One woman with a deep desire to serve and help. One brave who will stop at nothing to save his people. Each willing to die for their beliefs and love for one another. Will their sacrifice be enough?As a female medical doctor in 1864, Sadie Hoppner is no stranger to tragedy and loss. While she grapples with the difficulties of practicing medicine at a Colorado outpost, she learns that finding … finding acceptance and respect proves especially difficult at Fort Lyon.
Cheyenne brave Five Kills wants peace between his people and theAmerican Army. But a chance encounter with their female doctor ignites memories from his upbringing among the whites … along with a growing fondness for the one person who seems to understand him and his people.As two cultures collide with differing beliefs of right and wrong, of what constitutes justice and savagery, blood spills on the Great Plains.When the inevitable war reaches Fort Lyon, the young couple’s fledgling love is put to the test.
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Sand Creek Serenade by Jennifer Uhlarik is breathtaking! This story captured my interest from the first sentence and wouldn’t let me go until the very end. Sand Creek Serenade is a story that will stick with me for a very long time. The characters in this novel, specifically Sadie and Five Kills, are excellently crafted. The good guys are decent and relatable. The bad guys are villainous and their actions are incredibly difficult to stomach. I found the action in this story non-stop and highly engaging. I loved the thoroughly researched historical detail and found that it made this novel that much richer. And the romance! It is just perfect. I found the romantic elements to be the perfect combination of tension, passion, and true love. Sand Creek Serenade is truly an outstanding historical romance.
Sand Creek Serenade is too good to be reviewed adequately. This book needs to be experienced. But I do want to discuss Ulharik’s Author’s Note. In her note, Ulharik ends by stating, “I hope Sand Creek Serenade has entertained you, but far more, I hope it makes you think, stirs your heart, and perhaps causes you to seek God in a new and deeper way.” For this review, I would like to go through each point briefly.
Entertainment: YES! On all counts, Sand Creek Serenade is a highly entertaining story. As I stated above, I was hooked and could not put this book down. I will admit that this story kicked my nostalgia into high gear and I just had to purchase Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. I’ve been binge-watching ever since. LOL!
Thoughtful: Oh my word, did this novel make me think and then some. At one point, I did have to put the book down, but that was so I could do my own research. I scoured Google for info on the military men, the Native Americans, the massacre, and the location. I had to see for myself who these people were, why they thought the way they did, and where they lived. While it was clearly a tumultuous time in history, it was also a fascinating time as well. I feel that Ulharik did a great job capturing the historical aspect of this story.
Stirs the Heart: Yes, yes, yes! This book has beautiful moments and really ugly, evil moments. My heart soared for Sadie and Five Kills as they realize and walk down their path towards true love. But, I also bawled my eyes out. I don’t understand evil and human depravity. My heart broke for the innocents at Sand Creek. What men did to women and children that day should NEVER have happened. Yes, this novel stirred my heart for sure.
Seek God: This novel has affirmed my faith in God. I am walking away from this novel even more in love with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is amazing, and the illustration of His saving power and grace is one of the most beautiful scenes I’ve ever read in a novel. This one moment in the story is my absolute favorite, and this scene alone is why this book should be read by EVERYONE!!!
I cannot speak for other readers, but for this reader-girl, I can honestly say I am leaving this novel a changed woman. I adore this story. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking, but it’s also hopeful. I highly recommend Sand Creek Serenade!
While I am part of the JustRead Review Tour for this novel, I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on November 25, 2019, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I loved this book! The author did a great job writing this! She took a very difficult topic and wrote it with grace. It was great reading about a woman that went against the norm for her time. I loved the characters, especially Five Kills. This is a book that I would like to read again!
I was given a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author, but was not required to write a review. The thoughts and comments are my own.
This book is amazing and will have you turning the pages to see how and what will happen on the next page. It was a very enjoyable story based on a real life event that I liked very much.
I how the author has added the information at the end of the book that explained a little bit more on the Sand Creek Massacre.
Sadie is a spunky lady before her time. I admired her a lot! I admire her because she’s doing something that only men at that time would do. To my way of thinking, she paved the way for women doctors today.
Five Kills has a surprise. He’s my hero really. I wanted to reach through the book and take care of him myself. Yes, I have experience just like he did but of course in a totally different way. I loved how he kept his faith even in the rough times that he experienced.
Oh, how my heart hurt for the American Indians. They truly didn’t deserve that.
I just don’t understand why we all can’t learn to get along. It really doesn’t seem to be that hard.
But, I guess it is.
I will recommend a box of tissues because you’ll cry in some spots of this book. At least I did. Now I’m not much of a crier but this book made my heart hurt for the American Indians who were here first.
The author has woven some faith filled themes in here very well. And yes, I have experienced what Five Kills has only in a different way of course. It’s difficult to explain without ruining this book for others.
I’m now a fan of Uhlarik. She’s a fantastic story teller. I love how she makes history come alive on through the pages of this book. I will be looking for more by her.
My thanks to JustReads Tours for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review of this book. All opinions are my own.
Dr. Sadie Hoppner has fought to be taken seriously since childhood, when her father began training her in the healing arts. It is difficult to find acceptance and respect but especially so at Fort Lyon, where she’s come to practice medicine under her brother’s watchful eye. Then Five Kills, who wouldn’t knowingly jeopardize the peace treaty recently negotiated between his people and the Army, has a chance meeting with the female doctor that ignites memories of his upbringing among the whites. So intrigued that he can’t stay away, tension erupts with the soldiers, and Five Kills is injured. A bond is formed with the pretty healer as he recuperates under her tender care. Their fledgling love is put to the test when each realizes that a much greater danger awaits them that they are unable to stop and may not survive. I love how the author shows the anger, hatred, and mistreatment of the Indians and half-breeds. The research of facts included at the end makes the story more reality than fiction.
• I was given a free copy but was not required to review. This review is my true opinion. •
A deeply moving story set against the backdrop of a tragic moment in U.S. history. Even amid turmoil, however, love can blossom. When a young female doctor meets a Cheyenne brave, both their worlds expand. However, it’s a dangerous time to be on the plains. Blood has been spilled from both sides. Tensions are impossibly high. Some men aren’t to be trusted–even men in positions of authority. How can two people from such polar-opposite backgrounds find common ground that will allow them to help those who are hurting the most? Read this one and find out.
I am now a permanent follower of Author Jennifer Uhlarik after finishing her first full length story A Sand Creek Serenade! She is an amazing storyteller and has a way of writing that puts you right in the story as if you are experiencing all the emotions and adventures along with the characters in the story. I could not put the book down! It was interesting to imagine what fort life might have been like on the frontier.
I love Sadie, the strong female lead in the story who is a rare female doctor for the time, working alongside her brother Ben, the official army doctor. She tries to follow God’s promptings in her life and what an adventure she has. I love the story line with Michael Five Kills the half white, half Cheyenne male lead in the story.
The conflicts between the white man and the native american peoples is a truly sad part of our american history. Author Uhlarik handles it deftly, she has actual people from the Sand Creek Massacre appear in this story and it is apparent that she has done her research well. If you like historical fiction, you will love Sand Creek Serenade. I highly recommend it.
Stories set in the midst of actual historical events are particularly interesting. Sand Creek Serenade takes place in 1864 during the time of the Sand Creek massacre. Tensions between settlers and Native Americans had increased and these two cultures fought for control of the Great Plains of eastern Colorado.
Sand Creek Serenade is full of independent, and strong-willed, multidimensional characters. As one might expect, it’s fairly raw in parts, but it is also a story of friendship, faith, an unconventional romance. Jennifer Uhlarik did her research and crafted a compelling story that keeps the reader thinking long after the story ends.
Jennifer has delved into history to create a novel that is so much more than romance. Strong-willed and compassionate, Sadie Hoppner is the only single woman living at Fort Lyon in Colorado Territory in 1864. She is a doctor, and she lives with her brother, who is also a doctor. Sadie has a deep faith and a strong sense of right and wrong. She doesn’t hesitate to care for anyone who needs doctoring, even if it endangers her This brings her into contact with the Cheyanne encampment outside the fort, and with Five Kills, the brave who’s father was French. The Native Americans are ready to sign a peace treaty with the whites, but they are betrayed at Sand Creek when the Cavalry attacks and brutally murders the peaceful Cheyanne. A story of faith, grit, betrayal, and love.
Since the quarantine went into effect I have been homeschooling my boys and my 8th grader just so happens to be currently studying about the Civil War in his history class, so I’ve been beefing up on my Civil War knowledge quite a bit, and Sand Creek Serenade came at just the right time for me. We’ve been reading about what happened in the eastern/southern part of the country during that time period, but Sand Creek Serenade gives us a taste of what was happening in the west during that tumultuous time.
Biracial relationships, or forbidden love, in an interesting topic for me, especially since I myself am in a biracial marriage. I am so thankful to live in a time where I can freely love whom I choose. Many during that time weren’t so lucky, and that pains my heart.
What also tugs at my heartstrings is the Sand Creek massacre, which was tastefully depicted in this story. It is another ugly stain on our country’s history, what utterly tragic, and absolutely senseless and unnecessary. Massacred just because you’re a native…sickening…but the author depicted it in an honest, yet not too graphic way, focusing more on the emotion than on the gruesome details, though the details mentioned turned my stomach. I can’t even begin to imagine…
Beautifully written with such heart, Sand Creek Serenade will leave you thankful for the freedoms that we all too easily take for granted.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and/or publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.
Tender. That is the word that comes to mind when thinking of this book.
Sadie Hoppner is a doctor in the midst of the Civil War. Not only that, but she is also a doctor at a military camp. Not well accepted, she has to prove over and over she deserves to be there. When Cheyenne warrior Five Kills is taken to her camp, she is determined to care for him, despite protests. When tragedy strikes, Sadie is determined to do what she deems right, no matter the consequences. Though thinking such thoughts during a time of war might be a sign of how Sadie is underestimating the dangers to her life and her heart.
This book was richly researched and Jennifer Uhlarik pointedly and compassionately wrote what happened that fateful day at Sand Creek and bit of the aftermath. I applaud her by the changes and reflection she brought through some characters near the end, but you will have to read to find out 😉
Sand Creek Serenade was a sweet, short story. Sadie was brave and was willing to stand for what she believed in and what she thought was right. I loved seeing that she thought more of other’s then of herself and treated everything equally when she was surrounded with others acting with prejudice. This author perfectly captured the difficulties the Native American’s faced and wrote a beautiful story. I enjoyed seeing Sadie and Five Kills and watching them grow throughout the book.
There were a few fight scenes and some detail of wounds and killings, but it was fairly clean. Some faith content, though not a lot. Would recommend!
As a historical fiction fan, I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I love western fiction and this time period especially, so this story was easily added to my TBR. I thought the author did a wonderful job of describing life on the western frontier at Fort Lyon as well as within the Cheyenne/Arapaho camps. It gave the story authenticity and made the characters come to life.
I was a huge fan of Sadie Hoppner. One because she is a medical doctor at a time when it was difficult for women to hold such professions. She is confident in her abilities and uses her gift of healing for any and all who need it. Two, she is a great woman of faith. Three, she is a true example of how we should love others the way Jesus commanded us. Many obstacles block Sadie’s path to finding her place in the world, but it was easy to cheer her on as she stumbled through her journey.
Five Kills is an honorable man with an interesting past. I enjoyed getting to know him and his family. He is a strong warrior but has a gentle and loving heart. A perfect hero for this story–and one you will fall in love with!
Some of the historical details of this story are difficult to read. The atrocities that took place at Sand Creek are unthinkable but need to be known. It is important for history to be kept alive for future generations even if it is through fiction.
The only thing that bothered me a little (and I mean a little) is that some parts of the ending seemed rushed or tied too pretty in a bow. I still enjoyed the entire story, and knowing how it ended would not have stopped me from reading it.
If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially western/frontier fiction, then you will appreciate this story.
I was given a copy of this book without any expectation of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was a romance story that takes place in a time when a white woman and a Native American man’s love would have been forbidden. This is also a time of tentative peace between the US government and the Native American tribes. Based on the massacre that happened at Sand Creek, the author takes us right into that conflict, where evil men decided to take vengeance for themselves.
Sadie Hoppner is a doctor who is working along side her doctor brother at a military fort. Not everyone accepts her, but she strives to prove herself as every bit of a competent doctor as her brother is.
Five Kills is half white and Native American. He knows languages and so he has a very important job as translator. He catches sight of Sadie and he knows deep down he wants to get to know her more and her books. However, there is political upheaval in the military ranks and not everything is as it seems, which leads up to this devastating massacre in history.
I like that we had a romance to root for as the atrocities of this event were hard to read about, and I know we didn’t get every detail. If ever the author wanted to, I would very much like to read more about Sadie and Five Kills. I very much enjoyed watching these two fall in love, while seemingly battling the world, and finding true faith. Five Kills knew he needed help that was beyond him and the author did a good job telling his faith journey.
I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
As I read Sand Creek Serenade I quickly recognized that prejudice is definitely an underlying theme. Sadie Hoppner is a dedicated and talented doctor but in 1864, women doctors weren’t the first choice when people needed medical care. Time and again, she had to overcome their reluctance and prove that she could heal them. But her greatest challenge occurred when she met and fell in love with a Cheyenne brave! A white woman and an Indian? Unheard of!
This is my first Jennifer Uhlarik book and I couldn’t have picked a better book to introduce me to her amazing writing talents. She has created two exceptional characters to tell a story of forbidden love during a time of unrest that culminated in the Sand Creek Massacre. It’s very evident that she extensively researched this tragic occurrence and I won’t soon forget the evident mistreatment of Native Americans. She doesn’t have a faith message evident in every page but there is a conversion scene that I will long remember, and then…there is the love story. The deep love between Sadie and Five Kills is sweet and pure but their physical attraction simply took by breath away! If you enjoy historical romance, you need to read Sand Creek Serenade.
I voluntarily accepted a complimentary copy of this book from the author. These are my personal opinions.
I really liked this historical fiction book. Jennifer Uhlarik is a new author to me but she has quickly become one that I will eagerly anticipate new offerings from! She is a wonderful storyteller as her writing is strong and descriptive. She has blended suspense, romance, and faith in the narrative to make a story that keeps the pages turning. Characters were crafted to be believable, relatable and ones I’d like to have known as friends (well, the good guys anyway!). The story is based on the historical event of the Sand Creek Massacre and I like how the author gave further information regarding the true event in the Author Note at the end of the book. The massacre is a sad commentary on the inhumanity of man and Uhlarik writes with finesse to describe this horrible event. Being a former ICU RN, I enjoyed the medical part of the story, seeing how certain procedures that I have seen performed in modern circumstances were perhaps performed in primitive settings. And then the romance–sweet, tender, and passionate. I was kept on the edge of my seat wondering how this forbidden relationship would ultimately be resolved. Sand Creek Serenade is a heartbreaking and yet, beautiful story of survival, loss, and profound love. I was given a complimentary copy of the book through JustRead Tours and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.
Warning: Seeing as there is a massacre this is a book for readers older than 16/19 depending on reading preferences.
Review: The cover held my interest right away since it was accurate to the era, the people, and was so beautiful. After reading the book I can still say that it fits the book perfectly.
This is a new favorite book for civil war-era, though it wasn’t anywhere near the Civil War. I loved Sadie’s spirit, her go-getter attitude, the determination to do what was right even when there were repercussions, and her love for Five Kills.
Five Kills had such a life of grief, and it was saddening, but his changes through the book were a sight to behold, the growth that the author put into this character were real. A wonderful job.
Ben was a character I want to know more about, I’d love if one day there’s a book about him!
There was one thing I don’t feel the greatest about and that is Five Kills time in prison and what happened … A “miracle”, I don’t really agree with it but the book ended well.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
This book hits the ground and takes off running from the very first page. It’s action-packed and full of heart, immediately drawing readers into the time period and the atmosphere. I finished it in less than 48 hours because I just didn’t want to put it down. So many things were happening and I was afraid I’d miss something! I feel like that’s the evidence of a good book–when the characters and the life between the pages feel so real that it seems they can go on when you aren’t looking.
Readers of historical fiction and inspirational romances will enjoy this one. However, there are instances of violence as this book depicts a heart wrenching battle between the Army and Native Americans. In any other book, I may have felt it was too much, but the atrocity was handled well among the rest of the story. It simply unfolds before the reader in such a way that you forget it was written; it seems it’s just happening.
I’m a Book Boyfriend kind of girl and Five Kills certainly earns the trophy for this read. His heart is golden, always caring for his people and for Sadie even as he wrestles to discover more about his heritage and his faith. Overall, I really enjoyed this one! I highly recommend it.
Wow…
Where do I even start with this book? Jennifer Uhlarik did an amazing job with the historical aspects of this book. I loved a glimpse into rural fort life and that of a female doctor during the turn of the last century. The emotions and actions of the characters were very engaging and believable. I so enjoyed the love story , I think that Jennifer Uhlarik also share the gospel very well and it fit into the story seamlessly. It does depict one of the many bad atrocities that our government did to the Native American people, in some heavy detail. However, I don’t think things like that should be glossed over. Otherwise, how will we learn from our past?
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for the creative storyline, the highly engaging characters and for sharing the gospel amidst a back scene of terror. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
While this is an exciting read, it broke my heart to see such vengeance between the Indians and military. Of course, I realize the atrocities that were exacted on white settlers was a huge part of the hate filled lives of the Civil War times. As history has proven, there were wrongs committed by settlers, Indians, Military and the haters not only during the 1860’s in this book but many other events so long ago. This book is well written and descriptive of the battles as well as the tenderness between cultures with some romance and sweetness of small children. There was confusion of names a couple times in that Sadie became Sarah Ann, but the story-line kept moving so fast, I easily discounted that situation
Refreshingly not your typical 1800s romance between a Native American man and a white woman. Sadie is a spunky physician practicing under her brother at a frontier fort. Five Kills is a Cheyenne warrior drawn by memories of his deceased white father’s love and faith. When an altercation with some soldiers brings Five Kills under Sadie’s care, their relationship begins with the warrior in a position of weakness — which is an interesting place for a romance to start. Especially when a handsome lieutenant is expecting to marry Sadie. Full of unexpected twists and free of stereotyping, you’ll want to read Sand Creek Serenade yourself to see how in the world this unlikely love can ever be fulfilled.