Lori Benton

Many Sparrows by Lori Benton (Review & Giveaway)

September 27, 2017 by Suzie Waltner 15 Comments

Either she and her children would emerge from that wilderness together, or none of them would…

In 1774, the Ohio-Kentucky frontier pulses with rising tension and brutal conflicts as Colonists push westward and encroach upon Native American territories. The young Inglesby family is making the perilous journey west when an accident sends Philip back to Redstone Fort for help, forcing him to leave his pregnant wife Clare and their four-year-old son Jacob on a remote mountain trail.
When Philip does not return and Jacob disappears from the wagon under the cover of darkness, Clare awakens the next morning to find herself utterly alone, in labor and wondering how she can to recover her son…especially when her second child is moments away from being born.

Clare will face the greatest fight of her life, as she struggles to reclaim her son from the Shawnee Indians now holding him captive. But with the battle lines sharply drawn, Jacob’s life might not be the only one at stake. When frontiersman Jeremiah Ring comes to her aid, can the stranger convince Clare that recovering her son will require the very thing her anguished heart is unwilling to do—be still, wait and let God fight this battle for them?

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The Wood’s Edge by Lori Benton

April 7, 2015 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

While Fort William Henry has surrendered, Major Reginald Aubrey makes a decision that will haunt him the rest of his life. When he comes across a sleeping woman with two babies beside her—one white and one brown—grief and sorrow over the loss of his newborn son and love and worry for his wife’s mind and health push him to lay his day son in the place of the white child. As they escape from the siege of the fort, the Aubreys come upon another child, a girl whose parents have been murdered by Indiana. That one decision weaves together hurts, heartaches, and guilt in many lives.

Years later, it is Anna, the girl Reginald considers the one pure thing in his life, who loves them all—the brother she’s grown up with, the papa who saved her life and still bears the scar from it, and the Indian boy who she initially mistakes for William who becomes her friend. When the truth comes to light, can two families survive a lifetime of guilt, longing, and the desire for revenge?

This is a story of two men, two fathers. One is consumed by guilt and shame for the fateful decision he made. The other is consumed with the desire for revenge against the man who stole his son. Both men have one thing in common. Their families suffer because of their actions and inner turmoil. The Path Finders is an appropriate name for this series (yes, it’s a series and you will be glad of that when the book ends with a few loose ends). As these men, and others, find their path to each other, to a son and brother who has been absent since birth, and to a God who is forgiving and life-changing.

I am always pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy Lori Benton’s books. You see, I’m not one of those people who loves history. But, I do enjoy historical fiction now and then. Some of these books can be mired down with too many dates, names and events. Benton manages the balance between history and fiction well, detailing the lives of the Oneida people and even the months leading up to the Revolutionary War while keeping the reader engaged with the day-to-day lives of her characters. You will not regret this read.

****Blogging for Books provided me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton

May 11, 2014 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Tamsen Littlejohn follows Jesse Bird into an unknown wilderness filled with treacherous terrain, threat of Indian attacks, and a looming war, but what Tamsen is running from is even darker. In order escape her stepfather’s plan to force her into an arranged marriage, Tamsen decides to escape. Jesse Bird has offered his assistance, and she is going to take it.

The first time Jesse Bird lays eyes on Tamsen Littlejohn, he is entranced. He feels like he knows this woman. When he finds her in a situation that is bound to get worse for her, he does the only thing he can think of and offers to take her away from it. As Jesse and Tamsen travel west, they are met with challenges from nature, humanity, and the stepfather and would-be husband who are giving chase. Tamsen is not prepared for this life, and Jesse knows it, but knows no other way to keep this woman safe, which he is determined to do.

Lori Benton weaves intrigue, history, and romance throughout The Pursuit of Tamsen Litlejohn. Readers will travel the country of North Carolina along with Tamsen and Jesse, feel the uncertainty of wars brewing between the state of North Carolina and the State of Franklin as well as the war brewing between the Indians and the white settlers, and long for the relationship between the two main characters to take root and grow. The supporting characters add depth and insight. Historical fiction isn’t usually my first choice when it comes to books I’d like to read, but this one was worth it.

****Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. I was not compensated in any way for either a positive or a negative review.