Young German-born Annalisa lives in a bleak world in 1880’s America. Men control every part of her life. In Annalisa’s world the men were served food first, the women got the leftovers–if there were any. If a man mistreated his wife, it was his right. Women counted for very little. Before marriage, her austere father controlled every part of her life including who she should marry. Her husband took over that role after marriage. In addition, he gambled and lost all their money, including the hard-earned money he stole from Annalisa. The death of Annalisa’s husband gave her no freedom. On the day of his death, her father made arrangements for a distant cousin to come from Germany to be her next spouse. Pregnant Annalisa and her young daughter Gretchen have no say in the matter.
Into Annalisa’s life comes Carl, and he is unlike any man Annalisa has ever seen. Carl acknowledges women, in particular Annalisa, as humans on the same level as men. Carl invites Annalisa to sit and eat with him, he has conversation with her, and he asks what she actually thinks. He tells everyone he is a teacher on the run, who was falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit. He left Germany to hide out in America. Annalisa’s uncle sent him to her family. However, Carl has a secret past, one that Annalisa and her family must never find out. It would destroy them, and Carl would be thrown out.
It is decided that Carl will work Annalisa’s farm until her new husband arrives. Carl admits he knows nothing about farm work, but he actually doesn’t know anything about work of any kind. He applies himself though. There is added pressure because Annalisa only has until the end of the harvest to pay off her farm loan, or she will lose it. Plus the local lumber mill owner desires her land for himself–and has been trying to force her to sign her land over to him. In fact, everyone believes her husband’s death was the result of his refusal to sell his land.
For the first time in her life, Annalisa is around a man who treats her and daughter Gretchen with kindness. Annalisa finds herself loving Carl. Although Carl is very nice to her in return, Annalisa isn’t sure if it is love–and Carl isn’t either. Also, even though months have passed without his appearance, Annalisa is promised by her father to marry her German cousin.
Will love grow between Annalisa and Carl? Will Annalisa be in a marriage that will give her true happiness, or will she be destined to another loveless marriage her father arranges with her unknown cousin?
This book was hard to read because Annalisa, and all the women of her community, have such hard and hopeless lives, and it appears life is destined to continue that way for them. The author did a good job bringing all the characters to life, and researching this people group, and their history. The story had a fairly good ending. However, there was much sadness and death before reaching the end. The life of Annalisa’s sister is especially difficult to read about. This is not a happily ever after story. Carl does have faith in God, but Annalisa struggles to believe God could care for her, in her words, a lowly woman. The pastor and his wife are the only bright spots in this community, but don’t seem to have much influence to change things. This is a story of many struggles. If you enjoy historical tales that contain hardships and heartache, this is the story for you. I give this book four stars.
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Bethany House Publishing for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.
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