Falling Off a Cliff: The Story of a Mountain Nurse

by Rose Senehi

Two women, a generation apart and from two different worlds, are driven by a passion to heal. Will one have her innocence shattered and the other be forever haunted by an unanswered mystery? Time, like a pendulum, swings the reader between two women born to make a difference with their healing hands no matter what dangers they have to face. In the 1920s, Lula Mae clings to a doctor woman as they gallop horseback over the steep, harsh Blue Ridge Mountains where fierce pride and guarded secrets define the people they try to help. In the 60’s, Public Health nurse Holly travels the same mountain paths to reach those in need and to search for the mother she’s never known. Holly learns a hard lesson about mountain pride in her search for her identity. Mountain folks protect their own and keep their secrets. Can she convince them to break their code of silence, or will she be denied the answers that would unravel the mystery and finally give her a glimpse of the hidden past?

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2020

About the author

Contemporary fiction writer, Rose Senehi, is noted for weaving historical data into her romantic thrillers. FALLING OFF A CLIFF is a story of two women a generation apart and from two different worlds who are driven by passion to heal no matter what dangers they have to face. In the 1920s, Lula Mae clings to a doctor woman as they gallop horseback all over the steep, harsh Blue Ridge Mountains. In the 60s, Nurse Holly travels the same mountain paths to reach the ill and search for the mother she's never known. CATCHING FIRE, awarded the 2019 Historical Book Award by the NC Society of Historians, Inc., tells of the heroism displayed by hundreds of firefighters to extinguish the horrific Party Rock Fire that raged through the mountains surrounding Lake Lure, NC. Woven throughout this tale of two firefighters in love, yet, torn apart by swirling suspicions and mistrust, is the story of a family struggling with its past in the frightening present. CAROLINA BELLE, A Love Story, is her eighth novel and takes place in an apple orchard in Hendersonville, NC. Read this novel, and you'll never look at an apple the same way again. Among her seven "stand-alone" novels that take place in the Southern Blue Ridge are "Dancing on Rocks," winner of the 2014 Indi-Reader Discovery Award for Popular Fiction, "Render Unto the Valley," awarded the 2012 IPPY Gold Medal for Fiction--Southeast., "In the Shadows of Chimney Rock", a finalist for the SIBA 2009 Book of the Year Award, and "The Wind in the Woods", a finalist for the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Award. All of her novels are part family saga, part mystery, and part love story.

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book two stars. But I couldn't find enough good to justify them. I did finish the book, so I can honestly rate and review it. I was attracted to check it out of the library because I value and enjoy Appalachian literature. I have loved the work of Denise Giardina, Ron Rash, Ann Pancake.

In this work, the two characters - one of the 1920s and 1930s (Lula) and one from the 1960s (Holly) seem identical. On page 240, this line: "Lula examined the small articles with reverence." The problem? It was Holly, not Lula, in this scene. It could not have been Lula (spoiler as to why). Even the author had trouble keeping them straight.

These two, and all of the others, were stock and cardboard. Their actions, based on some motivation, I assume, were impenetrable. They were continually being "stunned."

Here is one quibble: At one point, one main character, in the early 1930s, who had never been out of the mountains, goes to the SC coast. Arriving at night, she helps another character open up windows in an oceanfront cottage *instead of going down to the beach.* She *looks* at the waves, but only goes down to the beach (by herself!) the following morning. And she had nothing to say about the ocean?!

The descriptions of home-health and public nursing in the early 1960s were interesting. They weren't in the least convincing (Holly was always brilliant and effective, as a brand new nurse) but they were of interest.

This paperback had fairly large print and ran 250 very tedious pages.

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent the week at a resort in the mountains at Lake Lure NC & wanted to read a history or historical novel by a local author to acquaint me with the history & feel of the area. Rose Senehi did that with her tale of two women healers of different eras whose lives were connected & who served the strange communities of this remote region with its colorful people. Through her words, the hardscrabble lives, the ruggedly beautiful terrain & interconnected communities come alive. It was especially touching when you go sightseeing & realize you're on the modernized version of a road or looking at a peak that she described in her story.

[Jennifer A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story with a bit of mystery

This was a nice story written of two women’s lives read in parallel. Characters are interesting but development is a bit shallow. The two stories nicely led into one but I did find it difficult to sort out the characters and what time they lived in. Would have loved to hear more about each of their stories to get more connected to the characters. All in all it was an easy read but left me wanting.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a fascinating read. We follow Lula and Holly in this dual timeline novel set in the mountains of NC. Their lives are shrouded in mystery that keeps you turning pages. I enjoyed learning about public health nurses and the struggles they face to care for their patients.

Thanks to the publisher for gifting this book.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling off a cliff

Falling off a cliff: The story of a Mountain Nurse (Historic Fiction Blue Ridge Mountains Series) by Rose Senehi. The stories of the people that you meet in life, sometimes need to be written down and shared with others. This is a good story. This was a Goodreads giveaway winner.

[Robert Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dedication at it's finest

Having read all of Rose Senehi's other books I knew this one would be a great read. Of course, it did not disappoint me.
I love her style of writing. It draws the reader into the story becoming one the reader cannot put down.
I chose the title of my review because of the main character Holly's dedication to her profession.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I’m really enjoying reading about all the different cultures Rose has captured in her WNC books. I now know more about Apple Orchards and Mountain nurses and what they had to go through. Thanks Rose.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a wonderful journey and both characters were captivating...couldn't put it down!

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥❤️‍🔥🔥❤️‍🔥‼️

[Lenice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story and loved where it was set and the characters.