These Healing Hills 

Paperback, ebook, hardcover

September 5, 2017

by Ann H. Gabhart 

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Revell
• ISBN-13: 978-0800723637

Francine Howard has her life all mapped out until the soldier she planned to marry at WWII's end writes to tell her he's in love with a woman in England. 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.

My thoughts:  i am a huge fan of Gabhart's cozy mysteries, but haven't read very many of her historicals.  When I was offered a chance to review THESE HEALING HILLS I thought I'd give it a try.  Recently my son graduated from A school for the Coast Guard and we drove through "these hills" and saw how massively huge they are.  It gives new appreciation to these "pioneer" nurse midwives who traveled them on foot and on horseback to "catch babies" or see to sick women and children. 

The story is rather slow, easy to put down, but it was a nice  peaceful read, a good escape.  I identified completely with Fran, out of her element with the setting (she was a city girl) and getting used to hillbilly lingo, and traversing steep mountain trails on foot.  And so many other dangers out where people are likely to shoot first and ask questions later. 

Ben is a sweet hero, battle worn, glad to be home, but mourning so much. he has a lot of hurts to work through and a lot on his plate with the death of his dad and his mom and siblings needing so much from him. 

I rooted for these characters.  Granny Em was a lovely secondary character and some of the others added humor and drama as well. 

A great historical fiction read.  Historical fiction loves will devour this book. 

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.