What lovely use of language and detail. I could feel Ella's paralysis as the laudanum "turned her to little more than a breathing stone" when she was trying to come to terms with the loss (physically and spiritually) of her beloved. I felt I was right there with her and Esau during their confrontation at the clothesline as the "rogue breeze swirled through the clearing, lending sway to the bluebonnets that ringed the homestead."
Ms. Barnard knows her 19th century history, and details about architecture, firearms, clothing, and current events of that time are seamlessly woven into the narrative. A wonderful way to learn about this period of history. The lawmaker looking for Esau is also chasing after Billy the Kid and hopes to have him "taken care of" by the following week-end. A fun tidbit that grounds this story in reality.
Ms. Barnard's book is satisfying on so many levels -- not only does she tell the story of salvation in a fresh way for her Christian readers, but her prose is satisfying as a love story, a history lesson, and a tale of adventure for the rest of us!
DelPico, http://amzn.to/1xqExEx
where historical romance blooms
