Tattler's Branch by Jan Watson

Lilly Corbett Still has grown to love her life as the small-town doctor of Skip Rock, a tiny coal community in the Kentucky mountains. Though her husband, Tern, is away for a few months at a mining job, Lilly keeps busy with her patients and her younger sister visiting for the summer.

Her hands full, Lilly turns to her good friend and neighbor, Armina, to help keep things in order. But when a mysterious chain of events leaves Armina bedridden and an orphaned baby on her doorstep, Lilly must trust in God and her resilient country neighbors to help her uncover the truth.

While working late one night, Lilly cares for a patient whose odd behavior sets her on edge, but she’s unaware of what a mess she’s found herself in until a break-in at her office puts her on high alert. Struggling between what is right and what is safe, Lilly discovers the strength of her neighbors, her God, and herself.

Tattler's Branch by Jan Watson was a wonderful novel and is a sequel to Skip Rock Shallows. Having just discovered Jan Watson's novels, I have enjoyed both Skip Rock Shallows and Tattler's Branch, and I look forward to reading her earlier novels which reveal more about Lilly's past and her mother's story. Tattler's Branch has an excellent plot that flows well and includes elements of suspense, danger, sorrow, and humor that all lead to a beautifully woven and heart-wrenching story. The themes of this novel are clear and convicting and include topics such as the importance of family, honesty, and sacrificing one's own plans and desires in order to help others. I enjoyed seeing the same characters, plus a few more, in this novel that I first met in Skip Rock Shallows. The characters well all very realistic, each with their own quirks, strengths, and flaws. I liked seeing Lilly grow even more as a member of her community, as a doctor, and eventually possibly as a mother. I also enjoyed meeting Lilly's sister and seeing her mature as well learning even more about Armina as a character. My only dislike concerning Armina is that I wish Armina's thoughts and feelings had had a bigger part in the novel. I did learn more about Armina, but it was not from her perspective. The end of the novel was not what I expected and did bring some heartache, but I did find it to be perfect for the novel and in bringing the community together in a whole new way.

Overall I highly enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to reading Jan Watson's previous and future novels. I received this novel for free from NetGalley.com in exchange for a honest review.