A Clearing in the Wild

A Clearing in the Wild by Jane Kirkpatrick opens on Christmas Day, 1851, in the colony of Bethel, Missouri, an isolated community of German immigrants dedicated to their faith where all wealth was common wealth so that no one would have to be concerned about the future.  They were historically known as Harmonists who tried to achieve Christian perfection beginning their colony in Pennsylvania, then moving to New Harmony Indiana, Missouri, and then west.

This life is all seventeen year old Emma remembers but yet she longs for more and begins to question the ways of the teaching of their leader, Father Wilhelm Keil. While the new thoughts within the colony are to remain single so that one can devote their time to the Lord, Emma hopes this will be her last Christmas as a single woman and she can't seem to escape the thoughts of  independence and being able to speak her mind and make her own decisions, all characteristics considered undesirable for Bethel women.  When the grumblings of potential war between the North and the South begin to make their way into the Bethel community, a decision must be made as to whether or not the colony can remain in Bethel or must move farther west to escape being drawn into the war that seems inevitable.

Typically, Jane Kirkpatrick takes a real historical character and weaves a believable story about their lives, filling in with fictional details that history books and biographys don't tell.  She has done the same with the colony of Bethel, MO.  Ms. Kirkpatrick has proven to be an author who thoroughly researches the time period she is representing and A Clearing in the Wild is no exception.  I very much appreciate her attention to detail and accuracy even though it does sometimes bog down the story a bit.  In reading, I tend to be more of a "let's get the story moving and let my imagination fill in some of the details" kind of reader.  This isn't Ms. Kirkpatrick's style but I love historical fiction so enjoy her books as well even if they aren't ones that "grab" me. For more on the author, visit http://www.jkbooks.com/

I did receivet shi book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.