Harp on the Willow by B.J. Hoff is set in West Virginia in 1869.
Daniel Kavanaugh comes to West Virginia to return items to the Holliday family that belonged to their son who died in the war and decides to stay. Doctor Daniel Kavanaugh is the only doctor in town which keeps him quite busy. He is infatuated with the local school teacher, Serena Norman though he finds little time to spend with her and she at times sends mixed messages as to their relationship status. He and his Newfoundland, Sarge, are practically inseparable and Sarge is great company and a listening ear. Will Daniel and Serena find romance together or go their separate ways?
The book moved a bit slow for me but I did finish it. It seemed that some situations were drug out too long just to make more pages in the book. There are several twists and turns to keep the reader interested and I was surprised by some of them. The characters were well-written and it was easy to understand their feelings even though I did not always agree with them. Their motivations didn’t always make sense to me. I give this book 4 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Harp on the Willow is the first book from Mt. Laurel Memories series. I loved this story and can not wait for the second installment of the series. 5+ stars.

Daniel Kavanaugh is a doctor in 1869 West Virginia. He cares for the people of Mount Laurel. Across the river is Owenduffy, a mining town inhabited by poor immigrant families. When the mine company needs a new doctor, Daniel agrees to give them one day a week.
He is impressed with the caring of Addie Rose Murphy for the sick in Owenduffy. When his reception quits, he hires Addie Rose. He believes he loves schoolteacher Serena, but is unsure she returns his affection, and finds himself comparing the two women.
The story reminds me of Father Tim of Jan Karon’s Mitford series, as it follows Daniel in his work and relationships in his community. You quickly become comfortable with him.
Some aspects could have been more developed. It seemed he was about to get in trouble with the mine bosses for meddling, but nothing comes of it. The ending came abruptly; while not unexpected, a courtship leading up to it would have been nice.

A good start to a new historical series by one of my favorite Christian fiction authors, set in West Virginia, 1869. Book one introduces the town of Mount Laurel, and Dr. Daniel Kavanagh, whose practice includes a wide variety of people--from babies to the elderly--giving the story a bit of a Mitford feel set back in time. The story takes a turn from the sunny side of town, to the darker, dusty side, when the good doctor is called to help out across the river in the coal mining town of Owenduffy. Not everyone is happy about his choice to serve both communities.

"We are not here to play, to dream, to drift; We have hard work to do, and loads to lift; Shun not the struggle, face it, ’tis God’s gift. " (Maltbie Babcock)

This quote especially fits the character of Dr. Daniel who is a solid character, hardworking to a fault, focused on serving his community well. His past in the Civil War and growing up as an Irish immigrant gave him an extra amount of compassion. I got the feeling there was a connection to another book with the mention of Hull House and his family.
This is a good start to a new series, with a tender romance included. The theme of prejudice stands out, mainly against the Irish immigrant mine workers and impoverished in the mining 'camp', and the choice to follow conscience over matters of the heart. I look forward to reading more of his story and getting to know other characters in the next books. Wished the ending had been stretched out more, with more details of his relationship to the woman who chooses to pursue.
Recommend to readers who enjoy clean historical romances.

I enjoyed this book very much.
From the coal town to the more affluent "normal" town, the characters and relationships were beautifully woven together.
I would love to visit Mt. Laurel!

It was well written but lacked any spark. The story was good and the characters were mildly interesting but I would not recommend this book to a friend.

Another great book written by BJ Hoff. The story of Dr. Daniel Kavanagh a medical doctor in a small town of Mount Laurel. He has a crush on the school teacher of the town Serena. There is a small coal mining town of Owenduffy near Mount Laurel.They have a doctor in the small coal mining town but he is always drunk or not available. One night when a child from Owenduffy knocks on his door for help for his sick sister he runs to help the child. He meets Addie Rose a coal miners daughter there. Serena does not like him helping people from the coal mining town . The story is about finding romance and also a story about caring for people no matter how much they have. It is a great inspiring storyline. I read the book in a day I could not put it down.