These Healing Hills

Francine Howard has her life all planned, she would marry her high school sweetheart when he returned from the war, that was until he sends her a letter announcing his plans to bring home an English bride n 1945. Overwhelmed, Francine seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains, training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service. Fran heard about the training in Kentucky and went to learn to be a nurse midwife and is taken with the beauty of the hills right away. She had heard about the “hillbillies” where she grew up in Cincinnati but quickly learned the truth about these people who were loyal to their mountains and families and had great common sense and knowledge. Her mother dead set against this tries to dissuade her from going, but Francine had her mind set on going.

Upon her arrival, she meets Woody a local mountain boy who loves to talk.  Through Woody, Francine learns all about his brother Ben who is away fighting in the war.

Affected by the shocks he witnessed at war as a medic, Ben Locke has never thought further ahead than making it home to Kentucky. His future masked and uncertain.  As much as he loves his beloved mountains, he's at a loss when it comes to visualizing what's next for his life.

When Francine's and Ben's paths crisscross, it's immediately clear that they are from different worlds and value different things. But love has a way of turning things around and revealing enticing new possibilities.

This is a very captivating read, and teaches the reader much about the mountain life and ways of living off the land., but most of all their dependency on the Lord.

What I really enjoyed the heroine Francine and her ability to adapt and come to love the area that God placed her.  With this, she earned the love and respect of the mountain people as she exerted herself to learn their ways, and to respect their beliefs.

 I received this book free from the Author and Revell/Baker Publishing Group.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”