Ava

by Janice Cole Hopkins

A new land, a fragile heart, and a chance for love she never believed possible.

Ava Walsh has learned to hide her doubts behind a steady smile. Her father believes that moving to her aunt and uncle’s Nevada ranch will give his three daughters the future he fears he won’t live to see, and with the doctor’s grim warning echoing in her mind, Ava refuses to challenge him. If this journey west brings him peace, she’ll endure it, no matter her misgivings. But the wide‑open frontier offers no escape from the truth she her injured back leaves her bedridden far too often, and she’s convinced no man would choose a wife who can’t always stand on her own two feet. As her family uproots everything familiar for a land of dust, strangers, and uncertain promises, Ava wonders whether hope can truly be found in such a place. Yet the West has a way of surprising those who least expect it. And when new possibilities and new affections begin to stir, Ava must decide whether she’ll cling to her fears or risk the uncertainty new relationships bring.

154 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2026

About the author

Janice Cole Hopkins grew up in the Appalachian Mountains. As an only child, she learned to love the stories of Appalachian culture, and when she started school, she discovered a even wider world of stories through reading. She was writing her own by third grade and had published poetry by eighth grade. After graduating from Appalachian State University, she first wrote for magazines because the shorter articles were more manageable while she taught school. She retired early and became her mother’s caregiver, which is when she wrote that first novel, and she hasn’t stopped since. Soon she will have over a hundred books listed on Amazon with more to come.
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Reviews

[ReadingWench · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited when I saw this series coming up. I do love how this author writes but I was more excited about the pretense of this series. Three women injured in a carriage accident that killed their mother and is slowly taking away their father from them. Each lives with a disability. Disabilities are not written about enough in fiction. This author did a great job so far with the first book in the series with the reality of one. She also does a great job in setting up the series. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Debbie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book! Ava had been injured in a stagecoach accident. Since her father’s health was failing, he decided to move the family to a relative’s ranch in Nevada. This is a clean wholesome book where the characters depend on their Christian faith to lead their lives. I highly recommend reading this book!

[Rhonda Sledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick read, but was very enjoyable. I think the story could have been fleshed out a bit more, but it held my interest. I was particularly drawn to the fact that the sisters were disabled. Surely there were many disabilities during this era, but they are rarely displayed in books. I am very interested in how the other two sisters fare given their different personalities.