The Saints of Swallow Hill: A Fascinating Depression Era Historical Novel

I loved this book from chapter 5 on. stuck with it, so glad I did. it seemed hodge-podge and silly in the beginning, but can't agree with those that say it's full of sex and trashy!!! Those reviews almost kept me from ordering this book. Where is it trashy? Each chapter alternates between the male and female protagonists Del and Rae Lynn's voices. Del is a skirt-chaser in the beginning, but no details (no "trashiness")...there's a story that truly absorbs you, going into the turpentine camp in the southern piney woods of Georgia. Gut wrenching conditions and characters to go with it! a totally different experience for me, a great one. well written, exciting, unpredictable, wonderful historic period descriptions, great characters. A rare find.! and a great book to follow-up another of this author's: "Where the Jessamine Grows".

A story of the trials and tribulations of Rae Lyn Cobb and Del Reese, whose misinterpreted actions lead them to a life on the run and both working in a horribly fear-invoking turpentiner’s tree farm called Swallow Hill. Del has come looking for work, after a traumatic near-death experience, has left him with important questions about himself, but with a need to work “anywhere” that he can earn a wage. Del’s tendency to question things that don’t seem fair earn him the scrutiny of the evil woods rider who handles things his own way. Rae Lyn Cobb has worked happily along side her stubborn, but careless husband on their small turpentine farm. When Warren gets badly hurt, she must perform a heartbreaking act of mercy. She fears his best friend’s actions of revenge and disguises herself as a man, fleeing to the only thing she knows how to do- working the turpentine farm. Through the daily hardships and sufferings and horrors of the happenings at the camp, Rae Lyn and Del learn to trust and lean on each other to make it through another day. Such a good book, as are all of Donna Everhart’s books! 3.75 stars

This was one of those books that pull you in from start to finish. It was very well written, letting the reader get a wonderful feeling of each character and their struggles. I hated to see the book end.

The trials and tribulations of a young lady born in North Carolina during the depression. Her story is of hardships in the turpentine business. It’s about hope and hard work , with interesting facts about the pine trees and labor camps set up to harvest sap for turpentine. If you like historical fiction of this era , this book is for you.

Copied from my Goodreads review ... "The Saints of Swallow Hill" by Donna Everhart is only the second book I have read of hers and it was better than the first one I had read, which was great too. I was never much into Depression-era books, though I can remember stories my grandparents and great-grandparents told me. While my family was not from the same region, there were many similarities. I had heard of the "Tar Heel" state before but didn't have a clue. During the reading of the book, I looked up some information on this very thing and found the book to be accurate. It could have been a true story. The book flowed great. It sparks a lot of emotion at times because you can feel what these characters are going through, which tells you that the character development is terrific. I suppose being a female today and reading about what certain women went through in those days, it could also make you feel blessed. I would also say that Everhart has a great propensity for descriptive writing. You can see what she is writing. When the book plays out in your mind like a movie, that is a sign that the author has done a wonderful job of setting the scene and describing it to the point of viewing it mentally. I love that about this book and so far the other I read too ("The Forgiving Kind"). If you love books that are full of hardships, friendships, full of descriptive writing, characters that you grow attached to, and a storyline that you could see as a movie, then it's a book that you should definitely read. I highly recommend it!

IMHO. It was a read of something by a different author to supplement my reading of favorite authors. I’ll do this and sometimes find a book I really like and read another by the same author. This book was ok. Good history of the South I knew nothing about. But the ending was a “too good to be true” end. I’m guessing a lot of people go for this but it just felt phony for me. It was an ok read but not something I’d pursue again. Thanks anyway.

Interesting characters. Illustrates how difficult life was back then, but how strong and resilient people can be when necessary. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the ending.

I love books that tell stories from this time period and about the Deep South. Surviving the depression is truly a miracle story.

The way Del and Rae Lynne's stories converge made this very enjoyable to read. It was also nice to get both perspectives while not reliving each situation twice. The way the story alternated from Del's point of view to Rae Lynne's was done well. It was interesting to learn a bit about turpentine camps during the depression, which is something I knew nothing about before.

I liked finding out what life was like for "tar heels". The storyline and charactes were strong, too... an entertaining book.

Good novel,,, if only 1/3 of this is true,it is a horrific industry,, Rae Lynne was married to a man who took too many chances, And refused to seek medical care, she meets Del while working in a turpentinecamp

Really enjoyed my sort of book well writen, my wife has also read it and feels the same would recommend to other readers

I’m sad to have finished this book ..I’ve enjoyed it so much and really feel I know the characters and am reluctant to let them go.