Book Blurb:
1883 meets the story of Job in this Western historical epic where the fires of adversity forge the steel of the human spirit.
In the second installment of the gripping This Hallowed Ground series, Mac's journey takes an unexpected and perilous turn. Settled on their Georgia land, Mac and Ester eagerly await the arrival of their first child, blissfully unaware that shadows from Mac's past are closing in.
The tranquility shatters when a sinister revelation rocks their idyllic life—a townsperson correctly identifies Mac as a wanted Civil War criminal and Union army deserter. With danger at their doorstep, the couple is forced to flee, embarking on a treacherous odyssey that will test their love and resilience to the utmost.
Determined to escape the relentless pursuit of authorities, Mac makes a fateful decision to return to the vast and savage West, hoping to reunite with what remains of his Lakota tribe. Little do they know that their journey will become a harrowing saga of survival.
In Scorched Earth, readers will be swept away by the unforgiving landscapes of the American West and the resilience of a love tested by the fires of adversity. Will Mac and Ester find sanctuary, or will the echoes of their past forever shape their destiny?
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/aYexUB
Author Bio:
Donna E. Lane is an award-winning, multi-genre author with a passion for exploring all aspects of the human experience. As a Christian counselor and spiritual director, Dr. Lane has dedicated herself to guiding individuals on their spiritual journeys, offering solace and wisdom through her integrated approach. Her 46 years of experience in this field have provided her with insights which she seamlessly weaves into her writing, delving into the complexities of relationships and the depths of the human heart.
With a boundless imagination, a fervent devotion to Jesus, a love for history, and a fascination with time, she crafts stories that resonate deeply with readers, offering the opportunity to embark on unforgettable journeys to other worlds, across time, and into space.
A devoted wife of 44 years and mother of three, she now cherishes her role as a grandmother and mom to her new puppy, a little white furball named Rosie Cotton.
Editorial Review:
“It seems better—easier somehow—when you have nothing, because at least then you have nothing to lose.”
Eventually, the reader will reach the end of this raw and rich tale, staring regretfully at their dark e-reader screen or bare eggshell white page, willing one more glorious paragraph, one more page of this story to appear and so delay their return to daily life. There are book hangovers and then there are book hangovers. “Scorched Earth” will cause the latter.
The story starts in the 1870s, in the American West. Mac and Ester are on the run from Mac’s past, seeking to reunite with the Lakota People and find some semblance of a settled life. But the Frontier is never settled, and Mac and Ester face danger at every turn, not least from exposure of Mac’s past. Both Mac and Ester are given detailed backstories and personal character arcs, revealed at appropriate times to create a sophisticated and well-developed “journey”-type plot set against the American West. The reader will enjoy the personal development of Mac and Ester as people, as partners, as people of faith, set against the spectacular but unforgiving backdrop of the Frontier. The secondary characters in the novel are purposeful and add to the story without overshadowing the central love story of Mac and Ester.
“Climbing the hill to our land, I spot Ester in the distance, standing before the wreckage that was our home, but my eyes don’t tarry on the blackened husk and tumbled stone. She is framed in glistening sunlight with her beautiful hair glowing like a halo around her head, her borrowed white dressing gown billowing in the wind as if she is hovering
above the ground, and Margaretha’s woven wrap arrayed across her shoulders like folded wings. My angel.”
“Scorched Earth” contains Christian themes throughout the story and faith is an integral part of Mac and Ester’s life together and the decisions they make. Whether or not the reader shares this focus on faith, Lane’s narrative is gripping and the references to religion are well-balanced within the overall storyline.
“ Ester grimaces. “I don’t know what to think. On the surface of it, it’s such a generous offer which seems like the abundant provision of God. If so, then He is leading us to remain here and build our lives around these people and this community.” Ester paces to the broad windows and looks out over the darkness. “But the disquiet in my spirit tells me otherwise. I fear it may be deception designed to hold us captive in a lesser reality than God’s desires for us.” ”
The challenges faced in “Scorched Earth” are personal ones that all of us face in different ways, regardless of the era of our lives, but the American West does provide ample material for the author to write such a story. The war scenes are particularly harrowing, and cause the reader to reflect on historical injustice and cultural perspectives. The conversations relating to land, its value and its purchase (or other acquisition) are no doubt historically accurate but still troubling to the modern reader. There are references to historical figures such as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, however other characters are fictional. Whether fictional or not, the detailed research Lane has undertaken to write such a sweeping saga is clear.
The author’s language is evocative, with descriptive passages and natural dialogue that immerses the reader in the story and in the characters’ concerns. First person narration can sometimes be difficult to successfully implement. Not here. Lane makes it look effortless, with interior thought, action and dialogue seamlessly woven together. The historical American West is depicted in all of its magnificence – and danger.
“The sun glides across the sky, baking our clothes and blankets dry against the rocks on the hill and shrinking the snow until less than a foot remains. As we approach midday, Ester and Chris gaze at me expectantly, waiting for our next steps. The weight of their lives and the life of my new bairn weigh heavy on my shoulders as if the two-foot mound of snow has landed on my back. But I can’t let myself crack under its weight like the wagon boards.”
“Scorched Earth” by Donna E Lane is a standout novel that does not rely on only setting, faith, or character but utilizes a perfect mix of these aspects to transport the reader back to a turbulent time in America’s history. The complex choices and challenges faced by all who fight to survive in such a time keep the reader riveted to the page. Five stars for an incredible story. This book hangover was worth it!
*****
"Scorched Earth" by Donna E Lane receives 5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
*Note: this reviewer is subsequently aware “Scorched Earth” is Book Two of a series; this reviewer read it very happily as a standalone book.
Scroll down to the bottom to see the review for Book One - "This Hallowed Ground"
Award:
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year awards, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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