"Miss Smith, the wealthy old lady who died recently near Chapel Hill, and who bequeathed a large sum of money to the State University, did not fail to remember her old slaves, of whom six are now living," read the New York Times, December 6, 1885. But the Times got it wrong: land, not money, was left to the University of North Carolina and five of Mary Ruffin Smith's former slaves. Four were also her nieces--sired by her two bachelor brothers--and all had the same mother, the Smiths' maid Harriet. A spinster, Mary raised the girls, baptized them into the Episcopal Church, married them to respectable biracial men and left each 100 acres in her will. The result of eight years of research, this book tells the story of the Smith family and the fortune that survived the profligacy of Mary's father before being willed to the university and the North Carolina Episcopal diocese. Every "legitimate" member of the family lies in a small cemetery near the former estate. Harriet was buried an unmarked grave somewhere in Orange County. The hundreds of descendants of her daughters have been virtually ignored--this book is for them.

A new emotional and gritty drama from the bestselling author of The Throwaway Children. After her mother's death, twenty-year-old Sophie Ross is left orphaned, with only her erstwhile nursemaid and faithful friend, Hannah for company. Penniless and little chance of an income, she looks for work as a governess in London to avoid destitution. But unbeknown to Sophie, her mother instructed Hannah to post a letter to Trescadinnick House in Cornwall upon her death. The letter will be the catalyst that changes Sophie's life forever as she learns of her mother's doomed romance and family she left behind in Cornwall. The Penvarrow family welcomes Sophie into their fold, but the new life she's built is threatened by secrets and lies that soon come to light... What readers are saying about Miss Mary's Daughter: 'Diney Costeloe's books are always first on my list, she writes such wonderful stories' 'I loved everything about this novel. It's an intriguing plot with a well-rounded group of characters and a beautifully written setting'.

Dive into the history of Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House and enjoy a celebration of traditional southern recipes with her delectable dishes that made her an American legend. Shortly before noon, about sixty guests gather on the front porch and lawn of Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House in Lynchburg, Tennessee for a mid-day dinner. Each table is cared for by a Lynchburg hostess, a lady from the town who sees to it that the bowls and platters are kept full, that everyone meets each other at the table, that the conversation is always flowing, and that everyone has a grand time. The dinner bell is rung and as each name is called, diners follow their hostess to the dining table. Now you can give your guests the same delicious southern dishes served at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House. None are difficult to cook, but all are best when prepared by caring hands and served with friendship, a recipe that all boarding houses have found to be foolproof! In Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House Cookbook, you’ll discover delicious dishes including… Unforgettable Ham Balls, Miz Bobo’s Cabbage Relish, Miss Mary’s Famous Chicken and Pastry, Moore County Mushroom Soup and more Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House Cookbook is the perfect collection of recipes to entertain guests, bring family and friends together, and of course, enjoy some good old-fashioned Southern cooking.