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Midwife of the Blue Ridge
From the villages of eighteenth-century Scotland to the colonies of America, Christine Blevins takes us on a richly imagined, perilous adventure, as one woman seeks the life she deserves...
They called her Dark Maggie for her thick black hair, but the name also had a more sinister connotation. As the lone survivor of an attack on her village, she was thought to be cursed—and unfit for marriage.
Maggie is not cursed but gifted with quick wits, skilled in medicine, and trained as a midwife. Venturing to the colonies as an indentured servant, she hopes to escape the superstitions of the old country, help women bring new life into the world, even in the most primitive and isolated corners of an unsettled land—and find a home of her own.
What she discovers is a New World fraught with new dangers—and, having given up her own freedom to join a people that yearn to be free, she must rely on her talent for survival now more than ever...
They called her Dark Maggie for her thick black hair, but the name also had a more sinister connotation. As the lone survivor of an attack on her village, she was thought to be cursed—and unfit for marriage.
Maggie is not cursed but gifted with quick wits, skilled in medicine, and trained as a midwife. Venturing to the colonies as an indentured servant, she hopes to escape the superstitions of the old country, help women bring new life into the world, even in the most primitive and isolated corners of an unsettled land—and find a home of her own.
What she discovers is a New World fraught with new dangers—and, having given up her own freedom to join a people that yearn to be free, she must rely on her talent for survival now more than ever...
417 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2008
74 people are currently reading
2342 people want to read
About the author
Christine Blevins
3 books86 followersHello!
I am an author who writes what I love to read – historical adventure stories. My debut novel MIDWIFE OF THE BLUE RIDGE (August 2008) takes the reader to the wilds of 18th century colonial America. This story was inspired by information unearthed researching family history.
My latest release, THE TORY WIDOW (April 2009) begins in 1775 in New York City at the eve of rebellion, and is the result of a lifelong fascination with the foundations of American history and the revolutionary spirit.
Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, I now live in Elmhurst Illinois, with my husband Brian, the the younger two of our four children, and the Dude, our very silly golden-doodle. I am feverishly at work on the second novel in my revolutionary war trilogy which is due to be published in the Fall of 2010, by Penguin/Berkley.
http://www.christineblevins.com
I am an author who writes what I love to read – historical adventure stories. My debut novel MIDWIFE OF THE BLUE RIDGE (August 2008) takes the reader to the wilds of 18th century colonial America. This story was inspired by information unearthed researching family history.
My latest release, THE TORY WIDOW (April 2009) begins in 1775 in New York City at the eve of rebellion, and is the result of a lifelong fascination with the foundations of American history and the revolutionary spirit.
Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, I now live in Elmhurst Illinois, with my husband Brian, the the younger two of our four children, and the Dude, our very silly golden-doodle. I am feverishly at work on the second novel in my revolutionary war trilogy which is due to be published in the Fall of 2010, by Penguin/Berkley.
http://www.christineblevins.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
July 28, 2023
Re-read.. and enjoyed it once again :)
4 1/2 Stars!
Setting: Scottish Highlands-Blue Ridge Mountains
It's not often I pick up a book and it immediately draws me in, and holds my attention to the very end.
And then re-read it, and feel the same again. Even better when I can't remember the story, but kept it as a "keeper"
Midwife Of The Blue Ridge did that for me again, and it was good to revisit a character I really enjoyed getting to know.
What made it even better was the characters in the story and Maggie is a heroine I will not long forget.
Maggie's story starts out in a village of eighteen-century Scotland, as a young child that has lost everything when her village was attacked.
As the battle of Culloden Moor rages around her, she comes upon a wounded solider and even with her own fears and loss she makes sure he gets home to his wife.
After Midwife Hannah looses her husband, she takes the young Maggie under wing and raises her as her own.
Throughout the years to come, Maggie has learned all and then some as a Midwife from Hannah. When Hannah passes away, Maggie realises she cannot stay not only because she has no funds, but because the village has never accepted her as they believed she is "cursed" by being the lone survivor of an attack and her dark black hair and special gifts to boot.
So Maggie decides to indenture herself out to the colonies, and offer her skills and bring new life to women in the the New World.
On the ship coming across to this new and unsettled land, Maggie attracts an unwanted suitor who vows to make her pay by buying her indenture when they land.
But luckily Maggie is sold to a man from her own homeland that yearns to be free.
But Maggie hasn't seen the last of Julian.
Seth the man who bought her indenture, brings Maggie to his home for a purpose, his wife is expecting but she seems to be withering away and fortune has brought this young lass to him . Maggie becomes more than just a servant to this family, but here in this land she also finds one perilous adventure after another and must rely on her survival skills once again.
She also finds she must battle to keep her heart safe from Tom Roberts a wandering hunter, who for years also lived among the Indians and has his sights on Maggie but will never give up his freedom to settle down.
What a fabulous story this was!
Not only did the author bring to life the Blue Ridge Mountains, but her characters will capture your heart and they will be unforgettable when the last page has been read!
Love and adventure, pride and passion, this Scottish lass Maggie will for sure capture you with her unique personality that had me laughing and cheering her on throughout her story!
Christine Blevins is a new author for me, and one I will eagerly look forward to her new books in the future. Luckily I have her other two
Highly recommend the Midwife Of The Blue Ridge!
4 1/2 Stars!
Setting: Scottish Highlands-Blue Ridge Mountains
It's not often I pick up a book and it immediately draws me in, and holds my attention to the very end.
And then re-read it, and feel the same again. Even better when I can't remember the story, but kept it as a "keeper"
Midwife Of The Blue Ridge did that for me again, and it was good to revisit a character I really enjoyed getting to know.
What made it even better was the characters in the story and Maggie is a heroine I will not long forget.
Maggie's story starts out in a village of eighteen-century Scotland, as a young child that has lost everything when her village was attacked.
As the battle of Culloden Moor rages around her, she comes upon a wounded solider and even with her own fears and loss she makes sure he gets home to his wife.
After Midwife Hannah looses her husband, she takes the young Maggie under wing and raises her as her own.
Throughout the years to come, Maggie has learned all and then some as a Midwife from Hannah. When Hannah passes away, Maggie realises she cannot stay not only because she has no funds, but because the village has never accepted her as they believed she is "cursed" by being the lone survivor of an attack and her dark black hair and special gifts to boot.
So Maggie decides to indenture herself out to the colonies, and offer her skills and bring new life to women in the the New World.
On the ship coming across to this new and unsettled land, Maggie attracts an unwanted suitor who vows to make her pay by buying her indenture when they land.
But luckily Maggie is sold to a man from her own homeland that yearns to be free.
But Maggie hasn't seen the last of Julian.
Seth the man who bought her indenture, brings Maggie to his home for a purpose, his wife is expecting but she seems to be withering away and fortune has brought this young lass to him . Maggie becomes more than just a servant to this family, but here in this land she also finds one perilous adventure after another and must rely on her survival skills once again.
She also finds she must battle to keep her heart safe from Tom Roberts a wandering hunter, who for years also lived among the Indians and has his sights on Maggie but will never give up his freedom to settle down.
What a fabulous story this was!
Not only did the author bring to life the Blue Ridge Mountains, but her characters will capture your heart and they will be unforgettable when the last page has been read!
Love and adventure, pride and passion, this Scottish lass Maggie will for sure capture you with her unique personality that had me laughing and cheering her on throughout her story!
Christine Blevins is a new author for me, and one I will eagerly look forward to her new books in the future. Luckily I have her other two
Highly recommend the Midwife Of The Blue Ridge!
July 1, 2017
3.5 swooning Scottish heather filled stars.
Sweeping historical romance that takes readers from the bloody aftermath of Culloden to Pontiac 's war in the 18th century. Main character, Maggie Duncan reminds me of the strong female protagonists written by Diana Gabaldon and Genevieve Graham. The romance that she shares with Tom was reminiscent of Michaela and Sully on the television series "Dr . Quinn, Medicine Woman." The writing is absolutely spectacular and I felt swept back to the sights and sounds of that era.
But there were things I didn't like. First, why is it absolutely necessary for all the men in the book to love the main female? Secondly, Maggie starts out as a stubborn character that stands toe to toe with the man, but once she catches sight of Tom in a loincloth, she's practically foaming at the mouth over the fella. Thirdly, I felt the ending wrapped up to neatly given all the drama that exploded on the page in the last 15 minutes.
BUT even with my quibbles, I would still suggest this book to others.
Sweeping historical romance that takes readers from the bloody aftermath of Culloden to Pontiac 's war in the 18th century. Main character, Maggie Duncan reminds me of the strong female protagonists written by Diana Gabaldon and Genevieve Graham. The romance that she shares with Tom was reminiscent of Michaela and Sully on the television series "Dr . Quinn, Medicine Woman." The writing is absolutely spectacular and I felt swept back to the sights and sounds of that era.
But there were things I didn't like. First, why is it absolutely necessary for all the men in the book to love the main female? Secondly, Maggie starts out as a stubborn character that stands toe to toe with the man, but once she catches sight of Tom in a loincloth, she's practically foaming at the mouth over the fella. Thirdly, I felt the ending wrapped up to neatly given all the drama that exploded on the page in the last 15 minutes.
BUT even with my quibbles, I would still suggest this book to others.
January 13, 2014
Maggie Duncan sells herself into four years of indentured servitude to pay her passage from Scotland to America, where she hopes to make a new life for herself. Her contract is purchased by Seth Martin whose weak and very pregnant wife needs Maggie's healing skills. The Martin homestead is in Blue Ridge mountains far into the backcountry, near Indian territory, where daily life is a continuous struggle.
I love good historical fiction, and the blurb made this book sound appealing. Historical adventure in the new world, right?What the blurb fails to mention is that the book is primarily a romance between Maggie and a backwoodsman named Tom Roberts. Now, I have been known to read a romance or two, so that is not an issue, but the tricky part about including a romance in the storyline is that the reader has to fall in love a little with the characters. Tom's redeeming qualities seemed to be his well-defined man-thighs and the fact that he could read. Both good things, of course, but not enough to support a relationship (or a story). I just couldn't see why Maggie pined for him. Love story aside, the first part of the book is slow, and there doesn't seem to be any underlying tension to drive the story. Had this been structured differently, I suspect I would have liked it more. Midwife of the Blue Ridge reminded me a lot of Into the Wilderness, so I think fans of that series would probably like this story as well.
I love good historical fiction, and the blurb made this book sound appealing. Historical adventure in the new world, right?What the blurb fails to mention is that the book is primarily a romance between Maggie and a backwoodsman named Tom Roberts. Now, I have been known to read a romance or two, so that is not an issue, but the tricky part about including a romance in the storyline is that the reader has to fall in love a little with the characters. Tom's redeeming qualities seemed to be his well-defined man-thighs and the fact that he could read. Both good things, of course, but not enough to support a relationship (or a story). I just couldn't see why Maggie pined for him. Love story aside, the first part of the book is slow, and there doesn't seem to be any underlying tension to drive the story. Had this been structured differently, I suspect I would have liked it more. Midwife of the Blue Ridge reminded me a lot of Into the Wilderness, so I think fans of that series would probably like this story as well.
January 20, 2019
Absolutely awful.
It's hard to even categorize this book. It's not a historical novel, nor it is a pure romance novel. My best description would be someone's very specific personal fantasy about a beautiful woman with special skills, the main one being attracting every straight male on two continents. The book is peppered with occasional references to folk medicine and attacks from Indians, but that's really all we have as far as the historical setting.
So, we've got Maggie Duncan, a sharp tongued bitch who's apparently ostracized because of her dark hair and olive skin. I don't think it is her appearance so much as it is her awful personality that makes people steer clear of her. Within the first few pages of the book, she just happens to run into a super honest broker that offers her passage to America in exchange for four years of indentured servitude.
The boat ride to America doesn't suck as much for her as it does everyone else because all of the men on the ship adore her. They let her sleep on the deck, boss them around, protect her from a disgraced nobleman obsessed with Maggie, and even step in to make sure her contract gets purchased by a good guy.
Oh yeah, here we go with the fantasy again - ubiquitous handsome mountain man, who walks both worlds of Natives and settlers, who can MacGuyer anything out of thin air and is really good in bed.
Maggie lucks out with her family and finds the one guy on the planet who just wants her for her midwifery skills instead of her rack. She's nice to the family but downright meanspirited to just about everything else. The family happily lets her keep her money earned from midwifery and folk medicine. She quickly forms a hatred for the town slut and never considers for a second that maybe she should shut up until she is a free woman. Her choices are bizarre.
For example, she walks into the woods to gather ingredients for a woman who's just given birth and had her husband and children slaughtered by Indians; the woman no longer has a child to nurse and is in pain. So, Maggie decides that's a great time to make fucky-fuck with mountain man.
In another sequence, she suggests to mountain man that he may have impregnated her. He promises to be more careful. Maggie takes offense at his offer to use what little birth control is available and storms off, angry that he didn't want to buy her contract and angry that he's literally leaving for work and not bringing her. Good grief. Was it supposed to be romantic for her to tell them that he made love with such vigor that she might be pregnant?
Oh yeah, mountain man. He sexually assaults her, but apologizes so Maggie lets him walk her home. Another sad character named Simon, a white settler adopted by the same Shawnee tribe that slaughtered his family, falls for Maggie. She completely rebukes him for no reason other than perhaps he didn't sexually assault her?
The book takes place in 3 arcs - her initial time with her employers, a lockdown while militias fight against Chief Pontiac's uprising, and a third sequence so boring that I barely finished it but featured lots of kidnapping and the completely senselessly violent murder of a Highlander by a Shawnee tribe who considers his torture fine entertainment.
We are introduced to a lot of characters who take no issue harming themselves to help her only minutes after meeting, yet we never learn what happens to them. It's bad when I cannot find any way to care about the main characters of this book. It was a complete waste of time.
September 4, 2008
In 1746 the battle of Culloden in the Scottish Highlands nearly wiped out the Highland Clans. This is the story of Maggie Duncan. At seven years old she was the sole survivor when her village was destroyed by the English army because the villagers had aided the Highlanders. She is able to escape and then helps a mortally wounded soldier find his way home. Luckily for Maggie the soldier's wife is a midwife and she adopts Maggie, raises and educates her while passing along her healing skills.
When she is twenty-one Maggie's foster mother dies and with her goes Maggie's protection from the neighbors. They look on her as cursed since she survived when everyone else in her village perished in the attack. They are cruel and narrow minded, so she is unable to make a living for herself since the locals will not accept her as a healer. Eventually she decides to start fresh in America and sells herself as an indentured servant in order to obtain passage on a ship.
Upon arrival in Virginia, the ship's captain sells at auction the four year bonds for each passenger he has brought over. Maggie narrowly avoids being bought by an arrogant, drunken nobleman who has made the passage on the same boat. She is bought by a frontiersman, Seth, who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains with his wife and children. He desperately needs help as his wife is ill and pregnant and physically unable to cope with frontier life. For Seth, Maggie is the answer to a prayer.
Maggie fits in well with Seth's family and the other settlers in that area of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is smart and skilled and she quickly starts to learn the medical uses of the local plants. But just when everything seems to be going well, disaster strikes and she must use all of her wits to survive.
This is a terrific, enthralling story of frontier life in colonial Virginia. The characters were compelling (or repulsive, as the case may be) and the settings were wonderfully described. I loved the balanced depiction of the Native Americans of the time, showing them from their own point of view as well as an outsider's. I also loved that the author peppered the text with Scottish words. They were easily defined by the context but I had a great time looking up their meanings (ie: sclim=climb, swither=to be uncertain or hesitate). A really well done historical novel. I'm looking forward to future books by this author!
When she is twenty-one Maggie's foster mother dies and with her goes Maggie's protection from the neighbors. They look on her as cursed since she survived when everyone else in her village perished in the attack. They are cruel and narrow minded, so she is unable to make a living for herself since the locals will not accept her as a healer. Eventually she decides to start fresh in America and sells herself as an indentured servant in order to obtain passage on a ship.
Upon arrival in Virginia, the ship's captain sells at auction the four year bonds for each passenger he has brought over. Maggie narrowly avoids being bought by an arrogant, drunken nobleman who has made the passage on the same boat. She is bought by a frontiersman, Seth, who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains with his wife and children. He desperately needs help as his wife is ill and pregnant and physically unable to cope with frontier life. For Seth, Maggie is the answer to a prayer.
Maggie fits in well with Seth's family and the other settlers in that area of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is smart and skilled and she quickly starts to learn the medical uses of the local plants. But just when everything seems to be going well, disaster strikes and she must use all of her wits to survive.
This is a terrific, enthralling story of frontier life in colonial Virginia. The characters were compelling (or repulsive, as the case may be) and the settings were wonderfully described. I loved the balanced depiction of the Native Americans of the time, showing them from their own point of view as well as an outsider's. I also loved that the author peppered the text with Scottish words. They were easily defined by the context but I had a great time looking up their meanings (ie: sclim=climb, swither=to be uncertain or hesitate). A really well done historical novel. I'm looking forward to future books by this author!
July 23, 2014
Okay, well...technically I did finish this book. But I had to stop caring around the time that Maggie fixes a black woman's hair for her. That's how clueless this author is. Maggie hears Aurelia complaining about her hair (projection, much?) and then Maggie fixes it for her.
And even though Maggie knows EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING and she's perfect and pretty and so fucking PLUCKY, she still needs to be rescued by a man. And that man is, of course, a white man whose time with the Indians made him wise but not, you know, too sympathetic to their plight or anything. Oh, and Maggie actually comments on how they're all slaves, black AND white.
This book was a waste of a decent narrative and exciting time period in American history. It's a shame the author wasn't up to the task.
And even though Maggie knows EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING and she's perfect and pretty and so fucking PLUCKY, she still needs to be rescued by a man. And that man is, of course, a white man whose time with the Indians made him wise but not, you know, too sympathetic to their plight or anything. Oh, and Maggie actually comments on how they're all slaves, black AND white.
This book was a waste of a decent narrative and exciting time period in American history. It's a shame the author wasn't up to the task.
November 3, 2010
I actually REALLY liked this book, but rated it lower because of the bad language and amount of sexuality. I'm glad it stayed true to the raw nature of life in that time, to a certain extent. However, I don't enjoy reading foul language over and over. I was so drawn in by the story when the language started that I just tried to overlook it (it became increasing foul), so I could finish reading the amazing storyline.
I feel like I learned a LOT about herbal remedies and very interesting tidbits of information in that regard, from this book. Maggie, the main character, was a fascinating person who intrigued me. The birth junkie in me also loved the midwife and natural side of things.
I feel like I learned a LOT about herbal remedies and very interesting tidbits of information in that regard, from this book. Maggie, the main character, was a fascinating person who intrigued me. The birth junkie in me also loved the midwife and natural side of things.
August 8, 2012
i picked this up because of the cover, but stopped about halfway through in exasperation.
the hero is a lout.
the heroine is crass.
the setting is magnificent.
pg13 yellow and probably moving toward red or even R for sexual content. i don't know. that's why i stopped reading. ;)
the hero is a lout.
the heroine is crass.
the setting is magnificent.
pg13 yellow and probably moving toward red or even R for sexual content. i don't know. that's why i stopped reading. ;)
January 21, 2018
This was a rollicking frontier read that reminded me of the parts of the Outlander series when Claire was in America during the Revolution. Herbalists, midwives, settlers, and Indians, with a good dose of romance thrown in, made for good entertainment.
April 13, 2009
This is the first novel by Christine Blevins and she debuts as a winner.
Maggie experiences the murder of her parents after the battle of Culloden. In running away she helps a wounded soldier to return home to his wife to die. His wife is a renowned Midwife and takes her in as her own and teaches her everything she knows. Years later when the midwife dies of "the lung disease", Maggie is cast out of the village as a witch. She ends up in Ireland living hand to mouth and eventually sells herself into indenture for 4 years in America.
Once in America she is bought by Seth and his wife Naomi, who being Scottish emigrants themselves, treat her more like family than the hired help. She also begins to have a passionate courting with one Tom Roberts, a friend of Seth's, after having been there for a while.
Lots of events take place - all of which I felt were accurately portrayed as reflective of the time period of pre Revolutionary War America. Indian raids, English nobility forcing settlers farther and farther into the interior, death in childbirth, brutal beatings and even rape. Its a brutal depiction, savage in places and makes you realize how much these people struggled just for their daily lives. But its also a novel about family, belonging and a love that defies description, although the love story itself is really more of a backburner portion of the book.
Its very romantic in places and I would be remiss if I didn't quote one of my favorite passages. Tom is courting Maggie and read poetry to her while they enjoy a forbidden tryst in the woods:
And I would love you all the day,
Every night would kiss and play,
If with me you'd fondly stray,
Over hills and far away.
Tom says to Maggie "Seth has contracted your labor but I would contract your heart."
Maggie experiences the murder of her parents after the battle of Culloden. In running away she helps a wounded soldier to return home to his wife to die. His wife is a renowned Midwife and takes her in as her own and teaches her everything she knows. Years later when the midwife dies of "the lung disease", Maggie is cast out of the village as a witch. She ends up in Ireland living hand to mouth and eventually sells herself into indenture for 4 years in America.
Once in America she is bought by Seth and his wife Naomi, who being Scottish emigrants themselves, treat her more like family than the hired help. She also begins to have a passionate courting with one Tom Roberts, a friend of Seth's, after having been there for a while.
Lots of events take place - all of which I felt were accurately portrayed as reflective of the time period of pre Revolutionary War America. Indian raids, English nobility forcing settlers farther and farther into the interior, death in childbirth, brutal beatings and even rape. Its a brutal depiction, savage in places and makes you realize how much these people struggled just for their daily lives. But its also a novel about family, belonging and a love that defies description, although the love story itself is really more of a backburner portion of the book.
Its very romantic in places and I would be remiss if I didn't quote one of my favorite passages. Tom is courting Maggie and read poetry to her while they enjoy a forbidden tryst in the woods:
And I would love you all the day,
Every night would kiss and play,
If with me you'd fondly stray,
Over hills and far away.
Tom says to Maggie "Seth has contracted your labor but I would contract your heart."
August 29, 2008
Years ago when Hannah Cameron’s husband, Alan came back from the war wounded he wasn’t alone. Alan was accompanied by a little girl named Maggie. Maggie was no ordinary girl. She was the only lone survivor of her town’s massacre. Now the years have past and Maggie is all grown up and Hannah and Alan are gone. The townsfolk have a name for Maggie; they call her “Dark Maggie”. At first when people started calling her that it was because she had dark hair but now the name has a whole new meaning... it’s because the townsfolk believe that Maggie is cursed and possess the dark eye.
One day an outsider plays a visit to town. He offers Maggie a chance to make her own way in the land of freedom, known as America. Maggie agrees and sets sail for America. Once there, Maggie is bought by a man named Seth Martin. This is when the adventure really starts for Maggie. Maggie is ready to experience all that American has to offer, including a handsome man named Tom Roberts.
What a bunch of interesting and intriguing characters, Ms. Blevins introduces first time readers to in her book Midwife of the Blue Ridge. I would categorize Midwife of the Blue Ridge as an Early American, Romance novel. Instantly I feel in love with this book as well as the story it told. Which is surprising to me as I enjoy reading historical novels but most have been more along the lines of Scottish, English, French, Ireland novels…notice a pattern here, not to say that there is anything wrong with these types of books; it’s just that I can’t remember many Early American books where I have enjoyed reading them so much as I did Ms. Blevins. Midwife of the Blue Ridge is Ms. Blevins first novel but I am sure we will hear from her again soon.
One day an outsider plays a visit to town. He offers Maggie a chance to make her own way in the land of freedom, known as America. Maggie agrees and sets sail for America. Once there, Maggie is bought by a man named Seth Martin. This is when the adventure really starts for Maggie. Maggie is ready to experience all that American has to offer, including a handsome man named Tom Roberts.
What a bunch of interesting and intriguing characters, Ms. Blevins introduces first time readers to in her book Midwife of the Blue Ridge. I would categorize Midwife of the Blue Ridge as an Early American, Romance novel. Instantly I feel in love with this book as well as the story it told. Which is surprising to me as I enjoy reading historical novels but most have been more along the lines of Scottish, English, French, Ireland novels…notice a pattern here, not to say that there is anything wrong with these types of books; it’s just that I can’t remember many Early American books where I have enjoyed reading them so much as I did Ms. Blevins. Midwife of the Blue Ridge is Ms. Blevins first novel but I am sure we will hear from her again soon.
October 30, 2011
It started out great... Had all the elements I look for in a book. History, Struggle, Friendship, Loyalty, and Love.
An awesome beginning, a wee Scottish lass full of spunk and brains signs up as an indentured servant, heading for the New World to escape the hardships of Scotland after Culloden. Authentic Scottish prose, Hilarious and Charming banter, and an overall feeling of possibility and hope.
Its beginninf was reminiscent to some of my favorites stories, and was succesful in grabbing my attention, and tugging on my heart string, however it tapered off at the end. I am not able to pinpoint where the disconnection happened, it was quite sudden really. One moment I was loving it, the next moment I was yawning. It was a strange transition.
Over all, a sweet story, decent writing and fairly engaging love story. Could have used more detail into Tom and Maggie though... There love seemed as abrubt as my loss of interest.
Happy Reading.
An awesome beginning, a wee Scottish lass full of spunk and brains signs up as an indentured servant, heading for the New World to escape the hardships of Scotland after Culloden. Authentic Scottish prose, Hilarious and Charming banter, and an overall feeling of possibility and hope.
Its beginninf was reminiscent to some of my favorites stories, and was succesful in grabbing my attention, and tugging on my heart string, however it tapered off at the end. I am not able to pinpoint where the disconnection happened, it was quite sudden really. One moment I was loving it, the next moment I was yawning. It was a strange transition.
Over all, a sweet story, decent writing and fairly engaging love story. Could have used more detail into Tom and Maggie though... There love seemed as abrubt as my loss of interest.
Happy Reading.
September 23, 2008
As the sole survivor of a vicious attack on her village, Maggie Duncan is viewed by many in Black Corries, Scotland as a harbinger of bad luck. But Hannah Cameron, grateful to young Maggie for bringing her mortally wounded husband home to her, adopts the young girl. Hannah is a midwife and she soon teaches her healing skills to Maggie.
After Hannah’s death, Maggie finds herself in a difficult position. The people of Black Corries are very superstitious and blame her for Hannah’s death. Believing that Maggie possesses the “evil eye”, most of the villagers steer clear of her. When she’s offered a chance to sail to America to become an indentured servant, Maggie quickly agrees. Four years of work as an indentured servant seems a small price to pay for the promise of a new start in colonial America.
But the New World holds new dangers for Maggie. As settlers venture deeper into Indian territory, unrest grows within the local tribes. Indian raids are a constant threat. Illness can claim a person’s life swiftly, something Maggie is acutely aware of in her work as a midwife.
Along with the danger comes opportunity. Maggie’s skills as both a midwife and a healer are invaluable to the community. And when Tom Roberts, a vagabond hunter, starts to show romantic interest in Maggie, she begins to dream of a free life with him. Soon, however, Maggie will find her courage to survive in this new world tested as never before.
The Midwife of Blue Ridge is certainly a page-turner, but I found myself disappointed with several elements of the story. The crude language used throughout really distracted me from the main storyline. There were detailed descriptions of men urinating, numerous references to flatulence, etc. that I felt added little to the story. (One of the chapters of the book is entitled “Turds and Primroses.” While I appreciate that the author was trying to show the reality of frontier living, I often thought that these descriptions ventured into the realm of TMI – too much information.)
I liked Maggie’s character quite a bit, but I never felt a strong emotional connection to her. Several traumatic, emotional scenes are written in such a way that the reader feels like an outside observer. I really wanted to get inside Maggie’s head and know how these events affected her, but I felt that I was never given that opportunity. Events that should have had a lasting psychological impact were left largely unexplored.
The descriptions of medical treatment in colonial times were fascinating and they became one of my favorite things about Midwife of the Blue Ridge. There were lots of great little details like the use of spider webs to stanch bleeding or yarrow to ease the pain of a burn.
I felt that there was some unrealized potential with Midwife of the Blue Ridge, but I would not hesitate to read a future offering from Ms. Blevins.
After Hannah’s death, Maggie finds herself in a difficult position. The people of Black Corries are very superstitious and blame her for Hannah’s death. Believing that Maggie possesses the “evil eye”, most of the villagers steer clear of her. When she’s offered a chance to sail to America to become an indentured servant, Maggie quickly agrees. Four years of work as an indentured servant seems a small price to pay for the promise of a new start in colonial America.
But the New World holds new dangers for Maggie. As settlers venture deeper into Indian territory, unrest grows within the local tribes. Indian raids are a constant threat. Illness can claim a person’s life swiftly, something Maggie is acutely aware of in her work as a midwife.
Along with the danger comes opportunity. Maggie’s skills as both a midwife and a healer are invaluable to the community. And when Tom Roberts, a vagabond hunter, starts to show romantic interest in Maggie, she begins to dream of a free life with him. Soon, however, Maggie will find her courage to survive in this new world tested as never before.
The Midwife of Blue Ridge is certainly a page-turner, but I found myself disappointed with several elements of the story. The crude language used throughout really distracted me from the main storyline. There were detailed descriptions of men urinating, numerous references to flatulence, etc. that I felt added little to the story. (One of the chapters of the book is entitled “Turds and Primroses.” While I appreciate that the author was trying to show the reality of frontier living, I often thought that these descriptions ventured into the realm of TMI – too much information.)
I liked Maggie’s character quite a bit, but I never felt a strong emotional connection to her. Several traumatic, emotional scenes are written in such a way that the reader feels like an outside observer. I really wanted to get inside Maggie’s head and know how these events affected her, but I felt that I was never given that opportunity. Events that should have had a lasting psychological impact were left largely unexplored.
The descriptions of medical treatment in colonial times were fascinating and they became one of my favorite things about Midwife of the Blue Ridge. There were lots of great little details like the use of spider webs to stanch bleeding or yarrow to ease the pain of a burn.
I felt that there was some unrealized potential with Midwife of the Blue Ridge, but I would not hesitate to read a future offering from Ms. Blevins.
March 30, 2012
The male protagonist wasn't Nathaniel, and the setting wasn't Paradise.
In my opinion, this book sits somewhere in between Shadowbrook by Beverley Swerling (unreadable, the characters were so flat and the storylines so numerous), and my favorite book ever: Into the Wilderness, by Sara Donati (pretty much my standard for colonial/frontier historical fiction).
It follows "Dark Maggie," a young Scottish immigrant to the colonies. Beautiful, headstrong, intelligent, and a skilled midwife, she gets into trouble on the voyage across the Atlantic by attracting the attention of a spoiled lordling. He attempts to make life difficult for her on ship, and tries to buy her on the docks, when she stands in line to be sold as an indentured servant. Luckily for her, the captain of her ship intervenes in the auction on her behalf, and when a less-than-well-kempt backwoodsman makes the first substantial bid, the auctioneer signs her over. Thus begin her adventures on the frontier in Ohio country, where she plies her trade, learns the customs, begins to fit in to the society, and finds a man she'd like to settle down with. Then, of course, tragedy strikes.
Now that I think back on it, some of the plot reminds me extremely of Into the Wilderness: The Long Hunters.
The setting is vivid, the writing is mostly a good mix between fast-paced and descriptive, with maybe an emphasis on fast-paced. The history has been researched well, and the historical details make the setting atmospheric.
I didn't find the characters as interesting or realistic as those in Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati. The female protagonist is likable, but the male protagonist was not so much. Their relationship starts off intriguingly, but at one point, after imbibing at a frontier shindig, he goes a step or three too far, acts the brute, and loses his shine. I never really got behind him again in the novel. There are ways of adding conflict without ruining my liking for the main characters.
One of the most compelling scenes was the description of "forting up," when the frontier settlers all move into the small fort to evade raiding Shawnee.
In my opinion, this book sits somewhere in between Shadowbrook by Beverley Swerling (unreadable, the characters were so flat and the storylines so numerous), and my favorite book ever: Into the Wilderness, by Sara Donati (pretty much my standard for colonial/frontier historical fiction).
It follows "Dark Maggie," a young Scottish immigrant to the colonies. Beautiful, headstrong, intelligent, and a skilled midwife, she gets into trouble on the voyage across the Atlantic by attracting the attention of a spoiled lordling. He attempts to make life difficult for her on ship, and tries to buy her on the docks, when she stands in line to be sold as an indentured servant. Luckily for her, the captain of her ship intervenes in the auction on her behalf, and when a less-than-well-kempt backwoodsman makes the first substantial bid, the auctioneer signs her over. Thus begin her adventures on the frontier in Ohio country, where she plies her trade, learns the customs, begins to fit in to the society, and finds a man she'd like to settle down with. Then, of course, tragedy strikes.
Now that I think back on it, some of the plot reminds me extremely of Into the Wilderness: The Long Hunters.
The setting is vivid, the writing is mostly a good mix between fast-paced and descriptive, with maybe an emphasis on fast-paced. The history has been researched well, and the historical details make the setting atmospheric.
I didn't find the characters as interesting or realistic as those in Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati. The female protagonist is likable, but the male protagonist was not so much. Their relationship starts off intriguingly, but at one point, after imbibing at a frontier shindig, he goes a step or three too far, acts the brute, and loses his shine. I never really got behind him again in the novel. There are ways of adding conflict without ruining my liking for the main characters.
One of the most compelling scenes was the description of "forting up," when the frontier settlers all move into the small fort to evade raiding Shawnee.
December 2, 2011
Fabulous book. Should not of been presented with the "Rosemary Rogers" type cover for it is so much out of that league. It's better.
A beautiful, realistic portray of 18th cent live in Virginia. The mountains, the birds,plants, animals. It all weaves together so well.A very well thought out book. Not a dumb romance book. :-) Not at all!
I LOVE the historic details of primitive medicine and herbology. Willow Bark tea! Where aspirin comes from! A sense of camaraderie takes place in the Roundabout area that brings it all together. A place you want to be. Isn't that the purpose of a good novel? To draw you in to a place you'd like to spend time? Great escapism, just when I need it!
Ms. Blevins has it all together in this novel. I was quite surprised by this book-- not a vapid read like so many other historical novels out there.
Would LOVE to see a sequel. Great job
A beautiful, realistic portray of 18th cent live in Virginia. The mountains, the birds,plants, animals. It all weaves together so well.A very well thought out book. Not a dumb romance book. :-) Not at all!
I LOVE the historic details of primitive medicine and herbology. Willow Bark tea! Where aspirin comes from! A sense of camaraderie takes place in the Roundabout area that brings it all together. A place you want to be. Isn't that the purpose of a good novel? To draw you in to a place you'd like to spend time? Great escapism, just when I need it!
Ms. Blevins has it all together in this novel. I was quite surprised by this book-- not a vapid read like so many other historical novels out there.
Would LOVE to see a sequel. Great job
May 13, 2013
I really loved the way the main character 'spoke', I like reading accents. Thie scottish lass is brought to America willingly as an indentured servant. She is also a midwife and healer using herbs. I really enjoyed the midwife and healing side of the character. I did however find it hard to get to know the characters better. I felt them a bit standoffish about their feelings.
The book is beautifully set and there is almost non-stop action. I loved the book by the end and was hoping the author had written more like this, but unfortunatelt she did not write about Scottish Lasses in future novels.
This is a great on Historical facts and how things were back when America was new.
The book is beautifully set and there is almost non-stop action. I loved the book by the end and was hoping the author had written more like this, but unfortunatelt she did not write about Scottish Lasses in future novels.
This is a great on Historical facts and how things were back when America was new.
August 23, 2008
Well-researched and beautifully written, Midwife of the Blue Ridge doesn't shy away from the harsh realities that flavored life on the colonial frontier. Blevins' characters are swept away by circumstance yet still reveal the strength required to carry off the plot.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to readers thirsty for adventure in the New World's wild western frontier.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to readers thirsty for adventure in the New World's wild western frontier.
September 5, 2008
I liked this book because the midwife is an indentured servant from Scotland. Ach Aye! Interesting account of the butchery of the new world, from both sides. Some herbology and holistic medicine, too.
July 22, 2010
A good historical read
June 27, 2021
The heavy use of dialect takes me out of the story. It's really different and includes all the historical not-so-nice stuff. But I like the story.
January 25, 2023
One of my fave books. Excellent history, excellent romance, and a heroine who is very likable. Love this book!!
September 6, 2008
I don't usually read historic fiction - this was very good - a romance, but also a good story.
November 17, 2024
Maggie Duncan sets off for the New World in 1760 as an indentured servant. She is trained as a midwife and Scotland has become a dark place for her after her family is all killed. However, she is worried about who will purchase her contract. She meets an obnoxious man, Viscount Julian Cavendish, while on board the sea voyage to America, who threatens her. Fortunately, a kindly man with a sickly, pregnant wife, Seth Martin, is able to purchase her contract. Together they travel to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It is very rough and tumble existence and Maggie cares for Seth, his wife, Naomi, and their three young children. She falls in love with a hunter named Tom who is relucant to settle down. There are Indian attacks and the Martins and the fellow settlers gather in a Roundhouse (fortress) for safety. Suddenly, there is someone who is contesting the property claims of the Martin family and some of the other settlers. Apparently, Viscount Cavendish has title to the land and plans to plant tobacco. The Martins see their neighbors forcibly and mercilessly evicted with none of their possessions. When Seth's claim is threatened, Maggie encourages him to make a deal with Cavendish to allow him to finish bringing in his corn crop. This means Maggie must go with Cavendish, who is of course, mean and vicious. Of course, all ends well for the main characters and Tom and Maggie live happily ever after. Cavendish is captured by the Indians and we can only assume he has come to a grisly end (based on the other descriptions we had of what Indians did to their captives). I gave this book only two stars because the dialogue (Scottish dialect) was very difficult to follow, detracting from the reading. There are also a lot of gruesome episodes - mistreatment of slaves on plantations, descriptions of whippings, and vicious Indian attacks. This is not for the faint hearted. In fact, the book started by describing brutal killings that took place in Scotland in the 1740s
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2017
Completely engrossing historical fiction set in 16th century Appalachia. The Scottish Irish English as well Black slaves and Native Americans were all part of the settlement of this area. This wonderful novel explores the complex interactions of these different ethnic groups. Maggie the heroine is a feisty fascinating Scottish indentured servant. She is a midwife and healer. I very much enjoyed learning about the native herbs and plants that were so skillfully and successfully gathered and utilized as medicinals and treatments for healing. The healers--women were portrayed as strong knowledgeable indispensable members of the community.. The hunters farmers indentured servants slaves British each faced numerous challenges to claim and settle the Mountain frontier in the area that would become Virginia. I have read Blevins other novels. She is a gifted storyteller, I enjoyed this book thoroughly and recommend it highly.
January 10, 2026
I liked this book up until the ending. A lot happens from start to finish, and it definitely made me grateful I was not a frontier indentured servant. I knocked it down a star because it tries to be too many things at once and doesn’t fully succeed at any of them. It isn’t a romance, but it has a romance. It isn’t strictly historical fiction, but includes historical events.There’s a great deal of hardship and violence throughout - very violent. Maggie is fiery, wildly capable, and somehow loved by everyone— yet very feral and crass. Overall, it’s a good book, but one that may annoy, anger, or offend some readers due to its portrayals of frontier people, Indigenous peoples, and enslaved Black people. Truth the setting was harsh and given the level of hardship and violence it is hard to romanticize any of it.
July 11, 2019
I couldn’t bring myself to finish. I got to page 88. It read like a straight to TV movie. I found I just didn’t care about the characters; Maggie was too magical to seem real, and the way that the natives are continuously referred to as savages is uncomfortable. I know it’s supposed to be representative of the time period, but still felt weird. As a comparison point, treatment of women is also portrayed fairly accurately for the time, but with some self awareness/reflection that things like rape are wrong. The commentary on indigenous people is not given that same level of reflection. Maybe my social worker lens has ruined my ability to filter out certain things, but I’m okay with that.
February 13, 2023
I liked this book. I liked Maggie’s spirit and how it was historically accurate. However the name is misleading as they don’t get to the blue ridge mountains until the last page and the main characters and storyline of so darn predictable. It reads like someone well educated wrote it but the actual storytelling aspect is really poor. If there was a sequel I probably wouldn’t read it. As someone whose grown up on the blue ridge, it feels such a disservice to the beauty of this area and all it has to offer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2025
Midwife?? if the Blue Ridge
What a disappointment. Very little midwifery and too much unnecessary gore, and graphic rape. Poorly written with too much jargon of Scottish accented slang. Some chapters seemed to be written by someone else!
There was very little majesty of the Blue Ridge mountain range along with ignorant characters that were an insult to the people.
If you are looking for an intelligent story of a midwife of the Blue Ridge as the title suggests this is not the book for you
What a disappointment. Very little midwifery and too much unnecessary gore, and graphic rape. Poorly written with too much jargon of Scottish accented slang. Some chapters seemed to be written by someone else!
There was very little majesty of the Blue Ridge mountain range along with ignorant characters that were an insult to the people.
If you are looking for an intelligent story of a midwife of the Blue Ridge as the title suggests this is not the book for you
July 1, 2022
This book was….EXCEPTIONAL!! 🥺🥺🥰🥰
I am absolutely in love with Blevins style of writing. Just the perfect amount of romance, gore, and suspense to the point where I cannot put it down dare I face withdrawal symptoms! I cried, laughed and even almost threw up. Love the guy wrenching emotions and the fact that I felt so connected to the time period to the people and to the stunning back drop of the blue ridge mountains!
10/10!! 👏🏻👏🏻
I am absolutely in love with Blevins style of writing. Just the perfect amount of romance, gore, and suspense to the point where I cannot put it down dare I face withdrawal symptoms! I cried, laughed and even almost threw up. Love the guy wrenching emotions and the fact that I felt so connected to the time period to the people and to the stunning back drop of the blue ridge mountains!
10/10!! 👏🏻👏🏻
September 6, 2018
I really liked this book. It was very engaging and I had a hard time putting it down, but I just don’t understand why authors have to use the “f” word. Did they really use that word in the 18th century? I loved Maggie and learning about the medicinal uses of plants. Filled with great characters.
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