Stephanie: Days of Turmoil and Victory

Daughters of Courage #3

by Donna Fletcher Crow

Third in the Daughters of Courage series. As a representative in the Idaho State Legislature during the 1960s, young, idealistic Stephanie Hamilton is determined to make a difference. But misguided vision and a stubborn man stand in her way. Stephanie must seek God's guidance and confront her values and priorities in order to succeed.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fiction

295 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1993

About the author

Donna Fletcher Crow loves to give books away. If you would like a copy of one of her best-selling Lord Danvers Investigates series, go to her website: http://www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com

Donna is the author of 50 books, mostly novels dealing with British history. The award-winning GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England is her best-known work, an Arthurian grail search epic covering 15 centuries of English history.
Donna authors 3 mystery series: The best-selling Lord Danvers Investigates Vitorian true-crime series; The Monastery Murders; and The Elizabeth and Richard Literary Suspense.

Donna and her husband have 4 adult children and 14 grandchildren. She is an inveterate researcher and an enthusiastic gardener. You can see pictures of her research trips and her garden, learn more about her books, subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and read her blog at: www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie’s father is an Idaho State representative, her best friends are protesting the Vietnam War, and Stephanie wants to make a difference. Author Donna Fletcher Crow depicts a small-town girl’s view of Vietnam with powerful conviction, leading to a growing sense of conflicted political ideals in her protagonist. But Stephanie is strong enough to rise above it all, even stepping into her own smaller wars with the Attorney General when he opposes her stand to create more immediate change in housing for the poor.

Combining a convincing sense of history with detailed depictions of political machinations, Days of Turmoil recreates the turmoil of a time not so long ago, while balancing it on a past that is likewise recent. A delightful sense of family histories, so easily lost, is well-balanced against the battle for very real religious and political issues. With natural faith, honest exploration of freedom’s changing face, and an intriguing touch of self-searching uncertainty, the novel is as convincing in its depiction of romance as in the gritty realities of politics and the prayers of the haunted. It’s a very cool read, with intriguing discussion questions too.

Disclosure: I love the author’s writing and I got this one in a deal.

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read a story set in the time when I was coming of age complete with bell-bottoms, pop music and controversy over the Vietnam War. Those short skirts were terrible for sitting in a ladylike manner and for sticking to vinyl car seats. The politics of the era were complicated, and I was frustrated to not really agree with either Stephanie or Carlton in the legislative fight, but then I was frustrated with issues at the time. Stephanie experiences a spiritual renewal, which changes her perspective on how to deal with issues. We see both Kathryn and Elizabeth, protagonists of earlier generations from previous books, which is nice. The author cleverly uses Kathryn’s journal to remind us of some relevant earlier events in the series.

[Donna Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie Hamilton wants to change the world. Her friends are singing protest songs and marching on city hall, but Stephanie thinks working within the system can achieve more. When Her father Eliot Hamilton becomes ill and she is thrust into the Idaho State Legislature to fill his seat she is determined to make her mark with a housing subsidy bill—a stance that puts her into direct conflict with Attorney General Carlton Sperlin, grandson of the man who wanted to marry her beloved grandmother Kathryn. But Stephanie, also like her grandmother, is engaged to a charming Scotsman—so at least her heart is safe from the strategies of her political opponent. Or is it?

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit, this wasn't my favourite of the series and I did skim through most of it. Politics really isn't my thing to be honest, I guess it's just a personal thing.
It was nice to see the main characters from previous books in this. I read this through KU.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good series to pass the time reading

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quickie Review

The finale of the Daughters of Courage trilogy, Stephanie is easily the best one.  The writing and story are much improved over the first two, and I found it much more involving and easier to follow.  It was definitely worth investing my time in the series to reach this conclusion.  I would say that the ending leaves room for a fourth novel, but, if you do the math, Mrs. Crow would have had to have Stephanie's daughter living in the future to keep the time frame consistent.



Score: 4/5

[Odetta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Politics is not a subject I'm comfortable with.