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| The Road to Deer Run |
iUniverse (April 5, 2010)
Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow
5 Stars *****
A Classic Story!
The Road to Deer Run, I
believe, is destined to become a classic – it is a charming and exciting tale
of the highest quality and with timeless appeal, and displays a gentle but
passionate expression of life, love, and truth! This is an incredibly beautiful
love story inspired by the true events of a young British soldier’s escape
during the Revolutionary War and of the young woman who brought him back from
the brink of death.
It’s 1777 and the young
British lieutenant Daniel Lowe is in a long line of starving, wounded and
exhausted POW’s marching to Boston, which was still a patriot stronghold. It
was when they were on the road to Deer Run that Daniel sees his chance to make
his escape. Shouts of
‘prisoner escaping’ and the sound of musket fire and whistling of lead
following him, Daniel sprints for his life, but with an appalling and badly
infected wound in his thigh, the lieutenant’s leg finally gives way.
Mary Thomsen, a young
farmwoman barely nineteen, comes across the nearly dead body of Daniel Lowe
while out gathering leaves and sticks. She is shocked to see that this haggard
and terribly injured body belonged to a Redcoat soldier, albeit minus his
redcoat. Ever since she’d heard her beloved younger brother Asa had been killed
in battle Mary has been despondent and upset. She is now confronted with a
soldier of the enemy that took her brother’s life. Feeling torn, she needs to
make a choice of whether she is able to help this wounded man.
This vividly written
journey of Daniel and Mary is one of courage, hardship and endurance. Daniel Lowe, a man on enemy soil,
experiences frequent fear, difficult conflicts and uncertainty about his
future, but the only thing Daniel discovers he really needs, is to be with the
woman that saved his life. But will Widow Thomsen, Mary’s mother, accept the
man that represents the people who killed her 16 year old son into her home or
into her daughter’s life? Not to mention the great danger he would put them all
in should the villagers find out he was a King’s soldier?
The fascinating and
compelling history that flows throughout this novel has stayed true to the
times and lends an aura of authenticity in the story as you read about colonial
medical practices, clothes, food, homes and farming of the 18th century. Some
things have never changed through the times however and these elements of life
and human nature such as trauma, sickness and disease, fear, longing and love,
will always be present.
The Road to Deer Run is
sweet and tender, yet filled with passion. It’s also exciting and fast-paced,
brimming with drama and danger. The characters are realistic with many working
their way into your heart with their charming and delightful personalities.
This memorable story has surprises around every corner but flows smoothly
throughout, drawing you in from the beginning and not letting you go until long
after you’ve finished.
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GIVEAWAYS: This week, Elaine will be
giving away one each of the Deer Run Saga to three recipients from the reviews
featured this week. (Limited to USA winners.)
Overcoming With God will also be giving away a copy
of winner's choice of Elaine's books in e-book format. (Open to International winners.)
