The Heart of the Mountains Published by Barbour Publishing by Pepper D. Basham
Series: My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge #2
on July 1, 2022
Genres: Christian, Romance, Clean, Historical
Pages: 256
Source: Netgalley
Format: ARC, eBook
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Rating:
To escape a forced marriage, Cora Taylor travels from England to the Blue Ridge Mountains in search of her brother, who is working as a teacher in a mission school. She hopes to find a place where her nursing skills and independent ideas will be accepted and appreciated, but nothing prepares her for the wild mixture of isolation, community, brokenness, and hope within these mountains…or in the person of Jeb McAdams.Returning from the devastation of World War 1 emotionally damaged, Jeb McAdams struggles against the rampant mountain alcoholism to soothe his nightmares. It’s easy to hide within the mountains, or it was, before Cora Taylor arrives. Now, she seems to show up at every turn, bringing her ideas, curiosity, and beautiful eyes with her. Their mutual understanding of the costs of war leads to an unspoken bond that develops into a hesitant friendship. As Cora turns her nursing experience and determination on establishing hygiene and education for women in the Appalachian community while also attempting to rescue Jeb from his own ghosts, Cora and Jeb’s partnership turns into a project of celebrating the gifts within Appalachia. But when the past sweeps back into their lives and an outbreak of scarlet fever threatens the future, will Cora and Jeb find a way to work together – even if it means unplanned matrimony – or will their different lives and brokenness tear them apart.
While I’ve read many a book that takes place during or after WWII, I haven’t read many of the previous World War. Many of us know the toll the second World War took on so many. This book, however, gives a peek into what traumas WWI left behind.
Jeb McAdams is still struggling with what he went through in the war. To be a better man, he’s trying to quit drinking–the thing that helps him cope with this memories of a friend failed.
Cora Taylor, and English woman arrives, looking forward to seeing her brother–and escaping an arranged marriage that is being forced on her by her father.
When Jeb and Cora find each other (under horrifying circumstances), they realize that they can help each other.
This story was a perfect blend of history and healing. I fell in love from the first and would recommend this story–hands down–to any who enjoys this time period. For those that don’t appreciate “Christian” stories–this one does have a message of God, so be warned. For me it only added to the beauty.
About Pepper D. Basham
Pepper D Basham has been telling tales ever since she was a little girl. When her grandmother called her a “writer” at the age of ten, Pepper took it as gospel and has enjoyed various types of writing styles ever since. A native of the Blue Ridge Mountains, mom of five, speech-language pathologist, and lover of chocolate, Pepper enjoys sprinkling her native Appalachian culture into her fiction wherever she can. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC, where she works with kids who have special needs, searches for unique hats, and plots new ways to annoy her wonderful friends at her writing blog, The Writer’s Alley.
oh I definitely love Christian romance but haven’t read any in some time and been meaning to return to it. I am glad that you enjoyed this one so well.
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