Whether she’s written a historical romance or a contemporary one, Pepper Basham has a talent for drawing me into a story with her characters and setting. The Heart of the Mountains (the second book in the My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge series but reading the first is not required for reading this one) is another example of why.

Cora is a bit of a fish out of water when she travels from England after World War I to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the tiny community where her brother now lives with his new wife. Cora is determined to use her nursing skills to help these mountain people. Upon her arrival, she meets Jeb, who comes to her rescue.

Basham gives readers a peek into the Appalachian way of life (the good and the bad) while painting a picture of the beauty and dangers of the mountains. Over all, The Heart of the Mountains is about courage to do the right thing even when it’s hard or misconstrued and finding love in unexpected places.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.

Well written. God-Honor Characters.
Probably the best book I had ever read.
What a powerful story,
The story takes place in Maple Springs, where you will learn how the mountain people lived, their lifestyle, and superstitions. In a place only the strong survive, every character will capture your attention, especially Cora Taylor.

💜Cora is an Englishwoman running from an arranged marriage to join her brother in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but not even her time as a nurse in the War prepares her for the rugged landscape and even harder lives of the mountain people.

💜I loved her spirit, her drive, and her desire to help others. Jeb McAdams is definitely a swoon-worthy hero. I love that he supports her interests. I fell in love with his caring heart and concern for others. I loved his itchin' lips. (you need to read the book).

There were times I cry, hurt, and laugh. this story had me in stitches until the end, there is so much happening, action-packed with lots of twists and turns. Mystery, romance, danger, this story has it all. Page turner. And I want more, need to know about Jeb’s missing sister.

This is a Christian Book, finding beauty in hard places is seeing these characters come to terms with their circumstances and still find ways to share God’s Love.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.




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Pepper Basham is a mastermind of storytelling when it comes to the Appalachian mountains. She paints beautiful word pictures of the world as seen from the ridges of their peaks. I love how she always brings together characters both from the mountains and from across the pond in England. Jeb and Cora’s story was a perfect example of why I love her books.

The Heart of the Mountains takes place shortly after the Great War when Cora flees an unwanted arranged marriage in England and travels to her brother’s home in the mountains of North Carolina. She immediately finds herself in a precarious and dangerous position shortly after her arrival and is rescued by Jeb McAdams. Thus begins the tale of two mismatched souls who quickly find more in common than expected as they get to know one another.

Readers know that they will find a sweet romance complete with kissing when they pick up a book by this author. However it is the cast of other characters, the daily lifestyle of the mountain people, and the drama going on around them that really shines in this story. The city girl who sticks out like a sore thumb and the simple mountain man with a heart of gold who is willing to give up his own happiness to honor his dead friend were the perfect couple even if appearances said otherwise. It was fun getting to know them and observing the development of their relationship as they poured out their lives taking care of others.

The Heart of the Moutains is a wonderful story that you will just have to read for yourself. I fear saying more would reveal too much and ruin it for you.

I am so in awe of The Heart of the Mountains by Pepper Basham that I doubt my review can do it justice. While The Heart of the Mountains is actually a sequel to Laurel’s Dream, it could easily be a companion book to Catherine Marshall’s Christy. Basham has so well transported the reader into the same world that Marshall originally created, albeit with different characters.

The style, language, and premise is similar to Christy. An outsider enters the mountains, is rejected by many, yet forges ahead with a mentor. As Cora Taylor falls in love with the mountain’s unique culture and people, I was in rapture as I read one the best Christy-like books out there(and there have been several lately, but all pale in comparison to Basham’s offering.
You will physically ache for the mountain people as well as the outsiders who wish to help them.

So many heroes in this book. But besides the Cora and Jeb(a couple who will live in my mind forever), Caroline McAdams is a wonder. Her trust in God is rock-solid, even in horrible times, and she exhibits unconditional love. She looks beyond actions and sees the heart desires.

“God did love His children. Anyway and always. No matter how broken or lost.” The characters in the novel grapple with (among other themes) social justice, racial equality, and fighting against unimaginable odds. Would Cora be trampled underfoot by all the obstacles in her new world? “People dealt with grief in so many different ways. Some wore their wounds better than others. Some sank beneath the pain, others soared.”

I love finding nuggets of truth for today, my “Notable Quotables,” and Pepper Basham provided so many. What a glorious book!

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley, plus I bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Maybe we can’t choose our hard, but I reckon we can choose how to live with it the right way.

Ponder on God’s truths and good memories to counteract the bad ones. The Great War is over, but the memories do not disappear as quickly for those who survived. Jebediah McAdams returned without his best friend and nightmares that would not go away. Skilled in working with wood, he drowned his troubles in carving and building.

Cora Taylor, a volunteer nurse, returns from the front to an arranged marriage that she will never consider. Running away from England to the wilds of the Blue Ridge might seem a little over board, except for her brother at the other end. Wow - how different life would be did not even enter her imagination. I must admit, the incredible detail made me want to run away as well.

This fabulous early copy was received through Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. These thoughts and impressions are my own and are just the beginning of the mark that this book has made on my life!

“Time had a strange way of stealing and giving, and there was not a way to predict which way it would go. Only God knew. And there was comfort in that.”

The Heart of the Mountains reads like a hidden love letter to the residents of the Blue Mountains. Our two main characters Cora and Jeb find companionship in their struggles after the first World War, and that companionship eventually blooms into a sweet, sure love. There is struggle, but also beauty in the descriptions of the mountains and the lives of those who live within their ranges.

This isn't the most fast-paced book, but the meaningful messages and heartwarming characters make up for it tenfold. The included aspects of religion and a higher power were comforting and profound. I found myself wanting to huddle up in a blanket next to a fire, and fully escape into the beauty of this tale.

The Heart of the Mountains was published in July 2022. Thank you to Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pepper Basham has been a favorite author of mine for a long time. Her heart for the people of North Carolina and Blue Ridge Mountain area is endearingly real and heart-warming. Her passion for the locals and the region is richly illustrated and vividly expressed in The Heart of the Mountains.

Cora Taylor and Jeb McAdams have both seen what war can do to someone – Jeb from personal experience and Cora from nursing experience. Both have fled to the mountains, albeit for different reasons.

Basham's story deeply resonates with empathy, kindness, faith and hope as the main characters struggle to find their way in circumstances neither had ever imagined. The Heart of the Mountains is a poignant story about overcoming adversity and deepening faith. Cora and Jeb's endearing love story will stay with you long after you have read the last page.

I received a review copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own, and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

The Heart of the Mountains is Book 2 in author Pepper D. Basham’s series My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge. This is a heartwarming, faith filled, historical Christian book that swept me away to the mountains in another time. Even though it is the second book in a series, it easily is read as a stand alone. However, the first book, Laurel’s Dream, is captivating, as is this one.

The is the story of spunky English nurse, Cora. She travels to America’s Blue Ridge Mountain to see her family that has gone there to help the people. It is also the tale of woodcrafter, Jeb. He is such a good man but has a few issues. He and Cora found something in common and began a beautiful friendship that bloomed into something more.

The author did a marvelous job portraying life in the mountains. She mixed mountain lore and distrust of newcomers with gratitude and eventual acceptance. With her deft pen she had me immediately invested in the story and feeling the characters’ emotions. More than once I had tears in my eyes or chuckled.

The characters are brilliant. They jumped from the page and into my heart. I found them believable and well rounded. The conversations were realistic.

There is so much in this book. Mystery, action, danger, romance, drama, are all wrapped up nicely in this novel. At times I was surprised by a twist that was thrown in, and other times laughing by the antics of a character. So many life and spiritual lessons are woven throughout the book from beginning to end.

I highly recommend this riveting novel. It is a page turning delight. Any book club would enjoy this as a selection. There is a lot to discuss. This gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit and NetGalley, but these are my honest words.

Pepper Basham truly captures this land hidden from the rest of the world. Cora Taylor finds this world as she goes to join her brother and escape a terrible marriage arranged by her father. She was a nurse in WWI and feels that she can help her doctor brother in this land unwelcoming to strangers.

She finds herself in a predicament and is rescued by Jeb McAdams. She definitely changes his world as her arrival is timed poorly due to her brother being gone from the area and her uncle about to leave as a traveling preacher. She and Jeb work together to help the little community in her brother's absence.

This book has everything - a need to belong, characters finding their place, romance, danger, and mystery. It is a very matter of fact view of life and people doing what they need to survive. I was enthralled and enjoyed spending time in a relatively new area and a new time period to my usual escapes. With twists and turns, this is a beautifully written story full of faith while it navigates the wariness of having an outsider in the area.

I received an early copy through the publisher via netgalley and this is my honest review.

When this author pens a story I always know it’s going to be excellent and in my opinion I think this one is her best one yet! I love the Blue Ridge Mountains and these characters from 1919 Appalachia had my heart. It was the end of WWI and there were more internal scars for Jeb who fought in it and Cora who nursed sick and dying soldiers than external ones.
Cora is hiding from her father in England who has betrothed her to a man she cannot stand. Her brother and uncle both live in this mountain community and she escapes hoping to find refuge with one or both of them. The mountain people have some strange and backwards traditions that Cora has a hard time understanding. She makes a handful of friends including Jeb and tries to nurse those brought to her as best she can. Alcoholism, guns, wild animals and wild and mean humans are just some of the things she has to get used to and deal with. And the way the author wrote the language of these mountain people just as they would have said it was so interesting and realistic. Being from the south I recognized some of the words these Appalachians used that I’d heard my grandparents use while I was growing up. Simpler times with no electricity but lots of mountain music, bluegrass style, and dancing kept them happy and entertained some of the time. I would have enjoyed spending time with some of these folks for real, but alas will have to visit again and again through these pages.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.

This was such an enjoyable read! I loved how strong and independent Cora was while also being so kind and caring. And Jeb was such a sweetheart. There were some heavy situations, but there were enough happy times to make a good balance. I especially loved the themes of God’s grace and redemption! I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the review copy!

My goodness. Pepper Basham is one talented storyteller! Her books draw me in and always leave me feeling like I just arrived home from visiting my friends in the mountains.

The Heart of the Mountains is the sequel to Laurel's Dream. This time, we get to meet Jonathan Taylor's sister, Cora, and Laurel's brother, Jeb McAdams. Shortly after the World War II, Cora has journeyed from England to the Blue Ridge Mountains in an attempt to avoid an unwanted arranged marriage. She's only looking for a peaceful place to lay low, spend time with her brother and new sister-in-law, and use her medical skills to help in her new home. Jeb McAdams has also returned from war and has taken up residence in his new much-too-big-for-one-person home in the mountains. Guilt plagues him after losing a friend in the war, and alcohol is the only thing that seems to quiet his nightmares, but with a seasonly-drunk father, Jeb has seen what it can do to a family, and he wants nothing to do with it anymore. When Cora arrives, he finds himself drawn to the interesting flatlander, but he's convinced he still needs to do the right thing by marrying his friend's widow.

Every page of The Heart of the Mountains is filled with reminders of God's love, mercy, and grace neatly. woven alongside a beautiful storyline. As always, Basham's characters are well-developed, with a realistic and heart-wrenching yet heart-tugging story. I immediately fell in love with Cora and Jeb and found myself laughing and crying alongside them. They both have hearts of gold, and live to serve. I especially loved some of the side characters in this novel, and enjoyed reading about some of the superstitions and beliefs held by the mountain people.

The Heart of the Mountains gets a solid 5/5 stars from me. I loved this novel, and not-so-secretly hope that Basham will continue the series...maybe with long-lost Kizzie's story?

*I received a complimentary copy of The Heart of the Mountains through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

This story is one that I will remember for a long time. The author draws readers in with vividness and anticipation. Without leaving my home I traveled to the mountains where wild animals roamed and met people who lived a life of hardship.Their ways were very different but gave insight into a world where many kept to themselves. It must have been a culture shock to those who traveled beyond their comfort zone.

Cora was someone I admired because she stepped out of her safe life into a world where strangers were hard to befriend and danger was close as she traveled in the mountains where many liked their privacy. Running away so she would not be forced to marry someone she didn’t love , she travels to her brother’s place. She was not prepared for the journey ahead and found herself in an environment that would teach her to trust, forgiveness and never give up. Her skills as a nurse are valuable but not everyone welcomed her into their home.

Jeb has a tender heart but also has a past that haunts him at times. Being in the war made him witness death in a brutal way. He likes to keep to himself but a certain woman has piqued his interest. It’s not everyday a refined woman is heard screaming on the side of a cliff. I liked how he came to Cora’s rescue and treated her with respect. I couldn’t wait to see how these two would interact with each other.

It is a hard journey to witness as Cora tries to adjust to mountain life. The people that live there have their own ways about them. They don’t take kindly to outsiders and are very protective of their secrets. It is evident that Cora wants to be accepted but Jeb warns her that not everyone will trust her. I enjoyed watching Cora start to understand why God had directed her path to this place where comfort and peace was not always visible.

The illustration of how God loves us no matter what we have done was well written. I think we all have felt like we can’t be forgiven but God shows us grace and loves us unconditionally. Witnessing how women are treated wrongly, alcoholism that turns people into dangerous threats to others, to learning the ways of the mountain people, Cora realizes that God is teaching her to love others without judgment. With Jeb close by to protect her they find a connection that will see them through hard times. The author is so gifted in telling a story that digs deep into your heart that it helps you remember that we are never alone.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

This one was excellent. I found that I could not put it down. I struggled a bit getting into the first book in this series, but this one, no problems! Ms. Basham does it again!

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

It will "do your heart good" to read this outstanding book! Pepper Basham is such a wonderful and creative author! Cora travels, to escape an unwanted forced marriage, from England to the Blue Ridge Mountains. There, her brother is a teacher-doctor and Cora has nursing skills. She finds this land of beauty along with struggles, grief with joy and danger with love. There is a holy, moving and hopeful moment described at a deathbed scene. Masterful! The whole book was a joy to read!
I am thankful to read this book from NetGalley, and highly recommend it My thoughts are my own.

This was a very fast read and I loved this historical romance. I loved reading about the Appalachian mountains. I loved Jeb and Cora. I loved how inspirational each character is in the story. I did not want to put the book down. I enjoyed how Jeb and Cora each had something that they needed to work out before they could be happy. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

When I read Laurel’s Dream, I fell in love with Pepper Basham’s writing. Her graceful way of writing sympathetic characters who face realistic struggles captured me and I've adored her books ever since. I was absolutely thrilled when I found out Laurel’s Dream was going to get a sequel, and it has met and exceeded every one of my high expectations.

Between the breath-taking scenery, endearing main characters, stunning character arcs, and heartfelt romance, every moment was a joy to read. I absolutely loved Cora and Jeb, and the way their relationship developed was just beautiful. They complemented each other perfectly!

I’d recommend this book to fans of Kristen Heitzmann, Regina Jennings, and Catherine Marshall.

Note: I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit Tours. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Let This Book Captivate You and Take You Into the Blue Ridge Mountains!

There will be funny moments, very serious moments, heartbreaking moments and moments that will make you sigh. You will go through many emotions and come out wanting another book! I don’t know that one is planned but I can only hope that Pepper Basham continues with a book that continues the parts of the story that you will want to know more about. I know I do.

I did not know that Laurel’s Dream was part of this series until a few chapters in. I will be reading it soon. I didn’t feel like I was missing a part of the storyline so basically I feel it could be read out of order as I am doing. Once I read it if I feel differently I will edit this review.

You will want to definitely want to search out more books by Pepper Basham and watch for new ones!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

Basham certainly has a way with words. The Heart of the Mountains paints word pictures that make the characters come alive. The characters are strong and believable and I loved reading about their speech and way of doing things. Also their superstitions and the local scenery of the mountains. Pepper Basham has nailed this Appalachian story. Set in 1919, Basham writes a most interesting novel about the mountains, and the people of the mountains. I love the way Cora the "nurse woman" tries to learn the ways of the mountain people. Then there is Jeb, who is fighting his own devils caused by the war and feeling this educated woman would never have any romantic feelings for him, a lowly mountain man. Woven through out is faith in God and learning to trust Him. I highly recommend this book. I was given an e-copy from the publisher and I am glad to leave my review. Thanks Barbour for such an interesting book.

I truly felt the heart of the mountains. The adoration I felt for these characters came on early in my reading, and they came on strong. Jeb’s humility and integrity, while only adding to his strength of physicality as well as character, is refreshing to behold, especially when these traits are not as held in such high esteem as they used to be. Cora personifies everything I aspire to be, living with strong faith and conviction, even when life has not taken the direction we’ve imagined, and seeing her with Jeb makes these admiring traits all the more vibrant. They both truly bring out the best in one another and it was a joy to read every moment that they shared.

One of my favorite parts is when Jeb’s family is teaching Cora how to dance after a family dinner. Seeing them both converse in the most natural ways, sharing time with their family, and seeing the evolution of their relationship as it goes from friendship into something much more significant, their spark growing so subtly yet so beautifully, that when I think about it as I write it takes my breath away in its beauty and simplicity, the writing sheer perfection.

Pepper Basham has a knack with making the mountains truly come alive, taking her readers to a world and lives that burst with vision and imagination, her writing so rich and compelling. There were quite a few subjects that were more sensitive topics, but they were handled in such a way that it enriched the story all the more, giving such incredible depth to these characters and this wonderful story.

I truly felt like I was home in The Heart of the Mountains, and cannot recommend it enough!

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.