The Story of Sassy Sweetwater: Southern Fiction for Women

Vera Jane Cook

Jun 2012 · Bublish, Inc.

About this ebook

After thirteen years on the run Violet McLaughlin returns to Carter’s Crossing, South Carolina, in 1962, with her young daughter, Sassy. The Crossing is right outside of Beaufort and the turmoil of the Civil Rights movement will forever leave its scars on the young and impressionable girl.

As Sassy stands before the imposing white farmhouse for the first time, with no knowledge of her history but that the McLaughlin's are her kin, Sassy begins a journey that will tear her apart before it heals her.

Growing up among secrets that will forever damage her relationship with her mother, she attempts to make sense of her past. But will her passion for art and her love for Thomas Tierney be enough to sustain her future?

Will the journey she must take to discover the truth be worth it?

Ratings and reviews

I received a free electronic copy of The Story of Sassy Sweetwater from Netgalley, Vera Jane Cook, and BooksGoSocial. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this work of my own volition and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Vera Jane Cook to friends and family. Sassy Sweetwater is an excellent example of Southern Noir. The setting for this novel is Carter's Crossing, South Carolina during the turmoil of the 1960's racial riots. We join Sassy and her prodigal mother, Violet McLaughlin as they return to Carter's Crossing after 13 years on the run. The McLaughlin matriarch, Grandma Edna, folds Sassy into the wings of the family, but her mother Violet is soon back among the missing, and 13-year-old Sassy is left behind in Carter's Crossing among people she knows nothing about and a very structured southern life with Edna. Sassy resents her mother's abandonment and feels at first that Grandma Edna doesn't like her, doesn't want her around, either. Soon however she understands that among the McLaughlin family Edna is the only one with common sense and morals. Most of the extended family are like a nest of vipers, snapping and snarling, and only looking out for number one. Add southern race riots and family secrets into the mix and life isn't pretty or safe, even in the cradle of family and home. But Sassy is versatile and has her own dreams. She will survive and thrive, despite the cards stacked against her...

About the author

Vera Jane Cook, is the author of Dancing Backward in Paradise, 2007 winner of the Indie Excellence Award for notable new fiction and an Eric Hoffer Award for publishing excellence, also in 2007. Dancing Backward in Paradise received a 5 Star Review from ForeWord Clarion. The Story of Sassy Sweetwater, was a finalist for the ForeWord Clarion Book of the Year Award and the recipient of a five star review from ForeWord Clarion. Where the Wildflowers Grow was her third southern fiction novel and is receiving 5 star reviews from Amazon.com. She is also the author of Annabel Horton, Lost Witch of Salem, Lies a River Deep and Marybeth, Hollister & Jane.