I am pleased to welcome Justine Carver today as she tours with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours in support of her book, The Waltz of Devil’s Creek.
About The Waltz of Devil’s Creek:
Judith Campbell is dying, and she cannot take the painful truth about where her son came from to the grave with her. While on her deathbed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1994, Judith tells him the tragic story of his conception, and which of two men his birth father could be: the young man who professed his love to her, or the pastor who assaulted her.
Set in the Deep South in 1947, The Waltz of Devil’s Creek digs into the dark crevices of racism and women’s rights during a heated political climate in an era of segregation. Combined with Judith’s lack of social stature, and at a time when reporting sexual assault was unheard of, every injustice is stacked against her from the very beginning.
But there is a light in Judith’s young life: her best friend, Joseph Bird, who has loved her since childhood. Joseph stands up for Judith when no one else will and proves that even in the darkest of times, a light is always burning.
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About the Author:
Justine Carver was born and raised in the Southern United States on a heavy dose of creek-wading, lightning-bug-catching, and Saturday morning cartoons. She is a full-time writer, all-the-time reader, and every now and then, she pulls her head out of the clouds long enough to remember how much better it is up there.
Website: www.justinecarver.com
Instagram: author_justine_carver
My Opinion:
This is not an easy read but it’s certainly a book worth the time. Judith is brought up to respect everyone but that respect isn’t always returned as she is from a poor family. As she gets older she starts to learn that life is far from fair and then her life is completely overturned when someone she trusts blows up her world in ways she never could have expected.
Life in the 40ies and 50ies was not as easy for women as it is today, particularly in regards to dealing with sexual assaults. Not to mention the location – this book takes place in the south where race relations were their own special kind of hell.
This is the kind of book that stays with you for days after you read it; bits of it will pop back into your head while doing mundane chores. The topics are far removed from today and yet very relevant. Women had fewer rights and when it comes to dealing with issues like sexual assault it was barely talked about let alone dealt with.
It’s a powerful read full of compelling characters that really makes you think. This book is well worth the read – it’s not always easy but read it, you will be pleased that you did.
Rating:
5
The Giveaway:
Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on December 10th. You must be 18 or older to enter.