The Union of the North and the South

By: Ann Mock

Narrated by: Kendall Atkins Livick

"Readers' Favorite International Book Award Winner"

Honorable Mention for Romance/Christian.

An award-winning Southern historical romance combining a sweet love story with elements of suspense and an underlying theme about the importance of forgiveness.

Amid the revitalized social scene of a recovering South, Laura has to sacrifice one of her most precious desires in order to protect someone she loves above all else. Can Laura make her enemies become allies as she confronts her secret? Will she find the strength to forgive as well as to love again?

©2014 Ann Mock (P)2015 Ann Mock

Captivating Historical Fiction

What made the experience of listening to The Union of the North and the South the most enjoyable?

The narrator, Kendall Atkins Livick, did a wonderful job of differentiating between the characters.

Any additional comments?

Historical fiction is my favorite genres and I was overjoyed when Ann informed me I won the Goodreads drawing. From the start, I was pulled into the time period and vivid scenery. The character development throughout the book is captivating as we watch Laura mature and apply Biblical principles such as kindness and forgiveness. I am anxiously awaiting the sequel!

What a delighful story with lovely twist

Any additional comments?

A lovely sweet clean spiritual historical romance that keeps your interest. Your heart really goes out to Laura who has went through so much losing her husband, his family really adds to her heart break when they dissolve her marriage after his death. Her secret is a big one which she guards with her life, if people found out they might turn the tables on her. She is doing what she feels is best but things get out and if this one does it will change her life forever.

I thought the narrator did a great job she has no trouble switching from women to men or even children voices. At times her voice does sound a little childlike but one becomes so into the story they over look it. I really liked her male voices she has no trouble carrying off the deep rich tones. There are no background noises, no repeating of words or any volume changes throughout the audio. She does give deep rich emotions to her characters. You have no trouble knowing what each is feeling. She carries off the emotion tones of excitement, sadness etc very well. This is the first I have listened to this narrator and I felt she did a great job pulling the listener in.

This was a fun listen with vivid details given to the plot, scenes and the beautiful landscape. The author gives you a wonderful message of starting over, trusting and forgiveness. I enjoyed the buildup of the romance. I did think at one point Bradford overstep his self when I didn’t feel it was in his place. Laura has some major decisions to make that will change her life. She carries so much hurt and anger that it will be hard for her to overlook what she wants and what is right. I really enjoyed the misunderstanding, the drama and suspense. This was truly a lovely story that I feel most will enjoy.

Sweet Southern Historical Romance

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This story is reminiscent of Gone With the Wind, both in the sweet Southern style, the romance, and the importance of the land. I would recommend!

What about Kendall Atkins Livick’s performance did you like?

Kendall's voice was perfect for the story! She sounded exactly the way I would expect Laura, the heroine to sound.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wish I could have!

A Soothing, But Yet Intriguing Story

Any additional comments?

I felt like I was right next to Laura’s side each step of the way. It was easy to feel Laura’s emotions as she experienced her highs and lows, drawing me into the story and compelling me to wish to finish the story all in one sitting. It was a wonderful evening treat as the story’s beautiful descriptions felt soothing, but all at once created a fascination with its interesting turns in the plot. The narrator certainly captures the feel of the historical setting in all of the innocence, deceit, and spirituality that the story portrays. In addition, the story has a wonderful message of forgiveness, which I’m sure would touch anyone who reads the novel.

A wonderful presentation for a wonderful novel!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Union of the North and the South to be better than the print version?

It is difficult to choose if the audio version is better than the printed when the story itself
was so well written. However, the audio does bring the characters to life and serves while
to enhance the reality of what is going on with them.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Union of the North and the South?

There are many memorable moments in The Union of the North and the South. The ending is especially outstanding, the way every thing works out for the best.

Have you listened to any of Kendall Atkins Livick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first time to listen to this particular performer or any one else on audio. I thought
she did excel, though, in bringing this story into glorious life.

Who was the most memorable character of The Union of the North and the South and why?

Jenny is an adorable child, but the character most memorable to me is Laura for what she had to go through and how she was able to come out the better for it.

Any additional comments?

This is truly a great presentation of a wonderful post-civil war novel that you won't want to miss!

Lively narrative

If you could sum up The Union of the North and the South in three words, what would they be?

intriguing romance-suspense

What other book might you compare The Union of the North and the South to and why?

It's reminiscent of old time clean romances

What about Kendall Atkins Livick’s performance did you like?

Kendall Atkins Livick was able to shift her voice easily between the various characters--from a perky little girl to a cranky old man. It was like one of the old-time radio shows. She narrated with enthusiasm and clearly related well to Ann Mock's story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Once the story gets started it is hard to stop. There are a number of subplots and switchbacks so you never can tell where the story is going. It is easy to get sucked in to the story. Six hours is a long time for one sitting, but if there's a book that will hold your attention it's this one.

A wonderful historical romance novel of drama and suspense

Ann Mock writes a wonderful historical romance novel of drama and suspense with a theme of forgiveness and letting go of past hurts. In this audiobook, the descriptive and detailed historical events create vivid imagery throughout the story as the narrator does a suburb job narrating. In this intriguing plot, the author and narrator has a unique way of going back and forth from the past to the challenges of the present while portraying the emotional changes of the main character. The author and narrator make it so easy to become immersed in the lives of story characters and feel their every emotion, be it joy, sadness, desperation, resentment, fear, bravery, or love. I highly recommend this book.

A Story Full of Secrets

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would, because it's a clean romance that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Any additional comments?

This was a delightful story full of secrets. When I thought I had discovered the first secret, then another secret came to light. This made the story fun for the reader. I enjoyed the love story and trying to figure out who the bad guy was in the story.

As for the narrator, she did a wonderful job with the voices. She even delighted me with a song toward the end of the book. I smiled as I listened to her sing: “I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair.” I remember singing that song when I was a young teenager.

good story but whiny narrator

I like the story line the main characters are likeable but the narrator makes all the female sounds whiny it get me laughing her voice get high for no reason story good not the narrator

Wonderful, Sweet Story

This was a wonderfully sweet story that I didn’t want to end. I so enjoyed the characters as well as the setting and the time period. It sort of reminded me of a Jane Austin book. The book had everything…love, loss, fear, mystery, suspense, as well as an underlying theme of godliness and forgiveness.

I listened to the Audible version which I won via a drawing posted on Goodreads. I loved listening to it! The narrator did an awesome job doing different voices for all of the different characters. It was like listening to a play!

I highly recommend The Union of the North and the South by Ann Mock! If you like sweet love stories with some villains and some twists you will love this book!