Appalachian Paradise

Date of Review:

02/11/2008

Published Work:

Reviewer:

Rob Neufeld

Source:

Asheville Citizen-Times

Review Excerpt:

Maggie Bishop's novel "Appalachian Paradise" is a romance that gets off to a good start and maintains an exciting tension that manages to carry to the end. A group of men in a mountain cabin who conspire to have a card game decide whether Wes, a single man, feigns an innocent return to the cabin in order to do its owner a favor - serve as protector to his niece during her ill-conceived five-day retreat. The niece, Suzanne, is a headstrong, citified software programmer and control freak with a repressed passionate soul. Wes is a man about to fall in love.

Upon her arrival, Suzanne wants to cut back the rhododendron and organize the kitchen cabinets. She sniffs the tangy leather of her expensive boot to remind herself of civilization. Returning from a grocery store trip, she finds Wes sleeping, shirtless, in a sofa; and, as she approaches, armed with a boot, she slips on a rug and lands on top of him.

" 'Umph!' He wrapped his arms around her, trapping her arms between their bodies. Her weapon clunked to the floor. She struggled to free herself .. Her lips brushed his."

It's a romance. And even though I'm always disturbed by the perfect looks of the protagonists and the safe rape nature of the fantasy, that's the genre. The playfulness that comes with the oppositional character types is as old as Shakespeare ("As You Like It," "The Taming of the Shrew"). The only groan so far is the book's title and cover, which communicate generic bliss, showing no awareness that romance has climbed out from bus station newsstand status to best-selling hardcover style.

A good part of Bishop's success is the set-up she's engineered. Wes and Suzanne, both physically aroused and both vowing to keep things cool, are committed to tramping around in the Pisgah National Forest for five days. Wes knows that jewelweed cures stinging nettle burn and that may apples grow on the southern side of clearings. It's a "Crocodile Dundee" romantic comedy, Appalachian style, a little more prurient.

Yet, the novel just manages to maintain the tension throughout because light romance conventions make reading the book too much of a breeze. Wes is an Appalachian Dundee, only in disguise. In actuality, we learn, he's a respectable importer. There goes that lifestyle tension. Furthermore, Suzanne chalks up her (not unjustified) fear of Wes' controlling nature to her own fears of commitment. In other words, "Appalachian Paradise" is a tasty local version of a favorite recipe, using canned surprises.

"Appalachian Paradise" is one of several books published by High Country Publishers (HCP), established in 2001 by Judy Geary and Barbara and Bob Ingalls. The two women had participated for many years in a writers' support group in Boone and were keenly aware of both the pool of talent in the area and the barriers that made publication difficult.

Rob Neufeld writes about books for the Citizen-Times. His "Choice Books" column runs in the Sunday Living section.

Critical Praise:

Maggie Bishop brings a vast knowledge of the Appalachian region . . . displays the unique ability to draw the reader into each setting with vivid description, to the point that the reader feels part of the scene. . . . well-paced, the characters deftly drawn, the chemistry . . . searing, and the romantic story teasing enough to leave the reader anxiously waiting for "the moment". – Christy Tillery French, Midwest Book Review

[D]elightful romance with strong main characters the reader will grow to like and admire. . . . Their hike through the mountains is the perfect time for love to bloom amidst the calm and beauty of the Appalachians, vividly described in colorful detail.

– Astrid Kinn, Romance Reviews Today

[R]romantic adventure that will touch your heart in all the right places. Ms. Bishop spins a beautiful love story that will make you laugh, cry, and sigh. It's aboutredemption, renewal, hope and taking a chance on finding the partner of your dreams if you're willing to take a chance on love. I'm putting APPALACHIAN PARADISE on my keeper shelf to reread whenever I need a lift. Yes, it's that good!

– Suzanne Coleburn, The Belles and Beaux of Romance

Maggie Bishop's novel "Appalachian Paradise" is a romance that gets off to a good start and maintains an exciting tension that manages to carry to the end. . . . A good part of Bishop's success is the set-up she's engineered.

– Rob Neufeld, Asheville Citizen -Times

A devil-may-care hero, a feisty heroine and rich Appalachian flavor combine to make Maggie Bishop's first romance a rewarding read.– Karen Rose Smith, award-winning author of 40+ romance novels.

. . . humorous, endearing. . . romance blooms as profusely as the Rhododendron and leaves you begging for more.– B.J. Foster, award winning author of Bayou Shadows

Wish you could spend days trekking over pristine North Carolina mountains? Put your feet up, instead, and follow this pair on their Appalachian climb with camp-out nights, bear sightings, and love-making under the stars.– Marian Coe, award-winning author of Once Upon a Different Time

Along the trail, Wes and Suzanne quarrel, bicker, banter, tease, learn, and, in the course of natural science, fall in love (and lust). Suzanne̓s flaws are such that we root for her to work them out, for Wes to wake her up, and for both of them to make each other happy. I can think of few better ways to spend a snowy day. A wonderful Mountain Beach Book. – Carolina Mountain Living