Touching The Sky by Tracie Peterson
Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels.
She received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings’ Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership’s vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.
In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers.
She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.
Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests.
Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family–especially her three grandchildren–Rainy, Fox and Max. She’s active in her church as the Director of Women’s Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer’s retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Laura Marquardt first meets Brandon Reid, their encounter is anything but pleasant. But when the two are seated together at a dinner party, they soon find that they share similar interests–Laura desires to educate blacks, and Brandon, as a white officer over colored troops, eagerly supports her cause.
When Laura’s sister, Carissa, marries her Confederate beau, Laura finds herself in a difficult situation when she overhears plots to kill Union soldiers. Though in her heart she feels she should share this information with Brandon, Laura fears she will betray her sister’s trust and possibly endanger her sister’s life. And when Brandon’s motives for pursuing her come into question, her heart is even more conflicted. Where is God leading her?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Touching The Sky, go HERE.
Learn more about Tracie and her books link on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
Using her unique talent with words Tracie Peterson has once again delivered a very readable and enjoyable novel that blends drama, intrigue, and romance perfectly with historical facts. Touching The Sky is set in Corpus Christie, Texas following the Civil War. Although the war is over, the coastal town is still divided between those who supported the Union and those who supported the Confederacy. In fact there are some confederates who are poor losers and are determined to get revenge and keep the war going, if only in Texas. Laura Marquardt and her family find themselves in the very middle of the increasing tension. They had hoped that the marriage of Laura’s sister Carissa to a young Confederate soldier would help bring reconciliation to their town. Unfortunately he is one of the men who refuse to give up the fight. Laura’s developing relationship with Union officer Brandon Reid only serves to increase her brother-in-law’s animosity. Suspense filled pages are in store for the reader as they keep turning the pages to find out what will happen.
I found Peterson’s characterization and dialogue to be natural and believable. Although Carissa seemed to be an unreasonable and spoiled brat, the author didn’t leave her that way but matured her as the story progressed. The romance between Brandon and Laura also seemed genuine as it developed at an unhurried pace. I thought the author also did an excellent job presenting the various points of view, not only those who sympathized with the north or the south but also of former slaves. I did not find that southerners in general were depicted in a negative light – just those few men who refused to give up the fight.
I have enjoyed both of the novels in the Land of the Lone Star series thus far and look forward to the third and final installment this fall.
