Carole O. (gatorgumbogirl) reviewed on 4/1/2010 + 28 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 9

I'm reluctant to let this book return to the system. I wanted to linger with Velva Jean's story for a while. But, it is a good one to continue sharing!
I liked Velva Jean. She is a mountain girl, part of a large family, and holds big ambitions of singing in the Grand Old Opry one day. As soon as she reaches marrying age, Velva Jean falls in love with a son of a moonshiner who told her the first time he ever laid eyes on her, that she was the "Prettiest face on Fair Mountain. Fair Mountain or anywhere else." The story turns at this point and I wondered if Velva Jean would give up all her dreams to become another mountain wife, stuck way back in the dark isolated hills during the time when the Blue Ridge Parkway was opening up the mountains to the rest of the world.

Though her romance, family, mountain culture and singing are themes in the story of Velva Jean, there is so much more depth in her story. She's a character I could imagine so easily for in a sense, she is every woman at some point in our lives. She's a girl/woman who has so much courage and spunk. I cheered for her dreams all the way to the last page. I'll look for more books by Jennifer Niven!
Carole O.

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