Can a single day together on horseback change your life forever?Oregon Territory 1852… Labeled a harlot and expelled from a remote logging camp and her work teaching children, Faith Featherby embarks on a journey to return a stolen spirit horse to the little girl whose photograph was hidden in the horse’s riding blanket. Orphaned young and stifled by a lifelong shyness, Faith has only her … shyness, Faith has only her education as a schoolmistress and her memories of her mother’s stories. She’s not an experienced rider, but a Medicine Hat horse—alleged to have the sacred power to protect its rider—might be her best hope for surviving the wilderness… until an Osage warrior rides out of the mist.
Scarred by a brutal past, the warrior challenges Faith to follow a new path where belief in yourself and your partner, be they horse or man, can lead to a triumph of the heart.
Follow a path. Find a partner. Fight for a future together.
Following Faith is a stand-alone novella set in a beautiful but dangerously unforgiving wilderness. It’s also the second book in the award-winning Lonesome Hearts series which can be read in any order.
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I’ve been a fan of Jacqui’s for quite a while now, ever since I read the first in this series entitled, Between Love and Lies. She has a unique way of drawing the reader back to the old west with colorful descriptions and characters who leap from the page.
One of my favorite things in her stories is how she paints a scene to the point you can almost see what’s happening. She brings us pieces of history through real life characters such as Bat Masterson- sheriff of Dodge City, Wild West trick riders, Calamity Jane, the trials of cattle drives across Indian territory, and the legends of the Osage people.
In Jacqui’s story, we meet schoolmistress Faith Featherby, a woman unjustly accused of being a harlot who is cast out from the safety of her home and job. Left with no choice she embarks on a quest to find the owner of a Medicine Hat Spirit pony Faith found and nursed back to health.
She meets an Osage warrior who becomes her protector against dangers from animals and humans alike.
Favorite line:
“You are the song that makes life better,” he said, in a huskily vehement tone.
Following Faith: Jacquie Nelson
I give Following Faith 5 lovely kisses!
Jacqui Nelson’s story, Following Faith, is a well-crafted mix of adventure, suspense, and romance. As the story opens Faith Featherby is abruptly dismissed from her teaching job in a small logging town by the school committee. Nelson draws the characters so well, you feel as if you’re part of the scene, listening to two old bitties accuse her of inappropriate behavior. With no relatives and no friends, Faith sets out to find the little girl she believes owns the spirit horse she has befriended. On the journey, she meets Eagle and their adventure together begins. It’s a wonderful romantic story.
This poor woman is scandalised by gossip and loses her job. She sets off on a journey to return this horse and danger is near by. Will she survive? I enjoyed this tale of the heart.
Sweet Story; A Little Sappy But Lovely at the End
I enjoy a well-done novella. They can, unfortunately, be hard to come by. It seems like this slightly (or greatly) shorter-than-a-novel form has the potential for certain errors, like information dumps to get the story going and a story that is too big for the shorter form. Luckily, this book suffered from neither of these faults. The story is constrained by time, which is always good for a novella. The metaphor and bulk of the plot is a journey started by our heroine; our hero soon joins her. Our heroine is forced on this journey when she is unjustly fired as a teacher at a remote logging camp because a man whose advances she spurned lied to some old biddies that she accepted them (outside of marriage). She doesn’t have much of a plan when she is suddenly kicked out. She had nursed an injured horse back to health. From a daguerreotype in the horse’s blanket, she knew it belonged to a little girl. So before she figured out any plans for herself, she was determined to return this horse to the girl. As she is attempting to do this, she meets Eagle who recognizes the horse and knows the little girl it belongs to. These two people develop love and trust as they move toward bringing the horse back to the little girl; for such a short novella, I thought the author did a good job showing the evolution of their relationship. They do face a few difficult circumstances on the road and learn to work as a team. The end was sweet enough to bring tears to my eyes, even if it was slightly unrealistic and a little sappy. But it does the heart good sometimes to enjoy a sappier than normal end to a tale; the real world can be harsh… so enjoy a little moment like this when well presented in fiction. I loved how the author touched on a broader social theme (the difficulties that spinster teachers could have on the frontier) as well as personal ones (like exploring the broader concept of what a family can mean). I thoroughly enjoyed this very short novella and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys short Western romances with a lot of heart.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Faith, a young teacher who is dismissed unfairly, tries to find the girl she believes owns the horse she has rescued. She finds a photograph of the girl with the horse in the riding blanket. When she is protected by a scarred Osage warrior, they fall in love. Eagle, the warrior, encourages her to believe in herself and him to find a future. Will Spirit, the Medicine Hat horse, be able to protect her riders from enemies? Will they be able to be a family with the little girl, Yellow Feather?
I loved this book so much, I now own all the books in the series!
FOLLOWING FAITH
Faith is an orphan and was taught to be a teacher. She worked in a lumber town and when one of the men and tried to get her to have an affair with him she refuses and he tells everyone she is a loose woman. The school board members dismiss her and force her out of town.
She saves a horse and cares for it. She is going to a place where she believes the mare is from. Along the way she meets a native man his name is Eagle. He says the horse is his but she says it belongs to a girl.
He says he will take her to see the child. Along the way they are met with bad men, and a band of Indians who want the horse for them selfs.
Quick read. I enjoyed this story.
My disclaimer…
I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.
Any book or novels I leave reviews on are not dependent on the book/novel review author’s opinion. No one influenced my voluntary review for any of the books or novels I read, they are my own opinions.
Faith is a teacher before she is falsely accused and asked to leave her hometown. Fortunately she meets Eagle, an Osage warrior, as she navigates dangerous territory. They experience adventure and mutual attraction as they travel together. Set in 1852 this is a sweet romance that focuses on emotions instead of a physical relationship. It ends with the promise of a future and a HEA. A short, entertaining read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’m really enjoying this series and loved Faith and Eagle’s story and all the characters. I look forward to more books in the series.
This is a quick short story that is easily read and the culture of the times, it is understood. Faith, a school teacher, removed from her job due to gossip, is on her own to find her way. How she does this; who she meets; and, does she survive, is this story. I enjoyed it.
A work of art.
Lies can cause so much pain and in Faith case, there is also fear what will she do where will she go? Now leaving the life she knew all because of lies she sets out on a mission to find the girl who picture she found in the blanket of the horse she had saved. Then she meets her tamahnous and things start to change. For such a quick read this book is jammed packed there is so much fear, loneliness, sadness, and then there is friendship, acceptance, and joy in this gem. This is the fourth book by Jacqui Nelson I have read and each has been a work of art. It is my hope you enjoy this one as much as I did. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
This is the story of Faith who is turned from her home unjustly. She rides the horse that she nursed back to health, and she hopes to return the horse to its rightful owner. Along the way, Eagle approaches her and explains the horse is his. Trouble comes and follows them. As they protect and care for each other, their feelings grow. I loved how Faith did not give up when the town pushed her out. Her acceptance of Eagle and the trust she put in him made her stronger in my eyes.
This is my unsolicited review.
This is Jacqui Nelson’s story of an orphan, Faith Featherby, and an Osage warrior, Eagle Feather, who meet on the trail after Faith is dismissed from her teaching position. Both Faith and Eagle have been separated from their families, her by death and him by choice. As always Jacqui reveals the tenuous hold people in the west had on life and the need for them to grab life and love with both hands
This was the first story I’d read by Jacqui Nelson which put her on my watch-out-for-and-read-her-stuff list. haha!
Despite the short length, this story packed a big punch. The way it flowed and the words used drew me in and captured my attention fully. Loved getting to see Faith find her happily ever after with Eagle.
The Story of Eagle Feather whom we first met in Paden and Hannah’s story and Faith, an orphan. Faith worked hard to become a teacher. Eagle Feather has left his tribe by his own choice..
Faith Featherby is accused of “relations outside of marriage” by two women in the Logging Camp where she is a teacher. They terminated her position and forced her to leave town alone, on a horse named Spirit that she saved and brought back to health.
Eagle Feather meets Faith on the trail. After several altercations where their lives are threatened, They realize that they are meant to be together.
Women had so few options in life during this time period. Jacqui Nelson brings these issues to light in her stories. This one in particular shows how teachers were at the mercy of gossip. and even untruths. I loved this story and highly recommend the read! I received an ARC of this book and am choosing to leave an honest review.
Jacqui Nelson’s Following Faith, the second installment in her award winning Lonesome Hearts series, is eloquently written. It embraces grace, endearment, and the will to survive.
After Faith, is dismissed from her duties as head school mistress and forced to leave the town, she is left with only the clothes on her back and one crippled horse, Spirit, whom she nursed back to health.
Eagle Feathers, an Osage warrior is running from trouble back east, as he happens on Faith during her travels, he declares the horse she is riding belongs to him. Will this be a confrontation over the Spirit’s rightful ownership or is this a friendly acquaintance? Eagle’s spider tattoo brings more questions into Faith’s already mysterious encounter. Amazing how one day can change Faith’s life forever. This is one phenomenal short story, I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to read Choosing Bravery to see what happens next
This is a great read about the hardships that the Indians dealt with and how they find ways to deal with them. How dealing with gossip will make you a stronger person or will break you. Will Faith have the strength on her own or will her friendship with Eagle do the trick? Great reading
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.