Book Review + Giveaway: The Eyes of River by Cindy K. Sproles

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Eyes of River by Cindy K. Sproles, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Eyes of River
Author: Cindy K. Sproles
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction

A heart-wrenching Appalachian novel from a best-selling, award-winning author

In the shadowed hollers of the early-twentieth-century Appalachian Mountains, Lizzy Haney is on the run. She’s been falsely accused of murder and is desperate to reunite with her brother, River, whose unforgettable green eyes haunt her. The secret in her past is a stinging wound, but it motivates her toward her goal: freedom.

But nine-year-old River, sent through the US Post Office to their late mother’s friend in Knoxville, never arrived. Lizzy’s dream of finding him and starting a new life away from their alcoholic and abusive father is ripped away.

Her hope rekindles as she happens upon an unexpected friend to help her dodge the law and save the missing youngin’. As she finds herself trusting him, she discovers the accuracy of the old adage her momma repeated: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop

Lizzy Haney mails her brother to a friend in Knoxville, Tennessee for safekeeping. For keeping him safe from his father, that is. Elbert Haney is a mean drunk, and he’s always had issues with young River. Since Lizzy’s mother died, she’s done her best to protect the little brother she loves, and sticking a postage stamp on him and sending him away is all she knows how to do. But when she finds herself unjustly accused of murder, her plan to escape and reunite with River falls apart, and she is forced to flee for her own safety.

This story, y’all. My heart just ached for Lizzy. She was convinced her father had killed her mother, but she couldn’t prove it. And since her mother’s death, she had assumed responsibility for River’s well-being, and that mantle lay heavy on her young shoulders. She also tried to save money for family needs, knowing her father would drink up any income he had, and tried to protect Elbert from himself as well as keeping the family safe from his black moods. That’s a lot of weight for a teenager to carry.

When Alton steps in to help her, she has to rethink her view of him. They’ve known each other since childhood, and at first she still sees him as her pesky classmate. But when he remains steadfast in his efforts to help and shows himself capable, she realizes he’s no longer that annoying little boy, but a man. I was cheering for them to make it from the get-go!

Sproles walks Lizzy through a hard journey of tearing down the walls of suspicion and defensiveness she’s built to protect herself. Joe and Jerelene, an older couple who give Lizzy a safe place to land when her father is hunting her, provide tangible assistance and useful wisdom. Lizzy has to learn, slowly, that the God she isn’t even sure exists not only hears her, but answers her cries for help. He does that through the people He places in her path. She just has to learn to let go of the burden she’s carried for so long and trust that not everyone in the world is out to hurt her or put something over on her or use her for their own ends.

I also learned from the story. I had no idea children could be mailed, but once parcel post was available in 1913, it was cheaper to mail a child than to buy a train ticket for them! According to appalachianhistory.net (citing the applicable government regulation), “The post office’s official 40 page parcel post regulation book DID prohibit using parcel post to mail “live or dead animals, birds, or poultry…” but said nothing about mailing human beings.”

The thread of faith runs pretty strong in this story. Lizzy’s mother had always told her the truth would set her free and quoted Scripture to her. Lizzy herself has a hard time believing God is there or that He cares, and she’s got to wrestle hard with those deep questions. God deals with her, and she comes to realize that she can trust others – and Him – to lead her in the right direction.

Five stars for a beautifully told story that grabbed my heart and wouldn’t let go. I’ll be reading more of Cindy Sproles’ books, and I recommend this to anyone who loves faith-based historical fiction with a clean romance as part of the story.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from JustRead Publicity Tours. I was not required to leave a review. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.

About the Author

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Eyes of River and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight June 24, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on July 1, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!