Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is good. I like learning about history, so that’s what drew me to this book. Lizabeth has a hard time trying to figure out why her husband lied to her and moves back home. Then she takes a job at an international school to live out her dreams. The job she takes is at a school in Brazil. There she learns so much about culture and ancestors. I love strong female leads.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a truly intriguing book that caught my attention with the conversation between Liz and Dan. It built from there. The story was well-written. The topic was interesting and well-researched. The characters felt like they could have been pulled right out of the community, very relatable. Intense, intriguing and a very goood read. I enjoyed this book.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
Exiled South is a wonderfully written story about family and exploring the past uncovering secrets. This is a fairly new author to me and I look forward to reading more from her. I had a hard time putting it down once I started reading. What an emotional rollercoaster ride at times There are a few twists and turns I didn’t expect but wow what a ride.. Lizabeth finds herself going back home to her hometown in South Carolina following the death of her husband. She finds herself very restless while doing some family research so she goes to Rio De Janeiro on a little short term job. She didn’t expect to meet someone with some ancestors with the same surname as her. Will she find the answers she’s looking for? I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. I do want to warn there may be a scene that may be a trigger for some.i can’t wait to read more from this Author.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Captivating
A journey down well worn paths of history that spanned across continents. I found this book fascinating even though I am not very familiar with American history. The story follows Lisbeth as she works through her grief and uncovers family secrets buried long ago. I enjoyed the author’s writing and the way historical facts were interwoven with the character’s story. A wonderful read that history lovers would enjoy.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was surprised at some of the language used in this book bjut it shows what those times were like. I enjoyed the correspondence letter between the characters it was nice to read them and see what was been passed between the two. Lizbeth Gordon divide into her family history after losing a lover. Whislt reconnection to the past and family members she discovers some truths that shock her. A great read.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a great book to start out the new year! This book sucked me in from the very beginning, the prominent theme of shame due to families past actions. I quickly read Lizbeth’s story of returning to the deep south after losing her husband, caught up in all the history and drama that her family’s past held. The entire book was an emotional roller coaster that made me yearning for more at the end of every chapter. I am very excited to read more from this author in the future!
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really interesting read! This is a deeply interwoven novel of family, history, betrayal, secrets, conflict and coming together again. There were several twists and turns I didn’t expect (not in a thriller or horror way, just a historical and kismet way I wasn’t expecting from the blurb) that kept me reading didn’t let me stop. This was a deeply engrossing and engaging novel that had me thinking throughout about several different things and factors. Racism, slavery, how things look on the surface may not be what they seem on the inside. This was a deep, thought provoking novel. Trigger warning: there is a rape scene in the novel that may be triggering for some. I highly recommend reading this novel and hope to read more from this author in the future.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Exiled South is one woman’s journey to overcome unimaginable grief and reconnect to the parts of her family’s past that she has tried to ignore for over two decades. After the death of her husband, Lizbeth leaves town and heads for her family’s vacation cabin down South to rest and recuperate, with the help of her cousin Charlotte. With Charlotte’s tender care and gentle prodding, she starts to reconnect with her roots in North Carolina. Throughout her emotional and physical journeys, she learns to reclaim her ancestry, the good the bad and the ugly. The themes in this novel were handled very well, and I appreciated the frank and vulnerable way that Cannon drew Lizbeth for her readers. The story was very relatable and Lizbeth is an interesting, intelligent, complicated human. Charlotte was a fun character as well, and I appreciated both her loving gestures for Charlotte mixed with a no-nonsense ‘tell it like it is’ attitude. Very realistic of a big sister – one minute gracious and caretaking, the next minute calling out her sister on her bullsh!t. A lovely read written with a gentle touch and a reflective vibe.
Reviewed by @ericalorraine
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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As her debut novel this author has put her heart and soul into this story. It is an emotional read but an interesting one with all the historical information throughout this tale.
For generations Lizbeth family have been in turmoil. With stories from the past of ancestors that disappeared and a traitor on the run Lizbeth yearns for a quiet life, but her curiosity wins out to see if the stories are just that stories. When she least expects it, she comes across something that might just help the family finally heal.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The author did an amazing job of describing every setting in this book, which made me want to hop on a plane and go visit! I was instantly connected since it starts in Washington State close to my hometown. Lizbeth Gordon is a school counselor in a small town that she moved to after marrying her husband Dan. She has twin boys that attend Western Washington University a few hours away. After the tragic death of her husband, she decides to move back to South Carolina. The descriptions of South Carolina and the coasts sound breathtaking. With the help of her cousin Charlotte, she is able to enjoy the family home and the beach it sits on. I had not heard of the term “roots research” until this book and it intrigued me. Lizbeth is doing her own roots research and trying to learn more about the Gordon family going back for generations. She has Charlotte, her aunt, and some headstones and photographs to start. There are many dead ends but I couldn’t stop reading to find out about her family!
Review by @bibliophilenerd
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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Again, I am probably the least interested ever in reading history based fiction, but I couldn’t stop reading this. The civil war was definitely one of my favorite history lessons if I had to choose one, and this book was so good. Our main character was recently widowed, her boys off at school, and she just needed to find herself again. I really enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Beautiful story but yet parts were heartbreaking. Losing a spouse is unimaginable, and that is what happens with Lizbeth. When she picks up the broken pieces to what she thought she knew, she in turn goes back to roots. Lizbeth’s story of her past and wanting to know more of her own family, history and heritage really grabbed my attention to keep reading. This story is very well written and full of about family, history and secrets. The author did a great job in details where the story takes place. Looking forward to reading more books from this author!
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a new author to me, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I picked it up. What I found is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed especially considering that some of the story takes place on one of the beaches in South Carolina. Having lived in NC all my life I am quite familiar with the Carolina beaches, so this felt a lot like home to me. I am a history buff, so I enjoyed the civil war details that were included in the story. I think this author did a fantastic job describing the choices that not only we, but our family ancestors before us make. And I loved it. As someone that loves to research my own family genealogy it made me sit back and think about how some of the choices my family tree made that had affected me and my life. It makes me want to sit down and possibly retrace some of that as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking to go back in time to see how family choices made many years ago relate to us now and the choices we make.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story was a beautiful read. It is heartwarming but at times heartbreaking. I love Lizbeth character. She is a strong women who has had her world turned upside down.
This is a story about love, loss and family and finding out who you really are and where you come from.
The reader is taken on a journey with Lizbeth as she tries to find out her family history. What she doesn’t expect is that the Gordon family reached more areas that she originally thought and as she starts to find this out it gives her chance to face her familys history and also heal herself.
The author does am amazing job with descriptions and building the stories and characters. You feel like finding Lizbeth’s family is like retracing your own family history. This story also covers subject such as slavery and racism but it is done so in a respectful and informative way educating the reader as well as providing the reader an escape from everyday life.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is such a well written story about family and exploring the past. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I enjoyed how relaxed the book felt, while still providing a depth to it. It was quite a quick story and it felt complete, like a story well told. I found that I really became invested in the main character and her journey – from the death of her husband to everything she goes through. The book was well thought and a really enjoyable story. This was a great way to kick start 2022 and I am looking forward to discovering more this authors work.
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lizbeth Gordon is a school counselor who seems to be able to resolve conflict in the lives of others but is unable to do so in her own life. After she unexpectedly loses her husband, she feels alone and is in need for time to herself. Lizbeth decides to return to South Carolina to stay at her family’s cottage on the beach. While there visiting with her family her aunt tells Lizbeth stories of family ancestors who disappeared during the Civil War Reconstruction. This leads Lizbeth to research her family roots to find out what happened to her family and where they may have ended up. In her quest to solve the mystery surrounding the mysterious disappearance of her ancestors Lizbeth hits a brick wall and is unable to find any farther information about this part of her family. Lizbeth becomes frustrated and feels as though she needs to give up, so she accepts a job that she is offered in Rio de Janeiro.
It is in Rio de Janeiro where she meets someone with the same surname as the ancestor that she was researching. This person has old paperwork and an old diary written by someone with the same surname. Could this person be a long lost relative of Lizbeth’s? Could this person be the key to unlocking the secrets of her past?
This book resonated with me because I am currently researching my family tree. This is something that I have been trying to unravel over the years and have stopped and started on numerous occasions. I, too, have stumbled onto roadblocks and dead ends in some of my research with my ancestors. I could identify with the character of Lizbeth Gordon because she was much like me. Despite hitting numerous dead ends she was determined to solve the mystery and fill in the missing pieces from her past. I had to keep reading because I was anxious to see if she would solve the mystery and what length she would go to. I think my favorite part of the entire book was the journal entries that she found that had been written over 100 years ago. I love that kind of stuff!
View all my reviews@TaraJohnsonBarnes
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This author really knew how to put forth such a story that was so much more than it appeared at first glance. I learned very quickly when I was reading, that nothing was what it seemed to be, or was it? There were secrets buried, and were beginning to surface, but are these secrets the characters wanted to know, or perhaps were they things they are better off if they did not search for them?
Our main character Lizbeth endures the impossible from the start of the book and through out the duration of the novel. She has to deal with losing her husband, and then secrets and things that well did not make sense from the life she had with him. As a lot of us do at one time or another, we start a new life and hope for the best. I found she got more than she bargained for in this new life!
Personally I loved Lizbeth’s character development. She had just became a widow and was given impossible things to deal with. I found she was a very strong character and I very much admired her. I loved the cultural learnings of the different cultural countries that Lizbeth had became a teacher in as well as the learning experiences. There were lots of moments that made me question things, but the ties into the secrets as well as the very life of Lizbeth was very intriguing. Things were revealed as I read, and the book itself was mesmerizing, suspenseful, and insightful! Amazing read and I really enjoyed it!
I really enjoyed the flow as well as the concept of the novel as I read on through. I was very much intrigued and entertained. The book was different, than I would have expected, but it made it so much more wonderful! Loved it! I loved the writing of the author as well, and I highly recommend both!
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
With the unexpected death of her husband, Lizabeth Gordon is left to clean up the mess left behind. Living across the country from her own family, Lizabeth welcomes a visit from her childhood friend and cousin from South Carolina. Lizabeth agrees to return to her hometown for a fresh start. When a visit with her aunt reveals secrets about her family, Lizabeth sets out to research the truth.
Reviewed by Terri Jo McAllister
No Names to Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“But good things can come from pieces of a broken heart patched back together.”
In No Games Given, Julia Brewer Daily crafted three separate lives for readers to explore. Sandy, Faith, and Becca could not be more different. Set in the cruel 1960’s when women had few options and reputations to protect. These three women find themselves in a maternity home in New Orleans. They struggle through the loss of their youth, giving away their children for adoption, and the rippling effects they must face every single day. Each woman had to find a way to move forward after giving away the biggest pieces of their hearts.
This book felt very personal to me. My sister was given away for adoption in the late 80’s. While it was 20 years after this story took place, society still held women to an unfair standard. This book felt as though these are the type of stories my sister would’ve created as a young woman about her birth mother. Not only the stories but the endless stream of questions she would’ve asked herself. Was she beautiful? Was she successful? Did she even remember her? These very questions are not only tackled in the book but handled in a heart breaking sequence of events.
Julia wrote a breath-taking story with so many twists and turns. The summary does not do justice to the plot that awaits readers. If you have an interest in time pieces, diving deeper into women’s issues, and going on a wild adventure then I highly suggest this book! Just make sure you have some tissues nearby as you will need them!
I will be anxiously awaiting reading other books by this author in the future!
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a beautiful story of family exploration. After the death of her Husband, Lizbeth returns to her hometown in South Carolina. When she gets restless doing family research to answer questions, she travels to a short term job in Rio de Janeiro. When she meets someone with ancestors of the same surname as her, she has no idea that her questions are going to be answered.
This book reads so easily. I found myself turning page after page in each sitting. Our ancestors and heritage helped to create who we are today. The importance of what our ancestors went through shines in this story. The stories and characters are full of so much raw emotion, I felt very connected to them. This is a beautiful, worthwhile read.
Review by @nrl0522
Exiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this story. This is a newer author for me which I look forward to reading more from in the future. This is a well written story that is an emotional ride throughout the story. The characters are well thought out and written with a lot of heart. They will pull at your heart strings. This is a story about healing and bringing back a family together. The growth of the plot and characters throughout are great and kept the story engaging. This was an emotional ride for me that I truly enjoyed and felt for the characters. They are connectable and brought life to the story. I highly recommend this book and find out if healing is possible for this family.
Review by @bjwagner
No Names to Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book! I love the way each chapter was written for faith, sandy and Rebecca. It was an emotional read and important read for many. To see the differences in others lives through pregnancy in the 1960s. It took you on a rollercoaster of emotions from scandal to rape etc. I would say trigger warning for anyone who has went through any of those things. I enjoyed the friendship between Faith, Sandy and Rebecca. I hope for a sequel to see what happened next for each girl. I did have a hard time putting it down needing to know what happens next. A must read for your 2022 books!
No Names to Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is such a heartbreaking story. This story follows the lives of three different young ladies that each find themselves pregnant and unmarried. This book really tackles the sexism and the racism that unfortunately were so prevalent back then. They were forced to give their babies up and in the midst of their fear and forced silence they bond and become friends. Years later they’re brought back together and searching for answers. There are some unexpected twists in this story and I’m so happy that they all get closure in the end. This is a must read that will really open your eyes to the emotional turmoil that so many young women suffered through.
No Names to Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book gives historical ficition a great name.
1965. Sandy flees her home in order to avoid her mother’s violent lover. Becca makes a mistake and falls in love with the wrong man. Faith is also subjected to a brutal onslaught. These three young, unwed women meet at a maternity home hospital in New Orleans with no assistance and no alternative options, where they are expected to abandon their kids and return home as if nothing happened. However, such a life-changing incident can never be forgotten, and no secret is ever truly buried. A blackmailer threatens to disclose their secrets and destroy their lives twenty-five years later when the women are reconnected by a blackmailer.
Their fundamental underpinnings would be shaken by that shocking news, which would echo all the way to the White House. This compelling drama told from the viewpoints of three women, is based on true stories of women in the 1960s who discovered themselves pregnant yet unmarried, and were driven by family and society to make dreadful decisions. The narrative of how that unthinkable crime affected women’s lives forever is told in No Names to Be Given, a painful yet hopeful novel about family and redemption.
I loved this story. I loved every page of it. Every chapter was exciting. This is my first book from this author and I can’t wait to read the rest of her books.
No Names to Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sandy has run away from home to escape her mother’s abusive boyfriend. Faith is dealing with the aftermath of a terrifying attack. Becca has fallen in liven with the wrong kind of guy. Three situations that have been heard time and time again, but in the 1960s the world was a different place. These three young girls with three different circumstances all find themselves pregnant and unwed in a maternity hospital in New Orleans.
However, nothing ever stays completely secret does it? 25 years after giving birth, these three girls, now women, are coming back together because someone knows. Someone wants to tell and if they do, it could ruin the lives they’ve put together and have an effect on so much more than anyone could ever expect.
No Names to be Given is beautiful and enticing. I knew within the first three chapters this book would leave me with so many feelings and it didn’t disappoint. It covers the tough, yet touching, topic of adoption and shows how much pain can be in any decision.
I’m so happy to have a copy of this book for my shelves and plan to pass on copies to others. This is probably the best debut novel I’ve ever gotten my hands on and is 100% the best story I’ve read in a long time. I’m itching for more from this author. Thank you for such a beautiful story!
No Names to Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book starts off running with strong female characters, and I am here for it. Starting in 1965, this book centers around three women who are faced with tough decisions through impending motherhood and is based on real events. Sandy, Becca, and Faith embark upon a journey that will keep you at the edge of your seat as you root for their endearing and intriguing characters. These three women are pressured by not only the societal standards, but familial and internal standards, as well, and struggle to do what is right for them. I really appreciated this book. The story is quite easy to fall into and stay hooked until the very end – the characters are the best part about it. It left me wanting to learn more and experience more from each of these characters once I was finished. I give this book 5 stars and would love each character to get her own book!
No Names to Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
No Names To Be Given is such a unique and touching story of three young women from the 60’s who become friends in a maternity hospital…the last place any of them thought they’d end up. Becca, Faith, and Sandy all come from different backgrounds and walks of life but find that their friendship helps them each through the toughest time of their lives. The author does such a fantastic job creating a solid background and story line for each woman individually while intricately weaving them together to form a story that sticks with you for long after you’ve finished reading. Filled with mystery, heartache, and scandal, this book is one to move to the top of your “to be read” pile as soon as you purchase it!
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~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ • • ~
Harriet Cannon is a writer with roots in South Carolina. In her thirty-year career as a psychotherapist, she served as a consultant to The Boeing Company, International Schools, and worked for the US State Department in Chile. Harriet is co-author of Mixed Blessings: A Guide to Multicultural and Multiethnic Relationships. Exiled South is her debut novel. Harriet and her husband live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington and have two grown children.
No Names to Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is the story of three women who meet after they all get pregnant out of wedlock and go through their pregnancies in a maternity home. This book is emotional and covers so many topics going through the 60s to early 2000s and all of the events of the times. From interracial relationships, rape, and abuse. Sandy, Becca, and Faith all go through different walks of life, but bond as they are going through one of the toughest things in their life. The story continues the story after the birth of their children and how it effects them each over the years and what happens with their children afterwards.
I loved this book. It was emotional and beautifully written. I had a hard time putting it down. I wanted to keep reading it and would love to read more by her. There are so many incredible stories woven through this book. This had everything; tragedy, romance, heartbreak, happy moments, and at times very intense.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to be in their feels. This will give you that. Events such as the ones portrayed in this book are relatable and were happening throughout the years.
No Names to Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Three women meet for the first time as roommates in a home for unwed mothers. This book weaves together the women’s stories, including what forces propelled each woman to the home in the first place. A tapestry of women overcoming their circumstances is woven throughout the novel. Readers get to follow the women through the decades to come. I became acquainted with situations I had never considered before. Maybe not every sad tale has a happy ending, but sometimes, there is hope for happiness against all odds.
