What do you think?
Rate this book
Covington Chronicles #3
The Dream Bucket
Ten-year-old Trudy loves Papa more than anybody else until she hears him slap Zoe, her mother. She is so angry at him she wishes he’d die. When he accidentally sets fire to the family mansion and dies in the fire, she is not prepared for the shock. William has cautioned Zoe not to pry into his financial arrangements. She wants to know where he keeps his money in case his life should end. How will she survive as a widow? The family has nowhere to call home except a sharecropper’s shack.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2014
450 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
About the author
Mary Lou Cheatham
39 books24 followersWelcome to the world of Mississippi-born author Mary Lou Cheatham. Here you will find lively stories about life in the early 1900’s on the farm and in a small village—stories filled with danger close to home, romance, and moral conflicts. Daily life can include unexpected danger interrupting the routine of living in a more primitive time. Also come and explore life in modern rural south Louisiana. Mary Lou’s novels center around families as they face life’s challenges. In every story she includes touches of romance.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 2, 2019
1909, Hot Coffee (town). Trudy Cameron (10, daughter/sister) listened as William Cameron (husband/papa), & Zoe Cameron (wife/mother), were arguing as usual. SLAP!
Marcie (stuffed monkey) was Trudy’s constant comfort.
Billy Cameron (older son/brother) & Trudy walked to the Gravel Hill Elementary.
Cameron household. Mr. Samuel “Sam” Benton (eligible suitor) & Ms. Eleanor Anne Broderick (teacher, Greenville) were enjoying the evening meal with the family.
Guess who came to the schoolhouse.
Summer was finally here for all the kids.
Trudy (aka Princess), & Billy (aka Junior) had arrived home. Unfortunately, there was nothing left of the house/barn.
All the personal belongings were gone.
Zoe (31, nee Whitten) was covered with soot.
William had tried to save some family heirlooms but didn’t make it out of the house fire alive.
The 1st night the family stayed with Uncle Stuart Cameron & Aunt Melva Cameron.
Magee Trutledge (wife/mother) had started to push already. #14 had arrived.
William Cameron Sr. died. Reverend Black officiated the funeral service/burial.
Elvin Trutledge vagrant Muhlenberg County, KY) was blamed for stealing.
4 Pinkerton Detectives: Billy Jack, Trudy Cameron, Bailey Benton, & Buddy Benton found him innocent.
Marshal Canterbury arrested Jethro McKenzie. But the money was nowhere to be found.
Will Samuel (father), & Zoe (mother) fall in love & get married.
Warning: This book contains adult content, or violence, which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written 19th century rural country book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great 19th century rural country movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; DailyFreeBooks; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Marcie (stuffed monkey) was Trudy’s constant comfort.
Billy Cameron (older son/brother) & Trudy walked to the Gravel Hill Elementary.
Cameron household. Mr. Samuel “Sam” Benton (eligible suitor) & Ms. Eleanor Anne Broderick (teacher, Greenville) were enjoying the evening meal with the family.
Guess who came to the schoolhouse.
Summer was finally here for all the kids.
Trudy (aka Princess), & Billy (aka Junior) had arrived home. Unfortunately, there was nothing left of the house/barn.
All the personal belongings were gone.
Zoe (31, nee Whitten) was covered with soot.
William had tried to save some family heirlooms but didn’t make it out of the house fire alive.
The 1st night the family stayed with Uncle Stuart Cameron & Aunt Melva Cameron.
Magee Trutledge (wife/mother) had started to push already. #14 had arrived.
William Cameron Sr. died. Reverend Black officiated the funeral service/burial.
Elvin Trutledge vagrant Muhlenberg County, KY) was blamed for stealing.
4 Pinkerton Detectives: Billy Jack, Trudy Cameron, Bailey Benton, & Buddy Benton found him innocent.
Marshal Canterbury arrested Jethro McKenzie. But the money was nowhere to be found.
Will Samuel (father), & Zoe (mother) fall in love & get married.
Warning: This book contains adult content, or violence, which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written 19th century rural country book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great 19th century rural country movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; DailyFreeBooks; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
October 19, 2015
Can you believe it's been a month since we moved into this place in the country? And it's taken almost a whole month for me to read this book. It fit the mood for me. Here we are in a town with a population of around 1000 people. Where town is a mile and a half away, and we have no car. So we're learning to walk to get our groceries, to get our mail (There is no door to door postal delivery), to get to the library, which is only open three times a week. Needless to say, the pants are getting looser. I'm starting to have more energy. And I obviously have a lot less reading time than I used to have. So here we go...
Reading this book was like getting to know one of the neighbors. Here is a mom, suddenly single, when her husband dies in a fire in their home. She's just trying to get by, the best way she can with what she's got. Meanwhile, she's learning what she didn't know before. She's learning To do what her husband used to do and learning how to do it herself. She learns what her children know. She learns what she must do and what she can delegate to her children or to her neighbors.
One of the problems I had with this book was trying to decide whose point of view I was reading in. Was it Zoe the mother, or Trudy, the daughter? I found Trudy to be a bit bossy and a little too self-righteous for a little girl. There were other things that were equally upsetting. Without giving away spoilers, it would be hard to pinpoint these problems. But one of them has to do with a slap and why in any world that was necessary.
This book is labeled Christian historical romance. I knew that going in. But I have to admit, it was the cover picture of that shack that drew me in. It looked kind of like my old barn. Or any of the barns around this town. But even not knowing that it is labeled Christian, the way the bits that are Christian are put in seemed fitting. Prayers are used to show the worry of the character. The few scriptures that are sprinkled into the book are words to live by basically. None of it felt like it was proselytizing the reader.
A quick note of the word romance: it is a nice quiet romance. Nobody is becoming insane over their lack of a person. Just two people who've learned to love each other and rely on each other. Pretty rare in a book called romance.
I'm glad I read the book. I'm glad I'm finished with the book. It was free when I got it. So I got my money's worth. If you feel like slowing down your life to a crawl, this might be the book for you.
Reading this book was like getting to know one of the neighbors. Here is a mom, suddenly single, when her husband dies in a fire in their home. She's just trying to get by, the best way she can with what she's got. Meanwhile, she's learning what she didn't know before. She's learning To do what her husband used to do and learning how to do it herself. She learns what her children know. She learns what she must do and what she can delegate to her children or to her neighbors.
One of the problems I had with this book was trying to decide whose point of view I was reading in. Was it Zoe the mother, or Trudy, the daughter? I found Trudy to be a bit bossy and a little too self-righteous for a little girl. There were other things that were equally upsetting. Without giving away spoilers, it would be hard to pinpoint these problems. But one of them has to do with a slap and why in any world that was necessary.
This book is labeled Christian historical romance. I knew that going in. But I have to admit, it was the cover picture of that shack that drew me in. It looked kind of like my old barn. Or any of the barns around this town. But even not knowing that it is labeled Christian, the way the bits that are Christian are put in seemed fitting. Prayers are used to show the worry of the character. The few scriptures that are sprinkled into the book are words to live by basically. None of it felt like it was proselytizing the reader.
A quick note of the word romance: it is a nice quiet romance. Nobody is becoming insane over their lack of a person. Just two people who've learned to love each other and rely on each other. Pretty rare in a book called romance.
I'm glad I read the book. I'm glad I'm finished with the book. It was free when I got it. So I got my money's worth. If you feel like slowing down your life to a crawl, this might be the book for you.
May 18, 2015
SENSUALITY RATING: NO sexual content; NO Profanity; NO Euphemistic "code words
GENRE: Inspirational fiction
SETTING: 1909; somewhere around the Schmidt and Covings County Line.
CENTRAL CHARACTERS: ZOE, TRUDY and BILLY Cameron; SAMUEL, BUDDY and BAILEY Benton
SYNOPSIS: No one could find the money so Zoe and her children were forced to live in a shack on the property and keep the farm going. It was backbreaking work. Samuel was grateful for what Zoe and her husband had done for his twins years past. He felt it his responsibility to watch after Zoe and her children.
WHAT I LIKED: They learned how to take care of that farm fast.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE: The story reads a little slow due to Zoe over thinking about her responsibilities. What happened to the family in Kentucky? Expound please |:-/
Please read further summary of this book on my “Main page” of LibraryThing.com http://www.librarything.com/work/1601...
GENRE: Inspirational fiction
SETTING: 1909; somewhere around the Schmidt and Covings County Line.
CENTRAL CHARACTERS: ZOE, TRUDY and BILLY Cameron; SAMUEL, BUDDY and BAILEY Benton
SYNOPSIS: No one could find the money so Zoe and her children were forced to live in a shack on the property and keep the farm going. It was backbreaking work. Samuel was grateful for what Zoe and her husband had done for his twins years past. He felt it his responsibility to watch after Zoe and her children.
WHAT I LIKED: They learned how to take care of that farm fast.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE: The story reads a little slow due to Zoe over thinking about her responsibilities. What happened to the family in Kentucky? Expound please |:-/
Please read further summary of this book on my “Main page” of LibraryThing.com http://www.librarything.com/work/1601...
September 21, 2017
Awesome book, loved it. I loved how it showed the ways of the past. Times were hard but love found a way. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Awesome book. I loved how it showed the ways of the past and how they depended on each other and God . I would recommend this to anyone.
Awesome book. I loved how it showed the ways of the past and how they depended on each other and God . I would recommend this to anyone.
March 12, 2017
This was a good read. The summary is a little misleading in that it is less about the girl growing up and more about the general struggles of life after a sudden devastating loss. You spend quite a bit of time with the Mom and her struggles to survive life after. Some time is spent with Trudy helping her to grow up yet keep her childhood. Good book. I enjoyed it although at times it struggled along.
November 22, 2016
This is the first book I'be read by Mary Lou Cheatbam. I had grieved the loss of my favorite female author, Maeve Binchy, who passed away in 2012. So thankful to have discovered MLC. I found myself going from tears to laughter. The way that Ms, Cheatham developed both Zoe'/ character in the story and her relationship with Samuel, was, to me extraordinary.
January 31, 2017
A fantastic story that is a joyful treat to read.
Book was well written with quality proofing. Story line and well rounded characters make this a page turner.If you are looking for a book with gritty soulful adventure that you can't put down...you have found it! Cannot wait to read other works by this inspiring writer.
Book was well written with quality proofing. Story line and well rounded characters make this a page turner.If you are looking for a book with gritty soulful adventure that you can't put down...you have found it! Cannot wait to read other works by this inspiring writer.
August 29, 2016
Fantistic
It is well written and hold s your interest until the very end in fact I even for hot to eat......
It is well written and hold s your interest until the very end in fact I even for hot to eat......
December 24, 2018
Clean Christian book with references to praying and scripture
I give credit for this book of faith in God when all else seems hopeless. However the book was weak on plot and the ending predictable. There were some unanswered questions especially in regards to the relationship between Papa and the school teacher. What was in the sack he was seen leaving with? What did the kiss he gave the teacher really mean? I wondered if they ran off together and another body besides Papas was in the fire. Then maybe the letters she sent to Samuel were a smokescreen to cover up. Sorry but just looking for some hidden clue as to the significance of the teacher being in the story. And why were Zoe and Papa really arguing and then him slapping her? Minus these issues the book was a sweet love story--although draggy and confusing at times. It was just OK but not one that is exciting and unforgettable.
I give credit for this book of faith in God when all else seems hopeless. However the book was weak on plot and the ending predictable. There were some unanswered questions especially in regards to the relationship between Papa and the school teacher. What was in the sack he was seen leaving with? What did the kiss he gave the teacher really mean? I wondered if they ran off together and another body besides Papas was in the fire. Then maybe the letters she sent to Samuel were a smokescreen to cover up. Sorry but just looking for some hidden clue as to the significance of the teacher being in the story. And why were Zoe and Papa really arguing and then him slapping her? Minus these issues the book was a sweet love story--although draggy and confusing at times. It was just OK but not one that is exciting and unforgettable.
August 2, 2017
The book set the characters in the rural South of the early years of the 20th century and led them through trials that brought unexpected change to their lives. The author skillfully introduces the agents of those changes. A good story about family ties bearing up under life's surprises - pleasant and otherwise.
August 2, 2017
This book reminded me of my childhood. The story had some sad parts so do all good books, that are about history of the south and hard times the people of that era lived and endured. I had a hard time not spending all my free time reading to this book - very entertaining. Really enjoyed the audio version.
November 2, 2019
Historical novel or inspirational romance?
There is so much in this book that appeals it is hard to pin it down. Rooting for Trudy is obvious, but her mama is a force to be reckoned with. I especially liked the prayer and church parts. All in all it makes me want the rest of the series and to check out the author more
There is so much in this book that appeals it is hard to pin it down. Rooting for Trudy is obvious, but her mama is a force to be reckoned with. I especially liked the prayer and church parts. All in all it makes me want the rest of the series and to check out the author more
March 31, 2018
A heart warming story of tragedy that leads to love.
After a tragedy claims the life of her husband and their home Zoe and her children must go through many struggles and much hard work to overcome and find happiness.
After a tragedy claims the life of her husband and their home Zoe and her children must go through many struggles and much hard work to overcome and find happiness.
April 20, 2018
Dream Bucket
What a wonderful Story with many twists and turns. It touches all your emotions and is exciting and brilliantly written. I can't wait to read Ms. Christian's other books.
What a wonderful Story with many twists and turns. It touches all your emotions and is exciting and brilliantly written. I can't wait to read Ms. Christian's other books.
November 16, 2022
By faith your needs and wants will be met.
A tender story of tragedy, faith, and love. Many obstacles stand in the way of life and happiness. Not your ordinary love story. Faith in God is what carries them thru. Hard to put down. A really good read.
A tender story of tragedy, faith, and love. Many obstacles stand in the way of life and happiness. Not your ordinary love story. Faith in God is what carries them thru. Hard to put down. A really good read.
August 1, 2017
Amazing book! Best book by Mary Lou Cheatham. She is an inspiring writer who writes a story with reading!
August 3, 2017
I found this to be a a fun story. I enjoyed the plot and found it very entertaining. I recommend this book for just a fun read.
January 22, 2018
Romance
Love reading romance in the old times. This is one of these books you can't put down, you'll love the it
Love reading romance in the old times. This is one of these books you can't put down, you'll love the it
March 26, 2018
Strong Woman!
I enjoyed the story line. The way it was told slowed me down. But the characters were determined and a close loving families that were there for each other!
I enjoyed the story line. The way it was told slowed me down. But the characters were determined and a close loving families that were there for each other!
July 1, 2018
Love this book!!!
Perfect love story. Faith in God and Faith in love. So inspiring. Recommend this book to all my family and friends
Perfect love story. Faith in God and Faith in love. So inspiring. Recommend this book to all my family and friends
July 2, 2018
I truly loved this book!
November 22, 2018
Excellent story
This story has some great characters. There is some suspense and lots of humor. You come to love all the characters.
This story has some great characters. There is some suspense and lots of humor. You come to love all the characters.
December 22, 2019
Lovely read
A woman, with two kids, had her husband die and their house burn down. Zoe, had to step up, do work on the farm to keep her and the kids fed. Her husband's best friend, who had two kids, wife died. They fell in love.
A woman, with two kids, had her husband die and their house burn down. Zoe, had to step up, do work on the farm to keep her and the kids fed. Her husband's best friend, who had two kids, wife died. They fell in love.
March 15, 2020
The Dream Bucket
A very good story about love and family and friends that accept each other and forgiveness and trust and happiness
A very good story about love and family and friends that accept each other and forgiveness and trust and happiness
May 27, 2020
entertaining easy read.
November 23, 2020
The Dream Bucket
Well written Christian based book. Great look at life in the early part of the 1900's. The characters are very realistic as is the story line. Highly recommend!
Well written Christian based book. Great look at life in the early part of the 1900's. The characters are very realistic as is the story line. Highly recommend!
March 22, 2017
This was just an "okay" read for me. It was a weird reading experience because the syntax didn't fit the themes. VERY simple sentence structure and dialogue handling some pretty deep themes. I had to keep checking the time period to see if I was missing something. I liked the characters and the premise of the story but it was a disjointed read for me.
September 29, 2016
Loved it.
Just finished this book. It was a good read. Good characterization so. Fast moving Very interesting characters and story line.
Just finished this book. It was a good read. Good characterization so. Fast moving Very interesting characters and story line.
April 1, 2019
So....I got 38% through the book...which was 30% more than I wanted too. It wasn't far into the story that I felt this was meant for a child...a preteen child. A teenager probably would have felt this was beneath them. There's no indication that it's meant for a younger audience, but I kept reading, hoping that maybe the main character, a young girl named Trudy, would grow up and that the writing would take on a voice more mature than a 10 year old. It didn't.
The family fell on hard times when The family house burnt down with their father in it. Going from fairly well off to dirt poor in one day was hard, but moving to a shack on the property and tending their garden, milking the cows, credit from the local mercantile and help from the townsfolk helped them survive.
This book is disjointed at best. Little to no explanations for feelings about things, nor detail about why things happened. At one point they were sifting through stuff, picking out old blankets and pots, etc...but there's no explanation of where they were. It could have been a salvage pile at a church, a rummage sale, remains from their fire (although the scene of the fire made it look like nothing was salvagable), nothing. No explanation. Then they did their chores and it was evening and the son says, "We need an ice box." Minutes later some men they didn't know show up with an ice box. There's no indication of how this happened, who they were, or their thoughts on the matter. It was just random, since no one up to that point had delivered things like this. It was sooooo poorly written, and confusing. I must have read that passage 5 times to see if I missed something.
The siblings irritated me. They were always insulting and bossing each other, swatting one another, food fights, throwing food away without asking if they should. And the mother never told them to stop. In fact the only time she corrected her daughter was when Trudy was concerned for her mother and asked if her back was going to get better. The mother acted like it was none of her business.
I can go on and on, but you get the point. I could only abide so much and I needed to shut his book down and delete it.
No....I do not recommend this for adults. Please, consider it for a 10 year old only. Hm...I take that back...a 10 year old reading about how awful the siblings talked to each other and treated one another without a parent correcting them might not be a good example.
Okay, I got nothing. No recommendation at all. Why this had as many 5-stars is beyond my comprehension.
The family fell on hard times when The family house burnt down with their father in it. Going from fairly well off to dirt poor in one day was hard, but moving to a shack on the property and tending their garden, milking the cows, credit from the local mercantile and help from the townsfolk helped them survive.
This book is disjointed at best. Little to no explanations for feelings about things, nor detail about why things happened. At one point they were sifting through stuff, picking out old blankets and pots, etc...but there's no explanation of where they were. It could have been a salvage pile at a church, a rummage sale, remains from their fire (although the scene of the fire made it look like nothing was salvagable), nothing. No explanation. Then they did their chores and it was evening and the son says, "We need an ice box." Minutes later some men they didn't know show up with an ice box. There's no indication of how this happened, who they were, or their thoughts on the matter. It was just random, since no one up to that point had delivered things like this. It was sooooo poorly written, and confusing. I must have read that passage 5 times to see if I missed something.
The siblings irritated me. They were always insulting and bossing each other, swatting one another, food fights, throwing food away without asking if they should. And the mother never told them to stop. In fact the only time she corrected her daughter was when Trudy was concerned for her mother and asked if her back was going to get better. The mother acted like it was none of her business.
I can go on and on, but you get the point. I could only abide so much and I needed to shut his book down and delete it.
No....I do not recommend this for adults. Please, consider it for a 10 year old only. Hm...I take that back...a 10 year old reading about how awful the siblings talked to each other and treated one another without a parent correcting them might not be a good example.
Okay, I got nothing. No recommendation at all. Why this had as many 5-stars is beyond my comprehension.
July 14, 2015
This was a very interesting story set in 1900 about a daughter that overheard her mom and papa disagreeing about money. Then their beautiful home went up in flames and they lost everything.. The father was helping put the fire out and his clothes caught on fire and her father dies. This had left many challenges for their mother, Zoe it also involved another family that was trying to help her get her life back together. The family had a dream bucket, they wrote their dreams on a piece of paper and dropped their dream into the bucket.
There were no twists and turns but a good book about families living in the 1900. Get yourself a cup of tea , relax. It is a good, nice, clean book for all ages. This is the third book of a series, they are all stand along stories so you don't have read them in order.
There were no twists and turns but a good book about families living in the 1900. Get yourself a cup of tea , relax. It is a good, nice, clean book for all ages. This is the third book of a series, they are all stand along stories so you don't have read them in order.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews