A Light in the Wilderness

by Jane Kirkpatrick

Letitia holds nothing more dear than the papers that prove she is no longer a slave. They may not cause white folks to treat her like a human being, but at least they show she is free. She trusts in those words she cannot read--as she is beginning to trust in Davey Carson, an Irish immigrant cattleman who wants her to come west with him.

Nancy Hawkins is loathe to leave her settled life for the treacherous journey by wagon train, but she is so deeply in love with her husband that she knows she will follow him anywhere--even when the trek exacts a terrible cost.

Betsy is a Kalapuya Indian, the last remnant of a once proud tribe in the Willamette Valley in Oregon territory. She spends her time trying to impart the wisdom and ways of her people to her grandson. But she will soon have another person to care for.

As season turns to season, suspicion turns to friendship, and fear turns to courage, three spirited women will discover what it means to be truly free in a land that makes promises it cannot fulfill. This multilayered story from bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick will grip readers' hearts and minds as they travel with Letitia on the dusty and dangerous Oregon trail into the boundless American West.

• ISBN10: 1628992425
• ISBN13: 9781628992427
• Publish Date: 1 October 2014 (first published 26 August 2014)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 9 July 2021
• Imprint: Center Point
• Edition: Large type / large print edition
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 423
• Language: English

Reviews

[cherryblossommj]

I love this book cover. The book cover portrays so much. From the solid yellow tones, the the grasses underfoot and even the hands holding the skirts and basket. So much is told from these images. In recent years a trend seems to be of a crop before showing a face and I love that, especially in examples such as this because it allows the imagination so much more.

Often in this genre, Christian Historical Fiction, I find that one book is on a particular character and then a trilogy is made with each sequel being from another main character's point of view. But in this book it starts out being split and alternating between views telling three very different yet interwoven stories. I've read plenty of the wagon train female headed west and quite a few of the Native American Indian character, but this is still one within a handful that I have read from the perspective of former black slave.

This was interesting, and I love the stories based on truth, but I do think I'm one of the few people that is just not enthralled with Jane's writing. I find myself continuously coming back as she picks fabulous topics and plot lines to write about, yet sometimes a sad overall story just doesn't enrapture me the most.

I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.

posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2014/10/23/light-wilderness/