Forever By Your Side by Tracie Peterson

 

Book Summary

Forever by Your Side by Tracie Peterson has Connie Browning returning home to Oregon with her best friend, Thomas Lowell.  They will be working on the Indian reservation recording the stories and heritage of the Indians for the Bureau of Ethnology.  Connie and Thomas are also going to prove that her parents are not responsible for inciting the natives into war and providing them with illegal guns and whiskey.  Connie is shocked that the government believes her missionary parents could do such a thing.  Clint Singleton, the government agent, is taken with Connie beauty and spends time getting reacquainted with her.  When Connie was fifteen, she had a terrible crush on Clint.  She is no longer sure of her feelings especially as she spends time working with Tom.  Tension on the reservation is mounting.  One incident could be the spark to ignite a war.  Connie and Tom need to work quickly if they are to find who is behind the uprising and clear her parents of suspicion. 

My Thoughts

Forever by Your Side by Tracie Peterson is the 3^rd novel in Willamette Brides series.  While this book can be read on its own, I recommend reading the series in order.  There is a mystery that runs throughout the trilogy that gets resolved in Forever by Your Side.  I thought Forever by Your Side was well-written with developed characters.  The author provided word imagery that brings the scenery and people alive.  I can tell that Tracie Peterson did her research for this series and I appreciated the Author’s Note at the end.  Connie Browning is a smart, independent woman who has been living with her aunt and uncle in Washington, D.C. for the last seven years.  Her parents have been missionaries to the Native Americans for many years and now they are being accused of inciting war and providing the natives with weapons and whiskey.  Connie is using her new job with the Smithsonian Institute’s Bureau of Ethnology as a cover.  Her work partner and friend, Tom Lowell is going to help her prove her parent’s innocence.  The characters from the first two novels (Nancy, Faith, Seth, Andrew, the boarding house ladies) are present along with the evil Mr. Smith.  We get to finally learn who is the mastermind behind the violence and plan.  How the Indians were treated was terrible and the atrocities are highlighted in this book.  Christian themes are present throughout.  I like how the author incorporated them into the story.  Romance is not at the forefront of Forever by Your Side which I appreciate.  It plays out softly in the background with a lovely ending.  I like how the title was incorporated at the end.  I enjoyed the mystery and adventure in the story.  Forever by Your Side was a great conclusion to the Willamette Brides trilogy.  

Forever by Your Side is available from Amazon* along with other major booksellers (B&N, BAM, CBD, Waterstone's, Chapter's, Powell's).  The other two novels in the Willamette Brides series are Secrets of My Heart and The Way of Love.  Tracie Peterson's next release is Endless Mercy which is the second tale in Treasures of Nome series and it publishes on January 5, 2021.  Thank you for reading my review today.  I will be back tomorrow with The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere.  It is part of the Christmas Hope series.  I do hope that you have a charming day.  I am off to do more sorting and cleaning.  My mother and I have become packrats. Time to clear out anything we do not use or need. Wish me luck on getting my mother to part with stuff (everything has a memory for her).  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Way of Love by Tracie Peterson

Welcome! I want to share some upcoming historical book releases with you. A Bride of Convenience by Jody Hedlund will be out on June 30.  It is the 3rd novel in The Bride Ships series.  Steadfast Mercy by Ruth Reid releases July 7.  It is the 3rd An Amish Mercies Novel.  Colors of Truth by Tamera Alexander will now be out on October 6 (instead of July 7).  It is the 2nd book in The Carnton Series.  Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook by Celia Rees publishes on July 7.  The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis releases on August 4.  I have these books to my TBR pile (which is now the size of a very large room).

Panorama view of central Portland 1880s

The Way of Love by TraciePeterson has Faith Kenner finishing up her medical degree at the medical college at Willamette University which has just transferred to Portland, Oregon.  She will be living at her cousin, Nancy’s boardinghouse.  Faith meets Captain Andrew Gratton while traveling on his boat on her way to Oregon City for Christmas.  Andrew becomes injured and Faith treats his him.  Faith never thought she would be able to marry because of her heritage.  As time passes, they become friends and love blossoms between them.  But her secret can keep them apart.  Faith has been working with her fellow students to raise awareness of the plight of the Native Americans on the reservation.  Samuel Lakewood is not happy when he hears about it.  He has plans for Faith that could derail her dreams.  

Elizabeth Blackwell--first female physician

The Way of Love is the 2^nd novel in Willamette Brides series by Tracie Peterson.  I do recommend reading Secrets of My Heart before embarking on The Way of Love.  The story begins in December of 1879 in Portland, Oregon with Faith moving into Nancy Carpenter’s boardinghouse (from Secrets of My Heart).  I like that the story features a strong, intelligent, and Christian main character.  Faith Kenner is determined to become a doctor to help Native Americans on the reservation.  She grew up among them and knows the conditions.  Faith is a woman of strong convictions.  She does not understand why there is prejudice in the world.  As Faith states, “a person can hardly be blamed for their heritage.”  The Way of Love is rich in historical details.  It includes the racial tensions and laws that existed in Oregon at that time along with the “Storm King”, Willamette College, and much more.  Christian values and beliefs are prevalent as well.  I thought The Way of Love was well-written with vivid descriptions.  The pacing is gentle which suits the story.  It was nice catching up with Nancy, Seth, Mrs. Weaver, and the other residents of the boardinghouse along with our main characters families.  We get to find out Mrs. Weaver’s secret and it was something I never expected.  Samuel Lakewood and his cohort, Gerome Berkshire are back with their evil plans.  I am eager to learn the identity of the man who calls the shots.  I appreciated the author’s note at the end.  My favorite line from The Way of Love is “The sooner people put aside prejudices, the sooner we’ll have peace in our country.”  I thought The Way of Love was a timely novel considering what is currently happening in the United States.  The Way of Love is a compelling historical novel with a surprising storm, fine friends, a satisfying surprise, racial pressure, Christian codes, and a romantic riverboat captain.

Stern-wheeler "Wide West" built in Portland, OR 1877

The Way of Love is available from Amazon* along with other major booksellers (can find options here).  The first novel in the Willamette Brides series is Secrets of My Heart.  The third novel in the series will be out on October 6 (available for pre-order) and it is titled Forever By Your Side.  You can find Tracie Peterson's other novels here. Thank you for reading my review today.  Tomorrow I will return with Running Out of Time by Cindi Myers.  It is the 4th novel in the Tactical Crime Division series.  May you have a blessed day.  Take care, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.