Preston's Mill

Hidden Mountain, Book 1

By: Jacqueline Rhoades

Narrated by: Leah Frederick

Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

When her disastrous marriage ends in the most humiliating way, Meg Hanson doesn't know what to do or who to turn to. Unhappy with her life as it was and unwilling to become what her mother and sister envision, she retreats to the little Appalachian town of Preston's Mill, the place where her father was raised. Meg has promised herself six months away from the influences of home to find out who she is and what she really wants out of life.

Her Great Aunt Annie doesn't hold with such nonsense, but she does believe that good food, hard work and fresh country air have the power to heal the soul and she sees in Meg a soul that belongs to the mountain.

Coming from wealth and privilege, Meg isn't sure at first what to make of a place where much of your wardrobe comes from Gorton's Farm Supply and the only coffee available is what's brewed at the Downtown Café. However, it doesn't take long for her to become attached to the people of Preston's Mill with their blunt honesty and strange speech or to reluctantly fall for the boy who kissed her under the apple tree when she was only 10. He's grown into an intriguing man with problems of his own.

JT Preston is burdened with his family's past sins, sins that prevent him from seeking the life he's always envied and longed for. Annie thinks this is nonsense, too, and sets about bringing Meg and JT together, but nothing is ever as easy as it sounds.

When a coal company makes plans to begin mining the mountain, Meg and JT find themselves in the middle of the battle between those who consider it progress and those who see it as the end of a way of life. Greed rears its head, people are hurt and lives are endangered, Meg's most of all.

©2014 Jacqueline Rhoades (P)2015 Jacqueline Rhoades

Really Enjoyable Listen!

Narration - Leah Frederick - Pretty Good! She's a good story teller and it was easy to differentiate between the characters.

This is really a pretty sweet romance. I kinda fell in love with Meg and loved JT.
Poor Meg is cheated on by her jerk of a husband and finds out in a pretty miserable way. She heads to the mountain town of Preston's Mill to hang with her Aunt Annie (who I also loved). Here she meets quite a group of characters that were all pretty entertaining. The gossip mill is in full force and of course, most of the time, it's a little broken and the information isn't always as it seems.

I really fell in love with these characters - especially those struggling in the court of public opinion. Loralie's story-line was especially enjoyable!

The dangerous part of the tale got a little bit Scooby Doo-ish, but not too bad. I loved the ending too, but really wished for more, but then that's usually a good thing in my eyes! I'd rather be left wanting more than glad it's finally over!

Really enjoyed this one!

I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review

great read

"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com".

I absolutely loved the book it was wonderful.

Someones Daughter To Someone's Wife - Who Is She?

Meg was raised and groomed to be the perfect wife to a powerful man. It was what she knew, she knew what to wear and what events to attend to please her husband. When she finds him cheating on her she is flabbergasted at first, but after a brutal talk with her sister, Meg isn't sure who she is. She went from being her parent's daughter to the wife of a powerful man. She realizes that she never had a chance to discover who she was.

At the urging of her father, Meg heads toward what Preston's Mills. This little town is where she spent several of her formative years. She pulls in, or drives through, and wonders if she can really live in such a remote location. Her aunt Annie had offered to let her stay with her and Meg says to herself, "Why not? Perhaps this will be a chance for me to discover who I really am."

Meg helps her work the farm and picks up a few shifts at the local café. There is a curious and very handsome man named JT Preston. He seems to show up at meal time when Meg's aunt Annie was cooking. He also helps with the upkeep on the farm.

Annie decides to play matchmaker and introduces JT & Meg… They are really attracted to each other but neither is looking for a relationship. Meg has come for the winter and when spring comes she will move back to the big city to do, well she doesn't know why exactly. So she is up for a fling.

JT comes from a line of men who abuse their women both verbally and physically. He is vowed not to let anyone get close to him. The pattern must stop with him and he doesn't trust the genes of his ancestors flowing through his but blood. Since Meg is only around for the winter; it sounds like a perfectly timed rendezvous – no strings attached.

There are accidents happening around town and lots of mystery and intrigue. I really enjoyed this book. Oh and romance, the hookups of the people in a small town.

I found the narration was excellent, especially when I sped it up just a little bit. The performances were real and I was focused on what was happening and listening without any sort of distraction from the narrator, Leah Fredrick.

Notes: Some descriptions of sex, some cursing and a bit of violence

This is another book that *I received in exchange for my review. Once again I am pleasantly surprised to find new-to-me author who has written an excellent book. I believe this is a series and I will be adding them to my Wish List.

I appreciate that you took the time to read my review. If you found it helpful in your decision whether or not to choose this book, would you please select yes immediately below this review. Thank you so much!

EXCELLENT BOOK!!

love Love LOVE THIS BOOK!!! IT HAS REAL LIFE HARDSHIPS & HOW A WOMEN DEALS WITH IT!! I LOVE THE NARRATOR & THE WHOLE THING WAS JUST AMAZING!!! I AM SO THANKFUL I GOT IT!
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Wonderful story, brings you right home!

**I was given this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Where is book 2 on audio? This book was entertaining, suspenseful, romantic and had beautiful descriptions. You felt like you were on Hidden Mountain. The character development was very good, you can relate to each person, even supporting characters had 3 dimensions. The relationship between Annie and Meg was probably my favorite. Annie is no nonsense, pulls no punches and says it like it is. My favorite kind of person. Meg pleasantly surprised me with the changes in her as the story developed from the meek ex-wife to a strong, opinionated woman, not afraid to go after what she wants. And JT...I don't even have to go into him..the awesome hero. Love his dark past and how he overcomes it. The story underlying it with Lorelei and the role she plays is all just poetic justice. Loved this!

The narration of the story by Leah Frederick was wonderful. She has wonderful flow and brought to life each character. She captured each one's personality and easily distinguished them with different voices.

This was my first Jacqueline Rhoades book, and look forward to more!

Big City Trouble in a Small Town

This book kept up a steady quick pace of twists and turns from the beginning to the end, but no emotion or experience of chemistry was lost between the characters.
Meg Hanson has been dealt a blow to the life she thought she was leading, but it was a gift because it took her out of a place of denial and complacency and forced her to rejoin the world of living, breathing and feeling people.
She was encouraged to go back to her father's small town to find herself and managed to do much much more.
I loved the interaction between Meg and her aunt as well as the rest of the characters in the town of Preston's Mill. The author really made me feel like I'd come to visit for a few months, but didn't have to deal with the danger coming to the land.
This was definitely a pleasant listening experience and it set the atmosphere for another great listen in Changing Times. Jacqueline Rhoades set the bar and Leah Frederick brought you further into the story with her talented narration.

Prestons Mill

Meg returns to her fathers home town to try to forget her former life married to an atrocious man.She moves in with her Aunt Annie,who puts her to work to get her mind off her former life.She's given herself 6 months to get it together but decides she may need to stay longer after re meeting her first 'kiss'.There are plenty of misunderstandings,lost moments,etc.It is a good story narrated by Leah Frederick,who does a nice job.
I was given this book free for an honest review.