What Heals the Heart Karen A. Wyle
Review: What Heals the Heart
A Gilded Age Western Romance: Dr. Gibbs and the Heart of Cowbird Creek
Set in the rugged backdrop of 1874-1875 Nebraska, Dr. Gibbs and the Heart of Cowbird Creek takes readers to a time when the Gilded Age was in full swing. Factories, mining, and railroads were reshaping the nation, but with that progress came harsh working conditions and bosses more focused on profits than the safety of their workers. Amidst this period of industrialization, we meet Joshua Gibbs, a man whose heart and actions are shaped by the echoes of the Civil War.
The novel opens with Dr. Joshua Gibbs, a small-town doctor with a soldier’s heart, sharing a quiet moment with his loyal Irish setter, Reginald Phineas Major. As Joshua rests, the dog senses his distress, providing a subtle yet poignant introduction to the emotional weight Joshua carries. When he finally rouses, he makes his way along Cowbird Creek to his practice, ready to serve the community, despite his own inner struggles.
Joshua’s practice isn’t always lucrative—sometimes his payment is fresh eggs or other bartered goods—but he does his best to tend to everyone, from the blacksmith to the widow Freida Blum, who is a frequent visitor. Though Joshua has no desire to marry, Freida is determined to match him with Rebecca Wheeler, a local woman. But Joshua’s heart is quietly captured by Miss Clara Brook, a woman who seems to stir something in him that no one else has.
As the Silver State of Nebraska continues to attract settlers, its economy grows, and Joshua finds himself navigating the bustling town. He’s accustomed to the familiar sights, like Li Chang’s Laundry and the Wells Fargo Stagecoach, but he also feels an obligation to protect the more vulnerable members of the community, like Dorothy and Hope, from the charlatans selling snake oil.
When he’s not patching up wounds or delivering babies, Joshua can be found at Madam Mamie’s parlor house. There, he listens to Mamie’s frank tales about how she came to own the house after a poker game. The evenings at Madam Mamie’s are filled with more than conversation, and Joshua’s time spent there adds a touch of color to his otherwise dutiful life.
Joshua and his friend Robert even begin to plot how they might marry off the determined widow Freida. They joke about potential suitors, comparing the stooped Thaddeus Spencer to a heron or considering the twinkling Alton Farley. But as the story progresses, one question persists: Who will Dr. Joshua Gibbs marry?
This book is a must-read for fans of Western historical romance. The atmosphere is meticulously crafted, and the characters feel incredibly real and engaging. Whether you’re drawn to the historical setting, the intriguing characters, or the slow-burn romance, Dr. Gibbs and the Heart of Cowbird Creek is a captivating tale that will keep you hooked until the very end. Highly recommended!
I received a copy of this book from Karen A. Wyle
- Publisher : Oblique Angles Press
- Language : English
- Paperback : 324 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0998060453
- ISBN-13 : 978-0998060453
- Item Weight : 12 ounces
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