“Gripping historical fiction—A tale of two women finding meaning behind all that went wrong in their lives. A timeless tale of redemption with the best plot-twist at the end I’ve seen in a long, long time. Can’t wait for book two!” New YorkTimes and USA Today bestselling author, Melissa FosterKatherine wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t found the letter…In the summer of 1905 Katherine … of 1905 Katherine Arthur’s mother arrives on her doorstep, dying, forcing her to relive a past she wanted to forget. When Katherine was young, the Arthur family had been affluent city dwellers until shame sent them running for the prairie, into the unknown. Taking her family, including young Katherine, to live off the land was the last thing Jeanie Arthur had wanted, but she would do her best to make a go of it. For Jeanie’s husband Frank it had been a world of opportunity. Dreaming, lazy Frank. But, it was a society of uncertainty–a domain of natural disasters, temptation, hatred, even death.
Ten-year-old Katherine had loved her mother fiercely, put her trust in her completely, but when there was no other choice, and Jeanie resorted to extreme measures on the prairie to save her family, she tore Katherine’s world apart. Now, seventeen years later, and far from the homestead, Katherine has found the truth – she has discovered the last letter. After years of anger, can Katherine find it in her heart to understand why her mother made the decisions that changed them all? Can she forgive and finally begin to heal before it’s too late?
Independent Publisher Awards
2011 Gold Medal, Best Regional Fiction-Midwest
National Indie Excellence Book Awards
2011 Finalist Award-Historical Fiction
2011 Finalist Award-Regional Fiction
USA Best Books 2011 Awards
Winner, Fiction–Western
Finalist, Fiction–Historical
Finalist, Best New Fiction
International Book Awards
2011 Finalist Award-Historical Fiction
2011 Finalist Award-Best New Fiction
more
I liked this book, learned a lot about dugout homes in the prairie
Enjoyable read.
This was probably one of the most accurate story written by a woman who had to live in a soddy and just how rough women had it and the day to day challenges they faced.
This book was so good at telling about rough life was back in Pioneer days. I hated to put it down.
Good read. Quite sad and surprised how the story twisted.
It was not very interesting
At first I wasn’t sure I would like it, but it became hard to put down, The word insightful comes to mind.
As I was reading this story I kept thinking, ” Wow, this would make a great movie!” I really wish someone would. The hardships these early American settlers endured was amazing and humbling. A good story line, told in flashbacks, and good characters, kept me turning the pages. Please, somebody make this into a movie !!
A good story: of things that happened in Des Monies, Iowa and caused a young family to move to the Dakota Territory. Then the hardships and what happened in the territory – the Mother leaving the children in other homes on their own before moving back to Iowa. The daughter could not forgive her Mother until she read the letter. You would have …
This was an excellent historical fiction that was detailed and realistic such that I could clearly imagine the incredibly difficult living conditions on the prairie – the unbearable cold, how the families depend on each other for survival and how some don’t survive; how a woman loves her children but doesn’t respect her husband.
A wonderful read. Amazing what people sacrifice and put up with in the hard times of their lives
A woman and her daughter recount the story of their lives and decisions they made and how all affected their relationship. Their grueling experience homesteading on the prairie in the Dakota territory makes one wonder how the area was ever settled by anyone. They suffered crop failure and hunger, weather, disease, loss of life, loss of love. A …
What would it be like to live on the prairie? In basically a hole in the ground? With no luxuries, not even a bathtub? After living in the city as a wealthy wife? To make matters worse, there were several natural disasters and a husband refusing to do much work. I read many books and most of them I can barely remember a month later, but not this …
odd and then tragically, odder still.
Wow, a great read, emotional story that takes place in the planes in 1800’s sad story but a very believable story of the true life of the times. I will read more of this series.
I grew up with Little House on the Prairie books. This story is nothing like that. Full of the back-breaking labor of trying to survive with nothing, to the heart-wrenching loss of a child. Beautifully written.
Well-developed characters and a good balance of tragedy and blessings.
Not my typical read. It was different. Very dysfunctional family. I felt it was too depressing.
Gives great insight into pioneer life and the heartbreak that went along with. Loved the story though. Hated to put it down.
I enjoyed tbe historical details and the characters. Definitely not a happily ever after