e-ARC through Netgalley, all opinions are my own

I love Sara Donati and was excited for this new book! The first half was riveting and filled with rich character deployment, but the storyline of the second half of the book didn't flow well to me. I didn't like where a lot of the characters ended up, and I wished the story had been able to focus mostly on the action of the first half (traveling out West), and then just end.

The Sweet Blue Distance follows midwife, Elizabeth Caroline (Carrie) Ballentyne, who in 1857, accompanied by her brother, Nathan, journeys west from New York to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to work with Doctor Samuel Markham.

She leaves her close knit family behind to escape events of her past. These are hinted at but not fully revealed until much later when
Carrie finds someone she trusts enough, other than family, to know her secret. There are references throughout to Carrie's large family, some names I recognized from the books I have read. A list of characters and maps provided by the author were appreciated, as was the link to a family tree on Donati's website.

The first part of the novel was the most interesting and covers Carrie's journey to Santa Fe via the different modes of transport. Her fellow travellers and those she meets along the way add colour and drama, as does the changing landscape. Carrie feels more at home in the wide open spaces than she did in New York, eagerly learning about the wildlife, the land and its people.

Part way through the journey, an emergency separates Carrie from Nathan and the relative safety of her other travelling companions, necessitating a gruelling horseback ride for Carrie and her escort through Indian territory to reach Santa Fe quickly. On arrival, Carrie is confronted by a challenging and distressing situation. It is not the welcome she expected.

The story continues as Carrie establishes herself as a midwife and nurse, and awaits Nathan's arrival. Caught between the different cultures, she strives to overcome prejudice and distrust, and scandalises some by her manner of dress on occasion and her own mixed heritage. Other tensions in the town arise from politics, the military presence, religion and talk of war. A romance weaves gently through the novel, presented in the way Sara Donati does so well. I loved how it unfolded.
I wasn't prepared for how the novel ended. So many threads were left hanging that I'm hopeful there will be another novel to further bridge the gap between the Wilderness and Waverly Place series.

The scope of this novel is impressive, a comment I've made before about Sara Donati's novels, as is her research. I learned a great deal about the New Mexico Territory and its history. Although the pace is slow, it is engaging and, what's more, can be enjoyed without having read any of Donati's previous novels.

I was very interested in reading this title. A midwife traveling west from New York in the 1850s was right up my alley. After reading Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon and The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, I've been more interested in this topic. This is my first book by Sara Donati and it appears she has a large backlist and is quite popular.

I didn't realize that this particular book was 800 pages until I started reading and my reading percentages weren't changing very fast. After a quick search, I was shocked to see the page count. I don't typically read novels this long, but have in cases of really worthy novels. Unfortunately, I finally had to DNF this one as it was just moving at a much too slow pace for my reading style and enjoyment. I made it to Chapter 14 out of 71 chapters and 19%.

I was interested in the story, but not particularly invested in it. It seemed to be a bit repetitive with Carrie and her brother Nathan's escapades on the journey west. I also think it may have helped to know that she continues characters throughout her books. So since I had never read any of her books, I felt a bit like I was late to the party.

If you like sinking into a long historical fiction/romance novel, then this might be for you. I think Donati has great talent, I just think it would be more approachable to read if it was about half as long.

*4.5 stars*

It's been well over a decade since I've read a Sara Donati novel, and though her "Into the Wilderness" series is a 5-star favorite of mine, a LOT has changed about my reading tastes since then. So the question remains; would I still love Sara Donati in 2024? I'm thrilled to report that not only did I enjoy The Sweet Blue Distance, but I couldn't put it down.

The Sweet Blue Distance is an 800+ page behemoth of a book, but don't let that put you off. It flows beautifully. It's actually amazing how this author can make 800 pages read so well and with so much detail, all while keeping the readers' interest. The story is also loosely tied to the "Into the Wilderness" series, but you don't need any knowledge of the other story to read this one. For me, it was nice to have the call-backs to that series, like visiting old friends. It made me want to dust off my old paperbacks and give the series another re-read.

The novel is a slow burn, low steam historical American romance with a lot of character development and medical content. The female MC is a midwife, and we see her emotional and physical journey as a medical professional at a time when women working in medical fields weren't properly respected. I adored everything about this book, especially the complicated race relations and personal details that the author doesn't shy away from. I'm not an expert on the historical accuracy, but it all felt very real.

The romance is understated but beautiful. You have to wait a bit for the relationship to develop over time, but it was a lovely, drama-free romance that you can swoon over. This book is perfect for fans of this author's other series as well as Outlander enthusiasts. Personally, I adored it and it reignited my desire to explore this author's backlist.

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This book is a very detailed, intricate historical fiction story with romance, adventure and drama.

Amid the backdrop of a pre-Civil War era American West, Carrie is a midwife who travels from the east to attend to an ailing doctor’s wife. Along the way, she meets Eli, with whom she falls in love; and Eva, a young widow whom she befriends. Once she arrives in Santa Fe, she finds the position she accepted was different than anticipated, and she struggles to adjust. When tragedy strikes that household, she finds herself in the middle of a battle involving the doctor’s young daughter.

This book was clearly meticulously detailed and touches on several issues in this period of American history, including gender inequality, racism (particularly colonization involving white settlers, Spanish and indigenous peoples), postpartum depression and the treatment of childbirth in the era, and so much more.

At times it felt a little drawn out, but I was never bored. I’d recommend it for fans of descriptive, historical fiction!

THE SWEET BLUE DISTANCE by Sara Donati is a work of historical fiction set in 1857 which describes the many adventures and resourcefulness of Carrie Ballentyne, a young nurse and midwife. First, there is the sometimes harrowing travel – via train, riverboat, stage, and horseback – from New York State to Sante Fe where she has accepted a position with a Dr. Markham. Both along the way and once in Sante Fe, this young woman finds her beliefs tested as she faces hypocrisy and bigotry (against women and people of different races or classes). The book is quite long and Donati stresses this cultural bias to the point where her modern perspective almost overrides the historical one. However, the story's action (many births and medical emergencies), elements of mystery, and a romantic subplot will likely keep readers engaged. With so much involved, the author provides a detailed list of the cast of characters and their families, a Spanish-English glossary, and a robust bibliography. Carrie proves herself to be very resilient, mirroring her own mother's advice: "You are the daughter of strong women and equal to whatever challenges you meet. Missteps are inevitable, but you will find your way."

Another inviting plunge into 19th-century America, Donati’s long-awaited novel sits between the Wilderness series (1792-1824) and the Waverly Place duology (1883-1885). When New York midwife Carrie Ballentyne accepts a nursing position with a Santa Fe doctor, her inquisitive younger brother, Nathan, offers welcome companionship on her months-long journey. Carrie is drawn to fellow traveler Eli Ibarra, a Mestizo surveyor, while widowed Eva Zavala, taking her son, Beto, home to Santa Fe, offers frank and friendly talk about what Carrie should expect socially and professionally. The Santa Fe trail stagecoach is stopped within days by three trackers, with an urgent message that Carrie is to be escorted on horseback to Santa Fe. Eli is with them, and riding is much faster. Nathan feels compelled to protect Eva and Beto, and the siblings reluctantly part ways. Carrie, raised part-Mohawk by her grandfather’s second family, is skilled with horses and weaponry. Dressed like a wrangler, she embarks on the 800-mile trek over plains, desert and mountains, the ride strengthening the bond between Carrie and Eli in a world equal parts danger and wonder. Once in Santa Fe, her midwifery position seems in jeopardy from the outset.

Having read the previous books, I settled into a comfortable feeling, as though I’d never left, and eager to learn more of the intriguing, mixed-race Bonner-Savard-Ballentyne clan, although The Sweet Blue Distance stands well alone. Meticulous research, a host of fictional characters, backstories woven seamlessly into historical settings, and Donati’s marvellous storytelling all prove fertile ground to sow details of the American West, white colonialism, and the genocidal annihilation of tribal life. It’s immersive and compelling, with a delicate balance which never oversteps itself. Written in the tradition of the best of historical fiction, Donati’s sweeping novel is as expansive as the magnificent land through which Carrie and Eli ride.

I have devoured Donati's Gilded Hour series and picked up this one due to it's subject matter more than the character. A midwife moving to Santa Fe during it's time of transition? Westward Expansion? The Santa Fe Trail? Yes please! Carrie was an added bonus and a character I found myself yearning to know more about. She is one of the Bonner/Savard/Freeman clan - a woman of independent mind and medical training. Familiar names and people dotted the book and it was fun to get to know another of Donati's characters. Carrie's journey west was a treasure from the scenery to the forces of nature to the reality of what life was like on the trail and then in a territory filled with Native Americans, Spanish and the amalgamation that came from all the cultures. Carrie finds love along the trail as well and I find myself hoping for another book to further document Carrie's life. Highly recommended!

Carrie Ballentyne is a nurse and midwife who, in 1857, travels west to accept a position with a doctor in the New Mexico Territory. It takes months to get to Santa Fe after leaving her family in Manhattan. Once in Santa Fe, she finds nothing is as she expected.

Donati’s vivid description of historical details brings her writing to life. Readers who read historical novels on a regular basis will be engrossed in this book from page one to page 800. The author’s character development is unbelievable, she was able to create not only the two well-drawn main characters in Carrie and her love interest, Eli, but in all her secondary characters as well. The book’s pacing is impeccable from start to finish - there is no sagging anywhere in the book.

If you love well-written historical novels, this is the book for you. If you think you don’t like historical novels, pick this book up and be pleasantly surprised.

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an eARC.

Carrie Ballentyne is bound for a long journey out West from Manhattan, New York to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to fill a position of mid-wife/nurse for Dr. Markham. In 1857 it’s a long, potentially dangerous journey by train, steamboat, stagecoach, and horseback, so her younger brother, Nathan is accompanying her. This time period there’s unrest, just years before the Civil War, and the viewpoints and challenges were highlighted. The situation at the Markham’s when Carrie arrives isn’t what she was expecting.

Carrie’s profession as a nurse was useful and she was good at handling whatever came her way. I admired her spirit; strong, steady, and determined to do the right thing in any situation! Her brother Nathan was a fun, positive presence adding a bit of humor in. So many wonderful and interesting characters, as well as a few I’d like to have chucked off a cliff! Loved Eli Ibarra! The romance was a slow burn and oh-so-lovely!

The Sweet Blue Distance was on the long side at 800 pages, but it didn’t feel long. It was a thoroughly exciting and engrossing story, and I loved every minute of it! I think I checked the percentage counter maybe twice, I was so into the story, just riding along with whatever was happening next! I need to check out Ms. Donati’s backlist!

I alternately read and listened to The Sweet Blue Distance, and I can recommend either version. Kate Reading was an excellent narrator, performing both female and male voices distinctly, as well as the many accents required. I would happily listen to any story narrated by her. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

Five stars all the way! A definite recommend!

There are so many things to love about this book, I just wish an editor had helped it a tad bit. It's a sweeping, detailed, LONG book, part of a multi-book family saga apparently. Read it if you love the history of the american west.

A nurse-midwife takes a job in the pre-Civil War wild west to help others and escape her own trauma. The journey challenges her to reframe what she knows of love, her sense of security, and an impending conflict that threatens to tear a country apart. Author Sara Donati takes her time to build relationships and a plot that are well worth the wait in her latest book The Sweet Blue Distance.

It’s 1857, and Carrie Ballentyne is ready for a life change. She has a fair amount of experience as a nurse and midwife after living and working in Manhattan, and the job advertisement posted by Dr. Sam Markham from Santa Fe, New Mexico, is overwhelmingly appealing. Carrie has never shied away from adventures, and she wants to get away from the memories of a personal tragedy in an otherwise happy life.

Amid tearful farewells with her family, Carrie and her brother, Nathan, set out on the months-long journey from New York to the American Southwest. At the start of their train journey, Carrie meets Eli Ibarra who is clearly half Indian and half Mexican—a Mestizo. His background does nothing to deter Carrie from talking to Eli; she and Nathan grew up with cousins, aunts, and uncles all from Indian tribes, and Carrie has always felt at home with people of different races.

The same can’t be said for everyone on the journey west, however. Conversations about war are everywhere, and opinions vary widely depending on if a person came from a state that supports slavery or is an abolitionist. Carrie doesn’t tolerate the injustice of racism and discrimination and scandalizes more than one fellow traveler with her growing friendship with Eli and others from Santa Fe who clearly have no European heritage in their blood.

Then comes word that the situation in Santa Fe has become more dire. Dr. Markham’s original advertisement was for a nurse and midwife to join his practice but, more immediately, to attend to his wife who is expecting their second child. His message says Mrs. Markham’s condition has become serious and Carrie should come as soon as possible. With the dangers of traveling via horseback across the prairie and desert, Carrie allows Eli and some trusted men to accompany her to Santa Fe.

The relief from a safe arrival is short-lived, however, when Carrie meets the Markham family and realizes something is very wrong. Worse, Dr. Markham is depending on Carrie to lie for his family. Initially giving her a wide berth, the women in Santa Fe soon start trusting her with their healthcare needs. Carrie delivers their babies and listens to their complaints, all while wondering what will become of the Markhams and their little girl, Lulu, who has endeared herself to Carrie in a short time.

Author Sara Donati resists any urge to rush her story along. Instead, readers get the pleasure of two adventures in one. The first is Carrie’s journey west and all the challenges a cross-country trip would have presented in the mid-19th century. The second is her establishment in Santa Fe as a white woman, one of a minority, trying to earn the trust and confidence of a new town and its people.

Donati’s historical authenticity is exquisite and grounds the book in reality; readers will have no trouble feeling Carrie’s trepidation when she and her traveling party come across attacking Native Americans or the challenge of settling into a town where the summer climate can be punishing at best. In the midst of this rich history lesson, readers will enjoy the advancing romance between Carrie and Eli. Although it feels inevitable, the relationship also holds its fair share of surprises.

Carrie’s fierce independence and progressive views are very much of the 21st century, but Donati’s presentation of them doesn’t jar readers out of the story world. On the contrary, Carrie comes across as a young woman with fresh ideas for a young country finding its footing and its identity—something the protagonist herself is looking for. It’s easy to see her as a bright-eyed, determined woman looking forward to the future.

Those who enjoy sweeping historical sagas with everything from romance to stories of the “wild west” to the reassurance that the fight for equality has a long, rich history need to check this out. Writers would be well advised to study the book as a masterclass on how a slow but steady pace can keep readers engaged from start to finish.

This is a beautifully written saga which is meticulously researched. There is a sweet romance, but the book is really about a midwife, how she came to Santa Fe in the 1850s, and how she impacted others. It's a long book but worth the time.

I received a free copy of this book from Berkley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Sara Donati is unmatched when it comes to the depth of research for historical romance novels. I can't think of many other novels that end with a bibliography!

I loved the epistolary opening, followed by the diary of the journey. These writing elements were so well used to both pace the story and give a unique perspective. I was completely absorbed in Carrie's journey. There is so much rich history in this novel, and I appreciate how such a real human experience is written to include grief and conflict without exploiting pain or violence as a plot device.

While "The Sweet Blue Distance" does have a wonderful love story element, it is more historical fiction than romance. I adored the journey and romantic tension on the way to Sante Fe, but the romance took a back seat once they got there.

Two things that didn't work for me -
1. The use of the word "female." Using female as a noun is tactless, especially when "men" and "females" are used together. I would much prefer to see "men and women."
2. The ending seemed to come out of nowhere! I was very surprised when I turned the page and it was the epilogue. I'm not sure if this is intended to be developed into a series. Perhaps that will make it feel more complete.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Nurse/midwife needed in Santa Fe

In 1857, Carrie Ballentyne answers an advertisement for a nurse/midwife that's needed in Santa Fe. A doctor there needs help with his practice plus for his pregnant wife, who has already had problem pregnancies, wants a midwife standing by during this current pregnancy.

So Carrie, with her younger brother Nathan along as chaperone, leaves New York and travels to Santa Fe on a long, grueling journey by train, stagecoach, horseback and more.

This is a big doorstop of a book but kept my interest all the way through. It starts with a daunting list of characters. I skipped that and didn't feel like I missed it. There are also some useful maps included at the beginning of the book.

Quite a bit of the book centered around its diverse characters in the Santa Fe area and around the issues of slavery and abolition. I appreciated this. This story takes place just prior to the U.S. Civil War, which was from 1861 to 1865.

Personally I do wish there had been more of Carrie using her nursing and midwifery skills. There was a fair amount but I would have liked more. I did enjoy the development of Carrie's romance.

The book seemed to be very well researched and informative but not dry. I enjoyed Carrie's story and highly recommend it.

I received this Digital Review Copy from Berkeley Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review. This is that review.

This book draws you in to the history and time period immediately. So good I immediately got a copy for a friend.

The Sweet Blue Distance by Sara Donati takes the reader on a journey with Carrie Ballentyne, a young midwife who travels from New York City to Santa Fe in 1857. The story follows Carrie’s courageous trek across the country, highlighting the challenges she faces and the friendships she forms along the way. The Sweet Blue Distance” is a compelling read that offers a blend of adventure, romance, and historical insight. I would recommend it to fans of historical fiction and those interested in stories of pioneering women. Ms. Donati wrote a novel that is both informative and captivating, making it well worth reading.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

I have read a number of books by Sara Donati about the Bonner clan, starting with Into the Wilderness. I loved those books, so I was thrilled to see she had another coming out. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Carrie Ballentyne is a nurse/midwife in NYC in 1857. When an opening for a position in the Santa Fe Territory becomes available, she accepts the position and with her brother Nathan, begins the laborious process of traveling west. From train to steamboat, from stagecoach to horseback, Donati give the reader a feeling of just how difficult travel was at that time. Pretty soon the Ballentynes meet Eli Ibarra and his brothers after a minor train wreck that has a number of passengers in need of Carrie's services. Eli is headed in the same direction as Carrie and a friendship develops along the way. When they finally reach Santa Fe, nothing there is as it was presented.

I really loved the character of Carrie. She was pragmatic, reserved and retiring with that caution coming from years of experiences that made her mistrustful of men. Eli Ibarra was wonderfully drawn as well and the perfect foil to Carrie's personality. In fact, Donati is careful to draw each of her characters with an individualistic brush.

Sara Donati writes exquisitely researched prose that is both believable and enlightening. Unlike many historical fiction authors, she does not place 21st century people into a foreign landscape. Her characters seem authentic to the time. I have already read a number of books this year and so far this one is at the top of the heap. I sense a re-read in the future.

"The Sweet Blue Distance" is about romance. It's about a young woman's strength and courage in a time period when women were not encouraged to think or act for themselves. It's about one in many times in our country's history when discrimination was the path to manifest destiny for some and the path to pain and loss for so many others.

"The Sweet Blue Distance" is a long book, but it makes up for the length in stunning characters set against the backdrop of the New Mexico territory in the mid 1800's. I could go on about the characters forever. From the independent, intelligent Carrie to the tragedy ridden Markham family and Carrie's unexpected love, Eli Ibarra, there is no end to the skillful story telling that brings them together and ties them together.

This book is demanding a sequel because there are so many characters that are still waiting to speak their truths and share more of the history of a young country feeling its growing pains. I hate to compare books because each one written deserves its own due but I'm feeling a little of Margaret Mitchell in this skillfully crafted story of America's history told through the eyes of characters that could have truly lived in that time.

REVIEW

Thank you #partners @berkleypub for my #gifted copies. #berkleyig #penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleypartner

The Sweet Blue Distance
Sara Donati

📖 A young midwife braves the perilous journey west from New York City to Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory.

💭 The Sweet Blue Distance is stunner!! It's a grand, sweeping saga, melding a character driven historical fiction, a well-plotted mystery, with an epic love story. Meticulously researched and detailed, Donati brilliantly transports readers to the beautiful but unforgiving landscape of the West, and into the lives of these complex, three-dimensional characters.

Carrie is such an admirable protagonist; I just loved her! She's strong, wise, independent, good-natured, and not afraid to defy social norms. I loved the exploration of class, gender, and race through an 1800s lens, and really appreciate the way Donati approached Indigenous/Colonizer relations, with the utmost care and respect. The love story was really well done, and I especially enjoyed the cross-cultural components.

Though I'm not usually one to gravitate toward thick books, this never felt too long. The pacing is on point, and with never a dull moment, I was captivated from beginning to end. At its core, The Sweet Blue Distance is a story of courage, belonging, and love. I absolutely loved it!

Historical fiction lovers who don't shy away from big books, you'll want to add this one to your TBR!

📌 Out now!

**Posted to my IG on pub day**