Absolutely a fantastic read. This is book #1 of THE BLACK OR WHITE CHRONICLES. This author can certainly write a story that will fulfill anyones yearning for a good southern tale. This novel is part of a series but can stand alone. It offers laughter, tears and some wonderful unexpected emotional twists in the plot. It takes place in 1945 in Mississippi cotton country, Cat Lake. I enjoyed the characters, Blue Biggers, an easy going loafer who'd sell his soul for 2 qts of beer, Evalina, Old Mrs. Parker's cook on the plantation since 1886, Roosevelt, the right-hand man at the cotton gin. Scooter, owner of the srvice station, a popular gathering place for the local farmers, and Missy, a 7 year old spitfire who assumes the universe centers around herself. And there were more I found quite interesting. I'm moving on to the rest of the series. Book 2 is WEDGEWOOD GREY.