The Song of Sourwood Mountain

Author: Ann H. Gabhart
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 368
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Publisher: Revell

The doors she thought were closed forever are starting to open up . . . just a crack

Though the century began with such promise, it is 1910 when Mira Dean's hopes of being a wife and mother are dashed to pieces. Her fiancé dead from tuberculosis, Mira resigns herself to being a spinster schoolteacher--until Gordon Covington shows up.
 
No longer the boy she knew from school, Gordon is now a preacher who is full of surprises. First, he asks Mira to come to Sourwood in Eastern Kentucky to teach at his mission school. Second, he asks her to marry him. Just like that.
 
With much trepidation, Mira steps out in faith into a life she never imagined, in a place filled with its own special challenges, to serve a people who just might end up becoming the family she always yearned for.

---

Reviewer: Billi Varela

I love a marriage of convenience. I feel like this is the year for this trope. For those who like a small age gap and unrequited love, this one is it. I mean, how much more perfect can it get when there is a marriage of convenience theme? 

The way Ann H. Gabhart describes the mountains makes me feel like I am present. I have always wanted to travel but haven’t. So these books, with their vivid descriptions, help me feel like I am there.

The side characters have my heart. I quite enjoyed it. I just wish this story didn’t end.

As for Mira and Gordon, I so enjoyed their relationship, which turned from a marriage of convenience to something more. Although there were moments when Gordon made me uncomfortable, they went away as I read more of the story. This is a clean read, free from any language or inappropriate content. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own. 

---

---

Reviewer: Emily Stephens

I'm quickly becoming a major fan of author Ann H. Gabhart, and this book is a perfect example of why! This is an amazing historical Christian fiction novel set in Kentucky in the 1910s.

First, the main characters are all very deep and well-written. They all seem realistic and knowable. Mira is dealing with shattered hopes and dreams (in the form of a dead fiancee), and Gordon is looking for help with his work in rural Kentucky. Thus begins an unlikely union that will test the faith of both parties. Add in clever orphan Ada June (and her entertaining dog), and you've got the makings of a wonderful story.

I liked the way the relationships slowly (and naturally) evolved. The author takes her time in making sure the romance feels realistic. I also enjoyed reading about Sourwood Mountain (KY) during that time. The descriptions were detailed and added a lot to my vision of the area and people.

The book has a lot to say about the importance of maintaining a strong faith, relying on God, and trusting in His plan for your life. In addition to enjoying the story, I really appreciated the personal faith-strengthening lessons subtly entwined in the narrative.

I received a review copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

---

---

Reviewer: Adriann Harris

Ann H. Gabhart is the best at weaving together life in the Appalachian Mountains, faith, and love. The Song of Sourwood Mountain, a fictional historical Christian novel, is the love story of brought-in preacher Gordon Covington and teacher Mira Dean, surrounded by the phenomenal folk of Sourwood. This enthralling story’s theme is to trust God no matter what happens.

Gabhart’s picturesque prose takes her readers back to 1910 Sourwood, Kentucky, luring them to immerse themselves in life in the holler. Imagine the only method of cooking being in a fireplace. Even Mira was shocked. The wonderful women of the holler embraced Mira, offering their wisdom and help. They taught her the art of cooking over an open fire. Even little Ada June pitched in, teaching Mira how to cook cornbread in exchange for book learning before school started.

This heartwarming, heart-wrenching, gripping story will forever remain in my heart. I enjoyed living amongst the mountain folk of Sourwood and was sorry to leave when the story ended.

For readers who fancy historical Christian fiction, I highly recommend The Song of Sourwood Mountain by the phenomenal author Ann H. Gabhart. 

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

---

---

Reviewer: Elizabeth Eckmeyer

This is the first time I have read a book written by this author and I can tell it was a phenomenal read! I read this book in three days because I couldn't put it down. 

Mira Deen is faced with a proposal from a school friend years ago. Her heart already belonged to someone else that had passed. Her hopes and dreams were put aside to be a teacher and serve her church. 

Gordon Covington is not the boy that Mira used to know. Now a pastor in a southern Kentucky mountain town his life is about serving others.

Mira reluctantly accepts Gordon's proposal and her entire life changes. Her hopes and dreams bloom with this new life that she has embraced. 

Ann Gabhart is a truly brilliant author. Her characters and descriptions of scenery will have you hanging on to learn more. I'm looking forward to reading more of her work!! 

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of  Revell House Publishing through interviews and reviews for my honest opinion.

---

---

Reviewer: Charity Henico

Don't you just love it when a story sucks you in and you're experiencing every feeling, thought, and emotion with each character? When you're seeing what they see, traveling where they are? This is one of those stories.

I watched in disbelief as Gordon had the audacity to ask Mira to marry him. I watched her struggle against God, wanting to follow the path that she had already lined up for herself. I watched and giggled when Miss Vandercleve let her opinions be known.

And I fell completely in love with Ada June. My heart broke for her over and over again, and I also rejoiced with her. Take a trip to Sourwood Mountain with all of us. You'll be glad you did.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Revell through Interviews & Reviews. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

---

---

Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

Can you ever go wrong with an Ann H. Gabhart book? I don't think so. The Song of Sourwood Mountain had all the feels and more.

After church, the last thing Mira Dean expected was a proposal from the visiting preacher. Granted, she did go to school with him as a child, but she hadn't thought about him in years. Now, Gordon Covington not only wants her to marry him, but he also wants her to be the new teacher at his mission school in the mountains. What's a girl to do? Say no, of course. Except for the fact that God seems to be pushing her to say yes.

While I thought Gordon was a bit of a bully in that he was abusing his position as a preacher to convince Mira to leave her life behind and follow his dream, I still loved this book! Gordon seemed to be a bit clueless where women were concerned. To me, he came across as a "God told me this, so you have to do it" kind of guy. But as you get to know him, you realize he is just following God. He only has to wait for others to catch his vision and hear if God is also speaking to them. 

While Gordon and Mira were interesting characters, it was Ada June and her dog Bo who stole the show for me. She was desperate for love from anyone. A ten-year-old living by herself for the most part in the mountains. She slept outside in the cold without proper clothing, often without food in her stomach. The people of Sourwood often took advantage of her, forcing her to work for a scrap of food or shelter, and while they thought they were doing right by her, they weren't. I loved how she fit into Mira and Gordan's lives, as well as how that relationship grew. 

Trusting in God is a major theme in this book, and we get to see how each character grows in that respect. If you are looking for a book with a sweet story about love in all its forms, look no further than The Song of Sourwood Mountain.

For my honest review, I received a complimentary copy from Revell via NetGalley.

---

---

Reviewer: Ewurabena Wilson

A captivating story filled with trust and new beginnings.

Ann Gabhart’s book The Song of Sourwood Mountain is one of those novels that pulls the reader in right from the beginning and leaves a lasting impression by the time the reader is done. This is a sweet novel that begs one to ask an internal question: Will you go where God has called you to go?

Set in 1910, Almira ‘Mira’ Dean is a young, orphaned woman living a contented life in Louisville, Kentucky. Her structured life is upended when a childhood acquaintance, Gordon Covington, makes an outrageous offer of marriage and to be a teacher at a remote place in the same state called Sourwood. Mira initially refuses the offer, but like an eaglet being forced to learn how to fly, she is left with no choice when all the things she holds dear are stripped from her. Thus begins her journey from a single woman to a married woman and learning to start life afresh. I loved Mira’s gradual transition to a preacher’s wife and a teacher. Her insecurities and fears about marriage and relocating were relatable.

Ada June was another character with whom I fell in love right away. I hope Ann Gabhart will write a sequel about her. Like Mira, Ada June is an orphan who is loved by very few people in Sourwood. Her best friend is her dog, Bo. Mira yearns to be a mother, while Ada June, who has no permanent place to call home, yearns for a mother. Gordon yearns for his bride to love him. Can Sourwood be the place where God will meet the needs of these three people? The answer lies in reading this beautiful novel.

I really love this book. The themes of hope, trust in God, new beginnings, and fear of the unknown really tugged at my heart. This is one of the best novels I have read from Ann Gabhart, and I will recommend it to anyone who wants to be challenged out of their comfort zone.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

---

---

Reviewer: Katie Slocum

The Song of Sourwood Mountain is proof that you can judge a book by its cover. The beautiful artwork and intriguing description drew me in immediately and took me on a wonderful adventure to the mountains of Kentucky that may be best described as Christy meets When Calls the Heart.

From page one, the story grabbed me and continued to progress effortlessly. The characters were well-developed and believable. The proposal at first seemed outlandish until God’s plan started to come to light.

The back and forth between points of view and the mountain dialect was very well done and easy to understand. I love that Mira and Gordon have such a heart to serve God, even when they cannot see what He is doing. Ada June was an especially wonderful character, and I am glad she had some resolution to her problems. I would love a sequel that focuses more on the mountain people and their backgrounds and stories.

This is the first book I have read by Ann Gabhart, but it will not be the last. For an enjoyable read that is easy to follow yet completely unpredictable, pick up this page-turner.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

---

---

Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

"Anita claims she heard the young visiting preacher proposing marriage. To you."

Anita had heard right. Mira Dean's childhood acquaintance, Gordon Covington, had grown up into a fine man. He was pastoring a mission church deep within Kentucky's Appalachian Mountains and apparently doing a satisfactory job of growing his small Sourwood congregation. Sourwood? It wasn't even on the map, and yes, she had been curious enough to look.

Gordon approached Mira after the service that morning, expressing a nonsensical belief that God had guided her into his path, not only to fulfill the need for a school teacher but also to become his wife. date. Tragically, her one and only dream of marital bliss was dead and buried, literally. Mira was completely satisfied with her life exactly the way it was. She was not going anywhere with Gordon Covington.

As so often happens, God opens and closes doors rather quickly at times, leaving Mira no other choice but to take a huge leap of faith. Infused with a hefty dose of courage, she boards a train heading towards Gordon's beloved Sourwood Mountain folk to marry a man she barely knows while living in a place that she has never seen or, up until this point, even heard of. Longing for happiness despite her circumstances, Mira holds onto a tiny sliver of hope that she will discover love.

A charming story! This author pens the sights and sounds of mountain life in such a way that her characters can't help but spring to life along the trails they call home. It's a beautiful place, but it's not always pretty. It's a bountiful place, but not everyone has food to eat. It's a tight-knit community, but there are those who desperately crave family, and it's a place where secrets have deep roots and tight lips.

"The Lord moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform..." - words from an old hymn.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own.​

---