“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
This was a sad story of American pioneers.
It didn’t hold my attention. Boring
This book was a wonderful read! I was drawn into the characters and caught up into the storyline. The book was not filled with the “fluff” that I have been finding in a lot of books; and for this I loved the book even more. I was sad when I came to the end of the book because I was left wanting to know more.
Great book hated to put it down.
The book was wonderful- great characters, wonderful storyline. I hated to come to the end of the book!
One really felt the emotional pain of the characters. I thought only one who knows such pain could possibly write of it and felt bad for the author … fortunately, the writing is based on letters of her grand or perhaps great-grandparents. Hard to believe one can adapt from a plush life to these hardships but some people are made strong …
A great accomplishment by Mrs Shoop. Captivating read that sometimes takes “guts” to endure because the prairie was such a challenging environment to endure and survive,much less for thriving as a family. It is well researched. New respect for pioneers was born in me. Living with no infrastructure, zero comforts or conveniences. Much harsher …
Loved this book! Very realistic story line, excellent characters !
I loved the tales of life on the prairie. Brought to live the struggles to survive and the hardships it places on all it inhabitants. A tale that stays with you.
Juvenile and predictable.
This book gave a very insightful look into what life was like for pioneers moving into the Dakota territory.
Tended to drag too much.
a realistic and blunt look at a woman’s life as a mother trying to raise her children with an irresponsible husband on the Dakota prairie in the late 1880’s
not for me..
At first I thought I’d have a hard time reading this story but with a little patience I grew to enjoy the characters and the setting. The main character struggles to survive prairie life in the late 1880’s and finds her strength and courage in the face of adversity. I must admit I cried a bit towards the end as tragedy struck during the blizzard …
Characters not developed quickly. Too wordy. Lost interest before too long. Did not finish.s
Couldn’t put it down! Reading the next book now.
Posted a review on Amazon! It was a very good read! I highly recommend this book. It reflects the lot of most women during the late 19th and early 20th century, before women had any civil rights. They were considered chattel, subject to the whims of the male head of the family, whether that was a father, husband, brother, uncle, etc. They could …
I got through almost half the book before realizing that I really didn’t care to finish it.
While this wasn’t your run of the mill book, I loved the history and time period it was set. The characters and scenes were easy to picture and I really loved how descriptive the author was when setting up the scenes.