Scan barcode
A review by soulkissed2003
Woman of Courage by Wanda E. Brunstetter
5.0
Amanda Pearson is a young Quaker woman living in New York in 1837. Her plans to marry Nathan Lane fall flat when he informs her – the day before their wedding – that he is in love with her best friend, Penelope! Hurt, Amanda prays and feels that God is leading her to travel west, to share her Christian faith with the Nez Perce Indians. Her widowed father joins his only daughter for the journey.
A journey west in those rough times was a dangerous one, however. Soon, her father's heart fails, and she finds herself helping their travel guide bury Papa alongside the trail. Not long afterwards, a terrible lightning storm rages, felling a tree that kills her guide. Alone in the wilderness, Amanda becomes ill. Thankfully, a man named Buck McFadden finds her and brings her to his friend's home. His friend Jim Breck, a harsh mountain man, and his wife, Mary, care for Amanda until she is well.
Amanda's presence soon brings change to the lives of all concerned. Her new friends each have a background story of pain and frustration, and difficulty trusting others. In her focus on trying to bring her Christian faith to her new friends, the young Quaker woman finds herself growing and maturing as well, and realizes she has just as much to learn as she feels that they do! What I enjoyed best about this book is that, while the Christian theme was strong, it was not overbearing. It was clear that the message was that the best way to reach others is to be willing to accept them as they are and to listen to their stories. I also liked the respect given the Native Americans and their beliefs.
I would categorize this novel as a faith-inspired historical romance. I loved how Amanda was such a strong female character, especially for that time period, when women may not have necessarily been viewed as being able to function on their own without a man caring for them in the rugged wilderness. The story went along at a nice pace and kept me eager to find out what was going to happen to each of the main characters. It was one of those books that you are sorry to see come to an end, because it was just plain enjoyable to read.
The novel was published in 2014 through Shiloh Run Press. ISBN 978-1-61626-083-5. Suggested retail price is $14.99 in the United States. I quite enjoyed this read and I think others will as well.
A journey west in those rough times was a dangerous one, however. Soon, her father's heart fails, and she finds herself helping their travel guide bury Papa alongside the trail. Not long afterwards, a terrible lightning storm rages, felling a tree that kills her guide. Alone in the wilderness, Amanda becomes ill. Thankfully, a man named Buck McFadden finds her and brings her to his friend's home. His friend Jim Breck, a harsh mountain man, and his wife, Mary, care for Amanda until she is well.
Amanda's presence soon brings change to the lives of all concerned. Her new friends each have a background story of pain and frustration, and difficulty trusting others. In her focus on trying to bring her Christian faith to her new friends, the young Quaker woman finds herself growing and maturing as well, and realizes she has just as much to learn as she feels that they do! What I enjoyed best about this book is that, while the Christian theme was strong, it was not overbearing. It was clear that the message was that the best way to reach others is to be willing to accept them as they are and to listen to their stories. I also liked the respect given the Native Americans and their beliefs.
I would categorize this novel as a faith-inspired historical romance. I loved how Amanda was such a strong female character, especially for that time period, when women may not have necessarily been viewed as being able to function on their own without a man caring for them in the rugged wilderness. The story went along at a nice pace and kept me eager to find out what was going to happen to each of the main characters. It was one of those books that you are sorry to see come to an end, because it was just plain enjoyable to read.
The novel was published in 2014 through Shiloh Run Press. ISBN 978-1-61626-083-5. Suggested retail price is $14.99 in the United States. I quite enjoyed this read and I think others will as well.