I have been simply itching to get my hands on Burning Sky by Lori Benton! Not only is this book a winner of The Christy Award, but it’s also from the backlist of one of my favorite authors!
about the book
Burning Sky by Lori Benton
A Christy award-winning novel about a woman caught between two worlds, and the lengths she goes to find where she belongs
Abducted by Mohawk Indians at fourteen and renamed Burning Sky, Willa Obenchain is driven to return to her family’s New York frontier homestead after many years building a life with the People. At the boundary of her father’s property, Willa discovers a wounded Scotsman lying in her path. Feeling obliged to nurse his injuries, the two quickly find much has changed during her twelve-year absence: her childhood home is in disrepair, her missing parents are rumored to be Tories, and the young Richard Waring she once admired is now grown into a man twisted by the horrors of war and claiming ownership of the Obenchain land.
When her Mohawk brother arrives and questions her place in the white world, the cultural divide blurs Willa’s vision. Can she follow Tames-His-Horse back to the People now that she is no longer Burning Sky? And what about Neil MacGregor, the kind and loyal botanist who does not fit into in her plan for a solitary life, yet is now helping her revive her farm? In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, strong feelings against “savages” abound in the nearby village of Shiloh, leaving Willa’s safety unsure.
As tensions rise, challenging her shielded heart, the woman called Burning Sky must find a new courage–the courage to again risk embracing the blessings the Almighty wants to bestow. Is she brave enough to love again?
my thoughts
Lori Benton’s masterful storytelling breathes love, life, and emotion across the dusty pages of history. Over two centuries later, the spirit of the frontier continues to inspire and encourage us.
Women like Willa vulnerably display the beauty of femininity with deep, heartbreaking love and graceful, empowering faith to this day. She also has more potential suitors than one lady should ever be forced to juggle. Unlike most fictional romantic situations, I found myself torn between the positive strengths and aspects of more than one hero for Willa.
Benton is without a doubt one of my all-time favorite authors. I love the way she unapologetically exposes the raw emotional experiences her characters endure while faithfully crafting word pictures worthy of the vivid and artistic splendor of God’s creation which they represent. I highly recommend this book and eagerly anticipate this author’s future works.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
about the author
Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history.
When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring and photographing the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of Burning Sky
also available
These covers are pretty enough to hang on the walls!
Are you fans of this time period, reader friends?
Don’t forget to add Burning Sky by Lori Benton to your tbr!
Faithfully Bookish 