I loved it! This book was sweet, inspiring and romantic! Wonderful characters and story. I just wish this was a series!
*I was given a copy by the publisher. I was not under any obligation to leave a review. This is my honest opinion.

I have read quite a few of the “My Heart Belongs in…” series of books. The latest one that I’ve had the privilege of reading is “My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge”. I can honestly say that for me, this is the best of the series so far. Pepper Basham has created a wonderful historical romance. I loved everything about this book: the characters, the storyline, and the beautiful location. The dialogue between the two main characters was true to the times and the mountain dialect. I was sorry when the story ended. Kudos go to Ms. Basham for a beautiful novel.

My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge is a clean historical romance. Laurel wants to be a teacher, but her living circumstances are not the best. Jonathan takes a teaching job, though he wants to be a doctor. He learns from Laurel and the townspeople that happiness is not found in the things you own. He learns the value of family and love and joy. Laurel always tries to make the best of any situation and she stays positive. It's a charming story in a beautiful setting. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Another wonderful addition to the My Heart Belongs series. I loved taking a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains with sweet characters and seeing the love unfold. Inspiring and faith filled, this book well worthy of 4 stars. Great job to Basham for another incredibly story!

My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge by Pepper Basham is a wonderful book that will transport you to the Blue Ridge Mountains. It's a hard life for Laurel and her family. She has dreams of becoming a teacher, but can she accomplish them. When the Jonathon, the new teacher arrives in town to live with his missionary uncle Laurel wants to help him. There are dangers and insecurities to overcome. I have enjoyed all of Ms. Basham's books and her writing style. She writes about real people with real issues.

I received this book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

I fell in love with Laurel and Jonathan's story. The setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains is so well described it felt as if I was there.
Jonathan has quite an introduction to Maple Springs but Laurel is there to help him make a difference for her people. I loved how their friendship developed. The wit and humor I've come to love from Pepper Basham did not disappoint. There are many layers to this book, the family histories, the mountain folks history, and Jonathan's history were all interesting. One of my favorite scenes is when Jonathan describes his home to Laurel.
It is clear that Pepper Basham's heart belongs in the Blue Ridge.

Jonathan Taylor was running, running away from the failure his father thought he was and running toward a place he thought he could contribute. Because of an old injury, he couldn't contribute toward the war effort, but maybe his brain and his skills could contribute here, in the Blue Ridge Mountains as a teacher for his uncles' mission.
Laurel McAdams wanted more than what she had. Not material things, she had enough of those, makin' do was a way of life in these mountains, but learning. She had a secret hoard, carefully saved from her job, to pay room and board at college . Just a bit more and she could begin. So starts the saga.
A wonderful story of strength and faith. Rich in descriptions that bring life in the mountains into clear focus. Not to be missed!

A new author to me and a delightful treat.
The book began at a even pace, surrounding you in the feel of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian people. The story was sweet with little nuggets of mountain wisedom that is useful for a "flatlander" like me;)
The romance angle seemed slow to develop (to me), but it did come, and played out quite nicely.
An enjoyable read, that will have me looking for more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely 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.

A culture shock awaits Jonathan Taylor as he enters the rustic small town set in the Appalachian Mountains. He has come seeking redemption from an overbearing father, not being "fit" to serve in WWI and the squashed dreams of becoming a Doctor. He needs to feel as if he is making a difference, somewhere.

Life turns out to be different than he expected. Instead of finding a society of "backward" people, he realizes that joy doesn't come from possessions, but how you live your life. The best example comes from a young woman he meets right away, Laurel McAdams. She has a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her face even though her father disappoints her and her family lives in a small cabin.

The lessons of joy, love, compassion, forgiveness, and understanding are priceless. I love the message that happiness doesn't come from circumstances but from joy and love and belief in God. Joy can be found in a shack.

I loved the description of the town, the beliefs of the townspeople, and a simpler way of life. This book is Christian fiction. It is clean with kissing.

Source: I requested a copy from Netgalley. Thanks to Barbour Books for accepting my request. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I truly love this book. It is so filled with wonderful characters that have the rich quality of another favoured book for me, Catherine Marshall's, Christy. I am delighted with the pure and intelligent treasure of Laurel McAdams with her mountain girl uniqueness and humor. Her mother is also a gem in this story, so wise, so in tune with the reality and value of her world and it's people. Then there is the young teacher from England, Jonathan Taylor, who has great lessons to be learned in this mysterious mountain town.
The author has written one of the best stories I have read in quite some time. She has created a place and people who know who they are with no doubts or apologies. A people who are hard on newcomers but when the new teacher works at trying to find his place, for the right reasons, there is a remarkable and beautiful story to be had.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy of this book. I'm going to be watching to see what awards this one will be nominated for! It is excellent.

This was my first experience with this author, and while I could tell that the author truly loved the area she was writing about, I found her book rather dry when it came to the actual story. The setting was amazingly described, saving me rating this a 1 star read, so much that I actually could vividly see the places in my mind. However, I was so bored with the actual plot! I had a hard time connecting with Jonathan, not entirely certain why he was considered a failure by his father, despite it being explained in the story. His motives for wanting to teach seemed so out of step with what his training seemed to be that I really had a hard time believing that a medic could turn teacher. Laurel, likewise, was hard to connect with, despite the fact that I could see elements of my own personality within her. It seemed to take an inordinate amount of time to actually get to any real substance within the story to me, so I am sure that it is a case of me not fitting the book, instead of this being a truly bad story. I'm not sure that I'd take a second chance on the author, even if I went and read a more contemporary story of hers.

This was my first time reading a book by Pepper Basham and I was certainly not disappointed! It’s not quite a novella, but it’s certainly a shorter novel (I read the e-book but according to Goodreads the print is 256 pages), and I happened to read entire book in one evening.
I’ve only read a few stories that involve “mountain people,” but it’s quite interesting that almost all of them paint the same type of picture of them. They are a people of pride and while they may not have much, they work hard for what they do have. They don’t often take kindly to strangers, and are eerie of people who come in and say they want to help them in any way. They consider free help a charity case, and refuse to be viewed as such. So it’s safe to say that Jonathan Taylor had his work cut out for him when he truly had a heart to help the people of Blue Ridge by teaching their older youth. You also see that his truedesire is to be a doctor, which happens to be another profession the town could benefit from. Yet how do you help a people so bent on wanting you to leave?
What I loved about Jonathan’s character was how willing he was to “get his hands dirty.” He didn’t want to be viewed as the type of person many originally took him for. He didn’t want to be viewed as the rich boy who thought he was better than them and came to teach out of pride and charity. Everything didn’t come easy for him there, but he continued to do his best and show the people that he truly cared. I really liked seeing his friendship with Laurel develop. They really were perfect for each other despite the fact that they were thrown together through circumstance. She helped him try to understand the people instead of simply fixing them. They really were a great team.
That is all I will say because I don’t want to spoil anything in the story, but I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story and absolutely look forward to reading more from Pepper in the future!
*I received a copy of this book from the author through NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions

Okay get ready to gasp, but this is the first book that I’ve read by Pepper Basham! I know that I’m late to the party but at long last, I made it.

Laurel McAdams is a character that I loved from the beginning and quickly decided that I wanted her to have the best life she possibly could. Given her circumstances I knew that it wouldn’t be an easy thing to do. Laurel has so much to overcome including a less than ideal family life since her father struggles with alcoholism.

Jonathan Tyler is the new schoolteacher with family problems of his own but those problems seemed minor compared to what he faced as he starts teaching in the Appalachian Community.

The author touches on some pretty heavy issues pulling me in the story as I turned each page with anticipation. I loved the friendship between Laurel and Tyler and thought it flowed naturally. That is something that I don’t always find in every book that I read. I liked that the characters had the grit and determination to stay the course to try to better their lives.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions are my own.

Pepper Basham new release "My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge" is a sweet story. It has all the romance, drama and secrets that you will find in her books. I haven't read a book of hers that I didn't love. Laurel has lived a life quite the opposite of Jonathan's. Jonathan has been given opportunities that Laurel longs for. He is in for lessons in life he has never faced and without warning she becomes his teacher in learning to live life in The Appalachians. Will her dreams come true of furthering her education? Will his father realize that success comes in different packages? I loved these two characters and the way they interacted with his other. I applaud Laurel for helping a greenhorn which she could have just left him on his own. I cheered for Jonathan as he learns the ways of these proud people. Want answers to my questions? Click Here to get your copy.

Blessings,
Karen Hadley
Rating: 5*
I received this book and all opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book. Basham brings every aspect of the Blue Ridge mountain people to life from their speech, to their many mountain wisdom gems ( I highlighted quite a few), to the taste, smell, and feel of the mountains themselves. By the time I finished I wanted to immediately book a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Basham's prose read like poetry and drew me into every page of the story. Laurel, the beautiful, young mountain woman who aspired to go to college to become a teacher, so she could return and teach her people; and Jonathan, the young English man, who left home to become a teacher in his uncle's mission school both faced family problems and were outstanding main characters. Their friendship deepened as each tried to help the other reach the goal they had in mind. The secondary characters filled the small mountain community and were so realistic with their strengths, weaknesses, caring, prejudices, and fear of being corrupted by the outside world. Great spiritual content wove its way throughout the story adding additional depth. Overall, a beautifully, charming story.

When the book ended, I was sad to leave this wonderful cast of characters and was hollering in my mind sequel, sequel, sequel!!! It was nice to go back to the forward and see that Basham intends to some time write the story of two more of the characters in this story and that the story is based on her family history.

I fell in love with this book! Pepper Basham captures the vista and culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1918 in such a beautiful way. She writes about a culture that is set in its ways, and yet inevitably must change, acknowledging both the dignity found there and the areas of needed growth.
Laurel is such a fun character. She is spirited, caring, and driven. Her love for her family and her ability to forgive shapes her. Her dreams are bigger than even herself, and they push her. Jonathan is a compelling hero, with a past that has pushed him to prove his worth. The longer he stays in Appalachia, the less this plays into his life. It was hilarious at times as he struggled to adjust to the very different culture, terrain, and flora and fauna.
This story had me laughing almost from the very beginning, and it didn’t let my attention go at any point. It kept pulling me forward, towards a surprising conclusion. Jonathan and Laurel both have certain dreams and expectations at the beginning of this book, but as they learn and grow and life changes around them, those dreams begin to change as well.
I had the chance to read this book at the end of 2018, and I couldn’t have asked for a better read to close out the year for me. Pepper Basham has grabbed a place on my go-to author list..

My heart just melted like butter on a hot biscuit. Never has a book captured Appalachian culture so well. I was hooked from the first page. Basham’s way of weaving words together makes me want to capture the words and put them all in a glass jar so I can shake them every now and then like a jar of lightning bugs and watch them light up again.
Laurel is so sweet and endearing. That sweetness covers a backbone of steel and dreams of helping her community. When Jonathan arrives, Laurel is his first experience with the softer side of the Blue Ridge Mountain people. Through endless entanglements with the harsher side of life, the assortment of wildlife, and a culture that Jonathan seeks to understand, Jonathan and Laurel are brought closer together through their mutual love of God, reading, and learning.
My emotions ran the gamut on this book. Everything from laughter to near tears carried me from page one to the very end. Jonathan came to the Blue Ridge to escape. While running from the disappointment of his father, Jonathan finds the strength buried inside himself.
During one of their more difficult times, Laurel talks to Jonathan about anger. To summarize, she says that anger is easier to hold than love, and that is why anger should not be given substance. Sometimes, it’s hard to love. There are times when anger feels justified, but anger never really helps us. Anger leads us to say and do things that love would never ask us to do.
There is so much I could say about this book. It has been two days since I read it, and I still cannot process all the good things that my heart took away. I plan on reading it again because I know there is so much that I missed.
Basham’s way of writing is poetry in motion. Every word pulled me deeper into the atmosphere of the story. The plot moved quickly, with continued action that made every page interesting. I would recommend this book for everyone. Even if you’ve never read historical romance before, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The author did a great job of bringing the essence of the Blue Ridge mountains, and specifically the mountain people's way of life and wariness towards strangers (flatlanders) to life in this beautifully sweet story about friendship and breaking barriers to love and help those around you.

The author successfully drew me into this story with interesting adventures the London bred Jonathan had to face in this "rough mountains" where he wanted to teach and help the mountain people. The differences between the educated Jonathan and the mountain people were quite clear in the way they talked and dealt with every day life. There was a few funny scenarios Jonathan found himself in due to these differences.

Laurel was a character you quickly come to like and later love the more you get to know her (and for all bookworms out there, both Jonathan and Laurel will quickly grab a piece of your heart just because of their love for books). I enjoyed the friendship between these two.

This story was so much more than just a love story. It was about a friendship which broke the walls down between two very different worlds, about finding the best in people and developing their potential and ultimately trusting God with your dreams and future.

There was so many funny scenes, some unexpected nerve-racking, heart breaking and one steaming kissing scene.

At the end the story did feel a bit short due to some unfinished stories for me, so I really hope there is a follow up story in the near future.

This was my first but won't be my last book by this author.

Fans of Historical fiction would love this story.

Pepper Basham returns with another Southern fiction novel that is an enjoyable read. Put it on your TBR list!