Ava: Disabled Daughters, Book 1

by Janice Cole Hopkins, Douglas Birk (Narrator), Jennifer Groberg (Narrator)

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.

Audible Audio

Published May 15, 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

[Patty]

Ava
Disabled Daughters, Book 1
By: Janice Cole Hopkins
Narrated by: Douglas Birk, Jennifer Groberg

Ava and her family suffered a terrible wagon accident leaving them each a disability. As their father is slowly fading, the entire family moves to her aunt's town so Ava and her sisters have family surrounding them in something should happen to him. Ava's back has been leaving her in pain and she believes no man would ever want her. Little does she know what this new town has in store for her. Two men, both interested, but are they for her? Will they accept her? I loved how this one played out. Town rumors and gossip, the need for compassion and love, it's all there and the ending is beautiful. Janice Cole Hopkins knows how to make my heart sing and this one is a fabulous start to this series.

Douglas Birk and Jennifer Groberg are magical together. They bring a passion to their performance that makes the characters relatable and fun, each creating characters with the perfect voice. I loved them together and look forward to the next on.

[Cindy]

Christian Historical Romance

This is an unique premise and I find it most intriguing! Many people don't fit into "the mold" of society, and this includes disabilities both seen and unseen, caused from incidents, or from birth! I appreciate this series and I look forward to listening to them all!
I'm especially interested in the youngest sister! She seems to be fairly negative in personality, but I know true love can bring her joy and inner peace as well. I do wonder if she has saving faith though. I had no doubt with Ava's true match, but her age more than her disability seemed to be an issue before starting the story.
I'm quite used to these narrators, but I do think they're improving!

[ReadingWench]

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]

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]

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.

[Donna]

Listening to the audiobook of Ava: Disabled Daughters was an inspiration. Ava and her family travel to Nevada to start a new life. A stagecoach accident leaves each of the three daughters injured in some way and their Mom deceased. Ava feels, no man would want a wife who was not perfect. The struggle to find the love of a man makes life difficult. She does find some comfort in Jonathan, the pastor, but is it just pity. Wonderful story of faith.
I was given a copy of the book by the author for an honest review.

[BrendaLee]

I absolutely loved this audiobook Ava!
Such a wonderful family to read about. Disabilities hindered all three sisters in this story. They each were hurt in an accident including their father. Their mother was killed in this same accident.
This one was about Ava finding a husband because she is the oldest.
Only other thing I’m going to say is I think the girls were pretty intelligent and solved some of the problems by themselves.
This book was inspiring and I can’t wait to listen to Jo and Chloe’s story.
I highly recommend that you try to listen to the audiobook if you can. It’s has duel narrators and is so good.
I received a copy of this book by the author but was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own

[Cindy]

Christian Historical Romance

This is an unique premise and I find it most intriguing! Many people don't fit into "the mold" of society, and this includes disabilities both seen and unseen, caused from incidents, or from birth! I appreciate this series and I look forward to listening to them all!
I'm especially interested in the youngest sister! She seems to be fairly negative in personality, but I know true love can bring her joy and inner peace as well. I do wonder if she has saving faith though. I had no doubt with Ava's true match, but her age more than her disability seemed to be an issue before starting the story.
I'm quite used to these narrators, but I do think they're improving!