** I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.
Faith Kenner is pursuing her dream to become a doctor at Willamette University's medical college so she can use her gift for healing to help those in need, especially the native populations forced onto reservations and then neglected. When she meets Andrew Gratton, a handsome riverboat captain who has been injured on his ship, she uses her skills to tend his wound, and a friendship grows between them. Andrew admires her strength and willingness to stand her ground, and Faith appreciates his intelligence and compassion. But Faith holds a secret that means their friendship can never become anything more, so she must bury her feelings for Andrew as best she can.
When her fellow students put together lectures to speak out against Oregon's racist laws and policies, Faith is eager to participate. But some powerful men have other plans for their state, and soon Faith is caught in the middle of a plot to push the local Indian tribes to rebel. As she and Andrew fight for the rights of others, their love for each other grows. Can they trust that God has a way toward love for them, or will her secret stand in the way of their one chance for true happiness?
Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.
Visit Tracie's web site at: http://www.traciepeterson.com
The Way of Love is the second book in Tracie Peterson's Williamette Brides series. Personally, I had not read the previous book myself before reading this one. I was still able to enjoy it as a stand alone. I did get the impression that perhaps some of the backstory for these characters was given previously, however enough was given that I wasn't lost.
In The Way of Love we are introduced to Faith and Andrew. (I believe Faith may have actually been introduced in book one, though I couldn't say with certainty.) Faith is pursuing her goals of becoming a certified doctor at the first college allowing women to do so in the time...she's definitely one of those headstrong female characters that so many of us are drawn to in our favorite novels! When she comes upon an injured Andrew, a riverboat captain, the two form a great friendship, bonded by their mutual support of Native tribes... It is a friendship that despite their feelings otherwise can become nothing more due to the secrets of Faith's heritage and the laws of the time.
I must admit, I don't know much in the way of specifics about the laws and treatments of Natives in this time. I know the basics, of course, and what was taught in history books, but I also know a lot was left out. Though their horrible treatment is certainly not a pleasant topic, I did enjoy getting the chance to learn more about it. Tracie Peterson put a lot of research and thought into keeping this fictional story accurate to the events in the area at the time. I certainly appreciate that, and liked that the author's note in the end addressed that- giving some more information to check out myself. I learned a lot, while also enjoying a fantastic romance along the way...
Overall, this was a really fantastic read. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is definitely one to check out.
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