An Appalachian Summer by Ann H Gabhart

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 An Appalachian Summer


The Frontier Nursing Service established by Mary Breckinridge is the core theme of this book. Mary established this service back in 1925 as a midwifery service to help mothers have more successful deliveries with both mother and baby surviving. The service was very successful and, as I understand, is still going today. At the time of our story, the 1930s, nurses rode horseback through the mountain trails and couriers would come for the summer to help out with the horses, delivering supplies and anything else that was needed of them. It was a hard life, but a fulfilling life. So that is the historical backdrop to this book.

Piper wanted out of the city for awhile. She was being pressured by her father to marry a man she barely knew while, of course, being in love with a man her father didn't approve of. And that is really all I'm going to say about that. 

I admire Piper in her willingness to give up a summer of comfort and go to the mountains. She didn't really know what she would be getting into. She knew how to ride and she loved horses, but she willingly embraced whatever was asked of her, right down to making fried chicken from a chicken out of the yard. She took the challenges as they came and did the best she could and that is such a good life lesson for all of us. When I am faced with something I don't quite know how to tackle, I freeze up and try to get out of it. I don't like diving into something I'm not sure how it works. I need these examples to embrace what comes my way and make the best of it. Piper gave up her comfortable lifestyle to be a servant and I think, in a way, this exemplifies what Jesus asks of us. He wants us to give up our comfort to reach out to those in need. 

I enjoyed this book and the others I have read by Ann. It was a perfect light, summery read for me in the midst of the busyness and chaos that defines our world right now. 

I received this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own. 


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