Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Family history can be such a finicky thing. This story touches on just that, all the interesting twists and turns and tales that can be in our past. Some we may not even know about. Enjoy this ride as the main character finds out about her family history.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lizbeth Gordon thought she had the normal happy married life with kids but boy was she wrong. Her husband Dan of 20 years was actually a gambling man that had put them into financial ruin which Lizbeth did not find out about until his accident. This sent Lizbeth spiraling trying to find her way back up. That’s when she started digging more into her family history and the things she found were amazing and difficult at the same time. After taking a job in Rio De Janeiro she finds family an extended family she never knew was out there.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story starts off with us following Lizbeth through as a grieving widow to her uncovering the truth of her ancestors. When the story takes a turn, it’s more fun for me as a reader who enjoys historical reads like this one. That’s what makes this book so exciting. This story is so layered, it’s so thrilling to read. You’ll be intrigued when you see how this one turns out. Pick up your copy to enjoy this beautiful read.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am so glad I decided to give this book a read. I have never read anything by Harriet Cannon before and this certainly will not be my last book by her. This book was amazing and probably in my top 5 favorite books I’ve ever read. This story is phenomenal. You will not be sorry if you choose to read this amazing book.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was a very interesting read. Lizbeth’s quest to learn about her family background made me want to look into my own! At the beginning, I was a little skeptical to where the story was going to go. But after reading further, it became very engaging. I really enjoyed seeing how the different parts of the Gordon family came to be and what happened to them.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was surprised by the background of the main character and the way the author wrote about the incident that directed the main character’s life was impactful. The author was able to weave in so much about the south past and present I really felt like I was getting to know the family. I also have to admit being in the mental health field and a PNW native made me like the author even more and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for more books by her.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was able to read this book in 2 days! I really enjoyed the unique perspective and twists that it provides. The characters and plot are both well written. It even invoked emotion, making them feel relatable and genuine. It provides a unique perspective on racial conflicts between the North and South in a way that doesn’t feel forced or preachy. I found the atypical perspectives refreshing and eye opening in a lot of ways. She even found ways to weave specific historical details/people into the story, making it not just a generic setting. I’d give this book 5/5 stars. I really enjoyed it.
One line made me think a bit. “Why was the United States so shamed by the atrocities of post- war civilian suffering that they sanitized events out of history book?” Makes me wonder what they’ll say in the history books when we’re all long gone. How much is truth and who chooses what’s omitted? This book inspired me to start looking a little deeper into my own family history after following these characters on their journey. I also developed a bit more appreciation for the standard of living we all have in this century with everything at our fingertips. So many different takeaways, and this isn’t even all of them! This really was a great little story.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. Exiled South is a great book and I can’t wait for more. This story will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat.
Lizbeth is worried when her hisband doesnt answer his cell and he’s late. She thinks he’s been acting strange lately. When the bank calls things change and she’s not sure how much she can take. The quote I chose for Lizbeth is: “I just got off the phone with Dan’s parents. They want to come immediately to ‘help plan’ the funeral. Meaning, they want to take over. Control freaks!”
Highly recommended for Women’s Historical Fiction lovers.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a look into the life of Lizabeth Gordon after the unimaginable loss of her husband and her connection to her past. Lizabeth needs a fresh start and travels cross country to her hometown to grieve and find herself. Charlotte, Lizbeth’s cousin, is an intriguing character that you will fall in love with. She provides a shoulder for Lizbeth but also is very frank with her. Both are amazing characters that you will easily connect with throughout the story. When Lizbeth arrives in North Carolina, she finds that there are family secrets that have been long buried and that leads her on a path to find the truth. There is a lot of historical information included in the book that was a great view into the Civil War era and the author did an amazing job of weaving that into this story. This was a great read!!
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book follows the journey of Lizbeth Gordon from the Pacific Northwest, to Charleston, SC, and to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fleeing sadness and anger in her life in the Pacific Northwest, Lizbeth throws herself into learning about her family’s roots in Charleston, SC. In a surprising twist, Lizbeth learns more about her South Carolina family once she moves to Rio de Janeiro. This book started off slowly, to me, but became more exciting once Lizbeth discovers the stories from her ancestor, Laurette. I love the character development and the author’s attention to detail. I recommend this book for anyone interested in Civil War history.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
That saying don’t judge a book by its cover, this is one of them. It started off very quickly that this book was going to be something that I wasn’t expecting. Secrets that were buried, but they started to come out, it was a roller coaster like ride reading about the way Lizbeth started having to deal with everything after her husband died. She encounters the impossible from the beginning to the end. The flow and main plot were amazing throughout the book. It kept me intrigued and entertained the whole way that I couldn’t put it down. This book was different then what I was expecting but it made a wonderful read. Really enjoyed this book.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Even though I have never set foot in South Carolina I feel like I just took a trip there with the expertly woven masterpiece this author wrote.
If you read this book you will be taken on a trip through history with a families secrets revealed, some wonderful some not so much.
I’m not usually a fan of of these kinds of Novals but someone recommended it and now I’m highly recommending it!! Get it now
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was an absolutely wonderful read. As a fan of historical fiction, the author really pulled the scenery of the environments into a fantastic adventure itself. The main character, Lizbeth Gordon, deals with a shocking horror in the very beginning that few of us ever want to imagine. Lizbeth then has to go back to her Southern roots where she learns much more than she knew before. The author perfectly portrays the locations and atmosphere. There is nothing quite like learning about the good and bad of where you come from.
Reviewed by @danihoneycutt
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was definitely different than the books I’ve been reading lately. The woven history and surprises on the international front were inventive. Lizbeth’s character development was good but I would have liked to see a little more learning on her behalf but it was interesting to watch how she faces the impossible things she was faced with. I would have liked to see more of the present day and some of the story felt scattered to me. I did find the story interesting but could see where this could have been made a series so some areas could be deepened.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story is captivating from the start. The author’s ability to make you feel like you’re there with the detailed descriptions of the places in this story. Lizbeth loses her husband and because of this tragedy her life changes tremendously. Lizbeth starts digging into her history and discovers so much. This book is full of emotion, history, surprises, understanding and more. This story is very thought provoking and makes you want to research your own history. This isn’t normally a genre I read but I am definitely glad I took a chance on this story because I might have missed out on something special. This is a must read.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What would you do if you discovered the worst about your husband? What if you found out he had a double life that you knew nothing about? Even worse, what if you didn’t find all this out until his death? LizBeth Gordon is living an idyllic life with her loving husband, good job, and two grown sons. Her world is rocked when her husband unexpectedly dies and leaves her life in shambles. She is left wondering who she is. She sells their home and goes back to South Carolina to rediscover who she is and where she came from. That road leads her to Brazil and more discoveries about her ancestors. Ultimately, this story is about LizBeth learning about the past on the road to finding out who she really is.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“Exiled South” by Harriet Cannon is a historical fiction novel that begins in Washington State when Lizbeth’s husband unexpectedly passes away. She returns back to her childhood hometown in South Carolina, where long kept family secrets come to light. I loved how the author ties in all the family ancestors and the decisions they made that caused a lasting impact. This book is incredibly eye-opening, with a strong focus on diversity and Southern history.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Such an amazing story of a southern woman facing a secret family past that took place during the Civil War! Loved the diary entries from Laurette and the letters from Robert, I honestly could have read a whole book of just those two. Laurette was such an amazing, strong, brave woman for surviving what she went through and sharing what she knew. I felt a strong connection to her from the moment she was introduced to the story. I wish there would have been more to Rosalie’s story. Great book, very highly recommend.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Oh my word. This history buff couldn’t wait to devour this book. The synopsis immediately drew me in. It is the perfect balance of relatable characters, historical significance, intriguing plot points, and just the right pacing. Everything about this unfolded beautifully before my eyes. If you enjoy historical fiction and personal discovery you will thoroughly enjoy how this author weaves this tale. One I will definitely be reading again soon!
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The past holds an intrigue for most of us who desire to learn where we came from and trace our traits back throughout history. This is a wonderful, engaging story of rediscovering your roots and our perceptions of past ancestors which may not be entirely accurate.
This book starts off with a devastating loss for Lizbeth as her husband passes away after a tragic accident. The secrets that Dan kept from his wife start trickling out and Lizbeth tries to run to escape pitying glances and the gossip mongers in their small town in the pacific northwest. Lizbeth ends up heading back to Folly Island on the South Carolina Coast which is where she spent her formative years before marriage. As she is trying to put her life back together from the betrayal and rebuild her relationship with her sons Lizbeth rediscovers her love for history and starts doing some research on her own ancestral history. Particularly what happened to Robert and Laurette Gordon who seemed to disappear without hide nor hair of them.
Lizbeth, before moving to South Carolina, applied for an international counselor/teaching opportunity trying to open new doors that she put off when she got married but always wanted to do. She gets the call, interview and subsequent job opportunity in Rio which she immediately jumps into putting plans in motion. In Rio is where she discovers her missing heritage when she meets a teacher at the school that shares the Gordon surname. This unravels a whole different side to the Gordon family and leaves Lizbeth chasing down family members hoping to rebuild connections from the past. The more she uncovers the more she realizes that the past is nothing like she imagined from the stories told through the generations.Can she make amends with long lost family members and overcome her own impressions of long passed ancestors? For those that love history and genealogy this is a captivating must read book.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Exiled South
When I decided to try this book I wasn’t sure what to expect. This is not an author I’m familiar with but I was intrigued for sure.
Once I started reading I was so glad I I decided to read this book. I really enjoyed reading about Lizbeth finding not only family but also herself during the journey through her grief.
Lizbeth like a lot of women threw herself into being a wife and mother and lost who she was and what she wanted. She was given a second chance to rediscover all of that and more and I hope I can figure it out without losing my husband.
Everyone needs a Charlotte in their life, doesn’t matter if it’s a close friend or family member but we all need one.
I cannot recommend this book enough. I think it’s worth the time.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
While reading this selection I was excited to dig into this story and explore the main character. It started off great with some major life changes for her, and as I read I became more and more interested in what was to come. I personally think that the storyline is great, but it was a very slow read for me. With as many levels there are too this book it might have been better served as a series.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was very emotional. Not for the lighthearted. It starts off with Lizbeth who lost her husband in a car accident. She finds out that her husband was a gambler causing her to almost lose everything. She is angry. As a result of her anger, she sells her home and almost everything in it and moves back South where she originates.
As a way to cope she looks into her family’s past, trying to find information on the Gordon family from the 1800’s. She discovers that a couple of her family members disappear during the reconstruction after the war. Lizbeth gets a job in Rio de Janeiro. Upon landing Lizbeth meets someone with the same surname. Thinking that this woman may be a lost descendant, they look into it.
Lizbeth is given documents and a diary of Laurette, a woman from the 1800s. The second part of the book is set in the past and is the most interesting part. It is a tragic story. The book mentions a lot of racism and slavery. Like I said, not for the lighthearted. This portion of the book was so well written. My heart broke over all of the things the poor family went through, especially Laurette.
Compared to the second part of the book, parts one and three were lacking. I found the present day was rushed and stiff. I feel like the author could have spent more time expanding on certain things.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Exiled South is an interesting read and insight into different perspectives on the world. The protagonist, Lizbeth Gordon, has struggled for decades to reconcile her desire to be a good ally to people experiencing racism with the realities of slave ownership in her family history. For most of her adult life, she has hidden her southern accent and lived away from her family. But when her life is turned upside down, she goes back and begins to learn, and accept, more about her ancestors.
Things in this book are never quite straightforward – from what Lizbeth thinks her family history is, to what she thought her husband’s life was. There’s plenty to unravel, which keeps readers intrigued.
The author does a great job of creating a sense of place. I enjoyed exploring places like Charleston and Rio alongside Lizbeth. In that respect, it’s very much like a holiday in a book!
This book gets four stars from me. I would recommend it to readers interested in family history and the complicated and sometimes uncomfortable history of the American South.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lizbeth Gordon, loses her husband and her two sons away at college, she sets out across the country for a journey that covered more time and space then she could have imagined. I really got into this book as I am interested in doing my genealogy. Made me realize that as much as I want to learn about where I came from, there may be things I also don’t wan to know, like connections to slavery and secrets that don’t get passed down to the next generation but hidden away to hopefully never be uncovered.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon is a well written, touching story of Lizbeth Gordon trying to move forward. The story begins with Lizbeth losing her husband and soon after discovering truths that her husband had kept hidden from her. Needing to get away from it all, she quits her job, puts her application in with The International School Educator, a publication of oversea postings, and then the moves from the Pacific Northwest back home to South Carolina. Once she is home she takes time to mourn, then starts to put her life back together. Family stories and local history is something Lizbeth grew up listening to. As she is returning to herself she becomes more interested in digging into her family history. She continues to do this even after she accepts a job posting in Rio. As the stories of her family’s history become clear, Lizbeth seeks out information on the missing branches. Throughout this whole experience she is coming back to herself, starting a new career, rebuilding family bridges, and finding love again.
I truly enjoyed this story and would recommend reading it. I would note that there is a short rape scene that may be a trigger for some. I believe that you would be able to skip the pages detailing it and be able to continue the story though. I loved the way so many emotions and life experiences are written into the story. The heritage and generational stories, good and bad, that are found and passed on to Lizbeth on her journey. I enjoyed the way some of the stories were written as though you were reading it directly from the ancestor’s point of view This journey is a second chance to understand and accept her heritage, find lost family and develop new relationships.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was intriguing in that it pulled you in as if you were part of the family trying to find answers. The author’s character building provides enough detail to imagine each character while still allowing reader interpretation. Through time and across miles, stories unfold and leave the reader invested in the truths. I finished the book feeling emotions in response to the injustices discussed and also wanting to know what Lizbeth does next.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I wasn’t sure if I would like this book. I’m a romance reader, but I decided to give it a shot anyway. I’m so happy I did! Lizbeth is hit with tragic loss that ends up pushing her back to her roots. Both in the physical sense of traveling back home to SC and in her journey of researching her family history. Ive grown to love learning about history, and I am fascinated with my own ancestry so this story was captivating. The authors writing was wonderful, the secrets, descriptions and emotions written in kept me turning the pages. I highly recommend!
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is not an easy read, but it is lovely, fascinating, and rings of truth. As an adult, our heroine has chosen to distance herself from her southern roots. After two decades of living the good life, all the trappings of her “good life” disappear when her husband dies, enslaved to gambling, leaving her feeling betrayed as well as financially ruined. Having no choice but to return to extended family in the south, she discovers a generations-long family mystery. Working through her grief and her tumult, our protagonist accepts a short-term job in Brazil and finds courage, family roots, and herself along the way.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story was very interesting and really made you think. There was a lot of history in a surprising way. Past mixed with present day in a beautifully done way. Overall it was a great book and it will not disappoint. Highly recommend if you like learning about different histories.
