Review & Giveaway of My Heart Belongs in The Blue Ridge by Pepper Basham

My Heart Belongs in The Blue Ridge: Laurel's Dream by Pepper Basham

(Barbour, January 2019)

   Journey into the Blue Ridge Mountains of 1918 where Laurel McAdams endures the challenges of a hard life while dreaming things can eventually improve. But trouble arrives in the form of an outsider. Having failed his British father again, Jonathan Taylor joins is uncle’s missionary endeavors as a teacher in a two-room schoolhouse. Laurel feels compelled to protect the tenderhearted teacher from the harsh realities of Appalachian life, even while his stories of life outside the mountains pull at Laurel’s imagination. Faced with angry parents over teaching methods, Laurel’s father’s drunken rages, and bad news from England, will Jonathan leave and never return, or will he stay and let love bloom?

 Andrea's thoughts.

This beautiful book wrapped itself around my heart and stayed there. From the first page to the last, I could not help loving Laurel McAdams and Jonathan Taylor. She has such a sweet, strong spirit despite the hardships of daily living in the rural Blue Ridge Mountains.  He has a special kindness about him.

Jonathan is set to prove he isn't the “useless invalid” his father believes him to be. He learns to see things in a different way, with a new idea of what happiness and beauty truly are.

They share a love of books too, as described while looking over the globe in the schoolroom; “The world is a fascinating place.”... “Well, I ain't seen a whole lot of it, but I sure like visiting through books.” “One of the best ways to travel.”  

The friendship that develops between Laurel and Jonathan is very memorable. I loved how protective Laurel was of “Teacher” as Jonathan is called. She knows he will be good for the children. I also loved how he came to care for and learn from the mountain people.

Pepper Basham has a wonderful way of describing her beloved Blue Ridge Mountains and the people that live there, I felt as if I was sitting on the hillside watching their lives unfold in front of me.  The message of trusting God's love is gently woven throughout the book, leaving a warm spot on this readers heart.

I hope everyone will pick up this book and visit 1918's Maple Springs. Jonathan's introduction to life in the mountains is not to be missed. You also don't want to miss the Autumn leaf rainbow or the corn shuckin'.  It's a whole lot of fun!

I have highlighted so many things in this book it has become its own rainbow.

 I'll leave you with these words of wisdom from Laurel's mama...

”Regret don't do nothin' but steal your joy and cloud your eyes from seein' the blessings.”

*I purchased a copy of this book after reading the first few pages of the e-book provided to me by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. I was so excited the day it came, I sat and read it from cover to cover.

Check out ALL the My Heart Belongs series books from Barbour! (click here)

Giveaway: Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of My Heart Belongs in The Blue Ridge  

Bonnie Roof's Review Of 'A Twist Of Faith' By Pepper Basham

A Twist of Faith

A Twist of Faith
by Pepper Basham
Firefly Southern Fiction (April 6, 2016)

Reviewed by Bonnie Roof
5 Stars *****

"Education is important. But I reckon a person can't get by without some food for the heart."

Handpicked for an experimental satellite program at Blue Ridge University in the rural Appalachian town of Ransom, Va., accent reduction specialist Adelina "Dee" Roseland, PhD is appointed the Assistant Chair of the Department of Communicative Disorders.  Feeling her inexperienced, Dr. Alexander "Alex" Murdock - her immediate supervisor and research assistant of 4 years - plans to present Dee's research at the National Conference of ASHA, an annual speech-language pathologists' and audiologists' convention.

Driven and obsessed to achieve her dream job of full professor at UVA Charlottesville, Dee accepts a wager with Alex: take any hillbilly in town and pass her off as a sophisticated individual within the span of 10 weeks. The prize: the opportunity to present the research herself, with hopes of the coveted job offer. When unshaved, burly, rugged-looking Reese Mitchell arrives at Dee's job, clad in overalls and cap, to escort her to her new home at his family's rental house - his vowel mutilation convinces Alex that Reese is the perfect subject for the wager.

With the death of his stepfather from cancer and brother Trigg being unable to work due to cancer, both within 2 years - Reese feels the need to secure a more lucrative job to help pay bills and alleviate any danger of losing the family farm. Even though protesting, "I ain't up for feeling like an idiot to learn lessons on how to talk right" - Reese is convinced by Dee to participate in her "research" with a promise it will help him secure a position for which he has an interview scheduled in Chicago.

Having had a deceased father who worked long, hard hours, an alcoholic mother who spent too much time away from home, and only having felt the tenderness of love from her Granny Roseland - Dee has a different view of home and parenthood than Reese. Fearful of recreating her past, she instead focuses on her work.

Since the betrayal of deceased wife Jana, Reese has been both mother and father to 7-year old daughter Lou and toddler son Brandon. He fears becoming involved with another woman he can't trust. As Dee becomes attracted to Reese's gentleness and the safe feeling he provides, she feels guilt over the deception of the wager she has made.

Pepper Basham's first contemporary, 'A Twist of Faith', is a beautiful literary adaptation of My Fair Lady. Filled with realistic characters (including some 4-footed ones, such as Gypsy the cow and Haus the smiling hound), humor, forgiveness, reconciliation, love, faith, tenderness, amazing quotes, and realization of new dreams only God could provide - I found 'A Twist of Faith' heart-warming and a joy to read!  

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Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of 'A Twist of Faith' for my honest opinion, which I have given.

A TWIST OF FAITH by Pepper Basham may be purchased through AMAZON .

GIVEAWAY: Bonnie Roof is generously providing an e-book copy of 'A Twist of Faith' for one blessed commenter. To be eligible, please leave your email address written (at) and (dot) to protect yourself against spammers.