My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge

MHB in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream (2019) by Pepper Basham is the latest novel in the My Heart Belongs series published by Barbour Books. This novel comes in all forms including eBook, and is 256 pages in length. With a full-time job and a very lively six-year old, this book took me two days to read. I received a review copy of this novel in paperback form from the publisher, Barbour Books. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give MHB in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream 5+++++ STARS. This novel is a Historical Christian Romance.

The more books I read by Pepper Basham, the more I am convinced she is one of the best writers in Christian fiction today. And, what a range — to go from writing excellent, swoon-worthy contemporaries to crafting seriously good historical stories that make me feel like I am there in the time period … now that is a God-given talent. I hope there is a lot more in store in the near future from Pepper Basham! Oh, and MHB in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream is FABULOUS! I love this story so much.

I’m going to seemingly go off on a tangent for a moment, but bear with me because I promise my tangent will make sense. Here I go … teaching stinks. In today’s America, it may be one of the worst jobs a person can have. Picking up roadkill may be a better job because at least when you’re doing it you’re not trapped inside a rectangular box ALL day except for one ten-minute potty run and a 25-minute lunch. BUT, teaching can be one of the most amazing jobs ever, too. Like all things in this life, it 100% boils down to perspective, purpose, and partnership. First, perspective. A good teacher knows to look beyond frustrating Admins, lame and damaging politics, and great deficiencies in supplies and support to see the children. Which leads to number two, purpose. A good teacher knows WHY he/she is in the classroom — because God put us there, and the kids really, really need us. And good teachers don’t lose sight of this purpose. Finally, number three, partnership. A great teacher partners with God. I don’t care who you are or what you believe, if you don’t bring God with you (in your heart) into the classroom you will never be the best teacher you could be. Here’s my rationale: if God put me into my classroom for a purpose, you better believe that daily I am going to ask for His guidance and help. With God, I can’t fail. God is my partner EVERY TIME I step into room 409 at Palmdale High School. I cannot physically do one of the worst jobs in America without Him. And you know what? With Him, it’s not the worst job anymore.

Jonathan Taylor, the hero in MHB in the Blue Ridge, initially becomes a teacher in Blue Ridge because he needs to escape his oppressive, selfish, rigid father. He does also have a heart to help the children of the poor Blue Ridge community, but his heart is in escaping his reality first. Jonathan does make huge strides, but is then brought real low by some very stubborn, superstitious, ignorant humans. It almost forces him to quit. This is because Jonathan initially lacks the proper perspective, purpose, and partnership. No one will ever be a successful teacher in any field if these three P’s aren’t present. It’s why teacher turnover is SO high today. Discouraging things happen in teaching EVERY DAY, but we can’t let that get the best of us. When teachers look beyond the discouragement, they will see kids who truly care — something Jonathan witnesses in a very real, heartfelt way. It did my teacher-heart SO happy to see Jonathan not give up on his students. He remembers that kids matter, and he begins to recognize each of his students for their unique strengths and abilities. Jonathan validates his students, which then allows the kiddos to trust him and want to learn. When Jonathan becomes a real teacher — when his P’s are appropriately aligned — it’s the best moment in the book for me. Thank you, Pepper Basham, for respectfully illustrating through Jonathan the arduous job that I do every day. Being a teacher is hard. Knowing that someone out there still respects my job means everything to me!

Choosing to love someone is sometimes the hardest thing in the world. It’s much easier to dislike someone, to hate someone, to be angry at someone. All it takes for me to see that my heart leans more towards hate than love is to get in my car and drive. Within minutes I’m calling the person who just cut me off, then slowed down, a dummy. Not only did I have to slam on my brakes, but now I’m not really going anywhere because this person just had to be in front of me. For my heart, the feeling of frustration and the need to punch the guy for his dumb action is easy for me to feel. Choosing to remain chill and slow down, to show a little decency, doesn’t cross my mind until about five minutes after the event has happened. Then I just feel lame. What I love so much about MHB in the Blue Ridge is how Laurel loves. She is a great representation of someone who gives love like Jesus. Every day she chooses to love everyone, even those who are a serious challenge to love, because she wants to counteract the hardness that permeates her community. Instead of filling her heart with bitterness and hate, Laurel chooses love every time. I find her to be one of the most courageous characters I’ve ever read. Her actions in this story have left an indelible mark on me. The next time I get in the car to drive somewhere, I’m going to try like mad to be more like Laurel!

MHB in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream is a wonderful story. I enjoyed every minute of the story line, and I will miss my time with these wonderful, colorful characters. If you are in the mood for a seriously amazing Historical Romance then I implore you to purchase a copy of Mrs. Basham’s novel today. It is a 2019 Must Read!

Two hearts from different worlds, one shared dream…

I’ve heard quite a bit about Pepper Basham’s books over the last few years but I hadn’t read any of them yet. My Heart Belongs In The Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream was a lovely introduction to her writing. I’ve already been enjoying this series and through it have been introduced to several new-to-me authors.

This was another of the books that I never read the blurb before reading the book itself. I’ve been reading my way through the series with each new release anyway, so My Heart Belongs In The Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream was next on my want-to-read list. I was quite pleasantly surprised by the characters and the story. If you’ve ever read Christy by Catherine Marshall you will see some familiar character types and situations but Pepper Basham has certainly penned a story that is all her own.

This book took on some tough issues that are just as valid, and poignant, today as they would have been a century ago when the story takes place. One of the biggest takeaways for me was that dreams are wonderful things but we shouldn’t hold to them rigidly or we may miss out on the amazing things that God has planned for us. Dreams can change as our lives move forward, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Anyway, My Heart Belongs In The Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream is a great book from author Pepper Basham and is a nice addition to this series from Barbour.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own)

My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream, by Pepper Basham, is truly one of the loveliest books I have ever read. Achingly beautiful, thoughtful, and uplifting, this remarkable novel holds a story that is everything I need and desire and pursue in literature. With evident warmth and heart, Ms. Basham breathes words onto the page giving life to a story that is as unique as it is unforgettable.
My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream is a novel that offers a unique and touching story of loss, dreams, love, and family. Rustic cabins, steep trails, and wooded hillsides allow the story to grow richly from the landscape of its Appalachian home. Abounding with a soul of its own, this mountainous setting hums with vibrant significance in a story that lingers long after the final word has been read.
Within the pages of this novel, Ms. Basham has cultivated characters who are charming, captivating, authentic, and brave. Their convictions, their needs, and their goals are wholly believable and inspiring. The opportunities, the choices, and the trials that the characters endure are intricately developed, and from them there unfolds a story that is thoroughly enriching and endearing.
My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream is a novel that artfully balances hope and despair, perseverance and struggle, and faithfulness and uncertainty. The development of these themes is significantly strengthened and uplifted by meaningful moments of grace and gentle reminders that hope, restoration, healing, and reconciliation are made possible through God’s mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love.
I truly cannot write enough kind words about this book. As a reader, I long to learn, to be challenged, to be comforted, to be entertained, and to be inspired. My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream is a book that easily satisfies each of those desires leaving me with a deep appreciation for how truly talented Ms. Basham is as a writer and storyteller. This is a book that I will gladly share with others and reread often. It is with a full and thankful heart that I sincerely recommend this novel to all readers everywhere.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher/author. A review was not required. The review I have written contains opinions that are entirely my own.

Pepper Basham takes the reader on an eye-opening cultural trip to the backwoods of Appalachia in 1918 in her novel My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream. Capturing the speech of the locals and the adventures awaiting the outsiders who dare to venture there, the author painted such a vivid picture that I was transported and felt like I was plopped right down with Teacher into the setting. The colorful characters came alive on the page and traipsed right into my heart. Laurel McAdams, who wants to become a teacher, and Jonathan Taylor, who has taken a teaching job in the Blue Ridge Mountains but wants to become a doctor, are the main characters in this captivating tale. Jonathan has no idea about the adventures that are awaiting him—mountain lions, polecats, and wary parents, along with a beautiful, courageous heroine.

Brimming with wit and charm and full of Basham’s sense of humor and beautiful prose, this book is one for the keeper shelf. Themes of trust, faith, the importance of family, and the power of love are woven seamlessly throughout the book and add to the journey into this intriguing world. I’m hoping there will be additional stories about some of the other characters in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing/NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Pepper Basham’s novel is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains during World War I, featuring a British missionary who discovers a whole new world.

When Jonathan Taylor begins his new position as a teacher in a two-room schoolhouse, he experiences culture shock, to say the least. Laurel McAdams, who has had a difficult life, tries to help Jonathan navigate skepticism and animosity from the mountain people while fantasizing about escaping to the beautiful places Jonathan mentions.

Basham readily incorporates Bible texts into the plot through the characters’ dialogue. She also uses wit, humor, and local idioms to express her affection for the Appalachian region.

A lot of the writing spoke to me because my family is from the Alabama backwoods, and they, too, have had a hard-scrabble life. They speak and communicate in a unique fashion that is difficult, if not impossible, to understand. They are, however, a passionately loyal, caring group of individuals who will go to great lengths to help you if you are family or have proven your worth if you aren’t.

From beginning to end, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Basham has an uncanny ability to draw you into a story and keep you there. You’ll find yourself thinking over her book well after you’ve already completed it.

I received this book from NetGalley. However, my review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

Wow! This author captured the culture and way of life of the Appalachian Mountains from 100 years ago perfectly. I loved this book in so many ways,

Deep in the North Carolina mountains is the setting of Pepper Basham’s novel, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream. Today, visiting the mountains gives us peace, mental restoration, and a sense of the generations of people who have lived and died here. Pepper Basham writes a heart-gripping novel set in 1918, that makes us long for those days of a simpler, solitary life of the mountains where people, nature, and God come together.

Laurel McAdams, the heroine, is mountain born and bred . With her sunny, positive outlook on life she brings a light to some of the darker corners of the hard lives those people lived. I loved her and her accent. It was a joy being around her. She had faith and confidence (without being pushy or egoistical) in her family and God. I liked how she was best friends with her family members. Many families are close and I’m glad to see that represented positively in fiction. Another thing I loved is that both the hero and heroine had both sets of parents all alive! So many authors kill off the parents because they just don’t want to write about them.

Who doesn’t love an English hero? Jonathan Taylor seems like an odd choice for a hero in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but keep reading. His kindness, manners, and caring for those around him give him an A+ in my book. Jonathan is willing to attempt to fit in with their culture and not try to make their home be another England. I did think he seemed to transition a little too smoothly in not only an American culture, but a sub-culture within America. Now days people are used to other accents a lot more because of all the television and radio they intake. In 1918 I would think he would have had more culture shock.

A lot of people will likely see similarities with this novel and Christy by Catherine Marshall. There is definitely a nod to that book, but Pepper Basham has made it her own story. One can tell that the author is deeply, personally acquainted with the setting and culture. Her love and respect for the mountains and their people is the foundation upholding this work of fiction. Should I say fiction? In some ways it almost seems like stepping into the lives of real people who once claimed the mountains for their dwelling place.

The romance was slow-building, but was more accurate. The hero and heroine start out as friends and have to get to know one another. I know from reading some of Pepper’s other books that she doesn’t shy away from some heart-pounding, breath-taking romance/kisses. For a short while there I though I wasn’t going to get any in this book. It was a little concerning. Well, when it did happen, it was perfect. Sigh. Smiles all over the place.

Jonathan and Laurel are already Christians and each have some faith-building tests that they have to experience. There were some unbelievers in the story that never did get saved, but you feel confident that there is hope for them. There are Christians who are ready and waiting to welcome them into the Kingdom when the sinners do turn to Jesus.

Leaving the pages of My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream was like coming back to real life after a vacation. Only I wanted to move to the vacation spot and call it home.

My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel’s Dream by Pepper Basham

Blue Ridge Mountains 1918. Laurel McAdams is a hard working young women who has faced hardships, trouble, family dynamics and faithfully helps her family as she is able. She has dreams that she longs to pursue but there doesn’t seem to be a way for those dreams to come true. From the vivid descriptions of the Blue Ridge Mountains I could envision each setting Laurel finds herself as she walks through the mountains she loves, especially the bird descriptions (I am an avid bird feeder/watcher and count them each year from November-April). Enter outsider teacher Jonathan Taylor. Will the mountain people accept him and his strange ideas or will they insist he teach in the manner they are used to? Jonathan is not prepared for the way the mountain people live, their superstitions and the way things are done. But he doesn’t give up even in the midst of someone trying to make him leave. He truly wants to help the children. I enjoyed the interaction between Laurel and Jonathan and their growing feelings. Suspense, superstition, surprises and twists in the story-line and faith make this a heartwarming story.

~I received a copy of this book from the author/Barbour publishing (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

I loved this book from the start right up to the end. However, I had a hard time reading the last few chapters because I couldn’t see through my tears. Always the sign of a good book. I liked that the author was able to portray the hardships of these people without being depressing. I liked that Laurel and Jonathan wanted to help the other achieve their dreams, even when it looked like their own wouldn’t come true. Faith played an important role in these characters’ lives and I liked the way the author had that woven throughout the story. I would recommend this book.

I enjoyed visiting the breathtaking Blue Ridge mountains! I admired Laurel’s strength, compassion and loyalty to her culture. Jonathan is a swoon worthy hero with his faith, tender heart and drive to improve the lives of those around him. This story is an exquisite masterpiece.

I won a copy in a giveaway. All views expressed are my honest opinion.