The details…
- Title: Appalachian Awakening
- Author: Nance Sparks
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
- Publication date: January 16, 2024
- Available formats: ebook, paperback
- Digital file size: 1414 KB
- Print length: 240 pages
- Genre: contemporary romance
- Themes: women loving women, class disparity, friendship, adventure, hiking, camping, self-discovery, love, personal growth, the beauty of nature, community, self-actualization, self-awareness, reflection, endurance, the Appalachian Trail
- Tropes: friends to lovers, opposites attract, rich girl/poor girl
The blurb…
Facing yet another failed relationship and a full-blown identity crisis after losing her job in a corporate merger, unemployed executive Amber Shaw realizes she hasn’t been happy in a long time. Who is she if not a CEO, and if everything she’s worked for hasn’t made her happy, what will? Inspired after learning about the Appalachian Trail, Amber sets off in hopes of figuring it all out.
Leslie Brown lives life on her own terms with nothing to tie her down. She’s an experienced hiker and has one final trail left on her bucket list, the Appalachian Trail. Only problem, all her friends have settled down and started lives that don’t allow for seven months away from responsibilities. She’s out there alone.
Amber and Leslie assume they are polar opposites based on their first impressions of each other, but the more their paths cross, the more this hike of a lifetime begins to look like a love of a lifetime.
My thoughts…
Appalachian Awakening by Nance Sparks is a heartwarming and transformative journey of self-discovery and love set against the backdrop of the Appalachian Trail. The story revolves around Amber Shaw, a young woman yearning for personal fulfillment after losing her high-powered executive job and girlfriend. It shakes her to the core and makes her question who she is and what she wants from life. After a few drinks and a couple of rewinds through the movie Wild, she decides to mimic Cheryl Strayed and search for her own answers on the Appalachian Trail. As she begins her sojourn, she meets Leslie Brown, a seasoned hiker with her own story to tell. Despite their initial differences, they form a deep connection during their months-long journey. Their love story–filled with friendship and the glory of the great outdoors–is as delightful as it is compelling.
Sparks does a fine job constructing this story. She nails down the seven critical elements of story writing like a pro. First and foremost, she creates a well-structured plot that’s developed around clear and solid story mapping. It facilitates an arc that consists of meaningful, relevant, and time-bound plot points, making the storytelling credible. Furthermore, the arc—coupled with Sparks’s well-planned story world—institutes physical challenges and tests of endurance that push introspection and reflection. It all leads to organic tension and true character growth, something that hooks readers until the end.
While Sparks’ story construction is noteworthy, her character development deserves appreciation as well. Amber and Leslie are relatable and multidimensional women with clear, understandable motivations. Readers understand these women; they care about them. Right from the beginning Sparks grabs readers’ emotions by scripting a strong opening and inciting moment, one that unveils both Amber and Leslie’s true desires and fears. Their misguided truths, things they’ve believed all of their adult lives, are slowly unraveled during this trek, making their transformation impactive with the readers.
Even though the main characters do the bulk of the work in Appalachian Awakening, the secondary characters need praise as well. Sparks uses them to create tension and balance within the storytelling. On top of that, these characters work to advance the sub-plot, even giving it a twist. Most importantly though, they provide depth and complexity to the storytelling, making the whole reading experience more memorable. This is especially true of Sue as she fulfills the role of “confidant” in the narrative. Her relationship with Amber–along with her distinct and unique personality traits–elevates the storytelling, making her one character readers won’t soon forget.
Construction and character development aside, Sparks also gets high marks for her style and literary choices. Her descriptive writing is simply enchanting; she skillfully captures the essence of the Appalachian Trail, captivating readers with all its grandeur and wonder. Her immersive prose evokes a strong sense of place with readers, so much so that it’s transportive. One can feel both the splendor and unyielding severity of the wilderness as Amber and Leslie put one foot in front of each other, conquering the 2,190 miles of trail together. Additionally, Sparks’ first-person point of view elevates the storytelling by lending insight into the characters’ thoughts and emotions, thus creating a connection between the readers and the narrative. Her style not only pulls readers into the story world but excites their imaginations, poking at their fantasies and making them wonder what it would be like to achieve what Amber and Leslie did.
Final remarks…
Appalachian Awakening is not just a story—it’s a celebration of the human spirit. Nance Sparks’ descriptive, well-constructed narrative explores the wild, untamed world of the Appalachian Mountains while immersing itself in themes of self-discovery and love, making this book a must-read for sapphic readers and nature lovers. Its rich and vivid portrayal of Amber and Leslie’s journey on the Appalachian Tail is curated with care. Their journey to self-fulfillment and love will leave a lasting impression long after the final page has been turned.
Strengths…
- Well-written, descriptive prose
- Immersive story world
- Emotional and honest dialogue
- Likable, investable characters
- Heartwarming romance
A peek inside…
This is awful. Should we stop and pitch our tents?” The air was so cold and damp that my windproof gear didn’t feel like it was living up to its name. I pulled my sleeves down around my clenched fist, trying to retain a touch of body heat.
“With this wind, it would be better to find a shelter. Never know when or where a tree limb could come down. This is looking much worse than what was in the forecast. Do you think you can make it another couple of miles to Low Gap Shelter? It’s seven miles closer than where we planned to sleep.”
“I trust you. I’ll do whatever you think is best.” I pulled my head down and forced myself to plot along.
She slowed her pace until we were side-by-side. How about some conversation to pass the time? Let’s see, how’d you word it back at Springer? ‘I hope I find what I’m looking for, else, I hope I find what I need.’”
“Yeah, it was something like that.” That was exactly how I’d worded it. Should I have been flattered or creeped out that she memorized my trail motto word for word? “What’d you write?”
“An epically original, ‘Last of the scenic eleven,’ followed by my trail name. That was all that I was willing to share with the public.”
“What aren’t you willing to share?” I asked, hoping she would answer, and the uncertainty in my life wouldn’t be the topic of conversation.
“You first. Your words really struck me. What do you hope to find? What wasn’t working in your life back home that a new job and a new girl couldn’t fix?”
“You want to have that conversation right now? Out here in the freezing wind and rain?” I turned to look at Leslie. My hood slapped rhythmically against the side of my face.
“Why not? Do you have somewhere else to be?”
“Are you going to call me a Wild hiker if I say that, at this moment, another job and another girlfriend sounds pretty damn nice?”
“Everything sounds better than trecking when the weather is this cold and nasty, but we’d never finish if we only hiked on the nice days. How would you have answered if I’d ask you yesterday?”
“Can’t you leave it be?”
“Come on, I really want to know. It’s not a tough question.”
“But it is, if I don’t know the answer.” I stopped abruptly and threw my arms in the air. “I don’t know, okay? I don’t know what I hoped to figure out. I don’t know what it is that Isn’t working in my life. I don’t know what I’m looking for or where to find it. I don’t know anything. I just fucking don’t know!” The urge to throw something was instant and overwhelming. I picked up an open pinecone, one that could adorn a festive winter decoration once dipped in sparkling glitter. I cocked my arm back and released it with everything I had. The wind caught it and whipped it right back at me with much more force. A direct hit to my chest. “Jesus. Apparently I don’t even know how to throw a fucking pinecone.”
Instantly, I regretted my outburst. Definitely not the behavior of a seasoned executive. I was sure I looked and sounded as ridiculous as I felt. I half expected Leslie to turn and simply walk away. I certainly would have if I’d been on the other side of that tantrum, Yet, she remained at my side and even reached for my hand. Her touch had an incredible grounding effect.
“I think that’s the realist you’ve been since we met.”
“What do you mean?” Thank goodness for the rain, because I was on the verge of tears.
“You’re edited. You think through every word that comes out of your mouth. Tell me I’m wrong.”
I stared at her, trying to figure out what to say. Well, shit, that totally proved her point. “What do you want from me?”
“I want you to let me in. I want to know the you that no one else gets to know.”
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A bit about the author…
Nance Sparks is a Goldie Award winning author of lesbian romance. She lives in south central Wisconsin with her spouse. Her passion for photography, homesteading, hiking, gardening and most anything outdoors comes through in her stories. When the sun is out and the sky is blue, especially during the golden hour, Nance can be found on the Wisconsin River with a camera in hand capturing shots of large birds in flight. To learn more about Nance, visit her website and social media.
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