The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is not listed as a Christian Fiction book, however in the author's Acknowledgements, she states:
"On the long list of things I am thankful for Jesus is at the top ... It is my greatest hope that His great love is reflected in the pages of this book."
Are you fascinated by the lives of people living in the 1700s? Do you have an interest in midwifery? If so, this book is perfect for you—provided the warnings below do not deter you.
According to her journal, Martha Ballard delivered over 800 babies during her career, an impressive feat that speaks volumes about her skill and dedication. Even more astonishing is the fact that she never lost a mother at a time when maternal mortality rates hovered between 1% and 1.5%.
Martha Ballard's legacy extends beyond her impressive statistics; she represents the resilience and strength of women in the face of adversity. Her journal not only serves as a historical document but also as a source of inspiration for future generations of midwives and healthcare providers.
In the Author's Notes, Ms. Lawhon explains that the novel is inspired by true events; however, she took "great liberties" with dates and sometimes the actual historical events. She filled in the blanks left from Ballard's journal to depict what could have happened. The book focuses on Martha Ballard's remarkable strength and highlights the invaluable contributions she made to her community.
I often found myself on the edge of my seat, reading well into the night on numerous occasions. The book had a few scenes I could have done without, but ignoring those, I enjoyed the book.
Warning: This book addresses challenging themes, including rape, murder, injustices, and numerous hasty marriages resulting in births occurring less than nine months later. Some of the less savory characters occasionally use coarse language. If you prefer exclusively clean narratives without gritty story lines, this book may not be suitable for you. Additionally, while Martha never lost a mother, not all of the babies delivered survived.
The Frozen River is available on Amazon.
Review by Angela L Gold, author of The Lion Within and Kill Shot.