Chalkboard Preacher from Vinegar Bend

Vinegar Bend #1

by Kay Chandler

Castle Marlowe is an artist who travels to small South Alabama towns in 1914, preaching in rural schools, where he illustrates his sermons with chalkboard sketches. After his wife drowns, he finds it difficult to balance his responsibilities. How can he continue his ministry and take care of five children? An old-maid parishioner suggests her niece in North Alabama could be a great help to him. He assumes she’s suggesting marriage. Why not? The children need a mother and plenty of men marry mail-order brides they’ve never met. It would solve his problem. He sends money for the woman’s niece to come but when she arrives, he’s shocked to learn she’s only sixteen. However, marrying a sixteen-year-old is the least of his problems. Dark secrets abound that would shock the small town and destroy his ministry, if revealed. When his eldest son discovers what he’s hiding, the already fractured family is about to become unraveled. Could this be the end of the Chalkboard Preacher?

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2020

About the author

In 1896, Henry James wrote in The Spoils of Poynton that he gathered 'germs' for his novels, saying most of his writings sprung from a single seed - a floating particle in the stream of talk. I got it! I understood, because as a Southern Fiction writer, I'm a gatherer of seeds also. I was born and reared in the Deep South. I love this land. I love my people. I listen to what they say and what they leave unsaid. It's the unsaid - those tightly woven secrets - that become unraveled in my books. I've been referred to as a Southern Gothic writer, even though my novels take place in the 1930's. I hope you enjoy these romantic Southern Secrets.

Reviews

[Evangeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been a pastor’s daughter and then a pastor’s wife for over five decades, I could relate to some of the characters in this story. It had the unusual twists and turns which I have come to expect in the books written by Kay Chandler, and I could hardly put it down. Thank you, Kay, for another wonderful story, I can hardly wait to begin the next book in this series.

[Martha Waller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story

I literally could not put this book down once I started. What a wonderful story of true love. It is always hard to read of a child being mistreated by a parent, but knowing the happy ending for Rebekah was heart warming. There was so much detail that I felt like I was there with them. I love the references to scripture. Such a blessing in the troubled times we are living. May God continue to bless this author with great stories to tell.

[W. Neilsen Neilsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chalk Board Preacher

What a relief to finally read a book that is wholesome, minus curse words, sexual innuendos, gross murderous encounters or mobsters. Not that I don't sometimes enjoy a good psychological thriller.
But this was a clean, family oriented book all the way through that left a good feeling, and a want for more books in the series.
Reminded me of watching an old Andy Griffith show, enjoying the sweetness of the era when people didn't need to be evil or write about evil to entertain. Good reading for Jr high up.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Read

Charming period story with an interesting plot and twists. Wholesome yet not in a boring way. You'll stay entertained and be cheering on the characters as the story unfolds.

[Cindy Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! This is the first I've read of Kay Chandler, and I'm very happy I did. Very well written. Not a mystery, really, but the plot kept twisting and changing. Loved it!

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

hard to put down

This story pulled me right in and out was hard to put down. Well-written with interesting characters. I did think some of the kids talked above their years sometimes. Well worth a read.