After being forced to leave her village and forget her true love, Echo is given as a bride to one of the high priests in her community, but when the crops begin to fail, she finds herself becoming a leader of her people.
Ann Howard Creel writes guaranteed heart-wrenching historical fiction. In her novels, strong female characters face unforeseen obstacles and then have to make life-changing decisions.
After first writing for children, she turned her attention to Historical Fiction. Her first novel for adults, THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS, was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie on CBS. Her recent titles have been Kindle bestsellers and include WHILE YOU WERE MINE, THE WHISKEY SEA, THE UNCERTAIN SEASON, THE RIVER WIDOW, and MERCY ROAD.
She now writes full-time. Ann's main characters are always strong women facing high-stakes situations and having to make life-changing decisions. Her historical settings have ranged from Victorian-era Galveston to World War II in New York City. Her latest novel, A LIFE CAME CALLING, coming in August 2025, takes readers to the Smoky Mountains near the end of World War II.
WHY I WRITE ABOUT WORLD WAR II My biggest inspiration has been my parents, who lived the war. Due to the courage and unity of their time, they have been called "the greatest generation," and WWII has also been called "the last good war."
At times the characters felt a little wooden or cliche, but overall the descriptions of the natural beauty of the area and the connections that they shared made this book a very enjoyable short read.
A beautifully written tale of a young girl growing up and learning the traditions of her clan and people. The story is set during the decline of the ancient Pueblo civilization. As she grows up, events shape her life. She is married to a man she does not love because the marriage will bring honor to her family and security to her. She chooses to make the best of the situation, and in return her husband teaches her what he knows about the world. She is able to use this knowledge to help her people.
This book already has me hooked. I loved the way the author began this story as a child. There are detailed memories expressed through graceful adjectives creating a visual of the earth and location of the characters in the story. She explains her culture through childhood memories. Her writing places me in the fields of her family and allows me to feel and see what she saw as a child.