Library Journal
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DEBUT Welcome to Spark, TN, in the mid-1960s, where Posey Jarvis has lived all her life. She's been married to Vern for 20 of her 38 years, and the couple reside in the house Vern grew up in. Vern and their daughter Callie Jane have been under Posey's thumb the whole time, but things are changing. Posey inherits her aunt's large, dilapidated home, which she believes is the key to her ascension into her rightful place as social leader of Cooke County. Once she makes a big social splash, Posey is sure she'll attain all her dreams—social status, respect, and the love of C.J. Ryan, her obsession of 20 years. Meanwhile, Vern is busy running the Emporium with Callie Jane, who just wants to break free of the town and her mother. Neither is willing to fall into line with Posey's expectations any longer. Things come to a boiling point after Posey, while hosting her high school reunion at her inherited home, comes face to face with the realities that she has always drowned with her secret stash of gin. VERDICT First-time novelist Parham delivers a twisted tale of small-town drama. Fans of gothic tales or Southern novels will enjoy this.—Sandy Knowles