The Girl on the Mountain

By: Carol Ervin

Narrated by: Becca Ballenger

Untrue things are rumored of May Rose, but it's true she's too pretty for her own good. Her husband has disappeared, and now she's on her own in a rough town ruled by one of the lumber companies logging the last of West Virginia's virgin forest. The year is 1899, and a woman alone has few options.

With no resources but a litter of pigs and the attachment of an untamed girl, May Rose must find a way to survive with respect. She must also save the girl who sleeps with a doll clutched tight and a knife under her pillow.

©2012 Carol L. Ervin (P)2014 Carol L. Ervin

1899 W Virginia Logging Town & Humble Women

Keeping one's honor in a rough and tumble logging town where women are a commodity to be used up and thrown aside is hard to do . . . but one cannot help but to admire young May Rose who comes to town after her husband runs off accused of killing a fellow logger. Her love of children and gentle spirit are admirable, but her determination and hard work to not only provide for herself, but young Wanda, her husband's child that she finds in the town, well, that's true character. This is very good historical fiction. Don't miss it!

Nearly lost me with the performance at first

The performance in the beginning was difficult for me to listen to but it did improve. For the story, it gave me a glance into some of the past though I did t feel it was a reality type story foe the most part. Of course I admired the strength of the women. I also appreciated the non horrific way the "rough" scenes were described.

really liked this book

so many characters to like and dislike!
narrator was great! I won't continue with the series, because they've changed narrators,and I liked this narrator! Just not the same!

A Fascinating Historical Fiction

This was my first experience with this author's work, and the story captured my attention from the beginning until the end. The author's creative phrases drew my imagination into the world of a lumber town where most everything was owned by the company in the year 1899. The heroine, May Rose was admirable and strong, and I felt for her as she worked to keep herself and her unofficial ward safe. My heart was troubled by some of the events which occurred, but on the whole, I was moved by May Rose's determination to rise above her circumstances. I thought the ending was kind of abrupt, but hopefully the next book might finish answering the questions in my own mind. It took me a small amount of time to appreciate Becca Ballenger's narration, but once the I became accustomed to her performance, I enjoyed it. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

In a town ruled by men, one woman dares to survive

The Girl on the Mountain completely pulled me in from the very beginning. Carol Ervin paints such a vivid picture of life in a rugged 1899 West Virginia sawmill town, and the main character, May Rose Long, is someone I couldn’t stop rooting for. She’s strong, determined, and stuck in an impossible situation, but never once does she come across as a victim. I loved watching her navigate the challenges thrown at her with grit and quiet courage.

The story has that perfect mix of drama, danger, and heart. There’s a raw realism to the way people treat May Rose, some try to help her, others want to control her, and all she has to rely on is a litter of pigs (yes, pigs!) and a fiercely loyal, knife-wielding 13-year-old girl. The relationships, especially between May Rose and young Wanda, felt authentic and deeply emotional.

Now let’s talk about the audio version—Becca Ballenger was absolutely fantastic! Her narration brought every character to life, and I was completely immersed in the world. She gave just the right tone to every scene, tough when it needed to be, soft when it mattered. Honestly, her performance made me feel like I was right there in that mountain town.

This is the first book in the Mountain Women Series, and I’m already lining up the next one. If you love strong female leads, historical fiction with heart, and an audiobook that truly enhances the story, you need to give this a listen.