Description: At the wood's edge cultures collide. Can two families survive the impact?
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: Lori Benton's novels have some of the most beautiful writing I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Somehow, she is able to capture the voice of the past and make it comprehensible to the modern reader. Having read numerous first-hand accounts of this colonial time period, I am able to appreciate how close Lori is able to make her story sound.
Like her other works, The Wood's Edge has an element of romance, yet it deals with so much more than the development of two peoples' affections. It deals with all the actions and heart-ache associated with their families and cultures, and the history of New England.
I do not believe I have the words to express how much I loved The Wood's Edge, and how disappointed I was to see it end. All that kept me from despair was the knowledge that this is the first of a series (and the next better have Two Hawks in it, who has made it to the top of my favorite hero list).
My one dislike about this book was that the second part (I believe there were four) probably could have been condensed more. There were a lot of scenes from the point of view of Lydia, who I could have done with less of. While she was a nice character, she was not the most compelling and I would have prefered most of her scenes from the Major's point of view.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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