I haven't read many books by Michelle Shocklee, but the ones I have read have been soul stirring. Appalachian Song is one of those books you read slowly in order not to miss one word or emotion. The characters are more than words written on a page. Mrs. Shocklee has breathed life into them and you can almost hear their words as you envision their actions. I am a frequent vacationer to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and have visited the area where this book is based upon. I could just picture the landscape in my mind, the people living off the land, and the Jenkin sisters so full of life. It reminded me of my childhood growing up in Louisiana. I don't want to give anything away but this book is one of the most beautiful stories I have read in a while. I will definitely be recommending it to all of my friends and family. It is so heartbreakingly beautiful that you will put it on your to be read again list.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the advanced readers copy it in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

A heartfelt dual timeline story set in Appalachia, full of faith, hope and grace. The spinster Jenkins sisters live in their parent's old cabin tucked away in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, but when a wounded pregnant teenager stumbles into their yard, their tender care for her makes a lasting impact.

This well told tale had me riveted to the page as it flipped between 1943 and 1973, revealing what happened to young Songbird and her child, There are some real spiritual gems tucked into this redemptive story along the way, with scriptures and a simple gospel discussion, which fit neatly into the plot. Issues surrounding adoption are explored both from the child's and parent's viewpoint. It had me in tears at times. The profession of midwifery is nicely presented, as it helped so many people in that area especially. I loved Bertie and her sisters, and the grace they showed Songbird. It is interesting that the author used a real family as a spark for her story.

Recommend to readers who enjoy a faith filled historical tale with some romance. 4.5 stars

When I started reading this book I was hooked from the very first page. The way Michelle Shocklee pulled this story together made this one of the best stories I've read this year. Her characters are believable and if they were real people, they would be approachable and very well liked. The setting makes it so easy for readers to insert themselves into the warp and woof of the plot and feel that they are witnessing it firsthand.
Walker Wylie is an up and coming country singer in the early 1970s. His father passed away and he finds out he is adopted. He doesn't have much information to go on, but. he wants to find his birth family so he seeks out Reese, who is an adoption advocate. What he does have is a note written by the midwife who delivered him, but she only signs it Bertie. Reese takes Walker to Sevier County, Tennessee, to see if they can figure out who Bertie is and where she lives. When they find a birth certificate with Alberta Mae Jenkins' signature on it and the name of the area where Miss Jenkins lived, they go up into the hills to find Bertie and her sister, Rubye. Bertie recognizes Walker right away, but strings him along to get a feel for who he really is. After spending several days with him, Bertie tells him the whole story about his mother, his adoption, and all that she knows of his family. It's a really sad story, but one thing leads to him finding his mother, and that is a poem his mother wrote when she was giving him away.

Appalachian Song gives insight into the primitive life in the backwoods of Tennessee and is loosely based on the Walker sisters who lived in a cabin that became surrounded by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although the novel has a dual time line, it is not disjointed and it flows cohesively from beginning to end. The backstory in the dual time line gives so much depth to the novel that it would be one I read again and again.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a song written just for you.

Tyndale House Publishers provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This read is a beautiful gift that as it unfolds gives even more!

As the story begins in this beautiful setting, the beautiful Smoky Mountains, where these people take care of one another, but we hear shots, and what is found after is life changing.

This story focuses on adoption, but we are also with midwives, and two of them we meet and get to know, this is also a time slip read 1943 to 1973, and the two get pulled together when looking for answers.

This beautifully written story takes us on a journey for answers, and yes, they do come, and sadly, not always how you want them to.

This is a story that is full of love for those in need and those they call their own. We are also offered some really sweet romance, once we accept what is really important.

This is a read you don't want to miss!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

REVIEW: This book celebrates adoption, and as you read about one brave young woman's confusing journey from pregnancy to adoption, you'll probably have tears run down your cheeks. In this charming tale, a girl by the name of Songbird fights bravely to protect her unborn child. Walker Wylie, a rising rock star who is looking for his biological parents, is another character in the book. He has just been told he’s adopted. His identity has been significantly impacted by this news.

Walker feels abandoned because he’s certain his parents didn't want him. As the mystery for both Songbird and Wylie Walker evolves, things aren’t what they had first appeared. This novel has been expertly created in a time slip style. In author notes readers learn that the Walker sisters, who were sometimes referred to as "grandma women," practiced midwifery.

It's uncommon for me to read a book that has such a profound effect on me that I find myself thinking about the characters and their circumstances nonstop. The topics covered in this book included adoption, forgiveness, living in the Appalachian Mountains, and granny women.
The author has discussion questions to help to encourage a vibrant dialogue for your book club meeting. The tale of Songbird and Wylie is one that you don’t want to miss and won't soon forget.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

Walker has just found out that he was adopted and it has thrown his life for a loop. What he doesn't know is the why his mother rejected him.
A moving story about adoption and how we are all part of a family where adoption saved us all.
I loved the history and a peek at what life might have been like in the Appalachian mountains with strong willed people who did things their own way.
I loved the way Shocklee weaved her characters stories together. She reminded us that we need to know the whole story before we decide for ourselves whether or not we like them. People sometimes make hard choices for reasons we may never know.
Do yourself a favor read Appalachian Song, enjoy the story and if you have read any of Shocklee's other books, enjoy the Easter eggs she had hidden along the way.

I love a story rich in unique characters! Michelle Shocklee delivers this in her new novel, Appalachian Song. A dual timeline (one in which I enjoyed BOTH timelines!), but neither is set in the modern era. I appreciated the messy bits of life that the novel showed, because life can be complicated. I loved how redemption shone through. There was a clear faith element in this story. And, while there were "messy life bits" the story was still clean.

Aaah! Such a good story! My first read by this author. Sad to start with, but sweet, and it ends well. Even though it's a split time story, neither of the times is contemporary. Very interesting and well written too!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance ecopy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Dual timeline story about a troubled young woman in the 1940s who stumbles on help in the form of 5 older single sisters all living together on the farm their father built. In the 1970s, a man who recently found out he was adopted enlists the help of a young midwife to help him find his biological parents.

Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee is a well-written novel. It explores how learning as an adult that one was adopted impacts that person's sense of self. It explores the questions that arise in the adoptee, and the damage that can occur in the adoptive family.

The novel follows two main characters, one in 1943, and the other in 1973. How their lives intersect, and answers are revealed is deftly written.

I recommend this book, and gave it 4 stars because the characters are well rounded, the story flows at an even pace.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

Heartwarming story of redemption in the hills of the Great Smokies! This was a lovely book about the many faces of adoption and how God can use the broken pieces of your life and create a beautiful tapestry. The characters were rich in depth and the setting was in the beautiful and majestic Appalachia. Loved the dual timelines and different narration. Well done! Highly recommend. #appalachiansong #michelleshocklee #netgalley #goodreads

Walker Wylie, famous country music star, has just had his world turned upside down. Learning he had been adopted shortly after his birth 30 years prior, he sets off on a quest for his origins. After teaming up with midwife Reese Chandler in rural Appalachia, Walker follows the single clue he possesses. Will an aging note from the woman who delivered him be enough to give him the answers he needs? Find out in this inspiring story of hope amidst heartbreak from an acclaimed author.