About the Book:
From the back cover: In untamed Oregon Country, one young woman fights to keep her family safe. Grace Martindale has known more than her share of hardship. After her parents died, raising her two younger sisters, Hope and Mercy, became her responsibility. A hasty decision to head west seemed like an opportunity for a fresh start but has instead left Grace in a precarious position. When missionary Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife agree to let Grace and her sisters stay at their mission for the winter, Grace is grateful. Until they hear from their uncle in Oregon City, the three sisters have nowhere else to go.
As Grace adjusts to life in the West, she meets a fur trapper named Alex Armistead who intrigues and infuriates her in equal measure. But when a measles outbreak threatens lives at the mission and among the native Cayuse who live nearby, it is Alex who helps Grace use the natural healing remedies she learned from her mother to help where she can, despite Dr. Whitman's disapproval. As the death toll rises, so do tensions between the settlers and the natives, and Grace soon finds herself and those she loves n more danger than she imagined possible.
About the Author:
Tracie Peterson's love for history and research fuels the bestselling stories she writes. She is the author of over one hundred novels and the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award. Tracie and her family live in Montana. You can learn more about Tracie and her books at www.traciepeterson.com
What I Thought:
I had heard of author Tracie Peterson, but had never read anything by her. When I first received Treasured Grace, I looked inside the front cover and was amazed at the number of books she has written! Now that I have finished reading Treasured Grace, I understand why she is such a popular author-what talent!
The character of Grace is an amazing, selfless, hard-working woman who is making sacrifices so her sisters can have a fresh start out West. The story is full of anguish, from the many deaths from illness to the Whitman massacre, which is a true event in our history. Grace is strong throughout everything, and relies on her faith heavily. She uses her midwifery skills to help many sick people, both white and Indian.
Treasured Grace was a fascinating read; one I stayed up late into the night reading because I did not want to put it down. It is a clean story (no swear words or sexuality), with many Christian references and Bible verses. The topics of rape, kidnapping, and suicide are all touched upon, so it would not be a book for the younger crowd or those who might be sensitive to these subjects. I loved reading Treasured Grace, which is the first book in Tracie Peterson's new Heart of the Frontier series. I look forward to the next book in the series, and in the meantime I will be seeking out more of her books to read!
Treasured Grace is available to purchase at Baker Publishing Group.
*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
