| Series | Doors to the Past #9 |
| Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Pub. Date | 1 Aug 2022 |
| Pages | 257 |
| Publisher | Barbour Publishing, Barbour Fiction |
| Cover | Love these “from behind” book covers. |
| Rating | 5 stars |
My blurb …
Setting: De Smet, South Dakota 1890 & 1974.
Remember Cap Garland, a friend of Almanzo Wilder, husband of Laura Ingalls Wilder? A novel based on Cap & a young Mariah (she was Martha in These Happy Golden Years).
And in 1974, a young woman, Trixie Gowan, who is on the staff of the newspaper. She creates advertising art *and* a comic strip–“Lost Laura” loosely based on guess who? There is a connection between the women in the 1890 and the 1974 stories.
My review …
Okay. I was hooked from the first phrase of A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR that begins Laura’s Shadow for the simple reason — she read Little House on the Prairie. I remember getting my first “Little House” book, Little House in the Big Woods, and read all of them as soon as I could. I’ve reread them since.
So, if you enjoyed the “Little House” books, I can pretty much guarantee you’ll like this book.
The books in the series, Doors to the Past, are all by different authors. Each book deals with a historic American landmark. In this case, it’s the town of De Smet, South Dakota.
What if you aren’t a “Little House” fan?
If you like a light mystery with a little romance …
If you like a story with a touch of “real life” characters …
Then Laura’s Shadow will be just right for you.
I do believe “Little House” readers will enjoy the book a bit more, especially the 1890 segments.
What else makes Laura’s Shadow special?
Swapping eras (1890 to 1974) is not always handled well. The swap is hard to follow; sometimes you don’t know which period you are in. Not so for Laura’s Shadow. No awkwardness. No feeling of what? Am I in 1890 or 1974?
I’d love to tell you more about how the girl in 1974, Trixie Gowan, is connected to the Mariah in 1890. But that would spoil one of the key elements of the plot. As does answering the question of where Cap Garland fits into Mariah’s story.
Yes, I recommend this book — whether you loved Laura Ingalls Wilder or not.
I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of Laura’s Shadow via NetGalley from the publisher, Barbour Publishing, Barbour Fiction. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Rating: 5 stars
#LaurasShadow #NetGalley #AllisonPittman
The image of Cap Garland is from the site
Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frontier Girl, along with a short bio.