Hello, reader friends! The Wood’s Edge by Lori Benton is my first experience with this author and I guarantee it is the first of many I look forward to enjoying immensely!
about the book
The Wood’s Edge by Lori Benton (The Pathfinders book 1)
The 1757 New York frontier is home to the Oneida tribe and to British colonists, yet their feet rarely walk the same paths.
On the day Fort William Henry falls, Major Reginald Aubrey is beside himself with grief. His son, born that day, has died in the arms of his sleeping wife. When Reginald comes across an Oneida mother with newborn twins, one white, one brown, he makes a choice that will haunt the lives of all involved. He steals the white baby and leaves his own child behind. Reginald’s wife and foundling daughter, Anna, never suspect the truth about the boy they call William, but Reginald is wracked by regret that only intensifies with time, as his secret spreads its devastating ripples.
When the long buried truth comes to light, can an unlikely friendship forged at the wood’s edge provide a way forward? For a father tormented by fear of judgment, another by lust for vengeance. For a mother still grieving her lost child. For a brother who feels his twin’s absence, another unaware of his twin’s existence. And for Anna, who loves them both–Two Hawks, the mysterious Oneida boy she meets in secret, and William, her brother. As paths long divided collide, how will God direct the feet of those who follow Him?
my thoughts
Epic. Intricate. (I am having serious doubts about my ability to convey the level of magnificence beneath that gorgeous cover. #swoof) As this story unfolds, readers have the privilege of experiencing it from multiple viewpoints, cultures, and ages. Lori Benton blows HD, 3D, IMAX, and surround sound out of the water with her thorough research, vivid landscapes, and masterful storytelling.
The character I love most is Anna. Readers meet her as an orphaned toddler and she grows to be a strong, loving, and intelligent young woman. Anna’s discovery of the long-held secret is what finally launches it into the open.
I love the colonial America setting and the inclusion of multiple Native American tribes. The time just before the Revolutionary War is a fascinating period full of different perspectives and beliefs. Wrap your mind around the contrast of native villages, colonial settlements, military forts, and vast wilderness. Magnificence!
A beautiful message of forgiveness and redemption replacing plans of revenge and destruction is woven throughout the story. The Wood’s Edge has earned a place on my all-time favorites list and I highly recommend it! Since I borrowed this one from the library, I’m going to have to buy a copy for myself!!! Update: Got one! Yay!
about the author
Lori Benton was born and raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American and family history going back to the 1600s. Her novels transport readers to the 18th century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history, creating a melting pot of characters drawn from both sides of a turbulent and shifting frontier, brought together in the bonds of God’s transforming grace.
When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching 18th century history, Lori enjoys exploring the mountains with her husband.
Burning Sky, Lori’s debut novel, was a finalist for the ECPA 2014 Christian Book Award, and winner of the 2014 Christy Award for First Novel, Historical, and Book of the Year.
also available
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Be sure to add The Wood’s Edge by Lori Benton to your tbr!
Faithfully Bookish 
Wow! Great review! This is on my TBR list. I’m not sure when I’ll get to it, but after this review, I might need to speed it up!
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Yes! Move it up! You’ll be glad you did 🙂
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Beth, I LOVED this story too! Very moving! 🙂
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It’s an experience, isn’t it! I love a book with an afterglow!
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