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The Cherokee Hideaway
A thirst for adventure leads a young man down a path of discovery. On a hike into the forbidding Sipsey Wilderness, Raleigh Walker discovers some rather interesting artifacts related to the Indian Removal Act during the 1830s. Barely making it out of the forest, he decides to go looking for more information. In doing so, he stumbles across a fascinating woman with a family whose Cherokee background seems strangely tied to the mystery he unearthed in the woods. Jenny Riddle is a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it. When Raleigh enters her life, he gives her a new mission to fight for. Together they begin to put together the pieces of a puzzle, following the story of a young Cherokee couple who escaped the Trail of Tears while also creating a new story of their own, generations later. The hideaway connects the past to the present in this historical fiction of love and hardship.
350 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 26, 2019
When I received this book it was titled The Cherokee Hideaway.
This is a book that I am glad to have stumbled across. While there may have been a few spots that read like a first-time author, by far the majority of the book was polished and flowed smoothly. The author artfully describes the wilderness through which his main character, Raleigh, treks into the Simpsey Canyon in Alabama. Not since reading Black or White by John Aubrey Anderson have I read a book with so many snakes, but they truly help create the setting Raleigh finds himself in. The author also writes romantic attraction and tension that is quite intense without offending those who enjoy reading in the clean and Christian genres.
While The Cherokee Hideaway would not be classified in the Christian fiction genre, many spiritual references are included, some in regard to missionary work with the Cherokee in the past and some with the modern day characters who also have a Cherokee heritage. God is often referred to as a higher power, and Christ is not mentioned.
The history of the Cherokee nation unfolds through the words of an old journal and of a Cherokee grandmother. The reader will grieve over the atrocities perpetuated against the Cherokee, but the mood is kept hopeful and looking into the future. One that will have the reader wanting to follow Raleigh and Jenny into the next book in this series.
I thank Bluewater Publications for providing me with a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.
This is a book that I am glad to have stumbled across. While there may have been a few spots that read like a first-time author, by far the majority of the book was polished and flowed smoothly. The author artfully describes the wilderness through which his main character, Raleigh, treks into the Simpsey Canyon in Alabama. Not since reading Black or White by John Aubrey Anderson have I read a book with so many snakes, but they truly help create the setting Raleigh finds himself in. The author also writes romantic attraction and tension that is quite intense without offending those who enjoy reading in the clean and Christian genres.
While The Cherokee Hideaway would not be classified in the Christian fiction genre, many spiritual references are included, some in regard to missionary work with the Cherokee in the past and some with the modern day characters who also have a Cherokee heritage. God is often referred to as a higher power, and Christ is not mentioned.
The history of the Cherokee nation unfolds through the words of an old journal and of a Cherokee grandmother. The reader will grieve over the atrocities perpetuated against the Cherokee, but the mood is kept hopeful and looking into the future. One that will have the reader wanting to follow Raleigh and Jenny into the next book in this series.
I thank Bluewater Publications for providing me with a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.
August 24, 2019
I live in Oklahoma. My husband, daughter and grandson are Cherokee. The book cover caught my eye and the story synopsis was interesting enough to read the book. Wheeler Pounds did a great job of including many of the hardships inflicted during the Trail of Tears. He set a tone for his characters set to one of the most shameful periods of history. The story did not flow as smoothly as many others I have read but the story itself is unique and compelling enough to overcome that one shortcoming. I have recommended this book to my family and friends for their input. I'm sure they will find it just as compelling as I did.
June 8, 2023
A perfect premise. A woman of Cherokee heritage helps a young discovery more than the history books have to tell. Raleigh barely survives his time in the Sipsey Wilderness. His survival prompts him to ask more questions about the Trail of Tears and those who survived. Armed with artifacts her found he Jenny Riddle unearth a tale so heart breaking and yet filled with the fight that native Americans struggled to maintain into the modern era. Noteworthy.
June 14, 2025
This is Book 1 of 3 in a Series. It is a Historical Fiction book and there are lots of Easter Eggs in the book. Being an Echota tribal member this book spoke to me in a different way. There are lots of things in this book that hit home for me as I live or have lived in every area that this book entails.
The story itself is very interesting and had me going back and buying books 2 & 3 of the series. Adventure, love, mystery and fables all wrapped up in 1 book what more could you ask for?
The story itself is very interesting and had me going back and buying books 2 & 3 of the series. Adventure, love, mystery and fables all wrapped up in 1 book what more could you ask for?
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews