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    An Appalachian Summer
    An Appalachian Summer
    An Appalachian Summer
    Audiobook11 hours

    An Appalachian Summer

    Written by Ann H. Gabhart

    Narrated by Susan Bennett

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Discover what happens when one intrepid young woman steps away from the past into a beautiful, wideopen future

    In 1933 Louisville, Kentucky, even the ongoing economic depression cannot keep Piper Danson's parents from insisting on a debut party. After all, their fortune came through the market crash intact, and they've picked out the perfect suitor for their daughter. Braxton Crandall can give her the kind of life she's used to. The only problem? This is not the man--or the life--she really wants.

    When Piper gets the opportunity to volunteer as a horseback Frontier Nursing courier in the Appalachian Mountains for the summer, she jumps at the chance to be something other than a dutiful daughter or a kept wife in a loveless marriage. The work is taxing, the scenery jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and the people she meets along the way open up a whole new world to her. The longer she stays, the more an advantageous marriage slips from her grasp. But something much more precious--true love--is drawing ever closer.

    Bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart invites you into the storied hills of Eastern Kentucky to discover what happens when one intrepid young woman steps away from the restrictive past into a beautiful, wide-open future.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJun 30, 2020
    ISBN9781980087076
    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 An Appalachian Summer

    4/5

    72 ratings24 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I loved the Appalachian setting and the public health nursing aspect of this story so much! The romance was sweet and there was a smaller secondary romance plotline that was also wonderful! The best thing about the story is watching Piper learn skills she never would have learned by staying home and marrying (cooking, painting, etc) and watching her confidence grow enough that she feels comfortable making her own choices in life. I enjoyed this one!
    • 5/5
      I love happy endings . This book had on for sure!
    • 4/5
      Another wonderful read by this author. The reader is transported to the world of the frontier nursing services in the Appalachian Mountains in the 1930s. The story is a romance set in the real world where life takes on a very different perspective for the main character, Piper Danson.The character of Piper's Aunt Truda by far stole the show on occasion. The relationship between them is lovely. Jamie Danson's character wasn't as strong, but very human and my favorite. Refreshing to read ordinary everyday life events and people's basic needs being met as the novelty, rather than fame and wealth and power. The character of Mrs. Breckenridge is fleshed out more in this book. Turns out she's quite human as well, and has a soft spot. Love the bit about her tent, and of course the preparations for fried chicken! Much to be learned from these characters about life.Clean romance with high standards per Mrs. Breckenridge. Excellent read for young people. I would like to have learned more about the specific role of the courier, unless it was more general as in this story.I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. My views are my own.
    • 5/5
      I thoroughly enjoy the historical aspect of this book. It embraces the time, traditions and prejudices of dives groups of people as the do life together for the betterment of all. They have a strong, inspiring foundation based on the heart of two diverse groups of people; people seeped in the culture and foundation of their community and time. She delves into the traditions, norms, emotions and rich mulling of all. Very insightful and enjoyable.
    • 4/5
      The story is easy to read and kept my attention. Being a nurse for 35 years and the fact my family comes from rural Kentucky, I enjoyed reading this historical fiction about both. I also admired that the leading ladies were strong and independent. I would like to have seen a more spiritual development in the main character, Piper. Overall I give this book a 4/5.“An Appalachian Summer”, Piper, a strong- willed young lady,, finds herself questioning life’s expectations. She is one of the fortunate society girls of 1933 who is still able to afford a debutante ball after the crash of ‘29. However, Piper longs for more than societal approval and the wealthy match her father has in mind; she wants to marry for love! With the help of her father’s independent and successful sister Trudy, Piper talks her mother into first allowing Piper a summer of assisting nurse midwives with the Frontier Nursing Service in the mountains of rural Kentucky. Here Piper discovers that by serving others, she comes to learn more about God, herself, true love, and friendship. (Reviewer M.P.Godley)
    • 2/5
      I read 100 pages of this, after winning it through the Early Reviews. I was hoping for a little romantic fluff...but this was just boring. I kept waiting for it to get interesting and I'm finally calling it quits.
    • 4/5
      Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell, for providing a complimentary copy to review through Interviews & Reviews. A positive review was not required or requested, and all words are my own.

      I first saw this book because of a JustRead Tours social media takeover which I was a part of. I was supposed to get a copy through them, but sadly – the publisher failed to send them out. So, when I saw it on Interviews & Reviews – I decided to request it. The story definitely drew me in and it was a “must read”. It also didn’t hurt that the cover was simply gorgeous with all the purple in it. That sunset! WOW!

      So, yes, the cover was the first thing that grabbed me!

      I loved the idea that it was set in 1933 following the stock market crash, and prior to World War II. 1933 is important to me as my grandmother got married that September when she was 16. In October 1934, she had a son but he died a month later in November. I know the conditions for having children were bad in that time. She actually was in a larger city (near St. Louis, Missouri), and access to hospitals was better than the women in this book had. That gives this story some perspective as to how vital a service like this was.

      As my grandmother off and on grew up on farms, this was an interesting look into a life I had only heard about through “hand-me-down” stories. I do know of some relatives who lived in the Appalachian area.

      This story is actually based on the real life Mrs. Mary Carson Breckenridge (1881-1965; granddaughter of Vice President John C. Breckinridge) who founded the Frontier Nursing Service in 1925 which also led to the Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery. The school graduated its first class in 1940.

      Readers will be interested to know that the Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, Kentucky was reported first (1st) by U.S News & World Report of graduate schools of midwifery and 14th among family nurse practitioner programs in 2011.

      Stories like this really give an interesting and entertaining look into history.

      And, speaking of the stories – at the heart of those stories are the people/characters involved. This is told in third (3rd) person from Piper’s POV along with Jamie’s POV).

      I instantly admired Piper. From the beginning, her reluctance to fall into the “debutante” lifestyle was admirable and a refreshing change. Instead of being served, she wanted to serve. She wanted to do something before settling into her life and I really loved that she made that decision. It was a shame her father, nor ill-fated suitor, Braxton could see it. Thankfully, Piper had no interest in him. For some reason, he reminded me of Hockley from the movie “Titanic”.

      Aunt Truda was an absolute delight. Her honesty was candid, refreshing, and definitely added some perspective on the expectations of the times.

      Jamie was definitely an admirable character because he didn’t give up on Piper. He also kept things low key and was mild-mannered. Of the male characters, I felt he was the strongest one. Despite his losses, he still maintained his personality and dignity.

      Another character was Dr. Jackson Booker who had a connection to Truda. With that, the reader gets two (2) romances i with this beautiful read – Piper/Jamie and Truda/Jackson though there is more focus on Piper and Jamie.

      The plot was absolutely moving. Gabhart’s vivid, colorful writing with authentic vernacular for the time and location, along with short chapters certainly made this a quick read. I was really surprised how interested I was in this – especially given my “history” with historical romance. And, I was surprised I didn’t want to put it down.

      I got the feel for the society of that time – some of the ideas were, compared to now, quite silly. One was about pregnant women didn’t parade their expectant bodies around and thus pregnant women, when they started showing, were to remain confined at home. Instead of celebrating pregnancy, it was treated as something shameful. And, given how miraculous it is – that is quite the shame. But, that is why reading books such as this are also important.

      It was also interesting to see how the different “classes” handled the stock market crash.

      I enjoyed reading about the technological advances (vehicles) which were still combined with horse and buggy travel, along with travel by train. In addition, the book highlights the medical advances. Despite having hospitals, the Frontier Nursing Service was there to provide healthcare to those who had limited access, such as the mountain people of rural Kentucky, as well as remote and impoverished areas which. This drastically reduced the mother and infant mortality rates. Girls like Piper were often couriers and assisted the nurses along with the hospital staff.

      There is some humorous talk about moonshiners and revenuers (IRS, FBI). As one character stated – one does not discuss religion, politics, moonshine, or revenuers; which lightened the tone of the story.

      Piper learns more than she bargained for when it comes to life in the hills, but doesn’t shy away from the challenge. She also gets some valuable life skills. And, some aspects were almost funny. The chicken prep directions were, to me, hilarious; as was her trying to get the chicken.

      To add to everything, Truda and Jamie both show up in Wendover. Both are there to “seek” out the people they still have feelings for. One lesson Truda learns, and it is one that is personal to me – some things are meant to be, even if decades had to pass. For Piper, it is coming to terms with balancing what is expected of her and what she wants.

      Of course, Braxton also shows up calling for Piper as well to add even more drama.

      There are some dramatic moments in this book that caused me to pause for a moment, and one was a teary-eyed moment. This is definitely a stunning and almost heartbreaking read, and it is a story that will stay with the reader for quite a while.

      The publisher is a known Christian/faith themed group so there will be some bible and faith references, along with a strong belief in God. The references are not central to the plot so the reader won’t feel as though they’re being preached to. While a “clean” read, there might be a slight questionable “roundabout” reference to reproduction on page 75 (chapter 9).

      Fans of the author and genre will no doubt enjoy Gabhart’s latest release. This was my first time reading Gabhart’s work, and I truly enjoyed the book.
    • 5/5
      Ann H. Gabhart shares another story that centers around The Frontier Nursing Service and its founder, Mary Breckinridge, but this time her heroine is a young woman who leaves her Louisville, home for a summer job in Hyden, Kentucky. Piper Danson has known a life of wealth and luxury but her family has experienced the effects of the Great Depression and her parents tell her that they've found a man with money that she can marry. Piper, however, wants more! She wants to feel useful, she longs to make a difference, and she yearns for true love, so accepting a job as a courier for the Frontier Nursing Service in the summer of 1933 may be just what she's looking for. But can she ride a horse through the mountains, muck out horse stalls, and even help deliver babies? What else will Piper encounter during her summer in Appalachia Kentucky?Piper Danson is a wonderful character and I admired her determination to help others and the special bond that she shared with her Aunt Truda. When her long-time friend Jamie Russell showed up to do a series of newspaper articles on Mrs. Breckinridge and her nurses, I fully understood why he had been Piper's 'teenage dream'. It is, however, Gabhart's description of the mountains and the people who lived there that grabbed my heart. Those strong, hardworking people greatly needed the medical care provided by the Frontier Nursing Service but they were proud people who didn't readily accept help or easily give their trust to strangers. Watching Piper and the others earn that trust was truly heartwarming and inspiring and it reminded me that all of us need to do more to serve others.Set in my home state of Kentucky, and written by a favorite Kentucky author, An Appalachian Summer offers not one, but two, romances and a wonderful message of faith. I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy historical Christian romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. There was no obligation to write a favorable review. These are my own thoughts.
    • 4/5
      This story takes place in Kentucky, in 1933. Piper Danson has just had her debut in Louisville, where she was escorted by the handsome and wealthy Braxton Crandall. Piper's parents want her to marry Braxton because of his family's financial stability, as they were able to maintain their wealth while so many others lost everything during the stock market crash and the Depression that followed. But alas, the thought of a life of society and money bores Piper. Plus, she is in love with Jamie Russell, but her family won't approve of a marriage with him because his family is one of those that lost their fortune.Piper decides to do something adventurous and leave home to work with the Frontier Nurses up in the mountains of Kentucky. Acclimating to a lifestyle that requires hard work is tough for her, but rewarding, and ultimately Piper learns a lot about herself. Best of all, she finds the confidence to start making her own choices.I was drawn to this story because of the Appalachian setting and because parts of the plot were centered around nursing. (I am a nurse!) I loved reading about Piper riding up into the Kentucky mountains on horseback and I loved that she was able to learn about hard work and public health. It was a lot of fun watching Piper's confidence grow, and it was inspiring to watch her eagerly learn skills that she had never been exposed to before (cooking, painting, washing clothes, etc.). I also loved all of the people that Piper met through the Frontier Nursing program.There is, of course, romance throughout the story where Piper is concerned. She has to figure out what she wants to do about marrying Braxton without hurting him and upsetting her family. She also has to figure out what to do with the very real feelings that she feels for Jamie. There is a smaller, secondary romantic plotline in the story that I LOVED.This one was a lot of fun for me. I read it one over the course of about a week when things were exceptionally busy at my house (and a little bit stressful). I really looked forward to picking this book up for a little while before bed every night.Thank you to Revell Publishing for sending me a finished print copy of this book for review!
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this story as I enjoy reading books that give me an insight into history, but weave it in a story. I cannot imagine what it must have been like for Piper to go against her parents and the life she was brought up in to become a volunteer courier for the Frontier Nurses. She had to take on a very different lifestyle, interact with different people, and even fall in love. A great read. I received a copy to read, the review is mine.
    • 4/5
      This was my first book by Ann H. Gabbart and it was so lovely and well written. I had never heard of the Frontier Nursing Service or the person who began it Mary Breckinridge. I was actually so intrigued I went on a search myself and found her story very interesting and selfless that because of the heartache over the loss of her own two young children caused her to devote her life to the well being of of mothers and children in the remote areas of southeastern Kentucky. I think this made me love the book even more.The story takes place in the beginnings of the Depression Era and the after the suffragette movement where women have now begun to vocalize their wants to be more than just a trophy wife. This is where we meet Piper at her debut party and right away you can tell she is none too happy about it but wants to please her mom and not disappoint her. She feels like there is more to life and her heart definitely belongs to another.A the debut party we meet Piper's escort and man that her father has "arranged" for her, Braxton Crandall, I mean he is okay and I am sure a catch for the time period we are immersed in but right away I knew he was not the man for Piper!Truda is her aunt which definitely encourages Piper to follow her heart rather than what society and her parents deem from her. I loved Truda!! She definitely tells it like it is and is not afraid to speak her mind. She definitely stands by what she believes. You also get to learn why she is single and cheer her on the entire story. I won't tell you much but she definitely has her own story within Piper's!!When we meet Mary Breckinridge at a fundraising tea she is looking for more volunteers for her Frontier Nursing Service. She sees something in Piper and urges her to try something new. By leaving home, she leaves everything behind, including her best friend Jamie who she has loved since childhood. She learns so much about herself in the mountains and learns that she can do anything put before her.The love story between her and Jamie is sweet and definitely one you cheer on throughout the story. There are some times when you want to bonk him upside the head but I think that's how the author meant for you to feel which I love because it means you are totally invested in the story.If you like historical fiction I definitely recommend this book. I thought it was very well written and I can't wait to read more from this author. She has already been added to my growing list of authors to read books from!Favorite quotes:"Every person should be allowed one idiotic dream in her lifetime." ~ TrudaI received a copy of this book from Revell . I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
    • 5/5
      *Sigh* After reading An Appalachian Summer, I wonder how a reader could not consider signing up to be a horse courier for Mrs. Breckenridge’s Nurse-Midwife Service. Sure, the year is 1933, and the locale of most of this unputdownable book is the hills and mountains of Kentucky. The adventure that Ann H Gabhart effortlessly spins rolls from one escapade to the next.Of course, we might not all be as courageous as Piper Danson, who trades her debutante life for the wild unknown. Who needs to decide between two suitors when there are bigger mountains to climb... literally? What with snakes, men who might shoot before asking questions if a stranger is found on their land, odd jobs the girls have never before dreamed of attempting...life is never dull in these beautiful hills.This is a journey of faith, friendship, love, and the soul. Faith that the mountain people have and readily share, as one lady on the train does to Piper:“I’m guessing things has always been easy for you. That can make it harder to recognize what the Lord does for you. You can think maybe you’ve done it all yourself and don’t need him none. But you walk down some rocky trails with troubles on every side , and you’ll be wanting the Lord right there with you.”Gabhart doesn’t belabor points, but inserts faith as a given for the mountain people.Friendships. So many different kinds in this story. Some lead to respect. Some lead to good new friends. Some lead to love. *Sigh* It is just so much fun to follow the paths Gabhart winds, almost as twisty as the mountain paths themselves, before allowing her characters to settle their hearts.There’s magic in those hills. Especially the ones inhabited by Mrs. Breckenridge, Piper, Suze, Dr. Jack, Billy, and on and on. This is a TV show waiting to be picked up.Be able to say you read the book first.Notable Quotables:“...the joy of the song can be in you whether it tickles the ears or not.”“Sometimes a person had to forget the obstacles and jump into the moment.”“I think we all have a calling. Sometimes we live up to it, and sometimes we don’t.”“...every person should be allowed one idiotic dream in her lifetime.”“You get up high on those hills and the Lord just seems nearer.”I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Revell Reads. I also bought an ecopy and a copy to bless a special friend with. All opinions are my own, and are freely given.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed the story of An Appalachian Summer by Ann Gabhart. This is the first of her books that I've read and hope to read more soon. Ann did a very good job of bringing her major characters to life, especially the main character Piper. She also did a nice job of describing life in the Appalachian mountains. Not too descriptive but enough to let you know life there is not the same in the mountains as it was elsewhere at that time. The book is set during the Great Depression and this helps show the vast difference between Piper, a financially secure person, and those living in the mountains, just barely surviving.Piper's father wants her to marry a man of his choosing, a man she has never met. Piper wants to marry for love and her choice would be her childhood friend. To help her calm her mind and emotions, Piper chooses to spend her summer as a courier for the Frontier Nursing Service. Frontier Nurses is a factual part of the story and gives a glimpse of life for them as well.There is also the second story in a more minor character, Piper's aunt Truda, woven into this story. She has her own ideas of life and love and they are not in line with her family. The story wasn't a book that you can't put down, it's a slower-paced book but that is a good thing. Not all books need to be that intense. The editing was very well done and that is very important to me. This book is listed as a Christian book but it is not preachy in any way. In fact, to me, it's more a "clean" book than a Christian book. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. I give the book a 4 out of 5 rating. I liked it well enough to want to read more, but it was not my all-time favorite.
    • 4/5
      Piper Danson is a debutante in Louisville, Kentucky, who gets the opportunity to assist the Frontier Nursing Service, nurses who bring medical care and assistance to people in the East Kentucky Appalachians during the 30s. I immediately looked up the service and was pleased to find that it is real, as is its founder Mary Breckinridge, who also figures into this story. I appreciate a good historical novel that is about something that really existed at its center. I also appreciated that the author did an excellent job of portraying the people of the Appalachians in a positive light, something that doesn't always happen. I've read too many books with very bad dialect! The story is predictable, but it is enjoyable, and I learned a good bit while reading. The message is powerful also.
    • 5/5
      It’s the height of the Great Depression, but Piper’s family isn’t suffering. Her father hadn’t lost his fortune, unlike many in those days. Piper was suffering in a different manner. She acquiesced to her mother’s wishes and made her debut into society. However, a stirring speech by one Mrs. Breckinridge spurred her to become a courier for the frontier nurses on the Appalachian Mountains for the summer. Piper went from being a society debutant to mucking out horse stalls, along with many other tasks. The nurses were vital to the well-being of the mountain folk, especially the pregnant women. But Piper had an ulterior motive: she desperately wanted to escape the marriage plans her father had initiated, because she was in love with another man. However, her true love’s family had lost their fortune in the crash, and Piper’s father deemed him unworthy to marry his daughter. Author Ann Gabhart has penned a delightful novel of historical worth that weaves together fact with fiction, telling a story of struggle and of romance in her own talented way. The setting is so well described and the characters so real, readers will themselves falling back in time to another time and place. It’s a wonderfully told tale with strong and inspirational female characters.
    • 5/5
      I have loved every book I have ever read by this author and this one did not disappoint. In fact this was one of my all time favorites. It was so interesting to read about the young women who went to the Appalachian mountains to become midwives and others spent their summers helping as Frontier Nursing couriers. Piper was from a rich family but knew that she was missing something so she volunteered as a courier. Here she learns that money is not everything. This was very inspirational. I could not put this down. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
    • 5/5
      Wonderful storyteller Ann H. Gabhart takes readers on a heartfelt and uplifting journey back to the Kentucky Mountains in the era of the Great Depression. Piper Danson's family is surviving the economic disaster better than most, and her parents have chosen a man for her to marry whom they think will continue to provide for Piper in the manner to which she is accustomed. The problem is that Piper wants a different kind of life for herself, and Braxton Crandall is not the man she envisions to share her future. Her lifelong friend, Jamie Russell, is the one who knows her best. However, his family suffered terribly in the economic depression, and he has become somewhat distanced. When Piper learns of a chance to work with a frontier nursing program as a horseback courier, it sounds like the answer to her prayers. It will be a summer of hard work, personal growth and revelation, and a deepening of faith. When Piper and Jamie are reunited, will it be just a reunion of old friends, or has the time come for two yearning hearts to finally become as one? Ann H. Gabhart, a Kentucky native, is a very special storyteller. Her descriptions of her home state, its people, its culture, and its heritage are like a painting colored by words. As always, there is the underlying message of deep and abiding faith.Book Copy Gratis Revell Books
    • 4/5
      I love reading historical fiction and learning about something that existed in the past that I had little to no knowledge of. An Appalachian Summer is about the Frontier Nursing Service that was started in the hills of Kentucky to provide nurses and mid-wives to the people in the area. The organization eventually evolved into a hospital and a graduate school of midwifery. Today it is a highly ranked school for nurse-midwifery and family nurse practitioner programs.The novel begins in 1933 at Piper Danson's debutante party. She has had two years of college and doesn't want a coming-out party but agrees to it to make her mom happy, even though she is miserable all dressed up and in the spotlight. Her parents' goal is to help her find a rich husband who can take care of her and who she can learn to love over time. Her goal is to live life before she settles down as a wife. She knows that there is a whole world out there that she wants to explore but she isn't sure how she's going to make it happen. Her best friend, Jamie, isn't in attendance because his family lost all their money in the depression and he is no longer accepted among the rich. Her aunt, a bit of a rebel, has a tea party where Piper meets Mary Breckinridge, the founder of the Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky and is excited to be asked to be a horseback courier with the Frontier Nursing Service for the summer. Once she convinces her parents to let her participate in the program, she boards a train to Kentucky and her adventure begins.Life in the mountains of Kentucky is nothing like her rich pampered life. She is expected to make long trips on horseback delivering supplies, paint buildings and milk cows. She helps the nurses with the sick children and even assists at births. She is thrilled with her new life and can't imagine going home and getting married to the rich man that her father has picked out for her but what choice does she have? Society was structured so that she didn't have many choices in her life. Can she find a way to change her future from what her parents expect to what she needs - a beautiful wide open future filled with true love.This is my first book by this author and I look forward to future books. This was a light hearted book with characters that represented this time period. I loved learning about the nurse program in Kentucky and about the adventurous woman who kept it running during a time that women had few choices in their lives.
    • 5/5
      A look back at a difficult time in our history, people are still reeling from the stock market crash that devastated the country. The author gives us both the ones who were able to hold on to their wealth and others who fell and lost everything including family members.We are given a young woman, Piper, her family has kept their fortune and she has just had her debutant, a few years later than most, she has graduated from college.We also meet a young man, whose family were not a fortunate and fighting back for survival. He also has graduated from college and trying to find his way, knowing that above all he loves Piper.Now this is the second book set here in the Appalachian Mountains, and we are again with the Frontier Nurses and catching babies. Come and get lost in these mountains, meet some delightful children, they tell it like it is, and those that will give what little they have.We get to enjoy Piper as she embraces this very different life, and wonder what path she will further journey on!I received this book through the Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 3/5
      Piper comes from a wealthy family and is expected to marry the man her parents have chosen. She is in love with Jamie, but his family lost all their money, making him unacceptable. Piper decides to go to Appalachia as a nurse cucourier, just to spite her parents. I was disappointed that there was not more about life in Depression Era Appalachia.
    • 5/5
      An Appalachian Summer by Ann H. GabhartBaker PublishingJune 30, 2020Pages: 355Reviewed by mrsboone4, Green Forest, AR, USARating: 5 StarsReview date: June 21, 2020Piper Danson has lived a life of privilege. Even though many families in the USA lost everything, her family is still quite wealthy. Piper's mother insists that Piper have a debutante ball, she hates every minute of it. Her best friend Jamie Russell wasn't invited to the ball, because his family lost their fortune. Braxton Crandall of a railroad empire is whom her father chooses to be her husband. What can Piper do? She does the only thing she can, she runs!Her Aunt Truda Danson hosts a tea, giving a lady who has started a charitable mission high in the Appalachians a chance to do a little fundraising and also recruit some couriers to come help the staff take care of the horses for the Frontier Nursing Service that she started. The FNS is a wonderful medical mission whose goal is to decrease maternity mothers and their infants' premature deaths. They not only provide prenatal care, but also shots and medical supplies to all who are in the area.I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I can picture myself it Piper's shoes, except that my family wasn't rich and my marriage wasn't an arranged one. Read the book and find out what happens with Piper's future.I am very thankful to LibraryThing for the complimentary copy of this book. I was under no obligation to post a review.
    • 3/5
      It's the 1930s - the Depression is still raging, but Piper has her Society debut - more for her mother than her and is supposedly supposed to marry by summer's end - mostly for her father than her.(She has someone else in mind for a mate.) But instead of spending her summer involved in a whirlwind courtship and wedding preparations, Piper decided to spend it in Appalachia helping a woman who has set up health care there. Knowing little about what is to come, she goes into it with wild open eyes and takes on anything and everything.In the end both the man she loves and the one her father wants her to marry show up - how will it end?
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed An Appalachian Summer by Ann H Gabhart. The story, set in 1933, shows love, turmoil, beauty, and love of nature. The story centers on Piper Danson, a young woman who must reason with love and her future. Will the future be with Braxton Crandall and a life of easy comfort or with Jamie Russell and a life of struggle and of uncertainty. For Piper, the summer brings her as a volunteer as a courier in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky with the Frontier Nursing Service. What dedication of these women who assist the mountain women in childbirth and sickness. The story flows with the beauty of the mountains, but also with the hardships and the persistent belief in God. The ending proves to be too predictable.
    • 4/5
      An Appalachian Summer by Ann H. Gabhart is a pleasing historical, Christian novel. I thought it was well-written with interesting characters. Piper Danson is twenty years old and not ready to settle down. She would like some adventure. Piper hears Mary Breckinridge speak at a tea arranged by her Aunt Truda and immediately volunteers. Piper loves the mountains with its natural beauty and even enjoys the hard work. She learns a variety of new skills while making friends with her fellow couriers, the nurse midwives, patients, and the families that inhabit the area. I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the Appalachian Mountains the quirky people who lived in them. They residents do not take kindly to strangers especially governments types, but they love Mary Breckinridge and her workers. Piper is a woman finding her path in life. She is also given a chance to take God into her heart and discover love. Truda Danson was a delightful character. She was a woman ahead of her time. In today’s world, Truda would be running a large corporation. There was only one man who captured her interest and Truda never heard from him again their quick encounter at her debut ball. Jamie Russell has been Piper’s lifelong friend who never told her how he truly felt about her. When the Russell family lost their fortune, they decamped to Danville. Jamie finds his way to the mountains where he gathers information for articles he is writing for a paper. Can romance bloom in the mountains? Unfortunately, the course of true love is not a smooth one. There are a variety of secondary characters who include the other couriers, nurse midwives, a hardworking doctor, and Jamie’s opposition. I enjoyed reading An Appalachian Summer. A story about strong women, faith, hope, and love. An Appalachian Summer is a charming story that took me back in time among the people who live in the Appalachian Mountains.