Laura's Shadow: Volume 9

"Sometimes first love exists as a foundation for new love." This is not the first Allison Pittman book I have read but it feels very different from the ones I have read. I love dual timeline settings, I loved some of the books in this series, and I love the author's writing style so this book was a no-brainer for me to pick up. I really enjoyed that the 1890s timeline and 1970s timeline combined the great grandmother's story and the great granddaughter's. The author's beautiful prose is captivating. Perhaps it's that I am not a huge fan of Little House books but I had a bit of difficulty connecting with the 1890s plotline - a plotline revolving around the minor characters in Laura Ingalls Wilder's These Happy Golden Years. Mariah, Trixie's great grandmother, is one of the students that Laura Ingalls taught and life in 1890s South Dakota is told in her first person narrative. Mariah, as a young woman, is hard to understand though her tender relationship with her older brother Charles is a shining moment in her wearied and battle-scarred life. 1970s Trixie tells her tale in third person narrative and she was easier to connect with; she has great and hilarious conversations with Ron, her boss and possible love interest. It was interesting to see Mariah in 1970s as a hundred plus year old woman, grounded by faith and life experiences but still harboring loss and deep regret. Though I didn't necessarily connect with all the characters, I did appreciate the clever and intricate plot, the bond among the generations of women in Trixie's family, and the author's lyrical writing style. I received the book from the publisher via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

4 stars, Not everyone loved Laura Ingalls Wilder LAURA'S SHADOW (DOORS TO THE PAST # 9) by Allison Pittman This is a dual timeline, historical, Christian fiction novel. It is set in De Smet, South Dakota, the times are 1974 when Trixie Gowan is growing up in a multi-generational line of female relatives, and 1890 when Trixie's great grandmother Mariah Patterson, (whom Trixie calls GG) was a young woman, an orphan, living with her newly engaged brother. Everyone in their family knows that Mariah can't stand Laura Ingalls Wilder. There are family secrets and GG is ready to tell Trixie about her pain, through the years. This book has a loose description of a single man sleeping with a single woman, out of wedlock. It doesn't sound so out of the ordinary, in today's modern times, but in 1890, that is something that was simply not done. It may come as a shock to someone expecting a Christian historical fiction novel. My favorite character in this book is Merrill Gowan. He is a man with heart and the capability to love, much more than several of the other characters. I am thankful for the complimentary copy of #laurasshadow in the #doorstothepastseries I was under no obligation to post a review. #mystery #inspyfiction #historicalfiction #coverlove #allisonpittman #newrelease2022