The Kitchen House

After spending literally MONTHS suffering through a book I just couldn't get into, I was desperate to find something that kept me reading. After asking for suggestions on my Facebook and Instagram accounts, I found the Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. It did NOT disappoint!!

It's a book set in the late 1700's, early 1800's on a tobacco plantation and follows two main characters, Lavinia and Belle. The book begins when Lavinia is a small white girl who was orphaned on a ship from Ireland. With no parents, she was taken home by the plantation master and given to the slaves to be cared for. Belle, who is the plantation master's illegitimate daughter, becomes one of her main caretakers, but we quickly find that isn't just Belle who becomes young Lavinia's family. The slaves are a close knit group and take Lavinia in as their own with love and grace. As we watch Lavinia grow from childhood to adulthood, we're exposed to both the tragedy and resiliency of the life of both slaves and plantation owners.

This book really took me for a ride with so many dynamic characters. Some you'll love and some you'll hate. I became so invested in these characters that the 384 pages were a breeze to get through.

It's a story about love, true family and strength in unbelievable circumstances. I'd highly recommend this page turner!

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