Angels Make Their Hope Here, Breena Clarke
Angels Make Their Hope Here, Breena Clarke
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Angels Make Their Hope Here

Author: Breena Clarke

Narrator: Love Carter

Unabridged: 7 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/08/2014


Synopsis

Russell's Knob is not paradise. But already in 1849 this New Jersey highlands settlement is home to a diverse population of blacks, whites, and reds who have intermarried and lived in relative harmony for generations. It is a haven for Dossie Bird, who has escaped north along the Underground Railroad and now feels the embrace of the Smoot family.

Duncan Smoot presides as accidental patriarch, protector of his enterprising sister, Hattie, and his two rambunctious nephews. As Dossie busies herself with cleaning, cooking, and tending the chickens at Duncan's homestead, she wonders: Could this man, her rescuer -- so godlike in her eyes, so much older than she -- expect her to become his helpmeet?. Tentatively, Dossie begins to put down roots -- until a shocking act of violence propels her away from Russell's Knob and eventually into the mayhem of New York City's mean streets.

With the same storytelling brio that distinguished the acclaimed novels River, Cross My Heart and Stand the Storm, Breena Clarke weaves a richly dramatic story of interracial harmony in the Civil War era -- and of one woman's triumph in the crucible of history.

Author Bio

Breena Clarke grew up in Washington, DC, and was educated at Webster College and Howard University. Her novel River, Cross My Heart was an Oprah's Book Club selection and an international bestseller.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sarah on July 25, 2014

Although Breena Clarke has previously written two highly regarded historical novels – including an Oprah pick, River, Cross My Heart – her latest was my first experience with her work. Based on the author's research into legends of the Ramapo Mountains of northeastern New Jersey, Angels Make Their H......more

Goodreads review by Allison on November 29, 2022

I read this quickly. Kept thinking something interesting would happen. What was the point of this book? There was no character growth from my perspective. There was no big hurdle to overcome. The characters were all a bit creepy. There seemed to be an incestuous undertone to the relationships of the......more

Goodreads review by Sophfronia on April 17, 2015

From the opening lines of this book you can tell Duncan Smoot is a wielder of power. He often considers whether he will wield that power with benevolence or malevolence and the results of his decisions shape the narrative of this fine novel by Breena Clarke. When we first meet Smoot he is thinking a......more

Goodreads review by Andre on April 03, 2015

A good novel that hums along at a nice pace, with good character development and exceptional prose. The historical nature of this novel is the draw and author Breena Clarke tells an interesting story about the fictional Russell's Knob, a mountain community in NJ, not far from Paterson. In drawing ou......more