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The Knotted Ring
Susannah Mobley, expecting her slave lover’s baby, submits to an arranged marriage to Hezekiah James, who is headed to Texas to claim a land grant.Caught in a series of lies about her pregnancy, as well as the beautiful ring woven from her red hair, Susannah embarks on the harsh trip to Texas, grieving for her lost love and determined to control her destiny.On the wagon train journey, Hezekiah's beliefs and strength are tested by Native Americans and the strange Madstone. Soon, Susannah will have to decide if she can live with the consequences of her lies and open herself to the man who shows every form of contrition, or if she will allow longing for the child to destroy her life."Readers will be drawn in by McILvain’s characters, who are richly developed with powerful voices. The tension crafted between Susannah’s past and present is palpable throughout, and McILvain skillfully depicts her warring emotions” -BookLife Review-
- GenresHistorical Fiction
414 pages, Hardcover
Published December 19, 2023
About the author
Myra Hargrave McIlvain
12 books41 followersMyra Hargrave McIlvain, a sixth-generation Texan, is a teller of Texas tales. Whether she shares the stories in her books, lectures, or newsletter, she aims to make the Texas story alive. She has freelanced as a writer of Texas historical markers and written articles for newspapers nationwide and for magazines such as Texas Highways. She has published twelve books—all Texas stories. Her most recent, The Knotted Ring, is the story of a young woman, pregnant with her slave lover's baby, who is forced to marry a man headed to Texas for a Spanish land grant. McIlvain lives in Austin with her husband, Stroud. She enjoys the company of a houseful of great grands.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 19, 2024
This historical romance depicts the tough times that early settlers had moving west and settling in uncharted territory. It also showcases women's lives and Susannah's forbidden love.
Our protagonist, Susannah, is a smart woman who lives in a time when slavery abounds, marriages are arranged, and love does not always win the day. She has a forbidden affair with a slave and winds up pregnant. To save face, her father marries her off to a man who is leading a wagon train to Texas. This solves her father's issues and not wanting to see his daughter give birth to this child. But what Susannah doesn't realize until much later is that Hezekiah truly loves her and will do anything for her to make her happy.
While Susannah fights the relationship forming between the two of them, after all, he isn't her lover; we do see their relationship grow in spite of everything. It takes a lot of time; hurt feelings have to be overcome, and the realization that perhaps her first love was not her true love.
Outside of the marriage, Susannah has to learn a lot about life on a wagon train and in a strange new state. Life was not easy for the pioneers as they journeyed to stake new claims in the West. I admired their fortitude in seeking this new life. While it wasn't easy, they had others to lean on in harder times. The women especially created a close-knit friendship and supported one another. Not everything was rosy, but knowing that someone had your back was important.
This story reminded me that I should be grateful for everything that I have that was created by those who came before me. The author does a beautiful job of depicting the life these pioneers forged, their struggles, their hopes, and their dreams. There is symbolism throughout the book, and it will mean something different to each reader.
Our protagonist, Susannah, is a smart woman who lives in a time when slavery abounds, marriages are arranged, and love does not always win the day. She has a forbidden affair with a slave and winds up pregnant. To save face, her father marries her off to a man who is leading a wagon train to Texas. This solves her father's issues and not wanting to see his daughter give birth to this child. But what Susannah doesn't realize until much later is that Hezekiah truly loves her and will do anything for her to make her happy.
While Susannah fights the relationship forming between the two of them, after all, he isn't her lover; we do see their relationship grow in spite of everything. It takes a lot of time; hurt feelings have to be overcome, and the realization that perhaps her first love was not her true love.
Outside of the marriage, Susannah has to learn a lot about life on a wagon train and in a strange new state. Life was not easy for the pioneers as they journeyed to stake new claims in the West. I admired their fortitude in seeking this new life. While it wasn't easy, they had others to lean on in harder times. The women especially created a close-knit friendship and supported one another. Not everything was rosy, but knowing that someone had your back was important.
This story reminded me that I should be grateful for everything that I have that was created by those who came before me. The author does a beautiful job of depicting the life these pioneers forged, their struggles, their hopes, and their dreams. There is symbolism throughout the book, and it will mean something different to each reader.
February 29, 2024
Susannah Mobley is the pampered daughter of a wealthy Natchitoches planter. She plays the harp and attends private school in New Orleans. She grew up with slave children as playmates, teaching them to read and write as they played at school, not seeing any difference between herself and them. And she has made the grievous mistake of falling in love with one of her father’s slaves, and he with her. In pre-Civil War era Louisiana, this could have disastrous consequences for both parties and for any children that might result. A child indeed results here when Susannah and Philippe can’t fight their growing attraction for each other any longer.
Her father arranges for Susannah to marry Hezekiah James, who is heading for Texas with big dreams and looking for a wife to share them with. Susannah is appalled at the prospect of marrying someone she doesn’t know, and thinks she can get the whole thing called off when she tells him she is pregnant with a slave’s child. But Hezekiah is determined to forge ahead, and they leave the polite society of Natchitoches behind to carve a path and claim land in the wilderness that was Texas before it was even a republic.
Myra Hargrave McIlvain was inspired to write this story by a discovery in her own family history. She has clearly done her research, and she gives us a story that digs deep into some difficult territory and calls forth powerful emotions. As a Louisiana native, I’m aware of our state’s history with slavery, of the treatment of Black slaves, of the penalties that could be handed out for having a romantic entanglement that crossed racial lines. Reading the part of the story leading up to Susannah’s pregnancy being revealed had me in knots for fear of how strongly her father might react.
The story also deals with the institution of slavery and the treatment of slaves on a larger level. Susannah’s mother tells her that Blacks and Indians don’t love the same as white people, but Susannah knows from her own experience that that simply isn’t true. Susannah’s father owns slaves and treats them well so long as it benefits him to do so. If they step out of line, he shows no compunction about responding swiftly and harshly. Hezekiah owns slaves, but treats them with respect and dignity, causing some consternation among people who don’t share his views. But can even the kindest treatment make it agreeable to a man that all the steps he takes are under another person’s ultimate control?
Susannah lied about the circumstances that led to her pregnancy, and as tends to happen, the truth eventually came to light. There were consequences to her lies, and they created distance between Susannah and Hezekiah. It was clear early on that he wanted a genuine marriage for the two of them, but Susannah’s inability to be open and honest about her past made that difficult. They were both good people, and I really wanted to see both of them rip the band-aid off, talk it all out, and get things straight so they could move forward together.
It’s clear from the description that the journey to settle in Texas wasn’t for the faint of heart. Sometimes life happened, and you had to choose between giving up or finding the courage to keep going. I really enjoyed the bits of Texas history woven into the story, as well as descriptions of all the effort that had to go into just surviving on the frontier, let alone thriving. Susannah, protected young woman that she was, had some hard adjustments to living on the trail and being responsible for her own household. She had a lot to learn, and the description of her trying to milk a cow made me chuckle. I figure I would have about the same success she first did were I to try it myself!
I don’t want to give away anything, so I’ll stop here. The story is so wonderfully written, I want y’all to read it and get to experience all the highs and lows of the characters for yourselves. I recommend it for anyone who loves good historical fiction, especially if you’re interested in pre-Civil War Southern/Southwestern fiction, and Texas history.
Her father arranges for Susannah to marry Hezekiah James, who is heading for Texas with big dreams and looking for a wife to share them with. Susannah is appalled at the prospect of marrying someone she doesn’t know, and thinks she can get the whole thing called off when she tells him she is pregnant with a slave’s child. But Hezekiah is determined to forge ahead, and they leave the polite society of Natchitoches behind to carve a path and claim land in the wilderness that was Texas before it was even a republic.
Myra Hargrave McIlvain was inspired to write this story by a discovery in her own family history. She has clearly done her research, and she gives us a story that digs deep into some difficult territory and calls forth powerful emotions. As a Louisiana native, I’m aware of our state’s history with slavery, of the treatment of Black slaves, of the penalties that could be handed out for having a romantic entanglement that crossed racial lines. Reading the part of the story leading up to Susannah’s pregnancy being revealed had me in knots for fear of how strongly her father might react.
The story also deals with the institution of slavery and the treatment of slaves on a larger level. Susannah’s mother tells her that Blacks and Indians don’t love the same as white people, but Susannah knows from her own experience that that simply isn’t true. Susannah’s father owns slaves and treats them well so long as it benefits him to do so. If they step out of line, he shows no compunction about responding swiftly and harshly. Hezekiah owns slaves, but treats them with respect and dignity, causing some consternation among people who don’t share his views. But can even the kindest treatment make it agreeable to a man that all the steps he takes are under another person’s ultimate control?
Susannah lied about the circumstances that led to her pregnancy, and as tends to happen, the truth eventually came to light. There were consequences to her lies, and they created distance between Susannah and Hezekiah. It was clear early on that he wanted a genuine marriage for the two of them, but Susannah’s inability to be open and honest about her past made that difficult. They were both good people, and I really wanted to see both of them rip the band-aid off, talk it all out, and get things straight so they could move forward together.
It’s clear from the description that the journey to settle in Texas wasn’t for the faint of heart. Sometimes life happened, and you had to choose between giving up or finding the courage to keep going. I really enjoyed the bits of Texas history woven into the story, as well as descriptions of all the effort that had to go into just surviving on the frontier, let alone thriving. Susannah, protected young woman that she was, had some hard adjustments to living on the trail and being responsible for her own household. She had a lot to learn, and the description of her trying to milk a cow made me chuckle. I figure I would have about the same success she first did were I to try it myself!
I don’t want to give away anything, so I’ll stop here. The story is so wonderfully written, I want y’all to read it and get to experience all the highs and lows of the characters for yourselves. I recommend it for anyone who loves good historical fiction, especially if you’re interested in pre-Civil War Southern/Southwestern fiction, and Texas history.
March 5, 2024
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.83.
January 28, 2024
Excellent
Ms. Mcllvain’s books never disappoint, history, good stories that brings tears and joy. Historical fiction I enjoy very much. I have recommended to others.
Ms. Mcllvain’s books never disappoint, history, good stories that brings tears and joy. Historical fiction I enjoy very much. I have recommended to others.
February 22, 2024
The Knotted Ring
I loved reading the author’s notes at the end of this book and learning that this story came about through research into her family genealogy. While the story is fiction, all the events are believable.
Set in the time period before the Civil War, when slavery was common in the south, the author did a great job of depicting the reality of it from both sides.
Susannah was born to a wealthy plantation owner and her life was one of privilege. Sent to boarding school in New Orleans, she discovered a deep love for and a natural talent for playing the harp. I love the sound of that instrument and could hear it in my mind when she played for guests in their home.
She grew up with slave children and seeing no difference between herself and them. She taught them to read and write when no one was looking and developed a deep bond with a slave, Philippe. But when she got older, that innocent friendship turned to love, and she wound up pregnant with his baby.
Imagine a white girl pregnant with a black man’s baby in the early 1800s. She was immediately married off to a young lawyer, Hezekiah, who had a penchant for adventure.
The story follows this union through some of the most horrific scenarios you can imagine as they journey to Texas, looking for land to settle.
My heart broke with each loss and hardship.
I hoped Susannah would grow to love the man who married her and offered to give her baby a name. But that hope was all but dashed when Hezekiah did the unspeakable, even though his intentions were good. He truly loved Susannah.
I don’t want to leave any spoilers here. I loved this story. It gripped me from the first page until the last. The author kept it authentic. And when I discovered the reason behind the book title, I was deeply touched. This is a story that is so real, you’re left to wonder if it’s truly fiction. I highly recommend it.
I loved reading the author’s notes at the end of this book and learning that this story came about through research into her family genealogy. While the story is fiction, all the events are believable.
Set in the time period before the Civil War, when slavery was common in the south, the author did a great job of depicting the reality of it from both sides.
Susannah was born to a wealthy plantation owner and her life was one of privilege. Sent to boarding school in New Orleans, she discovered a deep love for and a natural talent for playing the harp. I love the sound of that instrument and could hear it in my mind when she played for guests in their home.
She grew up with slave children and seeing no difference between herself and them. She taught them to read and write when no one was looking and developed a deep bond with a slave, Philippe. But when she got older, that innocent friendship turned to love, and she wound up pregnant with his baby.
Imagine a white girl pregnant with a black man’s baby in the early 1800s. She was immediately married off to a young lawyer, Hezekiah, who had a penchant for adventure.
The story follows this union through some of the most horrific scenarios you can imagine as they journey to Texas, looking for land to settle.
My heart broke with each loss and hardship.
I hoped Susannah would grow to love the man who married her and offered to give her baby a name. But that hope was all but dashed when Hezekiah did the unspeakable, even though his intentions were good. He truly loved Susannah.
I don’t want to leave any spoilers here. I loved this story. It gripped me from the first page until the last. The author kept it authentic. And when I discovered the reason behind the book title, I was deeply touched. This is a story that is so real, you’re left to wonder if it’s truly fiction. I highly recommend it.
February 21, 2024
The Short Story: An intense look at slavery, the settlement of Texas and the longings of the human heart.
Author McIlvain serves up a doozy of a story loosely based on the lives of her ancestors. Susanna, the pampered, harp-playing daughter of a wealthy planter, is forced to marry a man she doesn’t know. Hezekiah is ambitious but not unkind, but his dreams take them far from the genteel society of Natchitoches, Louisiana, that Susanna is accustomed to. His dreams lead them deep into the Mexican territory of Texas and the Stephen F. Austin land grants.
The journey to their new home is rife with difficulties for the newly married couple, but the greatest barrier to their future happiness is Susanna’s pregnancy by the young man she loves, a kind, intelligent but enslaved young man.
As a Texas resident, I enjoyed reading about the couples’ journey to Texas, and their attempt to forge a new life. They must battle with Native Americans, illness, the elements and each other. The author deftly draws the reader into their world with her realistic and well-researched portrayal of pioneer life.
On a deeper note, McIlvain explores the relationship between the enslaved and their White owners, from the harsh enforcement to ambivalent acceptance of the status quo. She portrays the complex issues of slavery in an unflinching and gritty manner.
At the heart of the story is a wonderful tale of love, forgiveness and personal growth as Susanna and Hezekiah test the bounds of their relationship. All in all, a great tale. I highly recommend this book to lovers of history, Texas history, life in the 19th century.
I rate this book 5 Stars
Author McIlvain serves up a doozy of a story loosely based on the lives of her ancestors. Susanna, the pampered, harp-playing daughter of a wealthy planter, is forced to marry a man she doesn’t know. Hezekiah is ambitious but not unkind, but his dreams take them far from the genteel society of Natchitoches, Louisiana, that Susanna is accustomed to. His dreams lead them deep into the Mexican territory of Texas and the Stephen F. Austin land grants.
The journey to their new home is rife with difficulties for the newly married couple, but the greatest barrier to their future happiness is Susanna’s pregnancy by the young man she loves, a kind, intelligent but enslaved young man.
As a Texas resident, I enjoyed reading about the couples’ journey to Texas, and their attempt to forge a new life. They must battle with Native Americans, illness, the elements and each other. The author deftly draws the reader into their world with her realistic and well-researched portrayal of pioneer life.
On a deeper note, McIlvain explores the relationship between the enslaved and their White owners, from the harsh enforcement to ambivalent acceptance of the status quo. She portrays the complex issues of slavery in an unflinching and gritty manner.
At the heart of the story is a wonderful tale of love, forgiveness and personal growth as Susanna and Hezekiah test the bounds of their relationship. All in all, a great tale. I highly recommend this book to lovers of history, Texas history, life in the 19th century.
I rate this book 5 Stars
February 25, 2024
There are some books that you race through, and there are others that are better experienced as a slow simmer, taking time to truly savor the emotional truths and excellent research the author wrote into it. The Knotted Ring, by Myra Hargrave McIlvain is definitely one of the latter.
This story focuses on Susannah – her forbidden love, her struggle in the confines of a period in time where women didn't have a lot of choice, and the trials and tribulations that come with life on the frontier. She's a strong woman living in nearly impossible conditions, and I enjoyed meeting her, though I also felt for her situation.
This author is obviously highly skilled at her craft, because even though this novel abounds with lies and lawlessness and the hardship of a journey in less-than-ideal conditions, its heart is the often-strained, but still deep, relationship of a woman and man. The weaving in of Texas history felt organic and not overly expositional, and the plot moved at an acceptable pace.
Some novels are quick cups of soup – flavorful, but not necessarily sustaining. The Knotted Ring is a rich stew or Texas chili. Rich, hearty, and not without a little bit of bite in the form of social conventions and physical hardships. Ladle this novel into your reading bowl and immerse yourself in the storytelling. You won't be sorry.
Goes well with: Chili made with brisket - no beans – and seasoned with "cowboy coffee."
This story focuses on Susannah – her forbidden love, her struggle in the confines of a period in time where women didn't have a lot of choice, and the trials and tribulations that come with life on the frontier. She's a strong woman living in nearly impossible conditions, and I enjoyed meeting her, though I also felt for her situation.
This author is obviously highly skilled at her craft, because even though this novel abounds with lies and lawlessness and the hardship of a journey in less-than-ideal conditions, its heart is the often-strained, but still deep, relationship of a woman and man. The weaving in of Texas history felt organic and not overly expositional, and the plot moved at an acceptable pace.
Some novels are quick cups of soup – flavorful, but not necessarily sustaining. The Knotted Ring is a rich stew or Texas chili. Rich, hearty, and not without a little bit of bite in the form of social conventions and physical hardships. Ladle this novel into your reading bowl and immerse yourself in the storytelling. You won't be sorry.
Goes well with: Chili made with brisket - no beans – and seasoned with "cowboy coffee."
February 26, 2024
The Knotted Ring by Myra Hargrave McIlvain was a heart-breaking story of a strong and smart woman, Susannah Mobley. Susannah lives in Texas during a time where women had absolutely no choice, but to do what the men in her life tell her to do - most specifically, her father. Since she is pregnant from a forbidden situation, she is forced by her father into an arranged marriage with Hezekiah. This story is about Susannah’s personal journeys - both mentally and physically.
I found Susannah’s character to be most compelling due to her struggles of being a woman during a time that hardly gave her any options. What was beautiful about the story though is that you come to find that Susannah does have at least one choice she can make - the choice to keep going. I feel that The Knotted Ring gave us quite a bit of insight to this and it had me feeling for Susannah throughout her story.
Susannah and Hezekiah’s courage to keep going and their journey to a new life was so admirable and definitely a story to share. McIlvain’s ability to write characters with so much heart and fortitude was beautiful to read. This is a heartbreaking story, but it’s a story with still so much hope.
I found Susannah’s character to be most compelling due to her struggles of being a woman during a time that hardly gave her any options. What was beautiful about the story though is that you come to find that Susannah does have at least one choice she can make - the choice to keep going. I feel that The Knotted Ring gave us quite a bit of insight to this and it had me feeling for Susannah throughout her story.
Susannah and Hezekiah’s courage to keep going and their journey to a new life was so admirable and definitely a story to share. McIlvain’s ability to write characters with so much heart and fortitude was beautiful to read. This is a heartbreaking story, but it’s a story with still so much hope.
December 10, 2023
In 'The Knotted Ring,' Myra McIlvain transcends the bounds of historical fiction, delving into a narrative that not only chronicles the intricate tapestry of Texas history but also challenges societal norms surrounding women's roles and forbidden love. Against the backdrop of a time when women had little power or choices, the author skillfully navigates the complexities of love, sacrifice, and the struggle for autonomy.
The novel's heartbeat lies in Susannah's forbidden love, interwoven with the struggles of an era defined by limitations. The characters emerge as trailblazers in a landscape dominated by societal expectations and the intensity of pioneer life. This is a poignant ode to the indomitable spirit of love, defying constraints and societal norms. As these characters navigate the challenges of their time, readers witness a captivating family saga, a profound commentary on the enduring power of love amidst adversity and the lengths Susannah will go to survive.
Read this book slowly and savor the heart and soul the author put into every character.
The novel's heartbeat lies in Susannah's forbidden love, interwoven with the struggles of an era defined by limitations. The characters emerge as trailblazers in a landscape dominated by societal expectations and the intensity of pioneer life. This is a poignant ode to the indomitable spirit of love, defying constraints and societal norms. As these characters navigate the challenges of their time, readers witness a captivating family saga, a profound commentary on the enduring power of love amidst adversity and the lengths Susannah will go to survive.
Read this book slowly and savor the heart and soul the author put into every character.
March 24, 2024
This is a beautifully written novel by a major talent. McIlvain’s descriptions of the Southwest in pre-Civil war days is magical in its’ details. The author has clearly done her research and she takes the reader into a time and a place of excitement and danger. She nails the character of Susannah, her conflicts, her courage. It’s difficult to write about slavery, and McIlvain does an amazing job. She is a great storyteller and I’m looking forward to reading more of her books.
May 4, 2024
Every so often, you read a book that has you from the very first page to the last. This is one of those books. It reads like a true story and very well could have been. As I read, I just wanted to watch the movie. Is this one a movie yet? It should be. I was reminded of the movie Gone With the Wind. It was just a part of history that was so hard and the struggles were very real. It covered them all. This was my first book by this author and definitely not the last. So very good!
June 3, 2024
Reminds me of a story of the Oregon trail. Pregnant with her slave lovers baby, she is sent off to Texas with her new husband Hezekiah. Go through their voyage of finding new land with their slaves. Going through the years they end up having 4 boys. At the end of the book in a town they are visiting she sees her baby girl Anna with Phillipe her lover. The last paragraph she goes back home with her husband
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2024
This was a book club selection—-interesting because it records this era of settlement in Texas history.
I did get tired of the birthing/borning/baby issues. Undoubtedly this was important, but of more interest to me was the historical and social history. Could have been more of that.
I applaud for tackling the issue is slavery and her family history.
I did get tired of the birthing/borning/baby issues. Undoubtedly this was important, but of more interest to me was the historical and social history. Could have been more of that.
I applaud for tackling the issue is slavery and her family history.
December 27, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well written, well researched, with vivid engaging characters. Just the right amount of tension in the beleaguered love relationship between man and wife. The plot moves nicely and it was overall a great read.
July 16, 2024
I love a book that takes you into a time and place you have never been before, Myra McIlvain does this masterfully in The Knotted Ring. And that before she created characters that you will remember. Excellent read for story line, values struggles, history and true love.
December 12, 2023
Wonderful!
This story has it all: adventure, love, exploration, loss, and resilience. The characters immediately draw you in as you follow their stories. Loved every page!
This story has it all: adventure, love, exploration, loss, and resilience. The characters immediately draw you in as you follow their stories. Loved every page!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews