An Appalachian Summer by Ann H. Gabhart

I really enjoyed the story of An Appalachian Summer by Ann Gabhart. This is the first of her books that I've read and hope to read more soon.
Ann did a very good job of bringing her major characters to life, especially the main character Piper. She also did a nice job of describing life in the Appalachian mountains. Not too descriptive but enough to let you know life there is not the same in the mountains as it was elsewhere at that time. The book is set during the Great Depression and this helps show the vast difference between Piper, a financially secure person, and those living in the mountains, just barely surviving.
Piper's father wants her to marry a man of his choosing, a man she has never met. Piper wants to marry for love and her choice would be her childhood friend. To help her calm her mind and emotions, Piper chooses to spend her summer as a courier for the Frontier Nursing Service. Frontier Nurses is a factual part of the story and gives a glimpse of life for them as well.
There is also the second story in a more minor character, Piper's aunt Truda, woven into this story. She has her own ideas of life and love and they are not in line with her family.
The story wasn't a book that you can't put down, it's a slower-paced book but that is a good thing. Not all books need to be that intense. The editing was very well done and that is very important to me.
This book is listed as a Christian book but it is not preachy in any way. In fact, to me, it's more a "clean" book than a Christian book. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. I give the book a 4 out of 5 rating. I liked it well enough to want to read more, but it was not my all-time favorite.