Red and white were at war in the world, and in her blood. Genesee was born to an Iroquois warrior and a teen runaway. Returned to "civilization," Genesee finds little but contempt among her mother's people. When the American Revolution explodes an uneasy peace on the frontier and Genesee is carried into captivity. Will the love of a young soldier be strong enough to save her?
"Look at Miss Genny!" one of the maids cried, "Just like a cat!"
On a broad limb of a tree, her long black hair held with a scarlet ribbon, without a cap and dressed only in a white muslin shift, was a slender, supple girl. For a heartbeat, she steadied herself and then proceeded on small brown bare feet along the mottled limb.
Genesee didn't acknowledge the maids. All her attention was focused on balancing. There would be a whipping descent through a lattice of branches to a bone-snapping conclusion if something went wrong.
Jenny knew what she was doing ws foolhardy, but it was always fun to play the wild frontier woman and shock her elegant Cousin Nelia.
Professional Reviews
Genesee/Harrisburg /The Patriot-News
Juliet V. Waldron spins a magical tale of love during the American Revolution in her new historical nove, "Genesee."
Set in the Finger Lakes region of New York state, "Genesee" is the story of Genesee "Jenny" van Cortlandt, the daughter of Alyda van Cortlandt, who defied her wealthy Dutch family by running off with Black Wolf, a Seneca brave. The novel begins in 1761 as Alyda's brother, Hendrik, returns to his homestead with the infant Jenny after finding his sister Alyda dead. When Hendrik dies, his widow marries a Loyalist and Jenny becomes little better thqn a slave in the new household.
She is sent to the Albany home of her grandfather, Nicholas van Cortlandt, where she is educated and taught to be a lady. As a woman of mixed blood, however, she faces the same prejudice and whispers about her parentage. Here Jenny meets and falls in love with Capt. Alexander Dunbar of the Army of Independence. Penniless, with few prospects and committed to the war, Alex can offer Jenny only the Scottish tradition of handfasting, marriage symbolized by the presentation of a silver ring. Alex is forced to leave Albany when he is dismissed from his post at the van Cortlandt's insistence.
He promises to return, but Jenny is urgently needed back on the frontier to help her stepmother and cousins. She is kidnapped by her father, Black Wolf, during a murderous rampage and taken to live among his people. Jenny must once again adjust to a new way of life. She finds strength in the hope that Alex will rescue her and their child.
Waldron also wrote "Mozart's Wife," the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's wife Constanze, who was adored by the brilliant superstar of the musical world.
"Genesee" won the EPPIE 2003 award for best historical novel. The award was presented by EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Connection organization.
The story of confidence in one's self, faith in love and the resilience of the human spirit, "Genesee" is an entertaining romantic adventure set in a young America, but it's lessons are timeless.
Fleeing from a scorned past,Catherine Merit struggles with her failing medical practice and a rich man's obsession of her.Book Four in the Indignities Series
