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It is 1881 and we’re in the backwoods of Kentucky, Troublesome Creek to be exact. Copper Brown (Laura Grace Brown is her proper name. She is nicknamed Copper because of her hair color) is busy collecting tadpoles in the creek when she is interrupted by her twin brothers Daniel and Willy. They bring a message from mother- “Git home and quick.” But, before we get too far, let’s start where Copper’s story actually starts-with the life of her mother, Julie.
Julie Anne Taylor lives in Lexington Kentucky with her over protective sister, Grace, and their bed ridden father. Julie falls in love with a handsome young mountain man Will Brown who comes to town every now and again, and visits with his aunt and picks up supplies. Bad choices lead to unfortunate circumstances and Will is banned from Julie’s life, but he promises to come and get her in the spring. Come spring, Julie and Will are wed; looking forward to being parents, estranged from Julie’s family and living in the roughshod mountain cabin that has been in the Brown family for decades.
Julie and Will are very happy together. They have three children, but all die via miscarriage or in infancy. And, then Laura Grace (Copper) is born.
It seems Julie will be okay, but the mid-wife warns about certain things to watch for. Julie’s sister sent her father’s Sunday carriage in an attempt to make amends and have the couple move to civilization. Sure enough, one of the things the mid-wife warned of happens and Will is forced to take Julie and the baby to find help. The weather is nasty, the creek in turmoil, and the dainty Sunday carriage can’t make it. When everyone is tossed into the violent water, one is lost.
Will must make some difficult choices in the days ahead. His grief is overwhelming and threatens to pull him under. But the life he has saved, Laura Grace, must survive. It is then he turns to the woman who once hated him. Grace, Julie’s sister, and asks her to come to the mountains, marry him, and raise her sister’s daughter.
Now, the family has increased, but Will and Grace, both hide feelings under functioning day to day. They are a family but both battle shame and guilt. Can this family ever be normal?? What is to come of Copper now that she’s of courting age? How come her mother is so harsh with her? So different than when she deals with the boys? Can Will finally betray his first love by admitting the love he has for his wife?
Compelling characters and a strong well plotted story, makes Troublesome Creek a must read. It’s difficult to believe this is author Jan Watson’s first book! It’s no wonder this book won the first ever Christian Writers Guild Fiction Award. This based on truth tale will take you into the mountains, while the characters make themselves to home in your heart.
Reviewed by Linda Mae Baldwin
for The Road to Romance
October 26, 2005
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