Book Details

Historical Women’s Fiction at its most compelling. Based on the true story of Emma Wagner Giesy, a Christian pilgrim from Missouri to Washington state in the 1850s, this novel illustrates the challenges a young, outspoken woman faces as a member of an organization that frowns upon outspokenness, particularly in women. We watch as Emma Wagner matures from a spoiled, self-centered teen to the fiercely loyal and family-centered Emma Giesy, wife to a leader, woman of faith and action. As always, Jane Kirkpatrick whisks the reader away to a different time with her wonderful abilities with research and setting description.

Authors of historical fiction should pay special attention to the way Jane uses simile. Always relevant, never anachronistic, and totally unique and descriptive, her similes make me pause over the sheer beauty of them. Yeah, I know. I’m gushing. But check this out:

Only the steady thumping of the rain on the log roof filled the silence. Men moved their eyes to Christian, then to the floor. I might have fine ideas, but today I appeared to be invisible and my words a silent as a preacher’s sin.

That one was my favorite, but there are so many great similes in this book. Some were so perfect to what she was describing that they filled in the gap between what she had in mind and what I pictured, making the image perfect.

This first in the Change and Cherish series is definitely a must read for anyone who loves historical women’s fiction.