Product Description

Kate's Pride is a Southern Gothic historical which takes place in McNairy County, Tennessee between the end of the Civil War and the turn of the century. Youg Kate Randsome finds herself in the family way and abandoned by the man she loves, her family and the community she grew up in. Follow Kate through the pitpalls and joys of her life after that pivitol moment.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #731103 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-01
• Released on: 2007-01-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 339 pages

About the Author
Renee Russell is a seventh generation West Tennessean. She writes women's fiction and romantic suspense set in the South. Visit her at her website www.reneerussell.com to learn more.

Customer Reviews

A powerful tale, vividly descriptive, about a strong woman confronted by difficult choices, and daunting repercussions.
Investment and insurance industry professional Renee Russell presents Kate's Pride, a novel set in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Pregnant and deserted by the man who promised to marry her, spurned by her wide network of kin and "kissing cousins", Kate is confronted with the harrowing task of building a new life on the ashes of the old. A powerful tale, vividly descriptive, about a strong woman confronted by difficult choices, and daunting repercussions.

The Importance of Legacy
Kate's Pride is one woman's family history brought to life in novel form. Author Renee Russell took the very colorful and inspiring story of her ancestor, Kate Randsome, and wrote a novel based on the facts she was able to glean about her life.

Kate was a very tough and determined woman. Left pregnant by her unscrupulous boyfriend in post-Civil War Tennessee, she had to deal with the prejudices of a very conservative rural southern area. When even her sister turned against her, Kate was forced to take a job working for a sickly, elderly woman. Unfortunately, the elderly woman had a very randy son who took this opportunity to force himself on Kate, threatening her with ruin if she didn't comply. The result was a second fatherless child, another son.

Out on her own again, Kate tried to make peace with a sister still unwilling to bend. She ended up staying on with a former slave and her family. Though they had every reason not to take pity on her, the family was filled with charity. Kate had a safe haven in which to bear her second baby.

Ultimately Kate struck out on her own, sharecropping to make a living. She scraped by, through her own determination and the kindness of others, until one day a tragedy happened that came closer to devastating her than anything had done before. Still, even in the face of unimaginable loss Kate moves forward, head held high.

The story is told within the framework of a manuscript given from Kate to her son. She asks him to one day give the story to his own daughter, when she's older and ready to deal with the story of her grandmother. Kate feels it's important for her story to go forward, and it is absolutely important for stories like this not to be lost. Future generations deserve to know the struggles of their ancestors. It reminds them what sacrifices others have made so that they're able to live their own lives. Keeping these family stories alive is a very noble thing.

Kate's Pride is a good example of the sort of genealogical record we should all consider leaving as our legacy. Even if you don't know the stories of those who came before you, you know your own story, and that's one of the most important legacies all of us can leave.