The Widows of Braxton County    by Jess McConkey Order:  USA  Can William Morrow, 2013 (2013) Softcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Bob Walch This suspenseful and chilling story, set in a small farming community, is the haunting tale of a woman who is trying to come to terms with her past while discovering her true identity. When she marries Joe Krause, Kate, the heroine of this novel, agrees to set her city-dwelling past behind her and settle on the Iowa farm that has been in Joe's family for 140 years. Although she is more than willing to accept a life defined by daily chores and getting back to the basics, Kate isn't quite ready for judgmental neighbors and her mother-in-law who moves in shortly after the wedding. Surprise, surprise! As she struggles to adjust to rural life, Kate also comes to realize that her new family has plenty of secrets. Local gossip suggests that the Kraus clan harbors a secret about a mysterious death. Before she's done, this beguiling woman is going to have to deal with some dangerous and unexplainable events that will give her a new understanding of the old phrase, 'The sins of the father.' More than just an intriguing mystery, this is a riveting character study of actually two women, Kate and Hannah (a woman from an earlier time period), who both had to deal with unattainable expectations placed on them by family and society. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews