Carolina Built

By: Kianna Alexander

Narrated by: Shayna Small, Leon Nixon

This “exuberant celebration of Black women’s joy as well as their achievements” (Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author) novelizes the life of real estate magnate Josephine N. Leary in a previously untold story of passion, perseverance, and building a legacy after emancipation in North Carolina.

Josephine N. Leary is determined to build a life of her own and a future for her family. When she moves to Edenton, North Carolina, from the plantation where she was born, she is free, newly married, and ready to follow her dreams.

As the demands of life pull Josephine’s attention away, it becomes increasingly difficult for her to pursue her real estate aspirations. She finds herself immersed in deepening her marriage, mothering her daughters, and being a dutiful daughter and granddaughter. Still, she manages to teach herself to be a businesswoman, to manage her finances, and to make smart investments in the local real estate market. But with each passing year, it grows more and more difficult to focus on building her legacy from the ground up.

“Filled with passion and perseverance, Josephine Leary is frankly a woman that everyone should know” (Sadeqa Johnson, author of Yellow Wife) and her story speaks to the part of us that dares to dream bigger, tear down whatever stands in our way, and build something better for the loved ones we leave behind.

Required reading

This book should be required reading for people. It is so fantastic teaching us about the power of a determined woman.

Loved This Book!

I am a Carolina girl and never knew about Josephine Leary. She is a little known Black History Fact. She was a women before her time. Loved the narration! Will look for more works by this author.

Our history!

What a beautifully written story about a part of our history that I had the pleasure of listening to. So much of our present, I feel was started with Josephine Leary, against a magnitude of being a colored woman with a head for business. I truly hope this author will bring further works of our little known history!

Certainly Worth the Read

The premise around this book is great. The storytelling kept me engaged even though some of the characters voices started to blend in with the narrator. Both narrators did a good job. I gave it 4 stars because I enjoyed the book but it isn't something I'd read again.

Story of Independence

I loved this story. The strength and courage to leave a legacy for her children without fear. To ensure that they would never “be slaves” to anyone or anything” especially a man! I loved that she held her ground even when her husband tried to rule over her. A great recommended read. In the end we all should strive for ownership and property. Unafraid.