Madam’s Creek
“In the tradition of New York Times bestseller Cold Mountain, Reeder delivers a richly satisfying tale set in the hills of what would soon become West Virginia. Madam’s Creek explores the power of love and the sting of betrayal in a land shattered by war. The magnificent landscape of the New River serves as a backdrop for the tender love story of Marcus and Maylene, fully human characters sure to win your hearts.”
–Donna Meredith, author of The Glass Madonna and The Color of Lies
“Betsy Reeder’s Madam’s Creek is real and organic, as if she lived through that time period. The characters feel authentic. The natural world is as it must have been. As one who has also chased authenticity attempting to infuse life into local history, I am in awe.”
–Jon Averill, writer/producer of Averell’s Raiders & the 35th Star and Passing Thru Sandstone
“I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book; I tend to prefer novels with strong characters and detailed descriptions and Madam’s Creek definitely satisfied those requirements. Plus, there’s the added bonus of a sense of humor, the historical and geographical context, and the depth of understanding about what war does to people (and not just the soldiers). Thank you so much for writing it!”
–Shalom Tazewell
The author, Betsy Reeder, was able to create a time and a place in my mind taking me back to life in the 19th century in the mountains of West Virginia. A life that was innocent in childhood with loving families trying to make a living in difficult terrain that were then bombarded with the divisiveness of the civil war. The author very nimbly takes the reader through the complicated paths of people’s hopes and dreams with the reality of what life can offer. A very good read.
–Anne Meadows
P.S. from Betsy–If anyone who read Madam’s Creek enjoyed it and feels so inspired, I am deeply grateful for reviews on Amazon. A million thanks for those willing to put in a plug. On the other hand, if you didn’t like it, I’m equally grateful if you don’t say so. :o) (Same goes for Broomstraw Ridge.)
Broomstraw Ridge
In a sprawling post Civil War sequel to Madam’s Creek, Broomstraw Ridge will transport you to the mountains of southern West Virginia where you will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Lilly family as they marry, raise children, and bury kin—along with their long-held secrets. Reeder shows her talent for weaving together the great and small, the building of railroad bridges alongside clusters of Dutchman’s breeches, the perfect details to ground a story firmly in place and time.
–Donna Meredith, Associate editor of Southern Literary Review and author of The Glass Madonna
The mountains of southern West Virginia, by their rugged nature, are resistant to change. They breed a certain rough-hewn individualism amongst the people who still cling to the beautiful mountain farms. In Broomstraw Ridge, Betsy Reeder takes us back in time, as we live with, laugh and cry with, people who feel like they must have been the ancestors of those who still know the ways of the hills.
–Jon Averill, writer/producer of Averell’s Raiders & the 35th Star and Passing Thru Sandstone
Broomstraw Ridge captures the nuances that color life in a post-Civil War family. Reeder brings life to the hills and hollows of West Virginia creating a sense of place that is as much a character as any living person in this intriguing world. Each chapter unfolds deliberately, carefully intertwining characters as she reveals the saga of an Appalachian family facing loss, love, betrayal and the struggle to survive and thrive. Broomstraw Ridge places timeless human struggles and triumphs in a setting so alive the reader can nearly smell the fresh hay, and feel the chill of the first snow in winter.
–M. Lynne Squires, Author of Looking Back at Charleston and Letters to My Son–Reflections on Urban Appalachia at Mid-Century
“…there was mistake…. And there was contrition and regret, and there was confession, absolution and forgiveness, and finally there was reconciliation. All this human condition that told a powerful story. Really a great read…. It’s one of those kinds of books that sticks with you for a time after you’ve read it, ya know? And I tell you that because all the time I was reading this book and witnessing the human condition in it, I was thinking, that’s our life, all of our lives. Mistakes, the wrong we do … feeling contrite or depressed …. and then forgiving those around us who have wronged us in one way or another. And mending those broken relationships, reconciling them.” Fr. Stan Holmes, Episcopal Priest
Interview for Southern Literary Review