Appalachian Song

By: Michelle Shocklee

Narrated by: Caroline Hewitt

Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Forever within the memories of my heart.

Always remember, you are perfectly loved.

Bertie Jenkins has spent forty years serving as a midwife for her community in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Out of all the mothers she’s tended, none affects her more than the young teenager who shows up on her doorstep, injured, afraid, and expecting, one warm June day in 1943. As Bertie and her four sisters tenderly nurture Songbird back to health, the bond between the childless midwife and the motherless teen grows strong. But soon Songbird is forced to make a heartbreaking decision that will tear this little family apart.

Thirty years later, the day after his father’s funeral, Walker Wylie is stunned to learn he was adopted as an infant. The famous country singer enlists the help of adoption advocate Reese Chandler in the hopes of learning why he was abandoned by his birth parents. With the only clue he has in hand, Walker and Reese head deep into the Appalachian Mountains to track down Bertie Jenkins, the midwife who holds the secrets to Walker’s past.

©2023 Michelle Shocklee (P)2023 One Audiobooks

Great Book

Of all the books I have ever read. This is one of the Best. I didn't want to put it down, and wish it could have continued on.

Captures the Heart of God

Some may think this is Christian fluff at first, but the story has depth and in my own experience, captures the way in which God meets suffering with his amazing ability to bring multi-dimensional healing, restoration, and wholeness. Worth the listen, especially for anyone recovering from loss or sorrow and need a reminder of God's mysterious plans to help get them through..

Beautiful story of redemption and love

I loved this well written and well acted book! Speaks to this of us who has broken families and reminds we are chosen by God even when it appears we were a mistake. Thank you for this rich history of the Tennessee area too. Highly recommend reading and listening to!

Very sweet story

This is a beautiful story. The narrator was fantastic.
Much of the book was predictable but it was a story of love, sacrifice, and a reminder that there is a Master plan for all of us.

You Just Have to Read This Story!

I believe that this quote from the book is its theme: “Family don’t always mean blood kin.” ~Bertie Jenkins

This beautifully written adoption story left me needing several days to contemplate all that this heart-wrenching story taught me. A dual-time novel, Shocklee takes you from the 1943 mountain folk of east Tennessee to Nashville and the mountain life of 1973. The characters and storyline are so endearing. They speak to family (good, bad and taken in) and wreck your heart along the way. The timelines and characters are woven seamlessly throughout the book, making the story easy to read.

This book has a beautiful spiritual thread including the sharing of the gospel and a Christian worldview. The prologue includes a young woman giving herself to a man (she plans to marry) before her family moves away. There is not a description of this scene and it is later discussed from a Biblical perspective. So, don’t let this keep you from reading this book. The prologue lays the foundation for the rest of the story.

Caroline Hewitt truly gives the audiobook its voice as she crafts representative roles for the broad array of characters in this tale. From the mountain folk of 1943 to the contemporary phrases of 1973, Hewitt’s narration is distinct, believable and just stellar and that’s saying a lot from this born and raised southern girl who cringes when a non-southerner tries to fake a southern accent.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this ebook from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review. I also purchased the audiobook version of this title.

Loved the story

I loved the story, I wish the accents would have been authentic. Coming from the Appalachians, the narration sounded so fake. Otherwise, I loved it!

Where I come from.

Oh My Goodness! I loved , loved, loved this book! The words remind of me of so many good things and bad things. And some things I ran away from.
Michelle, you are grand and vivid storyteller.

Awesome 👏

Warning! Once you start this one- you can’t stop until The End. Intriguing-not one bit boring! I grew up in Appalachia & the author does a great job of depicting the way life was. Excellent plot & characters.

Enjoyed

The characters were well developed. Also I really enjoyed the voice of the reader! I highly recommend it.

A delightful, page turning read with deep themes

B o o k R e v i e w

Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee

Can we talk about this cover for a minute??
😍😍😍😍

What a delightful story, with powerful themes. The name encompasses the setting beautifully, hinting at the rich heritage that is woven throughout. Upon completion it was fun to learn of the true story behind the iconic sisters this story revolves around.

🐄 Homesteading and old fashioned living is trending right now and I know many would enjoy this read for purely that reason! It gives a nostalgic glance at what it was like to live in the backwoods of Appalachia amidst the emergence of modern convince.

❤️ the theme of adoption is has impacted me specially in my life and so was drawn to it. I thought the author did a beautiful job of weaving the gospel message into the narrative in an organic way that held deep and lasting meaning.

📖 The story itself, although deals with some heavy topics, is overall lighthearted, with a satisfying conclusion. It keeps you intrigued and guessing, up until the end.