A Western Tale of Betrayal and Forgiveness
by Beverly Scott
Amazon UK £3.19 £10.44
Amazon US $4.24 $14.95
Amazon CA $n/a
Western /
Romance
Early 20th
Century
United States
Sarah’s Secret: A Western Tale of Betrayal and
Forgiveness
is a story of Sarah, a mother who is widowed at the turn of the 20th century,
left with five children to raise. Feeling alone and abandoned, she decides to
make the journey from the barren New Mexico territory back to her home in
Nebraska. After settling back in with her extended family in Nebraska, Sarah
soon discovers that her deceased husband, Sam, had lived a different life
before their marriage. This secret life not only haunted Sam when he was alive,
but it also affected Sarah and her children after his death.
The author did
well weaving historical facts into the three story sections that unfold the
tale of Sarah’s and Sam’s lives. From the descriptions of the barren New Mexico
desert to the wild streets of Dodge City, Kansas, Scott paints pictures of the
past that bring life to the story’s characters and their frontier adventures.
Growing up west
of the Mississippi, and being fortunate to have heard the stories of the late
19th century and early 20th century women in my own family, helped me to
appreciate the struggles faced by this young mother who was left to raise five
children. Each chapter was a reminder of how women helped to define the true essence
of the pioneer spirit.
Although in the
end, the story came together, the transition from the first section, that
describes Sarah’s journey home, to the second section that provides back-story
about Sam, was initially puzzling since the second section opens by describing
Sam’s first life under a different name. It was toward the end of this second
section that the puzzle pieces of Sarah’s life are realized. After reading the
second section I went back to reread the first section with more appreciation
and understanding.
In general, however,
the story was an insightful tale of one woman’s journey and the experiences she
had that defined her strength. It was easy to feel compassion for Sarah as she
overcame obstacles and found ways to succeed throughout her life.
© Cathy Smith
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