by C. E. Morgan
First published 2009
Aloma arrives at Orren's Kentucky tobacco farm in the summer of 1984. His family has died in an accident, leaving him alone with the inheritance of struggling land threatened by drought. She finds herself isolated on the remote property, wrestling with loneliness while Orren fights to save his crops. He grieves silently, making their relationship both passionate and contentious. The physical demands of farm life wear on Aloma as she tries to connect with a man who has withdrawn into his work and sorrow. A charismatic young preacher enters their world, offering Aloma friendship that deepens her questions about her future. She faces a choice between staying with Orren or leaving the farm behind. The decision forces her to confront what she truly wants from love and whether security matters more than independence.
Genres: fiction, drama, literary-fiction, family-life, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, adult-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, grief
Setting: Kentucky
Period: 1984
199 pages · Paperback · Farar, Strouse and Giroux