Historical Romance set during the civil war and Native American uprising
Note: This is a ‘sweet’ historical romance
*Mystery
*Suspense
Familial bonds, malevolent schemes and passion collide in this sweet historical novel. Set in Minnesota during the Civil War and the Sioux uprising, this is the story of Rory Hudson, the exquisite Irish lass with an unbreakable spirit and the enigmatic Dawson Finch, a man bound by honor, duty and loyalty.
When Dawson enlists in the army to bring peace to nation divided, Rory’s world plummets into a tailspin. War, distance and time separate them, but nothing can dispel the haunting memories of their love. Not even death can destroy their fierce passion or a love so strong it beats the odds of the impossible.
* Watch for SKY DANCE, book 2, coming to a Kindle and Nook near you in March 2013.
Excerpt
Alone and afraid Rory enters the woods, knowing someone is stalking her.
The woods loomed ahead. Here, the path would narrow and Rory would be surrounded by clusters of dense hardwood and pines. On the other side of the forest, her sister’s belching chimney would come into view and to the east Jab and Louisa Pearson’s homestead, to the west, Hiram’s. She hadn’t thought of him since her wedding day. Neighbors claimed he’d changed; some said he’d run amok after Jane and Levi died. A pang of sadness cloaked her, but the day was far too beautiful to be bogged down with tragic thoughts.
Entering the woods, the familiar call of a whippoorwill competed with the harsh screech of a blue jay. Twisted limbs and branches hugged the man-made trail and thick bracken and underbrush covered the ground around her. Rory stopped Charmer when an eerie stillness descended on the woodland. The chatter of small critters had stopped and the songbirds had ceased their melodic trills. She forced her eyes to scan the trees in all directions, the lump in her throat tightening.
Looking over her shoulder, she blew a sigh of relief. Minx had paused to nibble on a sprig of grass bursting through the forest floor. The foal would act skittish if danger lurked. She relaxed in the saddle and journeyed on . . . until Charmer’s ears flattened against her head. Had the mare heard a foreign noise or were her muscles preparing for an attack from pesky flies?
Rory turned a keen ear to her surroundings and concentrated on a sliver of sunlight ahead. Keep moving toward the light. A scream tore through the still woods, or a war-cry. She’d never heard a native prepare for battle, but had read about their nightmarish shrills. Charmer whinnied and tossed her massive head and a sense of danger spiked Rory’s heartbeat. Clutching the reins, she looked down at her white knuckles and caught a flash of movement on her left. Her blood ran cold when she spied a tall, dark form stalking her with the stealth of a panther. God’s nightgown, is it human or beast?
Professional Reviews
Sweet historical delivers just that
Sky Tinted Water is a historical romance based in Minnesota and set in the 1860's. The story deals with a couple's navigation of: finding each other, their new marriage, and the Civil War's onset as well as the more localized conflict between the Dakota Sioux Indians and the American settlers. The novel's name, Sky Tinted Water, comes from the Dakotan version of Minnesota and is Part 1of a series. Part 2, Sky Dance, is being released March 2013.
This story revolves around Rory, who was orphaned at 7 years of age and raised by her older sister, Isabelle Caldwell.
The Caldwells and their eight children move to Minnesota after a family tragedy and bring Rory with them.
Rory, more or less, stumbles upon the love of her life the first day the family settles in the town of Guilford. We see her finding love, marrying, becoming pregnant and agonizing over the inevitability of her husband, Dawson, enlisting as a Union soldier.
It's easy to see why this is labeled a "sweet historical novel." Rory and Dawson' relationship progressed very smoothly with very little angst (that was supplied by the other story lines). How they reacted and interacted with each other was touching as evidenced by Dawson's response after his first conversation with Rory and a letter Dawson wrote Rory from the battlefield, to name a few examples.
I really enjoyed this novel. It contains romance, humor, conflict, and action. The author gives great insight into the characters' personal lives as well as how they're affected by the controversies of their day.
Can't wait to see what happens in book 2!
Really Enjoyed This Book
This is the story of a family who moved to Minnesota from the Boston area back in the time of the civil war and Indian uprisings. It is the story of their everyday life--the ups and downs, the joys and the worries. It depicts how people stuck together and helped each other. When an Indian family shows up at their door with a very pregnant wife-she is helped-and a son is born. That act of kindness is repaid-how I will not tell you or I will give away part of the story! It is also the story of a true love--between a husband and wife of long standing and the sweet romance and marriage of a young couple.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this--it was refreshing. I will be watching out for the sequel!
