She turned her entire life upside down to follow a dream, against her parents wishes. Privileged he whole life, Maribelle let it go for deaf children... But she had no clue what awaited her in the Appalachias. Will she ve strong enough to stick it out?

This book had an excess of explanation on my opinion. Just the first chapter alone, describing why she was going there to teach sign language could have been cut down to several pages. I also thought this book was about someone in the olden days and not the 1960s so that was a surprise.

What really sealed the coffin for me was the fact that the kids didn't act like kids and the deaf children seemed to be able to overhear conversations. The characters felt more like caricatures. I love reading stories from this time and place but I was so disappointed.

Loving the location and setting of this strong and touching story. It is such a wonderful book to read and I sat down and read it in one sitting as I just didn't want to stop reading. I love that Maribelle left her comfortable life to teach deaf children and the story of her struggles and the possibility of love just gave this story such a sense of trueness you could almost feel you knew the characters.

I'm really not sure what else to say but read it, live it, laugh and cry throughout it as it is that kind of book. I do hope I get the chance to read more books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is very well written. It has a a good plot and character development I live in Appalachia Mountains so this hit home for me. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. Thank you for allowing my to give my unbiased review

I read The Word Dancer by Stephanie Edwards. I enjoyed the book. The characters in the book were well developed and the emotions were developed along with the characters. It was a nice storyline and I enjoyed the setting of the book. Family and friendship were themes throughout this beautifully crafted story. I rated the book 4 out of 5.

"The Word Dancer: An Appalachian Tale" by Stephanie Edwards is a mesmerizing journey into the heart of rural Appalachia, where the beauty of the landscape is matched only by the strength of its people. In this tale, Maribelle Saunders leaves behind the comforts of Nashville in pursuit of a higher calling: teaching American Sign Language to deaf children. Little does she know that this decision will not only transform her life but also immerse her in a world of unexpected challenges and poignant love.

Edwards transports readers to 1968, capturing the essence of a tumultuous era where societal norms are shifting, and the echoes of change reverberate even in the quiet corners of Appalachia. Maribelle's journey is not just one of self-discovery but a testament to the resilience of the human spirit when faced with adversity.

At the heart of the story is Maribelle's blossoming love for Sam, the kind-hearted mechanic who becomes her anchor in this unfamiliar terrain. Their love story unfolds amidst the rugged mountains and offers a sense of warmth and hope that is deeply touching. Yet, it's not all smooth sailing for Maribelle, as she finds herself ensnared in the preacher's unsettling obsession, adding an element of suspense and danger.

The Appalachian setting itself becomes a character in the story, with Edwards' vivid descriptions bringing it to life. Readers will feel the crisp mountain air, hear the rustling of leaves, and see the beauty of this often-underrepresented region. Edwards has an uncanny skill in creating a richly textured backdrop for her characters.

As Maribelle navigates the challenges of mountain life and confronts the skepticism of the townspeople, we are drawn into her world, rooting for her every step of the way. The tension and suspense build gradually, making the book difficult to put down. Edwards' writing is evocative, and her storytelling is compelling and poignant.

"The Word Dancer" is not just a love story; it's evidence of the strength of the human spirit and the power of love to transcend obstacles. Stephanie Edwards has crafted a novel that will stay with readers long after the final page is turned. It's a story of love, survival, and the enduring beauty of Appalachia—a tale that will resonate with anyone who appreciates the magic of storytelling.

“A beautifully crafted journey into the heart of rural Appalachia, where love and determination are tested against the backdrop of a changing world."

"Stephanie Edwards weaves a mesmerizing tale of love, courage, and resilience in the Appalachian mountains."

"An Appalachian love story that will tug at your heartstrings and transport you to a time when love conquered all."

"With lyrical prose and vivid descriptions, Edwards paints a portrait of a young woman's transformation amidst the rugged beauty of Appalachia."

"A captivating blend of romance and suspense set against the rich tapestry of Appalachian life."

"Maribelle's journey from Nashville to the heart of the mountains is a compelling exploration of self-discovery and the enduring power of love."

"Stephanie Edwards' storytelling shines in this evocative tale of a word dancer finding her rhythm in the heart of Appalachia."

"A gripping Appalachian tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page."

"Edwards captures the essence of Appalachia with authenticity and grace, making 'The Word Dancer' a must-read for lovers of historical romance."

"In 'The Word Dancer,' Stephanie Edwards creates a world where love and danger collide, leaving readers spellbound and yearning for more."

Stephanie Edwards shares a bit of history and Southern culture in her book The Word Dancer. In 1968, Maribelle Saunders is ready to teach sign language to the children in the Smokey Mountains. She is full of ideas, purpose, and inspiration, and is unwavering in her determination. From Nashville, she arrives in Sassafras Hollow with her stylish heels and hopes to make a difference in the lives of hearing-impaired children. She meets opposition in the form of unexpected living conditions, an obstinate father of a hearing-impaired child, and a preacher who seems to believe Maribelle should be with him. Maribelle desires nothing more than to give communication skills to the children in the community and catch the eye of the local mechanic, Sam.

Stephanie Edwards has succeeded in delivering a historical romance with touches of suspense and drama. The reader feels Maribelle’s disappointments and celebrates her accomplishments as the people in the area embrace her and understand her talents. Just when you think everything is resolve and a happy ending is in sight, Edwards throws another bloody twist into the story.
Upon reviewing some of her interviews, Edwards mentions her relationship with a hearing-impaired relative, giving her story a more credible and personal feel. Maribelle’s tenacity is admirable and the description hints at true events that led to the formation of the story. Word Dancer is a fantastic selection for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a beautiful love story and suspenseful moments.

The premise sounded so promising. A young woman with a deaf sister moves to Appalachian Tennessee to teach the local deaf kids. Sounds good but goes straight downhill with so much melodrama. It read like a bad preteen show. She finds a new BFF in the first day! A true love in the first half hour! The first deaf child she meets (4 years old) learns to read, write and sign in less than 2 weeks!!! Then there's death and kidnapping!!! The bad people are super bad and the good are so good and crazy-talented.
I thought my eyes would be strained from so much eye rolling
Never mind that she only teaches one child but there's a big fundraiser for a separate school for her deaf students. In a town with a one room schoolhouse
And don't even get me started on the owners of the inn she stays in . The inn is empty and bare bones but the family lives in the back in a compound in the lap of luxury.. Where did that kind of money come from?! WHo knows? But they're described as upstanding citizens surrounded by poor mountain folks. Nothing to see her folks.
The suspension of belief is just to great. And the writing is poor. Nice idea. Bad execution
2 stars for concept

Really had a lot of different stories and somehow people i Tennessee They all pulled together in town to help each other out. MARB Elo E come, To the small town the helped D e a f children to help Send read and write. She's also gonna teach them sign when what she really continued to communicate with everybody else. Language so they can learn to communicate with people.. It's also a love story between her and S a m. She came from a very wealthy backgrounashvill Her sister HELENO. Was Dea f And her family had money so she could do things in life.. In rural areas, they do not have this type of help. It's many interesting things about this book. How people had all this talent. And they didn't really know how to show it. Sarah was really interesting to because she had a Dea m son.. You're in the Inn, lady. Had interesting stories about her life, too. When parents came around eventually accepted her life Up in the M o u n t I n e. She wanted this life away from the other life. She had because she Was born with that life. The book says it all because it talks about really interesting things and how life was changing.

The Word Dancer is well written. Good plot, setting and character development. I recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review

I was disappointed with the book and I think the reason is because it was pitched as women's fiction and mystery and it really is just an average romance. There was very little interaction with the children, which was one of the reasons I picked it, and more concern about what shoes she was wearing. I would ot recommend this book. Sorry.

My Review
☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

The word dancer.
Southern fiction.

[Arc]
Releasing September 19th 2023.

I've read books, By this author before. And each book gets better and better.. This story is one of my favorite Kinda books.
A appalachian Story.

It all began in 1968,
When a girl did what her folks told her to to do. well they were supposed to. Time sure was different in the sixties.

Maribelle Saunders.

Is 26 years old and ready to move on with her life. Help those who need it most. Sign language teaching the young to be able to communicate with family, friends, and Have a life Because bing death. Doesn't mean you can't do anything you want. A teacher who is willing to be there for those in need.

Moving to the smoky mountains, Was a big move for Maribelle Saunders, But finding that special place in life. Was more than she was looking for. She found things she
Wasn't expecting. Being the new school teacher was a big job.

This was truly a wonderful story.
Some of the characters you just wanted to smack.
Other you just wanted to hug.

Stephanie Edwards ❤️ ❤️

Stephanie Edwards, writes an Appalachian story set in the foothills of the Great Smokies in 1968. The Word Dancer is an interesting tale. Maribelle, a teacher of deaf students is headed to the mountains to teach. On her way to the small town where she will live she encounters a young man who touches her heart. As the story goes along, she continues to get to know him, her students, and the town's people on a journey of her heart. The story contains subplots. Maribelle becomes the love object of her boss who is also the local pastor. Several of the characters become her friends and when Maribelle has an unexplained bought of illness her parents join her in the small town. "The Word Dancer" is a creative story. Its characters are rich, adventourous and interesting. Author Stephanie Edwards handles the disability of deafness well and readers will be interested in the teaching methods illustrated in the story. Thanks to #NetGalley and #TheWordDancer for the opportunity to read and review this fascinating tale.

I'm so glad that I picked this book up.
I couldn't put this book down because I was enjoying it so much!
A few things made me smile, laugh and cry too. Just have a box of tissues nearby.
I had a feeling about Pastor Jeremy from the get go. He was a wolf in sheep's clothing ugh. I didn't like him at all! Very sneaky and not so nice.
All of these wonderful characters and especially Sam made me feel like I had a big family in this close knit family.
Sam was my favorite character. Poor man! He's good, kind and what a man!
Maribell was certainly a brave young lady. It took guts to do what she did.
Changes are hard for sure and certain.
People have ti be willing to accept these changes but some don't.
I think God puts people in places where He needs them or us to be so they can better serve Him.
It's very hard to wait I know. But it has to be in His timing not ours.
Maribell's mother made smile at times but I loved what came next! Hehehe
But anyways I loved loved this story and the cover too.
5 stars for a job well done. I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Title: The Word Dance, An Appalachian Tale
Author: Stephanie Edwards
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
Genre: Romance with a bit of Mystery
Pub Date: September 16, 2023
My Rating: 3.3 Stars
Pages 258

Maribelle Saunders has a good life in Nashville but has always wanted to help deft children learn to communicate through sign language. She travels to the nearby Appalachian Mountains where she finds herself unprepared for the local resident’s mistrust of outsiders.

About the Author~
Stephanie Edwards has been writing professionally since she landed her first newspaper column at the age of 13. Her love for the Lowcountry, the Atlantic Ocean and a good ghost story inspired her to write her first book. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Ron, and their adorable dog, Shadow.
I agree with Ms. Edwards as I also love a Lowcountry as well as a good ghost story!

I did enjoy this story; as a reader of mostly thrillers I like to change it up a bit.
.
Want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 16, 2023.

Title: The Word Dancer: An Appalachian Tale
Author: Stephanie Edwards
Genre: Sweet Romance
Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: When I saw the title and read the description of this book, I genuinely wanted to love it. As someone from Appalachia, with family still there, I always love to read a book set in the mountains. But I did not love this. At all. It had SO MUCH potential to be an amazing book, but there were just too many things that I couldn’t get past.

The main character, Maribelle, is supposed to be leaving a privileged life in Nashville to go into the Smoky Mountains to a tiny mountain town to teach deaf children. An awesome premise, right? But Maribelle is supposed to be 26, and she was just far too naive for me to believe it. The timeline is so compressed that its just unbelievable. No one is so amazing that they have two men fighting over them in less than two days. Maribelle also spends the first few days mooning over possible romance, and while she’s nervous about teaching, she isn’t nervous enough to think about HOW she’ll teach. (As a former teacher, I feel like the time period doesn’t matter. I don’t know any teacher that is going into their first teaching job that wouldn’t be nervous and worried.) There were other things. A lot of them, but I will stop there.

The book does have a lot going on, and I liked some of the characters very much. As with any review, take my thoughts with a grain of salt. Some people may love this book, and that’s totally fine. It just didn’t work for me.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this.

A few concerns…
What made Mirabelle’s snobby mother do such a quick about face concerning lowly mechanic Sam courting her daughter. Maybe the twang was more pronounced in the 60’s or in Kentucky, but mountain talk seemed a bit overdone. That was okay, it was endearing. I found the blood scene at Sam’s far fetched. Gender stereotypes abound, but it was the sixties in the south and that’s the way it was. I also found it odd that this tiny community has such a large population of young deaf children.

A few wonderfuls…
I loved how the folks of Sassafrass Hollow fiercely loved their mountains and how the author described the beauty and splendour. I live in Appalachia and there is nothing to compare to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The strong reliance on prayer was pronounced in the walk of life of the residents throughout the book. As a retired teacher I related to the feeling Mirabelle experienced watching a child discover, feel proud and succeed in learning.

The story is very fast paced. So much happens over a short period of five months.
The last few chapters were too sugary sweet to even seen plausible. But I’m not a romance novel fan, but do love stories set in the Appalachian mountains. You’ll” find this to be a quick and feel good read for romance readers especially if you like tidy endings.

"The Word Dancer" is a captivating and emotionally charged historical novel that transports readers to rural Appalachia in 1968. With its evocative setting, well-drawn characters, and a narrative that explores themes of love, resilience, and community, this book offers a compelling and immersive reading experience.

The story follows Maribelle Saunders, a courageous and compassionate woman who leaves her comfortable life in Nashville to teach American Sign Language to deaf children in rural Appalachia. Maribelle's journey is marked by her unwavering dedication to her students and her commitment to making a difference in their lives. However, she soon finds herself entangled in the complexities of mountain life, including the challenges and dangers it presents.

The character of Maribelle is both relatable and inspirational, and readers will admire her determination and strength as she faces adversity and skepticism from the townspeople. Her blossoming romance with Sam, the kind mechanic, adds a tender and heartfelt layer to the story, highlighting the power of love to transcend barriers.

The novel also delves into the darker aspects of human nature, as the town preacher's obsession with Maribelle creates tension and danger. This subplot adds a layer of suspense and intrigue to the narrative, keeping readers engaged and invested in Maribelle's journey.

The author's vivid descriptions bring the Appalachian setting to life, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the rugged beauty and challenges of the region. The sense of place is palpable, and the author effectively conveys the unique atmosphere of rural Appalachia.

"The Word Dancer" is a story of resilience and survival, as Maribelle navigates not only the physical challenges of her new environment but also the emotional fallout of unrequited love. The book explores the idea that love can be both a source of strength and vulnerability.

The pacing of the plot is well-executed, with a blend of romance, suspense, and personal growth that keeps the story engaging and moving forward. The author's writing style is evocative and heartfelt, allowing readers to connect deeply with the characters and their experiences.

Overall, "The Word Dancer" is a poignant and beautifully crafted historical novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate stories of love and courage set against the backdrop of a richly portrayed time and place. It's a tale of love and determination, and the enduring power of human connection in the face of adversity.

I haven’t teared up so much while reading a book. This is such a touching story about a woman who puts her affluent past behind her to teach deaf children in a rural mountain town. Some of the townspeople ridicule her for trying to help. When you meet Davey, you understand why she perseveres. And Sam is the perfect romantic interest. Maribelle’s perspective and voice seem accurate for this time period and setting.