From the mountains of Virginia comes a spiritually enlightening and captivating tale of survival and trust.
Native American Emerson Coffee is the last surviving member of her tribe. An endling. After an internship in New York, she has returned to her chosen life of solitude in the stone cabin atop the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where her grandfather trained her to survive by seeking God’s guidance in nature. When US Marshals inform her she’s being hunted by a mob hit man, Emerson declines their offer of witness protection, believing she can best outwit a predator on her own turf. But when three innocent children living in the art colony below become caught in the crosshairs, Emerson must decide if she will risk it all—her mountains, her heritage . . . even her life—to secure their safety.
Can a lone and unarmed endling stop the most ruthless family of all or will everything her ancestors fought to preserve die with her?
Deborah Maxey’s passion for stories began as an eavesdropping child who found the tales of adults intriguing. Her love for people, insight into emotions, and desire to be of service, steered her to become a counselor. She developed a specialty in trauma and attachment, appearing as an expert witness in court hundreds of times, testifying for abused and neglected children. Training foster parents and other therapist on how to nurture relationships with traumatized children expanded her reach. As she practiced, her “writer self” was being fully developed. Along with a PhD in counseling Deborah sought to learn through college classes, conferences and coaching how to sharpen her writing skills, so that she could weave a great tapestry for readers, with rich characters that live out true emotions amid life’s plot twists. When she was called to be re-purposed, she closed her counseling practice and now devotes herself full time to writing Christian fiction, short stories, and devotions. Her work winning numerous awards.
As wife, mother, grandmother, and worship leader at her church, Deborah leads a joyous life with her husband in their home on a small lake in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where two little Yorkshire Terriers rule the roost. Her favorite cathedral for prayer and worship are her daily walks deep in the forest.
An award-winning fine artist, Deborah paints large oil canvases in the style of photorealism. Her art sales helped fund her doctorate and provide a rich knowledge base for her characters living in an art colony.
Deborah proudly proclaims she is an Appalachian writer with deep ancestral roots. All things Appalachian: the topography, people, faith, dialect, traditions, values, recipes, and culture, fuel her imagination, propelling her to share her inner world through well-crafted words.
Such rich character development make fictional stories leap off the pages and tug at our emotions. This first novel by the author proved marvelously well-crafted. What’s not to love about a book set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC? And witness protection plots fascinate me. I pray that the author has many more stories to tell! Emerson Grace Coffee—an epic name for a worthy female protagonist endearing to any writer, but the strong Christian element and a powerful mystery held me captivated! I strongly recommend this book.
When a writing colleague wrote me about Dr. Deborah Maxey‘s debut novel The Endling. I investigated and, intrigued, asked for an advance copy to review.
Am I ever glad I did. I couldn’t have anticipated this story. Neither will you. But then, when a writer and PhD psychotherapist from the Blue Ridge Mountains melds her lifelong proximity to Native American culture, knowledge of the natural world, and experience counseling hurting children, how could her narrative be anything but unusual?
Here’s the gist: After Emerson Coffee’s Native grandfather dies, she’s the endling—the last of her uncertain lineage, returned from a stint in New York City to live alone in Virginia mountains deeded to her by her deceased mother. A terrifying NY threat follows her home, endangering her life and the lives of those she cherishes. Mountain and city cultures collide as Emerson creatively employs both her grandfather’s wisdom and truth revealed in nature to intercept the peril.
Caution: don’t read this book expecting a story of indigenous Native experience. It’s not.
Instead, you’ll find a coming-of-age account of a wounded, fearful, isolated young woman who, because of her Christian grandfather’s loving mentorship (and her community’s support), taps that inner equipping and transforms into a resilient woman of courage and empathy.
Of course I loved how the natural world played a huge role in all of it. Loved the transformative impact family, adopted or biological, had on Emerson. Loved how she responded to Truth’s nudges instead of to fear.
The book’s unique. Suspenseful. Well-written, with engaging characters. Full of food for the soul. I read it in two sittings, and didn’t look up during either of them.
Emerson Grace Coffee has come home from an internship in New York City that will enable her to work remotely from Easterbrook. While she was away her Grandfather passed away from pancreatic cancer. Clearly, she is grief-stricken by hearing this news, and more so because he did not tell her beforehand.
There is a beautiful and gentle pace to the Endling that in no way distracts from reading. It never lags in pacing, plot, characterization. Though it isn’t indicated, I felt that the Endling kind of read with an edge of a suspense/mystery vibe. I kept reading because I wanted to know the outcome but also because Emerson is such an intriguing, loving, patient, young woman, who wants nothing more than to live on her land. She has no use for cities, she wants what she is familiar with and that is Easterbrook.
She is forced from her home because of being in the wrong place and at the wrong time. The Mob has a hit on her, the Marshals want her to enter the Witness Protection Program, but Emerson is having none of it. She has a strength that is unbelievable and she uses it to her advantage. I was taken by surprise by how much I enjoyed this story.
I enjoy a book with rich characters. Deborah developed splendid characters and took me on a journey from the quiet mountains of Virginia to the busy streets of NYC. I am hopeful that we will soon. see book 2 of Emerson’s story.
Be ready for a mix of emotions while you read The Endling. As the last member of her tribe, Emerson finds her own life in danger. She struggles to follow the wisdom and training her grandfather taught her, while trying to keep her home and people she cares about safe. Learning wisdom, she discovers, does not always leave you in your comfort zone. The Endling captured my attention on page one and didn't let up until the (very satisfying) end. Deborah Maxey is a masterful storyteller. She weaves in the history of the characters with their present struggle in ways that make you laugh, cry, and hold your breath with suspense. This fast-paced tale had me "feeling" the beauty of the mountains, while I became immersed in the tension of the story. Throw in some unexpected twists and unusual perspectives, and this book was a delight to read. I was given an arc copy of this book and this is my honest review. I certainly hope to hear more of this story in a future book!
The Endling begins in Emerson Grace’s Blue Ridge Mountains, involves her dear relationships with her neighbors, her deceased grandfather’s influence, the mob, and a hit man. As an Endling, she is the last of her tribe and people. After her grandfather’s death, she is alone in her grandfather’s cabin when she discovers that a mob boss has put out a contract on her for something she never saw. How will she survive and protect her small community of mountain people and artists? Deborah paints an exquisite picture of Emerson Grace, the mountains, even the characters that people the artist colony below Emerson’s mountain. The stirrings of the spiritual arise in nature just as her grandfather taught her to hear God and teaches the reader as well. Finding God among all the chaos is not so difficult after all. I was given an advanced reading copy of The Endling.
The Endling Five Stars for Maxey’s “The Endling”! The Endling is an extremely powerful story, of a young Native American woman, Emerson Coffee, who is being hunted by the mob through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Emerson is the last surviving member of her indigenous tribe because of this, she is called an Endling. She must overcome fear, rely on her Christian faith, instincts, and the teachings of her ancestors to help her survive.
From the moment you open the cover of “The Endling” you’re immersed in a life and death adventure with Emerson. You find yourself completely captivated by Emerson’s dilemma and soon realize you have become a part of her tribe. Relying on God’s word, ancestral wisdom, and innate intuition will she be able to survive the perils ahead of her? As you read the novel you will find yourself cheering Emerson on or holding your breathe in anticipation of what happens next.
“Overcoming fear, being powerful not powerless, action not re-action, facing not avoiding fear,” is just one example of the many pearls of wisdom Maxey urges us to remember throughout her novel. Maxey is an extraordinary writer giving us a novel you will be unable to put down.
I received an advance reader copy of this book without requirement to write a positive review.
The author of this book, Deborah McCormick Maxey, shared a pre-publication copy with me which I read cover-to-cover (well..virtually anyway 😉) in less than 24 hours. I couldn't put it down! Especially appealing is Deborah's success in integrating Christian faith with her Native American heritage.
This quote made me question my presupposition that all Native American faith is spiritism, not Christian. One character says, "We are the heartbeat of the earth, Little Bit. Just as a bird connects the earth and sky, while we are here, we connect everything to God." This is profound, and worth a few minutes of meditation.
I see creation in a whole new light, and it didn't hurt anything that there is a thrilling story keeping the narrative moving quickly, with twists and turns that surprised me. And that's hard to do to another writer!
I highly recommend "The Endling." It's FREE to those with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. You'll be fascinated and entertained!
Deborah Maxey draws on her own deeply rich and connected heritage, education, and artistry to create a tale that immerses readers into the cultural nuances that both divide and unite. The Endling introduces us to the many dimensions of the human spirit.
The racing-heart pace through this gorgeous novel of moccasins, mountains, and an assassin’s target triggers memories of Michael Creighton stories. Maxey creates a strong, bold, Biblically-grounded main character in Emerson, the last of her tribe. In classic storytelling tradition, Maxey reveals trauma with the same patience Emerson's grandfather taught her turtle medicine. Emerson’s sweet surrender to the sanctuary of her surrogate mothers gives balance to the edge-of-your-seat suspense in this delightful page-turner.
I love the contrasts Maxey paints for us: the depths of Emerson’s fears versus the heights of her mountains; the gentle, creative art colony versus the brutal mob; racism against indigenous people balanced by the wisdom of Emerson’s elders and nature's voice.
“If I had listened to those instincts…” Don’t we all know thoughts like that?
“The long legs of ice-cold spiders walked up the back of my neck.” (pg. 47) Maxey excels at sensory descriptions of self-discovery, self-realization, and coming of age awareness in this original character who overcomes fear and connects everything to God. Masterful storytelling that honors her Appalachian heritage.
I received a pre-release copy of this book with no requirement to write a positive review.
The Endling is packed full of adventure and unexpected turns tying two unlikely worlds together. Deborah Maxey has a gift of taking the reader on a suspenseful journey from the serene nature-filled mountain setting of Emerson’s youth all the way to the dangers of getting tangled with a mob family in New York City. i was captured me from the start and enjoyed my time with Emerson. I anxiously await Deborah’s next book.
I received an advance reader copy of this book without requirement to write a positive review
Deborah Maxey’s heroine, Emerson Grace Coffee, grabbed my heart from the very beginning. A young woman, the last of her tribe, is forced for a time to leave the life she loves in order to protect the people she loves. Being a mountain lover as well, I enjoyed Deborah’s descriptions of the scenery. And, also the gems of Native wisdom that she included in her book. I look forward to more books by Deborah in the future. I received an advance reader copy of this book without requirement to write a positive review.
I received an advance reader copy of this book without requirement to write a positive review.
I was grateful for the opportunity to be an advance reader of Deborah Maxey’s new novel. Deborah weaves a wonderful story about Emerson, a young women, returning to her childhood home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Emerson was raised by her grandfather, who loved teaching her major life lessons through “mystery hunts”. Circumstances test her faith in herself and her strengths throughout the story. The book emphasizes the importance of family and strength in the face of fear. Emerson has learned to trust the will of God through nature, and that God is with us moment to moment if we observe and listen. I loved this beautiful book and it’s diverse characters. Their stories capture your heart through their relationships with each other and pride in their heritage.
Five Stars for the Endling by Dr. Deborah Maxey! A charming tale with a blend of spirituality, nature, mystery and love. Highly recommended for summer reading.
I received an advance copy of this book without the requiremet to write a positive review.
“Trust is an Exercise not a Feeling” says Grandfather to Emerson Grace. Trust that you will LOVE this Story! I could not put it down!! My longtime friend Deborah McCormick Maxey has magically woven several stories into one book using descriptions that make you feel like YOU are a character! I was honored to be one of her “Tribe.” I received an advance ready copy of this book without requirement to write a positive review. I can’t wait to get my copy of The Endling to read again and again!!!
The Endling’s plot is captivating and the book Is interwoven with so much wisdom. I often have trouble finding books that I like these days because I ONLY like well written books , well I can assure that this book is very well written. I wish it would not end!!
I received an advance reader copy of this book without requirement to write a positive review.
I received an advance reader copy of this book without requirement to write a positive review.
This is an excellent book and a must read for 2021! Great characters and depth of interaction and insights. I could not put this book down and I rarely feel that way. I thoroughly enjoyed this new author's first book and look forward to many more from her.
I am an avid reader often times reading as many as 18 books in a month and this is at the top of my list!!
Loved it! The story is filled with many characters so rich with depth and personality; none of which is more intriguing and lovable then Emerson Grace Coffee. Adventure Nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains! A must read!
I read the advance copy of the book without requirement to write a positive review.
Absolutely adored this story & characters. Loved the strength of the heroine & the rich wisdom/history from her native background. Cannot wait to read Deborah’s next book!!
I tried to read and like this book, but I just couldn't get into it. I gave it eight chapters (around 60 pages), but it didn't pull me in--the storytelling is quite slow with lots of reflection, but the main character's being hunted by a mob boss, so I had a hard time making the two work in my mind.
Because of the plot line (the mob boss) I expected this book to be more suspenseful/fast paced than it is. Instead, it's more literary. There's nothing wrong with that if you're expecting that style; I wasn't prepared for it.
I've read a few books before that classify themselves as southern fiction (as does this book), and I usually find them to be much slower, more detailed reads. The same is true for this book, but for some reason I couldn't connect with the main character, so I struggled to keep going. It's not that the book's badly written; it's just not for me.
What I read would be G/PG rating (I don't think it will change much throughout the story, but it might).
I wasn't sure what to expect from the description of this story, and it took me a few chapters to get into it, but once I settled in, I was hooked. This debut novel by Deborah Maxey is different than any other book I've read. Such a unique storyline. It was a nice change from the typical Christian Fiction books I read regularly.
I enjoyed the main character, Emerson, and her journey, including all the wisdom imparted to her by her grandfather before his passing. Wisdom she now imparts to those God brings into her life. There is a thread of mystery in this book as a mob boss is after Emerson, and her upbringing plays a big role in how she handles the threat.
There are so many special elements woven into this story I can't even begin to share them. Just read it for yourself.
I'm not a big reader of contemporary women's fiction, but I decided to give this award winning book a try. I was intrigued by the premise and I also found the contrast of settings enjoyable. Not only is Emerson's life in danger, but she decided to leave her rural Appalachian home (and comfort zone) to face her enemy ion his home turf--bustling New York City.
Emerson is a likeable character and I appreciated her creative and courageous approach to solving her problem. A satisfying read that I would call gently suspenseful.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
Deborah Maxey did an amazing job creating a story that is incredible! I couldn’t stop reading! There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns that kept me on my toes. I really hope that there is another book to continue this story. Thank you Deborah!!!
I loved the way the Native American outlook was brought into this book. I love nature , and for me it added so much. In this book you'll find family, friendship, mystery, danger, and a lot of heart. It holds one's attention. Good book!
What a unique premise. I loved the characters and the intrigue all the way through the book. This was definitely a page turner. I hope she has other books coming out, as well. I enjoyed this book so much that I bought it for a friend.
Marvelous book about reliance on God to solve a life-threatening problem. Outstanding writing. Author has deep deep sensitivity and insight into human behavior and the heart. Love that she used a non-stereotypical Native American heroine.
Through this whole book you feel that God is working to complete Emerson. Each page is a new revelation on how the All Mighty changes our lives and the lives of those around us. Set back and prepare to begin and end on the same day!