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4/5 - Really enjoyed this historical fiction, very well written. Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, this book is set in Hallowell, a small town in Maine, in 1789, during a long cold winter. Through Martha, midwife and healer, we get to know the inhabitants, their secrets, the hidden politics of the town. The book begins with a body discovered in the icy river, a man allegedly accused of the brutal rape of a woman.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ an absolute page turner of historical fiction and the lives of women during the 1700s. Riveting!

4.75⭐️ I can see why so many readers love this book. I really, really liked this book and I really connected with Martha and her family, especially her husband. Loved the strong sense of history that the book places the reader in and Martha‘s story really helps with that. It was my favourite book for July. #2025 #fiction #biographical #historicalfiction

4 Stars • The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is a historical mystery set in 1789 Maine, following midwife Martha Ballard. When a man‘s body is found frozen in the river, Martha investigates, uncovering a scandal involving rape and betrayal. Balancing her role as a healer and truth-seeker, she challenges powerful men in her town. The novel blends suspense, historical detail, and Martha‘s fierce resilience.

#TheFrozenRiver #ArielLawhon #Bookish

Right away we‘re in the midst of watching midwife, Martha Ballard, help deliver a baby in the late 1700s and then told she is needed to see to the dead body just pulled from the river. She declares it was murder. Its slice of life, lotsa midwifing, community. There is also a sexual assault and gender inequality that still reads in a “yeah, that‘s what would happen today” 200 years later. Depressing. I really liked Martha and her wit. Pick!

This is not a novel I might have picked up for myself, but when a colleague/friend recommended it, I was all in. It's definitely intriguing as you follow along through this journey with Martha Ballard. Everything about her and her family leads to questions and a good amount of satisfying answers at the end. #32-2025

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It‘s a compelling and beautifully written story. I‘d never heard of Martha Ballard before reading The Frozen River, but all I can say is what a woman! There are some great peripheral characters and it has an atmospheric setting. It‘s very much a page turner and I can highly recommend it.

This was hand sold to me by a bookseller when I told her I like good historical fiction but am tired of WWII and dual timelines. While this post Revolutionary War story centers around a midwife, it's the story of a family, a town, sexual assault, power, and home. Great characters, a compelling plot, and a beautifully written setting made this book a 5-star read for me. June #Bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

We are in the twilight years of a long love affair, and it has recently occurred to me that a day will come when one of us buries the other. But, I remind myself, that is the happy ending to a story like ours. It is a vow made and kept. It is the only acceptable outcome to a long and happy marriage, and I am determined not to fear that day, whenever it arrives. I am equally determined to soak up all the days between 📔❄️

I‘m reading this with my online book club, https://thereadingloft.groups.io/g/main. The theme was a story set near water.

This story is set in Maine and was inspired by the diary of an actual midwife (Martha Ballard) who practiced in the late 1700's. I thought it did a wonderful job illustrating the lives of women at the time and their lack of autonomy, as well as how the local midwife knew everyone's secrets. The book deals with rape and murder and is about love, loss and one woman's fight for justice. I really enjoyed it, and it will stick with me. 5/5 stars

I know it was loosely based on Martha Ballard's life and diaries, but I still think it was refreshing to read about a strong woman capable of standing up to hateful men and her husband who is strong enough to love her. Especially in the late 1700s. Trigger Warning: rape is all through the book

I enjoyed this story of the life of a midwife in the 1700‘s. It definitely held my attention. The story includes details of experiences of delivering babies but primarily focuses on Martha Ballard‘s pursuit of justice through the newly created legal system for a woman who was raped as well as working to hold a murderer (and all around bad guy) accountable for his deeds. This story was inspired by the journal written by Martha during that time.

Was on my way with plants in hand to start my gardening when suddenly my ankle collapsed on me. I‘ve broken my ankles and wrists so many times. Thankfully, this is a bad sprain, not a break. So on this bright sunny day when I‘d rather be outside I‘m lying on the couch, leg elevated, starting this book. This event could have been so much worse so I‘m trying to be mature about it and not grumble too much.

I loved the strong sense of time and place in this novel - small town Maine in the late 1700s. The main character is a midwife - a strong woman with influence in her community, which she uses for good. Based on a real midwife, Martha Ballard, who kept a diary that has survived. Superb storytelling!

#Pantone2025 #SecretSpaces @Lauredhel @BarbaraBB

:(

Visiting family always results in new books for me! 💖

This is one of those historical novels I‘m glad exists because it brought a historical figure to my notice. And I finished it because it‘s for book club. But there were no sentences than sang to me, and the characters didn‘t quite come to life as of their time. Not many anachronisms I could be sure of (notable exception- a counter in a kitchen, which would have had a table and perhaps other furniture, but nothing built in.) 👇🏻

#CoverStories #River
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#Read2025

Finished this one yesterday, it‘s the 2nd of my March #Roll100 picks (#51 Any Library Book) & the 5th book from my #AuldLangSpine list from @JacqMac & I loved it! A historical mystery centered around a real-life midwife, Martha Ballard. I found the mystery gripping in how it unfolded & the look at midwifery in 1779 in Maine was interesting. The author‘s notes in the back about the choices she made in telling Martha‘s story were also ⬇️

I‘m getting a jump start on next week‘s book club book since Ozzie currently has me trapped on the couch.

My #ChatterDay started late as it was hard to get going this morning because I left my house at 4:15 AM to get to the airport & got back home from Hilo at 10 PM.😵‍💫

So, breakfast, coffee, finishing this book (I‘m at 84%) which is SO GOOD & then finishing my #SpringCardSwap before running errands. (Yes, they‘ll probably be a little late).

How‘s your Saturday/weekend going?

Thanks for the #ChatterDay tag @TheSpineView 🤗 I‘m back at the coffee shop to try to finish up my work project after getting a little reading in while I have breakfast.

I hope to get to addressing my #SpringCardSwap envelopes & catching up on some #LitsyLove mail before I run my errands.

My March #Roll100 picks:

# 9 Any Series or #90 Any Back List: Nettle and Bone (T. Kingfisher backlist)

#51 Any Library Book: The Frozen River (also on my #AuldLangSpine list from @JacqMac )

# 74 Any BOTM: Leather & Lark #SeriesLove2025

Keeps you guessing as the puzzle unfolds.

A mix of history, romance and life lessons during a time when women were expected to be seen and not heard. Really enjoyed it.

This lives up to the hype. Push it to the top of your TBR. Martha Ballard is a strong female character/historical figure who you'll want to meet. This will make me look to read Lawhon's other books. DO NOT skip the author's note at the end!

Based on the actual diary of Martha Ballard, the novel blends historical fiction with mystery, offering a glimpse into the daily life of a midwife in post-Revolutionary America. The historical insight into the justice system—particularly its treatment of women—is fascinating. I didn‘t want the story to end. Don‘t skip the author‘s note at the end—it adds even more depth to an already immersive read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❤️📚 This was my #bookspin for February.

An appropriate read for this 2degF snowy Kansas day!! ❄️🩵 ❄️
All the schools are closed, but unfortunately, I still have to go to work. I suspect a quiet day, so I‘ll bring my book just in case!! So far, this is a wonderfully written book with a lovely midwife and a mystery. 🩵 ❄️🩵

So good!

11/100📖🎧
#thefrozenriver #ariellawhon #goodreads #goodreadsreadingchallenge #readinggoal #ebook #audiobook

A rather one-dimensional character study based on the real life of healer/midwife, Martha Ballard, in the late 1700s. This story is packaged as a murder mystery but is mostly focused on salivating over how shrewd and steadfast Martha was for a woman of her time. It was fascinating to think about the justice system (or lack thereof) in the 1700s and to examine women‘s lives at the time (we haven‘t come that far…).

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I appreciated the author‘s note, which illuminated the true events and people that inspired this book. I‘m glad it will help Martha Ballard to be remembered, even if a lot was reimagined. It didn‘t always feel authentic to the time period for me, and there were a lot of characters to keep track of. I also had expected the murder mystery element to be more prominent. Still, there were moments when I was lost in the story! 🎧

I‘m certain this will be unpopular, but I just bailed on this book. I‘m really only mentioning it because it‘s my #bookspin book this month. I just found it so slow and boring… to the point that I‘m not looking forward to listening to it in the car tomorrow on the way to work. I‘ll pass my library copy onto the next in line. So- DNF at 31%.

Read for #auldlangspine

Nice historical fiction inspired by a real-life midwife who kept a daybook. I have a hard time with historical fiction because I‘m hyperaware of the modern attitudes that inevitably creep in. Still this was an emotional story and likeable characters, with several powerful storylines that managed to never cross the line to melodrama. Thank you for recommending this, @CBee

Woot, finished! I see why this book is every where right now. It a a nice dive back into some historical fiction and makes me want to read more stuff from the 1700s (although maybe not necessarily about midwifery)
Anyway, I really enjoyed it

I finally spent a gift card someone got me, and I got my first book from abebooks! The other 3 are still on their way, but this was the only book I ordered I haven't read yet 🙂 the others are all books I've read but don't own yet

#weeklyfavorites #January

"It is a pity you hate women so much" I tell him "because you are going to spend the rest of your life pissing like one".

What a line!

One of the things I love about historical fiction is that it introduces you to people we should know and Martha Ballard is one of those people and while this book doesn't stick 100% to the facts, it's pretty close all in all.

I was drawn into this book straightaway and loved every page.

An engrossing listen from beginning to end. Loved Martha‘s strength and determination. Highly recommend! 5🌟

This book was based on a real person, Martha Ballard, a midwife and healer in the late 18th century. There is a murder mystery and rape, but also relationships of family and small community. This is the best kind of historical fiction: complete immersion into a historical setting and a protagonist that refuses to look the other way and approaches her life with honesty and conviction. Strong women has always appealed to me. Highly recommend.

The body floats downstream.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

This is my first Ariel Lawhon title and it is riveting! 🎧📚💕❄️

It is winter in Hallowell,Maine,a community on the Kennebunk River.Beautiful,lyrical writing,historical fiction at its best.A local midwife,Martha Ballard,becomes involved in a rape trial because she treated the battered & bruised woman who was raped by 2 men.Martha remains steadfast & true to her daily medicinal diary observations & her voice,despite some peoples efforts to silence her.Murder,deception, & dissension follow.#auldlangspine

Thank you @bookbrowse and @penguinrandomhouse for a copy of this book for discussion on https://www.bookbrowse.com/