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The River Nymph
A runaway girl, a flapper with a camera, a Valentino with secrets—and a terrible time to fall in love.
On a disastrous August night in 1924, 14-year-old Tenny Chance flees from a sharecropper's shack on a Georgia plantation, determined to find her brother and a job in order to save her family. Two days later, 17-year-old flapper Augusta Pemberton and her cousin Pete photograph Tenny bathing in the Ocmulgee River on her way to Ashbyville. Pete dreams of the river girl, while Tenny hopes to become a nurse. Gussie yearns to leave home for New York, where jazz and fun await, to sell her photographs to magazines. But handsome Ned Fletcher will stop at nothing to achieve riches and revenge, snaring Gussie, Tenny and Pete in his web of deceit. Gussie and Tenny ride a rollercoaster journey as they struggle against not only Ned, but evil men, mean girls, busybodies, and even gangsters to achieve their dreams of love and success.
On a disastrous August night in 1924, 14-year-old Tenny Chance flees from a sharecropper's shack on a Georgia plantation, determined to find her brother and a job in order to save her family. Two days later, 17-year-old flapper Augusta Pemberton and her cousin Pete photograph Tenny bathing in the Ocmulgee River on her way to Ashbyville. Pete dreams of the river girl, while Tenny hopes to become a nurse. Gussie yearns to leave home for New York, where jazz and fun await, to sell her photographs to magazines. But handsome Ned Fletcher will stop at nothing to achieve riches and revenge, snaring Gussie, Tenny and Pete in his web of deceit. Gussie and Tenny ride a rollercoaster journey as they struggle against not only Ned, but evil men, mean girls, busybodies, and even gangsters to achieve their dreams of love and success.
572 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2019
About the author
Anne Lovett
11 books73 followersI’ve been a reader since the age of three, because my resourceful mom wanted to keep me busy while she looked after my baby brother. Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka kept me entertained, as well as Little Brown Bear, The Bobbsey Twins, and later, Nancy Drew.
Coming from a traditional Southern family, I didn’t receive encouragement to do anything with the stories I scribbled on notebook paper. A good marriage and being a proper Southern lady was the ideal.
How dull that seemed! I wanted adventure. To save the world. Somehow during that quest, I lost my way, fell in love, and got married. How did I become a manufacturer of lightweight concrete air-conditioner pads? A long story.
I never stopped writing. And when my kids were in school, I took some classes. Then I stepped out into the adventurous world of words with joy.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 11, 2020
The blurb for this book compares this to Downton Abbey. I've never watched Downton Abbey and I think that's a good thing, as I can judge this book on its own merits. This is not my first book by the author - I previously read and enjoyed Rubies from Burma.
One thing I liked about this book was that instead of waiting till the end of the book to find out if that guy really is THAT guy, it's confirmed much earlier on, which enables the narrative to focus on other things, providing a much richer story than 'is he or isn't he?'
While I enjoyed this book, I do wish the author had explored more about Ned's past, mainly what caused him to y'know, become Ned. We are indeed given some reason for this, but I feel it wasn't quite enough, and I think his transformation could have been explored more.
It was fascinating reading about nursing here, and the expectations of men vs women back then in the Roaring 20s... er, 1920s (wow. Now that it's 2020, we're going to have to start actually saying 1920s instead of just '20s like we used to...) where women had just won the right to vote nationwide in the USA but there were still plenty of other struggles.
Reading this author's work feels like a timewarp almost, where I can actually get a taste of what it was like to live back then in the early 20th century (which is why I love historical fiction so much!) 4.25/5 stars for an enjoyable read.
One thing I liked about this book was that instead of waiting till the end of the book to find out if that guy really is THAT guy, it's confirmed much earlier on, which enables the narrative to focus on other things, providing a much richer story than 'is he or isn't he?'
While I enjoyed this book, I do wish the author had explored more about Ned's past, mainly what caused him to y'know, become Ned. We are indeed given some reason for this, but I feel it wasn't quite enough, and I think his transformation could have been explored more.
It was fascinating reading about nursing here, and the expectations of men vs women back then in the Roaring 20s... er, 1920s (wow. Now that it's 2020, we're going to have to start actually saying 1920s instead of just '20s like we used to...) where women had just won the right to vote nationwide in the USA but there were still plenty of other struggles.
Reading this author's work feels like a timewarp almost, where I can actually get a taste of what it was like to live back then in the early 20th century (which is why I love historical fiction so much!) 4.25/5 stars for an enjoyable read.
September 15, 2019
The cover initially drew my attention to this book, plus that historical fiction is one of my favourite genres. Really enjoyed this story, despite that it took me a several pages before it gripped me. This was a well written book and one that i can recommend. I rarely write what a story is about as i prefer one to read the book for themselves, but i do recommend.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.
April 30, 2020
This book is set in the 20's. Tenny who is 14 years old wants more than sharecropping for her life. She meets Pete who see's her swimming in the river.....Pete loves Tenny but he is a medical student who wants to marry someone to advance himself and poor Tenny is not it.
This was a good book, I really enjoyed it.
This was a good book, I really enjoyed it.
November 23, 2023
The back cover claims 'Downton Abbey . . . Down South' and that pretty much explains this book. It is full of drama and intrigue about families in the early 1900's. While the people and towns are fictional, it closely resembles the cotton mill towns in the south.
The protagonist, Tenny, is the River Nymph as she escapes the small cotton town to find her way in life. She is a survivor, and one can't help but admire her determination to overcome an unwanted pregnancy, and find a profession as a nurse. As she does this, she creates a new family of friends and we discover Gussie, another survivor who overcomes a bad marriage but perseveres to become a photographer. Both women are strong, attract strong men in their lives, and overcome the limitations thrown their way.
I enjoyed this book, as it is well researched on that era in the south. I am not originally a southerner, but I declare this story made me happty.
The protagonist, Tenny, is the River Nymph as she escapes the small cotton town to find her way in life. She is a survivor, and one can't help but admire her determination to overcome an unwanted pregnancy, and find a profession as a nurse. As she does this, she creates a new family of friends and we discover Gussie, another survivor who overcomes a bad marriage but perseveres to become a photographer. Both women are strong, attract strong men in their lives, and overcome the limitations thrown their way.
I enjoyed this book, as it is well researched on that era in the south. I am not originally a southerner, but I declare this story made me happty.
June 21, 2022
Set in an impeccably researched time and place, River Nymph takes us back to Georgia a century ago. Leading ladies, Tenny and Gussie, face heart-breaking obstacles and golden opportunities with authentic grit, and Lovett shares those intimate holy places inside their minds within a plot that flows like water, fluid and ever changing. Cinematic scenes transport us into this man's world where women must work to survive and always fear trouble both at home and at the office; each builds her survival skills as she struggles against seemingly insurmountable odds. The action connects Tenny and Gussie in surprising ways that will have you reading late into the night to see what happens next in this romantic novel full of genuine suspense and passion.
July 19, 2020
Fourteen-year-old Tenny Chance leaves her home in Weedy Grove, Georgia to escape from the horrid Arno Shackley who sexually assaulted her. She tries to make a new life in Ashbyville, but finds the lives of the people she meets there are intertwined with her own.
Set in 1920's Georgia, it is very much like a southern-style Downton Abbey. Drama, Politics, and Infidelity are all part of the plot. At 563 pages, it's a hefty read, but one that is engaging. Those who enjoy southern historical fiction and drama will find this an enjoyable read.
Set in 1920's Georgia, it is very much like a southern-style Downton Abbey. Drama, Politics, and Infidelity are all part of the plot. At 563 pages, it's a hefty read, but one that is engaging. Those who enjoy southern historical fiction and drama will find this an enjoyable read.
May 16, 2020
Although this novel was not my usual genre, it was a wonderful read and kept me turning the pages. Great characters and plotlines. Deserves a longer review when I get my backlog cleared. Highly recommended.
February 14, 2020
More than a romance, this story delves into how women get themselves into relationships with unsuitable men and what they do once they realize it. I rooted for Tenny all the way, someone who has had to overcome huge obstacles but never loses sight of her goals and values. Gussie is a toughter character to love, as she has been so spoiled and gets herself into trouble because of it. And then there is Swanee. Such a diverse set of characters, all revolving around Ned with a few unexpected twists. The ending seems to indicate there is a sequel as there are some unresolved issues regarding two people whose deaths are referred to.
November 14, 2019
It was okay
The river nymph was a complex and engaging read. It was generally well written however over all I found the story quite sad. There was evil and ill will towards others throughout much of the book which added up to me not overly enjoying reading it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The river nymph was a complex and engaging read. It was generally well written however over all I found the story quite sad. There was evil and ill will towards others throughout much of the book which added up to me not overly enjoying reading it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 19, 2019
I loved this book, the characters, the twists and turns. I will be looking out for the author's other works.
I have added this book on my Books To Buy list.
Thank you to Netgalley, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and Anne Lovett for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I have added this book on my Books To Buy list.
Thank you to Netgalley, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and Anne Lovett for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 21, 2019
Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.
August 10, 2019
Great Book !
August 24, 2019
Weird racial stereotypes and romance that is so entirely unbelievable, I just couldn’t get into the story. However, the writing style is very well done and made up for what I didn’t like.
August 24, 2019
This was my first book by Anne Lovett and won’t be my last. I throughly enjoyed it. The characters are well developed. The story has many surprising twists that make it a page turner.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews