Monday, April 5, 2010

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson - REVIEWED



“…what a woman does or doesn’t do should be up to the woman. She should be who she is, not what others expect her to be.” (p. 195)


Living lives as others expected them to had brought sixteen women to rather desperate circumstances. The Ladies Emigration Society promised something no one else would dare promise a lady in 1871 – the opportunity to own land and make a living independent of a man. This promise, along with some slick talking from a man who the women later learned could not be trusted, brought sixteen unmarried, mostly widowed women to Plum Grove, Nebraska, and once they arrived they learned a shocking truth. And thus begins the saga of Stephanie Grace Whitson’s Sixteen Brides.


Of the sixteen women who disembarked from the train in Plum Grove, six of them choose to pursue their original dream of owning land independently of any man and making a life for themselves in one of the most rugged landscapes imaginable. Zita and her rather homely daughter Ella, Ruth and her adolescent son Jackson, Caroline, Sally and Hettie form an unshakable bond that allows them to successfully pursue the desires of their heart. However, by the time their dreams begin to move into reality many circumstances are introduced that begin to carry them into entirely unexpected directions. After all, despite Nebraska’s wilderness-like setting, there are still plenty of men about who aren’t exactly opposed to the female half of the human race.


Lucas Gray, Matthew Ransom, Jeb Cooper…these are names that begin to take on significant meaning as the story develops. You see, it seems that this group of women, no matter how determined, can’t outrun what God has designed as the best plan for their lives. I have to say, I’ve never met a stronger, more independent, brilliant group of women in my life! I got very attached to each of them, and by the time I neared the end of the story I found myself cheering them on and anxious to see what developed for each of them! God is so good to bring wholeness out of our brokenness!


There are a lot of things taking place in Plum Grove, Nebraska folks! Come on out and join the fun! Pick up your copy of Sixteen Brides and begin your adventure today!



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Stephanie Grace Whitson, bestselling author and two time Christy Award finalist, pursues a full-time writing and speaking career from her home studio in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her husband and blended family, her church, quilting, and Kitty--her motorcycle--all rank high on her list of "favorite things". Visit www.stephaniegracewhitson.com









1 comment:

Mocha with Linda said...

I enjoyed this book as well. Although the title seemed a little confusing since most of the sixteen weren't part of the main Plum Grove story.