Alabama Skye

Gannon Family #1

by J.C. Wing

When tragedy befalls Cheney McGillvray, she decides to pack up and leave her beloved home on Scotland's Isle of Skye. She travels to the beachfront town of Kelby on Alabama's gulf coast and appears unannounced on her sister Meara's doorstep with a plan not only for her own future but also for that of her niece. Greer, fresh out of culinary school and two months pregnant, takes the advice of her headstrong grandmother Sarah, and agrees to a partnership with her aunt. Together they transform Sarah's beautiful old home into a proper Scottish B & B right in the heart of America's southland. Both women realize the time to face their pasts has arrived in the weeks before they are to open Gannon's Glen. Cheney finds it difficult to hide the darkness of her past when she begins suffering from debilitating nightmares that bring Greer to her bedside at night and a hurricane sweeps in more than stormy weather. News of the destruction of his childhood home brings Greer's high school sweetheart and their unresolved relationship back into town. Although they are nearly strangers separated by a forty year age gap, Cheney and Greer lean on one another as they come to terms with their lives and realize the possibilities of their futures. Sprinkled with humor and colorful descriptions of both the Gulf Coast and that of Scotland's Inner Hebridean Islands, Alabama Skye is a story about the strength of four generations of women who discover that when things go wrong the ones who stand by you and the ones who carry you are the ones you call family.

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2014

About the author

J.C. Wing is a bestselling, multi-genre indie author. She likes to pen family dramas, romantic comedies, thrillers, YA and the occasional limerick. She has written more than twenty novels, including The Color of Thunder, The Gannon Family Series ("The Skye Books"), the Goddess of Tornado Alley Series and the Whisper Creek Mysteries Series. She is the author of Acquainted with Butterflies, a collection of short stories, personal essays and poetry, and she is a contributing author of the Grey’s Harbor Series.

J.C. publishes under Black Cat Press, her own imprint. Her writing companions are Tara, the golden retriever of absolute happiness and Calvin and Cayenne, the cats of chaos.

Reviews

[Caitlin Janke · Rating 5 out of 5]

 J. C. Wing is such a talented writer. She takes so many different subjects and melds them together into a a beautifully written story that will touch your heart and keep you on your toes at the same time. It's a contemporary woman's novel that can be enjoyed by an adult at any age. Alabama skye also shows the way family comes together in the time of need and is realistic in parts of the story. I loved this book and I know many others will too.
  

[R.P. Dahlke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was soooo good! The author reminds me of Maeve Binchy. Wonderful characters, humor with the challenges of family life. If you like women's fiction, I highly recommend this book, and author.

[C.C. Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alabama Skye is a multi-generational family saga. After the death of her husband, Cheney McGillvray moves from Ireland to live with her family in Alabama where she finds new life starting a Bed and Breakfast with her niece, Greer. Cheney is haunted by the circumstances of her husband’s death and struggles with envy and regret that she didn’t have her father in her life as her half sister did. Greer struggles with her own demons having become pregnant from an unfortunate fling. Together, the family help one another grapple with their respective issues, forming an even closer bond in the process.

Wing’s characterizations are very well crafted. Her characters are likable and lifelike, drawing you into their struggles and making you care about the outcome. The mystery surrounding the death of Cheney’s husband adds a nice element of suspense as the emotional drama plays out.

Alabama Skye hits all the right emotional beats. Drawing from the world of cinema, I would categorize this book as a “chick flick,” more geared toward women than men, but not so much so that it is difficult for the male reader to enjoy. If that’s not your thing, then this book probably isn’t for you. But, if you enjoy getting into the lives of engaging characters working their way through interesting and challenging issues, this is certainly a worthwhile read.

[Julie Rainforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very easy to read. J.C. Wing writes about 5 main characters. These are all strong women who have shaped each other's lives.
Cheney joins her American family when she leaves Scotland after the tragic death of her husband. She opens a B&B wiith her niece Greer.
The story centres around these 2 women and the secrets they harbour.
I love the journey this book took me on and am going to start book 2 immediately.

[S.L. Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart wrenching and heart warming. J.C. Wing does a marvelous job, weaving a touching story of pain, struggle and growth, centered around the women in an odd family. The story is moving on so many levels, aided by Wing's beautiful narrative and thoughtful character interactions. The plot meanders through what seems like rather ordinary circumstances around Greer, who is pregnant with a former flame's child, and Cheney who is dealing with multi-level emotional struggles over the death of her husband and the isolation of her life since her father left while she was a child.

This story is so well painted by Wing that you begin to see depth in your own life that you hadn't noticed before. A rich mosaic of pain, love, suffering and joy, Alabama Skye is one of those stories that will remain with you long after you have closed the book.

I feel fortunate to have found this rare treasure among the Indy Author masses and hope to see much more from her, as she continues this story. Very well done. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys heart touching, women's literary fiction. It is beautifully written.

[Kevin Futers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alabama Skye is a gentle story of the fortunes of five women united by blood and circumstance. The writing is excellent and all of the female characters are well presented and individual, although the male characters are less well rounded.

The two principal characters are Cheney McGillivray and Greer Dover, aunt and niece, who come together in Alabama to start a Scottish themed guest-house in Kelby, Alabama.

Cheney is a native of Portree in Ske, a Gaelic speaking islander whose father left home and went to the USA. Greer is his grand-daughter through his second marriage, the two branches only becoming aware of each other after his death. Cheney, recently widowed, finds that she cannot continue her life as a boarding-house keeper in the house which had run successfully with her husband's culinary skills. She sells up and moves Stateside, knowing that her father had made provision for her in his will. In the bosom of her alternative family she finds the strength to pick up and carry on.

Greer is a recently qualified chef and is the perfect business partner for Cheney, quickly adding the traditional Scottish dishes to her repertoire - once she has got her head around a mix of metric, British Imperial and personal measures in the recipes she has been given. At the beginning of the book she is in the first trimester of pregnancy and the father has shown a clean pair of heels. The family and her best friend / honorary sister (Noah) rally round, but the idea from Skye seems to come at just the right moment, so despite some misgivings, Greer agrees to give it a go.

What follows is a gentle unrolling of personal and family secrets and family events. In terms of drama it is more of a carousel than a roller-coaster, but the stories are honest and the unfolding events, with hints and partial reveals of private memories brings the story to its conclusion, and along the way trust is forged and the family works together to resolve its problems and celebrate its successes.

Cheney's Gaelic can be problematic. Only at one point is a translation supplied, during an extended conversation, and although the context (and the absolutely tiny amount of Gaelic that I know, related more to mountain peaks than conversation) usually helps, it can be absolutely opaque. Given that I have been criticised for my use of Old English and Welsh without translation in Cædmon: The Lord's Poet, I guess I can hold up my hands and say that I finally understand what the problem is. It certainly should not ruin your appreciation of the book, and I would invite readers to stick with it and even to try to understand the words that are being said.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a gentle read celebrating the strength of women and family to come together and flourish.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

[Sharon Heaverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an e-book copy of Alabama Skye in exchange for an honest review. I do not like to do a "book report". You can see what the story line is by reading other reviews or the back cover blurb. I base my review on my own personal reaction to the book.

This is a very heart-warming story of 5 women who are connected by family and friendship. I loved the way the author developed the characters and kept me wondering what the history was of some of the women. The way in which J.C. Wing brings them together is somewhat unique. It is truly not a love story but it is a romantic and tender history of these women.

I also found it fascinating how the men, though an important part of the story really did not become central characters. The focus is truly on the growing relationships of the women. I almost did not want the story to end yet it has a very satisfying ending.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Janet Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely Loved this book by J.C. Wing. I have read both of her books now and will continue to read her novels.

This was a book that captured my interest, held it, and left me wanting more when I reached the end.

The very interaction between characters, the story line, and the history of both Scotland, and the south have a way of pulling you in and keeping your interest during the whole book.

I feel that this is a great avenue for J.C. Wing to consider a series, as with these characters, there is still so many avenues to investigate, and journey through.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alabama Skye is a great story. Cheney struggle with her husband death. Greer have become pregnant with a fling. The family came togther to help one another, and they form a greater bond with eachother. The story is heart warming and heart wrenching. It's about the pain, struggle, and growth.

[Michele Del Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheney and Greer have a unique relationship. This was the first book I have read from this author and I really enjoyed it. This story had many different layers, which I enjoyed. Really good story.

[Bart Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Callum was dead. There was no arguing this point and no forgetting it, either.”

Those are the opening words of J.C. Wing’s Alabama Skye; I was immediately intrigued, and wanted to know more.

The novel blends the people and cultures of two unlikely places: Scotland and Alabama. The result is a charming story, which strangely enough, reminds me of Steel Magnolias … probably due to the salt-of-the-Earth characters and the abundance of southern charm within the pages.

Wing does a fantastic job of developing the core group of ladies that comprise the novel. They are caring and strong, but they aren’t without flaws or trouble, and they all find themselves challenged by the curve balls that life throws at them. Relevant societal problems, such as adjusting to a parent with Alzheimer’s, are brought to bear. They are real people who must confront demons from their past and the demons right in front of them, in the here and now.

Through all of their tribulations and triumphs, there is always the importance of family. Love. And friendship.

I enjoyed the exotic addition of Scottish culture and language, which the author does a fantastic job of weaving into the novel. She’s taken southern fiction and Scottish culture and created something new and unique and nice.

Floating along the periphery of many scenes is delicious food. As a southern kid myself, this gave the story a perfectly natural and realistic feel. Any good southern fiction is going to focus a little bit on the taste buds. How can it not?

“The winter sunshine looked almost white as it came down through the windows and pooled on the hardwood floor…”

Vivid description is a common fixture of the story, as well. The care used to describe the scenery reminded me of one of the classics. In my opinion, modern writers frequently ignore nice, descriptive prose … not a problem in Alabama Skye.

Through realistic characters, beautiful description, and relatable problems, J.C. Wing has given us a well-written and enjoyable novel. I look forward to the next in the series.

5/5 Stars

*Recommended for anyone, however, highly recommended for lovers of southern fiction, literary fiction, and women’s fiction … and anyone that loved Steel Magnolias!

[G.J. Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed J C Wing’s first novel, The Color of Thunder, very much and found her descriptions of characters and places captivating and admirable. So I looked forward to reading Alabama Skye, hoping for a similar reading experience. I was not disappointed. The author has the ability to produce a vivid mental picture without slowing down the pace of the story as it unfolds. Admittedly the pace of this book is a somewhat gentle one, being about a group of women who are brought together when the recently widowed Cheney, moves to Alabama from Scotland. Cheney McGillivray persuades her niece, Greer Dover, to help her start a guest-house in Kelby, Alabama. It sounds simple but the venture is complicated by the fact that Greer is the grand-daughter of Cheney’s father who suddenly left Scotland when Cheney was only five years-old to start a new family. Lots more family secrets are revealed as the tale develops through J C Wing’s excellent writing. The main female characters are shown in depth and with feeling, though that is not perhaps the case with the men in the story.
This story is a wonderful illustration of the strength and importance of family. The novel is full of the emotions experienced by both young and old characters but I was not moved as much as when I read The Color of Thunder. My favourite character in this book had to be the feisty and fiercely loyal Noah, the almost-sister of Greer. There is an element of suspense introduced towards the finale of the novel, which I found to be a weak point, when we discover the circumstances around the death of Cheney’s beloved husband, Callum. However, this did not spoil my overall enjoyment of the story. Greer’s pregnant condition and the circumstances surrounding her love life are particularly well done and felt very real. Readers who enjoy stories that engage with people’s lives as they meet and survive challenging issues will certainly find Alabama Skye to be a worthwhile read. Cheney's frequent use of Scottish Gaelic was a problem and I thought that a glossary with appropriate translations at the end of the book would have been very useful.

[Hock Tjoa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reminds me of a boxful of family photos. The pictures are reasonably well taken and scenes of care and affection predominate although there is an occasional jarring note. But mostly there are just too many of them and very little of interest to those not in the family. (Think about "home movies" shown for your entertainment by well-meaning friends.)

I am inclined to assume that the author wrote about her personal and family experiences--the combination of Alabama and Skye is too cute and unusual and perhaps disguise the real countries though they point to sharp cultural differences. (I doubt that it is or was ever necessary to order teas from Skye to be served in Alabama.) Authors are often enjoined to write OUT OF their own experiences, but this should not be taken to mean write ABOUT such experiences.

The memoirs of, say, Amelia Earhart might be of interest as indeed I found Margaret Thatcher's to be. But of all the personal memoirs that have been written, I would wish the authors had asked themselves why they thought another story of an abusive childhood, a bad relationship, a stupid war, a miraculous recovery, or whatever, was worth writing or reading.

J. C. Wing has written carefully and her characters are usually treated with respect and affection. But there is a void where a plot should be, as if readers have been treated to a box of pictures and asked to chose the best ones. I doubt that that was the point of the book.

[Alison Cubitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superlative Transatlantic Family Drama

In Alabama Skye J.C. Wing creates an utterly convincing story world that hooks the reader to the extent that compels you want to know more about the characters within this world.

The characterisation of Sarah and the depiction of her condition is utterly convincing. There is a tendency for those of us that don't know Alzheimer's to lump it together with dementia but through Sarah I began to understand a little more about this heartbreaking condition. I was particularly moved by Sarah's detailed memories of events and people and her frustrations at mismatching the two.

The descriptions of the bed and breakfast and the café and the food that's prepared in these two places were so vivid that it inspired me to get baking.

All the characterisations and dialogue are up to the very high standard set by the author in her earlier work, Color of Thunder. But JC has gone further with the characterisations in this book. She writes Cheney's dialogue (who hails from Skye in the Western Isles of Scotland) in dialect. This is a very, very difficult task she set herself, as there will be the kind of reader out there (like me) who generally doesn't like dialect. However, JC Wing is a very accomplished storyteller and it is the drama of the story that drew me in and kept me there.

The themes of the strength and power of the family make this a must read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Alabama Skye, J.C. Wing is stretching her wings. The attention to detail and descriptions are top-notch and take the reader into the world of Kelby nicely. I was invested in the characters and felt the pain and longing of Cheney, the excitement and trepidation of Greer as she approached motherhood, and the painful and heart wrenching decline of Sarah. If anything was missing, it may have been me wanting more detail - the creation of and opening up of Gannon's Glen seemed a bit simplified - this did not detract from the book however, as the focus is on the women of the book, their trials and tribulations and their friendship and love for each other. I wanted to see a brighter glimmer of what Greer saw in Chad to explain how she could be with him in the first place. Though, again, the attention is on the women of the story. I was reminded how lucky I am to have the women in my life that I have - biological family members, dear friends and family of choice. What more could you want from a book?

[Samantha Soccorso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for an honest review.

J.C. Wing is a very talented writer with how she bought this story to life. She related to the characters and made the readers relate as well. The next-generation of family members made you realize how important family really can be. whether you get along with your family or not they will always have your back.

Greer one of the main characters thought she lost love when her Hugh school sweetheart moved to another state. while off at college one mistake lead to a pregnancy and the father wanting nothing to do with the baby. Greer had the support of her family and best friend when she needed them the most.

Greer's aunt moved to the states after an accident gone wrong with her husband. she never told the family what really happened until the end of the book.......read to find out more.

This book deals with love, loss, transformation, memories and keepsakes. If you love books that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the book for you.

I can't wait to see what J.C. Wing has instored for us next.

[Lctevergreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

J. C. Wing has written a book that pulls you immediately into the setting of the story and keeps you there through the last chapter. Her descriptions of the surroundings and characters bring the story and people to life and make you feel as if you are there with them and know them personally.
Ms. Wing writes about situations that are part of many people's every day lives which allows you to identify with the characters and their issues. However she has a way of writing so that you aren't bored but instead anxious to find out the outcome to the circumstances she has presented.
At different times while I was reading Alabama Skye, I chuckled, I smiled, I felt sad, and I felt happy, yes I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Well written!
Although the story did have closure I was sorry when it was over. Maybe a sequel written from Noah's perspective?

[Chris Meads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book caught my eye because of the title. I love to read anything Irish/Scottish and this book filled the bill. J. C. did a good job of making the reader wonder what Cheney is actually hiding. She comes to America after losing her beloved Callum. There she wants to start a B&B just like she had in the Island of Skye and gets her niece, Greer to help. Greer also has secrets too. And both women learn to lean on each other as they find out their hidden pasts as the B&B takes shape.

The imagery that J.C. brings to the book is wonderful and makes you believe you are right there with the women and their families. This book is well worth the reading. It will be among my favorites.

I got the e-book from the author and have placed in under the first reads, Goodreads section.

[Claude Dancourt · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the blurb, I was expecting something in the lines of “the divine secrets of the ya-ya sisterhood”. Though I enjoyed the movie, I still approached Alabama Skye with caution. Then the very first sentence caught me by surprise : “Callum was dead”. I thought : mystery, suspense and a bit of romance and drama. Give it to me. But it wasn’t exactly that either. In the end, the blurb clearly defines the book. Alabama Skye talks about resilience, love and family.

JC Wing gave us good characters (though I wish the names were a bit more common) and a nice if not innovative plot.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brings back the beautiful, rich descriptions and complex relationships that readers have come to expect from J.C. Wing. This book draws the reader into the world of a small town on the Alabama coast when Cheney McGillvray, a scottish native, proposes a scheme to turn the family home into a B&B with a distinct Scottish flair. With a bit of mystery and a lot of love the author weaves the lives of 4 women into a compelling tale that keeps you awake long past bedtime.

[Jennifer Sivec · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the beautifully written characters in it. J.C. Wing has woven a sweet story with rich detail that pulls you in and allows you to envision it from an artist's point of view. It's a feel-good book and I would read anything from J.C.! She's a true wordsmith.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about the Gannon family. The author got in depth with their past. She also gives you the perspective what it's like in Scotland and it's heritage.

[Ann-Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story hard to get into at the beginning with too much Scottish dialogue a bit difficult to understand. So I put it down for a few days then started again and I am glad I come back to it. I still found bits a bit boring and hard to follow but the author was very descriptive with her character, you just had to see where they were going.

I received a free copy of the book and have voluntarily written an honest review. This town reminds me of a TV show called “Heart of Dixie” that I just loved with all the festivals in town and the community. The author has described a very lovely story and town with a very loving family and friends involved together. You will feel like you have visited two different places during the course of this book Alabama and Scotland. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Read my full review at www.readingfortheloveofbooks.com

[Chris Naugle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was all over with this book. Alabama skye took me a few weeks to read, because I just couldn't get into it. There was a plot, but it's all over the place. And I am one of those people that if there are words in another language, with in the book anywhere to translate it, I will skip over those parts. I did that quite often in this book. I would have given it a two or three star, however, there was one part in the book that literally had me in tears. The emotion from the characters was real and raw. I felt what they were going through. Because of that scene, I gave it 4 stars.

[Rena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story to be somewhat predictable which is unusual for me. Right from the start I had an idea of what happened to Callum. I couldn’t quite believe that people that barely knew each other would jump into such a business deal. Jimmy was also predictable. I would have enjoyed having all words translated. Still, I did enjoy the story and was glad to find out the details. Definitely a HEA 3 1/2 ⭐️

[Chrissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written multi-generational story that will touch your heart and leave you will all the feels! It shows the way family come to together in times of need and crisis. Women supporting women.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic story told in a way that draws you into the story and makes you feel like part of it. This story is different than what I started reading with this author and it shows just how versatile she can be. I cannot wait to keep reading this series.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally LOVED this mesmerizing novel! Ms Wing knows how to weave a story to hold your attention til the end!!!

[Tonya sayler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really held my attention from the first page.
The woman had live, struggles, and so much loyalty. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.