These Healing Hills

Author: Ann H. Gabhart
Genre: Historical Romance

​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.

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Reviewer: Becky Hrivnak

These Healing Hills, written by Ann H. Gabhart, is the first book I've read by this author and hopefully not the last.

What an interesting book on the Frontier Nursing Service in the hills of Kentucky. The nurses were sent to the Appalachian Mountain trails to help the sick and "catch" babies. Loved the way that the author was able to help the readers hear how the "hillbillies" spoke. I could hear them clearly, see the land in which she traveled, and feel the air on my face at times as I read. Lovely style!

My favorite character...Francine, of course. She was such a sweet young city girl who had a heart for the less fortunate without treating them like they were below her. 

Although it was expected of the nurses that they were not to talk to the people about religion, politics, or moonshine...it was evident by Francine's life that she had a relationship with the Lord and was taught from a young age to depend on Him through her grandmother's teachings. I found a lot of golden nuggets throughout the story that will stick with me.

I'm hoping this is the start of a series as I'd love to know what happens with Francine, Ben and his family and even Granny Em! Lovely read!
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I was given a copy of this book by the publishing house. All thoughts and comments in this review are my own.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.​

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Reviewer: Kelly Potts

Despite being a slow read, “These Healing Hills” is an enjoyable, with wonderful characters and interesting locale and plot. I especially loved the keen eye of Granny Em, the jibber jabberish Woody and the outspoken Becca. My main disappointment was what I felt was an abrupt ending. I was reading this on a tablet and not noticing how many pages were left. I flicked the screen expecting more chapters but there weren’t. Maybe if I was reading the paper version of the book I wouldn’t have been as surprised or disappointed.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.​

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

I don't think I have ever been disappointed in an Ann Gabhart book. She is one of my favourite authors and These Healing Hills proved once again why.

In These Healing Hills, she created pictures so vivid I felt like I was watching a movie. That is the work of a great writer. It was easy to see the "mountain people" who Fran grew to love and to see why a city gal would stay. Ms Gabhart's characters are well developed and seemed to jump off the paper (or Kindle in my case) and become so real you did not want to let them go. Which is my only complaint about this book. It ended without letting me know what happened next. There was no epilogue. I have to imagine what Ben and Francine will do next. 

My imagination is not as vivid as Ms Gabhart's. I hope she writes a sequel.

I loved getting to know more about the Frontier Nursing Service as well. I had never heard of them before. 

The theme that God always has a plan seemed central to this story, but not in an overly preachy way. I really enjoyed this book and I know you will too.

You can never go wrong with an Ann Gabhart book. I highly recommend it.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.​

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Reviewer: Olivia R.

It's so nice to read a book that catches human nature so well. The gentleness, yet straight-forward characteristic of the mountain people in this book is so refreshing. Fran and Ben's romance may not be extremely different from many others, but the setting and the background creates something incredibly unique and special.

This took me several days to read only because I wanted to savor every scene. It's a slow story that must be read carefully. There were so many lines that I smiled and laughed at. Woody's character made me beam inside and out. He's just the perfect sunshiny fellow. Sometimes I got riled with Fran and Ben with ignoring their feelings, but it was so short-lived and realistic that I couldn't really fault them.

I absolutely loved how Fran thought of the spiritual wisdom her grandmother passed on to her. That was just perfect! And then even in some of the mountain people who didn't want to talk religion, they brought up simple truths from God's Word that was so thought-worthy. This book reminded me of so many things, but especially that the little moments of life are important. Not the huge things we may accomplish, but our daily decisions to help, love, and a be blessing to others. And also to speak to the truth.

Romance-wise everything was very discreet and sweet. There is several mentions about babies, and the love in marriage. But really, I loved how the author portrayed it all. Never blunt...even the birth scenes.

I highly recommend this book because it was simply delightful to read.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.

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