After the Fog [Kindle Edition]

Kathleen Shoop (Author)

Book Description

***Independent Publisher Awards: 2012 Silver, Best Regional Fiction–Mid-Atlantic***
***National Indie Excellence Awards: 2012 WINNER-- Literary Fiction***

Historic, environmental drama wrapped in a love story...

It's 1948 in the steel town of Donora, Pennsylvania, site of the infamous “killing smog.” Public health nurse, Rose Pavlesic, has risen above her orphaned upbringing and created a life that reflects everything she missed as a child. She’s even managed to keep her painful secrets hidden from her doting husband, loving children, and large extended family.

When a stagnant weather pattern traps poisonous mill gasses in the valley, neighbors grow sicker and Rose’s nursing obligations thrust her into conflict she never could have fathomed. Consequences from her past collide with her present life, making her once clear decisions as gray as the suffocating smog. As pressure mounts, Rose finds she’s not the only one harboring lies. When the deadly fog finally clears, the loss of trust and faith leaves the Pavlesic family—and the whole town—splintered and shocked. With her new perspective, can Rose finally forgive herself and let her family’s healing begin?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a well-written story set authentically in a historic place and time, around an intricate plot which includes most of the elements that provide for a good "soap opera," or a book that would be accepted by Oprah Winfrey"--Historical Novel Society
 
"WOW! What a truly amazing story! I was amazed how Ms. Shoop managed to wrap a totally believable storyline around this tragic [true] incident. I thought the writing was flawless..." -Book Princess Sophia--Goodreads
 
"It's impossible to convey how deep this novel is... Kathleen Shoop really brings to life this town of Donora and the horrors they faced when this fog descended on them. After the Fog was a very good read for me. It starts out a tad slow but soon enough picks up and after that I found it hard to put down.  I absolutely love when an author can weave historical facts with fiction and leave me with a fantastic read!"--Peeking Between the Pages
 
"I have great admiration for an author who will write her main character so real... It takes talent to imbue that main character with real qualities... not all good but relatable and pertinent to the situations she finds herself in."--Bags Books and Bonjovi
 
"Ms. Shoop's writing style is some of the best I've seen recently, and I fell right into this story with the greatest of ease, eager to see what would unfold next. The multi-layers of drama only added to the increasing tension in the book, and even though it had a fulfilling conclusion, I was sad to see it end."--Karen "ReaderGirl" Matthews--Goodreads

About the Author

After the Fog is the second novel by bestselling Kindle author Kathleen Shoop. Her debut novel, The Last Letter, garnered multiple awards in 2011. A Language Arts Coach with a Ph.D. in Reading Education, Kathleen lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Product Details

• File Size: 612 KB
• Print Length: 417 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1469935708
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007TWBFL0
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,268 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this author April 16, 2012

By Libby

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Love love this author, I am from Pittsburgh and this author transported me right back to my steel town roots, I grew up near Ambridge, and her words rang so true. Nebby nose, gumbands and Isalys. The life of those steel workers and the grit of their lives came alive on the pages of this book. Pittsburgh had such a hard working dirty town rep and the book clearly tells the readers why. Loved Rose, saw so many women from Pittsburgh in Rose. Highly recommend this book. have read both of Shoop's books and love her style and the gritty women she writes about. keep writing Kathleen and thanks for this book

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another look into what has made this country so special and so strong. April 19, 2012

By Readingcureall

Format:Kindle Edition

I read The Last Letter by Kathleen Shoop ,so I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of After the fog. I find the common thread in both books to be they give a look back in time to what our country has been through to become so great. The characters Kathleen Shoop create are so multi-faceted and have something everyone can relate to. You can see the grit and strength they have to over come tough circumstances they are in. At the same time you feel the love and heart they have for each other .
In After the Fog "Rose" a town nurse in an industrial mill town who has worked so hard to build a life for herself putting her past behind her and thinks she has. When events begin to bring her past crashing into her current life causing her secrets to come to light and putting all she has worked so hard to build at risk she has to learn so much about herself, her family and her town.
I found this book very enjoyable . Having grown up in and around industrial towns I could relate to the people and their conflicts over the balance of hazards and well being surrounding the industry . With out to much spoiler I found it romantic and inspiring. I give it another 5 stars.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging novel based on a historical event November 18, 2012

By Karen R

Format:Paperback

This novel is based on a real event. In 1948, a smog settled over the Pennsylvania mill town of Donora and sickened over 7000 people. The central character, Rose, is a competent nurse, but a very unlikeable character. OK, I get it that life has not been kind to you, Rose. But gee, give those around you a break! Her frustrations and dislikes are glaringly apparent. About mid way thru the book, when Rose shares her 20-year-old secrets with a priest, it becomes clear why she harbors these hateful and resentful feelings. Her torment has given her the drive to become independent, strong and determined to succeed, but at what cost? If only she could be as generous with her own family as she is with her patients.

This book started slow for me (and the reason I give it 4 stars) but about Ľ of the way into it, it pulled me in and I was hooked. I grew to really admire Rose, someone who tried to do her best and was devoted to her family. Very well written.

More About the Author

COMING SOON! Bliss--an anthology of love stories that all take place in the same house on the water, but each novella is set in a different era! Further details, soon!

LOVE AND OTHER SUBJECTS...The novel for every woman who wonders if she chose the right career...

Thank you for reading about me here and for purchasing my novel! I'm married with two children. I've been seriously writing for almost a decade although I dabbled much earlier than that! I've had short stories published in four Chicken Soup for the Soul books, am a regular contributor to a local magazine, Pittsburgh Parent, and have had essays in local newspapers as well.

I have a PhD in Reading Education and have worked in schools for over twenty years. I work with teachers and their students in grades k-8 and am lucky to learn something new from them every time I walk through their doors. This experience was a huge help in writing LOVE AND OTHER SUBJECTS--a quirky, post-college coming of age story.

My first novel, The Last Letter (2011 IPPY Gold Medal--Regional Fiction, Midwest, 2011 Indie Excellence Finalist Award for Historical Fiction and Regional Fiction, 2011 International Book Awards Finalist for Historical Fiction and Best New Fiction), was a fascinating trip through history, punctuated with fictional characters and events. The idea for the story grew from my great-great grandmother's letters (see My Dear Frank for the complete set of letters!) written during the year of her engagement to Frank Arthur. The beautiful letters are the inspiration for the novel, the seed from which The Last Letter's characters and their voices grew.

I've also written women's fiction--LOVE AND OTHER SUBJECTS-- and have written another historical fiction novel, AFTER THE FOG, set in 1948 in a town not far from Oakmont, PA. AFTER THE FOG is also an award winning book--silver IPPY and WINNER in the literary category of the National Indie Excellence Awards.

Right now, I'm finishing up a 20,000 word short love story for an anthology and am also using my characters and setting from THE LAST LETTER as per reader request to show what happened between the two timelines in the original book! I hope readers will enjoy the fact I write about varied eras and places and that they will love each book for its unique setting and time.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#61 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Historical

#61 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Historical