Kim

A Light in the Wilderness
by Jane Kirkpatrick
Rating: 4/5
Revell – Historical Fiction

Although she cannot read, Leticia treasures the papers that prove she is free and no longer a slave. When she decides to marry Davey Carson and travel with him along the Oregon Trail, she is determined to build a new life for herself. Davey is an Irishman who has his own secrets but is loyal to Leticia.

On the trail, the Carsons meet and bond with Dr. Zachariah Hawkins, his wife, Nancy, and their large family. Nancy loves her husband so much that she’s willing to leave everything she knows to follow her husband across the country to Oregon. Nancy and Leticia form a special friendship that both come to rely on when tragedy strikes.

Did Leticia do the right thing? Should she have stayed in Missouri? Can she trust Davey to write her into his will? Could Davey ever care for her and look past the color of her skin?

I loved that the book was based on the real life story of Leticia Carson. The historical aspects of the story are so well realized and described. I was completely caught up in the story and transported to a different time and place. The first 1/3 of the story is a little slow but once I really got into the book, I couldn’t put it down. Kirkpatrick did an amazing job with the setting and the characters. I really enjoyed reading about Leticia’s character and her triumphs and struggles. She was someone I would have loved to have met in person.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history and is interested in learning about life on the Oregon Trail and in Oregon Territory.

I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

The Crimson Cord
by Jill Eileen Smith
Rating: 4/5
Daughters of the Promised Land Book 1
Revell – Historical Fiction

Marriage to an injured soldier-turned-gambler was not what Rahab expected when she dreamed of love. When her husband’s debt becomes more than they can manage, Rahab is auctioned off and begins to live as a prostitute. Even when the prince of Jericho starts favoring her, she still feels dirty and unlovable. Feeling trapped in a life she did not choose, Rahab is hesitant to trust any man. When two Israelite spies seek her help, she chooses to deceive her own people. She has heard all about what their God did in Egypt and in parting the Red Sea. She knows there is something different and real about the God that the spies serve. She secures a promise from the spies that their God will spare her life (and her family’s) if she hangs a crimson cord from her window and if she doesn’t betray the spies. Even if what they are saying is true, can Rahab trust them? Can she trust their God to keep His word? Can she learn to trust and love again when she’s been so hurt and misused?

Since many people are already familiar with the biblical account of Rahab, I was curious to see how the author explained her lifestyle. I really enjoyed the background story because it painted a fuller picture of who Rahab was and why she was the way she was. I’ve always loved that God chose to use the least likely person and place her in the lineage of Christ. His redemption is so much more powerful when seen through the process she went through.

I read through this book in a few hours because I had to know how the author would end the story. I was not disappointed. The characters are authentic and not over-the-top. We see their struggles and failures. I was very impressed with the character development and how the main characters made me want to like them.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a biblical background. This is more a story of redemption than a story of romance.

I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

Where Rivers Part
by Kellie Coates Gilbert
Rating: 4/5
Texas Gold Collection
Revell – Contemporary Fiction

Dr. Juliet Ryan has the perfect life, or so it seems. She has dreams of making the world better by providing the best quality assurance for America’s drinking water. She has a great job and is up for a promotion. Her boss believes in her and her abilities.  She has a secret boyfriend who got her the job. However, her father, a premier scientist, is determined to expose Corporate America’s greed over food safety. Juliet is sure her father is wrong since she is at the forefront and knows her boss wants food safety before more money. Unfortunately, something sinister is happening in the background. Young children are dying in San Antonio, and no one knows why. As the situation escalates, Juliet is unsure of who to trust and why she even needs to feel that way. Can she trust the people that she works for? Can she trust the man she cares for? Will her father only be proven correct? Can she figure out what is happening before more people suffer and die? Does God even care in the midst of such a storm?

I really enjoyed reading this story since I majored in biology and took a class on food microbiology. When I began reading, I was instantly transported back to my college classes and that was fun for me. The author was very good at explaining things that the general public may not be aware of. I even learned some new things. The author’s real life experience really made the story seem so real. When I started reading, I didn’t know what to expect from the cover. The cover picture is nice but I honestly didn’t realize the story was modern from the cover and title. This story reads more like a mystery than a romance which is not what I was expecting but that’s okay. I still enjoyed the characters and their struggles and triumphs.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a book with mystery and science with a hint of romance thrown in.

I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for a review.