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Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters
The bestselling author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls returns to uncover a faith healer’s elusive and haunted past. Dove Jarrod was a renowned evangelist and faith healer. Only her granddaughter, Eve Candler, knows that Dove was a con artist. In the eight years since Dove’s death, Eve has maintained Dove’s charitable foundation—and her lies. But just as a documentary team wraps up a shoot about the miracle worker, Eve is assaulted by a vengeful stranger intent on exposing what could be Dove’s darkest murder… Tuscaloosa, 1934: a wily young orphan escapes the psychiatric hospital where she was born. When she joins the itinerant inspirational duo the Hawthorn Sisters, the road ahead is one of stirring new possibilities. And with an obsessive predator on her trail, one of untold dangers. For a young girl to survive, desperate choices must be made. Now, to protect her family, Eve will join forces with the investigative filmmaker and one of Dove’s friends, risking everything to unravel the truth behind the accusations against her grandmother. But will the truth set her free or set her world on fire?
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2020
About the author
Emily Carpenter
14 books946 followersEMILY CARPENTER BIO:
Emily Carpenter is the critically acclaimed, Amazon bestselling author of suspense novels, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, The Weight of Lies (which received starred reviews by both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly), Every Single Secret, Until the Day I Die, all released by Lake Union. Her most recent release is REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS, which Publishers Weekly called a “refreshingly modern gothic tale” and Kirkus called “an exciting, gothic-tinged quest.” After graduating from Auburn with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, she moved to New York City. She’s worked as an actor, producer, screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant for the CBS shows, As the World Turns and Guiding Light. She’s a member of Tall Poppy Writers, International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, she now lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her family. You can visit Emily at emilycarpenterauthor.com and on Facebook and Twitter (@EmilyDCarpenter) and Instagram (@emily.d.c).
Emily Carpenter is the critically acclaimed, Amazon bestselling author of suspense novels, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, The Weight of Lies (which received starred reviews by both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly), Every Single Secret, Until the Day I Die, all released by Lake Union. Her most recent release is REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS, which Publishers Weekly called a “refreshingly modern gothic tale” and Kirkus called “an exciting, gothic-tinged quest.” After graduating from Auburn with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, she moved to New York City. She’s worked as an actor, producer, screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant for the CBS shows, As the World Turns and Guiding Light. She’s a member of Tall Poppy Writers, International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, she now lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her family. You can visit Emily at emilycarpenterauthor.com and on Facebook and Twitter (@EmilyDCarpenter) and Instagram (@emily.d.c).
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August 5, 2020
"The figure in the dark wasn't a ghost, or an ephemeral memory from her past, but a real flesh-and-blood man. And he hadn't come as a friend. He'd come for revenge."
Emily Carpenter is the queen of lush, atmospheric gothic fiction. She has a way of turning a slow burning mystery into a page turner of epic proportions, which is why she's remained amongst my top auto-buy authors for years. While this book is a follow-up of sorts to the author's debut, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, I've heard from multiple early reviewers that they found Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters to read just as well as a standalone novel. As someone who has read both, I highly recommend each one in whatever way suits your fancy. If you enjoy complex, well-researched mysteries that will grip you from page one, you need to get your hands on this book in October!
*Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing my review copy.
Emily Carpenter is the queen of lush, atmospheric gothic fiction. She has a way of turning a slow burning mystery into a page turner of epic proportions, which is why she's remained amongst my top auto-buy authors for years. While this book is a follow-up of sorts to the author's debut, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, I've heard from multiple early reviewers that they found Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters to read just as well as a standalone novel. As someone who has read both, I highly recommend each one in whatever way suits your fancy. If you enjoy complex, well-researched mysteries that will grip you from page one, you need to get your hands on this book in October!
*Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing my review copy.
October 12, 2020
3 stars.
Eve’s grandmother, Dove, was a famous faith healer who died eight years ago. As a young woman, Dove was part of the Hawthorn Sisters famous traveling duo. They sang, entertained and “healed” their dedicated followers. Eve has been keeping a shocking secret about her grandmother for years — before her death Dove confided in Eve that she wasn’t a true healer, she was a con artist. Now with a documentary film being made about Dove’s life, Eve faces her grandmothers long buried secrets and uncovers several more dark pieces of her family’s past.
This novel had all the elements of a gothic, suspenseful family drama mystery — dark foreboding atmosphere, mysterious characters, long hidden family secrets, dual narrative between Past and Present. The novel flowed well between the two timelines and kept the story unfolding in an intriguing manner.
As much as this novel sounded right up my alley, it fell flat for many reasons. There were several implausible aspects to the storyline. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and had a particularly hard time sympathizing with the main character, Eve. I didn’t buy into the whole mystery — the threat hanging over Eve’s head didn’t hold weight or justify the storyline for me. Regardless of my lack of connection to the characters and storyline, I was able to accept the implausible scenarios and simply sit back and be entertained.
Thank you to the author for sending me a physical ARC to read and review!
Eve’s grandmother, Dove, was a famous faith healer who died eight years ago. As a young woman, Dove was part of the Hawthorn Sisters famous traveling duo. They sang, entertained and “healed” their dedicated followers. Eve has been keeping a shocking secret about her grandmother for years — before her death Dove confided in Eve that she wasn’t a true healer, she was a con artist. Now with a documentary film being made about Dove’s life, Eve faces her grandmothers long buried secrets and uncovers several more dark pieces of her family’s past.
This novel had all the elements of a gothic, suspenseful family drama mystery — dark foreboding atmosphere, mysterious characters, long hidden family secrets, dual narrative between Past and Present. The novel flowed well between the two timelines and kept the story unfolding in an intriguing manner.
As much as this novel sounded right up my alley, it fell flat for many reasons. There were several implausible aspects to the storyline. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and had a particularly hard time sympathizing with the main character, Eve. I didn’t buy into the whole mystery — the threat hanging over Eve’s head didn’t hold weight or justify the storyline for me. Regardless of my lack of connection to the characters and storyline, I was able to accept the implausible scenarios and simply sit back and be entertained.
Thank you to the author for sending me a physical ARC to read and review!
October 22, 2020
EXCERPT: DOVE
This was how she knew the end was near.
At night time, after she'd gone to bed and begun the welcome voyage toward sleep, her friends would appear. They fluttered the curtains and stirred the dust, bringing with them the smell of long ago, far away places.
When she was young, she would have thought them ghosts, but at the clear-eyed age of ninety five, she knew better. They were only memories, flickers of her past. The stories she'd kept hidden for so long that she almost didn't recognize the players when they reentered the stage.
The visits (she liked to think of them as visits) had started in the summer when she still lived at the Alabama house across the road from Pritchard Hospital. In July, she'd seen her mother, the Major, and Dell. Then in August, Ethel and Erma and Jimmy Singley. Also, old Steadfast and Arthur showed up. Come that September - when the business with the Honeysuckle Girls came to a head - Jinn, Collie and Trix arrived, laughing and fiercely beautiful. They filled the room with the smell of wine. It was her first night back in California that brought the most welcome guest - her greatest friend and staunchest ally, Charles. He sat on his side of the bed and sang to her, and she kept her eyes on his strong, safe profile until sleep descended.
She was glad to see them all. Their presence brought her comfort. When they were alive, some had not treated her well; some had even been cruel, but she didn't mind now. That was one of the many blessings of old age. This softening of memory, the melting away of grudges. Forgiveness was no longer something to strive for. Now it entered her room through an open window.
One chilly night toward the end of October, Dove was wakened by a dream she couldn't remember. She looked at the clock, but she'd left her glasses outside and couldn't see the time. She could see the shadow man who sat motionless in the slipper chair beside her dressing table. He watched her with eyes that glittered.
'You,' she said, her voice filled with wonder and the edge of a memory she would have rather not revisited.
'You shouldn't have run, Ruth,' the shadow man said. 'You brought so much sorrow in doing that. So much pain.'
'I'm sorry.'
It was all she could think to say, although she knew it certainly didn't make up for what she'd done.
He rose then, letting the faint light fall over him, and when he held up a length of faded pink ribbon, it seemed to glow in the light of the moon.
'You belonged to him,' he said. 'You always belonged to him.'
It wasn't true, but she knew it was pointless to argue. He'd spoken with the zeal of a convert, and that was a thing she was well acquainted with. As soon as she realized this, she also realized something else, something she should have known sooner, from the first moment she'd opened her eyes.
The figure in the dark wasn't a ghost, or an ephemeral memory from her past, but a real flesh and blood man. And he hadn't come as a friend. He'd come for revenge.
ABOUT REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS: Dove Jarrod was a renowned evangelist and faith healer. Only her granddaughter, Eve Candler, knows that Dove was a con artist. In the eight years since Dove’s death, Eve has maintained Dove’s charitable foundation—and her lies. But just as a documentary team wraps up a shoot about the miracle worker, Eve is assaulted by a vengeful stranger intent on exposing what could be Dove’s darkest secret: murder…
Tuscaloosa, 1934: a wily young orphan escapes the psychiatric hospital where she was born. When she joins the itinerant inspirational duo the Hawthorn Sisters, the road ahead is one of stirring new possibilities. And with an obsessive predator on her trail, one of untold dangers. For a young girl to survive, desperate choices must be made.
Now, to protect her family, Eve will join forces with the investigative filmmaker and one of Dove’s friends, risking everything to unravel the truth behind the accusations against her grandmother. But will the truth set her free or set her world on fire?
MY THOUGHTS: Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is a multigenerational story of the family of Dove Jarrod, where secrets are discovered, lies uncovered, and a long lost treasure searched for, all set over a dual timeline switching between the present and the 1930s.
While this has some of the same characters as Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, it is not a sequel as such, and each book can be read as a stand-alone. Whereas the Honeysuckle Girls focused on Jinn and her great granddaughter Althea, the Hawthorn Sisters is centred around Dove in the 1930s and her granddaughter Eve in the present. Jinn barely rates a mention, but Althea features quite prominently.
I didn't feel the same connection to the characters that I felt with the Honeysuckle Girls, and yet I was excited at the thought of learning Dove's backstory because I was sure, from what we saw of her in the Honeysuckle Girls, it was going to be most interesting. And the sections of the book that focus on Dove are interesting, and exciting. It was Eve's story that fell flat for me. I didn't connect with her at all, and I was a little disappointed with the similarities between Althea's character in the Honeysuckle Girls, and Ember's in the Hawthorn Sisters. I don't think that the story flows as smoothly as Burying the Honeysuckle Girls. There are hints of the supernatural in this story, which I am not generally averse to, but sometimes they just didn't quite fit. Carpenter's writing remains beautiful and atmospheric, just the characters let this book down.
Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is a good read, just not, in my opinion, as good as Burying the Honeysuckle Girls which entranced and riveted me from beginning to end.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#RevivingtheHawthornSisters #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Emily Carpenter, a former actor, producer, screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Auburn University. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, she now lives in Georgia with her family. (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters by Emily Carpenter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
This was how she knew the end was near.
At night time, after she'd gone to bed and begun the welcome voyage toward sleep, her friends would appear. They fluttered the curtains and stirred the dust, bringing with them the smell of long ago, far away places.
When she was young, she would have thought them ghosts, but at the clear-eyed age of ninety five, she knew better. They were only memories, flickers of her past. The stories she'd kept hidden for so long that she almost didn't recognize the players when they reentered the stage.
The visits (she liked to think of them as visits) had started in the summer when she still lived at the Alabama house across the road from Pritchard Hospital. In July, she'd seen her mother, the Major, and Dell. Then in August, Ethel and Erma and Jimmy Singley. Also, old Steadfast and Arthur showed up. Come that September - when the business with the Honeysuckle Girls came to a head - Jinn, Collie and Trix arrived, laughing and fiercely beautiful. They filled the room with the smell of wine. It was her first night back in California that brought the most welcome guest - her greatest friend and staunchest ally, Charles. He sat on his side of the bed and sang to her, and she kept her eyes on his strong, safe profile until sleep descended.
She was glad to see them all. Their presence brought her comfort. When they were alive, some had not treated her well; some had even been cruel, but she didn't mind now. That was one of the many blessings of old age. This softening of memory, the melting away of grudges. Forgiveness was no longer something to strive for. Now it entered her room through an open window.
One chilly night toward the end of October, Dove was wakened by a dream she couldn't remember. She looked at the clock, but she'd left her glasses outside and couldn't see the time. She could see the shadow man who sat motionless in the slipper chair beside her dressing table. He watched her with eyes that glittered.
'You,' she said, her voice filled with wonder and the edge of a memory she would have rather not revisited.
'You shouldn't have run, Ruth,' the shadow man said. 'You brought so much sorrow in doing that. So much pain.'
'I'm sorry.'
It was all she could think to say, although she knew it certainly didn't make up for what she'd done.
He rose then, letting the faint light fall over him, and when he held up a length of faded pink ribbon, it seemed to glow in the light of the moon.
'You belonged to him,' he said. 'You always belonged to him.'
It wasn't true, but she knew it was pointless to argue. He'd spoken with the zeal of a convert, and that was a thing she was well acquainted with. As soon as she realized this, she also realized something else, something she should have known sooner, from the first moment she'd opened her eyes.
The figure in the dark wasn't a ghost, or an ephemeral memory from her past, but a real flesh and blood man. And he hadn't come as a friend. He'd come for revenge.
ABOUT REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS: Dove Jarrod was a renowned evangelist and faith healer. Only her granddaughter, Eve Candler, knows that Dove was a con artist. In the eight years since Dove’s death, Eve has maintained Dove’s charitable foundation—and her lies. But just as a documentary team wraps up a shoot about the miracle worker, Eve is assaulted by a vengeful stranger intent on exposing what could be Dove’s darkest secret: murder…
Tuscaloosa, 1934: a wily young orphan escapes the psychiatric hospital where she was born. When she joins the itinerant inspirational duo the Hawthorn Sisters, the road ahead is one of stirring new possibilities. And with an obsessive predator on her trail, one of untold dangers. For a young girl to survive, desperate choices must be made.
Now, to protect her family, Eve will join forces with the investigative filmmaker and one of Dove’s friends, risking everything to unravel the truth behind the accusations against her grandmother. But will the truth set her free or set her world on fire?
MY THOUGHTS: Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is a multigenerational story of the family of Dove Jarrod, where secrets are discovered, lies uncovered, and a long lost treasure searched for, all set over a dual timeline switching between the present and the 1930s.
While this has some of the same characters as Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, it is not a sequel as such, and each book can be read as a stand-alone. Whereas the Honeysuckle Girls focused on Jinn and her great granddaughter Althea, the Hawthorn Sisters is centred around Dove in the 1930s and her granddaughter Eve in the present. Jinn barely rates a mention, but Althea features quite prominently.
I didn't feel the same connection to the characters that I felt with the Honeysuckle Girls, and yet I was excited at the thought of learning Dove's backstory because I was sure, from what we saw of her in the Honeysuckle Girls, it was going to be most interesting. And the sections of the book that focus on Dove are interesting, and exciting. It was Eve's story that fell flat for me. I didn't connect with her at all, and I was a little disappointed with the similarities between Althea's character in the Honeysuckle Girls, and Ember's in the Hawthorn Sisters. I don't think that the story flows as smoothly as Burying the Honeysuckle Girls. There are hints of the supernatural in this story, which I am not generally averse to, but sometimes they just didn't quite fit. Carpenter's writing remains beautiful and atmospheric, just the characters let this book down.
Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is a good read, just not, in my opinion, as good as Burying the Honeysuckle Girls which entranced and riveted me from beginning to end.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#RevivingtheHawthornSisters #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Emily Carpenter, a former actor, producer, screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Auburn University. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, she now lives in Georgia with her family. (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters by Emily Carpenter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
October 20, 2020
3.5 stars
Eve works for the foundation started by her late faith healer Grandma, Dove, who has a few secrets buried with her. Dove’s secrets have caught up to Eve and she is forced to dig up some of those secrets, and a mystery starts to develop. The story is told through two timelines from Eve in the present, and Dove set in 1930. I enjoyed Dove’s storyline a bit more than Eve’s, and it had that gothic feel to the setting I love. I found her storyline to have a little more substance to it that drove the story forward for me. The timelines flowed easily from one to the other and I enjoyed the way it all came together in the end.
The story is far-fetched but purely entertaining and fun with a blend of quirky and dark characters to like or dislike. The mystery is intriguing, but there is a little supernatural to the story that complicated things for me. I struggled with fully engaging in the mystery or the motivation behind solving the mystery. Maybe that has to do with my dark and twisted thriller mind getting in the way. So I think this one is a great one for readers who like a well written, easy entertaining mystery with some family drama to it.
I received a copy on behalf of Emily Carpenter to read and review.
Eve works for the foundation started by her late faith healer Grandma, Dove, who has a few secrets buried with her. Dove’s secrets have caught up to Eve and she is forced to dig up some of those secrets, and a mystery starts to develop. The story is told through two timelines from Eve in the present, and Dove set in 1930. I enjoyed Dove’s storyline a bit more than Eve’s, and it had that gothic feel to the setting I love. I found her storyline to have a little more substance to it that drove the story forward for me. The timelines flowed easily from one to the other and I enjoyed the way it all came together in the end.
The story is far-fetched but purely entertaining and fun with a blend of quirky and dark characters to like or dislike. The mystery is intriguing, but there is a little supernatural to the story that complicated things for me. I struggled with fully engaging in the mystery or the motivation behind solving the mystery. Maybe that has to do with my dark and twisted thriller mind getting in the way. So I think this one is a great one for readers who like a well written, easy entertaining mystery with some family drama to it.
I received a copy on behalf of Emily Carpenter to read and review.
October 31, 2020
Try as I might, I just could not get into this book. From it's abrupt time line changes to its multiple characters, the real story seemed to be lost in a fog. Through the back and forthing, the author tries to introduce Dove Jarrod and her story as being an evangelist con artist. We meet in the other time line, her granddaughter Eve, now the head of Dove's charitable foundation.
However, after Eve is assaulted by a man intent on getting revenge on the foundation by revealing Dove's possible murder connection and a missing valuable coin the story tries to connect the dots behind a murder in the past, a grandmother's somewhat shady past and the fate of the foundation and its works for charity. Can Dove's reputation be saved by a granddaughter that really doesn't think much of her grandmother or are evil things afoot that will bring the foundation and ultimately Dove to its knees.
There seemed to be a lack of flow in the story although I found the premise to be good, it never really seemed to hit its stride. On the plus side the author did establish a setting that seems authentic to the times described. So sorry to say I am placing this book into my "I wish I had liked it better" file.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this story.
However, after Eve is assaulted by a man intent on getting revenge on the foundation by revealing Dove's possible murder connection and a missing valuable coin the story tries to connect the dots behind a murder in the past, a grandmother's somewhat shady past and the fate of the foundation and its works for charity. Can Dove's reputation be saved by a granddaughter that really doesn't think much of her grandmother or are evil things afoot that will bring the foundation and ultimately Dove to its knees.
There seemed to be a lack of flow in the story although I found the premise to be good, it never really seemed to hit its stride. On the plus side the author did establish a setting that seems authentic to the times described. So sorry to say I am placing this book into my "I wish I had liked it better" file.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this story.
August 8, 2020
How do you like the sound of the word “coin?” Coin. Coin. Coin. Coin. Coin. If you’re still with me, it’s a good sign that the hundreds (thousands?) of times it’s used in this novel won’t drive you to drink.
There’s a missing coin, you see? And our present-day main character needs to find it ASAP or the scam that is her grandmother’s faith-healing legacy and murderous past will be exposed. Flash back (in alternating chapters) to said grandmother’s path to the revival tents by way of a psychiatric hospital and circus.
If it sounds like there’s a lot going on here, there is. And there are a lot of characters to keep track of too. Some seem to be present if only to tie this book to the author’s previous bestselling southern gothic novel, BURYING THE HONEYSUCKLE GIRLS. Once I discovered this, I felt a bit duped as a reader. I wish the publisher would make it clear that while this isn’t a sequel per se, it’s not really a standalone either. I never like to read a #2 before a #1, so I wouldn’t have committed to reading this follow up had I known.
I seem to be somewhat in the minority in my experience with this novel, so I don’t doubt that fans of this author and the genre may enjoy it more. I just never latched on to the characters or their storylines and looked forward to bringing this 332-page reading journey to an end.
Oh, and for good measure: coin.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
There’s a missing coin, you see? And our present-day main character needs to find it ASAP or the scam that is her grandmother’s faith-healing legacy and murderous past will be exposed. Flash back (in alternating chapters) to said grandmother’s path to the revival tents by way of a psychiatric hospital and circus.
If it sounds like there’s a lot going on here, there is. And there are a lot of characters to keep track of too. Some seem to be present if only to tie this book to the author’s previous bestselling southern gothic novel, BURYING THE HONEYSUCKLE GIRLS. Once I discovered this, I felt a bit duped as a reader. I wish the publisher would make it clear that while this isn’t a sequel per se, it’s not really a standalone either. I never like to read a #2 before a #1, so I wouldn’t have committed to reading this follow up had I known.
I seem to be somewhat in the minority in my experience with this novel, so I don’t doubt that fans of this author and the genre may enjoy it more. I just never latched on to the characters or their storylines and looked forward to bringing this 332-page reading journey to an end.
Oh, and for good measure: coin.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
A dual timeline, Emily Carpenter is back with her latest southern gothic novel in which her main protagonist, Emma is searching for more information on her grandmother, Dove Jarrod's past. In the 1934 timeline, readers learn about Dove's background and her early days as an evangelist and faith healer. One thing that Emma knows for certain is that her grandmother was nothing more than a con artist. But not everyone is so convinced and some people are determined that Emma will give them what they so desperately desire.
I love Emily Carpenter's novels and Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters definitely had me turning the pages. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Dove's background and was empathetic with Emma's plight to try and protect her brother and mother from the harmful secrets of the past. There's a lot of characters in this tale but Carpenter does a fabulous job of bringing these two storylines together flawlessly. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2020.
Goodreads review published 17/10/20
Expected Publication Date. 20/10/20
A dual timeline, Emily Carpenter is back with her latest southern gothic novel in which her main protagonist, Emma is searching for more information on her grandmother, Dove Jarrod's past. In the 1934 timeline, readers learn about Dove's background and her early days as an evangelist and faith healer. One thing that Emma knows for certain is that her grandmother was nothing more than a con artist. But not everyone is so convinced and some people are determined that Emma will give them what they so desperately desire.
I love Emily Carpenter's novels and Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters definitely had me turning the pages. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Dove's background and was empathetic with Emma's plight to try and protect her brother and mother from the harmful secrets of the past. There's a lot of characters in this tale but Carpenter does a fabulous job of bringing these two storylines together flawlessly. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2020.
Goodreads review published 17/10/20
Expected Publication Date. 20/10/20
March 21, 2023
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Emily Carpenter is one of the go-to authors for Heather and I to buddy-read, so I was really excited when she suggested we do a read of REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS, which I believe is her newest book. Told in dual timeline, it's the story of two women: one a faith healer, Ruth, who was born a bastard orphan in an insane asylum; the other, her granddaughter, Eve, who ends up tangled up in some of the dark secrets of Ruth's past come to light.
Carpenter has been a little hit or miss with me so far. Two of her books are my all-time faves and one I didn't like at all. This one kind of falls into the middle. There were some gloriously WTF-y scenes in this book (most of them having to do with a certain antagonist named Singley) and I liked Ruth's sordid past and how she overcame all of the adversity in her life. Actually, I liked the past chapters more than I liked the present chapters, which is a fun surprise because usually it's the opposite. But Eve just wasn't a very compelling protagonist compared to some of the morally ambiguous heroines Carpenter has churned out in the past... and let's face it, Ruth/Dove stole the show.
I will say that the ending was good and super intense, I thought the villain was the perfect amount of cringe, and I also liked that there's a lil' teasey bit of smut and romance in this book because I think we can all agree that thrillers are better with a little bit of smut and romance thrown in. It's what makes a FULT a FULT (aka, Fucked Up Lady Thriller, which is what Heather and I call these books). If the present chapters had been more interesting, I would have liked this more, but I ended up skimming a LOT. This wasn't a bad book but it also wasn't my fave by this author.
2.5 stars
December 1, 2020
Quick thoughts: The first book I read by Emily Carpenter was her debut, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls. Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is my third, and I have loved them all!
Carpenter has this way of writing vulnerable characters you will root for and tension that never wanes. I was absolutely riveted by this beautifully and effortlessly written Gothic story.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Carpenter has this way of writing vulnerable characters you will root for and tension that never wanes. I was absolutely riveted by this beautifully and effortlessly written Gothic story.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
November 25, 2020
Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters
, Emily Carpenter's new novel, is a suspenseful and compelling story of family secrets, faith, and love.
Eve’s grandmother, Dove Jarrod, was once a famous faith healer and evangelist. Eight years after her death, her granddaughter Eve runs her charitable foundation and fiercely protects her legacy. But regardless of her job, Eve knows the truth about her grandmother.
In the midst of great progress for the foundation and a film crew producing a documentary about Dove, Eve is confronted by a dangerous stranger bent on avenging Dove’s actions years ago. These actions, if true and if exposed, could topple Dove’s legacy permanently.
While Dove hid a lot of things in her life, is she guilty of murder? What motivated her to follow the path she did, and should her followers know the truth?
The story alternates between the present and the past, starting in 1934, when a young woman escapes from the psychiatric hospital where she was born and tries to forge a new life for herself, only to be dogged by a dangerous man.
This book had me hooked from the very start. I don’t know much about faith healing so I found it fascinating, but the whole story was tremendously compelling. It’s part mystery, part a story about finding the strength to overcome obstacles.
Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is apparently a sequel of sorts to Emily Carpenter’s earlier book, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls , although you don’t have to have read that book to enjoy this one. I’ll definitely read that one too!
Sabrina Dax and Lake Union Publishing provided me with a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Eve’s grandmother, Dove Jarrod, was once a famous faith healer and evangelist. Eight years after her death, her granddaughter Eve runs her charitable foundation and fiercely protects her legacy. But regardless of her job, Eve knows the truth about her grandmother.
In the midst of great progress for the foundation and a film crew producing a documentary about Dove, Eve is confronted by a dangerous stranger bent on avenging Dove’s actions years ago. These actions, if true and if exposed, could topple Dove’s legacy permanently.
While Dove hid a lot of things in her life, is she guilty of murder? What motivated her to follow the path she did, and should her followers know the truth?
The story alternates between the present and the past, starting in 1934, when a young woman escapes from the psychiatric hospital where she was born and tries to forge a new life for herself, only to be dogged by a dangerous man.
This book had me hooked from the very start. I don’t know much about faith healing so I found it fascinating, but the whole story was tremendously compelling. It’s part mystery, part a story about finding the strength to overcome obstacles.
Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is apparently a sequel of sorts to Emily Carpenter’s earlier book, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls , although you don’t have to have read that book to enjoy this one. I’ll definitely read that one too!
Sabrina Dax and Lake Union Publishing provided me with a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
October 19, 2020
Many thanks to Net Galley, Lake Union publishing and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
Emily Carpenter’s Burying the Honeysuckle Girls has been popping up on my recommendation list for a long while. But I have not got around to reading that, but when given a chance to read Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters from Net Galley, I pounced on it. The blurb had all the elements of a guaranteed success story. Dual timeline, family secrets, romance, there was no way I was not reading this.
Reviving The Hawthorn Sisters talks about the burden of family legacy with a bit of psychic element added to it. The story had a lovely southern charm that keeps the reader enthralled. The dual time line story, one centered around Dove Jarrod from the time she’s 13 years old and growing up in an asylum to her final escape as the wife of Charles Jarrod is wonderful to read. Just like the blooms of the hawthorn there’s peculiar atmospheric feel in the story as along with Dove’s granddaughter Eve, the reader takes a journey to know if Dove’s claim of being a liar as an evangelist is true and if there are more secrets hidden in the closet.
Eve’s sense of family loyalty and the sacrifices she endures to keep her mother sane and her brother free from addiction was touching. The romance with Griff was also a beautiful addition. I wished that Griff had a little more substantial role but nothing to crib about as the females in the story like Althea and Ember made for some interesting personalities.
The alternating chapters are short and snappy but my ‘grumble’ comes from the fact that the threat of the antique missing coin that seem to be hanging over Eve’s head just don’t feel menacing or alarming in any way. Eve’s justification to keep everything hidden also kind of fell flat and thereby makes feeling any sympathy hard to come.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.
Emily Carpenter’s Burying the Honeysuckle Girls has been popping up on my recommendation list for a long while. But I have not got around to reading that, but when given a chance to read Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters from Net Galley, I pounced on it. The blurb had all the elements of a guaranteed success story. Dual timeline, family secrets, romance, there was no way I was not reading this.
Reviving The Hawthorn Sisters talks about the burden of family legacy with a bit of psychic element added to it. The story had a lovely southern charm that keeps the reader enthralled. The dual time line story, one centered around Dove Jarrod from the time she’s 13 years old and growing up in an asylum to her final escape as the wife of Charles Jarrod is wonderful to read. Just like the blooms of the hawthorn there’s peculiar atmospheric feel in the story as along with Dove’s granddaughter Eve, the reader takes a journey to know if Dove’s claim of being a liar as an evangelist is true and if there are more secrets hidden in the closet.
Eve’s sense of family loyalty and the sacrifices she endures to keep her mother sane and her brother free from addiction was touching. The romance with Griff was also a beautiful addition. I wished that Griff had a little more substantial role but nothing to crib about as the females in the story like Althea and Ember made for some interesting personalities.
The alternating chapters are short and snappy but my ‘grumble’ comes from the fact that the threat of the antique missing coin that seem to be hanging over Eve’s head just don’t feel menacing or alarming in any way. Eve’s justification to keep everything hidden also kind of fell flat and thereby makes feeling any sympathy hard to come.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.
October 16, 2020
Dove Jarred was a renowned evangelist and faith healer. Only her granddaughter, Eve Chandler, knows that Dove was a con artist. It's been eight years since Dove died and Eve has maintained Dove's charitable foundation and her lies. A documentary team has just finished a shoot about a miracle worker. Eve is assaulted by a vengeful stranger who's intent on exposing Dove's darkest 6he secret.
Tuscaloosa 1934: A wily young orphan escapes the psychiatric hospital where she was born. When she joins the itinerant inspirational duo the Hawthorn sisters, the road ahead is filled with possibilities. With an obsessive predator on her trail,on3 of untold dangers. Desperate choices have to be made.
This is part historical fiction and part modern day story. It has an air of supernatural, mystery and suspense. It's also a semi follow up to Burying The Hoenysuckle Girls which i haven't read. Dove was involved in some awful business back in the 1930's following her escape from hospital. Theres quite a lot of characters to keep track off. The story is told from Dove's point of view. This is an enjoyable tale that spans generations.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Emily Carpenter for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
Tuscaloosa 1934: A wily young orphan escapes the psychiatric hospital where she was born. When she joins the itinerant inspirational duo the Hawthorn sisters, the road ahead is filled with possibilities. With an obsessive predator on her trail,on3 of untold dangers. Desperate choices have to be made.
This is part historical fiction and part modern day story. It has an air of supernatural, mystery and suspense. It's also a semi follow up to Burying The Hoenysuckle Girls which i haven't read. Dove was involved in some awful business back in the 1930's following her escape from hospital. Theres quite a lot of characters to keep track off. The story is told from Dove's point of view. This is an enjoyable tale that spans generations.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Emily Carpenter for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 20, 2020
A Southern Gothic novel that floats effortlessly between past and present. In the past we follow Dove Jarrod, an evangelist who preys on the faithful to make them believe they’ve been healed. In the present, Eve, Dove’s granddaughter, who learns that beyond Dove’s cons, she may have also been a murderer.
To protect her family and find the truth, Even sets out on a journey to unravel the truth behind the accusations.
While this is a stand alone, the story is a follow up to one of Carpenter’s previous novels, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, blending historical fiction with a sense of magical realism. A deeply entrancing, suspenseful story with gorgeous prose and an evocative setting in the South. This was my first Emily Carpenter book and it won't be my last!
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
To protect her family and find the truth, Even sets out on a journey to unravel the truth behind the accusations.
While this is a stand alone, the story is a follow up to one of Carpenter’s previous novels, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, blending historical fiction with a sense of magical realism. A deeply entrancing, suspenseful story with gorgeous prose and an evocative setting in the South. This was my first Emily Carpenter book and it won't be my last!
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 14, 2020
This one is quite the read. A faith healer that is a con, she is also guilty of a hidden murder. There are family secrets she hid, then the granddaughter is left grandma's house when she dies. There was so much more that was hidden and shocking! The book is an interesting read with a different plot idea. It read quickly and was extremely entertaining.
September 24, 2020
I absolutely love Emily Carpenter's books and Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is just another one for me to love. It felt different from her other books that I've read and I was totally into the topic of faith healers, which I've never really thought about before. I was glued to the pages and read it in just two sittings because I had to know what was going to happen next. There is such a great flow to the writing, and I loved the switches between present day and 1934. There aren't that many viewpoints and I wasn't confused at all, even though this is still a complex story.
I hadn't realized that Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters was a continuation/follow up to Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, so as soon as I finished this one I went straight to Honeysuckle Girls (thank you Kindle Unlimited) and it is my current read. This was a super quick book that could easily be read in one sitting, and I was hooked from the very first chapter. I love Southern Gothic and Carpenter really kills that genre with Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters. If you are looking for a quick read that you can get lost in, I highly recommend this one!
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I hadn't realized that Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters was a continuation/follow up to Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, so as soon as I finished this one I went straight to Honeysuckle Girls (thank you Kindle Unlimited) and it is my current read. This was a super quick book that could easily be read in one sitting, and I was hooked from the very first chapter. I love Southern Gothic and Carpenter really kills that genre with Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters. If you are looking for a quick read that you can get lost in, I highly recommend this one!
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
September 3, 2021
Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters by Emily Carpenter is a historical fiction novel with a touch of magical realism. No, it is not based in the WWII era.
The story is entertaining. The protagonist is tasked at finding a rare coin from her grandmother's era to prevent a huge loss to her legacy as a renowned preacher and faith healer. The narration takes place in alternate timelines of the past and the present, and the plot is revealed bit-by-bit in every cycle.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: One time read.
The story is entertaining. The protagonist is tasked at finding a rare coin from her grandmother's era to prevent a huge loss to her legacy as a renowned preacher and faith healer. The narration takes place in alternate timelines of the past and the present, and the plot is revealed bit-by-bit in every cycle.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: One time read.
Want to read
October 16, 2020Dove Jarrod was a renowned evangelist and faith healer. Only her granddaughter, Eve Chandler, knows that Dove was a con artist. It's been eight years since Dove died and Eve has maintained Dove's charitable foundation and her lies. A documentary team have just finished a shoot about miracle worker. Eve is assaulted by a vengeful stranger who's intent on exposing Dove's darkest secret.
Tuscalossa 1034: A wily young orphqn escapes the psychiatric hospital where she was born. When she joins the itinerant inspirational duo the Hawthorn sisters, the road ahead is filled with possibilities. With an obsessive predator on her trail, one of untold dangers. Desperate choices have to be made.
This is part historical fiction and part modern day story. It has an air of supernatural, mystery and suspense. It's also a semi follow up story to Burying The Hawthorn Girls which I haven't read. Dove was involved in some awful business back in the 1030's following her escape from hospital. There's quite a lot of characters to keep track off. The story is told from Dove's point of view. This is an honest enjoyable tale that spans generations.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #LakeUnionPublishing and the author #EmilyCarpenter for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tuscalossa 1034: A wily young orphqn escapes the psychiatric hospital where she was born. When she joins the itinerant inspirational duo the Hawthorn sisters, the road ahead is filled with possibilities. With an obsessive predator on her trail, one of untold dangers. Desperate choices have to be made.
This is part historical fiction and part modern day story. It has an air of supernatural, mystery and suspense. It's also a semi follow up story to Burying The Hawthorn Girls which I haven't read. Dove was involved in some awful business back in the 1030's following her escape from hospital. There's quite a lot of characters to keep track off. The story is told from Dove's point of view. This is an honest enjoyable tale that spans generations.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #LakeUnionPublishing and the author #EmilyCarpenter for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2020
Emily Carpenter had me at faith healers, and she kept me glued to the pages with this captivating story, effortlessly weaving the past and the present into one haunting tale. RTHS is a return to Carpenter’s Southern Gothic roots...and she does the genre like no other. Lush and atmospheric, with pitch-perfect prose and filled with characters you won’t soon forget. All hail the Southern Gothic queen! 👑
July 21, 2023
Hawthorn Sisters
An intresting story, Evangelical element, set in past and present day. Searching for a a family heirloom. Not a bad tale, little slow at times, still worth the read.
4.1 brkn stars
An intresting story, Evangelical element, set in past and present day. Searching for a a family heirloom. Not a bad tale, little slow at times, still worth the read.
4.1 brkn stars
December 6, 2020
This intriguing mystery has a Gothic setting and the story is told in dual timelines dating back to 1934 and present day. The movement back and forth is smoothly done and easy to follow. Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is all about secrets and relationships, family and romance. Enchanting and poignant, Emily Carpenter's characters are beautifully and realistically brought to life.
The book grabbed my interest from the very start. I don’t know much about faith healing so I found it fascinating, and every aspect of the story was thoroughly engrossing. I devoured this tenderly written novel in a day and it left me feeling content, comforted and satisfied even though it contained themes of pain and loss. Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is a sequel of sorts to Emily Carpenter’s earlier book, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, though I don’t think I missed out, not having read it prior to this one. I’ll certainly be checking out that one too, as well as some of the author's other works. An endearing, very worthwhile read.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
The book grabbed my interest from the very start. I don’t know much about faith healing so I found it fascinating, and every aspect of the story was thoroughly engrossing. I devoured this tenderly written novel in a day and it left me feeling content, comforted and satisfied even though it contained themes of pain and loss. Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is a sequel of sorts to Emily Carpenter’s earlier book, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, though I don’t think I missed out, not having read it prior to this one. I’ll certainly be checking out that one too, as well as some of the author's other works. An endearing, very worthwhile read.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
October 12, 2020
In Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters, Emily Carpenter revisits the southern gothic theme that she writes so well. In this new book, we learn more about Dove, one of the characters in Burying the Honeysuckle Girls. I loved this fabulous story!
September 23, 2020
Emily Carpenter’s new novel was a pleasant surprise for me. When I began reading, I had forgotten the premise, but I was soon into the story of Eve and the secrets that her late grandmother had inadvertently left for her to uncover.
Eve’s grandmother, Dove, was a faith healer and had worked the tent revivals in the 1930’s. One odd thing about Dove, was that she had been born in a psychiatric hospital and had lived there as an orphan even after her mother’s death.
Dove had the uncanny ability to remake herself in order to survive, which led her into the role as a caregiver for an elderly man with dementia and then later as a singer with the Hawthorne Sisters.
Throughout all of Dove’s adventures, there was a predator following her that even continued after her death. Eve had the unfortunate and dangerous task of uncovering all of the mystery surrounding Dove’s life.
I liked the unusual history of this family and the dual timelines of present day and the 1930’s. The story has many old gospel tales mentioned as Dove and her singing partner travel the revival circuit, many of which I remember my grandparents singing as a child. I highly recommend this to those who love historical fiction with a bit of mystery mixed within.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
Eve’s grandmother, Dove, was a faith healer and had worked the tent revivals in the 1930’s. One odd thing about Dove, was that she had been born in a psychiatric hospital and had lived there as an orphan even after her mother’s death.
Dove had the uncanny ability to remake herself in order to survive, which led her into the role as a caregiver for an elderly man with dementia and then later as a singer with the Hawthorne Sisters.
Throughout all of Dove’s adventures, there was a predator following her that even continued after her death. Eve had the unfortunate and dangerous task of uncovering all of the mystery surrounding Dove’s life.
I liked the unusual history of this family and the dual timelines of present day and the 1930’s. The story has many old gospel tales mentioned as Dove and her singing partner travel the revival circuit, many of which I remember my grandparents singing as a child. I highly recommend this to those who love historical fiction with a bit of mystery mixed within.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
July 27, 2022
I read Burying the Honeysuckle Girls a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it. Therefore, I was delighted to learn about the sequel and later to have the opportunity to read it. The only thing I wish I had done before reading this book was to reread Burying the Honeysuckle Girls again. That's also my advice, read Burying the Honeysuckle Girls first, then this one. Despite trying to remember the storyline and characters from the first book, this book was fantastic. The writing in this book is excellent, and Emily Carpenter is an amazing writer. Carpenter's story captivated me and I'm eager to read more of her books in the future.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
November 24, 2020
*review will be up soon
November 8, 2020
Emily Carpenter’s book THE WEIGHT OF LIES made it onto my all-time-favourite list with its Gothic undertones and its book-within-a-book concept, so since then I have devoured everything she has written – and continue to really enjoy her writing.
REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS was a very different style from Carpenter’s mysteries, but she still managed to infuse the story with the Southern elements that hallmark all her books. I always enjoy mysteries that centre around family secrets, so I was very excited to join Eve on her quest to find out about her grandmother Dove’s life before she became the famous evangelist she was later known for. America in the 1930’s holds a certain mystery that few eras can match, and I eagerly immersed myself in the atmosphere of life in the Great Depression.
I admit that I was much more invested in Dove’s life than in Eve’s, and would happily have had more chapters dedicated to her. Some elements of Eve were hard to comprehend and bond with, even though she grew on me a bit as the book progressed. I did enjoy the slight air of the supernatural, an element of the mystery that hung there, untouchable, always putting some doubt in my mind.
If you enjoy mysteries with a Gothic element, or those involving family secrets (with a family heirloom tying it all together), then REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS should definitely be on your list. Told from two separate POVs and spanning two timelines, the 1930s and today, the book will also appeal to lovers of historical fiction who are intrigued by stories that our older generation takes to the grave with them. I love all of those elements, and really enjoyed my reading journey – I can’t wait to see what Emily Carpenter comes up with next!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS was a very different style from Carpenter’s mysteries, but she still managed to infuse the story with the Southern elements that hallmark all her books. I always enjoy mysteries that centre around family secrets, so I was very excited to join Eve on her quest to find out about her grandmother Dove’s life before she became the famous evangelist she was later known for. America in the 1930’s holds a certain mystery that few eras can match, and I eagerly immersed myself in the atmosphere of life in the Great Depression.
I admit that I was much more invested in Dove’s life than in Eve’s, and would happily have had more chapters dedicated to her. Some elements of Eve were hard to comprehend and bond with, even though she grew on me a bit as the book progressed. I did enjoy the slight air of the supernatural, an element of the mystery that hung there, untouchable, always putting some doubt in my mind.
If you enjoy mysteries with a Gothic element, or those involving family secrets (with a family heirloom tying it all together), then REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS should definitely be on your list. Told from two separate POVs and spanning two timelines, the 1930s and today, the book will also appeal to lovers of historical fiction who are intrigued by stories that our older generation takes to the grave with them. I love all of those elements, and really enjoyed my reading journey – I can’t wait to see what Emily Carpenter comes up with next!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
October 6, 2020
3.5 stars
In 1934, a young orphan leaves behind the psychiatric hospital in which she was raised to start a life of her own. She eventually becomes caretaker for a wealthy man who collects uncirculated erroneous coins and hides them around his home to ease his OCD. She also finds herself as one half of the Hawthorn Sisters, an inspiring duo traveling around Alabama tent revivals to spread the gospel and heal people with faith. Little does she know that there is a dangerous man searching for her; obsessing over her…
In present day, the faithful still mourn the loss of evangelist Dove Jarrod who performed miracles during her lifetime. Her granddaughter, Eve Candler, is working on a documentary about Dove’s life. Before filming wraps, Eve is assaulted by a stranger claiming that Dove murdered the man she took care of and that she stole a valuable coin from him. The stranger gives Eve 3 days to locate the coin or he’ll come forward with the information he has and destroy Dove’s legacy.
With the help of a filmmaker and one of Dove’s friend, Eve is on a race against the clock to learn the truth of Dove’s past.
The past and present timelines unfold in alternating chapters and though it took me a while to really get into the story, I became invested in learning the truth about the coin and Dove. There’s a lot going on here: several characters to keep track of as well as a couple unnecessary twists, but overall this is a solid and atmospheric Southern Gothic novel.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is scheduled for release on October 20, 2020.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
In 1934, a young orphan leaves behind the psychiatric hospital in which she was raised to start a life of her own. She eventually becomes caretaker for a wealthy man who collects uncirculated erroneous coins and hides them around his home to ease his OCD. She also finds herself as one half of the Hawthorn Sisters, an inspiring duo traveling around Alabama tent revivals to spread the gospel and heal people with faith. Little does she know that there is a dangerous man searching for her; obsessing over her…
In present day, the faithful still mourn the loss of evangelist Dove Jarrod who performed miracles during her lifetime. Her granddaughter, Eve Candler, is working on a documentary about Dove’s life. Before filming wraps, Eve is assaulted by a stranger claiming that Dove murdered the man she took care of and that she stole a valuable coin from him. The stranger gives Eve 3 days to locate the coin or he’ll come forward with the information he has and destroy Dove’s legacy.
With the help of a filmmaker and one of Dove’s friend, Eve is on a race against the clock to learn the truth of Dove’s past.
The past and present timelines unfold in alternating chapters and though it took me a while to really get into the story, I became invested in learning the truth about the coin and Dove. There’s a lot going on here: several characters to keep track of as well as a couple unnecessary twists, but overall this is a solid and atmospheric Southern Gothic novel.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is scheduled for release on October 20, 2020.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
October 23, 2020
'There are things known & unknown, & in between are the doors.'- Althea Cheramie, friend of Dove
This book continues the storyline from Carpenter's debut novel, 'Burying the Honeysuckle Girls', but it's not really a sequel. I have not read that 2016 debut, but I really want to now. I never really felt lost while reading 'Reviving...' & it can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. The story draws you in from the very first pages & holds your attention w/ Carpenter's masterful writing, taunt plotting, & compelling characters.
'Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters' is a beautiful blend of southern gothic, historical fiction, suspense/mystery & some magical realism. Told as Dove's story from the past & Eve's present day, this atmospheric, slow-burning mystery would make a fantastic addition to any readers fall tbr stack. I'm certainly going to read more of Emily's other novels.
This book continues the storyline from Carpenter's debut novel, 'Burying the Honeysuckle Girls', but it's not really a sequel. I have not read that 2016 debut, but I really want to now. I never really felt lost while reading 'Reviving...' & it can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. The story draws you in from the very first pages & holds your attention w/ Carpenter's masterful writing, taunt plotting, & compelling characters.
'Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters' is a beautiful blend of southern gothic, historical fiction, suspense/mystery & some magical realism. Told as Dove's story from the past & Eve's present day, this atmospheric, slow-burning mystery would make a fantastic addition to any readers fall tbr stack. I'm certainly going to read more of Emily's other novels.
November 7, 2020
“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord....” Jer 30:17a
A historical crime novel full of mystery that held me captive until the last pages. The book has duel timelines that span three generation. It’s kind of a “who dun it” mystery that I thought was written well.
Well developed characters to love and hate. Written with precision, revealing the essentials of the human soul. A lot of flawed characters who are looking for answers. Will they find it in God? In uncovering a family secret? Or just running toward something else?
I highly recommend this for mystery lovers. It was good. You should read it.
Thank you NETGALLEY and the publisher for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review. ♥️
A historical crime novel full of mystery that held me captive until the last pages. The book has duel timelines that span three generation. It’s kind of a “who dun it” mystery that I thought was written well.
Well developed characters to love and hate. Written with precision, revealing the essentials of the human soul. A lot of flawed characters who are looking for answers. Will they find it in God? In uncovering a family secret? Or just running toward something else?
I highly recommend this for mystery lovers. It was good. You should read it.
Thank you NETGALLEY and the publisher for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review. ♥️
March 19, 2023
The synopsis for this book didn't grab me like the author's other works did, but I knew I'd have to check it out eventually, since I enjoy her books. Nenia and I decided to BR it together.
Unfortunately, I didn't find this as well-crafted as others from the author. I could almost see it as a debut. Although her other books have been crazy in terms of plot, I could always suspend disbelief enough to get through them quickly. Here, the writing just didn't sell it for me, even though it could have been a great story. The characters were well-crafted, but some of them seemed kind of pointless in the grand scheme of things.
Even though this was disappointing, I'll still check out future releases from the author.
Unfortunately, I didn't find this as well-crafted as others from the author. I could almost see it as a debut. Although her other books have been crazy in terms of plot, I could always suspend disbelief enough to get through them quickly. Here, the writing just didn't sell it for me, even though it could have been a great story. The characters were well-crafted, but some of them seemed kind of pointless in the grand scheme of things.
Even though this was disappointing, I'll still check out future releases from the author.
October 20, 2020
“Of course, that, too, had been a lie. But now lies wouldn’t do. Now it was time for the truth . . .” From the moment I read Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, I thirsted for more of the story about these remarkable characters. In this outstanding follow-up, we meet Eve Chandler, the granddaughter of renowned faith healer Dove Jarrod. Eve has become the keeper of Dove’s lies, and now she must unravel her grandmother’s long-buried history to protect herself and her family. The setting and the mood of this book are a trademark of Emily Carpenter’s books, a vital piece that separates her work from many suspense novelists’. The story is set against the backdrop of the Depression and the desperation of those who sought healing and salvation from traveling evangelists, which evokes a sinister and seedy mood that permeates this book from beginning to end. Reviving the Hawthorne Sisters is a compelling and moving novel, rich in family history and secrets and lies...and perhaps, murder...
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