One Shenandoah Winter

by T. Davis Bunn, Davis Bunn

An eccentric old man is dying of cancer, and his painfully proud daughter must ask an embittered doctor for help. In this moving story of sacrifice, sorrow, and redemption, a quiet town in the Shenandoah Valley and the powerful city of Washington D.C. become the settings for a story of personal healing and renewed faith. Written by a beloved and best-selling author, One Shenandoah Winter is a heart-touching novella that reveals the true meaning of Christmas.

Genres: Christmas, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian, Romance, Faith

265 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 1998

About the author

Also writes under the names Thomas Locke and Davis Bunn.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bitter and disillusioned doctor gets more than he bargained for after moving to a small isolated Appalachian town to start over. I was moved by this touching and inspirational story (told from a faith based, Christian perspective.)

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I just may've loved about this little hardback book the most? The illustrations! Nice, soft, cozy ones in gray hues, spread throughout the pages. Who says adults aren't supposed to get a kick out of books with pictures? I wish far more novels had them.

This winter tale of a small American town in the hills in the 60s is a rather somber one, but it does have its fiery moments, along with good helpings of light and laughter. Some places struck me as not being the subtlest of this author's work, as if the story were trying a little too hard. And while the restful pacing of this novel is fitting, some points seemed to slip from simply resting into stalling.

But the story holds all of the seasonal charm I expected it to. Definitely the kind of novel to curl up and read with a hot mug of cocoa. Or coffee, for those who are partial to that particular beverage.

[Crysti Is A Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful story!! Highly recommend!!!!

[Judie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I would describe this book as a celebration of life and of death. I enjoyed the Appalachian background and references to people who lived humbly, but with strength of character. It was about accepting life, and death with grace; and about finding happiness in spite of the struggle. For me, Nathan's conversion to God was not the main focus of this book. It was more about learning to live with life's devastations and rising about them. It was about accepting death when it comes. It was about living well and finding the joy.

[Carole Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

How nice it is when my first read of the year becomes one of my favorites! One Shenandoah Winter incorporates so many elements that I love - Appalachian mountain setting that literally enveloped me as I read, relationship drama, appealing characters that care for others, and a Gospel message that shines throughout. A key part is the loss of a beloved character, but his was a life well lived, a life of faith exemplified that touched everyone who knew him - and his death felt like a healing to the people who mourned him and to me. It is so refreshing to see characters grow in their faith, but also surrender to Christ - and the final scene pictures a beautiful baptism. This is a poignant, heartwarming story that I loved.

Quotes...
"God is all around us. He walks these hills Himself, and you can walk with Him, if you only learn the way. You got to be quiet, not with your mouth, but quiet with your mind. You got to be reverent in these hills, 'cause they're God's home. He gave them to us for a time, but make no mistake, they're His and His alone." (Poppa Joe to Nathan)

"I find reading the Bible is a good way to put reason behind the mysteries in life." (Pastor Brian to Nathan)

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book I almost removed from my "to-read" list because when I reread my review of "Prayers of a Stranger" I saw that I had given that book only 2 stars and had said that Bunn was an author I would not be inspired to read again. I'm glad I disregarded that and went ahead with this. Sometimes you read a just the right book at just the right time. What kept me from giving this 5 stars is that this book is very heavily Christian in some places. Sometimes that worked for me, as in the following sermon of Pastor Brian, "Our gathering is a divinely inspired assembly, and in our joining we declare this to be holy ground. The very moment is holy. We are not here by chance or choice. God has created a moment of appointment with Him. We call this holy encounter the Sabbath worship. The intent is that here in this moment, our lives will be touched by the Word, by the Truth. We therefore ask the Spirit to reach into this gathering and have an impact upon this worship, upon this moment, and upon our lives. We ask to be enriched with the power to raise us above our fears, to give us a healing from our past, and bring us to eternal victory". There were a few other passages where it got a little too heavy for me, thus 4 stars instead of 5.

It's the story of a big-city (Raleigh) doctor who comes to find peace, comfort, and redemption in a small rural town. The cover of the hardback would lead you to believe the story takes place in the 1860's rather than the actual time setting of the 1960's.

This book made me a little sad sometimes but, overall, it made me feel good.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is set in a small town in the Shenandoah Valley early in the 1960s. The town of Hillsboro has been without a doctor for almost 3 years and the nearest hospital is at least 40 miles away over winding back roads. In this community many of the residents do not have phones, they will doctor themselves until they are near death's door and often refer to a doctor as the "Gatekeeper." When big city Dr. Nathan Reynolds arrives he feels as if he has walked into a town frozen in the past.

[Starr · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had so much potential but fell short in many ways. I was looking for a book to read in front of my wood burning stove that would bring feelings of comfort and warmth during this holiday season. This book had the foundation for greatness; poor character development was at the root of my disappointment. I wish Bunn had taken half as much time developing his characters and the plot as he did to describe the Shenandoah Valley the book was set in.

[Robin Fuson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book with true to life characters. I would love to meet them :) This book was copyright in 1998 but I just discovered it. I'm pleased Bunn wrote displaying the Lord throughout the book. It is refreshing to read the Good News written so clearly. You don't see that much anymore. I appreciate the inch by inch revealing and the warm Presence throughout the story. I cried many times. Thank you for a great read!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Christian novella really hit the spot for me right now. The author presented the beauty and majesty of nature in such a wonderful way. He also represented mountain people in a very sympathetic manner that wasn't overdone. I enjoyed this book and have also read other works by this author that I found positively engaging.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

T. Davis Bunn captures well the flavor of a small mountain town and the struggle of an urban doctor carrying some emotional baggage who moves to Hillsboro. What follows is a heartwarming look at human nature and the intervention of God into the lives of people. It is a story of transformation. You will want to laugh, cry and sigh, sometimes all at the same time. Very well done book.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

T Davis Bunn is one amazing author. He painted the most a wonderful pictures of the Shenandoah valley people's life. It made me want to live in that time eventho the times were more hard than we can imagine. A wonderful book also about God's love for us even when we do not know about Him or want anything to do with Him.

[Kitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a gift. A nice story, but a little heavy on the "let go and let God" message, for my personal taste. Two bitter, lonely adults find a common bond in backwoods Virginia, 1960's. Just not quite my thing.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Conversion to Christianity is this books main plot. The story would have been fine by itself, but the references to God were so awkward, that it just seemed like a religious tract hung on a rather basic plot.

[Karla Renee Goforth Abreu]

This Christmas novel's setting is in the 1960's. The description of the geographics make it charming. Because it is a Christmas novel--the rating is higher from me than a typical predictable romance. I do adore Christmas novels.

[Janetkc7wvy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable, easy read. About a big city doctor who leaves his past and comes to the Shenandoah hill country to be a country Dr. How he adjusts to changes and sees these "backward" people in a whole new light and finds he has much to learn from them.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The look and feel of the actual book invites one to open the cheerful yet peaceful cover with a sense expectation. Colorful characters abound in a warm and loving village environment. There are two main characters who are good friends. The entire story is delightful.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming

The story warmed my heart with gut wrenching honesty about inner struggles and simple mountain wisdom and genuine love. The book ably weaved stories of failure and triumph, grief and rejoicing, and loss and gain into a very enjoyable reading tapestry.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story took a while to get going, but I enjoyed the writing style and the country-fied characters... wish I had my own Papa Joe!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

successfully sentimental

[Brigitte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just thought this book was okay. I thought it moved too slowly. Had a good message but not enough going on for me. I even had to skip to the end.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comfortable read. Enjoyed the "flavor" of the mountain town and people there. Good thoughts on faith. Thanks to my daughter for recommending it.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a 1960s Virginia mountain town, a burnt out doctor learns to love and a community deals graciously with the loss of a beloved elder

[Fedora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautifully written story by T. Davis Bunn.

He captures the feel of the people and the hills of that remote area.

[Linda Schmelzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story!!!

[Alyssa Smart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book every single winter. It never gets old and is always such an enjoyable read. It feels like visiting some old friends every time I pick it up.

[Cathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

T Davis Bunn is a wonderful writer. I will be reading more of his work!!

[Cindy Feigert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story about small towns, life,death and faith. If you need a feel-good story at this time of year I recommend this book.

[Susan Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

Davis bunn can draw you into a place, the people and a real feeling how having total faith in God works.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight .