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Seventeen-year-old Simone Dumas has lived a hard life. When she was ten, her mother left with her infant son to escape her husband's abuse, promising to come back for Simone, who was still weak from having measles. Simone feels angry and abandoned when her mother fails to return and she is horribly abused by her father, Louis Dumas.
Simone's father sells his cabin, trap lines -- and Simone -- to a strange man. Simone escapes her "husband's" advances and rides the man's horse to Laramie, believing she has killed him. From Laramie, she travels by train to Chicago where she finds employment.
Jeffery O'Donnell hires Simone as a waitress with the Harvey House chain of restaurants on the Santa Fe Railroad in the west. Simone travels to Topeka, Kansas, for her training, accompanied by O'Donnell.
Simone makes friends for the first time in her life and she begins to heal. But when she is attracted to Jeffery, her fears and her past hold her back from involving herself in a serious relationship. A minister helps her to begin to trust God, forgive, and begin a new life, but danger still stalks her.
Peterson weaves history into her stories flawlessly and realistically. I enjoyed learning about the Harvey House restaurants and the women who worked in them. I admired Simone's bravery and integrity in spite of abuse and loss. Her conversion seemed real as she struggled to believe and trust God. I look forward to reading the second book in the Westward Chronicles Series.
Reviewed by Marie DisBrow
for The Road to Romance
November 7, 2005
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Simone Dumas is terrified of her father. He beats her mother and her and comes home drunk on a daily basis. Simone’s mother finally has enough of the cruelty and takes Simone’s baby brother and flees, promising Simone she’ll come back and rescue her. But before the mother can reach safety, Simone’s father murders her and the baby. Not knowing what else to do, Simone stays with her father, learning when to avoid him. But when his cruelty surpasses reason Simone finally finds the courage to flee.
Scared for her life, Simone runs from the vast Wyoming Territory, and heads the one way she’s sure her father won’t—East. But as she heads East, it never seems far enough away, until she reaches the huge town of Chicago. She’s told a person could live there all their life and never see the whole town. Chicago feels safe. Needed a job, Simone applies for a job as a Harvey girl.
Jeffery O’Donnell is desperate for help and hires Simone despite the fact that she doesn’t have any references. But something isn’t quite right about the lovely petite woman with hidden talents. Soon he starts developing feelings for Simone in spite of the fact that she harbors disturbing secrets. Will these secrets have the potential of destroying lives? Will love be able to endure?
A SHELTER OF HOPE is the first book in the Westward Chronicles. It is well-written and engaging. I felt sorry for Simone living in such abusive situations, and in spite of the fact that her mother is a minor character in the book; I cried when she abandons Simone and is killed. Jeffery is trying to run a business long-distance and is desperate for help to the point of not waiting the usual time to check Simone’s past. He is every way a gentleman, and is intrigued by the mysterious Simone.
Ms. Peterson is skilled at bringing the bustling depot and restaurant to life, as well as the historical time period in which the story is set. I highly recommend A SHELTER OF HOPE for an enjoyable read.
Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton
for The Road to Romance
November 10, 2005
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