BLOG TOUR STOP #7 – LIZ GAUFFREAU

I am so happy to get to sail on to New Hampshire for a visit with another of my favorite humans, Liz Gauffreau!

I got to know Liz better when she was a member of our Story Empire group and I am a huge fan of her writing. If you look her up on Google, it says she is a writer in poet’s clothing. 🙂 I’ve read her poetry and her novels and she is multi-talented for sure.

I want to share her latest book today because this book affected me profoundly. It was my #1 pick on my Top Ten list for 2025, a well-deserved spot.

MY REVIEW:

This book captivated me from the start. While it is a fictionalized account of the Sheldon Poor Farm in Vermont, the setting AND the characters are very real.
Most of the story is told through Hazel, who wound up being the caretaker of the poor farm, along with her husband, Paul.
Hazel’s story is heartbreaking from the start. The devastating losses she experienced at such a young age were enough to scar her for the rest of her life. Instead, she found a strength and resilience that made her not only capable but also compassionate. She genuinely cared about the people who ended up in their care and did her best to provide for their needs. She is a strong relatable character.
However, the character I related most to was Claire. She lived in Louisiana, and had everything she’d been told she was supposed to have—a husband who provided and didn’t abuse her, a teenage daughter who loved her despite the typical age related angst. But something was missing. Her discontent grew. Sleep evaded her. Something strong pulled her. So, she sat outside after her family went to bed and listened night after night. At first she couldn’t tell where the music came from, but it drew her, until powerless against it, she had to find it. A Quonset hut tucked away from the road gave her what she longed for. She hid in the shadows and listened as the music soothed her ragged soul. Then, something extraordinary happened. I’m not going to give you details, but when Lightnin’ Hopkins showed up, I got a big goofy grin on my face. Maybe it’s because I love the blues, or maybe it’s because of the way the author depicted this character in such a way I knew it was the real him. That was the beginning of Claire’s downfall that eventually landed her at the Sheldon Poor Farm in Vermont.
There is so much that happens through the pages of this book. It is slated to be one of the top reads for me for this entire year. It is so well written, well researched and well developed from the historical facts to the characters and the storyline. I highly recommend it!

I’d love for you to check out ALL of Liz’s books HERE!

Then head on over to see today’s blog post!

LIZ GAUFFREAU’S BLOG POST STOP