Thursday, August 20, 2020

Ane Mulligan Visits! IN HIGH COTTON Reviews by Paula and Trixi


When people learn I’m an author, they want to know what kind of books I write. My brand is Southern-fried fiction. In all my books, no matter what era they’re set in, you’ll find an ensemble cast of strong women, facing life’s issues together.



I grew up wanting sisters. I only had a brother; both of us were adopted. While we had an idyllic childhood, I longed for sisters. I gathered girl friends around me in place of nonexistent sisters. That continued into adulthood, and those friendships influenced my writing. Of course, little did I know what God had in store for me. The story of my discovery of my birth sisters is here on my website.



In High Cotton is the first in my Georgia Magnolias series. It’s probably my favorite of all the books I’ve written. I love this story of a young widow, raising her small son during the Depression. I also grew to love the other characters, who took on life as Maggie gathered them around her.



Sadie Moreland, half Yamasee Indian, who became a mentor to Maggie. Duchess Alden, Maggie’s sister, who arrived in Rivers End without any skills other than being a good hostess.

Then there’s sweet Pinkie Yates. Maggie’s little boy found her and beaten and battered. He told his mama he’s like the Good Samaritan in the Bible, and they had to take her home. Maggie’s mother-in-law, Faylene, is a tower of strength.



I’ve had a lot of fun researching and writing this series. One of my favorite aspects of this was the Depression era recipes. Southerners used peanuts as a staple protein in their family meals, and I tried a few out on my family. I share several recipes in the book, and I thought y’all might enjoy seeing one of them.



Macaroni Papoose

1 package macaroni, broken in ¼-inch lengths

1/3 c milk

grated cheese

small amount horseradish

thin slices raw smoked ham



Cook macaroni until tender, spread slices of ham with macaroni, horseradish and cheese.

Roll slices and skewer or tie together. Place in shallow baking dish with milk.



Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees) for 35 minutes. Serve hot with dish of crushed pineapple to sprinkle over each “papoose” as desired.



If you’d like to read the first chapter of In High Cotton, go to https://anemulligan.com/georgia-magnolias-series and scroll to the DOWNLOADS



Ane Mulligan has been a voracious reader ever since her mom instilled within her a love of reading at age three, escaping into worlds otherwise unknown. But when Ane saw PETER PAN on stage, she was struck with a fever from which she never recovered—stage fever. She submerged herself in drama through high school and college. One day, her two loves collided, and a bestselling, award-winning novelist emerged. She lives in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband and a rascally Rottweiler. Find Ane on her website, Amazon Author page, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and The Write Conversation. 



In High Cotton
Southern women may look as delicate as flowers, but there’s iron in their veins.

                             

While the rest of the world has been roaring through the 1920s, times are hardscrabble in rural South Georgia. Widow Maggie Parker is barely surviving while raising her young son alone. Then as banks begin to fail, her father-in-law threatens to take her son and sell off her livelihood—the grocery store her husband left her. Can five Southern women band together, using their wisdom and wiles to stop him and survive the Great Depression?



Available online at Amazon, LPCBooks, Target, and in bookstores.



Mulligan pens a story full of southern charm with a cast of characters in a cute Georgia town you won't easily forget. Makes me want to sit down with the lot of them for a glass of sweet tea. — New York Times Bestselling Author, Rachel Hauck



“What was the last book that kept you up until the wee hours of the morning? Last time I looked at the clock it was almost 2am and I was reading Ane Mulligan's "In High Cotton" which comes out Aug 3, 2020! I had to force myself to put a bookmark in my Kindle.” Mimi Noble on Avid Readers of Christian Fiction

INKWELL REVIEWS:
PAULA'S REVIEW:
Delightful story of a band of women in a small Georgia town and how they cope during the depression.

Maggie Parker: “As I look around this table, I’m proud of my family. We may be ahead of our time, but I cannot help but think this is what heaven will be like. All colors of people sitting together in fellowship, sharing a meal”

The thing that struck me and can be applied to any situation is that these women relied on God in good times and bad. It is sweet when Maggie writes stories from the Bible for her son, Barry. He, in turn, learns the lesson of the Good Samaritan and jumps in to apply it readily. No matter what happens to thwart Maggie and her family, or what doubts creep in, she sees God provide. And each woman is just the one to add their expertise to the makeshift family, drawing on gifts and strengths that adversity brings out in them.

I absolutely loved going back to this time period to experience the joys and sorrows and hearing the quaint sayings of the era.
*I received a complimentary ecopy of book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

TRIXI'S REVIEW:
“In all the ways that matter—love, family, and friends—we are indeed blessed and surely in high cotton.”

This is a charming small town story set in South Georgia during the depression era, just before the year turned to 1930. It tells of Maggie Parker and her young son Barry just trying to survive alone and keep the grocery store her late husband left her. Times are hard, money is scarce but there's no lack of love when it comes to her son and doing what needs to be done to take care of him. Then when she takes in her sister Duchess and a young woman named Pinkie, things get really interesting from there! We also meet Sadie who plays a huge role in the story. I love the camaraderie between them, how they stick close to one another, helping where they can and supporting each other in any way they know how.

It was a fascinating look at small town life, with small town charm and even touches on prejudices of the historical time. Women were still looked down on, but I love the grit and steel Maggie showed. She didn't cow to her Father-in-law or other men when they came against her. I also loved how Duchess, Pinkie, and Sadie band together when times get tough, each woman lending their own skills and knowledge to the mix. They relied on each other and turned towards the Lord when things got to be too much. I really enjoyed seeing how faith played out in their lives!

“Southern women stick together. Got to lend each other some iron now and then.”

“Sadie's always says, “Southern women may seem delicate as flowers, but we've got iron in our veins.””

I loved this look back in history and how Mulligan portrayed the Depression era. I wouldn't have wanted to live through it, but it gave me a better appreciation for those who did. My grandma was one who did and I understand her so much better. There's also “Maggie's Household Hints” at the back of the book; all sorts of old-fashioned cleaning remedies that I might just try myself! This is just such a great book that I felt immersed in the story. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it!
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and wasn't obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *

9 comments:

  1. Thank you for giving me time to share with your readers. I'm delighted with the reviews, too!

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  2. This book sounds wonderful! Thanks for the spotlight and reviews!

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  3. Thank you for sharing your reviews about this book, it sounds like a great read and the book cover is Gorgeous!

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    Replies
    1. Alicia, thank you. I'm over the moon for the cover. My publisher sure did a great job on it.

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  4. This is so much fun to have Ane visit. I've met her and she's just much fun in person!

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