REVIEW: “The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow” by Kim Vogel Sawyer

 

About the Book...

*Title: The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow

*Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer

*Genre: Christian Historical Romance

*Series: Book #1 in the Librarian of Boone’s Hollow duology

*Recommend for: ages 15 & up [Depends on the girl- note the paternal physical and verbal abuse within the story]

My Personal Rating

⭐⭐⭐.75

📖Synopsis

A traveling librarian ventures into the mining towns of Kentucky on horseback—and learns to trust the One who truly pens her story—in this powerful novel from the best-selling author of A Silken Thread.

During the Great Depression, city-dweller Addie Cowherd dreams of becoming a novelist and offering readers the escape that books had given her during her tragic childhood. When her father loses his job, she is forced to take the only employment she can find—delivering books on horseback to poor coal-mining families in the hills of Kentucky.

But turning a new page will be nearly impossible in Boone's Hollow, where residents are steeped in superstitions and deeply suspicious of outsiders. Even local Emmett Tharp feels the sting of rejection after returning to the tiny mountain hamlet as the first in his family to graduate college. And as the crippled economy leaves many men jobless, he fears his degree won’t be worth much in a place where most men either work the coal mine or run moonshine.

As Addie also struggles to find her place, she’ll unearth the truth about a decades-old rivalry. But when someone sets out to sabotage the town’s library program, will the culprit chase Addie away or straight into the arms of the only person who can help her put a broken community back together?

💭My Thoughts 

"She was too tall, too thin, too...bookish to be a beauty." (Describes me ;))

On the cusp of 3.5/4 stars, personally ✨

Overall, I enjoyed this. It was sweet, wholesome, and very faith- filled- akin to Janette Oke books in those elements. It was a little slower at certain parts like the other book I read by this author, but again, I didn't mind that too much. Addie was not a complex character, and some might consider her one dimensional, but nonetheless she was a very kind, sweet character with a great faith in God, and I enjoyed seeing that. I loved how she always strove to treat others the way she would want to be treated, how she was content and found things to be thankful for in every circumstance, and that she showed love and kindness and care even to those who mistreated her. I also loved that she had a strong relationship with her loving, caring parents, that being such a rare thing in fiction. The whole concept of a horseback librarian was very interesting as well, and I always love bookish main girls :) I also highly appreciated that the romance was not heavy at all, but very light, calm, sweet, and innocent. Emmet was a good, kind, respectful guy and they went together pretty well 😊

However, while I did like the story pretty well, there were some aspects here and there that I didn’t exactly care for. For instance, I found Bettina quite obnoxious for the first half of the book and just did not care for her as a character at all, but then things are expounded upon a little later and that switched my annoyance with her to sadness about her situation. Which brings me to another thing- I really didn't love the physical and verbal abuse featured in the story from Bettina's father. Just for me personally (this totally may not bother you at all!), those parts made the story a little less enjoyable.

So slightly mixed thoughts on the book. On the one hand, I can recall so many moments that were very sweet and lovely and heartwarming. But on the other hand, a few things did nag at me and brought down the enjoyment just a tad. But don't let my personal thoughts stop you from picking this book up- I did enjoy the overall story, and I can definitely see why lots of people would love it. I will certainly be reading the second book about Bettina because I'm curious about her story and hope to possibly see Emmet and Addie's relationship fleshed out more because it was very lightly featured and almost a little rushed at the end of this one.

⚠️ Broad content notes

Physical and verbal abuse from a father (though never over the top detailed/disturbing, the bruises, pain and emotional problems that he caused are seen and mentioned and could possibly be a little triggering for very sensitive or younger readers); several mentions of someone being a witch; mentions of being an orphan, orphan asylums & being adopted; mentions of someone being sold by her parents to a man; grief over loss of loved ones; No language besides southern phrases like "shucks", and very light romance with only light attraction, blushing, etc., and no kisses. (🥳🥳🥳)

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Bookishly yours, 

Lottie M.