A Silken Thread

A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This year along with trying to read longer books I'm also trying to be a bit more selective in what I'm reading.  Last year I pretty much read any book I could get from publishers to review.    This year I'm working on being more selective.  When I received the request for reading this book for Waterbrook Publishing the story line intrigued me.  I love reading about history in a fiction content.  This story highlights the International Cotton Exposition that took place in Atlanta following Civil War (1881).  I had never heard of this exposition and when I looked up a brief synopsis of the exposition it took place near the Western & Atlantic railroad.  It's goal was to show the progress made since the city's destruction during the Battle of Atlanta (que Gone With the Wind music and visual of Scarlett O'Hara driving frantically out of the burning city of Atlanta- love that movie).  

That is the backdrop/setting of this story.  The story highlights three main characters.  18 year old Laurel Millard- who is the youngest of 7 children and early on in the story is given the task of being the care taker of her widowed mother since the other 6 children have families and are married.  Laurel doesn't appreciate this request by her siblings and worries that unless she finds a man that can take her mother in all the while starting a life with her she is destined to becoming a spinster.  The next character Willie Sharp is dealing with his own widowed father, who the reader finds has suffered a debilitating stroke.  Wille's father needs rehabilitation/therapy in a "home" which Willie can only afford if he gets hired on as a workman during the Exposition.  He previously had been a factory worker for Mr. Rochester, a wealthy businessman in town.  Mr. Rochester, knowing Willie needs the money for his father's rehab, gives Willie his blessing to work at the Exposition and says his job in the factory will be awaiting him when the Exposition ends.  Lastly, Langdon Rochester, Mr. Rochester's son, has been given an ultimatum- settle down, start taking the family business serious, find a wife, or his inheritance is gone.  Langdon decides what better place than the Exposition to check out the options for his bride to be.  He picks Laurel as his object of affection. 

The story shows not only the lives and stories of our three main characters, but brings out the underlying story line of post Civil War Atlanta.  There has been changes post war, but as so prevalent in even today's world, there is still evidence showing inequality, racism, and difference between socio-economic classes.  

All of that said- I found this book a little slow and predictable/cliche'.  I was hoping for a little surprise, unexpected story line twist and didn't get it.  It was an easy read, and I give it three stars.

Thanks to WaterBrook for sending me this book to review.