The story begins in 1849 in
St. Louis where Brianna Wight, fleeing an abusive husband, joins a wagon train
heading west to Oregon Territory. To ensure she gets there, she hires a
mountain man, Columbus (“Col”) Nigh. Soon they discover her husband is in
pursuit and wants revenge. Meanwhile, Col, whose Indian wife died sometime ago,
finds himself attracted to the very proper woman who initially told him she was
a widow.
Raddon brings to life the
struggles and hardships of the pioneers heading west along the Oregon Trail:
cholera, bad water, torrential rains, a tornado, hail, grasshoppers, tainted
water and insects. (Amazingly, there were no Indian attacks.) Her meticulous
research provides a solid foundation for the budding love between Brianna and
Col.
Alas, while Raddon includes three maps, they are way too small to see in the ebook (and I love maps!). But she graciously sent me her maps so I could display one below. It gives you an idea of where the story is set. Shakespeare is Brianna's wonderful cat she takes along on the wagon train heading west.
Alas, while Raddon includes three maps, they are way too small to see in the ebook (and I love maps!). But she graciously sent me her maps so I could display one below. It gives you an idea of where the story is set. Shakespeare is Brianna's wonderful cat she takes along on the wagon train heading west.
 |
| Original cover |
Col is a worthy hero and a
complex man, much like the real fur trappers and mountain men who infiltrated
the far west in the early days of America. And Brianna is a woman who cares for
the hurts of others having lost so many she loves.
It's a story of second chances and finding the courage to leave an abusing relationship.
Thank you, Regan.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. And thanks for the map!
DeleteI'm going to add this to my "to be read" shelf. I'm obsessed with the westward expansion. The hardships, the perseverance...such displays of strength of spirit and character!
ReplyDeleteYou'll find them in this story, Sawyer.
Delete