The Mayor's Mission

Home to Milford College, Book 2

By: Piper Huguley

Narrated by: Shamaan Casey

Milford, GA 1868: Milford College is in trouble. The mission to create teachers and preachers for the recently freed populations is on a shaky course because of problems between the married founders.

Mayor Virgil Smithson has been away to the constitutional convention in the newly established state capitol in Atlanta for almost five months. He’s late in getting back home. Worried about her husband, Amanda Smithson manages the crowded and growing school by herself. How they will pay the taxes on the school property if Virgil doesn’t return from Atlanta?

More problems: The Milford daughters-in-law arrive in town, determined to wrest what they see as their rightful inheritance from the Smithsons.

Amanda has hired an old school chum from Oberlin to teach the older students. And he’s a tad too affectionate with Amanda for Virgil’s liking.

Just when it all seems impossible to resolve, the Smithsons must endure another crisis that threatens to tear them, and the dream of their school—apart.

When life becomes difficult, it will take all of God’s love and mercy for the Smithsons to come together to fight within the bonds of holy matrimony that united them less than two years before.

It will be the mission of the mayor, and his wife, to do what it takes to keep the new and coltish educational tradition that they began together going—to keep their love alive.

©2014 Piper Gian Huguley (P)2023 Piper Gian Huguley

An Excellent Story

4.75 out of 5 stars

The Mayor’s Mission by Piper Huguley is a historical fiction masterpiece that left me genuinely excited and utterly captivated. Having read and enjoyed the first book in this series – I hoped going into this one that I was going to enjoy it as much (or more). Huguley skillfully weaves a tapestry of drama, romance, sorrow, and joy against the backdrop of the post-Civil War South, delivering a compelling narrative that explores the complexities of race, love, and progress.

At the heart of the story is the resilient African-American couple, Virgil and Amanda, who are navigating the challenging terrain of a changing society. Virgil, a former slave turned community leader, embodies strength and determination as he takes on multiple roles in his small, close-knit community. Meanwhile, Amanda’s education and Northern upbringing provide a sharp contrast to Virgil’s experiences. Together, they form a tender alliance, representing the aspirations of their community for education and civic participation amidst a world that remains resistant to change.

Huguley’s characters are richly drawn, and readers familiar with the Milford series will find Virgil and Mandy’s journey both heartwarming and thought-provoking. Their evolving relationship, deep faith, and unwavering love serve as pillars in the face of adversity. The novel expertly portrays the challenges they face, navigating a world that still clings to prejudice and injustice.

I found myself engrossed in the growing romance between Virgil and Mandy, cheered for the newcomers, and fumed at the old troublemakers. The emotional rollercoaster of loss and love was portrayed with such authenticity that I couldn’t help but shed tears at certain moments. Piper Huguley’s storytelling prowess shines in every chapter, leaving readers in awe of the characters and the town’s transformation.

Throw in the excellent narration from Shamaan Casey and you’ve got a great story, a great budding romance, mixed with the trials and tribulations of the post-Civil War South. Huguley’s ability to blend history, romance, and social commentary into a compelling narrative is truly commendable. Bravo, Piper!

Sacrifice is often needed

The newly released second audiobook in the “Home to Milford College” series is a wonderful dive into a historic piece of fiction consisting of complex characters who had to often overcome numerous obstacles simply to survive day-to-day. The story was well written by Piper Huguley and the audiobook’s narration was performed exceptionally well by Shamaan Casey. I have previously listened and reviewed “The Preacher’s Promise”, which is the first audiobook in the series, I also enjoyed quite a bit. This audiobook, along with the first, was interesting to me because of its historic perspective along with the place and period being Milford, Georgia in the late 1860s. What a different time a place from what we know the world to be like today. If you find that you enjoy well narrated historic fiction, I can say this would be a good series to get started with. It is a wholesome tale with quite a few issues needing to be overcome and sacrifices being made to keep things together.

The story opens with some tension on what has caused Virgil to be delayed returning home from business travel. Being a Mayor, Preacher, and blacksmith keeps one busy, and challenged by another for one of these roles sets the stage for the rest of the story. As I said earlier, the major theme I took from this story was the amount of sacrifice required by everyone to overcome specific issues. There are town problems, marriage issues, and money troubles that all need to be addressed and resolved before each person can get on with their lives. Add to these, a new pregnancy along with the troubles of paying what is due the government to keep the school operational, it feels overwhelming at times. The flow of the story was well paced and even with the many marriage issues that arise, the couple is resolved to keep their commitment to one another. We see that this commitment does not come easy for them, but it was what kept the couple unified and engaged.

About the audiobook’s narration, I have found that each of Mr. Casey’s audiobooks, which I have reviewed, feel familiar yet each in some ways feels distinct. The smooth, deep, and rich voice makes me picture what Virgil may look like, yet the narrator is able to voice each of the other characters just as well. The audio itself was professionally produced with no noticeable audio artifacts. Mr Casey’s voice is the type that goes with nearly any genre, and I look forward to what he will be doing in the future.

For parents and younger listeners, overall, the book is wholesome and without profanity. It is a historic romance tale, so it does contain some implied adult matters between a married couple. It also deals with some hardships that may be harder for a younger listener to fully grasp. I think it would be safe to recommend this audiobook to early teenagers and above. Some of the subject matter may be difficult to understand for younger listeners.

In summary, the story is a historic romance where the characters suffer and must overcome quite a bit to get back to their normal lives. The are sacrifices needing to be made by each while being able to jointly compromise for the better of the whole. The story portrays a solid marriage while still showing that marriage is never easy. The narration was spot on for me, and look forwards to future works by Mr. Casey.