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I had never read a romance novel before I was introduced to the Simone’ Trilogy. My areas of interest were sports, finance, history, thrillers, and politics; Guy stuff don’t you know! I did not know what to expect, would these books be mushy or pornographic? I am a friend of the talented author, Carlotta Russell, and I know that pornography would not play a key role in the plots of these books.
I begin to read, and I quickly realized that the scope of this literary effort would be MUY GRANDE! It would stretch from South Carolina to Italy and points in between. The characters were well defined and strong. As I read it became clear that the plot was well developed and exciting. Would love to win out in the end? Only time would tell.
I was extremely impressed by the dialogue. Spelling and punctuation were impeccable. The author’s description of the dress fashion for men and women that were prevalent at the turn of the century proved without a doubt that Elegance was the order of the day. If we could only borrow a small bit of these fashions in 2021.
The plot will keep the reader turning the pages rapidly. I can recommend this wonderful romantic novel for your reading pleasure.
Ted Merry
Top Cat Toastmaster
Membership

Ted Merry

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“The flavor is distinctively Southern. Those familiar firsthand with country smokehouses, strawberry festivals, and the like may have the advantage here. Yankees will learn as well, however, via the grapevine of the oral heritage upon which Mrs. Russell adeptly relies. There is real Southern flavor here. For example, there is the tale of Sage’s bossy elder sister. Confined to the smokehouse by her conspiring siblings, she emerges on the other side with distinctive coloring and the scent of the smoldering oak used to create the family’s country pork cuisine! There are close calls for the chief protagonist as well, with all too narrow escapes from the ill-tempered bull or the pugnacious country dog (too familiar to many of us) who, in effect, is the extension of its belligerent owner. But either sage advice from Mama or a hard stick to the nose can prevail. Young and old alike will experience it all in Mrs. Russell’s pages culled from the Southern past.”

Malcolm Drew Donalson, PhD, foreign languages, and history

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The narrator describes the antics of children living before the world became quite so complicated as it is now. The reader is quickly and deeply engaged and finds it very hard to put the book down.

Milly Cowles, PhD, distinguished service professor emerita, UAB

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The quiet rolling hills, streams, and farmlets in North Mobile County hold the captivating childhood folklore so vividly related in We Smoked Our Sister and other Stories from a Childhood. I could not wait to see what would happen next in the vivacious characters in spirited situations. From Mikhaileau’s fight with the huge bear, to Miss Nancee’s cloud-splitting axe, to Miss Victoria’s lesson in the smokehouse, I was totally delighted. Please give us more.

Susan Rouillier, MS, CIS

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Precise description infused with humor and simple, but subtle storytelling makes this book a very engaging read. I now know all about the exquisite Southern lifestyle of a family in the mid-1960s. The author has finely crafted an amazing journey down memory lane

Zunair Khan, network administrator

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Magical, surreal, hysterically bold, powerful, masterful storyteller, extraordinary fiction parallels works of great writers of magic realism

Patricia O’Farrill, department of foreign languages (Spanish), Alabama State director-Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica

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Amusement beyond imagination; I am glad that you wrote this book.

Nasrullah Aziz, mathematics professor