In the spring of 1935, understated beauty Eva Edwards
is widowed. A blessing to be sure. Having long since
left England, a rare talent for music and notions of love
behind, her one focus is keeping her farm and raising
a child not her own—no matter the sacrifice and
struggle.
Born of wealth, veterinarian Tate Prescott Brown has
come to the dust of Saskatchewan’s rural Qu’Appelle
District to find independence and take possession of
his farm—Eva’s farm. Now, in an effort to solve a legal
misunderstanding, Tate faces a sacrifice and struggle
of his own: to do what he thinks is right by Eva ... or
what’s right for his heart.
Excerpt
Late May 1935
Qu’Appelle District, Saskatchewan
He died with liquor on his breath and poison in his soul. Doc MacPherson claimed that between the alcohol and the arsenic there were enough chemicals in his body to keep him pickled to the second coming.
It was a terrible way to die. Eva wouldn’t wish that on anyone, even him. She shivered. The last twelve hours had been awful. She pulled a bobby pin from her hair, rearranged a stray piece and secured it again. She hadn’t reacted well. She knew that. She regretted snapping at the child. She regretted a lot of things. None of them could be undone. Like Mr. Edwards, the time was gone, over. The damage had been done.
“He went sudden. That’s a blessing,” Hans said abruptly like he could read her thoughts.
Her sigh was short as the wagon took that moment to bounce in a rut. The coffin slammed against the wagon rails.
Professional Reviews
Simply Romance Reviews
From The Dust is the historical debut from author Ryshia Kennie. It is a beautifully written story filled with endearing characters dealing with hardship and love in 1935 Saskatchewan. Historical readers will take pleasure in the unique setting of this story and romance readers will find the blossoming relationship between Eva Edwards and Tate Prescott Brown irresistible.
I actually loved both the setting and the characters. Ryshia Kennie did an exceptional job describing in detail the climate, economic and social situation of Saskatchewan’s rural Qu’Appelle District. The details added depth and a great sense of realism to this story. However, the real magic of From The Dust was the hard won intimacy between Eva and Tate.
Eva Edwards is a strong, resourceful and courageous heroine. She just buried her no good husband and has to care for her step daughter and their farm all by herself; however, not a real hardship since she’s been taking care of the farm while her husband was out drinking and gambling. Now widowed, she plans on returning to the farm with her step daughter and continuing her life. She doesn’t expect to be stranded in a storm with a handsome stranger who later lays claim to it.
Wealthy Tate Prescott Brown plans to take over his uncle’s farm, unknowing that it has already been claimed by Eva and her deceased husband. Now all Tate can do is help clear up this misunderstanding between Eva and himself and make sure that she and Maggie will be taken care of. What Tate and Eva don’t plan on is a growing attraction between the two of them, and situations that neither expect to have to deal with. One being Tate’s almost fiancée, Maude.
Ryshia Kennie’s, From The Dust, has all the elements that I love in a good historical romance. It has a wonderful setting, good, strong characters and a romance to take your breath away.
A perfect blend of history and romance, I found Ryshia Kennie’s From the Dust to be a double treasure.
The story unfolds as recently widowed Eva Edwards struggles to coax a crop out of the dusty land. She must succeed in running her farm if she is to provide security for herself and her young step daughter, Maggie. Strong, stubborn and beautiful, Eva is determined to succeed. But she soon discovers a bigger threat in Tate Prescott Brown, the wealthy Toronto veterinarian who stakes a claim to her land. As the unlikely romance unfolds gently and tenderly between them, the reader cannot help but cheer for the vulnerable and headstrong Eva and kind, oh-so-sexy Tate to overcome the obstacles that would keep them apart.
Truly an artist with words, Ms. Kennie’s descriptions of the Saskatchewan prairie are so powerful I could almost feel the gentle prairie winds, almost taste the grit of dust on my tongue. Kennie has succeeded in creating a tender love story that touches the very heart, and an endearing cast of characters that will long live on in my memory.
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