1. A Light in the Wilderness
    Jane Kirkpatrick
    Revell / 2014 / Trade Paperback
    Our Price$13.49 Retail Price$16.00 Save 16% ($2.51)
    4.6 out of 5 stars for A Light in the Wilderness. View reviews of this product. 49 Reviews
    Availability: In Stock
    Stock No: WW722310
4.6 Stars Out Of 5
4.6 out of 5
(34)
(12)
(3)
(0)
(0)
Quality:
4.8 out Of 5
(4.8 out of 5)
Value:
4.7 out Of 5
(4.7 out of 5)
Meets Expectations:
4.7 out Of 5
(4.7 out of 5)
100%
of customers would recommend this product to a friend.
SORT BY:
SEE:
Displaying items 1-5 of 49
Page 1 of 10
  1. Kathleen
    Missouri
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A Light in the Wilderness by Jane Kirkpatrick, 2014
    September 9, 2014
    Kathleen
    Missouri
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Tuesday, September 9, 2014

    A Light in the Wilderness by Jane Kirkpatrick, 2014

    A Stand-Alone Novel by Jane Kirkpatrick ~ Journey with Letitia, Nancy, and Betsy to freedom. Based on a true story, imagined.

    I have always loved the depth of Jane Kirkpatrick's novels centered on amazing go-for-it women who resisted society to carve a life amid turmoil and hard conditions, continuing on with determination to more than survive. Letitia Carson is one of these women. A pioneer who set the country's beginnings that none could take from her.

    It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

    --Galatians 5:1

    A Light in the Wilderness

    the words bring to mind for me

    Wilderness ~* a place we haven't been before *~

    Light ~* darkness cannot put it out *~

    dictionary ~ wilderness

    a part of a garden set apart for plants growing with unchecked luxuriance;

    luxuriant ~ growth or productiveness; rich abundance; lushness

    ~ bring to light, to discover or reveal

    ~*~

    It is 1842 when Letitia leaves Kentucky for Missouri with William and Sarah Bowman to care for their children. William's father had signed her freedom papers before he died, that she is no longer a slave. Following the birth of their sixth child, the Bowmans prepare to leave Missouri and continue west on the Oregon Trail.

    During their time in Missouri, Letitia's path continues to cross with Davey Carson, an Irish immigrant. He has represented peace to her. Letitia overhears the Bowmans saying Davey has been left without someone to cook, clean, and tend his animals after losing in court to the charge he mistreated the girl previously working with him. Enough had been taken from Letitia [li-tish-uh] ~ gladness. She indeed lives up to her name. Letitia chooses to stay behind, to the chagrin of Mrs. Bowman only because of the responsibility she will now have to take for her family. Davey tells Letitia he will be joining the wagon trains west after the first of the year. They agree they wish to remain together. They make their vows in August, and following her people's custom, jump the broom together.

    Davey and Letitia make the agreement she is to travel as his hired-on, instead of presenting Letitia as his common-law wife. At the time of their crossing, she is carrying their child. She asks him to give her a signed paper that his property will go to her and her children should he become deceased, to secure her ownership. Unable to read, she cannot inspect the signed papers he gives her.

    On the trail, Davey elects to leave their current company to join with another train that is progressing faster. Letitia must leave her friend, Nancy Hawkins. Nancy's husband is a doctor and Letitia has helped by birthing babies amid other duties on the journey. Letitia and Nancy look forward to meeting again further on the Oregon Trail.

    Betsy and her grandson live in the area Davey and Letitia will be settling and claiming land. She has been teaching Little Shoot to be self-sufficient learning their rich Kalapuya Indian heritage in the ways to hunt, gather herbs and other plants for food, and making a shelter so he can sustain his own life and that of his future family. Letitia shares her cheese and butter making skills, as she and Betsy add to each other's resourcefulness.

    Based on a true story, imagined, Jane Kirkpatrick brings these strong character women who seek to go forward. They share their lives in acceptance and friendships amid squander and changes made bringing illness, uncertainty, and challenge to their every day. Their inner strength stands as others are not so fluid and reliable in their lives. They indeed have rich abundance beyond measure.

    ~*~

    This is the first book I've written with much of the research completed before the story was brought to me. Thirty years previous, two former Oregon state university students Janet Meranda and Dr Bob Zybach discovered the court records and never forgot Letitia's story. They brought it to me believing a novel would tell it best. Their research and progress on a nonfiction book about her and Davey's life can be followed at Friends of Letitia Carson. --author Jane Kirkpatrick

    ***Thank you to Revell Reads for inviting me on the book tour for Jane Kirkpatrick's first stand-alone novel, A Light in the Wilderness, based on a true story. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***
  2. tumcsec
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    real history in fiction
    January 2, 2015
    tumcsec
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This was the first book that I can remember reading in fiction that had actual real people in it. The author Jane Kirkpatrick researched history throughly about Letitia Carson and felt her story was one that needed telling. Letitia was a former slave that had lost her two children. One that died shortly after birth and another that was sold away from her and died later. She was given freedom papers by the Bowman family that were later lost by accident. She became the common law wife of Davy Carson, an Irish immigrant. A lot of the story follows their journey west on a wagon train heading to the Oregon country, not yet a state. Davy assures her that Oregon does not allow slavery to help ease her mind. Together they have two children, Martha and Adam. Letitia makes friends with Nancy Hawkins and they remain close friends all the way through the story. She also makes friends with Betsy, a Kalapuya Indian and her grandson. These three women learn from each other and form strong bonds. Letitia is such a strong woman and learns to stand up for herself. I saw parallels in Letitia and Betsy's lives. Women were not treated fairly as it was but the Indian and Colored women were treated less than human in so many instances. When Letitia eventually lost her "husband" Davy, her real strength and fight began to come out. She wanted to make sure her children were taken care of and would never have to worry about being sold or taken away from her. In a real documented court case she stood up for what was rightfully hers and won her case twice. The authors notes in the back pulled the real history events into focus for the reader and I found them very enlightening. She has a real gift of words and used some expressions I've never heard before that painted wonderful visuals for me. This was an interesting novel that I found hard to put down once I began reading it.

    I won this book on Bookfun.org and was not required to review it. But I have given my honest opinion.
  3. Tina Hoover
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Freedom!
    April 10, 2018
    Tina Hoover
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Letitia is a freed black woman who is in constant fear that she will lose her "free papers." She makes the second decision in her life, when she decides not to join a wagon train bound for Oregon, with her former owners. She does love the babies, but thinks that there might be something better for her, if she stays behind.

    Sarah Bowman (Leticia is only allowed to call her by her first name, if they are at home, in private), demands that Leticia go with them and tries to steal Leticia's cow, Charity. Buying that cow was Leticia's first decision, wanting the milk that the cow makes. Mr. Bowman decides that they don't have time for the cow, so he makes Sarah give the cow back to Leticia.

    Leticia doesn't know where she's going to live, with Charity, sleeping outside at night isn't safe for a free black woman. She goes to Davey Carson (he's the one she trusted with her money, to go buy the cow), and asks if she can let Charity out in his pens, so she can eat; if Leticia cooks and keeps house for him. She also has a job in the laundry at a hotel in town. Davey agrees, so Leticia moves in, sleeping in the pantry on a narrow cot.

    Join up with Leticia and Davey and Charity, it's a wonderful story. A large part of it is based upon the true story of Letica and Davey.
  4. Britney Adams
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A gripping story!
    November 16, 2014
    Britney Adams
    Three very different women. One dangerous journey. And a future that seems just out of reach.

    A Light in the Wilderness is a gripping story, one that captivated me from the very beginning! Based on a true story, Jane Kirkpatrick breathes life into her characters and beckons the reader into their world. I loved the historical depth of the story and the palpable emotions of the characters. A Light in the Wilderness is a very compelling story and a recommended read for fans of historical fiction!

    I received a complimentary copy of this book through The Book Club Network. All thoughts expressed are my own and no monetary compensation was received.

  5. Jeanie
    Phoenix, AZ
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Top-notch Historical Christian Fiction!
    November 3, 2014
    Jeanie
    Phoenix, AZ
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Written with excellence and intrigue, A Light in the Wilderness is a shining example of seeing hope and Christ in any circumstance. Jane Kirkpatricks newest historical novel is a fascinating glimpse of the life of an African American freed woman who travelled west with her common-law husband during the height of slavery and runaway slave laws in the 1800s. As this is one of my favorite American historical eras to read fiction based on, I was captivated from the first page. The women in this novel are strong taking the westward journey to Oregon in the mid 1800s was clearly not for wimps! It is astounding the challenges they faced with the help of God!

    We read primarily about Letitia Carson who had taken the surname of the Irish immigrant with whom she made her life. She was given freedom papers while still a young woman, yet we see how she is pursued by bounty hunters who are more concerned with getting paid than in respecting those with legitimate papers. Letitia was a strong-spirited woman who had already survived slavery whose husband was never quite able to stand against her in anything she wanted even though his lack of follow-up action cost her most of what she and David had worked for together.

    Other ladies, friends of Letitias, that we read about are Nancy Hawkins who she meets on the way west, and Betsy, a Native American neighbor in Oregon. We see the days of Letitias marriage to Davey, their children, the work she does, and the women whose babies she assists into the world. Her care for their home and family as well as her gardening and animal care show Letitia to be a woman of many skills. She and her friends are portraits of how real women in those tumultuous decades persevered and even thrived in spite of enormous odds. Her faith in God and how He was taking care of her and her future are inspiring through our challenges great and small.

    The development of each character is done with care to detail and adventures that bring to life how women, in particular African-American women, lived during those incredibly challenging decades. It is also a demonstration of how difficult life was for the Native Americans who were quickly losing their land, their legacy, their very way of life. I very much admire both Letitia and Betsy, struggling through changes and befriending each other to bring about a better life for both of their families.

    The plot was based on records regarding the life of Letitia and her family and friends, and was told in a compelling manner that led this reader to turn the pages a little more slowly and inhale the fragrance of these lives and the God who cared for them. Disappointments, betrayals, and loss were unwelcome companions, yet they pressed on. Gods love shines through this novel prepared with the combination of countless hours of research, speculation regarding various events, and weaving throughout the history of the times and faith in a God bigger than circumstances. The result is a spectacular tapestry of loss and triumph, of love and forgiveness. Jane Kirkpatricks Authors Note at the back of the book describes the references used and which events in the book demonstrated authenticity or speculation, and a suggested reading list is provided.

    I highly recommend A Light in the Wilderness to Christian women of all ages who appreciate well-written historical fiction and to those who are interested in the lives and progress of African American and Native American women in an era leading up to and immediately following the Civil War. Those who enjoy great adventures based on people who really lived will also enjoy it.

    With a grateful heart, I received a copy of this book through the For Readers Only group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

Displaying items 1-5 of 49
Page 1 of 10