"The writing was absolutely nothing short of perfection." ★★★★★

In the Appalachian hills of 1941 Tennessee, where moonshining is a way of life, Esther Primm knows the rules.

Keep your head down. Survive and want nothing. Trust no one.

She has lived by them her entire life.

But there is one thing she has never survived.

Being seen.

When her world is swept away, Esther finds herself in a place she was always warned never to go.

There, she finds a secluded estate kept by an older Black woman who has always stayed on her side of the fence, and a brooding German man who carries a grief he can’t speak of, and who looks at her in a way no one ever has.

Her old life won’t stop chasing her.

An obsessed preacher refuses to give her up, hiding his darkness behind Sunday sermons, while the local sheriff watches everything and says nothing.

Each of them is hiding something.

And in Blue Hollows, secrets don’t stay buried. They come for you.

Lyrical, gritty, and devastatingly beautiful, this Southern historical romance is written in the tradition of Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, and Delia Owens.

For readers of The Calamity Club, The Giver of Stars, Bible of Black Water County, and The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

A book club favorite, Hymns of Blue Hollow can be read as a standalone, but is best experienced as part of the ongoing series.

 Editorial Reviews

Review

"With a voice rooted firmly in the Appalachian hills, author Kemma MarShall delivers a story marked by both grit and compassion. Esther is a heroine whose strength reveals itself slowly, making her journey all the more powerful."
— Historical Fiction Reviewer

"A haunting and deeply felt story that refuses to shy away from the darker corners of human experience."
— Advance Reader
"The writing was absolutely nothing short of perfection. The beginning of each chapter felt like the opening lines of a beautiful poem. One of the best love stories I've ever read."
— Goodreads Reader

"Hymns of Blue Hollow by Kemma MarShall is nothing short of mesmerizing. From the first page, the vivid and poetic descriptions of the Appalachian hills transported me into Esther Primm's world—a world fraught with struggle, yet brimming with hope."
— Book Reviewer

"This book is beautifully written in its narrative and descriptive form. Full of twists and turns that keep the reader riveted. Following Esther as she navigates cruelty, discovers her worth, and finds love with Ian, I couldn't put this book down."
— Reader Review

From the Author

This book series has been a long-held labor of love. I originally began writing it in 2009, inspired by the plight of my ancestors and the rugged Smoky Mountains. My desire in writing this story has always been to bring the Appalachian hills of the 1940s to life—an era when so much stood on the cusp of change on the World War II home front.
It follows the journey of Esther, a young woman searching for a life beyond all she has ever known. Her plight is one of resilience, sometimes held together by nothing more than a thin thread and a quiet voice. Not all courage is bold or demanding. Sometimes it begins with only a whisper, asking for more.

From the Inside Flap

In the rugged hills of eastern Tennessee, Esther Primm has known little beyond the harsh rule of her grandmother and the hidden world of moonshining. Raised in isolation and taught to endure whatever life demands, she learned early to keep her head down and never question it.

When circumstances lead her to the Old Reed Estate, Esther finds herself in a world unlike anything she has known. Among unfamiliar kindness and unexpected allies, she begins to glimpse the possibility of a life she never believed she deserved.

But the ghosts of her past follow close behind, refusing to release their grip.

From the Back Cover

Trapped in the unforgiving hills of Tennessee in 1941, Esther Primm is chained to a life of hardship and moonshining under her grandmother's cruel watch.
Lurking in the shadows, bootlegging Preacher Clive, obsessed and driven by dark desires, refuses to release his grip on her. Ian Huggler, a German man with his own haunted past, offers Esther a glimmer of hope and ignites a passion in her untamed spirit.
But will Esther be strong enough to break free and fight for something she doesn't believe she deserves?
Hymns of Blue Hollow is a vividly raw and lyrical tale of resilience, survival, and the pursuit of freedom. Fans of Where the Crawdads Sing and The Nightingale will find themselves captivated by this evocative story set against the haunting backdrop of historical Appalachia during WWII.