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Tag Archives: Ann H. Gabhart

SOKY Book Fest 2019

08 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by KaylasOnlyHeart in books, Uncategorized

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Ann H. Gabhart, authors, book fest, books, historical fiction, history, Kentucky, Revell Books, voice

Bowling Green, Kentucky hosted SOKY Book Fest on Western Kentucky University’s campus the last weekend of April.

Angie Thomas presented as one of the keynote speakers, demonstrating her activism through the spoken and written word. She urged the audience to use their own voices to make a difference as well. I noted that these opportunities present themselves more often than we realize because they seem so small or ordinary. Thomas’s readers laughed repeatedly with her pop culture references, particularly when she shared that she couldn’t relate to Twilight during its popularity reign (I found that to be a positive sign). A message we all needed to heed, Thomas spoke poignantly, intelligently and engagingly about the importance of using our voice rather than remaining silent.

Ann Gabhart returned again, this time coinciding with the release of her latest historical fiction novel The Refuge. She even remembered speaking to me last year, so we had a nice chat about her books and the disruption social media makes on the reading life. A Kentucky resident herself, Gabhart shared her historical influences on her books during a panel discussion I attended.

This festival brings so many authors and readers together and gives numerous opportunities to learn about the writing process through author panel discussions and even writers workshops. The authors engage with the readers as they mingle, and the whole experience brings so much insight. I have enjoyed each of my visits immensely. 

Book Review: These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart

23 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by KaylasOnlyHeart in books, Uncategorized

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Ann H. Gabhart, book, book review, books, Christian fiction, female, Kentucky, mountain life, nurse midwife, Revell Books, Revell Reads, SOKY Book Fest, strength

I received a copy of These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart from Revell in exchange for a review.

This book with its Kentucky mountain fall picture on its cover arrived when I moved to Kentucky last autumn. Though the setting was more mountainous and backwoods than Bowling Green and further back in time, it provided a place and mood match. The story followed a city nurse midwife named Francine Howard as she finished her training to “catch babies” and Ben Locke, a man who returned from war unsure of what to do next.

Gabhart brought me into this mountain world and taught me about the midwife profession as well as the mountain lifestyle. The characters all held likable qualities, and I could relate to Francine’s internal struggle to determine where she belonged and where she wanted to live in the future. Francine also held admirable qualities to strive to do her best to complete the training as prescribed as well as to fully understand her patients. Overall, she showed strength in many ways as she handled birthing situations, a breakup with her fiancé and a new living and working environment. She held true to her values as she sought her direction for her next steps.

I enjoyed this book and also had the opportunity to meet Ann H. Gabhart at SOKY Book Fest this past weekend. She chatted with me for a while was really sweet. She signed my book, and I got one of her cozy mysteries to read next.

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