A Light in the Wilderness

Title: A Light in the Wilderness
Author: Jane Kilpatrick
Publish Date: October 2014
Post Date: December 2, 2014
Blog URL:
Review link:

Letitia is a freed slave who understandably fears losing the precious paper than ensures her freedom. While living in Missouri Letitia meets Davey Carson, an Irish immigrant, who is kind to her and helps her by purchasing a cow for her with money she earned as a midwife. Davey wants Letitia to be his wife which is illegal but he finds a preacher who is willing to let them exchange vows to each other although the union is not recognized by law. The two set out on a wagon train headed to Oregon territory where Davey is sure life will be better. 

Nancy Hawkins is the wife of a doctor with several children. She is not pleased with her husband's decision to uproot the family and head west to Oregon but she willingly bows to his wishes and packs her children up and begins the journey west.

Betsy is one of a very few Kalapuya Indians left in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. She lovingly and patiently teaches her young grandson the ways of her people.

The lives of these three women are connected through a rare friendship. 

This book is based on historical facts. 

I enjoyed this book but found certain things annoying. The character of Davey seemed to be shallow or underdeveloped to me. I found the character hard to understand. He seemed to care for Letitia yet left her to fend for herself in several instances. I just never could decide if he cared for her or if he just married her to have someone to warm his bed as he allowed others to believe. I think this is a weakness in the book.

I found the relationships between the women to be realistic and understandable. Although Letitia was a freed slave I think it is plausible that some people were able to look beyond the color of someone's skin to see the human inside. 

I gave this book 4 stars.

I received this advanced copy through Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

A Matter of Heart

Title: A Matter of Heart
Author: Tracie Peterson
Publish Date: October 7, 2014
Post Date: November 24, 2014
Blog URL:
Review link:

I give this book a 5 out of 5 rating.

Jessica Atherton was a spoiled and irritating young woman in the book preceding A Matter of the Heat which are part of the Lone Star Brides Series by Tracie Peterson. I was hesitant to read a book in which she was the main character but it is my book club read for this month so I decided to give it a try. 

What a difference in the character. She's still selfish, self-centered, and spoiled but she begins to realize her faults and determines to change. 

After being rejected by the man everyone in the community assumed she would marry, Jessica is beginning to think marriage may not be in her future. 

Two new men enter the community and Jessica is drawn to each for very different reasons. Who will win Jessica's heart?

This is a great Christian Historical Fiction and if you enjoy that genre you are sure to love this book. Join Jessica on her quest to become a better person. This book is filled with love, community, intrigue, and deception. A great read!