The Hidden Hills Saga: Ice Whispers (Book I)
by K. Willow
Print Pub Date: November 21, 2014 | CreateSpaceeBook Pub Date: December 19, 2014 | Book Baby
Genre: Historical Fiction
Slavery of a different kind, beyond physical chains, leads to a different type of escape . . .
Marissa Kristofferson can taste freedom. Her long years of suffering at the hands of her sadistic husband, Lance, are coming to an end as he lies dying. But she is stunned when he reveals the contents of his will and what she must do to keep Kristofferson Plantation, and how he plans to keep her bound to him even beyond the grave.
The beautiful slave Lolley has always envied Marissa’s life, and after learning that the master has also ordered her freed after his death, she is determined to reach for the life she wants by becoming the mistress of Marissa’s son, Shane, though she does not realize the lengths Marissa will go to to prevent the match, or the far-reaching consequences that will follow.
And Shelby, the plain and dutiful slave of free blacks, is unwittingly caught in the shocking drama that unfolds as a family is torn apart. Used as a pawn in a game of rivalry, deception, and betrayal, hers is a fight for survival while attempting to remain true to herself.
Three women—so very different but each carrying dark secrets that are closely intertwined, caught in a world between slave and free, a world which is becoming more fragile and precarious as war threatens and alliances shift, and each harboring seemingly impossible dreams of a better future.
In this first book of a dark historical saga, K. Willow paints a lush, emotional portrait of scandal, murder, injustice, and the ties that bind in the antebellum South.
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO
My Review
Four Stars
Copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
"The Hidden Hills" by K. Willow was a fascinating read. It was a refreshing perspective of the life of slaves during the pre-civil war era. The author presents a variety of characters, all who are intriguing. Marissa was such a difficult character. She reminded me of Toni Morrison's character. Morrison often has very antihero leads who are far from perfect and present the difficulties of human psyche. I couldn't believe Marissa was so meddlesome and authoritarian after she experienced the same treatment at the hands of her husband. Shelby was fantastic. She is dealt very difficult blows by life but she never backed down and she never gave up. Another equally fantastic character is Lolley. She was everything that Shelby and Marissa were not. She was easier to like and her practicality made sense.
Overall, this was a great read. One of my favorites this year. The characters are well developed and complex. The story line is fast paced and the author kept my interest from the first to the last sentence. I'm glad to see that this is a part of the series and I cannot wait to read more!
PRAISE
“K. Willow’s historical novel, Ice Whispers, book one of The Hidden Hills Saga, is breathtaking beautiful and stunningly sad all at the same time. It’s really the story of two women, Agatha and Shelby, who are slaves in the Kristofferson and Franklin households respectively. They’re both amazingly strong, selfless and wise women who come from two succeeding generations of slaves. While all the drama and action in the tale revolves around the Kristoffersons and the Franklins, it was the story of those two larger-than-life women that kept me enthralled. Willow adroitly uses them as a lens for the reader to view the affairs in Hidden Hills, and it works magnificently. I just finished reading Ice Whispers, and I’m totally floored by this work. It’s marvelous and is very highly recommended.” -Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite“Part historical romance, part mystery, K. Willow’s book Ice Whispers is an entertaining and immersive read. Readers get to take the role of the voyeur as they explore the inner workings of the Hidden Hills society. Every member of the town has a role that they play, but each has their own secrets that they are trying to keep hidden. Willow’s novel is a quick and fun read that is full of vibrant characters. It is the perfect book for those who like to be in the know of the juiciest gossip or those who enjoy the drama of the workings of high society in mid-1800s America. I thoroughly enjoyed Ice Whispers, and I hope I get the opportunity to read more of Willow’s Hidden Hills novels.” -Tania Staley for Readers’ Favorite
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
K. Willow is a novelist and award-winning writer with a background in television, film, theatre, and soap operas. She writes dark historical and urban fantasy and lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband.
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