Description

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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 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.

About the Author

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Sara Donati is the international bestselling author of the Wilderness series, which includes Into the Wilderness, Dawn on a Distant Shore, Lake in the Clouds, Fire Along the Sky, Queen of Swords, and The Endless Forest.

Praise For…

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“A stunning tour de force!” 
—Booklist (starred review)

“Layered, absorbing, and peopled with complex, fascinating characters, The Sweet Blue Distance is a captivating portrayal of one woman's inner journey set against the vast backdrop of the rapidly changing American West.”
—Shelf Awareness

Praise for the novels of Sara Donati

"Powerful...gorgeous, vividly described."
—People

"Spellbinding.... Captivating....An enthralling love story [and] a heartwarming celebration of human kindness."
—The Seattle Times, on The Gilded Hour

“Donati's saga of a New York family in the 1880s, with its exquisitely realized characters, is apt to inspire repeated readings…. As she brings the sights, sounds, smells, and social mores of 1884 New York into sharp focus, Donati creates a timely tale of the past that illuminates the ongoing struggle for women's reproductive rights and sheds light on the passionate, centuries-long fight over abortion.”
—Booklist (starred review)

"Each time you open a book, you hope to discover a story that will make your spirit of adventure and romance sing. This book delivers on that promise."
—Amanda Quick, New York Times bestselling author

"Much more than a simple mystery plot, Where the Light Enters touches on the complexities of marriage, the bonds of family (both by blood and by choice), the pernicious effects of drug addiction and the challenges Anna and Sophie face as pioneering female doctors. Readers of historical fiction will find Donati's richly detailed narrative both satisfying and thought-provoking"
—Shelf Awareness
 
"With its focus on smart, courageous women physicians, who were a rarity but certainly not unheard of in the late 19th century, Where the Light Enters easily sets itself apart in the genre of historical fiction…The controversial themes, headstrong heroines and gripping accounts of high-stakes medical trails all come together to create a winning combination.”
—BookBrowse

"[Donati's] knowledge of 19th century New York is such that walking the kaleidoscopic streets alongside the fascinating Savard cousins feels absolutely real. This is a satisfying family saga as well as an absorbing mystery.”
—Historical Novel Society

"This is a riveting medical mystery."
—Publishers Weekly

"Lushly written...Exemplary historical fiction, boasting a heroine with a real and tangible presence."
—Kirkus Reviews

"Hugely satisfying."
—The Orlando Sentinel

"Epic in scope, emotionally intense...an enrapturing, grand adventure."
—BookPage

"From page one, the action is nonstop. The more you read, the better it gets."
—Tulsa World

"An elegant, eloquent word journey...The author has [a] gift for capturing the history and the lives of the people of that time and place."
—The Tampa Tribune

"A powerfully good read."
—Toronto Sun