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    These Healing Hills
    These Healing Hills
    These Healing Hills
    Audiobook10 hours

    These Healing Hills

    Written by Ann H. Gabhart

    Narrated by Emily Pike Stewart

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    When a young woman's plans for her future fall apart at the close of World War II, she discovers new purpose as a midwife in the hills of Kentucky--and a possible chance at new love. Francine Howard has her life all mapped out until the soldier she planned to marry at WWII's end writes to tell her he's in love with a woman in England. 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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateSep 14, 2018
    ISBN9781980012078
    Author

    Ann H. Gabhart

    Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of many novels, including In the Shadow of the River, When the Meadow Blooms, Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, and Angel Sister. She and her husband live on a farm a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Ann enjoys discovering the everyday wonders of nature while hiking in her farm's fields and woods with her grandchildren and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. Learn more at AnnHGabhart.com.

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    Reviews for These Healing Hills

    4.5/5

    66 ratings23 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Francine has decided to leave the busy city she was accustomed to after her fiance broke off their engagement. She believes her calling is to work with the Frontier Nursing Service as a nurse midwife-in-training, and was placed in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. Life on these hills is very different from what she has known, but Fran has decided that she will make it work, especially since she has discovered that she loves "catching babies." What she does not expect, is to not only love midwifery, but also the hills, and the people that she cares for. While the hills are beginning to heal her heart, Fran finds herself more in love with Kentucky, and perhaps a certain young man that has just returned home from the war overseas. These Healing Hills by Ann Gabhart was a very good book! I sincerely hope that there is a sequel in the making as I want to know what happens to everyone in this book! Thank you so much LibraryThing Early Reviewers for the wonderful book. I loved it so much, I recommended it to my mom...who read it and loved it too!
    • 5/5
      An excellent historical fiction book. The descriptions on mountain life and the people who lived there are detailed and thorough. The story left me wanting to learn more on the Frontier Nursing Service.
    • 5/5
      Satisfying tale of life in Kentucky's Appalachian Mountains and set in post World War II. Readers of this book will not only enjoy the sweetest romance, but also learn about the Frontier Nursing Service, a program established in 1925 to provide midwifery and family health care to the hill people.
    • 4/5
      The story of a broken heart and how love can be found a second time is one of my favorites by this author, she has made Francine a very likeable character and you can see her heart as she gets to know the hillbilly locals her mother warned her against. She's finding out these people may be very different and poor but they are hard working and genuinely care about others. When Francine meets Ben, who has returned from war, their story takes off on a journey that is sweet and a bit comical. I totally enjoyed the setting and the people in this book. I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      A story of God's direction for both Francine and Ben. Francine had dreams of marrying Seth when he returned from war. But he found someone else. So Francine takes training to become a midwife and goes to Appalachian Mountains. Ben comes home from the war and finds Francine lost on her rounds to see patients. The mountains, creeks, moonshiners in hill, animals and more set during World War 5 years before I was born. I'd be like Francine getting lost. No map of use to me. I don't know East from West. An adventure for sure. You can pick up any Ann Gabhart book and find an adventure.
    • 5/5
      As I have mentioned in past reviews, I love historical fiction, medicine, midwifery, and the Appalachian people. This book checks all those boxes! To say the least I was excited to start reading it, but I had no idea incredible writing skills of Ms. Gabhart! I had never heard of the Frontier Nursing Services before reading this book. The character Breckinridge was a real person and founder. The author read these midwife’s real first-person accounts of their services. This gave the book the realism and authenticity that allows the reader to experience the unique lifestyles of the Appalachian families and the experiences of the nurses. I thoroughly enjoyed the unusual Appalachian words and sayings! I found them very clever and entertaining. Ms. Gabhart’s research not only made the people in the story come to life, but also gives a deep glimpse into the mind, personality, beliefs, and strength of these amazing people. After reading the book, the term “hillbillies” is such a derogatory term to assign to these incredible Appalachians.After Fran hears the man she thought was to be her husband is coming home engaged to an English girl, all her plans go up in smoke. Her dreams of being a wife and mother are shattered. Her overbearing, critical mother isn’t very sympathetic.When she hears of the midwife training in the hills of Kentucky she feels this is where she needs to be. She falls in love with the hills, the mountain people, and the many challenges of “catching babies” and tending to varied medical emergencies. Ben belonged to the hills but had been away at war serving as medic. Much had changed in the years he had gone, most of all, his father’s death. Part of him wants to stay and the other wants to use the GI Bill to further his education. He meets Fran and his feelings for her only add to his confusion. I liked the way I could see the mountains through Ben’s eyes, his appreciation and depth of having grown up there, but it was also a delight to see them through Fran’s. She observed everything with freshness, newness and innocence. It was her observations of both mind and heart that made me feel a part of the hardships, difficult weather and learning to live a totally new way of life. I cannot pick a favorite character, they were all delightful. The book has romance, suspense, adventure, and humor. I cannot say enough how much I enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more writings by Ms. Gabhart!I received this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own.
    • 4/5
      Very cozy story set in a time period I like.
    • 5/5
      Saturday, September 30, 2017These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart, © 2017My Review:Absolutely a T*E*N.Loved this story. Not a bedtime story because it will beckon to keep you awake reading!Reading real slow so you don't run out of pages and then... there you are to the last sentence.I loved this story and its star, Nurse Howard, or is it Woody's older brother returned from the war? They both are necessary to learn about themselves. Francine Howard thought she was running from, not realizing she was running to. To find her true heart's desire ~ the people of Appalachia, and the mountain air, and... her first dog, Sarge.I loved how she discovered true importance; others ~ worthy of who she was becoming. All of the secondary characters become family! I hope many more adventures are honed in these healing hills.***Thank you to author Ann H. Gabhart, and to the publisher for sending a print copy to me. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation beyond J*O*Y was received.***
    • 5/5
      Francine and Ben both need healing after their lives are not going in the direction they originally wanted. They have both been affected by WWII and are seeking a new start. Francine wants to be able to help people and Ben just wants to get back to what is familiar so that he can recover. I liked how they were able to help each other when they meet and start to interact. They could not be more unlike each other, yet each has something the other needs. A great read. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the review is my own.
    • 4/5
      These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart takes readers back to 1945 in Hyden, Kentucky. Francine Howard needs to get away from Cincinatti, Ohio before her former fiancé, Seth Miller returns home from the war with his English bride. Fran has a nursing degree, can ride a horse, and looking for an adventure so she signed up for the Frontier Nursing Service Midwifery School in the Appalachian Mountains. It will be a life style change for Fran, but she feels she will be something worthwhile. Ben Locke is returning home from the war. He cannot wait to return home to the mountains, but he has not thought of what he will do with his future. Ben is on his way home when he encounters a very lost Fran. They are immediately comfortable around each other, but they come from very different backgrounds. But Fran feels at home in the mountains and has fallen in love with the people. Is there a chance for a future between Ben and Fran? These Healing Hills is well crafted novel that has a unique plot. It was interesting reading about the Frontier Nursing Service Midwifery School in Hyden, Kentucky (it still exists) and the services their nurse midwives offer. I liked the characters and the beautiful setting. Woody Locke was my favorite character. He was refreshing and entertaining. Ann H. Gabhart is a descriptive writer which brings scenes to life (especially the mountains and the people who live there), but it also makes for a slower pace novel. I sometimes felt the author was a too verbose. The Christian element is prominent throughout the story and I liked the Christian attitude of the mountain people. I appreciated the spiritual wisdom that Fran’s grandmother (Grandma Howard) imparted on Fran. I am giving These Healing Hills 4 out of 5 stars. My favorite phrase was “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart”. The romance was sweet, but it was predictable. Some of the themes in the story are prayer, friendship, trust, listening to God, believing in God, and a person finding their path or place in life. I did feel that the ending was abrupt and felt incomplete. It would have been nice if the author had included an epilogue. Readers who enjoy rich, historical novels will appreciate These Healing Hills.
    • 5/5
      This had to be one of my favorite books this year. I loved reading about the Appalachian Mountains and the people that live there. I had never heard about the Frontier Nursing Services and enjoyed learning about them. I loved the story of Francine and Ben and how they met. The romance was great. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
    • 4/5
      This was a wonderful historical fiction novel. The characters are extremely well done and the mountain areas of Kentucky are written about so beautifully that the reader feels like they are there when reading this book.The year is 1945 and Francine has just found out that the man she planned to marry after he came back from fighting in Europe is bringing home his English fiancee. She doesn't want to deal with this heartache so she joins The Frontier Nursing Service to learn to be a nurse-midwife and take care of people in the Appalachian area of Kentucky. She not only has a real heart for her job but loves the people who live in the mountains. Some of the other nurses fell like they are there to teach the people but Francine soon realizes that she can not only teach but she can also learn from them. When she meets Ben, a mountain man who has just returned from the fighting, they realize that their lives are very different even though there is a spark between them.This is a lovely novel about life in the mountains in the mid-1940s. It was beautifully written and a joy to read -- the word I want to use to describe it is 'gentle'. I highly recommend it.Thanks to librarything for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
    • 4/5
      A lovely, heartwarming book! I love the style of Ann Gabhart and work never ceases to amaze me! This book was instantly captivating and took me on a whirlwind roller coaster ride! Well done!
    • 5/5
      This book started out slow, but I kept reading and was not disappointed. I loved it! The author has done a great job of putting the reader right in the mountains of Kentucky. I felt I could smell the forest, hear the sound of the streams, and feel the fog that frequently rolls in the mountains. There is romance, babies, horses, feuding, and I learned how molasses is made. Overall a great read!Fran is a young woman, nursing a broken heart, after her army fiance falls for a British girl while overseas. Determined not to sit around and feel sorry for herself, she decides what she really wants is to catch babies. She joins the Frontier Nursing Service to train to be a midwife to the mountain people. Fran meets all sorts of characters: proud, defiant, talkative, sickly, and most of all the mothers of babies she delivers. Each person has an impact on her and causes her to love the mountains more and more. She feels an immediate connection to Ben Locke, but feels she will always be considered an outsider. When her former love returns, she must choose between her old life of comfort, and the rough, but beautiful life in the mountains.If you are considering reading These Healing Hills, I recommend it highly! If you think its too slow, keep reading and you will get hooked!
    • 5/5
      This is an excellent book. I really loved sharing Francine's journey of learning to live in a place very different from where she had grown up and finding love in unexpected places. I wish there would be a sequel, as in some ways I feel the story was just starting as the book ended.
    • 5/5
      This is a wonderful book. I really enjoyed all the characters. The main character Francine proves that you can overcome any obstacles with faith. She is a loving young lady that falls in love with the hills and the ways of the people there. She especially loves one particular boy named Ben. Through Ben and the families in the hills, Francine is able to heal her own broken heart and grow stronger. This book starts off like and ordinary book but quickly captures you making you want more. I found myself thinking of the characters of the book even after I was finished. Very well written. I look forward to reading some of her other books
    • 3/5
      This historical novel details the life of one fictional member of the real-life Frontier Nursing Service established in 1925 in southeastern Kentucky to improve the lives and help decrease the morality rates for mothers and babies from the mountain population. The story takes place just as WW2 ends and young Francine Howard begins her training as a nurse-midwife at the midwifery school housed at the Hyden Hospital in rural Leslie County, Kentucky. Francine, raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, had recently been disappointed by the imminent return of her pre-war boyfriend with a young English woman he was set to wed. Determined to not let a broken heart ruin her life, she decided proactively to train as a midwife despite her mother's vehement protests. As she settles into life in the mountains, she finds that God has changed the desires of her heart and made her not only serve the mountain people but truly grown to appreciate and love them. This is a story that is well-written, but for someone who was raised in the city and has little understanding or appreciation for rural life, it can be somewhat plodding. I don't think this would be true for anyone who knows and loves Appalachia or rural life. A good book for anyone to read - probably a great book for the right reader.
    • 4/5
      This book is so easy to sink into and feels like a true story--so in depth and realistic. I love historical stories and those that take place in Appalachia, when great demands were put on women. Ms. Gabhart is a gifted writer who creates vivid characters and lovely Christian themes. I sympathized with these characters and how they struggled through life. Thank you to LibraryThing for my EarlyReview copy.
    • 4/5
      This is a book that is very well written, but also very genre specific. It is a romance novel with a strong Christian ethic. Within that context it presents a lovely story of finding romance after rejection, dealing with post war problems, and surviving poverty. The most intriguing element to me was the true story of the young nurses who trained as midwives to help those in Appalachia - attracted by the offer of a horse, a dog, and a need. And despite the demands on their time the women were expected to grow their food, take care of the animals, and provide their own housekeeping. The book presents a great description of their lives; I ended the book feeling a bit like a wimp.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book. Ann Gabhart submerses the reader into the hills of Kentucky and the plight of a midwife. Gabhart's books are always a great read and this one is no exception. Very well written and a great story.
    • 5/5
      This is a book about a woman Fancine Howard who has decided to go to the hills of Kentucky to become a nurse/midwife. Her life has suddenly taken a falling apart and she is running away from things. This is at the end of WW2 and things are changing. She is sort of very naive about life but she has a warm heart and a feeling for others. She feels this change will help, but her mother is dead set against it. Francine feels the change will helpFrancine meets a young man Ben Locke who is just coming home from the war. He is not sure what is waiting for him at home now that his father has died and he is the head of the house looking after his mom, brother and sisters. He does know that the mountain's are a part of him and gladto get backFound the book well written and I loved the characters. You get a picture of the lives of these mountain people and how their lives where back then. A much simpler life but they are happy.Also how the life of these young women who are midwifes traveling the mountains to deliverbabies and other medical treatment.There is plenty of action and romance for everyone You will laugh and sometimes feel sad for these people and the life they had.
    • 5/5
      Another one of Ann H. Gabhart's wonderful books - A can't put down story - Characters come alive - plenty of action & romance - A nurse/mid-wife - Set in Kentucky Mountains with great history at the close of WWII -