Tales from the Texas Timberlands Volume 2, by J. Andrew Rice, is a fiction anthology rooted in East Texas life, family memory, faith, work, and community. Across five stories, Rice moves from a postwar sawmill and a woman’s unexpected wrestling career to city management, football coaching, and church ministry. The book has the feel of stories passed down on a porch, where personal history, local color, and moral reflection all sit side by side.

What stood out to me most was the book’s steady affection for ordinary people doing hard things. Rice writes with a clear respect for builders, teachers, coaches, public servants, church members, and family elders. The stories are often direct, sometimes almost plainspoken, but that plainness works with the material. It gives the book an unvarnished quality. I felt like I was listening to someone who knows these towns, these arguments, these little rituals, and these long memories. The writing doesn’t rush to impress. It takes its time.

I also appreciated the way Rice lets each story carry a lesson without making the whole book feel like a lecture. That balance isn’t always easy. At times, the themes are stated openly, especially around faith, leadership, character, and perseverance, but the best moments come when those ideas rise naturally from the characters’ choices. Mattie’s strength in “Red Hammer Body Slammer,” Guy’s principles in “Sawmill,” Kent’s public service in “The City Manager,” Gary’s mentorship in “Coach,” and the narrator’s church life in “When We All Get To Heaven” all point toward the same belief: people are shaped by work, place, faith, and the stories they inherit. That idea really resonated with me.

As Southern historical fiction and a regional short story collection, Tales from the Texas Timberlands Volume 2 will appeal most to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a strong sense of place. I would recommend it to anyone who likes reflective small-town fiction, family-centered storytelling, faith-inflected narratives, and books that treat local history as something alive rather than dusty. It’s warm, sincere, and grounded. Readers who enjoy stories about legacy, grit, and community will find a lot to appreciate here.

Pages: 171 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0H2DKDV3Y