A Tendering in the Storm (Change and Cherish Historical Series #2)

When you find yourself strongly tempted to pray for the characters in a book I think it safe to say the author has done a good job of character development! Such was the state I found myself in while reading the Change and Cherish Series. Likewise, a sign of a good story line is when it inspires you to do something different in you own life. One scene in A Tendering in the Storm has Emma making a difficult journey on a mule when she barely had strength to stand. She got tough and did it. I live on a remote ranch an hour from town and at the same time I was reading this scene, a horse got hurt and had to go to the vet. I, too, was extremely physically weak and ill and felt unable. Then I thought, "If Emma can do it, I can do it!" So, I made the trip and did fine...in fact, by the end of the day, I felt better. Thanks, Jane, for continuing to be a good steward of your incredible talent and thus impacting our lives. A Tendering in the Storm is your most compelling book yet.

A Tendering in the Storm is the second book in the series, and the one that broke my heart. Emma and Christian are working on oyster farming in their home of Willapa, Washington, while the rest of Father Keil's group is living in the Aurora Colony in Oregon. Tragedy strikes leaving Emma alone and struggling to survive in the remote wilderness with three children. Again, Emma asserts her independence, this time to her entire family's detriment. I spent the entire book rooting for Emma and proud of her striving to take care of herself indepent of the colony so when she needs to turn to someone for help, at first I was disappointed. Then I did some soul searching and came to realize just how much like Emma I am. I don't like asking other people for help and will often resist doing so until I (and others) are suffering because of my stubborn pride. Emma hates owing anything to the colony and others and nearly breaks herself trying to keep the scales even, but comes to discover that we are stronger when we lean on each other. This is true of faith as well. There is absolutely nothing we can do to even the score with God. He loves us, He died for us, and He saved us. End of story. No amount of works can make us worthy, and this is a huge hurdle for me and my faith. I have a hard time accepting God's love, because I know it comes with the acceptance of my weakness. Like Emma, that's not easy for me. I learned so much about myself and faith from this book.

Jane Kirkpatrick's award-winning writing makes A TENDERING IN THE STORM, the second installment in the Change and Cherish historical series, a pleasure to savor. As the story continues from book one, A CLEARING IN THE WILD, readers find the feisty Emma Wagner Giesy living in the mid-1800s in the Washington Territory with her husband, Christian Giesy, and little ones Andy and Kate. The young couple has made some breaks with the German American religious colony they came with out West, but not enough distancing for Emma's taste. Wilhelm Keil, the leader of the Missouri Bethelites colony, has settled the majority of the group in a different location in Oregon, which he's dubbed "Aurora Mills" after his daughter. The story is told through the eyes of both Emma and Louisa in first-person, alternating chapters. Kirkpatrick deftly shows the conflict for Christians of that time period between a desire for security and absolute certainty in how to live a Christian life and the need for independence, and embracing the messiness and mystery of faith. Wilhelm, the powerful leader of the colony and last word on all religious matters, is a more sympathetic figure here than he was in book one, but still shows the positive and negative effects of what happens when power and religious authority are invested in one person. Emma is his antithesis --- rebellious, independent and longing to do things her own way. In her character, we see the problems of Christians who disassociate themselves from community and try to do everything themselves. In Louisa's, we see the pitfalls of insecurity and giving up our independence. Both ways of living are flawed yet also somewhat attractive. Through them, Kirkpatrick shows how giving up thinking for ourselves and letting someone else do it for us can lull us into a false sense of security, and alternatively, how refusing to let our Christian community keep us accountable for decisions we make and offer perspective and help can lead to other sorts of disasters. The secret, it seems, is somewhere between what Emma desires and what the community desires, which is the tension that holds much of the series together. Characterizing the novel is an excellent sense of the place and time period in which these two women lived. Kirkpatrick weaves in mentions of local plants Emma might have foraged for, such as wild celery, wild raspberry roots and wapato (Indian potatoes) and includes interesting sketches of different plant uses. Historical details abound, culled from Kirkpatrick's research into the true-life story of Emma on which the story is based. Family letters, photographs, artifacts and help from her modern-day descendants give Kirkpatrick's work a ring of authenticity but, at the same time, doesn't get in the way of good fiction or interrupt the flow of the narrative. A difficult balance --- and one that Kirkpatrick admirably achieves. Plenty of disasters are on the way for Emma, and readers will wince at some of the choices

This is an excellent read! I've read all of Jane's books & this is right up there with my favorites! Emma, the main character, everyone can identify with. I finished reading the book yesterday & can't quit thinking about Emma & the life she led & how knowing that could make my choices better. The story takes a twist you don't expect & keeps your interest. Definitely read this one! Can't wait for the next one in 2008! Thanks for writing Jane!!!!

Jane Kirkpatrick captures the spirit and nature of the Northwest during this time period. I live in the Northwest and have often visited Aurora,OR,now a thriving Antique shopping area with museums, and the Willapa Bay area in Washington State. Her novels in this series are so factual that sometimes you feel that she must have time traveled there to capture the real story instead of writting a work of fiction. Emma's courage and protection of her children shows how few options a widow had without the programs and government assistance that we have today. The other theme in this book that spoke to me was how often Emma, just like me, try to do the "right" thing instead of turning to God to give us his direction. Often we get mad at God and decide to take things into our own hands. The author puts so many layers into her writings that make the story stay with you long after you finish the book.Thank you for another great read! Keep them coming! Kathleen in Oregon