will be facilitating the library's book club discussion for this book, guess I should read it. ( )

Set in the 1850’s we find Emma Wagner, a young spirited woman, attracted to a much older Christian Giesy, who has mutual feelings. He sees in her a love for children and a giving nature. He seeks her hand in marriage, but their leader, Father Keil, doesn’t want to lose his traveling recruiter for the German colony in Bethel, Missouri. Leader Keil speaks of Emma’s rebellious nature and will not consent.

Our outspoken and finagling Emma does become Emma Giesy and travels across country with her husband and other men from their colony to find a new home for the Bethal colony in the west.

This is a wonderful story based on true facts about this woman. I highly recommend and can’t wait to begin the second book in this trilogy. ( )

Jane Kirpatrick sucessfully immerses herself and her reader into the 1853 era life of Emma Wagner in Bethel County, Missouri to Wallipa Bay, Washington. It is an amazing story based on a true account, and one I found fascinating. I found myself living Emma's life as I read, feeling the frustrations of living the suffocating life of a colony as a woman in those times, and the excitement of a way that seems more independent. This is a book that does not read as easily as a romance novel, (perhaps because it is written in the first person point of view) but is captivating in its own way. Walking or riding side saddle on a horse across the nation from the east to the west in undeveloped, dangerous country, we see the world through the eyes of a young woman who has lived in a secluded colony with a domineering father, and many siblings, all of her life, seldom venturing out into the neighboring world.
From an inexperienced girl to a mother who knows what she wants and mostly what is best for her family, we see the growth in Emma. Many mistakes and disappointments line the way,some of her own making, others inevitable, but in the end, she is victorious.
I received this book free from Waterpress Multnomah Publshers through their Blogging For Books program for the purpose of writing an honest review. A postive critique was not required. The opinions stated are my own. ( )

This is a story of a group of people in Bethel, Missouri in the 1850's who are seeking to live in the world, but set apart from the things of the world. In this "society" is a young lady, Emma, who has outspoken ways and often finds herself clashing with the leader of the colony. Emma soon finds and marries her mate, Christian Giesy, and all seems well. But the leader of the colony wants to send Christian West to find another area for their colony to live. Emma is not excited about her new husband leaving her for over a year, so she has a way of working her way into the group of men going West. What she doesn't bother to tell anyone is that she thinks she is pregnant. This story deals with the journey West, Emma and Christian learning how to live and love each other, and how to adjust to the new land they find themselves in. Emma continues to question the colonies tactics and beliefs as she yearns for more and sees her God as someone different than what the leaders of the colony portray him to be. This is the first book in this series and I will be reading the rest of the series to see how this all turns out. ( )

This novel is one that enthralls the reader by bringing them into the life of a girl who knows of nothing but her secluded way of living in their religious colony. We see how she con's her religious leader, and he allows her to travel with her husband on his journey to find a new land in the United States in the early years. Through their journey, we watch as she develops into a woman who wants to follow God, but is driven by her heart and love for her husband. Once they locate the place to set up the new colony we go back to see the struggles that the remaining colony members have in arriving over. It is a well-written piece allowing the readers a glance at what life was like for those who first were attempting to make a life for themselves out west, and all the hardships and struggles that they endured. ( )