All That Makes Life Brightby
Josi S. Kilpack
Blurb:
"When Harriet Beecher marries Calvin Stowe on January 6, 1836, she is sure her future will be filled with romance, a family (in due time), and continued opportunities to develop as a writer--Calvin has said she must be a literary woman, after all. Though Catharine, Harriet's sister, worries Hattie will lose her identity in marriage, she is determined to preserve her independent spirit. God has called her to fulfill the roles of wife and writer, and she knows that God will help her accomplish everything she was born to do. Two months later, Hattie discovers she is pregnant just as Calvin prepares to leave for a European business trip. Alone, Hattie is overwhelmed--being a wife has been harder than she thought and being an expectant mother feels like living another woman's life. Knowing that part of Calvin still cherishes the memory of his first wife, Hattie begins to question her place in her husband's heart and yearns for his return; his letters are no substitute for having him home. When Calvin returns, however, nothing seems to have turned out as planned. Struggling to balance the demand of motherhood with her passion for writing and her desire to be a part of the social change in Ohio, Hattie works to build a life with her beloved Calvin despite differing temperaments and expectations. Can their love endure, especially after 'I do'? Can she recapture the first blush of new love and find the true beauty in her marriage?"
My Review:
I'm loving these proper romances based on literary figures' lives! Ms. Kilpack has found a fun niche; I like that she does her research and tries to form an accurate picture of what might have occurred in the lives of these important figures. In my mind, Harriet Beecher Stowe is Uncle Tom's Cabin, and that's about it. I didn't really know anything else about her, and you know what? I think she and I would have been besties. Like her, I have struggled to keep clean house (I'm a perfectionist, but kids make that an impossible dream...), and dinner is never ready on time when my husband gets home. Yep, I think Hattie and I would have been on the phone (if it were available) chatting about how in the world we were supposed to sand the floors and tie the bed frames and take care of the kids without burning dinner. Hahaha! I'm pretty sure I've had similar conversations with my friends over the years. I felt for Hattie and a little for Calvin. I think he was just a little spoiled and should have been able to help out a little more at the beginning. I told my husband I was glad I didn't live back then because I would not have put up with his attitude. I'm not going to tell you--you'll have to read it to find out what Calvin requested as their daughter's name. Oh boy! It's a doozie! This is a fun read. It's well written, it flows well, the dialogue is realistic and the characters are well developed. I couldn't help but relate to Harriet. I did hope to learn a little bit more about how Uncle Tom's Cabin came to be, but I'll just need to find another book written on that. I've never actually read Uncle Tom's Cabin, have you? Let me know in the comments. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. It's a fun, entertaining read.
Rating: PG (There isn't any profanity or violence. There isn't any "intimacy" besides kissing.)
Recommendation: YA and up
Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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