While it is inevitable that someone won’t like River Town and there will be bad reviews, we haven’t seen any yet. We’ve been getting fantastic reviews so far.
River Town is a collection of short stories set in 1890s West Virginia. The combined work of six different authors, the tales range from adventure to romance, from intrigue to fantasy. Each story stands alone, yet together they take readers to a time along the Kanawha River just after the Civil War when families were still struggling to recover and as the railroad was just coming through the mountains. The river was the center of everything.
The book has been as high as #4 on the Hot New Releases list in its category on Amazon as well.
Get your copy today and see what everyone is talking about!
Here are the reviews for River Town on Amazon so far:
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful., August 12, 2013
This review is from: River Town (Paperback)
Eric Douglas edits an anthology project where few have dared to tread. He assembles a group of friends, fellow authors and West Virginians, to write the stories of a town — River Town — but to do so almost independent of one another. This allows the writers, the characters, and West Virginia to remain independent of one another, but like the life in these hills, interconnected.The stories — the story — moves along at a pace sure to keep you reading until the very, shocking, end.
As someone not from around here — the real River Town, WV — I can appreciate scenery. It is just real enough to create the emotional attached in the reader, but yet serves as the authors’ creation. Even the time period has that odd mix of fantasy and reality. It is that moment right before West Virginia changed to the coal madam she is today.
A fantastic read!
4.0 out of 5 stars A Visit to River Town, August 12, 2013
This review is from: River Town (Kindle Edition)
The authors provide the reader with a view into a brief period of time when coal was king and the river was the central artery for all things into and out of River Town. Formatted as short stories, the reader views a series of interconnected events through the eyes of a cast of characters. And while each story/chapter can stand alone (each one could be the basis for a novel on their own), be sure to read them in order to capture the entire story. This was a fantastic, fun read. I am already hoping there are more stories to come from River Town.
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, August 12, 2013
By Leanne – See all my reviews
This review is from: River Town (Paperback)
The authors of River Town pen a page turner. The collection of stories takes place in 1890 Charleston, West Virginia and transports the reader on a journey when the river was the source of livelihood, as well as coal and the cut-throat goings-on of the coal companies. It’s stories of intrigue and adventure; including a possible murder and magic leave the reader wanting more. Each story is uniquely intertwined with the others and the characters are well-crafted, real and engrossing. I cheered for Capitan Dawson, I wanted to learn more about Hayden and Lillian. I grew increasing curious about Clinton, Julia, Miss Roxie, and the Wilson family. A job well done.
4.0 out of 5 stars Appalachian Intrigue and Mysticism in River Town, August 9, 2013
This review is from: River Town (Kindle Edition)
Douglas and his group of assembled writers do a good job of weaving historical fiction and mysticism into a unique Appalachian story. The story is set in the fictional village of River Town, a coal camp in the hills of West Virginia. Drawing on aspects and figures of the state history, the story weaves a fictional tale of redemption, greed, bravery, betrayal and other human vices/virtues set upon a backdrop of the impoverished coal mining towns of the late 19th century. From the prodigal son returning home to the coal barons seeking to expand their empires, the writers use Point of View story telling to effectively engage the readers and slowly evolve and reveal the shared characters about which they write in interesting and unexpected ways.The various writing styles evident complement each other and weave a rich story. I hope this entry is just the beginning of stories we hear from and about River Town and its residents. The story definitely left me wanting to know some more of the back stories and where the characters were headed.
Overall a job well done.
4.0 out of 5 stars Take me home…Country Roads, August 22, 2013
This review is from: River Town (Kindle Edition)
The best books take you to a place you can see and feel.This puts a heavy burden on the author. Not only must you write in a style that you feel comfortable with, but you need to see the things and hear the things and feel the things that you reader needs to see and hear and feel.
Eric Douglas and his gang of authors share that burden to great effect. Every story has a unique feel that collectively weaves a tapestry of richness that carries the reader along with them.
Read River Town, hear it, see it and occasionally smell it.
But no matter what, you cannot help but feel it.
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED IT!, August 13, 2013
This review is from: River Town (Paperback)
What a great book! From the first word to the last, I enjoyed every aspect of this book! And growing up in Charleston, WV made it even more special. I highly recommend this for all who enjoy reading, young or old!
By Kat – See all my reviews
This review is from: River Town (Kindle Edition)
Being a lover of WV,this read was simply a joy. Entertaining and beautiful I could see the wonder of the growth of our capital city via the current of the great waterway. If you are a lover of WV and her greatest gifts of coal and the river …..the stories..story Rivertown will not let you down.
This review is from: River Town (Paperback)
River Town is very special…a fabulous mix of history, strength, sadness, and love. The characters were rich. There were details in just the right places and subtleties in others. I never wanted to put it down! What a great concept to get many authors involved!