An 800 page Woman driven Western Drama/Romance! I was a bit gobsmacked when I saw the size of this book upon receiving it, as publishing houses generally steer away from publishing stories this size unless the author is a top selling author (King, Maas, etc.) I have read that Sara's Wilderness Series has been a big hit for readers, and all of those books seem to be quite sizeable also.
Though I do not have any statement set in stone about this, I believe this book to be a loose continuation of Sara's Wilderness Series, which already has 6 books. I say this because there is a preface in the ARC I was given that states that those familiar with the Wilderness series may realize there are some character name changes. Saying this, nowhere am I told I should read the series before taking on this hearty sized tome.
This novel is filled with details about everything from racial tension to railroad travel. There is a gentle, underlying humor to her writing and I easily became invested in the story from almost the first page and forgot to be intimidated by the size of the book.
Berkley, April 2024
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A young midwife travels
west to the New Mexico Territory to care for women in need and faces
dangers more harrowing than the ones she’s fleeing in this epic tale of
survival, redemption, and love from Sara Donati, the international
bestselling author of the Wilderness series.
1857:
In a bid to outrun her past, Carrie Ballentyne accepts a nursing
position with a doctor in the New Mexico Territory. She knows the
journey from New York to Santa Fe will not be easy, but she relishes the
adventure. However, nothing could have prepared her for the wilderness
she encounters. Its vastness and power are awe-inspiring, stunning in
both beauty and brutality. To endure, she must learn to rely on her
fellow travelers—and one enigmatic man in particular. As the small,
tight-knit group tackles challenge after challenge, she feels her heart
opening to this rugged land—and the people willing to risk so much for
one another.
The trip west is only the beginning of Carrie’s
challenges, though. In Santa Fe, she compassionately and respectfully
helps women bring new life into the world, making her beloved among new
mothers. Soon, however, she realizes that her employer and his wife are
keeping secrets from her, and she must ferret out the truth to protect
their young daughter. But to save the little girl she’s come to cherish,
Carrie will have to confront the demons in her own past—a feat that
will take all of her bravery with the help of the man she’s grown to
love and depend on above all others.
With its vivid descriptions of the breathtaking western landscape and its irresistible characters, The Sweet Blue Distance is the unforgettable story of one woman’s courage to heal herself, her family, and the women entrusted to her care.
