Pirate Patty Reviews

Azalea Marie Centre aka Knot, a nickname from her father. We follow her story from 1941 to 1987. She has moved to the town of West Mills, North Carolina to teach school. Or to be out from under her family, either way, she’s here and she’s a complete mystery to the town folk of this African-American town.

At a time when single women weren’t swilling down moonshine on the regular nor enthralled with 19th Century literature and for goodness sakes, they weren’t having one night stands with men.  She is determined to do everything her way. And I thought that was a pretty selfish outlook. Her dear friend Otis Lee Loving and his wife have become her family.

So when she gets into a bit of trouble, Otis is there to bail her out. Again and again. I did not care for her blase’ attitude or her lack of consideration of how her behavior hurt so many people. People who should have been taking care of their own families instead of cleaning up her messes.

And once those secret messes come tumbling out of the closet, the damage may be too hard to repair. As her own family shuns her and her adopted family is tired of bailing her out of trouble, Knot may just have to own up to her bad behavior and face the consequences.

A story of family, secrets and how the power of love can soothe even the ugliest of hurts.

I can’t believe this is a debut novel. The author’s style is smooth and honest and he didn’t try to make it pretty. It was life. Then and Now.

I would highly recommend it!

NetGalley/June 4th 2019 by Bloomsbury Publishing