Life in the Old West

This story is based on true events that took place during the 1800’s in the American West.  Eliza Spalding and her Christian Missionary parents, happily lived among the Nez Perce people until she was ten years old.  At that time, Eliza and a group of people were terrorized, and held captive by another tribe for over a month.

After that, despite protests by both the Spalding Family and the Nez Perce, the mission board demanded the Spaldings leave their beloved ministry to the Native Americans.  Giving up his life’s work followed closely by the death of his wife, caused Eliza’s father, Henry, to become short tempered and caustic.

Family expectations…

Most of the household duties and care of her younger siblings, fell on Eliza’s shoulders.  Henry decides Eliza should remain single and become his ministry partner.  His eventual hope is to return to the Nez Perce.

Instead, wanting to set her own course, teenager Eliza jumps into marriage with Andrew Warren.  Unbeknownst to her, Andrew has both a drinking and a gambling problem.  Also, her husband has a wandering spirit, and hoping to make a lot of money, wants to move the family hundreds of miles away to raise cattle.  The place he chooses will be very close to the area where Eliza was held captive all those years ago.  She still suffers almost constant nightmares about that time, and it is the last place she wants to go.  Andrew also decides that Eliza and their two young children can make this wagon trek alone–he claims he must go ahead without them.

One choice can change the course of your life.

Eliza has to make the decision whether she will follow her not always reliable husband, or remain behind to make a life without him.  The last choice is what her father demands that she choose.  Henry constantly tells her what a mistake she has made by marrying Andrew. This story covers Eliza’s choices, along with the ups and downs she has with her father, husband and family.

She has a lot of exciting and amazing adventures.  This book really brings them to life.  It also includes the relationships her family has with the Nez Perce people.  This includes the tender love they have for the Nez Perce tribe, along with the feeling of betrayal Eliza has for those she once considered family.

Even though this story is about real people and true historical events, it is a fictional account.  But this is not a dry, history book, just the opposite.  Eliza’s life story has a lot going on.  The author also does an amazing job of getting the reader inside Eilza’s head.  Because of that, you understand how she views the world along with her hopes and fears.  That makes this tale really come alive, and it is hard to put the book down.  I recommend this 5-star book to those who enjoy books based on real historical people and their lives, or anyone who likes a well-written book.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of The Memory Weaver through Revell Publishing for the purpose of review.  All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment.

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