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"Smith-Nochasak’s writing is a beautiful, slightly chaotic, magnificent stream-of-consciousness, weaving together what her protagonist wishes was true with what is her horrible truth, as Flo tries to protect us, the readers, as much as she is protecting River. It is intimate, immediate, and utterly engaging. Her characters are fully fleshed, multi-layered and oh, so believable; we all know someone like Flo and Andrea and Meghan. This is the first in a planned trilogy, and I am eagerly looking forward to what is in store for Flo and River."
-- The Seaboard Review |
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River Faces North—Goodreads Reviews
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“Anne M Smith-Nochasak's prose is compelling and striking and you are right there with Flo in all of her travails as she fights to protect her granddaughter. Her focus is River rather than her own survival. Everything she does is toward safeguarding River. Even when she is in dire-straits Flo is a beacon hope and unyielding courage, an inspiration to never give up however wretched the situation may be.”
--Ivy Logan, Author of The Breach Chronicles |
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“Dark, uncompromising, and shocking, “River Faces North” by Anne M. Smith-Nochasak is saturated with hope. Flo’s courage, her love for her granddaughter River, her faith in her son’s and his partner’s ability to bring the revolution home and wipe away the horrendous Elect are the rays of bright light that transform this story.”
--Eve Koguce, Author of Neglected Merge and The Accidental Cop |
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“Smith-Nochasak has a precision in her style of writing that is masterful. With each carefully chosen word the story creates a reading experience the reader will not soon forget. She eloquently weaves poignant and hopeful moments with dramatic and, at times, shattering events that evoke deep emotions through her eloquent and vivid prose. Her accomplished character development brings the story to life most often in ways you cannot anticipate. Many characters carry secrets that shape not only who they are, which is expected, but also the actions they take that are instrumental to what happens next.”
--A-M Mawhiney, Author of Spindrifts and Spelldrifts |
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“Flo, a 78-year-old grandmother, lives in a rural swamp as a covert resister, her granddaughter, River, who nears the age of abduction, is her primary focus, and Flo will go to extraordinary lengths to protect her. . . The Elect has turned neighbors against each other, and Flo cannot be certain who is left to trust. And as tough as Flo may be, is she capable of keeping her precious River safe? As always, Smith-Nochasak's compelling storytelling kept me captivated. This is a powerful, tense, and poignant beginning to this series, and I look forward to reading more!”
--Kelly Miller, Award-winning Regency romance author |
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"The link below is my YouTube interview with the author where this book is discussed.
"A fabulous read! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi85-..." --P.L. Stuart, author of The Drowned Kingdom Saga "Anne presents a chilling vision of the future, a world of danger, betrayal and mistrust. Always present are the haunting echoes of oppression and persecution by the elect. People are reduced to basic survival, finding food and engaged in the struggles of self preservation. There is always the threat of being found out and the terrible consequences of that happening. This book is a powerful and unique description of one woman’s struggle to protect her granddaughter and her own people. Flo’s journey through this frightening world demonstrates the endurance of the human spirit and the strength of family. In spite of the world around her, it speaks of the incredible resilience of this woman and her hope for the future."
~~Bill Massey, Author of Of Pork and Potatoes, Poets and Pioneers, and Under Italian Skies. |
