West Virginia Belle

Pauline Mueller’s debut novel, West Virginia Belle, is the story of an unlikely romance blooming amidst the trying, arduous era of 1920s-early ‘30s Appalachia. Having lost a husband and two children, Alice Ida Belle Anderson finds herself with the difficult prospect of being a single mother. Seeking help from the local Salvation Army, she meets Dr. Gordon Cranford, and finds a community different from what she’s come to know—one composed of people concerned for the welfare of its own, who reach out to help those in need. West Virginia Belle is more than a simple love story; it’s a story of human struggle and survival, and the strength needed to overcome tragic circumstances.