The Sweet Blue Distance

By: Sara Donati

Narrated by: Kate Reading

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 and respectfully 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 and the help of the man she’s come 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.

©2024 Rosina Lippi-Green (P)2024 Blackstone Publishing

Emotional expressions and history that was from a better perspective

wonderfully detailed love story in early America with rich descriptions of scenery and people and medical/social history.
Continued story from previous works was delightful.

Good story

I love her Wilderness series. This book felt ... different. It felt a bit less exciting, with a little less character development and left me feeling like there were some loose ends.

Good, but not my favorite by this author

I’ve listened to all the books in the series, most of them more than once, so I was really excited for this one as well.
While I liked this book, I didn’t love it, and it will probably be a long time until I listen to it again, if I do.
I don’t know what it was about this book, but I just wasn’t able to connect to the characters in the same way as in the others. While I generally enjoy Kate Redding‘s narration, I didn’t think this was her finest performance.
There wasn’t enough differentiation between many of the characters, and I think perhaps she is getting a little too old to narrate for a main character of carries age.

All that being said, I’m still glad I listened to it, And I look forward to any future books in the series.

Did not disappoint

I really like the way Ms Donati writes. It’s easy to read and follow but she does not insult the listener or reader by making it too simple. . The story did not disappoint.

Another great book by Sara Donati

I love the depth of the characters and the historical aspect of all of her books! The relationships and personalities of all the characters keep me coming back for more.