Customer Reviews

Sweetwater Run

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When her husband is wrongfully arrested for stealing his own mule, Cara Whitt finds herself alone in their small cabin on a mountain in eastern Kentucky. With her husband's family close by, Cara finds that she must rely on her own strength to survive. When her brother-in-law is gravely injured, leaving his wife and 5 children to cope and her young sister-in-law runs off with an unscrupulous lawyer, Cara turns to her friends and finds her faith in God restored.

While this book continues some of the characters from Jan Watson's Troublesome Creek series, it also stands alone. I haven't read any of her others yet, and while knowing the back history might have enriched this story, it certainly wasn't necessary.

A sweet book about faith, family and friendship, with quirky and endearing characters. These are people who have faith in God and others who find that faith at a time they need it.

Jan Watson has a way with words and her descriptions of 19th century backwoods life are fascinating: it certainly wasn't an easy life, especially for the women. But, there was also a sense of contentment and satisfaction that we don't see as much of today.

A smooth, pleasant read. I'm glad to have discovered this author and look forward to reading her other books.

Although it isn't marketed as such, I felt like this was the fourth book of the Troublesome Creek series. Some of the minor characters we meet in the first three books are developed further in this installation. This book moves a little slower in the beginning but picks up the pace quickly. This is a great series for those who enjoy historical fiction.

I had read three books before by Jan Watson about this same area and there are some of the same characters in this book as the others, but you could for sure read it as a stand alone book! Cara and Dimmert are a young couple who get stuck in a frustrating twist of events where he ends up in jail for a long while and Cara is alone at home, and all over a mule, a crooked lawyer and some mean people. You will enjoy the story set in somewhat primitive conditions as Cara seeks to overcome her fears of being alone and uses her time instead of being bitter about it, to help others. There is her sister Dance, who seems to suffer from either just being over tired or PPD and she steps up to minister to her. I really enjoyed this book- set in the Kentucky mountains, you get the quaintness of the area and the time period. It is well written and enjoyable! I enjoyed hearing about where Copper was as well, from previous series by Jan Watson too as well as a couple of other familiar characters.

I've read the previous books in the Troublesome Creek series and loved them, but Sweetwater Run wasn't quite up to the greatness of them. It continues the story of Cara and Dimmert, Darcy, Dance and Ace, and new characters enter also. Mrs. Watson is a wonderful author, but this book seemed to drag in some parts, and didn't totally catch me and pull me in as the others have. Overall, it is a good book!

The story flows well and the author is an excellent story teller! I have very much enjoyed all of her books!! I am only sorry I have read all her books to date.

Copper Brown is a ideal, strong, Godly lady. I love everything about her. Her story is worth reading over and over. You must read the whole series, the first one is slow to start due to character introduction but the story captures you whole heartedly and you fall in love with the people, a time and place were community meant more than it does now. Makes you long for times gone by.. And rejoice in how God works in our lives even we can't see it from our current perspective. and unlike most series books these do not boar you with the "reintro/ketch you up" chapters at the beginning... it all flows so nicely Great work.. Top of my favorites list

I'm going to echo what another reviewer, Janna, said in her last paragraph. Love that we see Cara develop into her very own, strong person. Life hands out injustices to us all, and how we choose to handle them is up to us. She turns to God, her family, friends, and community and develops a strength that many could learn from. Instead of sitting around and spending the rest of her life whining about the injustice, she moves forward in her life through hard work, helping others, and faith. And, she reaps many rewards because of her efforts. Beautifully done!

I have read several books by Jan Watson and have enjoyed them all. I enjoy reading about Kentucky and her fictional folks.

I had not read Jan Watson before picking up Sweetwater Run, but upon completion I certainly hope to read more of Jan Watson in the future. Sweetwater Run looks to be book #4 in the series, but I would not say that you have to read the other 3 to enjoy this one, I enjoyed it immensely and it was a first for me.

Sweetwater Run was refreshing and perplexing to me all at the same time. It is not your typical Historical Romance to say the least. First off, Cara and Dimmert are already married when this book starts (though I got the feeling that their story may have played out somewhat in previous books), so we watch a precious love in process, not a new love out of the gate. Second, in the first chapter Dimmert is hauled off to jail for something he didn't do and then sentenced to 2 years in prison. Um, what?!? You can't take one of the main characters away in the first chapter like that! This is supposed to be a romance! Oh, but wait. Jan can and did just haul him away... now what?

I'll tell you what. Now instead of the same old cliched romance that we always get, we get so much more. We see Cara develop and grow as a person without Dimmert to lean on, but rather God to lean on. We see her friend Darcy fall in love with the wrong man, the really wrong man and how that plays out. Love, life, murder and more in Cara's life without Dimmert, yet somehow Dimmert is always there in spirit. This is a beautiful book that I really enjoyed and recommend!

Sweetwater Run is the story about Cara Whitt and how she copes with finding herself suddenly alone after her husband Dimmert steels back a mule that was stolen from him, looses his temper, and punches the thief front of the sheriff.


All that Dimmert had to do was apologize but his pride wouldn't let him do it. So the sheriff carted him off to jail
.
Due to the dealings with an unscrupulous lawyer, Dimmert winds up spending a good deal of time behind bars thus leaving his wife Cara alone.


Cara is left to deal with a life without Dimmert. The story resolves around Cara feeling like she'll never see her beloved husband again and the trials and tribulations she is faced with everyday.


It was an interesting story, a little slow moving at times but that could be because it is not the type of story that I would normally read.


Still it was enjoyable enough and I encourage you to pick up a copy today.