Sarah’s Secret
By Nancy Rogers
Published by Here I Am Publishing
Release Date: 2021

Capturing the essence of plantation life along coastal South Carolina during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, albeit from the wealthy landowners’ perspectives, 

Sarah’s Secret is a fascinating read for fans of historical fiction.  

This novel encompasses many motifs; mystery, romance, action, and history, particularly that of the former True Blue Plantation and Pawleys Island, fill the fast-turning pages. There are also important references to the crown jewels of the Russian czars, and how easily shipments during those times could be captured.

Pulse-pounding action grips the reader from the get-go; the catalyst is the Haitian Revolution (1791-1797), a slave rebellion in the then-French colony of Saint-Domingue, that resulted in the founding of the independent Republic of Haiti. Our well-bred, teenaged protagonist is visiting some relatives, when startling events there follow her throughout her life, culminating in her return, decades later, in the last, action-packed chapters. 

It’s clear that author Nancy Rogers did her homework when penning this novel. Bolstering her research is the fact that she built a home on the former grounds of True Blue Plantation in the late ‘90s. She gleaned some of her information from a woman whose grandparents had been the plantation’s caretakers in the 1950s.  Additionally, Rogers carefully followed genealogy afforded by cemetery plots. Yes, there was a real Sarah Vaux, on whom the novel is based; there is also a delightful history about Pawleys Island, which refers to the actual descendant, Sarah’s husband, Percival Pawley. Despite being more than 400 pages, Sarah’s Secret is quick-paced and informational, covering most of our human emotions. At times it’s both sad and exhilarating, and it vividly captures the reader’s attention. It truly is one of those rare books that’s hard to put down. 

The Women of Abbey Plantation
By Nancy Rogers
Published by Here I Am Publishing
Release Date: 2024

Another gripping read from Rogers, The Women of Abbey Plantation is a sequel of sorts to Sarah’s Secret, an action-packed, well-researched tome of historical fiction. This newly published book is again set along the banks of the Waccamaw River in Pawleys Island, SC. Though a work of historical fiction, the author again excels in her research, inventing new names for her characters from old plantation census records, for example. There wasn’t an Abbey Plantation, but Rogers accurately depicts what life must have been like for both Whites and enslaved Blacks in the Lowcountry during the 19th and early 20th centuries. A compelling book with many inter-related chapters, the author primarily focuses on the lives of enslaved peoples during that time period, weaving intriguing stories of beloved friendships, hope, and ultimately, exhilaration. Fans of local South Carolina history will be thoroughly engaged.