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Roger “Bud” MacLeod and his two brothers return to the ramshackle home of their youth, on emergency leave from the military after the murder of their reviled father. Instead of having the festive reunion they’d planned with Mama and their sister, the three soldiers are flung into a series of violent confrontations with old and new rivals plus double trouble: Papa’s siblings. In their way, Harvey and Rutha MacLeod are even more brutal than Papa, hellbent on claiming the legacy they believe he left for them and willing to run over anybody in their way.
Picking up where the critically acclaimed Hardscrabble Road left off, Return to Hardscrabble Road delves even deeper into Roger’s growth from tormented boy to determined young man at the crossroads of everything he loves and fears. This time, he doesn’t merely have to survive—he must save his whole misbegotten family without sacrificing his soul.
Praise for Return to Hardscrabble Road:
George Weinstein is a helluva writer. With dialogue that rings as true as the spoken word and a rugged landscape one can almost taste, he delivers a wild ride through family devotion and a coming-of-age journey. In this sequel, Roger MacLeod and his brothers face a new threat and must become men of integrity and wisdom while doing everything they can to save their family and land. Heart thumping, you will turn the page faster than you can read. Atmospheric, intense, and beautiful, the MacLeod legacy flourishes in Return to Hardscrabble Road.”
– Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Surviving Savannah, Once Upon a Wardrobe, and Becoming Mrs. Lewis
“Classic Southern gothic meets classic George Weinstein in this rip-roaring adventure. Buckle up for a wild ride with old friends and hang on tight.”
–Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of The Woman with the Cure and Mrs. Poe
“With crackling dialogue, hilarious plot twists, and unforgettable characters, Return to Hardscrabble Road is a joy to read. George Weinstein has nailed it again, and his rambunctious crowd entertains with his fine writing and sharp eye for detail. You will love this book.”
– Philip Lee Williams, member, Georgia Writers Hall of Fame
“In Return to Hardscrabble Road, Weinstein transports us to another time in a gripping tale of three brothers who return home after WWII to rural Georgia in the wake of their father’s murder. It’s both a compelling mystery and a heartfelt story about family. Once in a great while a novel grabs you and won’t let go long after you turn the last page. This one of those novels.”
– Alex Finlay, bestselling author of Every Last Fear and The Night Shift
“Fans of George Weinstein have waited, breathlessly, for him to Return to Hardscrabble Road. In this unforgettable novel, Weinstein allows us to peer through the rural ramshackle windows of the MacLeod home. Readers have missed these flawed and beautiful souls, folks who make the South sing in all her dysfunctional glory. In Return to Hardscrabble Road, Weinstein writes with a steady hand and a keen eye to detail, penning a strong plot with a family of rambunctious rabble-rousers. Weinstein creates characters we long to know more about. This is his talent, his gift to us all. This novel, along with Hardscrabble Road, will stay with you a long time.”
– Renea Winchester, International Author of Outbound Train; De l’autre cote’ des rails.
“With Return to Hardscrabble Road, best-selling author George Weinstein gives us a brilliantly crafted South-Georgia tale of murder, heartbreak, revenge, and redemption—a story that ripples across the pages like a bolt of heat lightning. Weinstein once again displays his gift for creating unforgettable characters, complete with superb dialogue, this time in a 1947 New Year’s Day setting amongst a thoroughly dysfunctional backwoods family. Gird yourself, for there’s gonna be all sorts of hell to pay.”
– Jedwin Smith, author of I AM ISRAEL and A Marine and a Journalist Walk into a Bar
“Once I left the pages of Hardscrabble Road behind, I couldn’t wait to get back there. George Weinstein’s Return to Hardscrabble Road is all I anticipated. And more. It felt good to reconnect with this story of the people and atmosphere of the rural South. Weinstein has created characters that I would know if they passed me on the street. Return to Hardscrabble Road reveals the truth that it’s only when we leave home do we understand the lessons our childhood taught us.”
– Michael Buchanan, author/screenwriter for the award-winning The Fat Boy Chronicles. Co-author of Beneath the Gumbo Limbo Tree and Stealing First, the Teddy Kremer Story
Return to Hardscrabble Road is a work of fiction in the historical and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience and contains some scenes of violence and the use of explicit language. Penned by author George Weinstein, the story centers on the same initial group of characters as those of Hardscrabble Road, the author’s previous novel, but the work can be read as a standalone as the MacLeod brothers return home from military service when their father dies. Far from a heartfelt family reunion, the appearance of Papa’s siblings sparks a violent new era for the family and a fight for the central protagonist Roger to rise above it all and become the man he wants to be.
This was an emotionally charged work that really elevates the family drama genre with its brutal honesty and no-holds-barred narrative style. It is never overly graphic or sensationalized, but the emotions and experiences that Roger and his family undergo at the hands of evil-minded relations really hits hard on the reader’s psyche and make for harrowing and highly engaging reading. I also felt that the dialogue was a particular triumph of this work as it served to bring important events to the fore without the need for huge chunks of prose, and kept readers engaged in the present moment. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Return to Hardscrabble Road for fans of the previous novel, and newcomers to the accomplished emotional storytelling skills of author George Weinstein.
Return To Hardscrabble Road by George Weinstein is a southern-based coming-of-age novel. This is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Hardscrabble Road, picking up where the first book left off. George Weinstein interweaves themes of hope, redemption, loss, revenge, heartache, and family into a beautifully southern gothic story. When you open the pages of Return To Hardscrabble Road, prepare yourself for a wild ride, an intense journey, and memorable wisdom found along the way. By intricately combining these themes, Return To Hardscrabble Road is an unforgettable reminder of what it feels like to grow up and make your own way in the world while navigating everything you leave behind in the innocence of your youth.
This story captivated me from start to finish. While putting together the pieces from the first book, Hardscrabble Road, I immediately fell in love with the characters and their conflict-resolution faced as I poured over the pages. This book left me reeling with engaging characters, memorable dialogue, and a fascinating narrative. With exciting plot twists and compelling details, Weinstein’s writing left me able to put myself in the story.
Due to the themes and setting of this novel, the story may not be for everyone. George Weinstein covers many complex topics but has a quality in his writing that allows for a relatable and engaging story that audiences everywhere can appreciate. However, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quality narrative about family, loss, and redemption. Due to the content, this book is mesmerizing and intriguing. If you are looking for something that is heartfelt and has a great story, grab a copy of Return To Hardscrabble Road.
Read the Southern Literary Review coverage of Return to Hardscrabble Road.
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