Sophia has her life all planned out—but her plan didn’t include being jilted or ending up in Dakota Territory.
Sophia Makinoff is certain 1876 is the year that she’ll become the wife of a certain US Congressman, and happily plans her debut into the Capitol city. But when he proposes to her roommate instead, Sophia is stunned. Hoping to flee her heartache and humiliation, she signs up with the Board of Foreign Missions on a whim.
With dreams of a romantic posting to the Far East, Sophia is dismayed to find she’s being sent to the Ponca Indian Agency in the bleak Dakota Territory. She can’t even run away effectively and begins to wonder how on earth she’ll be able to guide others as a missionary. But teaching the Ponca children provides her with a joy she has never known—and never expected—and ignites in her a passion for the people she’s sent to serve.
It’s a passion shared by the Agency carpenter, Willoughby Dunn, a man whose integrity and selflessness are unmatched. The Poncas are barely surviving. When US policy decrees that they be uprooted from their land and marched hundreds of miles away in the middle of winter, Sophia and Will wade into rushing waters to fight for their friends, their love, and their destiny.
Along with Catherine's giveaway of "Through Rushing Water", I've included my water color print "Basket of Violets". (11"x15"-- suitable for framing). Background is pure white; camera flash tinted it blue. Please add a comment to be in the drawing for both, and feel free to add your name as a follower!
Title: Veil of Pearls
Author: MaryLu Tyndall
Publisher: Barbour
Books
Be swept away to Charleston of 1811, a city bustling with immigrants like Adalia, who is a runaway slave so light-skinned that no one guesses her past. Terrified her secret will be discovered, she settles into a quiet life making herbal remedies for a local doctor. But when Morgan, the handsome son of a prominent family, sweeps her into his glamorous world—a world in which the truth about Adalia’s heritage would ruin them both—suspicions and petty jealousies are aroused. What will Morgan do when he discovers that the woman he has fallen in love with is a runaway slave?
I've read all of MaryLu Tyndall's books and find that she consistently maintains excellent story quality; her characters have depth and richness, written with a special sensitivity to their plights. And if you want to have that "swept away" sense of adventure, these are the books for you.
As a retired school teacher I've recommended her books to friends, family and students for an uplifting read--even learned something about early American history and the sea-faring life in the process! I'd love to see these books in high school libraries as well. I can't wait for her soon-to-be released "Veil Of Pearls"; another beautiful story of inspiration and encouragement we've come to expect from MaryLu Tyndall.
As a retired school teacher I've recommended her books to friends, family and students for an uplifting read. I'd love to see these books in high school libraries as well.
After I wrote this as part of a review for MaryLu's "Surrender the Dawn" on the Barnes and Noble site, I asked myself why did I put that in? Will people get the impression that her books are not "adult" enough if I'd like to see them added to high school libraries? Would people get the wrong impression and think MaryLu wrote YA (young adult) fiction?
Believe it or not, I agonized over that comment; but God had other plans, and something else soon happened which makes me appreciate His timing even more....
Soon after I'd made the comments above, I'd read where the publishing industry released another book.... a certain "adult" novel, and a new descriptive came out along with the genre: "mommy-porn". I won't dwell on the title or the author except to say that in an interview recently she stated that she's tried not to let too many things change in her life:She's still
doing laundry,...and there are at least two people by her side who havenot read her books — her sons. "Good G--," she says, "I would be mortified."
There will be a lot of adult women out there saying "But--but-- I have the RIGHT to read what I want!" My mother used to call it the I-I-ME-ME-I syndrome. Self-centered, pleasure-seeking, hang-the-consequences type of thinking from people who want to do what they please because they work hard, deserve it, and after all they're adults, darn it! And since its legal, it must be all right.
But as adults, aren't we supposed to consider our responsibilities first....?
Because--
YOU CAN BET THESE BOOKS WILL END UP IN THE HANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHETHER YOU WANT THEM TO OR NOT.
So, MaryLu, you not only write great stories....but you write GOOD stories. For adults. (We'll just pray they end up in the hands of young people too).
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? (12)Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? (13) If
you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him!”
(Luke 11:12)
Leave a comment to win a giveaway of MaryLu's Veil of Pearls, and a 15" hand-made doll dressed in Federalist period costume, and a silk fan. (see below). And please stop in to MaryLu's site for more information on her books!
