction.

“Windows give you a view. Otherwise you can't see nothing, no matter how hard you try. It ain't much different in how we look at our world from inside ourselves."

I enjoyed the theme of water which is apparent throughout the novel from the river, the flood, the waterfalls and symbolic in many ways to the peaceful trickle of water sliding over the rocks. On a side note: My favorite places in the NC mountains are the Highlands and Cashiers. Beautiful waterfalls and scenic mountains. I miss my log cabin in Big Canoe, GA.

The characters are well-drawn (as the secondary ones) and the times researched, drawing you into their world of survival and vivid settings.

"We're going to keep on having hope until there's no possibility of having it anymore. That's all we can do."

Descriptive storytelling, a well-written emotional Southern coming-of-age novel of family, heartbreak, love, loss, and acceptance.

For fans of Southern historical fiction and authors: Leah Weiss, Kim Michele Richardson, Wiley Cash, Emilie Richards, Diane Chamberlain, and David Joy.

A special thank you to Kensington for an advanced reading copy and the introduction to this talented North Carolina author. Look forward to reading more.

JDCMustReadBooks ( )