Shadow of the Mountains

Cheney Duvall, M.D. #2

by Lynn Morris, Gilbert Morris

With Few Allies, Cheney Faces Two Enemies:Superstition and Greed

Cheney Duvall proved to be an excellent doctor to "Mercer’s Belles" on the sea voyage to Washington Territory, but doors of further opportunity remained shut. Despite having graduated with honors from a prestigious university as one of only a handful of female physicians in 1865, Cheney continues to find herself being summarily rejected because she is a woman.

Returning to her parents’ home in Philadelphia with her nurse, Shiloh Irons, Cheney finds a letter from a dear friend pleading that she come to a remote spot in the Ozark Mountains. The friend is having a baby, and there are no doctors available in the primitive wilderness of Wolf County, Arkansas. Though she is warned about the mountain folks, Cheney feels compelled to go and provide medical care to her friend and the community.

But the warnings prove true. The people are superstitious, illiterate, hopelessly resistant to medical science, and hate Yankee—especially educated Yankee female doctors. She also finds her way blocked by a medicine woman of powerful influence among the mountain people. The big land companies further complicate Cheney’s efforts, and then she becomes the target for a bullet…

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian, Historical, Fiction, Romance, Adult Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Lynn Morris (born 1954) was a Christian fiction author. She was the daughter of Gilbert Morris and co-wrote with him on some of her books.

Series:
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Gilbert Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Gilbert Morris)
* The Creole (with Gilbert Morris)
* Omega (with Gilbert Morris and Alan Morris)

Reviews

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my least favorite of the books. I hardly ever re-read it. I don't like the story and I don't like how Cheney is portrayed here. Its probably just me, but I really dislike it and have from the first time I read it. Weird.

[Felicia Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let’s face it anyone who didn’t like it… we just don’t want Shiloh thinking about someone other than Cheney. That was annoying to me. You spend the whole first book working toward them being a couple and then he just rides right into this book and to another woman ? Whatever. Don’t toy with me. But I enjoy this series. I read it in high school and was re-reading it. I don’t remember being this annoyed by this book before, but now I’m older and have less patience for nonsense 😂 I’m glad I’m through this one and ready to move on. I recommend the series.

[Elyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably my least favorite in the series but it's worth the read if you want to follow along :P

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, reading it over the course of several days – but this one took me nearly three weeks to get through. I really enjoy Cheney and Shiloh but this new setting was not my favorite. I don’t enjoy reading about feuding families and there were so many characters that even with the chart at the beginning I had trouble keeping track of who was who and which side they were on.

As with the first book, I appreciated that we saw Cheney prep for surgery or medical procedures, and then talk them over when they were done- we didn’t have to have a close-up of what she was doing. I appreciate that as a reader with a weak stomach. With the feud there was some rather vividly described violence near the end of the book. Vivid for 90s Christian fiction - still PG but it took me by surprise.

Knowing this series runs for eight books I was surprised that Cheney and Shiloh‘s relationship turned romantic in the last few pages of book one, and because it did so, it made Shiloh’s sensual interactions with another woman uncomfortable in this volume – and then the way they took that character out of the story made it very convenient for a Cheney/Shiloh romance to progress.

All that said, I look forward to reading more of this series. I enjoy Cheney’s character, I enjoy Shiloh‘s and see room for a growth arc, and I’ll just stomach the up and down romance I predict will unfold throughout the series.

[Elizabeth Trela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A younger version of myself would have given this one, maybe two stars because of Shiloh so obviously being with the wrong woman. I know we have to have some tension though. I will NEVER forgive the authors for killing Maeva off. Shiloh should have CHOSEN Cheney vs have her be his only option.

I do think it was interesting to see how the hill people lived, as it is part of my own history too.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was kind of disappointed with this one...it was not near as good as the first. The story plot was okay but not quite as gripping as some. Also there was a romance going on between 2 people that literally just met and I HATE when that happens! It was still good and I enjoyed reading it but it's not a favorite.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

neat story-similar to Christy sometimes-good setting-sequel?

[Stacy Fidler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much! I didn't want to put it down.

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

After several months of waiting to get to find book #2 in the series... I'm not sure if this one was as exciting as book #1. Well, it just wasn't, so I had to drop a star off my review.

Right off the bat (by the time I was just a couple of chapters in to this one), I felt like I should just delete everything in my brain of what happened in book #1 (which was about a voyage from New York, down through the Panama Canal and up to Washington Territory on the west coast). Seemingly, fairly immediately, Cheney gives up on having a medical practice out west, and she appeared back home almost overnight. What?! I went through that entire voyage with her in book #1... for naught?!?!?! That was so aggravating, but I got over it. (Or am still getting over it, maybe?)

Again, the plot changes the trajectory of the rest of the series quickly -- and now Cheney is flying off the handle (yes, again). This time to Arkansas. I feel like she keeps making flighty decisions, and I'm not sure why. But it felt nice for her to settle in finally, at least for the rest of this book, in a backwoods community and try to blend in with the country folk who live there.

The elements in the books I enjoy the most is when Cheney is doing her job -- doctoring people. Of course, in order for this to happen, there first needs to be acceptance from the local people, and she doesn't receive this handed to her on a silver plate, like most things in life have been for her. She's really an excellent doctor, and is able to make some headway with the people there, even with various complications and conflicts that arise (including lots of bullets whizzing around).

I also like that there's a good amount of faith elements scattered all throughout the plot. Several different characters talk about their relationship with God. I'm just glad this is in the story!

Now then. Let's talk about Maeva for a moment. She's an herb woman who lives there in the Ozark Mountains, and she's the only person that the mountain folk can reach out to for medical advice -- until Cheney comes along. Cheney senses competition in Maeva -- and not for reasons you can see on the surface. It has more to do with which of the two women has the attention of a certain young man of interest. For some reason, this whole speculative situation just rubbed me the wrong way...

The ending... is quite unsettling to me. There's a character who dies -- and I just can't grasp why this was put into the story! For what reason did this "person-who-shall-remain-unnamed" die?! I don't get that. And I also don't understand the decision that is delivered to the reader in those final pages. I was blindsided again.

So now? I'm unsure of what's going to get switched around in book #3... but I'll give it a try.

[Hope Elias · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as my arkansas book for the 50 books in 50 states challenge i'm doing this summer alongside Ryan Trahan's 50 states challenge to raise money for St Jude.
This was my first book by Lynn Morris but i have read ONE book by Gilbert Morris. i thought the style/pacing was very similar to the other book i read.
Because I picked this book for Arkansas, i havent read book 1 😆 i didnt feel lost while reading this. the only thing i felt i missed out on was Cheney and Shiloh's history. Apparently they kissed at some point before the happenings of this book. and i could very clearly see the chemistry despite them not being together together or whatever.
I very much want to read book 3 but i'll have to wait until i'm done with this reading challenge. and i likely wont want to read book 1 until sometime later 😆
my favorite thing about the book was the characters! Cheney, Rissy, Shiloh, Maeva, Glen, there are so many favorites and theyre so distinct! and oh boy was the drama there! not only did we have the huge feud between families but also the love triangles... wow!
Cheney x Shiloh were cute together, i was rooting for them for a while until something happened and unfortunately i started shipping them less and less 😆 oh how i want to look ahead at future books to see who Cheney ends up with!! but i shant!
i liked the faith elements, songs, and verses throughout! it felt naturally woven in and not forced imo.

I don't usually do content warnings but i think i should mention that there are at least two funerals that take place in this book due to two deaths that the audience basically witnesses. and seeing how Cheney is a doctor, there is a lot of blood and operation type stuff in here. i get squeamish with medical stuff so i did skip/skim a couple times 😆

[Cindy Wiedemer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. perhaps even more than the first in thr series. There were times I was so lost in the book, I'd ook up and hours had gone by. the characters development felt more detailed and human. The twist at the end wasn't so much shocking as foreshadowing and also heartfelt and sweet. the book looks at the value of family, of blood, and character while showing the reality of sorrow and pain and how off track it can take you. while I didnt enjoy the distance placed between Cheney and Shiloh, I so think it could be a good base for future books . the series. I enjoyed the clash between Cheney and her rich proper lifestyle and her reflection on true wealth and family meaning more than family. at times I did find it annoying that a major incident would occur and the next chapter would start not at the point the previous ended but in the future trying to fill you in on what happened while moving the story along. it was well written and a great reflection of life in the 1800's and relying on God and prayer to get you through.

[Ina Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. Though in places I felt it was under developed. I am sorry that Maeve and Shiloe didn't get to have more time together in the story. Would loved to have known how she came to be so knowledgeable in the use of the plants and how to use them in healing. I also wish that she and Cheney could have worked together to help the people when they were hurt or ill. It would have been a good story line to have them realize that they both had something that could help the other and because of that would come to respect each other and their skills.
It did give one a insight into how the mountain people live, how clans stuck together and followed the patriarch of the family. It also shows how feuds carried from one generation to another and the toll it often took on both sides.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a while to get into the plot bc of the high number of characters to keep track of. I skimmed over some parts that started going into unnecessary details of scenery, etc but overall it was pretty interesting and I want to re-read through this series that I originally read as a teen. I don't think I had ever read the 1st two books as a teen though b/c I didn't remember any part of either, but I do remember later books in the series. I'm not sure I would have continued with the series if I had started with this one...it's not the best in my opinion. But I know they get better and I wanted to not have gaps in my reading.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually a very exciting story! A few subtle romantic storylines, but none central to the book's plot (including that of the main characters). The mountain family feud was perhaps oversimplified, but it wasn't without severe consequences, and presented Christian/biblical values in a lovely way (and having a good ending, which is, well, good). The cast of characters was pretty tight and small for the setting of huge, inter-related and interconnected families; but of course, that's what makes an easy-to-follow story with characters that one learns to love.

[annabeth ☼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t have the energy or care to give this a whole, legitimate review, so I’ll just say that some (apparently major??) parts of this literally felt like a fever dream, and others had me crying and keyboard smashing. And thus, this gets a very middle-of-the-road rating to accommodate all of my feelings towards it. And that’s all I have without getting into spoilers, so it gets left at that.

Breaks my heart when they do my besties Cheney and Shiloh like this 😔😔💔

[Maddy G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall the book was good, but tbh I did not like the romance between Maeva and Shiloh! The first book ends with them kissing??? And all of a sudden he is interested in this other woman like what????? I also dislike the fact that she simply died instead of Shiloh realizing if he wants to be with her or Cheney (WHICH I UNDERSTAND CHENEY AND SHILOH DONT REALLY KNOW HOW THEY FEEL BUT STILL)

Not sure how I felt about it. I am peeved to say the least. Will be reading the rest of the series still😂

[Maya Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly am pretty disappointed in this :( It seemed like all the character development and relationships that were built up in the first book just fell completely flat, and there was really no point to a plot when the characters couldn’t even be consistent.
I have heard that lots of people don’t like this one…so that’s good news!

[Alana Puskarich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my 4th time reading this book. I've always loved this series and it seems each decade of life I pick it up again. The story is so interesting and I love the characters so much that it is fairly easy to overlook the extreme use of adverbs in the description. ha!

[Paris Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two in the Cheney Duvall M.D. series was as much of a hit as the first! With new characters, the book was a great sequel. Jimmy Dale, Glen, and Glendean were fantastic and well thought out characters! I will miss them in book three!

[Brooke796 ☼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-reading this series after 20 years or so is kinda fun. This one has interesting characters and situations. There are places where it felt a little underdeveloped and choppy, but still an enjoyable read.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did a great job of weaving historical elements in with an intriguing story! The story is complex enough to keep one's attention, but yet simple enough to be relaxing and enjoyable. Great summer read!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Now time for number 3!!!

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't my favorite book in the series, but it was nice to revisit.

[Becki Basley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shadow of the mountains by gilbert Morris ( Libby audiobook)

My shortest Review in awhile.. all i can say is yes i read this book..

[Dru · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read two of these but no more.

[Leah Duquaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but not as good as the first one, and I was definitely not a fan of Mava.

[Korah · Rating 4 out of 5]

i had to admit i liked the first book better but cannot deny it was still a great read! although i did feel they captured the characters personalities a bit better than the last book. there was lots of interesting things going on... lots of operations by miss cheney and lots of dramatic feuds! can't wait for next book. ;)

[Darlene Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 -- Cheney and Shiloh take a position in Arkansas - Ozark Mtns. . where a female doctor is not
accepted or trusted! Shiloh meets a healer - Maeva - feuds are an accepted part of life - curses on families and children - - a very different life for well to do Dr. Cheney.