Into the Free

Julie Cantrell is an amazing storyteller. In her debut novel, Into the Free, we discover Millie Reynolds. Millie's mother is lost in sorrow and her father is abusive and cruel. There is a neighbor named Sloth who is one of the only encouraging influences Millie has. He teaches her about the farm, fishing and parental love while weaving life lessons for her hungry soul. There is also a young man, River, who travels with a band of gypsies and crosses her path. He teaches her to open her heart, to dream and to believe in herself. She waits for him to return again the next year but much is to happen to Millie during that time of waiting.

Millie faces intense hardship and loss that breaks the readers heart. We journey with her as she figures out how to keep her head above the swirling waters of her life and somehow move forward. She is not afraid to dream and to believe deep in her heart that there has to be more to her existence - more to hope for.

When she loses her family she is taken in by another family. The mother, Diana, is generous and kind to her but once again her safety is stolen from her and the ground shifts beneath her feet.

Millie finds redemption in the town rodeo. She is a natural with the horses and makes a new friend, Bump. He is gentle and kind and helps draw Millie out. He helps her discover healing in the love of a horse and his own unconditional friendship, faith and love.

The author weaves a story of redemption through heartache and loss and that there are mountain tops despite the deep and dark valleys. This story changes the reader, I was moved deeply by Millie and her resilient spirit.

The author has written a sequel to Into the Free. It is called When Mountains Move. I have had the privilege of reading this next installment in Millie's life and will review it next.

I will treasure "Into the Free" and revisit this story again. It is a keeper!

Hannah Fowler

Hannah Fowler by Janice Holt Giles - One of my all time favorites! It was written in 1956 and is a gem of a story!

Hannah Fowler is cut from the cloth that made this country great. She is big, homely, strong and brave. She faces life's challenges with the grit that a pioneer woman had to have in order to survive the harshness of life (circa 1770).

Hannah and her father, Samuel, are traveling to Boone's fort when Samuel's ax slips and cuts a deep gash into his leg. Hannah does her best to nurse him and provide meat for them to survive. Tice Fowler crosses her path and comes to assist them. Unfortunately, Samuel dies and Tice and Hannah travel on to the fort. They come to have mutual respect for one another and become friends.

At the fort, Hannah is uncomfortable with the close surroundings. She longs for the open air of the woods. As single women are rare at the fort, men approach her to offer marriage. Hannah couldn't be more miserable, so in desperation and because she knows and trusts Tice, she asks him to marry her and take her with him to his land.

The two build their log home, cultivate the land and plant. They both hunt to provide meat and needed pelts in order to have the required purchase price for the homestead. So many trials and adventures await them.

If you live in this country, you likely have ancestors that date back to these times. This is true for our family and as I read this story, I felt the strength of character these men and women had to have in order to carve out their homes and build a future for their children and this country.

Do yourself a favor and check this book out at the library, or better yet, order it for your bookshelf. Hannah Fowler left a lasting impression on me and the book is one of my treasures. By the way, my husband read it and loved it too!

"Widow of Gettysburg" by Jocelyn Green

Two words - Intense and riveting! I read Ms Green's "Wedded to War" and knew I wanted to see what she had next in her "Heroines Behind the Lines" series.

This book brought to life one of my favorite sayings, which is, "A woman is like a teabag. You never know how tough she is until you get her into hot water."

In this story, the author has us experience what it was like for the women that lived in Gettysburg to have their quiet, peaceful and restful countryside turned upside down as one of the most fiercest and deadliest battles of the Civil war rages. Multitudes of Union and Confederate soldiers alike are left dead, maimed, wounded and dying during these few days of horrific fighting. These brave women must dig deep, far beyond their own strength and abilities to aid these soldiers. They learn that regardless of what uniform the soldier wears they are someone's son, husband or sweetheart. In helping them they are somehow and in some way helping their own soldier who has perished or is on the front lines fighting somewhere in this horrible war.

The central character, Liberty Halloway, is a young war widow whose husband perished fighting for the Union. Now, through no choice of her own, her farm and home are overrun by the Confederates who turn her world upside down by transforming the farm into a Confederate hospital. She wrestles in her soul over what to do about it and God shows her that her job is to love and serve regardless. She discovers God's strength to do what must be done as she faces horrific surgeries and loss of life. Sanitation is next to impossible. Medical supplies and food are scarce but she must maintain and somehow forge on.

There are several characters in the story that we come to know and care for. Bella, who has escaped slavery and whose scars run deep within her soul. Silas, the man whose evil father perpetuated the worst of the worst in his treatments towards his slaves and family. His bitterness maims his heart and seems too much to bear.

The author challenges the reader's heart to experience with her characters what these dark days were like for the town of Gettysburg.

One of the scenes that comes to mind happens as Liberty and Bella try and assist moving wounded men from a flooded basement several stairs up to safety before they drown. These women struggle to carry the soldiers one at a time. And exhausted, Liberty says "I don't know how many more times I can do this!" Bella asks her if she can do it once more and Liberty responds that she can...Bella says "Then just think about the one more time. One more patient, one more life saved from drowning"...and they did. Again, and again and again.'

The author inserts in the pages quotes from diaries of women who wrote about their experiences, and one that stood out to me said -"What in my girlhood was a teeming and attractive landscape spread out by the Omnipotent Hand to teach us of His Goodness, has by His direction, become a field for profound thought, where, through coming ages, will be taught lessons of loyalty, patriotism and sacrifice." Matilta "Tillie" Pierce Alleman, Gettysburg schoolgirl, age 15.

The Civil war will forever be one of the darkest chapters of American history. Jocelyn Green explores vividly what it must have been like for the women who lived those few days in Gettysburg.

Well done!

"Burning Sky" by Lori Benton

I had the privilege of reading an ARC of this fabulous debut book by new author, Lori Benton. It was in a word - Breathtaking! Her writing style and attention to detail is what classifies this as true Historical Fiction.

Willa Obenchain, Burning Sky, was abducted by Indians when she was fourteen years old. She lived among the Mohawk Indians for 12 years before returning to her home in the white world. But all has changed - her parents are gone and people view her differently. She herself is not sure of who she is now - Willa or Burning Sky? The author takes us on her challenging journey of rediscovery for she is indeed a different person. One who has learned the enduring values of her Indian people but who is now trying to re-grasp what it is to live among her old friends near the village where she grew up. Many villagers see her differently now. She has faced heart breaking loss but she staunchly faces her new life with a brave soul and deep courage. Life has been hard for Willa and due to horrific personal loss in both her worlds, she has learned to shield her heart. The chapters unfold as she fights hard for her home and land that is being ripped from her grasp. Giving up is not an option to Willa. Hard work and never turning from what needs to be done is how she faces each challenge no matter the cost to her physical and emotional strength.

The characters unfolded before me. Willa (Burning Sky), Neil MacGregor (who can resist that Scottish accent and charm?) and Joseph "Tames-His-Horse", Willa's tribal brother who comes to help her. The author gave these characters flesh, bone and life-giving blood. As a reader, I felt part of each of them.

Some books I will read in a few sittings, but this book I sat down frequently in order to absorb the lush details before I picked it up again. It was not a fast read for me, as most books are. Instead it proved to be so rich, so absorbing and so heart-wrenchingly beautiful that I needed to move slowly through the pages!

In this blog it is my desire to not reveal too much of any story. Instead I hope to encourage you to read a book for yourself, if I have indeed managed to whet your appetite. So I will close by saying that this is a book I will cherish and re-visit from time to time just to appreciate the author's amazing gift to paint a vivid scene and to visit with Burning Sky, Neil MacGregor and Joseph, Tames-His-Horse again.

I am a new fan for Ms Benton and clamor for more of her stories!