The Mountain Midwife

For nearly two hundred years, women in Ashley Tolliver's family have practiced the art of midwifery in their mountain community. Now she wants to take her skills a step further, but attending medical school means abandoning those women to whom she has dedicated her life, the mountains she loves, and the awakening of her heart. Ashley Tolliver has tended to the women of her small Appalachian community for years. As their midwife, she thinks she has seen it all. Until a young woman gives birth at Ashley's home and is abducted just as Ashley tries to take the dangerously bleeding mother to the nearest hospital. Now Ashley is on a mission to find the woman and her newborn baby ...before it's too late. Hunter McDermott is on a quest-to track down his birth mother. After receiving more media attention than he could ever want for being in the right place at the right time, he receives a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother. Hunter seeks out the aid of the local midwife in the mountain town where the phone call originated-surely she can shed some light on his own family background. Ashley isn't prepared for the way Hunter's entrance into her world affects her heart and her future. He reignites dreams of having her own family that she has long put aside in favor of earning her medical degree and being able to do even more for her community. But is it commitment to her calling or fear of the unknown that keeps her feet firmly planted in the Appalachian soil? Or is it something more-fear of her growing feelings for Hunter-that makes her hesitant to explore the world beyond the mountains?

“'Once again, Eakes writes a beautiful novel rich in relationship. [...] Together they, along with the town around them, create a warm and inviting story that keeps readers engaged through the very end.' - 4 starred”

RT Book Reviews "Eakes (Necessary Deception, 2011) traces a slow-blooming romance in this compelling tale of the search for a meaningful calling, and of women who will risk everything for their children." Booklist

Since she lay in bed as a child telling herself stories, bestselling, award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes has fulfilled her dream of becoming a published author, with a degree in English and French from Asbury University and a master's degree in writing fiction from Seton Hill University. She now has nearly two dozen books in print. Laurie Alice lives with her husband in Houston, Texas, with sundry lovable dogs and cats.

Coming from a long line of mountain midwives, Ashley is torn between her dream of attending medical school and her guilt for abandoning the women who depend on her. "Expertly crafted and filled with mystery and intrigue . . . sure to delight historical romance fans." --Sarah E. Ladd, author of The Weaver's Daughter, on A Stranger's Secret For nearly two hundred years, women in Ashley Tolliver's family have practiced midwifery in their mountain community. She dreams of advancing her skill set, but attending medical school would mean leaving the women to whom she has dedicated her life, the mountains she loves, and the awakening of her heart. Ashley Tolliver has tended the women of her small Appalachian community for years. As their midwife, she thinks she has seen it all. Until a young woman gives birth at Ashley's home and is abducted when Ashley tries to take the dangerously bleeding mother to the nearest hospital. Now Ashley is on a mission to find the woman and her newborn baby before it's too late. Hunter McDermott is on a quest to track down his birth mother. After receiving more media attention than he could ever want for being in the right place at the right time, he receives a mysterious call from a woman claiming to be his mother. Hunter seeks out the aid of the local midwife in the mountain town where the call originated. He believes she is the only person who can help him discover his family background. Ashley isn't prepared for Hunter's entrance into her world or how he affects her heart and her future. He reignites dreams of starting her own family--dreams she cast aside in favor of earning her medical degree and helping her community. But is it commitment to her calling or fear of the unknown that keeps her feet firmly planted in the Appalachian soil? Or is it something else--fear of her growing feelings for Hunter--that makes her hesitant to explore the world beyond the mountains?

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