I don’t even know if I’m being fair giving it 4 stars. If I could give it 4.5 I would, and the only reason I rounded down instead of up was because it was quite long and there were a few bits that could have been left out and not affected the story in any way. Otherwise, it’s a well written, engrossing story that won’t leave me any time soon.
In 1913, 17 year old David Walker had a run in with a Klansman, and accidentally killed him. Knowing that it meant certain deaths for him, he made sure to get rid of the evidence and go on with life, but in going on with life, it meant going home to tell his family what he had done and face the consequences, or walk away and keep it to himself his whole life.
Then in 1927, we are introduced to Cargie and Mae, who are strong characters in their own right. Cargie is married to Thomas and over the span of the novel, they have 3 kids and build their lives, but there’s more to Thomas than anyone knows.
Through war, natural disaster, prohibition, marriages, children, many lives are intertwined as we see David’s story progress. The characters are so well developed that you get very invested and the story lines of racism as well as love and family being out so many emotions along the way. There’s so many details that get spun together to bring so much depth to the characters and the story.
I loved reading about life in Louisiana in these times and the ending reminds that love and mercy always wins.
I had never heard of this book before I saw it in netgalley but I’m so glad that I had the chance to read it.
Thanks to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my review.

This book is very reminiscent of Where The Crawdads Sing in its clarity of writing and evocative skill at setting and description. But I found the construction off-putting. As soon as I became wholly enamored of a character and that character’s trajectory, they were abandoned and a new unrelated one introduced. It is difficult to move forward when you are grieving the loss of that connection. An excellent book overall despite that disconnect.

I really enjoyed parts of this story. The beginning really sold me on an exciting secret and how David’s story would play out. I loved reading about Cargie and her growth with Bill. Where the story fell flat for me was with Mae. The stories didn’t intertwine, and I feel like the author really lost the opportunity to build Cargie’s story by wasting it on the side story with Mae.

This was a new author for me and a book that I don't think I'd have picked up on my own. When I saw that it was Southern fiction, I decided to take a chance -- and I am so happy that I did. This novel was a beautifully written look at three main characters and their lives and their families lives from 1913 - 2012. I connected with all of these characters early in the novel (one more than the others) and felt like I knew them to the point that I cried at tragedies in their lives.

David was my favorite character in this book. In 1913, in Louisiana, seventeen year old David was walking to a lake to fish, and was stopped by a man who planned to harm him - David is black and the man he killed was a member of the KKK. David knew that if he was caught, he would be killed and if he went home, his family would be in danger...so he decides to 'disappear'. After he camps for several months, he walks away and finds a small farm in the middle of nowhere. He stays to help on the farm and becomes part of the family.

In 1927 in Shreveport, we meet two women who are totally different. Their only connection is that Cargie works at a dry cleaning store and Mae is the niece of the owner and lives with her aunt and uncle while she goes to college. In some ways they are the same - they both wanted to grow beyond what was expected of them growing up but they both took totally different paths. In this part of the book, we get a look at both women's lives -- Cargie as she works and then is unsure of her life plans when she gets pregnant. She has a very supportive husband who helps make her dream of continuing her job come true. Mae has left her fiancé in a small town and arrived in Shreveport to attend college. After a year, she gets involved with another person who is very different and her life plans totally change. The longer the reader travels in the lives of these characters, the more familiar they become and the more invested we are in their lives.

This is a book about family and redemption, racism and justice.... But most of all it's a story about love. If you enjoy historical fiction mixed with an emotional view of family in transition, you don't want to miss Stork Bite.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I enjoyed this story that spanned the years between 1913 and 2012. The story covers integration in the south, WWI, prejudice, trust, love and many other issues. We follow the black couple, Cargie and Thomas Barre as they fall in love , marry and raise their family in the south. Another main character is Mae, a very determined white woman who has a very strong will and mind of her own. Bill Cole is Mae’s uncle and Cargie’s boss. I liked all the characters and enjoyed seeing how they develop , mature and change. Thomas has a huge secret that burdens him throughout most of his life . Before his mother-in-law passes, she encourages him to confess and tell his wife what happened many years ago. Mae has an interesting life , living with Uncle Bill Cole and his wife and getting involved with gangsters and bootleggers.

I loved the stories in this book. I liked most of the characters. But I'm torn. I did not like this as a whole. I felt like I was reading at least two, if not three, different books that never quite converged. Like I started one book, then put it way for about 40% of the story, then read a second book, that ended, then book one picked up again and ended. The stories were just kind of tied loosely together by the fact that a couple of the characters were tied to the same dry cleaners through most of the middle of the story. I felt like both stories could have been fleshed out more and made better if they were written separately.
I was hoping, based on the book blurb, that David's story began in 1913, with the killing of the Klansman, he went on the run from it, and then the past caught up with him in 1927 with Mae Compton and Cargie being tied up in his story somehow, mystery solved, redemption found, etc.
Instead, Mae's story has nothing to do with Cargie or David. Except that Mae's uncle owns the dry cleaners where Cargie works. Mae and Cargie hardly even speak to one another. David's story just stops abruptly, Cargie's picks up, then Mae's picks up, and Cargie and Mae's stories run kind of parallel for a few decades, Mae's story wraps up, then we get back to David, and back to Cargie. Then at the end, there is a minimal recap of a chunk of time originally missing from David's story, that to me, should have played a much bigger part in the story.
And, the stories carry on all the way to 2012, with large gaps of time along the way.
The book blurb seemed to hint that the majority of the story would be taking place in the late 1920s. That, and the Louisiana setting were my primary reasons for picking up this book. Even though the whole thing takes place over several decades, I don't know that I would call it historical fiction because the time and place didn't really seem to be a focus of the book. I didn't get a good sense of the decade changes by descriptions of anyone's clothing or the scenery. I really didn't even get a good sense of where the story took place other than being told what cities the characters were in. Over time, side characters were introduced that I kept thinking were going to play a bigger part in the story, but then they just disappeared.
The title, Stork Bite, refers to a birth mark. It is mentioned in passing at the birth of a child of one of the side characters. I wish it had been included more as a metaphor of being marked for something from birth throughout the story. Overall, the writing is great. It was amazing to pick up a book with the opening quote being my favorite passage of scripture. I wish that had been a bigger theme throughout the book. As far as content, there is virtually no objectionable content in this book. If there is any harsh language, I don't remember it. There is one sex scene, but it is not graphically described, or detailed.
Overall, the story kept me reading. But mostly because the writing is good, and I was devouring the book to see how these stories were eventually going to converge. I would still consider checking out more from this author though.

Stork Bite follows rebels from various decades. I loved the common theme of defiance and rising above the situations and circumstances that these characters encountered. It was filled with strong individuals as well as some controversial topics that lead to a thought-provoking, heartfelt story.


I did get a little confused at the end of part one with the abrupt change to focusing on two new characters. Since I skipped reading the blurb, my way of going into a story with an open mind, I had no idea that David made a reappearance in the story so my first thought was this must be a book of short stories. I was immediately disappointed thinking I wouldn't get to see David in part two because I wouldn't have minded an entire book about David and the Tatums. I loved everything about them. As I kept reading, I did start to catch on and as the blub says "the past is never as far from the present as it seems." I started noticing little connections and my excitement grew to see how things progressed and the potential of this story going full circle.


I have so much appreciation for how much thought was put into this overall plot and how well things unraveled and came together. There were so many powerful topics presented and they were each handled beautifully. I loved so many individual pieces of this story, such as David helping out the Tatums or to the empowerment of Cargie to defy the odds. I would recommend Stork Bite to anyone that loves a good historical fiction, literary fiction, coming-of-age, or heartwarming story.

I received a free electronic ARC of this historical novel from Netgalley and L.K. Simonds, author/publisher. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Simonds writes a deeply involved story, nicely presented, with personable protagonists. She is an author I will follow.

Our setting is the deep south - Louisana and Arkansas and East Texas - from 1913 through 2012. The story is intensely detailed from 1913 through the end of WWII, and then does brief continuing stories of the main protagonists from that point on - a feature I wish other authors would follow as it's nice to know where persons you have grown to know well end up. With one exception, this novel is peopled with normal folks just trying to get through this day and into tomorrow. Some are truly generous, some are selfish, some are attempting to build a future for themselves and their children, some lost in the past. Normal. The Walkers defined normal. Gramps had been a sharpshooter in the Union Army's 7th Louisiana Black Regiment during the Freedom War, and he taught David all the manly arts for the time - hunting and farming and manners, both with women and all white people. The Walker family owned a small general store in Caddo Parish, a small community, isolated and pretty much self-sufficient.

When David Walker was 17 years old he and his beloved dog Huck were hunting ducks with his grandfather's 22 caliber rifle on a small isolated pond outside of their community in Caddo Parish, Louisiana. They were fronted by an aggressive white man looking for trouble. When he aims his gun at Huck, David clocks him with the paddle he is holding, but not soon enough - Huck is dead and unfortunately the white man falls and hits his head on the prow of the pirogue David had been hunting from and broke his neck. He is dead, as well. When David finds the man's car, he finds he has been dealing with a Klansman, there is in the storage box the classic outfit as well as letters to other KKK posts, and money as well. If he goes to the law with his story, the KKK will kill his whole family, perhaps his whole community as well. Gramps had recently passed away. David will have to figure out what he would tell him to do. He will have to disappear. And so will the KKKer. The gators that nest near the pond will take care of the Klansman. David drives his runabout into the deepest part of the nearby Red River and buries the personal effects and money that he found in the car on the train trestle and heads out into the other world.

It is a very interesting world. Exploring it is an all-nighter.

A hundred years ago, David Walker and his dog went hunting and ended up fighting for their lives because a stranger hated the color of his skin. What strikes me most about the premise of Stork Bite, is how easily this story could have taken place last year. Arguably, the South of David's youth was much more contentious. Soldiers from the Civil War, including David's grandfather, were still alive to carry the memory of strife and slavery into the new century. Klansmen, like the sheriff who bullies David, carried out not-so-secret dark deeds under cover of night, unable to release the past. Evil always finds a foothold, it seems, no matter the century. 

Stork Bite is a character study and a family saga, spanning a century of change and tribulation in southern America. L.K. Simonds begins David Walker's journey on the day he has the misfortune to cross a prominent member of the Klan. David barely escapes the encounter with his life, and spends the following years in shame and terror that his family will pay the price for his sin. It was painful and at times terrifying to read David's journey. The author's gift for prose and character easily immerse you into the past as fate brings David to the Tatum's farm in East Texas. Here, our hero is given the chance to aid a family in desperate need of help. The Tatums think David might be an angel, he's just trying to survive. Over time, they come to rely on each other and help one another grow in beautiful ways. 

One of my favorite aspects of Stork Bite is how L.K. Simonds shone light through the dark times. No matter how dark the subject matter, there is a prevailing message of hope and faith threaded through these characters' lives. Surprisingly, Simonds chooses to time hop forward a decade and introduce a new character, Cargie Barre. Cargie stole my readerly heart the moment she marched into Bill Compton's laundry and took over his office, thus securing the job she'd work for the rest of her life. A true force of nature, Cargie ignores societal and social conventions to pursue her dreams. Her boss, Bill Compton, a Great War combat veteran, supports Cargie's ambitions, while her husband, Thomas, secures their home. 

David and Cargie's stories were easily the most engaging and exciting. The initial time jump was intriguing, but I also felt like Book 2 is where the story lost momentum. With the inclusion of my least-favorite characters, the spoiled and privileged (and white) Jaxy and Mae, the plot stretches a little thin. The author could have easily cut out Jaxy and Mae's storylines, or shown their characters through Cargie's eyes, and it would have made for a much stronger narrative. With their inclusion, I felt pulled out of the story, almost as though I really was reading two different books. A novel about prohibition and a young woman struggling to find her way would have been fine in another book. But I didn't see true character growth with Jaxy and Mae, only disillusionment and embitterment. However, Simonds did well carrying us through the characters' reasoning as each of them convinces themselves their choices are the right choices.

Spanning the narrative over a century allowed for a deeper study of the lasting consequences of character choices. However, the frequent time jumps pulled me from the story too often to feel invested in anyone besides Cargie and David. Still, I have to give Stork Bite four stars for Simonds's nearly flawless storytelling. The author clearly has lived and breathed her source material, because you're easily pulled into the times and lives of these people. Simonds offers a well-researched study on a story from the past that holds just as true and relevant then as it does for us today. There are many painful moments in David Walker's life, but there is much good to balance the evil, and an underlying message of faith that carries through. For this reason and more, I am so glad I went on the journey L.K. Simonds crafted in Stork Bite.

**I was provided with a copy of Stork Bites by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.**

A wonderful read, LK Simonds's novel Stork Bite is about life choices and consequences. With a single swing of an oar, life changes for 17-year-old David Walker from childhood in early 1900s Deep South. Fearing for his life and his family, David runs from the Klan with little more than a strong work ethic and life skills his grandfather taught him. We stay with David as he grows into his manhood (with a new name) in Texas, then jump forward 15 years to Depression era Shreveport, LA, where we meet two young women who fight against the lives prescribed for them. Late in the book, David's story line ties into that of the two women.

Cargie Barre, a young black newly-married woman working at a dry cleaners, wants a business career where her efforts are recognized and valued. Mae Compton, a teenager heading for college, dreams of more than being trapped in a small-town life with her high school boyfriend/fiancé.

Heart breaking and redeeming, the book is filled with rich characters who suffer the consequences of their decisions, as well as triumphs along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am happy to recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest opinion. Four and a half stars.

It was a beautifully crafted story with well-developed characters and setting and some strong social commentary. The story is split into two parts:

Book One is focused on David Walker, a seventeen-year-old black man whose encounter with a Klansmen ends violently, and this one unfortunate, unplanned situation changes the trajectory of his life. Set in 1913, the violent interaction instigates what is otherwise a slowly unfolding story. This first book is contemplative and introspective. Simonds paints a vivid picture of his daily existence in the first year alone in the wilds of the East Texas bayou around Caddo Lake, then, later, as he spends time working for the Tatum family as they eke out an existence on their family farm.

For as much narrative as there is in Book One, it is the remembered conversations with his grandfather and mother that provide the deepest insights into who David is and why he is doing what he does.

The first book ends almost abruptly, and David seemingly disappears from the book as Book Two begins ten-years later. It introduces two new female characters whose lives intersect but have very distinct stories.
Book Two is less descriptive narration and more dialogue and character interaction, and this is where I feel Simonds really shines. Her character development is wonderful. I was pulled into the lives of two young women with very different lives, one black, one white, but both with dreams of something beyond what current society typically allows.

While I had to work a bit in the first half of the novel, the second half was a satisfying reward enough. Stork Bite was a book that snuck up on me quietly. I was not expecting to find myself quite so involved with the characters. In addition, I definitely shed a few tears – several times – as each person’s stories wrapped up.

Stork Bite is a story that satisfies in a way that few others have. It covers racism, racial inequality, war, love, family, birth and death. There is a wisdom that resonates from the pages that I didn’t really understand until after I finished reading it.

The first thing a reader will probably notice about this story is that the author knows how to describe things. The first scene is set in the Louisiana boonies. There’s a country road, a lake, an old canoe on the shoreline. There were mosquitoes. “A breeze lifted the curly gray beards hanging from the bald cypress.” Wind and rain appeared, and the smell of a train. Before I realized it, I was fully immersed in the scene - and in the story.

The story covers quite a length of time for some of the characters. With one character, the story starts in 1913 when he was seventeen years old, and we find that same character in his 90’s before the story ends. The long time periods allow the reader to really see what becomes of the characters, as well as the results of their life choices.

The racism and prejudice in the story aren’t specifically discussed in detail, yet they are very much there. The interesting thing, however, is that we get to experience them from both sides: from the minds and dialogue of both blacks and whites.

Speaking of dialogue, Simonds did a fantastic job with the slang. It was just enough for the effect, without going overboard. I think it added a great deal of authenticity to the story. Further, since the story covers so many years, the author seemed to be especially mindful of using the proper slang in the proper time.

Stork Bite touches on all the emotions and all the senses we have. At times, the emotions are very raw, and we can’t help but empathize.

I enjoyed reading this story very much, but it wasn’t until after I finished that I fully understood its impact. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the true concept of story.

I really enjoyed this story! I liked the mystery and all of the characters that go into telling the story! It was beautifully written with descriptions that draw you right into it. It was filled with suspense that kept me guessing at what was going to happen and what had happened. I really liked it!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

In 1913 David Walker, a young black man finds himself in a deadly encounter with a white man. The decisions he makes following that encounter change his life's destiny. Book 1 takes us into the life of David Walker, his character reaches us on many levels. He is likeable, trustworthy and we immediately empathize with his plight. The reader is entrenched in Walker's life and then it all ends abruptly as we are taken to Book 2, this is a bit confusing to the reader.

In Book 2 we meet Cargie and Mae, two strong women cutting out their destinies in a time when a women's place was thought to be in the home. Cargie's is an intelligent go getter determined to make her mark on the world, she sacrifices much, works hard and has many accomplishments. Mae on the other hand is smart, determined, capable but comes from a more privileged life. She takes advantage of every situation that comes her way, even if she sells her soul to get there.

Book 2, although entertaining, bogs down. Too many characters are introduced, Mae and her escapades in Book 2 seem irrelevant. Even in the end, when everything comes full circle, I couldn't connect any relevance to David and his story.

As far as the title, Stork Bite, there is one reference to it in the story, I had never heard of a birth mark/Stork Bite until now. Interesting that the author would pick that for a title to this particular book.

I really enjoyed this book and do highly recommend it. I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 because it felt disjointed leaving David's life so abruptly in Book 1 and having to wait until the end of Book 2 to get back to him. Mae and her cast of characters seemed to have little relevance to the story and seemed to make it drag out.

LK Simonds story of life choices and consequences forced or voluntary spans a century that begins in the early 1900's when a young man's defensive actions result in the death of a Klansman. In this era, no matter the circumstances, his actions will result in his death and leave his family a target too. With few options available to him, he will make the death look accidental and disappear from the area. As he travels from his home and loved ones, his choices will land him on a farm where he will prosper and find a home.
At this point, the book breaks into another section set in the early 1930's where we meet a young woman who knows exactly what she wants in her future and sets out to get it. She will accomplish more than most women, much less women of color, were able to during this era.
And then comes the third leg of this journey. This young woman will break the rules of what is "normal" for a woman of her class and move into the life of petty crime. Her personal growth will find her leaning into a tougher criminal life and wondering how she got there.
These three "stories" are individual, yet connected. You will not see the connection until the ending chapters so puzzled you will be. Four distinct sections will join at the end of the century.

Each section of this book could easily be it's own novella but they gain significance when you see how our young runaway ends in the same story as our petty criminal. It's a great story leveled up by their shared history.

After previously reading and reviewing the author’s debut book All In, I was excited for the opportunity to read her newest release. An intriguing synopsis and unique title also certainly helped pique my interest.

Spanning decades, this riveting historical narrative is the slow-burn story of three seemingly disconnected individuals that gradually weave themselves together. This is very much a slice of life story following one act of violence that indirectly steers the course of so many lives. The writing is incredibly atmospheric and richly detailed, bringing the Deep South to life right off the page. There is definitely a strong sense of place that can be felt by the author’s masterful choice of language. Each character is given such a unique and distinct voice that readers will gradually find themselves invested in even the lesser developed plot points.

In a blog post about this book, the author provides an explanation on the meaning behind the title, which at once seems a totally obscure reference, yet actually works as a metaphor for the “humanness we all share.” The stork bites each of us as we are brought into the world, but for many, the mark remains, emotionally or physically. Each character carries their burdens, some more troublesome and traumatic than others. The plight for each is subtle and touching, yet never sentimental. This is about survival for each of them in their own way and on their own time.

Unfortunately, I felt that Thomas’s story did get lost within the pages, which the author openly admits is like the past being buried by the years ticking away. I can completely understand and appreciate this; however, a lot of the tension and mystery behind the murder and its fallout is lost as well so that its ultimate impact felt more like an afterthought. Personal preference aside, the story does provides relevant and timely discussions on how we construct our own sense of morality even in the face of surrounding social mores that could seemingly threaten our own mortality and/or livelihood. Cargie and Mae’s stories also open up conversations about class and gender that adds to the power of their point of view and strength of character.

Mercy just happened.”

As with her previous novel, readers will more than likely find themselves stepping outside of their comfort zone, but with her skillful storytelling, that isn’t a bad thing! These unconventional lives provide an uplifting message that speaks to us all.

Stork Bite by L.K. Simonds was one of the most deeply layered books I have ever had the privilege of reading before, and it emphasized how the small choices we make in life can have huge ripple effects that last generations.

This book is divided into two separate, yet connected stories. In the first “book” L.K. Simonds immediately immerses you into deep south life Louisiana. With vivid descriptions of local wildlife, scenery, and murder (really vivid). It was a great hook, and I could not put it down to see what happened next. L.K. Simonds did a great job making me feel like I was right there with David exploring all the options available to me. The people David meets on his journey were interesting and showed a real glimpse of life at that time, and the hardships that many people went through. I LOVED how David emphasized the need for education as being a founding block for a better life, and his selfless actions were remarkable. This “book” was my favorite as it really engaged me, and I enjoyed the ebb and flow of the author’s voice.

The second “book” introduces a completely new cast of characters, and as you will find out when you read the book, all the characters are interconnected in a remarkable way that is not obvious upon first reading the second “book”. While David seems to disappear from the story altogether, we meet Cargie and Mae two women from very different walks of life and who make very different life choices. I was fascinated by L.K. Simonds look into the 1920-1930s era of mobs, bootlegging, and the choices of people. It made for an interesting storyline. What really helped make this story interesting for me was not just the story itself, but the way L.K. Simonds rounded out the seemingly not connected stories into one overarching story.

Overall, I think that L.K. Simonds did a great job layering her characters, giving a good mystery that left you scratching your head for a while, and showing how one man’s choice can affect a multitude of people. One thing I wish was done differently, would have been the first book characters remaining as background characters in the second “book” so that I was not completely at a loss on how the two stories fit together until the last 50 or so pages. But Stork Bite did have a good conclusion that wrapped everything up nicely and gave me the pieces I needed to feel like David’s story ended. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for the accurate historical details, the stretched-out mystery, and for being able to layer so many characters and have the story come out richer because of it.

*I will advise that this story does include some mild swearing
**I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

Populated with rich characters, drawn with precision, this story intertwines the lives of David Walker, a young black man, Cargie Barre, a young married woman working at a dry cleaners in Shreveport, LA and Mae Compton, a young woman fresh out of high school and heading for college in the early 1900s.

Their lives didn't start out together, but because of a series of understandable and sometimes unfortunate events, they are thrown together. Life seldom works out the way we think it will, and this could not be more true for these characters and the peripheral characters who are also well-defined and important.

This story takes the reader through these lives, and what compelling lives they were! They weren't particularly heroic, although David Walker had his share of brave moments, but the characters all had normal but fascinating lives. I think it takes talent to write about a group of people and keep a reader interested from start to finish.

Highly recommended!

Stork Bites from L.K. Simonds, believe this is my first time reading any works from this author. This book is broken up into two different stories where towards the end the two different stories are combined to tell the whole story! Sounds strange at first especially when you finish one complete story and jump into another with different characters you wonder what's going on. You do figure it out towards the end,I was surprised as I couldn't figure out what was going on until I read a review,then I found out I wasn't losing my mind,lo!.. Towards the end you see why all of this was done. The first story was for me more interesting than book two as it says but all the way around a very good book where all of the characters are believed in their roles in the story,love the description of it all,the scenery ,the places the characters. I enjoyed reading this after I cheated and found out what was going on,lol... Received from Net Gallery and this book came out last year 2020,I was to read before it was published but I just didn't make it but I suppose it's better to have read than not and do a review for all to read!! All thumbs up and I only have two!

Thank you to NetGalley, and author L. K. Simonds for allowing me to read this book. My unbiased review below is freely given.

I found Stork Bite the type of book I couldn’t wait to get back to. The three story lines were all good and engaging, and you are drawn into another time. You definitely ge to know the characters and to care about them.
The title left me with much to think about too, and probably many others will do the same. Lots of wisdom is imparted in these pages too. I absolutely loved reading this author and will look for more of her work.