Carol A. Collier

An Appalachian Summer Carol A. Collier

Years ago, Anna Wall escaped the confines of Bitter Creek, Virginia to become a successful chef. When a family emergency calls Anna back to her hometown, her life will change forever. Anna finds her Great Aunt Berta living in a ramshackle cabin, surrounded by fifty acres of prime hardwood forest that a development company insists on purchasing. The old woman defends her land with courage and a shotgun, but time is running out. She needs to impart her knowledge of herbal medicine and mystical gypsy practices to her niece before it's too late. The skeptical Anna must accept her aunt's teachings and adopt the mantle of her mysterious Melungeon ancestry if they are to save the land from destruction. When Anna joins forces with Aunt Berta she becomes the enemy's new target and the talk of the town. An Appalachian Summer is a love story and a coming of age story that shows us what can happen when we trust our hearts. This is Southern mountain story telling at its finest. A melody of anticipation and longing sung by characters you won't forget.