The Story Keeper (Carolina Heirlooms Novel)

Brilliant from beginning to end ! A story within a story I thoroughly enjoyed both, a great read and escape.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The story is heartfelt, intriguing, compelling and will find its way into any heart that dares read it. The characters were flawed and relatable. The setting is vibrant and beautiful. I probably would liked to have known who placed that manuscript on Jennia Beth’s desk, but alas I will have to allow the author her secrets.

Fantastic story that weaves a current timeline with another one from a century before. I have read quite a few of Lisa Wingate's books and this one incorporates characters from previous books. It makes the story feel both familiar and new.

I am quickly becoming a Lisa Wingate fan. This story, and the one nested within it, are gripping, intriguing and inspirational. Lisa’s work is far more than just entertainment - reading her books takes the reader to another fascinating place, but we return better and more hopeful than when we left. Masterful.

It has been a long time since I've read a book that I could not put down. The Story Keeper kept me up at night and made me return late from my break at work. It grabbed me right from the start and didn't let me go. This is my first Lisa Wingate novel but it will not be my last. First of all, I loved the setting. While I live in the northern Appalachian mountains in New England, I could totally feel the mountains of North Carolina. Ms. Wingate really brought the area to life. It was also fascinating to glimpse a way of life that was alien to me--the poor mountain people I last encountered in Catherine Marshall's "Christy". I really felt for Jen and for her sisters and the awful upbringing they had.I especially felt for Jen. She pulled herself up by her boot straps and made something of her life. But, although her family has nothing but disdain for her they sure have no problem asking her for money, to the point that she has gotten herself in debt trying to keep them afloat. And do they appreciate that? No. When she finally has to turn them down, one sister in particular turns on her with a vengeance accusing her of being selfish. Instead of being welcomed back into the family fold she is viewed with suspicion and hostility. I also enjoyed the history of the secondary storyline--which is the manuscript of "The Story Keepers". If I had any critique for the book it would be that I did not feel Evan, the writer of the Story Keepers was fleshed out well. Yes he had become a recluse due to the popularity of his Time Shifter novels, which, by the way, I found myself LONGING to read, but why did he stop writing altogether? And since he wasn't writing, what had he been doing with his life? And how did he move from being so nasty to Jen to so accepting. It seemed like the middle part of his transition was missing. For the first time in a long time I did not want a novel to end, and, after finishing this one, I popped on to Amazon to look for more Wingate novels. I was thrilled to see there were a lot more but disappointed to see that none seemed to be set in the Appalachians. I did find that there is a sequel to the Story Keepers and downloaded that one and I will try out some of the coastal NC books she has written, but I do hope she writes some more in the Appalachians.