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Mountain Women #4
The Women's War
The Solidarity of Friendship in Hard TimesStep back in time to 1918 and experience the struggles, triumphs, and enduring friendships of women in a small West Virginia town. Winkler has grown from a close-knit community to a bustling coal mining town filled with strangers and divided loyalties.War in faraway Europe means a better economy and more money in the pockets of May Rose and her friends, but as a new wife and mother she feels isolated from everyone. Meanwhile, poverty and resentment among the workers threaten to disrupt the former harmony of the community.When the town is struck by the Spanish Flu, May Rose and the women who have helped each other through desperate times face challenges as divisive and deadly as war.The Women's War is the fourth novel in the Mountain Women Series, featuring an engaging cast of strong women who will inspire and move you. Don't miss out on this heartwarming and triumphant tale of solidarity in hard times.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––READERS ARE RECOMMENDING THE MOUNTAIN WOMEN ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Great book and I loved following the characters through their trials. The author is great and I intend to read more of the books” –Goodreads Reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Fantastic. This book deserves a high rating, as it shows how hard people had it back then and that we are so lucky now. Will recommend this book to my friends.”–Goodreads Reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I can't stop reading these books! I love the characters, the true history behind the story, learning about how folks lived in this time period. I highly recommend this series! –Goodreads Reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Great tale of the era. Very good follow up to book 3. I love how the story has a natural flow of events for each character.” –Goodreads Reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Good series fluidly written, with enough historical connection to make it feel plausible and keep you coming back for more!” –Goodreads Reviewer
- GenresHistorical FictionAdult
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2016
747 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
Carol Ervin
27 books125 followersI’ve been lucky. Years ago, I wanted to live on a farm, and my husband said “Let’s do it.” When personal computers were introduced, I wanted to know about them and have one, and lucky me, the school where I taught offered a course in Basic. When we bought our first computer, I discovered the writer’s best friend--word processing. (Before that, I could not write without crossing out most of a typewritten or handwritten page, and progress seemed impossible.) When I wanted to shift from teaching to writing, the first Macintosh computers came out, and I was lucky enough to offer, along with technical and business writing, the first “desktop publishing” in my county. And when finally I had the leisure to give a lot of time to a novel, my husband didn’t merely tolerate my commitment, he encouraged it.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 7, 2022
Great Reading!
Reading is my passion, and I especially enjoy historical novels. I want the books I read to "move" me with feelings of joy, a little sadness, and imagination. A good book lets me visualize myself as part of story. I want to see in my mind the setting, the people, their achievements and trials
This "Mountain Women Series" does all that and more. I am eager to begin book 5 of this series. I hope others will enjoy these reads as much as I have.
Reading is my passion, and I especially enjoy historical novels. I want the books I read to "move" me with feelings of joy, a little sadness, and imagination. A good book lets me visualize myself as part of story. I want to see in my mind the setting, the people, their achievements and trials
This "Mountain Women Series" does all that and more. I am eager to begin book 5 of this series. I hope others will enjoy these reads as much as I have.
October 6, 2016
The Women’s War by Carol Ervin is the third book I have read by this author. It is an indicator that I like the writing style. As noted on the cover, this is book four in a series, but I read it as a stand-alone novel. I read The Girl on the Mountain, book one of this series, then Dell Zero, a very different genre, and now this novel, book four of this series. I have never been a very orderly reader.
History, as it was usually presented in schools I attended, was a rather dry subject. There was a war, WWI, called the Great War. The United States eventually entered it and a lot of soldiers died. But on the home front, back in the US there were those who worked to support the war effort logistically, such as coal miners.
Carol Ervin fleshes out dryly presented historical facts with examples of history’s effects on everyday human existence. In this novel, the reader glimpses the lives of different classes of coal miners. Never a highly paid job, always a dangerous one, the occupation demanded a support structure that included many kinds of people. And they all had their own story.
School teachers were important. Mary Rose had been one. Her situation in this novel improved a lot after her marriage to Barlow and the birth of her son Freddy. No longer a schoolteacher, she was now the wife of a mine owner. As she spent more time at home taking care of her son she became aware of an attitude toward her that she felt surprising. She had become one of “them.” Miner’s wives did not accept her; they resented her for being rich. In fact, she was not rich. When economic troubles hit all classes of the coal community, Mary Rose was a leader in creating community aid societies and her link to the community as she tried to build social bridges was a teacher.
Coal mine owners were seen as a greedy monolithic bunch with no concern for workers. Yes, there were company stores where workers could buy goods and run up a bill. But the prices were not competitive, the mine companies could charge what they wanted. And to establish credit, the workers had to pay not with cash, but with company-issued scrip. There was housing for workers, but the company was free to charge rent, or not. Companies were free to evict low performing or complaining workers. And to heat their homes, the workers had to buy the coal they had mined. It should not be surprising that a revolution was coming in the form of worker unions but not until after the war ended. Agreements to that effect had been signed between workers and the federal government.
With an end to the war, prosperity should soon follow. But that is not what happened. With the lapse of a non-strike agreement combined with a resentment by workers of unfair treatment and unequal treatment by different mine companies, the labor revolution was on. The United Mine Workers (UMW) began their slow ascent to a position of wage dominance in the mining industry. That should not have mattered to the Winkler Mine. Owners, Barlow, Will, and Randolph believed that workers treated fairly were more productive. For this, they were rewarded with scorn by the Mine Owner’s Association. The Winkler Mine was too humane. It was setting a bad example that encouraged worker dissent.
The reader is treated to business meetings where the plight of the Winkler Mine is thrashed out to find a solution. With the war over, there is no need for their product in the near term. Workers will have to be laid off or fired until demand for coal rises. Business owners are not the only ones cognizant of this; workers know they have to reach new agreements to survive under a new economic model.
The story is played out in the overall context of the importance of family unity and solidarity in the face of many external threats, such as problems in the coal industry, WWI, and a worldwide epidemic of the Spanish Flu (think ebola, HIV, and Zika) as well as internal threats resultant from human frailty. There is the alcoholism of Price. There is the near nymphomania of Blanche, a mother of three who frequently forgets or misplaces her children. There is a preacher who seems to like Wanda, stepdaughter of Mary Rose and wife of mine partner Will (a medical doctor). Maybe the reader will accept that there is nothing going on between the preacher and Wanda but all appearances suggest otherwise. There are Russell and Charlie, two guys who live together, shunned others, and each seems to have something not quite right mentally. They weren’t dangerous, usually, although many were wary of providing an unintentional trigger to violent behavior. And there is no hint that they were gay. I was very happy that they were not offered up as a sacrifice to the PC police that seems to demand at least one gay character in every novel. Alternate lifestyles, fine. Gratuitous stuff to satisfy PC, nope.
It should not surprise the reader to find it’s the human frailty stuff and how we deal with it that is interesting. Our teacher in this novel is Mary Rose. She interacts with all characters and tries to tone down the rhetoric when tensions rise. While totally supporting her husband as he struggles to save a business, she also survives the Spanish flu, an arson attack on her newly built home, a high maintenance child, and high maintenance friends.
As a reader, I was fascinated to see the way Carol Ervin developed all these character arcs (many, many) so they could act out an entertaining tale. Check out the teaser at the end that jumps ahead one hundred years. Winkler, at least as a town, lives on.
History, as it was usually presented in schools I attended, was a rather dry subject. There was a war, WWI, called the Great War. The United States eventually entered it and a lot of soldiers died. But on the home front, back in the US there were those who worked to support the war effort logistically, such as coal miners.
Carol Ervin fleshes out dryly presented historical facts with examples of history’s effects on everyday human existence. In this novel, the reader glimpses the lives of different classes of coal miners. Never a highly paid job, always a dangerous one, the occupation demanded a support structure that included many kinds of people. And they all had their own story.
School teachers were important. Mary Rose had been one. Her situation in this novel improved a lot after her marriage to Barlow and the birth of her son Freddy. No longer a schoolteacher, she was now the wife of a mine owner. As she spent more time at home taking care of her son she became aware of an attitude toward her that she felt surprising. She had become one of “them.” Miner’s wives did not accept her; they resented her for being rich. In fact, she was not rich. When economic troubles hit all classes of the coal community, Mary Rose was a leader in creating community aid societies and her link to the community as she tried to build social bridges was a teacher.
Coal mine owners were seen as a greedy monolithic bunch with no concern for workers. Yes, there were company stores where workers could buy goods and run up a bill. But the prices were not competitive, the mine companies could charge what they wanted. And to establish credit, the workers had to pay not with cash, but with company-issued scrip. There was housing for workers, but the company was free to charge rent, or not. Companies were free to evict low performing or complaining workers. And to heat their homes, the workers had to buy the coal they had mined. It should not be surprising that a revolution was coming in the form of worker unions but not until after the war ended. Agreements to that effect had been signed between workers and the federal government.
With an end to the war, prosperity should soon follow. But that is not what happened. With the lapse of a non-strike agreement combined with a resentment by workers of unfair treatment and unequal treatment by different mine companies, the labor revolution was on. The United Mine Workers (UMW) began their slow ascent to a position of wage dominance in the mining industry. That should not have mattered to the Winkler Mine. Owners, Barlow, Will, and Randolph believed that workers treated fairly were more productive. For this, they were rewarded with scorn by the Mine Owner’s Association. The Winkler Mine was too humane. It was setting a bad example that encouraged worker dissent.
The reader is treated to business meetings where the plight of the Winkler Mine is thrashed out to find a solution. With the war over, there is no need for their product in the near term. Workers will have to be laid off or fired until demand for coal rises. Business owners are not the only ones cognizant of this; workers know they have to reach new agreements to survive under a new economic model.
The story is played out in the overall context of the importance of family unity and solidarity in the face of many external threats, such as problems in the coal industry, WWI, and a worldwide epidemic of the Spanish Flu (think ebola, HIV, and Zika) as well as internal threats resultant from human frailty. There is the alcoholism of Price. There is the near nymphomania of Blanche, a mother of three who frequently forgets or misplaces her children. There is a preacher who seems to like Wanda, stepdaughter of Mary Rose and wife of mine partner Will (a medical doctor). Maybe the reader will accept that there is nothing going on between the preacher and Wanda but all appearances suggest otherwise. There are Russell and Charlie, two guys who live together, shunned others, and each seems to have something not quite right mentally. They weren’t dangerous, usually, although many were wary of providing an unintentional trigger to violent behavior. And there is no hint that they were gay. I was very happy that they were not offered up as a sacrifice to the PC police that seems to demand at least one gay character in every novel. Alternate lifestyles, fine. Gratuitous stuff to satisfy PC, nope.
It should not surprise the reader to find it’s the human frailty stuff and how we deal with it that is interesting. Our teacher in this novel is Mary Rose. She interacts with all characters and tries to tone down the rhetoric when tensions rise. While totally supporting her husband as he struggles to save a business, she also survives the Spanish flu, an arson attack on her newly built home, a high maintenance child, and high maintenance friends.
As a reader, I was fascinated to see the way Carol Ervin developed all these character arcs (many, many) so they could act out an entertaining tale. Check out the teaser at the end that jumps ahead one hundred years. Winkler, at least as a town, lives on.
March 14, 2021
Love this book!
I love these books. It’s special to me because the dates match up to my mom’s age. She was born 1919 and I get so involved that she takes over and I see her. That’s a very good thing. She would have loved reading and discussing it with me. My mom, my two sisters and all enjoyed reading and feel like
I’ve been reading for about 58 years and am so glad I found your books. I just wish my mom and my oldest sister could still be here to enjoy them. Love, love, love this book and all of Ms Ervin’s books.
I love these books. It’s special to me because the dates match up to my mom’s age. She was born 1919 and I get so involved that she takes over and I see her. That’s a very good thing. She would have loved reading and discussing it with me. My mom, my two sisters and all enjoyed reading and feel like
I’ve been reading for about 58 years and am so glad I found your books. I just wish my mom and my oldest sister could still be here to enjoy them. Love, love, love this book and all of Ms Ervin’s books.
January 24, 2025
Politics??
Barlow and his partners were fine until the politics of Associations and Unions started meddling in the ownership and operations of a coal mine.
I can see the wives of the workers were affected as well not knowing how long they would have a roof over their head and sometimes where their next meal to feed their children come from.
There was such a bonding between the women who stuck together and supported each other during the tough times!.
I can't wait to read Book 5. Ms. Ervin, thank you for such a tantalizing series.
Barlow and his partners were fine until the politics of Associations and Unions started meddling in the ownership and operations of a coal mine.
I can see the wives of the workers were affected as well not knowing how long they would have a roof over their head and sometimes where their next meal to feed their children come from.
There was such a bonding between the women who stuck together and supported each other during the tough times!.
I can't wait to read Book 5. Ms. Ervin, thank you for such a tantalizing series.
May 28, 2020
Reading this during the pandemic was interesting - the concern of the town as the sickness moved in, keeping distance from loved ones, wearing masks.... All rather timely!
Interesting too the development of the coal mine and the union/non union stuff. This mine is a bit polyanna in its support of miners, but I choose to believe the truth of living with and among your workers making you more likely to be supportive of them
Interesting too the development of the coal mine and the union/non union stuff. This mine is a bit polyanna in its support of miners, but I choose to believe the truth of living with and among your workers making you more likely to be supportive of them
May 10, 2018
This is a great book..I love following the lives of these characters
Great book and I loved following the characters through their trials. The author is great and I intend to read more of the books
Great book and I loved following the characters through their trials. The author is great and I intend to read more of the books
May 10, 2019
I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.
February 25, 2024
Friendships
I like the wholesome feelings I get reading about all these strong families lives. May Rose and Barlow, Wanda and Will, Virgie and Glory, Charlie and Blanche and all the others. Charlie and Blanche get married. I was surprised.
I like the wholesome feelings I get reading about all these strong families lives. May Rose and Barlow, Wanda and Will, Virgie and Glory, Charlie and Blanche and all the others. Charlie and Blanche get married. I was surprised.
October 31, 2024
Hard times
I'm really enjoying these stories, and I like the characters. The author is adept at talking about the old times. I am confused though that It seems the books are out of sequence.
I'm really enjoying these stories, and I like the characters. The author is adept at talking about the old times. I am confused though that It seems the books are out of sequence.
February 27, 2017
This 3rd book in the series continues to provide a fascinating look at a part of West Virginian history I find so compelling. Rich in characters and sense of place.
February 2, 2018
Fantastic
This book deserves a high rating, as it shows how hard people had it back then and that we are so lucky now. Will recommend this book to my friends.
This book deserves a high rating, as it shows how hard people had it back then and that we are so lucky now. Will recommend this book to my friends.
April 30, 2020
A look at coal mining town in West Virginia through eyes of the women. Different view of Spanish flu epidemic and WWI.
December 20, 2020
Still enjoying the series.
April 4, 2021
Great series.
August 12, 2021
I can't stop reading these books!
I love the characters, the true history behind the story, learning about how folks lived in this time period. I highly recommend this series!
I love the characters, the true history behind the story, learning about how folks lived in this time period. I highly recommend this series!
September 23, 2022
Great tale of the era
Very good follow up to book 3. I love how the story has a natural flow of events for each character.
Very good follow up to book 3. I love how the story has a natural flow of events for each character.
June 23, 2024
I love to see how the characters lives go as I read through the series of books.
April 6, 2025
Great story. Enjoying this series.
March 8, 2022
Ervin has a way of developing characters and telling their stories so the reader gets drawn in. While reading this, the 4th consecutive book of the series, I feel like I have come to know the families, their histories, struggles and triumphs of the early 1900s. That said, it was the first time I felt the author has perhaps inserted her own politics in to the mining town of Winkler struggling to resolve union conflict. Ironic, this book was published in 2016 yet it is a timely read that the author has included the Spanish flu epidemic.
Read
September 18, 2016Excellent catching up with character from the series set against the ongoing problems of the times as people move on with their lives. As I said in one of my updates -- I got a broadside from one element of the plot which I might have felt less had I been more observant in reading the cover synopsis but that doesn't take away form the power of the historical elements this author weaves into these books so well. Once again the story reached a point that simply demanded the pages be turned as rapidly as possible till the last one. Two elements in this one which are very much personally of ongoing interest to me added to the enjoyment.
September 14, 2016
Good series; fluidly written with enough historical information to keep you coming back for more!
Good series fluidly written, with enough historical connection to make it feel plausible and keep you coming back for more!
Good series fluidly written, with enough historical connection to make it feel plausible and keep you coming back for more!
September 6, 2016
Engaging Book
Read all four books of the series. i really enjoyed the characters. The descriptions of the town and lives really rang true. The books are great for light reading.
Read all four books of the series. i really enjoyed the characters. The descriptions of the town and lives really rang true. The books are great for light reading.
August 27, 2024
I loved this one, too! They've all been great. I'm going to purchase at least the next one. I really loved how she works in the real history of the time. Great read!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews