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This book was based on a real person, Martha Ballard, a midwife and healer in the late 18th century. There is a murder mystery and rape, but also relationships of family and small community. This is the best kind of historical fiction: complete immersion into a historical setting and a protagonist that refuses to look the other way and approaches her life with honesty and conviction. Strong women has always appealed to me. Highly recommend.

The body floats downstream.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

This is my first Ariel Lawhon title and it is riveting! 🎧📚💕❄️

It is winter in Hallowell,Maine,a community on the Kennebunk River.Beautiful,lyrical writing,historical fiction at its best.A local midwife,Martha Ballard,becomes involved in a rape trial because she treated the battered & bruised woman who was raped by 2 men.Martha remains steadfast & true to her daily medicinal diary observations & her voice,despite some peoples efforts to silence her.Murder,deception, & dissension follow.#auldlangspine

Thank you @bookbrowse and @penguinrandomhouse for a copy of this book for discussion on https://www.bookbrowse.com/

I just love this image of a meandering mind. 🩵🩵
#auldlangspine

The body floats downstream.

#firstlinefriday

So good! Captivating and powerful, Lawhon‘s novel is a gripping read that you won‘t want to put down. Based on a true story of a midwife in 18th century America, I loved this strong, courageous woman who was fighting for justice and truth, no matter what it takes. This is a story of resilience, compassion, family, and the relentless pursuit of equality. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Great read, I love a good historical fiction.

#12Booksof2024

Hard to believe we‘re already up to November with our list—so fun sorting through everything I read and picking favorites. Hard too, but this month was an easy one. Loved this story about a midwife in late 18th c. Maine. Once I started I found it impossible to put down. Setting and characters—with plenty of people to love and/or hate—were fantastic. A great high stakes story that keeps you engaged from page one.

@Andrew65

I received this as a Christmas gift this year. Book number one of 2025. The reading year has started off strong.

Started this yesterday and it‘s gripping so far. But I‘m only on p.24 and already distracted by historical details. A character shows up in a small Maine village claiming to be “a licensed physician and recent graduate of Harvard Medical School,” which is … weird. Medical licensing wasn‘t a widespread practice until the 1800s, and the book takes place in 1789. Plus, a “recent graduate” would have to do an apprenticeship before being licensed.

January Bookspinbingo board is complete! Bookspin is also my #readordonate and my Doublespin will be a new book, likely The Will of the Many, my #jolabokaflod gift from @Gissy So many litsy connections this month! @TheAromaofBooks @julieclair

I haven't finished The Main Character yet but I may not finish today (stupid job 😄) and I can tell it isn't going to knock The Most Wonderful Crime Of The Year off the podium so I'm calling it and finishing my bracket. As I've suspected all year, nothing was able to top my very first read of 2024- though Greta & Valdin came very close.
Bring on 2025 🎉

Martha Ballard is an 18th Century midwife living in Hallowell, Maine. Lawhon has written a fictional account of a harrowing winter in the life of Mrs. Ballard, a real woman known to us through her diary and a Pulitzer winning biography. The novel is driven on its‘ arc through the account of a horrific rape and Martha‘s quest for justice for the female victim.

Exceptionally researched, and well written. The characters will be hard to forget.

#12booksof2024 January favorite
@Andrew65

Last week I forgot to post, so this week I‘m doing my #hyggehourreadathon a little early. I‘m tucked away in a corner of the cafe at a little local shopping area. I just had a yummy chicken and avocado sandwich, and I‘m nursing a raspberry mocha latte. There‘s Christmas music softly playing. And across the cafe a family is conversing in what I think is Italian. I just have one more gift to buy before I go home to wrap. But first, latte and book!

1. After Libby said it would be two more weeks, I got a notification that I could check out the tagged book.
2. The Crime Writers of Color podcast is back after a long hiatus.
3. I got together with a friend for dinner and a movie.
4. We enjoyed War of the Rohirrim!
5. I bought a new wet-dry floor cleaner.
#5joysfriday

Absolutely brilliant. I‘ll always love a story about a badass female heroine, but Martha Ballard is more than that and the author‘s love for her emanates from every page. It isn‘t an easy book to read, but seems necessary, especially considering the state of women‘s rights today. The fact that events in 1790 could parallel anything in 2024 - baffling. Anyway, read this, y‘all!

@AmyG have you read this?

This is a January selection for book club. #sundayfunday

For some reason the start of this book was slow for me. I knew I had to finish it and once you do ..😳😢 Loved the authors notes on the real life midwife Martha Ballard and the story she wrote based on her daily diaries in 1789. Women were always strong and continue to fight.

Excellent historical fiction inspired by the life of a very interesting woman—a great story made all that much more meaningful by the author‘s note at the end. The story is set in 1789 and is about a death with far reaching consequences for many of the residents in the town of Hallowell. When midwife Martha Ballard‘s determination it is in fact murder is disregarded, she sets out to find the truth. Great character, setting, mystery. Loved it.

A mystery that kept me on my toes to the very end .I enjoyed it

Mornings are just better when I can find a few minutes for coffee and a book. Started this one last night and I really like it so far.

This was my book club‘s pick for the month— a solid piece of historical fiction set in Maine just over a decade past the Revolutionary War. Based on the life of midwife Martha Ballard, Martha makes for a strong heroine in a time when respect for a woman is hard won and rare. She gets involved in a murder investigation while seeking justice for a friend, with flashes into her own past. Her husband‘s perfection, however, is the larger mystery! 🤣

OMG what a good story and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that‘s it‘s based on a real midwife!! 5 stars!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ one of the best reads of 2024. Historical fiction at its finest.

Can‘t wait to get into this!

There was so much buzz surrounding this title that I've been putting it off until now! Based on the life of the real colonial midwife, Martha Ballard, this historical fiction novel takes place in late 1700's Maine. When a body is fished from the icy river, Ballard is called upon for her medical expertise and journals exposing corruption and a sexual assault cover-up of its residents. Compelling read of feminism and women's health at the time.

I enjoyed this quite a lot. My current manager lives in the same town in Maine where this takes place. Otherwise this would not have been front and center on my radar. I think I liked it more than the author's previous books. Historical fiction + murder mystery. Already recommended it to my aunt.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

#WeeklyFavorites

This week favorite must be The Frozen River, very well written and engaging historical fiction.
Looking back at September, I think Water is my favorite for the month.

I had to drop my mom off at the airport for 3:30 am, so I‘m getting some much needed reading and relaxation time before the rest of my family wakes up ❤️ These last few weeks, I‘ve had no time to myself so this is a blessing 🙏🏻

From the first page I was drawn into the lives of midwife Martha, her (perfect) family and the not so perfect community of Hallowell in which she lives and works. There is murder and rape, gossip and fraud. While the winter freezes the river, Martha seeks justice for women who have traditionally been the underdog in the community. She‘s such an admirable woman and I loved spending time with her.

Thanks for the tag @Read4life and @Eggs

#wonderouswednesday

1. Knowing that I am making a difference in the lives of my students
2. Spending time with my friends and family
3. Done

@Mommamanzi @Pageturner1 @KateReadsYA

I am in love with this book and while this is a historical fiction (which I love), sometimes the super historical ones don‘t hit for me… so not the case here! Based on the life of Martha Ballard, a midwife in the 1700‘s, this book grabbed me from the first page and didn‘t let go!!

Good historical fiction book based on a diary of a midwife in the 1700s. Lots of characters, emphasis on the secrets told to the midwife. Engaging.

A package of lovely surprises today💌📦💌 from @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks and @Read4life and @TieDyeDude ❣️I really wanted to read The Photo Album!! Thanks y‘all🙏🏻

#LitsyLove 🧡🧡

A low pick for me - it was about 100 pages too long. And I, for the life of me, had the HARDEST time remembering the “J” names! I literally made a list of them 😂 But a gripping story! (37)
⭐️: 3.5/5

Gripping! Literate Midwife (Martha) delivered babies and comforts a friend, a victim of rape in the late 1700‘s. I loved Martha & Ephram‘s relationship. A novel based on a true story.

Great audiobook! I listened strait through. Captivated!

I recommend the audiobook!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Have not read a book I enjoyed such much for a while until this one. An engrossing story and beautiful written. Also, my first e book. A good sign😍😍

This novel, inspired by the real diaries of midwife Martha Ballard, is such good reading. I couldn‘t put it down.

If you enjoy historical novels with rich stories and strong character development, you definitely want to experience The Frozen River. The audiobook format enriches the already incredible story and you feel as though you are along with Hope on her journey to Silver Lake......
Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6535855813

It's been a good book year, so far. 😊 At this point, The Frozen River is my winner.

The second library stack of summer! 🩷☀️📚

Anyone else having troubles with Litsy? I had to delete the app and reinstall it because nothing was working. Now it‘s ok - thankfully!!!

May was a great reading month for me. I loved many of the books I read.
The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love 5⭐️
The Unraveling 4⭐️
The Ministry of Time 5⭐️
Prinal Mirror 4⭐️
The Frozen River 5⭐️ --> #BookSpin
Just for the Summer 5⭐️
The Five Year Lie 4⭐️
Happy Medium 3⭐️
A Feather So Black 4⭐️

I had one bingo for #BookSpinBingo!

My weekend reads - The Frozen River (historical fiction mystery) and Set Boundaries, Find Peace (everyone should read this book!)

I‘ve been locked out of my Litsy account for the past year due to the Facebook login issues. Starting over…

#historicalfiction #backonlitsy #weekendreads

Wow. This was intense and emotional and immersive. I've read this author's other books and this is far and away her best. She clearly poured her heart and soul into this book.