Ann Gabhart outdoes herself in this wonderful story about society women volunteers who spend the summer working with the frontier nursing service in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky in 1933. The stock market crash of 1929 had bankrupted many “society” families. Piper Danson’s family had come through pretty well, but Jamie Russell’s parents had lost everything. Jamie and Piper had been friends since childhood. She had feelings for Jamie, but Piper’s father had “contracted” for her to marry the wealthy Braxton Crandall, a man she hardly knew.
The story starts with Piper’s debut party in Louisville. She had volunteered to spend the summer caring for the horses and being a courier for the frontier nursing service. Mrs. Breckinridge, a society woman herself, sponsored the service. She often visited the cities in Kentucky to recruit workers for the service. From their headquarters in the mountains, the nurses traveled on horseback to meet the medical needs of the mountain residents. They treated injuries, delivered babies, and offered other health services.
There was one doctor at the center, Dr. Jack. Here’s where it gets even more interesting. Piper’s maiden aunt Truda, with whom she was very close, had met Dr. Jack many years ago. She had been impressed with him (and he with her), but they had met only once.
Mrs. Breckenridge had invited Louisville society folks to
visit the center to see the operation and consider donations. Piper's at the center doing her volunteer work. Then Braxton shows
up. Aunt Truda comes to visit. And---Jamie comes to stay a while to do a story
on the nursing service. So---we have the Piper-Jamie-Braxton love triangle and the
suggestion that Aunt Truda and Dr. Jack may have had feelings for one another.That's all I'm going to tell you.
I have always admired Ann Gabhart’s ability to make me feel like I’m present in the story. I can almost feel the mountain breeze. I see the rough mountain trails that the nurses and couriers must travel to do their duty. I feel like I’m there with them.
I enjoyed this story so much. Society girls learn the value of simple things, see how the less fortunate live, and enjoy the beauty of the mountains. Will Piper choose Jamie or Braxton? What about Aunt Truda and Dr. Jack? Experience life in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky in the 1930s. Read An Appalachian Summer!
Links:
Sample: https://www.annhgabhart.com/books/an-appalachian-summer/
Check out the author bio and author interview (or buy the book) at this link.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book compliments of the author and Revell Publishers. 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."
Photo source: https://www.annhgabhart.com/
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