Appalachian Awakening

Great characters and story plot. I love the development of Amber’s character. I was drawn to her from the beginning. The author did such a good job with her personality. I think the Appalachian Trail even holds a unique place in the hearts of those of us who haven’t traversed it. Stories about the hikers and the trail bring out the adventurous nature in all of us. The more I read I felt as though the characters became a part of the trail—like family—connected to something larger than themselves.

I love the grittiness of the characters. They are not the typical, perfect-sized bodies either. They feel realistic, as do the situations and dialogue.

This story stirred many emotions as I read on. I could feel the betrayal Amber felt. The need to accomplish something and feel her self-worth. Friendship. Love. Sadness. Even a sense of triumph. And more. No, I never give spoilers...

AC M via NetGalley

Appalachian Awakening by Nance Sparks is a heartwarming and transformative journey of self-discovery and love set against the backdrop of the Appalachian Trail. The story revolves around Amber Shaw, a young woman yearning for personal fulfillment after losing her high-powered executive job and girlfriend. It shakes her to the core and makes her question who she is and what she wants from life. After a few drinks and a couple of rewinds through the movie Wild, she decides to mimic Cheryl Strayed and search for her own answers on the Appalachian Trail. As she begins her sojourn, she meets Leslie Brown, a seasoned hiker with her own story to tell. Despite their initial differences, they form a deep connection during their months-long journey. Their love story–filled with friendship and the glory of the great outdoors–is as delightful as it is compelling.

Sparks does a fine job constructing this story. She nails down the seven critical elements of story writing like a pro. First and foremost, she creates a well-structured plot that’s developed around clear and solid story mapping. It facilitates an arc that consists of meaningful, relevant, and time-bound plot points, making the storytelling credible. Furthermore, the arc—coupled with Sparks’s well-planned story world—institutes physical challenges and tests of endurance that push introspection and reflection. It all leads to organic tension and true character growth, something that hooks readers until the end.

While Sparks’ story construction is noteworthy, her character development deserves appreciation as well. Amber and Leslie are relatable and multidimensional women with clear, understandable motivations. Readers understand these women; they care about them. Right from the beginning Sparks grabs readers’ emotions by scripting a strong opening and inciting moment, one that unveils both Amber and Leslie’s true desires and fears. Their misguided truths, things they’ve believed all of their adult lives, are slowly unraveled during this trek, making their transformation impactive with the readers.

Even though the main characters do the bulk of the work in Appalachian Awakening, the secondary characters need praise as well. Sparks uses them to create tension and balance within the storytelling. On top of that, these characters work to advance the sub-plot, even giving it a twist. Most importantly though, they provide depth and complexity to the storytelling, making the whole reading experience more memorable. This is especially true of Sue as she fulfills the role of “confidant” in the narrative. Her relationship with Amber–along with her distinct and unique personality traits–elevates the storytelling, making her one character readers won’t soon forget.

Construction and character development aside, Sparks also gets high marks for her style and literary choices. Her descriptive writing is simply enchanting; she skillfully captures the essence of the Appalachian Trail, captivating readers with all its grandeur and wonder. Her immersive prose evokes a strong sense of place with readers, so much so that it’s transportive. One can feel both the splendor and unyielding severity of the wilderness as Amber and Leslie put one foot in front of each other, conquering the 2,190 miles of trail together. Additionally, Sparks’ first-person point of view elevates the storytelling by lending insight into the characters’ thoughts and emotions, thus creating a connection between the readers and the narrative. Her style not only pulls readers into the story world but excites their imaginations, poking at their fantasies and making them wonder what it would be like to achieve what Amber and Leslie did.

Final remarks…

Appalachian Awakening is not just a story—it’s a celebration of the human spirit. Nance Sparks’ descriptive, well-constructed narrative explores the wild, untamed world of the Appalachian Mountains while immersing itself in themes of self-discovery and love, making this book a must-read for sapphic readers and nature lovers. Its rich and vivid portrayal of Amber and Leslie’s journey on the Appalachian Tail is curated with care. Their journey to self-fulfillment and love will leave a lasting impression long after the final page has been turned...

Deb M for Women Using Words via NetGalley

Great read about a great hike.

This book hooked me from the first page: I loved how Nance Sparks in a few sentences shows Amber‘s background and what corporate greed can be like. Brilliant. Amber an ambitious CEO with a conscience and great people skills is backstabbed by her board. And the classic move is of course to promote a mediocre guy. A hard pill to swallow for Amber and I deeply felt how it hurts to be escorted by security out of the building.
I love how Amber starts a new project: Hiking the Appalachian Trail and to see her commitment to find herself. The author deftly avoids the pitfalls of dwelling too much on the trope ‚city slicker in the woods‘ instead she introduces Leslie whose career has been hiking and who is a legend in ‚hiker-dom‘ for her achievements. I totally loved the reflections about their different lives and the commonalities they find.

The author does a great job of intertwining the outer and inner journeys of Amber and Lesley and I loved to follow them on their trails.

Another great thing about this book are the friends and family found - it makes the story even on rainy hiking days warmhearted. I loved the real and gritty descriptions of nature and strenuous hiking - no sugarcoating and great awe at the same time.

I was glued to the page until the end and didn‘t want to leave this wonderful story and the great crew.

Henrietta Bookgeek via NetGalley

"I hope I find what I'm looking for, else, I hope I find what I need."

"Appalachian Awakening" by Nance Sparks was everything I wanted it to be and more. It's a great story for those seeking a heartwarming and transformative journey of self-discovery and love, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Appalachian Trail. While I'm no high-powered executive or thru-hike veteran, I strongly identified with the desire to escape everyday life and coexist with nature and all its adventures.

MCs Amber and Leslie are from two very different worlds, but find themselves embarking on a thru-hike of the AT at just the right time. While I continue to struggle with my desire to leave the field of education over the desire to have financial and healthcare stability, this book, its themes and characters, spoke to me on both an emotional and intellectual level. It's worth every bit of my five star rating. This was my first book by Nance Sparks, but it certainly won't be my last...

"I need to do this. I need answers. There's an emptiness inside me that no amount of success has filled."

Megan Sheppard via NetGalley

Nance Sparks doesn't disappoint with Appalachian Awakening. This well written story will have you wishing you could go hiking. The setting and characters were awesome. Overall, a great read that will put a smile on your face. Well done, Nance!!!

BONNIE KAY via NetGalley