“Time had a strange way of stealing and giving, and there was not a way to predict which way it would go. Only God knew. And there was comfort in that.”
Ms. Basham paints a beautiful picture of the Appalachian Mountains that she knows so well. She crafts her characters with a realism that makes you root for them. Cora Taylor has fled England and an unwanted arranged marriage to join her Uncle and brother but does not realize what she is getting into among the mountain families, not to mention the wildlife. “In these mountains, we live strong or we die young. Ain’t no in between.” But she finds a champion in Jeb McAdams.
Told in a folksy way, the story is full of faith and life lessons, while not short on the excitement and danger. As always Ms. Basham gives us plenty of humorous relief along with a sweet romance. “Love certainly was worth being brave... with a little crazy thrown in.” Jeb has “itchy lips” toward Cora. But he was a man of integrity and promised to take care of his dead friend’s widow. He needed to seek God to find the answer of whether to honor Amos’s wish or venture into a new relationship with Cora.
A favorite character was Granny Burcham with her quaint ways and knowledge of healing.
I highly recommend this book along with the companion book Laurel’s Dream which features some of the same characters and gives a bit more background.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*5 stars and a strong faith thread.
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 arrived. Now, she seems to show up at every turn, bringing her modern ideas, curiosity, and beautiful eyes with her.
Bound by their shared war history, the pair develop an unlikely friendship, which unexpectedly hints to something more. But when Cora’s desire to help the women of the mountains crosses an unspoken line, will Jeb be able to protect this feisty flatlander from the wrath of the mountain men or will he end up losing much more than his heart?
Thank you, Paula!
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