Brides of Hope Mountain #1

When Strangers Intrude
on Three Wild Sisters' Hidden Mountain Life,
Their World Will Never Be the Same.

Published October 1st 2019 

by Bethany House Publishers

Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world--a world she's been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls' secret home, her older sister is especially frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David's parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. But his father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?

Available for Purchase:

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My Thoughts:

Mary Connealy is one of my go-to authors, in other words one of my favorites, so when I found out she was writing a new series I could hardly wait for the release. 

This is the first book in her new series, Brides of Hope Mountain. 

This series centers around 3 sisters who grew up in the vast wilderness of southwestern Colorado widely known as Hope Mountain. As young children there parents went off the mountain, never returned and was assumed dead by their parents, so the raising of the children were left to the grandparents.  Essentially they were taught to live off the land and to never venture off the mountain because of the wickedness and disease that was in the outside world.  

This story vastly centers around the middle sibling, Josephine Nordegren.  Some might think she's wild because of her ability to slip through the forest without being noticed or maybe it was her cunning with a bow and arrow.  She also has a curiosity about how things work or live an likes to sit back and watch. 

Curiosity gets the best of Jo when a man, David Warden, brings a herd of cattle to the valley below their cabin.  David longs for a ranch of his own and if he has to move up the mountain to do it, then he will.  What he doesn't expect to to find a half wild, but beautiful woman and his parents arrival soon after his with his father sporting a deadly gunshot wound.  Now David knows he isn't alone of the mountain and needs to protect his family from the bandits his father fought off at his homestead and his cattle. 

This historical is an action packed adventure filled with innocence, humor, romance, mystery, and faith.  Jo reminded my of Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games.  She was a lovable character, deadly with an arrow, loves her family, but at the same time she isn't afraid to try new things.  David is like all people he wants something, land/ranch, to call is own.  He's not afraid of hard work or danger, but is intrigued/fascinated by Jo and her ability to live off the land completely.  He loves and respects his parents as is evident by the way he treats them. The plot for me was very thought provoking.  The thought of living away from civilization sounds very scary to me.  I guess with the sisters you don't miss something you haven't experienced and when suddenly invaded by the outside world would be scary.  

This is a book that I would recommend to anyone who loves history, romance or just a good clean read.  

*I received this book from the author via the publisher as part of the book blogging team.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Connect with Mary Connealy:

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Let me give you a sneak peek at the next book in this series:

He's Seen the Entire Country.

She's Never Been Off Her Mountain Home.

When Danger Comes, This Unlikely Couple Will Need to Rely on Each Other.

After years of isolation on top of Hope Mountain, Ilsa Nordegren may finally be ready to leave. Raised to fear the world, Ilsa and her sisters never planned on coming down, but when the Warden family arrived in need, they had to help. But with the arrival of added danger, it may cost them the only life they've ever known.

Having made his fortune, Mitch Warden returned home and found the family homestead abandoned. In a land grab, a ruthless cattle baron had forced his family to escape up the mountain, and when Mitch follows, the last thing he expects is to fall smitten with a strong-willed, dark-haired woman who dresses like Robin Hood and defends herself better than most men.

Mitch is intent on helping his family reclaim their land but doesn't realize the risks his past has brought. Hired killers are tracking him, and he's determined to draw them away before anyone else gets hurt. But that means a journey to the city--and when Ilsa insists on joining him, the mismatched pair suddenly find themselves on an adventure they'll never forget.

The Refuge

Can the power of love and the bond of family triumph in a community that cannot accept either?

Published April 30th 2019 

by Fleming H. Revell Company

With the threat of a cholera epidemic at their heels, Darcie and Walter Goodwin join the Shakers, whose villages seem immune to the disease. It's meant to be temporary, but when Walter is killed in a riverboat accident, destitute Darcie has little choice but to stay with the Shakers. To complicate matters, she is expecting a baby conceived before she and her husband came to the Shaker village. Marital relationships are considered sinful in this celibate community, putting Darcie in a unique--and lonely--position. Can the arrival of widower Flynn Keller and his headstrong daughter offer Darcie the hope of happiness?

My thoughts:

I love books written about Kentucky and this historical immediately swept me back to the fall of 1849 in Harmony Hill.  This story centers around Darcie Goodwin who is a young woman that is on a journey of survival.  She married her husband Walter 4 years ago, but with the growing threat of cholera in the area they made the decision to live with the Shakers until the threat was over.  Their arrival was met with changes they didn't know or hadn't expected.  For one the women and men were kept completely separate, so she and Walter were unable to live as husband and wife.  She was raised in a christian home, but some of the Shaker beliefs were hard for her to accept.  After 3 months of living with the Shakers Walter left one day never to return leaving Darcie a young widow and a baby on the way.  

I really enjoyed this book!! The plot immediately pulled me in.  I enjoyed reading about the Shakers and must admit I was shocked at some of their beliefs. I could tell the author had researched this topic well.  The engaging,secondary characters are well integrated into the story.  Darcie is both kind and sweet, but she shows a survivor instinct throughout the story.  Flynn Keller is a widow and the father of an inquisitive, young daughter.  He's not ready to move on with his life in  a romantic sense, but he knows he needs to put his daughters needs first.  The author adds an artful touch to the story by adding a small mystery into the plot.  It was not something I expected, but enjoyed because it enriched the story.  

This captivating story has elements of faith, second chances, quirky characters, romantic tension, and love.  

This is a book I would recommend to anyone.  

**I received this book from the publisher as part of their book bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Available for Purchase:

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Baker Book House

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London Beginnings #3

Cara Bernay has never fit in. At loose ends in 1881 London after a near tragedy costs her a job, she befriends a rising young artist. With his help, she begins planning a new life and developing her own artistic talent. But soon Cara finds herself at odds with the artist's brother—a handsome but serious-minded earl who wants to force his brother back to a "respectable" life.

Henry Burke, the Earl of Morestowe, feels the weight of growing financial burdens. His profligate and emotionally unstable brother is making matters worse, and Henry needs him back home. Despite misgivings about Cara's mysterious background, Henry sees she's a positive influence on his brother and on Henry's unruly young ward, and he strikes a deal with her to return with them to their estate.

But the family has their own secrets, and when Cara, drawn ever closer to Henry, stumbles onto the truth, she must choose between following her heart and pursuing a bold plan that could bring disaster.

Published April 2nd 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

My Thoughts:

This is a wonderful story that will immediately swept me to London in the late 1800's.  This is the first book I've read by this author, but not the last.  She brought the characters to life for me with her vivid descriptions and by conveying their raw emotions realistically.  Her characters are strong, complex and well developed.  The plot is a mix of faith, mystery, romance, and forgiveness, but it's also so much more. 

Cara Bernay has a heart of gold.  She has good intentions, but one misstep has her plagued with guilt and shame.  As the story opens she is the nanny of a very active toddler, but when the child is put in danger by her actions her position is terminated.  She has no place to turn except to her older sisters, which is not something she's excited about.  Her father's disappearance and loss of her mother at a young age plus her time spent in an orphanage has shaped her into a woman of great compassion. Cara's arrival in London is met with many challenges, but she puts her best foot forward towards a future that opens up to her. I truly liked and admired this character.  

This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves history, romance, or just a good clean read. 

*I received this book from the publisher as part of their book bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Available for Purchase:

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High Sierra Sweethearts #3

They're as Different as Could Be.
But They'll Need to Trust Each Other to Survive
the Wilderness . . . and the Dangers Chasing Them.

Published March 5th 2019 

by Bethany House Publishers

City dweller John McCall never expected to be out in the High Sierras of 1868 on a wild-goose chase to find the Chiltons' supposedly lost grandson. But now that he's out here, things have gotten even more complicated, mostly due to wildcat Penny Scott. She's not like any woman he's ever met--comfortable in the woods, with a horse, and with a gun.

When Penny and John are taken against their will by a shadowy figure looking for evidence they don't have, both realize they've stumbled into something dangerous. With their friends and family desperately searching for them, Penny and John must make a daring escape.

When they emerge back into the real world, they discover their kidnapper just won't stop. This city man and country woman must bring a powerful, ruthless man to justice, all while fighting a very inconvenient attraction to each other.

My Thoughts:

I was so excited when I received my book.  

Let me start by bragging about this beautiful cover.  It gives the reader a glimpse of th

e story it holds.  

Mary Connealy has been a favorite author of mine for some years.  She brings a story that captures both time and place.  I always know I'm in for a captivating story with elements or suspense, mystery, faith and romance. 

This historical is set in High Sierras during 1868.  This is the third book in this series, but I feel it's a stand alone story.  I would recommend reading the first two books to get the full impact of the series though.  

This story centers around Penny Scott and John McCall.  These engaging characters are complex and intriguing.  Penny is a no nonsese kind of woman who has learned to take care of herself.  Even being in hands of her capturers she still kept her head about her and knew it was only a matter of time until she could make her move. John McCall lives in the city, but he learned how to survive during the war.  He's been working for the Pinkerton Agency and is on an assignment to bring a young boy back east to his grandparents.  Penny doesn't like John, but when they escaped their kidnappers her one thought was their survival.  John realized quickly he was out of his element in this vast forrest and knows if not for Penny they may not survive.

I really liked Penny.  She has a good heart and is motivated by doing the right thing. I think she has spent many lonely years following her brother in the army, but if nothing else she has developed skills that will help her while living in the Sierras.  At first I wondered if I would like John.  He was a typical male who felt he needed to save the weak female, but was pleasantly surprised when he admits that she is more knowledgeable and better prepared that he is about the area.  Just one problem, there's a mystery surrounding their kidnapping and just when they think one mystery is solved another emerges.  

This book brings many twists and turns; romantic tension; characters with a softer side and tough exteriors; faith; and suspense.  What more could a reader want????

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves history, suspense, or just a good, clean read.  

I received this book from the publisher.  I was not expected to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Available for Purchase:

AMAZON  BARNES & NOBLE  CHRISTIANBOOK

BAKER BOOK HOUSE

Also, I want to mention that Goodreads is having a giveaway for this book that runs from March 1, 2019 through March 14, 2019. Here is the link if you want to enter:

GOODREADS

By the way if you want to read an excerpt then just click on this link:

EXCERPT

Daughtry House Series #1

Published June 5th 2018 

by Revell

Five years after the final shot was fired in the War Between the States, Selah Daughtry can barely manage to keep herself, her two younger sisters, and their spinster cousin fed and clothed. With their family's Mississippi plantation swamped by debt and the Big House falling down around them, the only option seems to be giving up their ancestral land--until a hotel management agent for the railroad offers her hope for the future. 

If she'll turn her home into a hotel, Levi Riggins says, he can all but guarantee it will be saved. Selah isn't sure she entirely trusts the handsome Yankee. Yet what other options does she have? She'll have to stay on her guard . . . but she never expected to have to guard her heart.

Available for Purchase:

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BAKER BOOK HOUSE

Meet the Author:

Beth White's day job is teaching music at an inner-city high school in historic Mobile, Alabama. A native Mississippian, she writes historical romance with a Southern drawl and is the author of The Pelican Bride and The Creole Princess. Her novels have won the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award, the RT Book Club Reviewers' Choice Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award. 

Connect Online:

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My Thoughts:

This is the first book in a new series, The Daughtry House, from Beth White.  This historical sweeps the reader back to Mississippi approximately 5 years after the civil war where people were dealing with the aftermath of the war and the rebuilding of their lives.  The story details shows how much research the author put into the writing of the life and times of the era.  

As the story opens Ithaca Plantation is being raided by rebel Confederate soldiers as the daughters, as instructed, hid under the porch.  This is where we are introduced to Selah Daughtry, who by the way is my favorite character.  Being the oldest of three she is instructed by her mother to keep her sisters safe and out of harms way.  She takes this charge not only seriously, but to heart.  As the story progresses we see how she is always putting her sisters first and making decisions based on what's best for everyone.  One example is when she makes the decision to leave Ithaca after the death of her beloved mother to keep her sisters safe, then when she returns after the war to take charge of what was left of their plantation until her father returns from the war.  She is not domineering towards her sisters, but rather seeks their counsel when necessary in making decisions.  What I liked best about Selah was that instead of letting her past define her as a person, she used it to shape her instead by not only learning from mistakes, but also listening to her heart. She takes in young man and tries to help him even though she can barely feed herself.  She listens to Levi and places trust in him even though she has learned to trust no one but her family since the war started. She shows her strength of character from the first page. She goes from being a belle of the plantation to being the one who is in charge of making decisions she feels ill equipped to make, but learning to trust and depend on others for help.   

This historical romance also includes elements of mystery, faith, forgiveness, grief, trust and love.  The plot quickly pulled me in from page one and held me with each page turned.  This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves a good, clean book.  I am really looking forward to the next installment in this series. 

**I received this book from the publisher via their book bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

High Sierra Sweethearts

She's the Only Witness to a Wagon Train Attack. Keeping Her Safe, Though, Means His World Is about to be Turned Upside Down.

Published April 3rd 2018 

by Bethany House Publishers

When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes an attack by the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he's finally carved out a home and started a herd--while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail. He'd hoped the days of driving off dangerous men were over, but the latest attack shows otherwise.
 
Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack, and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace becomes an accidental guardian when he offers the only shelter for miles around and agrees to take them in until they can safely continue their journey. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture and their arrival is unsettling--yet enticing. 
 
Trace and Deborah find themselves drawing ever closer as they work together to bring justice to the trail and help the group survive the winter--but every day closer to spring means a day closer to leaving the mountains forever.

Available for Purchase:

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BAKER BOOK HOUSE


Questions & Answers with Mary Connealy:

1. What was the seed of the idea for The Accidental Guardian?

 I was trying to imagine life completely alone in the wilderness. That was the first thing that I was dancing around in my head. The loneliness, the skills necessary to survive, the harsh winter up in the high mountains—very close to the mountains that killed so many of the Donner Party. What kind of kid could survive that? What would it be like? How would it change you?

2. Why did you choose the location near Lake Tahoe and the High Sierra Mountains?

 I wanted a place that was strikingly beautiful and brutally harsh. That combination. The tug between the lure of the beauty and the fear of the conditions. I’ve wanted to use Lake Tahoe for a while until finally the book idea and the location meshed in the High Sierra Sweethearts series.

3. Your heroine ran a newspaper back east. Few women had a job in the era where you set the novel. Deb had worked for her father for years with no thanks from him and no respect from the men she did business with. She was considered an errand girl even as she ran the whole paper. Now she wants to work for herself. Could she have made it in San Francisco running a newspaper? 

The American Frontier and the West were wide open places. There were still plenty of restrictions put on women in the nineteenth century when it came to women holding a job (if you don’t count years of backbreaking work running a house, bearing and raising children, and doing plenty of farm chores as a job!), but things were less restrictive out west. I think Deb could have made it running a newspaper, although she would have had to be tough. And she might have needed to put aside love, marriage and children for years while she established herself. That’s what she wanted. And then a kind man who appreciated her for all her hard work and skill turned her aside from that path.

4. Could a cabin really be built as fast as Trace and his cowhands put up the new log house?

 I think the reality of building a log cabin is mind-boggling. Just think of all those corners you need to cut out like the corners of Lincoln Logs. That would be hard, tedious, and for sure time-consuming. But I remembered that Pa Ingalls in the Little House on the Prairie books got the raw cabin up in a couple of weeks single-handedly. So I used that as proof that three hardworking men could do the same pretty fast. It’s so strange to think of building a house with no money, yet there were plenty of logs in the woods, and no land to have to buy—although Trace had homesteaded, so he did own the land. Just do the work then, and you’ve got a house.

5. How long until book #2? 

The sequel to The Accidental Guardian is The Reluctant Warrior, which releases in October 2018 and is available for preorder already. And then be on the lookout for book #3, The Unexpected Champion, coming in 2019.


My Thoughts:

Oh my, what a wonderful story!
Mary Connealy has released the first book, Accidental Guardian, in her new High Sierra Sweethearts series.  I was immediately drawn into the story from the first page. The author weaves words together that bring both the characters and setting to life for me.  
Deb Harkness and her sister are traveling to Sacramento by wagon train accompanying Mr. & Mrs. Scott and caring for the children.  While stopped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains the wagon train is attacked leaving Deb, her sister and the children alone without not only protection, but also provisions.  Trace Riley is 20 miles from home when he happens upon the burned out wagon train.  Memories resurface from a similar scenario from 10 years ago in Trace's mind.  He spies 2 women running towards him with two children in tow and knows life as he has known it is about to end.  Utah Smith and Adam Thayne work for Trace and the only people he's really been around for years.  Trace's workers are waiting for him at his homestead, but to get the women and children there means traveling 20 more miles with only one horse and a few provisions. 
Deb is a take charge kind of person, but she has a soft heart and loads of hurt.  She saw the attackers which puts her in a dangerous position of being able to identify them, but she puts her own safety at risk to do the right thing.  Trace was just a young man when he and his father joined a wagon train headed west, but while away hunting his wagon train was also attacked leaving him virtually alone in the wilderness. Both are strong characters, but each have complex backgrounds which add to the person they are.  The plot flows effortlessly and immediately pulled me in.  It's full of twists and turns that kept me completely engaged.  This was a one setting read for me.  When I started it I just couldn't put it down.  
Yes, this is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves historical or just a clean romance.  This book has elements of suspense, history, romance, faith and trust. 
*I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.  I was not expected to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Teaville Moral Society #3

 


Mercy McClain joined the school board to protect the children of Teaville, Kansas, from the bullying she experienced as a child. When the worst offender from her school days applies for a teaching position, she is dead set against it. Yet Aaron Firebrook claims to be a changed man. Can he earn Mercy's trust--and her support for the challenges to come?


Published March 6th 2018
 by Bethany House Publishers







My Thoughts:

This is the third installment in the Teaville Moral Society from Melissa Jagears. This book is part of an installment, but can be read as a stand alone. The author sweeps the reader back to Kansas 1909 and introduces us to Mercy McClains and Aaron Firebrook. Mercy is an interesting character. She has an obvious disability with her arm and as a result has had to overcome many things in her life. At present she is helping her brother and sister in-law run and manage a local orphanage plus she serves on the school board council. As the story opens Mercy and the school board are in search for a teacher for the upcoming year. Unfortunately for Mercy she immediately recognizes the candidate from her own school days as not only a fellow student, but also her greatest tormentor.
George Aaron Firebrook has recently returned to his hometown. Aaron as he is known now has changed from the young man who left Teaville, but memories are lasting and for Aaron that is not good. His growing up years were troubled and he became known, but also lived up to being the biggest bully in town. Mercy literally holds his future in Teaville in her hands. Can she put the past behind her or will her judgement be forever overshadowed by memories?
I really enjoyed this book. It is a very written story. The plot is full of twists and turns that just when you think you've figured it out another important factor surfaces, for me this is very engaging and kept me turning the pages. This book does broach the issue of school bullying, but I feel it's something that was resolved realistically.
This is a book that I would recommend to anyone who loves history or just a good, clean read. I received this book from the publisher as part of their book bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Available for Purchase:

AMAZON  BARNES & NOBLE  CHRISTIANBOOK 

  

The Christmas Blessing

She's determined to give her baby a better life. 
Could a Christmas miracle make it possible?

Not long after she receives the news in 1944 that her baby's father was shot down in the South Pacific, Amelia Richards loses hope. Jobless and broke, she has nowhere to turn for help but her infant's paternal grandparents. The only problem is, they don't know that she--or their grandson--exists. 

When Amelia discovers the family is wealthy and influential, dare she disclose the truth of her relationship with their son? Or could the celebration of the arrival of another unexpected baby nearly two thousand years ago be the answer to her dilemma?

Published September 5th 2017

 by Fleming H. Revell Company

Available for Purchase:

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BOOK-A-MILLION

Meet the Author:

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus. 

She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.

Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

Connect Online:

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My Thoughts:

I always look forward to Melody Carlson's Christmas themed books released in the fall.  I believe a lot of people will call this a novella, but I think it's too long for that title.  I will say that it is easily a one sitting book though.  

This book is set during World War II.  It is a well written story that captures both time and place.  It flows effortlessly and is consistent. To describe the story I would say it's full of emotions, both raw and real.  The characters are engaging.  I liked Amelia Richards and wanted her to get the happily ever after ending she deserves.  This story does touch on some tough issues, but I did feel they were resolved realistically.  This is probably not my favorite Christmas themed book, but it's still a great read.  I found some spiritual aspects in the book, but must say I expected more. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a feel-good story.  

*I received this book from the publisher as part of their blogger program.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

All She Left Behind

Already well-versed in the natural healing properties of herbs and oils, Jennie Pickett longs to become a doctor. But the Oregon frontier of the 1870s is an unforgiving place--especially for a single mother. To support herself and her young son, Jennie finds work caring for an older woman. When her patient dies, Jennie discovers that her heart has become entangled with the woman's widowed husband, a man many years her senior. Their unlikely romance may lead her to her ultimate goal--but the road forward is uncertain. 

Published September 5th 2017

 by Fleming H. Revell Company 

Available for Purchase:

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BOOKS-A-MILLION  BAKER BOOK HOUSE

Meet the Author:

Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling author of more than 30 books, including A Light in the Wilderness, The Memory Weaver, This Road We Traveled, and A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her works have been finalists for the Christy Award, Spur Award, Oregon Book Award, and Reader's Choice awards, and have won the WILLA Literary Award, USABestBooks, the Carol Award for Historical Fiction, and the 2016 Will Rogers Medallion Award. Jane lives in Central Oregon with her husband, Jerry. 

Connect Online:

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My Thoughts:

This is a heartbreaking story that quickly weaved it's way into my heart.  

I was quickly swept away to the Oregon frontier during the 1870's.  This book is based on the true story of Jennie Pickett.  Jennie quickly weaves her way into my heart. She was a young woman who has faced personal challenges all her life, but she has dreams and aspirations.  After the loss of her infant daughter she has a desire to help women and children with what we now know as essential oils.  She is a complex character that her turmoil is shown through raw and real emotions. Coming to the realization that her husband was drinking heavily, at times putting her son in harms way, and that her husband didn't support her dreams I think was a turning point in her life. She is a woman to be admired for her determination and inspiration.  This story takes on some tough issues that in the 1870's were not discussed and very little if anything was truly known about.  

This story has so many elements......personal and family challenges, grief, turmoil, dreams, and lots of faith.  After closing the last page I find myself still thinking about the characters.  This is a book that I would recommend to anyone who loves history, an inspirational story, or who loves hearing about strong women. 

*I received this book from the publisher as part of their book bloggers program.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

These Healing Hills

Love has a way of healing old wounds…and revealing tantalizing new possibilities.

Published September 5th 2017

 by Fleming H. Revell Company 

Francine Howard has her life all mapped out--until the man she loves announces his plans to bring home an English bride from war-torn Europe in 1945. Devastated, Francine seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains, training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service.

Deeply affected by the horrors he witnessed at war, Ben Locke has never thought further ahead than making it home to Kentucky. His future shrouded in as much mist as his beloved mountains, he's at a loss when it comes to envisioning what's next for his life.

When Francine's and Ben's paths intersect, it's immediately clear that they are from different worlds and value different things. But love has a way of healing old wounds . . . and revealing tantalizing new possibilities.

Available for Purchase:

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BAKER BOOK HOUSE

Meet the Author:

Ann H. Gabhart grew up on a farm in Kentucky. By the time she was ten she knew she wanted to be a writer. She's published over twenty novels. She and her husband have three children and nine grandchildren. She still lives on a farm not far from where she grew up. She loves playing with her grandkids, walking with her dog, reading and, of course, writing. Her Shaker books, set in her fictional Shaker village of Harmony Hill in the 1800's, are popular with readers. The Outsider was a Christian Fiction Book Award Finalist in 2009. Her Heart of Hollyhill books are Small Town, America books set in the 1960's. Angel Sister, a Rosey Corner book set during the Great Depression, will be followed by Small Town Girl. 

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“Where the land is rough and steep, nature is not easily conquered even after wild beasts and wilder men have been subdued. …a dogged determination to survive keeps a mountaineer’s body lean and his mind alert. His dwelling place in awesome regions tends to give him dignity of manner …accentuated by his sparse use of words.” (Mary Breckinridge describing the mountaineer characteristics)

The author does an exceptional job on her blog of telling the story of Mary Breckinridge.

 http://www.annhgabhart.com/2017/09/13/a-dedicated-woman/

My Opinion:

This story touched me in so many ways. The author weaves words together that bring to life the mountains of eastern Kentucky and brings a wonderful tribute to Mary Breckinridge.

This story touched me both heart and soul. 
I think the reason this book touched me so much is because I was raised in the "hills" of Kentucky.  No, not Hyden, but in a small town that was very similar. I left many years ago, but I will always consider it home.  So this book took me on a trip back home to my childhood.  Of course I wasn't born until many years after the setting in this book, but the characters put me in mind of people I knew growing up.  Yes, I have went to a sorghum run, crossed a swinging bridge many times, roamed the hills and played in the creek.  I also have known many older women like Granny Em.  (I think she's probably my favorite character in this book.)  In this story the author points out that even though life is hard, the people who live in eastern Kentucky endure the hand they are dealt, but strive for the best.    
 The author does an excellent job of bringing her characters to life on the pages.  I immediately liked Francine Howard.  She was not one who focused on broken promises.  No, she choose to start an adventure that would bring her new dreams and purpose.  Her arrival in Hyden was not as she anticipated in the least.  With no one there to meet her she was challenged with climbing the mountain to Wendover, the school for Frontier Nursing.  This showed her determination and drive to accomplish her dream.  
Ben Locke is a young man who had his dream of becoming a doctor cut short by World War ll and service to his country.  With the end of the war Ben heads back home to eastern Kentucky.  While serving his much loved father passed away so his homecoming was filled with many memories of days gone by.  He felt a great responsibility to care for his mother and siblings so again he puts his dreams on hold. 
For me, this was a one setting book.  I was immediately pulled into the story and didn't put it down until the last page was turned.  It has elements of humor, adventure, faith, second chances, trust, and love. 
I loved everything about this book and would recommend it to anyone. 
**I received this book from the publisher as part of their book bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.