The Boardinghouse

Mountain Women #5

by Carol Ervin

Standing together

In the latest installment of the Mountain Women Series, May Rose discovers that managing the boardinghouse and doing her best for loved ones make challenging days and anxious nights.

Now she faces triple her husband has been struck by paralysis, someone from the past is trying to find her, and malicious guests are poised to ruin her reputation.

But she’s not alone. As she does her duty and stands up for herself, she’s strengthened by the love and support of family and friends.

Don't miss The Boardinghouse , a powerful story of love, resilience, and standing together in the face of adversity.

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READERS ARE ENJOYING THE MOUNTAIN WOMEN

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The more of this series I read, the more I want to read ! This one REALLY resonated … Every book includes adversity to overcome and I've learned that the main character, May Rose, is our influencer as a reader and also in her community as a character. Another installment from the mining town of Winkler where life is a daily struggle. If you enjoy historic novels set in the early 1900s, this is for you ! Light reading? Yes, but also interesting and enjoyable from cover to cover.” – Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"History meets local color in early 20th century West Virginia, and comes alive through well wrought characters in a gripping narrative . Carol Ervin is a story teller par excellence. I loved The Waltons, but this is closer to the real thing . Sorry, John Boy.” – Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐" I am hooked ! I have enjoyed these first 5 books so much. They're addictive!… I can't wait to see what happens next to the characters, and I enjoy reading about daily life in that time period.” – Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I really can't get enough of the Mountain Women series… If you are looking for a great series of books, this is one to put on your list .” – Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ Such a great series you become one of the townspeople” – Goodreads Reviewer

Genres: Historical Fiction

244 pages, Paperback

Published February 7, 2017

About the author

I’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.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comfortable

This is a sweet story, number five of a series, by author Carol Ervin. It would have been helpful to have read the earlier books in the series as there are many references to previous events and characters. Except for that, the story was good and the characters were likeable if not terribly deep. A very pleasant read.

[Ronald Keeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading books from Carol Ervin’s Mountain Women Series is like going back to a childhood home after a long absence. In this case I am sure to have a place to stay. The Boardinghouse is book five in this series. Readers should not be discouraged by the bewildering number of characters, each with their own backstory, because Ervin helpfully provides a guide in the front of the novel which lists all the characters the reader will meet. Each introduction has a few keywords indicating what the backstory will contain. Reading all the books in the six-novel collection is a good idea for fans of TV series such as Dallas.

Although the overall experience is that of coming home to a welcoming family with a strong matriarch, May Rose Percy, this does not mean there won’t be problems. That is why the novel is interesting. Ervin has May Rose narrate family problems on the very personal family level, a level with which many of us are familiar. May Rose lets boarders in the rooming house present their own stories.

Luzanna is a friend and works at the house but she does not always agree with May Rose and she is not afraid to speak up. Wanda is a married stepdaughter, respectful of May Rose but also strong in her opinions. Because this is a boardinghouse, there are occasionally unpleasant guests. Readers may find it difficult to like Irene Herff or Milton Chapman but they will enjoy the discourse the two have with May Rose as she deals with unwelcome clients.

It should be apparent that this is a novel about strong women. They had to be strong because the geographical setting is frontier like settings where coal is king and when it goes well, families are secure. When the volatile coal-based economy sinks, so does the quality of life for all. For this novel, the time is the early 1900s, important because although women had to be strong, they had no legal rights. The second theme of Ervin’s novel examines comprehensive problems outside the control of the family. Women did not have the right to vote; they did not have the right to own property. How could they then demonstrate their strength? Many times they were forced to do so, as when May Rose had to manage absolutely everything when husband Barlow became sick and had to go to a spa for an attempted cure that would restore his ability to walk.

There are depictions of women’s increasing attempts to get legal standing. There is a section where women gather at a meeting to discuss the constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. The lead speaker is a man discussing why women should be content with their lot of ruling the home but be sure to not worry about anything outside it. At the end of the meeting participants sign petitions, one will have men’s signatures and one will contain women’s signatures. Only the one with the men’s signatures will count since women can’t …

There is a third part, not actually a theme, in which Ervin informs readers of history not only concerned with social issues. The great amount of time spent in communication, when people happening to go in the desired direction volunteer to carry letters, is looked at. There are many difficulties in transportation. If I don’t have a horse, it will take me this many days to walk. Cattle were an important asset, it was good to have many. But what about the logistical problem of feeding them? May Rose worries about all these things daily but even more so in the context of a disaster such as an uncontrollable wildfire.

Ervin writes of the importance of a strong family whose members are loyal to each other. If they are not loyal, they should at least, like son-in-law Dr. Will, do no harm. When harm occurs, it offends May Rose’s sense of propriety. This last is the strong overriding theme of the novels in this series. There is a correct standard of social behavior, propriety. It rules all things from the dinner table and acceptable conversation to social behavior outside the home. May Rose illustrates this with her concern over the possible damage her reputation may sustain if a certain rumored action in her past becomes publicly acknowledged and advertised. That event occurred a few novels prior but is a driving force for all actions by May Rose.

I highly recommend this novel as one of my “comfort” reads. I like to read such novels when I want to immerse myself in a time that, although there were problems, I thought I had a chance of working the problems out. All the reader should do is pay careful attention to character names. They are essential to the story. Names change because women marry and take the name of (get ready for it) … the man.

[Alesha Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generally, I feel a great disdain for book series. I haven't truly loved a series since the alphabet murder series by Sue Grafton. That said, I really can't get enough of the Mountain Women series. Here are a few reasons why:

1) This series centers around people who have good character, but it doesn't have an openly preachy tone. The characters face tough things in life, but ultimately, "good' triumphs. I love that.

2) The books themselves are well-paced. Just enough happens, without things feeling over-plotted.

3) There is a good balance of time passing between books, and yet the story flows continuously and without issue. I love that I am following the same characters, instead of reading one book about May Rose and the very next book being about her granddaughter.

4) Ultimately, I love being involved in these characters' lives. While the circumstances of their lives are different, they are people I feel familiar with now, and each book seems a return to old friends.

5) The final thing I love (for this list anyway) is that this is a window into history. Seeing the early 20th century of the United States from a rural perspective brings a new perspective to a time we all feel very familiar with.

If you are looking for a great series of books, this is one to put on your list.

[Tenley Skolfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more of this series I read, the more I want to read! This one REALLY resonated. I used to own a sporting camp in northern Maine so you can imagine the parallels between the boarding house clientele and the clients I hosted at my lodge. Every book includes adversity to overcome and I've learned that the main character, May Rose, is our influencer as a reader and also in her community as a character. Another installment from the mining town of Winkler where life is a daily struggle. If you enjoy historic novels set in the early 1900s, this is for you! Light reading? Yes, but also interesting and enjoyable from cover to cover.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The timeline in this series doesn’t add up, but I’m enjoying it nonetheless. Last book was the flu of 1918, and MayRose discovered her pregnancy. Now its 1919 and her kid is nearly a year old. No. That's not how things work. Assuming the flu we saw was the fall of 1918 (which was when it was bad), then MayRose didn't give birth till May-ish. Her kid is likely only 6 months old or so.

The timeline gets worse in the next book - which supposedly is in the spring of 1920/spoiler.

[Gigi2u2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

May Rose is like the Everready Bunny

I love May Rose strength. In fact all of the characters are great. Glad May Rose finally married Barlow. I love how the town folks help those in need no questions asked. Sad about Will slowing down and that Irene Donnelly what nerve!! Hope to read more about her shes a real knee slapper🤭😂

[Priscilla A Finkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My My!!

Each book in the series is more exciting than the last one! This is the first time I have read any of Ms. Ervin's books and I'm glad that I found this very talented author! Ms. Ervin, I can't wait to read the rest of your series. Thank you for sharing the adventures of the Mountain Women with us, the readers!

[Bob Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

History meets local color in early 20th century West Virginia, and comes alive through well wrought characters in a gripping narrative. Carol Ervin is a story teller par excellence. I loved The Waltons, but this is closer to the real thing. Sorry, John Boy.

[Debbie M Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am hooked!

I have enjoyed these first 5 books so much. They're addictive! I'm glad my children are grown and don't need my attention!
I can't wait to see what happens next to the characters, and I enjoy reading about daily life in that time period.

[Elaina Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartache

Heartache and fire again. They had so little and a fire rushes in and takes what's left. Families with too many children. Barlow caught a nasty infection left him without the use of his legs. He learned to walk with canes. Poor May Rose to tend for herself yet again.

[Michelle Schulten · Rating 5 out of 5]

On to book 6...I can't get there quick enough. I find that I want to find out how each of the characters (who now feel like family, friends, and neighbors) are getting on with their lives. For some that may sound a bit corny, but trust me Carol brings the history of this time and place to life!

[Mary Ellen Barnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really was a well written book

This was a good read. The characters all for together. I am looking forward to more books by this author.

[Cyndi Jett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great series you become one of the townspeople

[Ann McLellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still enjoying the series.

[Tanya Bjerke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE her book series!

[Theresa Randolph Ketler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. Love stepping back in time with these characters.

[Cyndy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book.

The the 5th edition from the Mountain Women series. It is a realistic story of life in the rural mountains. The hardships and heartache of survival. Very good.

[Jo Ann White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

I enjoyed reading this book as I have all the books in this series. It is a continuing of the lives of the people's in the other books.