Review: Liar's Winter by Cindy K. Sproles

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About the book:

Lochiel Ogle was born with a red-wine birthmark--and it put her life in jeopardy from the moment she entered the world. Mountain folks called it "the mark of the devil," and for all the evil that has plagued her nineteen-year existence, Lochiel is ready to believe that is true. And the evil surely took control of the mind of the boy who stole her as an infant, bringing her home for his mother to raise.

Abused and abandoned by the only people she knows as family, Lochiel is rescued by a peddler and given the first glimpse of love she has ever known. The truth of her past is gradually revealed as is the fact that she is still hunted by a brother driven to see her dead. Unsure if there's anyone she can truly trust, Lochiel is faced with a series of choices: Will she continue to run for escape or will she face her past and accept the heartbreaking secrets it reveals? Which will truly free her?

Set in the wild and beautiful Appalachian Mountains of nineteenth-century East Tennessee, Liar's Winter is an unflinching yet inspirational exploration of prejudice and choice.

My Thoughts:

Liar’s Winter is a story that took me by surprise. From the prologue to the epilogue this story drew me in and had me reading in a rapid pace. Set in the Appalachian’s in the early 1900’s we are given a glimpse of a young woman’s life, one that has been abused and lied to for almost 19 years. One where superstitions and hate run deep, deeper than the birthmark that has marked Lochiel (Low kill) believing that she is worthless and the devil’s daughter.

Lochiel was rescued by a kind man who begins to reveal the truth of whom she is and where she is from. This man and his mother treat her as though she matters, with kindness and love and show her about a God who loves her even more. I felt her impatience as the truth was slowly revealed to her and she had to weigh that with the lies she always believed. I wanted these kind folks to tell Lochiel her entire story in one sitting, but as the story unfolded I saw as the author did that that would not be best for Lochiel. Receiving the truth had Lochiel hanging on to the lies she believed her whole life for a little bit longer as the ramifications of the truth swirled inside of her head.

I saw so many life lessons in this story and marveled with Lochiel as she finally saw who she really was. This was my first read by author Sproles and I found it unique in its setting and authenticity in the characters.

I received a copy of this book for free from Kregel Publications. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.