Friday, January 29, 2016

The Mountain Midwife

GIVEAWAY

EAKES, LAURIE ALICE
THE MOUNTAIN MIDWIFE

For nearly two hundred years, women in Ashley Tolliver’s family have practiced the art of midwifery in their mountain community. Now she wants to take her skills a step further, but attending medical school means abandoning those women to whom she has dedicated her life, the mountains she loves, and the awakening of her heart.

Ashley Tolliver has tended to the women of her small Appalachian community for years. As their midwife, she thinks she has seen it all. Until a young woman gives birth at Ashley’s home and is abducted just as Ashley tries to take the dangerously bleeding mother to the nearest hospital. Now Ashley is on a mission to find the woman and her newborn baby . . . before it’s too late.

Hunter McDermott is on a quest—to track down his birth mother. After receiving more media attention than he could ever want for being in the right place at the right time, he receives a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother. Hunter seeks out the aid of the local midwife in the mountain town where the phone call originated—surely she can shed some light on his own family background.

Ashley isn’t prepared for the way Hunter’s entrance into her world affects her heart and her future. He reignites dreams of having her own family that she has long put aside in favor of earning her medical degree and being able to do even more for her community. But is it commitment to her calling or fear of the unknown that keeps her feet firmly planted in the Appalachian soil? Or is it something more—fear of her growing feelings for Hunter—that makes her hesitant to explore the world beyond the mountains?


My Review:

Exquisite mix of romance and mystery. This is Laurie Alice Eakes first contemporary novel and I was completely captivated. Has all the intricacy and depth of her historical novels but with a modern twist. And woot -- book nerd alert -- Ashley is a direct descendant of Griff and Esther from Choices of the Heart and Tabitha and Dominick from Lady in the Mist. Loved that nod to her historical midwife series.

I'm smitten by this setting. Eakes captures the essence of this Appalachian community. From the geography to the people  -- especially the women -- through Ashley's midwifery connections. So much history and sense of belonging. Ashley is anchored in the knowledge of her roots while Hunter is unable to fathom the legacy of family steeped in generations of tradition.

His quest to find his birth mother brings these two together and they are soon immersed in a mystery with some surprising twists. Mired in secrets from the past, the slow-building suspense begins to draw them closer. Theirs is a breath-taking and soul-stirring journey towards love. Exquisitely tender moments are equally matched by hard head-butting ones which makes for a thrilling read.

An exceptional beginning to a new series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Mountain Midwife please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 31 2016 . Offer open to international readers. Good luck!


45 comments:

  1. I would also love to read this book.gracedurodola(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's an amazing story. Good luck, kate.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the setting, so am looking forward to reading this one by Laurie Alice. Thanks, Kav, for offering an opportunity!
    may_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I found the setting so fascinating -- I love feeling like I've actually visited a location after I read a book. Good luck, Kay.

      Delete
  4. I have this book in my wish list to read!!!! Thanks for posting a giveaway! Good luck everyone! Shiggy0566(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely belongs at the top of that list. Good luck, Sheila.

      Delete
  5. I enjoy her books and I know this will be a good book as well. karenskrayons(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She's definitely a go-to author for me. Good luck, Karen.

      Delete
  6. Love stories like this. kamunden44ATyahooDOTcom.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This looks like a winner! Please enter me, thanks Kav!
    tracey14567 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow! Sounds like a great book
    Please have a wonderful, God-blessed day
    Chris
    granvilleATfrontiernetDOTnet

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love Ms. Eakes' work. Thank you for the opportunity to win! :)

    nataliedmonk AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't she wonderful???? Good luck, Natalie.

      Delete
  10. Romance and Mystery....two winners to me! This one sounds great! Thank you, Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Laurie is such a wonderful writer. I'm looking forward to reading her contemporary work. Thanks for the review and giveaway!
    momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Kav, you had me at romance and mystery! Laurie is a new-to-me author. The Mountain Midwife would be a great introduction.... *wink*
    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Caryl, you are in for a treat. Good luck!

      Delete
  13. I grew up in the foothills of the Appalachians so a book written in that setting is of special interest to me. Love that it's the first book in a series too. Thanks for the review.
    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would hold a special interest for you for sure. Good luck, Pam.

      Delete
  14. This is a new-to-me author, though I have seen her historical fiction books. After reading your review, it seems The Mountain Midwife should be on my want-to-read list. Thanks for letting us know about this book and for the chance to win it.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have seen books by this author but have not read any yet. They all look so good. I love books on babies and midwifery . This would be a great read I'll bet !

    Deanne P.
    Cnnamongirl at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Midwifery is such an interesting occupation -- really illustrates an elemental connection between women. Makes a fascinating backdrop for a story too. Good luck, Deanne.

      Delete
  16. New-to-me author :-) Love the mid-wife theme!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, sounds great! I would love to read this book. Thanks for the offer!

    Blessings,
    Jo
    azladijo(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sounds great, I've read one of her historical's and look forward to a contemporary novel by Laurie Alice.

    Pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. The Appalachian Mountains are so pretty. Will make a great setting for this book.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really does. On my list of places to go now. Good luck, rubynreba.

      Delete
  20. Beautiful review as always, Kav! Laura's book looks like a beautiful story, and the fact that it's based in the Appalachian Mountains makes it even more enchanting. Thank you for offering another wonderful giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Nancee. Enchanting is a great way to describe the setting. There's just something about it that tickled me. Good luck.

      Delete
  21. I've never read a midwife story and especially from this era but I'm ready too!

    missionwife AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's really interesting, Melody. Good luck.

      Delete
  22. Sounds like an interesting read.
    susanlulu@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. ON my list! truckredford(at)gmail(Dot)com

    ReplyDelete