November 27, 2006
Based on true events, this second book in the Change and Cherish Historical Series continues the saga of the feisty Emma Giesy, a member of the Missouri Bethelites, a repressive German religious colony. Set against the backdrop of Willapa Bay of the Washington Territory coast in 1856–1861, Emma and her husband, Christian, formerly a prominent leader in the community, carve out their own independent existence. Tragedy strikes, and alone and pregnant, Emma finds that her decision to ensure independence for her little family may cost her everything she holds dear. The repressive religious community is cast in a far more favorable light than in book one, and some series readers may find it challenging to undo their initial impressions. The character of Jack Giesy also undergoes a speedy personality change, which is difficult to assimilate. The best revelations come as the reader relates to Emma's conflicts: a longing for security, a fierce quest for independence, a desire to express herself artistically and a hardscrabble existence that gives her energy only to care for herself and her children. Kirkpatrick's able prose and attention to historical detail help smooth any story line trouble spots.