Review by Booklist Review
In Gabhart's latest Kentucky-set tale, Tansy Calhoun loves her job with the Packhorse Library Project in 1937, bringing books to her Appalachian mountainside community. A young girl in the family way, a grieving widow drowning in depression, an unmarried woman wondering whether she missed her chance at love, they all benefit from diligent Tansy, who brings hope and joy through books. When a stranger comes to town and offers Tansy a chance to have the adventures she has always dreamed about, she must decide whether that road will truly lead to her happy ending. Gabhart crafts an absorbing story that deeply explores the rich tradition of storytelling, layering oral retellings of Bible stories with family tales passed down through generations. Aptly named for its meandering and delightful reading experience, Along a Storied Trail is structured by Tansy's delivery route and focuses on members of the tight-knit community, the stories they share, and the adventures they write by living their lives. Other pack-horse-librarian novels include The Librarian of Boone's Hollow (2020) and The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (2019).
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Gabhart (An Appalachian Summer) introduces two strong women who persevere without the help of men in 1930s Appalachia. As a packhorse librarian, Tansy Calhoun delivers books, magazines, and newspapers to townsfolk living across the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Mountains. When Damien Felding arrives as part of the Federal Writers' Project, Tansy and Damien strike up a friendship, and Tansy begins to wonder if she's met the hero of her own love story. Caleb Barton has been in love with Tansy since they were young--despite the fact everyone thinks he had his heart set on Tansy's now-married sister. As Caleb tries to muster up the courage to tell Tansy how he really feels, he fears he may have missed the opportunity. Tansy's elderly cousin, Perdita Sweet, who believes she lost her one chance at happiness when the man she loved chose someone else, is skeptical of newcomer Damien and doesn't want to see Tansy make the same mistake. But meddling doesn't always work, and Tansy must to her own conclusions. While the faith elements are subtle, Gabhart's skillful use of period details and the Appalachian landscape lend plenty of atmosphere to accompany the lessons of hope, compassion, and fortitude amid hardship. This is her best historical inspirational yet. (June)
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