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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Ayla Eddy

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mystery books are not my usual cup of tea, but when I picked up the first book in this series I was sucked in. This is the fourth book in the series and it is just as gripping as the first three. Though it is part of the Orkneyinga murders it can be read as a stand alone. I would recommend reading the other books in the series. The story is well written with characters that you want to continue to read about. Who is the murder? It could be anyone who has a motive, which could everyone. The author keeps you guessing as to the answer to who done it. Once you start you will not want to put the book down! A wonderful read that I would highly recommend.

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Shelly Kittell

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ketril and his buddy are at it again. Rivalries, death of a woman and it’s mighty close to home. Again, this is an excellent book. A historical mystery set in the time of the Vikings, it has lots of action, wonderful characters and a plot that will keep you engaged and wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it.

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Robin Rankin

Exiled SouthExiled 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.

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by M Policicchio

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham

3 out of 5 Stars

When the village’s headman dies, his family gathers to express their loss and decide who takes over the family businesses. Jealousy, greed, and lust collide in this tale of betrayal and murder. Can Sigrid and Ketil figure out who is behind the murders at the funeral before more bodies are found?

This quick moving tale of mystery will keep you on your toes trying to figure out who is behind the deaths and why. The author weaves this story as astutely as Sigrid weaves her braids.

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Shelly Kittell

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ketril and his buddy are at it again. Rivalries, death of a woman and it’s mighty close to home. Again, this is an excellent book. A historical mystery set in the time of the Vikings, it has lots of action, wonderful characters and a plot that will keep you engaged and wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it.

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Tomb For An Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders Book 1) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Shelly Kittell

Tomb for an Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders #1)Tomb for an Eagle by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a one-of-a kind book. I have never read a historical mystery set in the time of the Vikings. The plot was orginal. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat wanting to keep reading to see what would happen next. The characters were unique and engaging. I found their personalities something that kept me into the story. this was a fantastic story and I loved it. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series. Highly recommend.

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Angela Hayes

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

 

 

The Bear at Midnight is the fourth intriguing instalment in the Orkneyinga Murders series by Lexie Conyngham. As with the previous books, this is an intriguing historical crime and investigation story- a bit of a whodunit murder mystery that kept me guessing the whole way through.
Again, this story is set in Scotland in the age of the Vikings- with characters we have met previously. And as I have come to expect, this talented author pulled me into the story and transported me through time with her vivid descriptions and detailed storytelling.
This book could be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the previous books, as they are definitely worth the read, too.
Looking forward to more.

Thank you, Lexie Conyngham!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Kerry Carr

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 4th book in the series and even though I haven’t read the first 3 books I still really enjoyed this one. I think if you read the books in order you would get a greater understanding for the characters but it doesn’t mean that reading this as a standalone spoils the story but it was still an amazing read and I can’t wait for more. The author does an amazing job at describing the scenes. You actually feel like you are in the great hall, experiencing everything that’s happening. The author takes you  a historical  murder mystery set in the Orkney. It is written so well that I didn’t know who was responsible for the murder until it was revealed which I loved as i normally realise who the suspect is before then so it was refreshing to have no clue until it was revealed.

When the leader dies and other people turn up murder our two main characters, Ketil and Sigrid must solve the murder before the killer strikes again.
With enemies around every turn, a fight to become the new leader and now these mysterious murders the pair need to figure it out before its too late and gets too close for comfort.

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Moriah Venable

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While I am not one for historical mysteries, I was in the mood for something different.

When the Viking leader dies, it becomes the responsibility of the Earl of Orkney to choose a replacement and also solve the mystery of who killed the previous leader.

What made this such an engaging read is that I could not figure out who the killer one, since most of the characters had a motive and it could be any one of them. The surprise was who did it.

I have not read the previous novel but I plan to know more about the characters and their backstories.

I do not know what to give anything away, but I would definitely recommend it. I hope there is another book so I have more to look forward to reading.

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Ashley McMillon

Exiled SouthExiled 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.

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Santana Hicks

Exiled SouthExiled 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.

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

Exiled SouthExiled 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.

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Tomb For An Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders Book 1) by Lexie Conyngham – Review By Jo Frizzell

Tomb for an Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders #1)Tomb for an Eagle by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t normally read historical stories, but I couldn’t help but choose to read this after seeing that it was set in Viking times! The descriptions were vivid and beautiful giving me a clear picture of the setting. The characters completely endeared me to them and they just matched well. I truly enjoyed this book! I am looking forward to reading more by this author!

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Jo Frizzell

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having started this series, I had to keep reading! I loved the way all the characters interacted with each other. I wished I could walk around outside and see the beautiful places that were painted into my mind! This author does a fabulous job showing you their world, and dragging you in, to the point where you look up and don’t expect to see your own space, but truly expect to see their world. As someone who usually shies away from historical fiction, I truly recommend this series because it drew me in from word one, so I’m really glad I decided to try something different than I usually do!

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Jenni Bishop

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

It is an intriguing and original historical crime murder mystery. This fascinating tale is set in Scotland and is rich in history and culture in a time where Vikings reined. I love Scotland and with the authors engaging, detailed and descriptive writing it was easy to imagine and loose myself in the story. The tale is suspenseful and mysterious, and with the same whodunnit feel as the first book. I love the way that the author keeps you on your toes by switching things up, so you were thrown off track and are unable to tell who is responsible until the big reveal.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Kerry Baker

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic and well written historical fiction book that really grabs your interest. It can be read as a standalone but I think the series is well worth your time. The series really does go from strength to strength, each book better than the last. The story is so detailed it really feels like you are there with the characters. The imagery is so vivid that I could picture it clearly as I read the book.i thought the story itself was interesting. It was gripping from the moment instarted reading and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of it.

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Lorrene Huisman

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was gripping in more than one way truly, I could not get enough of how the story as well as the characters progressed, The story brought on suspense, and a mystery woven within words of the book that came together, I loved it from start to fish. Amazing read!

For me it was the plot that sucked me in so deep! I loved the bond between Ketil and Sigrid right from the start. They had each other’s back and only wanted peace to come to the land. They risked a lot for answers, but as we all know sometimes the answers we seek aren’t want we want to realize. I found their bond was a great appeal to the story, everything else added in nicely too. Great build up!

Something else aside from the character and plot I really loved, was the descriptive use of the senses the author added into the story for the reader. I loved how the weather or clothes was deeply said into detail. it made realization really good, and I found I was right there in the town, trying to protect those close to me. Love that sensory appeal. Amazing author to craft such a wonderful engaging book!

This book was a wonderful read from the start to the end for sure. I could not get enough of this book, and I do highly recommend this author and this book. I will be reading other work by them for sure. I highly suggest not passing this one up, its a rare treat meant to be enjoyed!

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Bobbi Wagner

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the fourth book in this series which I enjoyed. I highly suggest reading the previous three books in this series to help enhance your enjoyment of this series and this author. I enjoyed being pulled into the story by the characters and what they bring to the story. This is a well written story where the author used details to bring life to the story. This is an engaging story that is hard to put down. A story that is full of action and rivalries that make an appearance when least expected. What will happen when the killings get too close to home for these characters? I enjoyed their growth as well as the growth of the plot throughout the story. The twists and turns had me guessing on what would happen next. I truly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.

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Review by @bjwagner

The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham

~ 🦋 ~ 🦋 ~ 🦋 ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ 🦋 ~ 🦋 ~ 🦋 ~
The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham
Genre – murder mystery, Scottish, historical
Page Count – 372 pages

Death strikes the hall at Buckquoy, and when Thorfinn has to appoint a new leader there, bitter rivalries emerge. Then a woman dies, and matters turn serious. When accusations hit close to home, Ketil and his old friend Sigrid must find out who the killer is, if only to defend themselves in the teeth of even more devastating news.

~ AMAZON ~

 

 

Click here to view the Book Trailer for The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham 

Click here to experience a Chapter Reading of The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham

Lexie Conyngham is a historian living in the shadow of the Highlands. Her historical crime novels are born of a life amidst Scotland’s old cities, ancient universities and hidden-away aristocratic estates, but she has written since the day she found out that people were allowed to do such a thing. Beyond teaching and research, her days are spent with wool, wild allotments and a wee bit of whisky.

Author Interview With Lexie Conyngham

 

FACEBOOK ~ WEBSITE ~ INSTAGRAM ~ PINTEREST ~ BOOKBUB ~ TWITTER  ~ GOODREADS

WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ PINTEREST ~ YOUTUBE ~ INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK GROUP ~ TIKTOK

 

 

Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Angela Packard

Exiled SouthExiled 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.

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Sarah King

Exiled SouthExiled 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.

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon Review by Amanda M.

Exiled SouthExiled 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.

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Jaclyn DeTullio

Exiled SouthExiled 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!

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Alison Risher

Exiled SouthExiled 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.

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Whitney Morrison

Exiled SouthExiled 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.

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Exiled south by Harriet Cannon – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Exiled SouthExiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lizbeth Gordon is a woman with two sons, a husband and a family she adores, that is until one day when she recovers the terrible news that her husband has died in a car accident. She is devastated and so are her sons, but as she is trying to come to terms with it and sort out what she needs to organise she receives more news which leaves her reeling. As she explains to her sons what has happened, she makes a drastic decision which leads to leaving everything behind and moving forward with a return to her childhood home, as well as dreams she had once left behind. It was something she never thought she would do, but what she doesn’t expect is that she finds out about a family history she never wanted to consider before.

As she listens to the history of her relatives, she discovers information she never truly considered as no more than tall tales, but it leads her to search for whomever she can find and their stories. This journey takes her through South Carolina and the Civil War where the family lived in Charleston and how they survived it all, as well as the Reconstruction which followed. There are tales of blockade runners who learned about their trade in Scotland and how the Civil War affected the types of trade and transportation and how it lead some of them being stopped from ever returning to their homeland.

Meanwhile, as Lizbeth follows this trail, she receives a request from a Brazilian school who need someone with her skills and accepts the job offer, what she doesn’t expect is that she meets someone with the same surname as her. It is while she is there that she discovers the lost family she never knew she had and that the stories are even more harrowing than the ones she has just learned about. This is a story of historical prejudice, racism and despair where one family is torn apart by institutional bias and harrowing sacrifices and the hope that one woman holds that she can reunite them through love and friendship. It is an emotional ride as you learn about history through the eyes of a fictional family which will lead you to think about the hard questions and what digging into family history may lead to.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Jennifer Gordon

Exiled SouthExiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an enjoyable and engaging novel which had me gripped from start to finish. This historical novel is centred around Lizbeth Gordon, who returns to her childhood home following her husband’s death. Wanting peace and quiet Lizbeth spends her days at her family’s cottage, however when her elderly aunt tells her about some troubling family secrets, she can not help but look into her family’s past. Lizbeth wants to discover the truth behind the rumours, that include, a blockade runner who was hunted as a traitor after the fall of Charleston. Although Lizbeth’s research draws a blank, her interest is renewed when she takes a job at an international school in Rio de Janeiro.

Here she meets a multiethnic descendant of Confederate exiles, who have the Gordon surname, and are able to show Lizbeth some nineteenth-century documents, including letters and a diary. She hopes that her findings will result in a family reconciliation and ultimately healing. This is a wonderfully written novel with a strong, likeable and relatable main character in Lizbeth. The descriptive narrative brought the settings vividly to life making me feel immersed in the story. The historical details added to the sense of the era and show that the novel is well researched. The storyline was intriguing and the exciting plot kept me happily turning the pages, as I could not put this book down.

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Amanda Glaspie

Exiled SouthExiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a delightful read of a woman who suffered great tragedy and ended up finding herself and so much more. Lizbeth, after losing her husband, moves back home to the south where she embarks on quest to find her long lost relatives; little did she know she would be solving a 100 year old mystery. I found myself wanting more, wondering what the next piece of information Lizbeth would find, and finally cheering with excitement as all comes to together. The way this book was written was wonderful. I loved being transported backs to the 1800s and how they may have done things in Charleston and then back to present day to connect the pieces. I am finding myself wanting to know more about Lizbeth and what her future held as I was truly rooting for her. All in all, a very good read.

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Ashley Westerman

Exiled SouthExiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Phew! What an emotional ride this was! This is a wonderful debut book! I really enjoyed how well history was mixed into this story. The talk of all the yummy southern food made me hungry and wanting to make some. The characters, especially Lizabeth were so well written and relatable. I felt like I really got to know her and was on this journey with her to find her family’s history. I would definitely recommend this book, it was excellent!

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Katie Kearney

Exiled SouthExiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I kinda went out on a limb when I got this book but the blurb had me intrigued. And I’ll be honest it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. This author is new to me but I’ll definitely be looking for more. From page one I was sunk into this emotional and surprising storyline. There’s definitely things I hadn’t expected which I love. Any book that keeps me going and doesn’t spell it all out so easily is a winner in my view. The characters were all so well written and each brings something unique to the storyline. This story pulled at my heart and I know it’ll do the same for you. Four stars and highly recommended!

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