Pleasant, lovely book.
Francine Howard seeks a new meaning of her life after a heartbreak. So she comes to the Appalachian Mountains to work as a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service.
Mountainer Ben Locke returns home after serving as a soldier at the WWII.
Can these two, who are coming from very different paths of life, find healing after all the life´s circumstances they have been through?

Well...I guess? :) It's not the finishing point, but the act of moving which is important. And these two need to overcome both the outer and inner obstacles.
The way to the happy ending is very pleasant and "caressing" the soul (these days especially). Ann H. Gabhart can create the atmosphere to get the very needed rest to mind and the hope to fill the spirit.
Recommended, enriching (and not too heavy, yet full of soul) read to add to your rainy days library!

Romance, clean; Christian faith elements
This was an interesting historical novel, set during/post WW ll. Francine is a nurse who comes to be trained as a nurse/midwife and practice in the Appalachian mountains. She meets the local people and loves their children and helps their families. During it all she makes the acquaintance of Ben Locke. They gradually get to know each other, struggling with the expectations of outsiders and mountain people. Francine's heart learns to love the mountains, and Ben.
Beautiful poignant novel, with Christian faith elements. Tribute to those who worked and served the people as visiting Frontier Nurses. Some harrowing experiences, but most of all a beautiful fall, and beautiful portrait of family life in the mountains.
I look forward to reading more by this author.

What a delightful tale! Francine’s whole heart is longing for a useful place to call home, after her mother’s long effort of trying to cut Francine down to the size of the mold of her mother’s ambitions. The new venture of becoming a mountain nurse-midwife (She does much more than simply catch babies, thus the “nurse” part) is her effort at finding freedom to make her own choices in life. Kentucky Appalachia in 1945 is represented in charming and not-so charming detail. I also liked the parts that detailed her job and her relationships with the mountain people.

I really liked that the romance in the book is very low-key, and Ben, the young man, isn’t introduced until 1/3 of the way in when he returns from war.

A heartwarming, inspiring, and clean story.

Thanks to the publisher for a free review copy.

These Healing Hills captured me! I loved the characters, the life of the midwives and the mountain people they served. Francine Howard choses to leave her privileged life behind to become a Frontier Nurse in the Appalachian mountains after her boyfriend breaks off their relationship. Her mother is horrified and no one thinks she can manage the rough rigors of serving the mountain people. She wants to try but there's more to learn than bringing babies into the world. She meets a recently returned War II veteran, Ben Locke when she gets lost on the hill. They survive a deluge under a rock outcropping which starts an edgy relationship. Francine's faith in God deepens as her trials stretch her dealing with the mountain people.
I could say more but you really need to read it. The characters are full, complex, and real. The author's writing is superb..

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Publishing. My comments are my own and was under no obligation to do so.

Ann H Gabhart is a seasoned storyteller...I love her work...and this novel was amazing. Pick it up...and experience it for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

Title: These Healing Hills

Author: Ann H Gabhart

Chapters: 43

Pages: 345

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction/ Christian historical romance

Rating: 5 stars

Francine Howard thought she had her future planned out, but life and God has other plans. She had thought that with WWII ending she be planning a wedding. Instead she finds her in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky. As a nurse midwife student at the Frontier Nursing Service she starts to find her purpose in life again. She finds herself falling in love with the area and the people. She doesn't want to fall in love again.
Ben Locke is a solider that is happy to have made it home to his beloved Kentucky hills. He just wants to forget the horrors of war and move on. He doesn't know what else he wants to do with his life, though as a medic in the war he has the option to use the GI bill to expand on that. He doesn't want to fall for an outsider who could leave at any moment.
I went into These Healing Hills knowing I was going to love it and I did. I've loved all of Ann H Gabhart books I've read and this was one was no different. I also loved that it was about a part of Kentucky history of a nursing service that is still very much still in use today.
As a child who loved history especially Kentucky history as it is my own state I was fascinated by not only the Frontier Nursing service started by Mary Breckinridge and the pack horse librarians. I think the pack horse stories are one thing that lead me to become a library employee. I am looking forward to her next book.

I received a complimentary copy of These Healing Hills from Netgalley . I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

These Healing Hills
By Ann Gabhart

I was very excited when I saw that Ann Gabhart had a new book for us! I love reading her stories and always walk away from them feeling like I am closer to God. This book was just as good as the rest. In this story of healing and finding grace in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, Gabhart draws us into the story of two people who are searching for hope and find each other.
Francine Howard is happily awaiting the end of the war and planning her marriage to Seth, her high school sweetheart, when she finds out he met someone new overseas. He calls things off and intends to bring his new girlfriend back to the states with him. Francine is devastated and, rather than stay and face the pitying looks on all the faces of the people she has always known, she decides to head to the mountains and train to be a midwife and “catch babies”.
Ben Locke is happy to find his way home to the mountains after a war that will leave him changed forever. He wants nothing more than to find his place at his mom’s table and be home again. Unfortunately, home has changed during his absence. His pa passed, his baby brother and sisters have grown up, and his mom has dealt with a hard world. Ben has changed also; war has a way of doing that to a man.
When Ben and Francine meet in the mountains during a storm, each must set aside their preconceived notions and assist the other. From that moment on, they seem to be drawn to each other. They consistently fight their attraction even as it grows between them. When life continually presses them together, will they finally realize that they can offer each other the healing and hope they need?
I loved this story. It told of grace, compassion, and love; both for each other and the love the Lord has for us. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a free copy of this story for my honest review from NetGalley. All opinions in it are my own.

These Healing Hills by Ann H Gabhart is the most delightful Christian historical romance. It is set in 1945 as the war in Europe ends. Fact blends with fiction as the reader learns about the Frontier Nursing Service.
War changes people. Not everyone in war brings harm. "He ain't over there shooting people, but ... he's doing some healing too." Medics still saw horrendous sights and needed a special healing of their own.
Home calls some. For others they run from their original home to find somewhere else where they belong. Home is where we feel at peace.
The mountains are a unique landscape, housing a unique people. Distrustful of strangers until they realise they mean no harm. They are the salt of the earth. They have a fine community spirit that pulls together, especially in the harsh winter months.
Frontier nursing was pioneer nursing... promised a horse, a dog and saddlebags, these young women were brave. Often working alone, in harsh conditions, these young women had to gain the trust of the locals. They had to trust themselves. And they had to trust that God would lead them at all times. "You don't have to know the last step. Just the first one." We can trust God even when the way seems unclear.
Prayers are important. "The Lord wasn't in the wishing business. He answered prayers." I loved the idea of walking prayers. It is comforting to know that Jesus is always near, especially in a hostile environment. "He's [Jesus] always ready to bend down His ear to us." In the wilderness, Jesus may be our only contact.
Names are important. A name change signifies either a role or character change.
I adored the characters. They were wonderfully drawn. Granny Em, with her wisdom and reliance on old traditions blended perfectly with the modern techniques of the nurses.
Life and death are inextricably linked. Every birth has the potential to go either way. The pressure on the nurses was great but "Life and death ain't in your realm... You can't hide from death."
The reader is treated to detailed descriptions of the landscape as the mountains spring to life.
Animals played a key role. Their loyalty was beautiful to behold. The transformation from unwanted mutt to beloved companion really warmed my heart.
Ann H Gabhart is my new favourite author. She writes with a depth that opens up wonderful vibrant landscapes for the reader. Her characters were well drawn with detail and personality. They 'felt' like dear friends. I was educated too.
These Healing Hills is a fabulous story. I just could not put it down.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

This book was a surprise to me. I saw the cover and immediately requested it because I thought it was a contemporary book about someone who lost a loved one. It turns out, I was pretty much off the mark! The book, which was fabulous by the way, was a period piece after WW II and explored frontier nurses. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed reading this. The historical research alone was outstanding and the characters themselves were so true to life.
Francine Howard thought she knew what her life would be like when she is jilted by her soldier boyfriend. To remove the reminder of her past love, she joins a frontier nurses group to work in the Appalachian Mountains "catching" babies.
What she finds as she adjusts to mountain life, is that although the people may be considered poor in pocket, they are not poor in spirit or faith. Francine finds herself becoming more interested and involved with a mountain man who has just returned home to his widowed mother and family. Ben sees himself falling in love with Francine but even though she lives in the mountains now, she is not from or a part of the mountains. Will their lives be doomed?
Wonderful novel that highlights life in the Appalachian Mountains and the pre-conceived notions at that time in history. A great book to read!

Francine Howard leaves her home in the city to train to be a midwife with the Frontier Nursing Service in the Appalachian mountains. She is entering a completely different world. Will she be equal to its challenges? 

Ben Locke is returning to the mountains after serving in the war. He has seen enough of the ugliness of the world outside and only wants to be home again- but home is no longer the way he left it. 

Francine and Ben may just be able to help each other- if they can bridge the gap between them.

These Healing Hills was a very slow-paced story. There were no spectacular events, no daring rescues, and no intensely romantic moments. The story mainly followed the daily life of the main character and the difficulties of frontier nursing. I found it an interesting story but not very attention-grabbing. The characters were like-able but not enthralling and the plotline was unpredictable but slow. These Healing Hills was in that way very true to life, reading more like a biography than a novel. 

I would rate this story a three and a half out of five stars. I received a complimentary copy from Revell Publishers in order to write an unbiased review.

I really found myself rooting for young Francine Howard as she began her new career as a baby catcher, or midwife, in the mountains of Kentucky.
The author made those mountains so alive with word pictures that I found myself crossing the creeks, and going over the rocks. Such a great story, with the end WWII we are with the veterans and those left behind. Most of all we meet the mountain people and you will really fall in love with some of these unforgettable individuals.
Will our girl end up loosing her heart to these people and maybe someone else, or will her mother get her way and she will go back home to Cincinnati? How about our young soldier and the responsibilities that are now placed on him, will he take advantage of the GI bill, or stay and help family?
I really enjoyed this story, and made me want to move and live here, but that grass usually looks greener on the other side.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

A Cozy, Solid Read

I love Ann Gabhart’s Plain novels, especially her Shaker series. But last summer I branched out and read The Scent of Lilacs, which put me squarely in the Gabhart fan club. So when I was given the opportunity to read her latest release, These Healing Hills, I jumped at the chance. I was not disappointed. Gabhart delivers yet another beautiful novel.

These Healing Hills follows nurse Francine Howard to the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky, post World War II. She’s a city girl, whose presumed fiancé writes from England to say he has found love with another. As a result, Francine jumps at the opportunity to train as a midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service. She meets a bevy of interesting characters in the hills, including one Ben Locke.

Ben is returning home to the Appalachians following his service as a medic in World War II. The war has left him haunted and uncertain of his future. When he meets Nurse Howard his world is turned on end. What should he do? How does this curious nurse fit into his plans, or lack thereof? Read and find out!

I was given These Healing Hills in exchange for my honest review. It was a solid read. It lagged in a few place, but overall I was enchanted with the character that Gabhart developed as well as the Appalachian mountains. It made me want to travel – or go on my own adventure like Francine did! A great book to cozy down with for a few days!

More like 4.5 stars.

What a wonderful story this was! Fran was definitely one of the better & likable heroines I've read about. She was brave, compassionate, Godly, & kind. I love that she didn't let her fiance's betrayal took of her life. She was passionate about being a nurse midwife. I also liked that she ended up enjoying the mountain life not too long after she stepped foot to the mountains.'

Ben was a great hero who adored his family & friends. I thought it was sweet how he came to fell in love with Fran. I wish we got some more info on Ben being a medic during the war and him adjusting back to civilian life post-war tho

The Locke Family, Grandma Em, Sarge & the other secondary characters were fun as well.

The romance was incredibly sweet as well especially the final chapter..

The story did dragged on (imo) for some parts of the book but it was still an overall good read!

I recommend it to anyone!

Ann H Gabhart writes soul-wrenching novels that grab the reader on the very first page and shakes her around, then lets her go, wrung out, and exhausted at the very last page.

These Healing Hills begins toward the end of World War II and covers about a year of Francine's and Ben's life.

Francine has joined the Frontier Nurses in the hills of Kentucky, coming from Cincinnati. In joining the Frontier Nurses, she is taught midwifery and signs on for a full year of service to the hill people of Kentucky.

One of the first families she works with is the Locke family. The youngest child, Sadie, is feeling porely (you have to say this aloud in your head to get the full gist of the jargon of the hill people) and Francine is treating her. Sadie's brother, Woody, was the first of the Lockes to meet Francine because she got lost getting to the medical center up in the hills. He helped her find her way and often came to the center and ended up going with her to many of her calls, just to make sure she finds her way to her patients. Woody is also a fount of knowledge of the people of the hills and doesn't mind sharing his knowledge.

Woody's brother, Ben, is serving as a medic in the army in France and is waiting to come home. The only problem is that Ben doesn't know what he wants to do when he gets home.

Ben and Francine's worlds collide almost as soon as he gets home and then they repeatedly run into each other. Each time, something grows between them.

Ann has left the ending open a bit so that a sequel could be written to this book. It is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a guide through the hills of Kentucky. (And I really relate to Francine, I can get lost at the drop of a hat).

My thanks to Revell Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

A perfect historical novel to read at the start of the fall season. Educational in you learn about the Frontier Nursing program in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains. A clean read with a bit of romance.

Francine has decided to continue her nursing and learn about catching babies by moving to the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. She also hopes this will help heal her heart as her intended has written that he has fallen for a girl overseas while fighting in Europe during WWII. As Fran learns the ways of the mountains she also learns about herself. Despite the warnings from her mentor/teacher she finds herself loving more than just nursing.

This book took ahold of my heart from the beginning and has yet to let go. I could read a series of books on Granny Em alone. We all need a Granny Em in our lives.

Ann H. Gabhart has written a beautiful tale set in a place that speaks of beauty and love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for a copy to read in exchange for an honest review in my own words.

Home. The most beautiful word in any language, anywhere in the world. That’s the theme of These Healing Hills.
Home. Home gives us a sense of belonging. A sense of security. And a sense of another beautiful word. Love.
Francine Howard had her life all figured out. She was going to marry her boyfriend, Seth, then settle down and raise a family. But then he writes about an English girl he’s fallen in love with, Francine’s plans shatter into pieces and home just doesn’t have the same feeling as it did before.
She joins the Frontier Nursing Service and sets off to become a nurse-midwife in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, where she can learn to ‘catch babies’ and use the talents in nursing that the Lord had given her.
‘Better to be a useful vessel ready to be filled with the work the Lord intended for her.’
The Lord used Francine to bless the lives of the mountain people, especially the Locke family, still grieving over the loss of a husband and father. Francine’s gentle way and the return of their oldest son brings healing to this loving family.
Family. It’s what makes a house a home. When we are together with those we love and those that love us, we feel safe. “Everything is family up here, isn’t it?”
But at the same time, Fran is finding a home and a purpose among the mountains, Ben Locke is struggling with the ache to leave home. For three long years all he’d thought about was getting home, and now that he’d made it, what did God want him to do with his life? Should he use the G.I. Bill and go back to college? What about these mountains, would he feel at home anywhere else?
“You done been staring down that empty path a long while, Benjamin.”
Francine and Ben both have decisions to make and differences to combat. He’s mountain. She’s not. She’s supposed to focus on her nursing, not finding a husband. Can Fran and Ben silence the voices in their heads and listen to the rhythm of the mountains? Where will their paths lead? Could be, they’re already exactly where they’re supposed to be.
‘But she’d heard over and over how nobody came to the Frontier Nursing Serve by accident. The Lord wasn’t in the wishing business. He answered prayers. Sometimes in ways a person couldn’t imagine. Perhaps the Lord had put her right where she was supposed to be.’
I loved the characters, especially the Locke family. As a musician, I loved the references to music. These Healing Hills was a wonderful story of home, family, and love. A tale of seeking out God’s path one step at a time. The story started out slow, building a sense of place before getting into the drama. At first, I wasn’t sure how it would go, but as it went on, I enjoyed the book. This was my first read by Ann H. Gabhart, and as a fellow Kentucky author, I hope to enjoy more of her stories in the near future.

A sweet love story that is both engaging and enlightening. Set in the backwoods this book is a gentle love story between a nurse from a different world and a soldier returning home from war. I loved the rich detail and character development. A very good read!

The further I got in this book the harder it was to put down. I'd never heard of Frontier Nurses and learning about them provided an interesting backdrop to the story. Sometimes books like these would appeal more to someone in a similar profession but not so with this book. I felt like I could truly enjoy the story line as well as the uniqueness of the characters with no prior background knowledge. A few times I thought I knew what to expect in the plot but was pleasantly surprised when it took a different twist.

Francine or Fran as friends call her, was set to marry her fiancé when he returned from the war but she got a devastating letter from him breaking off their engagement and telling of finding someone else. Heartbroken, she applies to the Frontier Nursing Service to study as a nurse midwife. She's accepted and heads for the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. Coming from a big city she has lots of adjusting to do but quickly falls in love with the place and the people.
Ben Locke is returning from war with an injury caused by a patient when he comes upon Fran, who always seems to get lost. I loved their interactions and those of his family as well. He has a fun younger brother that wanders all over the mountains and knows everyone. Ben is at a crossroads in his life. He knows he can take advantage of the GI Bill and go to school but he's not sure of what he wants to do. I enjoyed all the characters and the scenery descriptions. At times I felt like I was there. Although fiction the woman that established the Frontier Nursing Service was portrayed as a real character in this novel. This was the first time I had heard of the Frontier Nursing Service and it was interesting to learn about the establishment of the program and the early years as it began.
I had wanted to read this story from the first time I read about it and Ann Gabbart did not disappoint me. This needs a sequel. I would love a continuation of Fran and Ben's lives and what happens in their future. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy. I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise

From the very first chapter I felt like I was transformed to the 1940’s, looking at the beautiful hills, seeing the affects of the war, and helping women deliver their babies. The author uses vivid descriptions which make it so easy to imagine in your mind. Sadly, you get a glimpse into how the war negatively affected some of the soldiers, and it was just heart wrenching to read. I imagine there are soldiers today going through similar things.

The best part of this book was the characters. I liked several of them for different reasons. Let’s start with Woody. This talkative “jaybird” was such a delight to read about. He had such enthusiasm for life, was always willing to help out, and wasn’t afraid to talk your ear off. I actually found him very endearing and wanted his character to be involved even more. Perhaps Ms. Gabhart would like to write a future installment with him as the main character!

Then there was Granny Em. Oh my goodness was she a hoot! But here’s the thing, she kind of reminded me of how the Lord sometimes guides us. She seemed to always be there, whether Francine noticed or not. She always offered her advice to – sometimes it seemed to be in riddle form (reminds me of Jesus speaking in parables), but typically easy to figure out. She seemed like someone I would want to get to know better and spend time with. If only my community had a Granny Em!

Of course Francine and Ben were wonderfully written as well, but Woody and Granny Em were my favorites. I did enjoy the speed of Francine and Ben’s relationship. It was not rushed or forced. In fact, I felt like Francine became a part of the family simply by befriending them all, and probably built these relationships faster then a relationship with Ben.

Be prepared to be transported back in time to a lovely mountain setting, with a warm and loving community. You may not want to return to the present! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.