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Freedom's Path #1
First Dawn
Lured by the promise of "real" freedom and a new town to call their own, sharecroppers Ezekiel Harban and his three daughters leave behind remnants of slavery in the war-torn south and set off for Nicodemus, Kansas. When they arrive, they are shocked to see that little of what they were promised actually exists. Many head back home, but Ezekiel and his daughters are determined to build a new life in the stark territory. Dr. Boyle, a newly arrived doctor in neighboring Hill City, is called to deliver a baby in Nicodemus. He and his family are moved by the plight of the settlers there and vow to help. But the white pioneers of Hill City face problems, too. When the lives of these two families intersect, neither town will ever be the same.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
321 people are currently reading
1355 people want to read
About the author
Judith McCoy Miller
66 books632 followersJudith McCoy Miller is an award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her bestselling novels. Judy and her husband make their home in Topeka, Kansas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
April 18, 2018
FIRST DAWN by Judith McCoy Miller illuminates a lesser known piece of history in an engaging tale during the Reconstruction Period after the American Civil War. I love it when I learn something from historical fiction. (follow the discussion and links at The Zest Quest)
Why was this book in Dorine’s TBR? American pioneer history is a favorite theme of mine in romantic fiction. I’m fascinated by these brave souls who risk everything in pursuit of a better future, then fall in love during those hardships. I wasn’t aware of this westward expansion by former slaves to a city intended for them, so it drew me to this novel. FIRST DAWN suits our “kicking it old school” challenge because it was published in 2005.
Jarena Harban and her family leave sharecropping in Kentucky to take a chance on moving West. Jarena has no desire to leave her home. After the death of her mother, Jarena oversees the household tasks and teaches her younger twin sisters. Their father believes there is a future in a new city developed in Kansas. Formally a slave and currently a sharecropper, he dreams of owning his own land.
Several families join their journey westward to the town they’ve been told is ready for them. They’re disappointed when there isn’t a town as promised. Can they survive the upcoming winter with their ill prepared provisions?
Close by, another town is chosen as a destination by a southern white family. Doctor Boyle, along with his wife and daughter leave their elaborate home in Georgetown, Kentucky, to venture west to Hill City, Kansas. Dr. Boyle, a northerner who has lived in the south in his wife’s family home, never agreed with slavery practices in the south. Not shy about his opinions, he hasn’t been well-received by his neighbors. Eager for equality, he can’t wait to start a new life with his family in Kansas.
Macia Boyle isn’t happy about her future in Kansas, hoping to return to Kentucky to marry her plantation-owner boyfriend. Dr. Boyle hopes Macia will mend her selfish inclinations and realize her life can be more fulfilling. When the families in both cities realize cooperation will help them all, a unique relationship changes their future. But not before hardship tests them each step of the way.
I enjoyed this story because it’s such an unusual tale. Filled with scripture, love, and hope, the families who are duped with “promised land” in Nicodemus struggle to survive. Dr. Boyle and his friends from Hill City want to help them, even though they were also promised more than they received.
The vernacular used in the novel often makes the dialogue difficult to read, but it does lend a realism. I like a lot of dialogue in my novels and this one was very close to my preferences. Some discussions were rehashed too often, which slowed the story down for my taste. The historical detail is not overly done. Instead, it’s layered in a way that I never doubted I was in a historical setting, but I didn’t get bored by lengthy descriptions.
Although race equality and inequality are very much a focus, I loved that it illustrated all races, including Native Americans, in a light of forgiveness and cooperation for the good of all. It’s not all rosy, though – there are enough villains to test their faith.
I had hoped when I started this novel that it would be a romance driven novel, but it’s not. By the time I realized it, I was completely absorbed in the story. Yes, there are romance elements, but this book doesn’t complete that story arc. It reads more like a historical saga, where relationships will mature in future books.
What I liked most is the history I didn’t know. It fascinated me that men romanced black sharecroppers who were formally slaves with a promise of their own land rich for farming. Then they did the same thing to the white pioneers, setting up two towns separated by race. When they arrived, both parties realized everything they were told might be a lie. Some held on to the hope of that bright future described to them, while others left disappointed. The struggles of those who stay and forge their way illustrates the pioneering spirit. I was excited to discover the Nicodemus National Historic Site as a rare piece of history preserved in honor of the western expansion by African Americans depicted in this book.
I did get a bit anxious toward the end of the book and wanted to skip ahead to reach the end. The conclusion wasn’t fully satisfying because there was too much detail about what I didn’t want to know, and not enough about what made me curious. I believe that’s typical of historical saga-type books from what I remember. Not a frustrating method, just not what I expect in the type of books I currently read.
Even with the few things that weren’t what I expected or wanted, I’m interested in the next two novels in the FREEDOM’S PATH series. If you’re not normally a religious historical novel reader, the plot and circumstances warrant taking a chance on this one. I enjoyed its positive message and the transformation of the characters. Because I’m intrigued by the possibilities of their future, the characterization is the best part of FIRST DAWN, following the intriguing lesser known historical facts that the novel was based on.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital book purchased.
Why was this book in Dorine’s TBR? American pioneer history is a favorite theme of mine in romantic fiction. I’m fascinated by these brave souls who risk everything in pursuit of a better future, then fall in love during those hardships. I wasn’t aware of this westward expansion by former slaves to a city intended for them, so it drew me to this novel. FIRST DAWN suits our “kicking it old school” challenge because it was published in 2005.
Jarena Harban and her family leave sharecropping in Kentucky to take a chance on moving West. Jarena has no desire to leave her home. After the death of her mother, Jarena oversees the household tasks and teaches her younger twin sisters. Their father believes there is a future in a new city developed in Kansas. Formally a slave and currently a sharecropper, he dreams of owning his own land.
Several families join their journey westward to the town they’ve been told is ready for them. They’re disappointed when there isn’t a town as promised. Can they survive the upcoming winter with their ill prepared provisions?
Close by, another town is chosen as a destination by a southern white family. Doctor Boyle, along with his wife and daughter leave their elaborate home in Georgetown, Kentucky, to venture west to Hill City, Kansas. Dr. Boyle, a northerner who has lived in the south in his wife’s family home, never agreed with slavery practices in the south. Not shy about his opinions, he hasn’t been well-received by his neighbors. Eager for equality, he can’t wait to start a new life with his family in Kansas.
Macia Boyle isn’t happy about her future in Kansas, hoping to return to Kentucky to marry her plantation-owner boyfriend. Dr. Boyle hopes Macia will mend her selfish inclinations and realize her life can be more fulfilling. When the families in both cities realize cooperation will help them all, a unique relationship changes their future. But not before hardship tests them each step of the way.
I enjoyed this story because it’s such an unusual tale. Filled with scripture, love, and hope, the families who are duped with “promised land” in Nicodemus struggle to survive. Dr. Boyle and his friends from Hill City want to help them, even though they were also promised more than they received.
The vernacular used in the novel often makes the dialogue difficult to read, but it does lend a realism. I like a lot of dialogue in my novels and this one was very close to my preferences. Some discussions were rehashed too often, which slowed the story down for my taste. The historical detail is not overly done. Instead, it’s layered in a way that I never doubted I was in a historical setting, but I didn’t get bored by lengthy descriptions.
Although race equality and inequality are very much a focus, I loved that it illustrated all races, including Native Americans, in a light of forgiveness and cooperation for the good of all. It’s not all rosy, though – there are enough villains to test their faith.
I had hoped when I started this novel that it would be a romance driven novel, but it’s not. By the time I realized it, I was completely absorbed in the story. Yes, there are romance elements, but this book doesn’t complete that story arc. It reads more like a historical saga, where relationships will mature in future books.
What I liked most is the history I didn’t know. It fascinated me that men romanced black sharecroppers who were formally slaves with a promise of their own land rich for farming. Then they did the same thing to the white pioneers, setting up two towns separated by race. When they arrived, both parties realized everything they were told might be a lie. Some held on to the hope of that bright future described to them, while others left disappointed. The struggles of those who stay and forge their way illustrates the pioneering spirit. I was excited to discover the Nicodemus National Historic Site as a rare piece of history preserved in honor of the western expansion by African Americans depicted in this book.
I did get a bit anxious toward the end of the book and wanted to skip ahead to reach the end. The conclusion wasn’t fully satisfying because there was too much detail about what I didn’t want to know, and not enough about what made me curious. I believe that’s typical of historical saga-type books from what I remember. Not a frustrating method, just not what I expect in the type of books I currently read.
Even with the few things that weren’t what I expected or wanted, I’m interested in the next two novels in the FREEDOM’S PATH series. If you’re not normally a religious historical novel reader, the plot and circumstances warrant taking a chance on this one. I enjoyed its positive message and the transformation of the characters. Because I’m intrigued by the possibilities of their future, the characterization is the best part of FIRST DAWN, following the intriguing lesser known historical facts that the novel was based on.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital book purchased.
March 1, 2017
First Dawn, by Judith McCoy Miller, is about the first group of freed slaves, Exodusters, to move to Nicodemus, Kansas in hope of a better life. The story is mainly about one family's experiences from the journey to settling in Kansas. Going to Nicodemus in hope of a new start Jarena, the main character, and her family don't bring very much supplies needed to survive on the frontier. When they arrive in Kansas they realize that Nicodemus is not the town they hoped to arrive to, but instead, barren prairie. Struggling to survive, everyone in the community has to help pitch in, even if it means putting your life in danger. That's what happens to Thomas, a young man who has a large secret that he can't tell anyone. Even if times are tough Jarena and her family will persevere through in hope of a brighter day around the corner.
I read First Dawn after I did the exodus tees for history day. It is a fiction book, but I think it had really good information on the Exodusters. When I first started I didn't think I would like it but it was actually a really good book. It really made me think about what life was like for freed slaves after reconstruction and what life was like in Nicodemus. I think that the theme of First Dawn is good thing can come from hard work. The well developed characters were able to prove the them every well through their actions. I really liked that.
I recommend this book to people who like to read historical information. It is also good for someone researching this kind of stuff because even if it is fiction it still gives a good idea on what happened and some fictional personal experiences.
I read First Dawn after I did the exodus tees for history day. It is a fiction book, but I think it had really good information on the Exodusters. When I first started I didn't think I would like it but it was actually a really good book. It really made me think about what life was like for freed slaves after reconstruction and what life was like in Nicodemus. I think that the theme of First Dawn is good thing can come from hard work. The well developed characters were able to prove the them every well through their actions. I really liked that.
I recommend this book to people who like to read historical information. It is also good for someone researching this kind of stuff because even if it is fiction it still gives a good idea on what happened and some fictional personal experiences.
February 2, 2015
This is a solidly written story of Black sharecroppers moving west post slavery. The memories of slavery and unfair post civil war treatment in the south is fresh in the minds of those who decide to uproot unwilling wives and children to move west. One father and three daughters are among the group of Black settlers who find themselves swindled in a land deal and deposited on the flat plains of Kansas. The harshness of the betrayal and the land is vividly written to the point that you can almost feel the disappointment, the cold and the determination to survive. The settlers find kindness among the townspeople of not to near white settlements and the native people of the plains. What is most touching about this first book of the series is the way the author has captured the deep faith of the settlers. Some of the passages are inspiring in their simple but faith-filled language of deeply spiritual people. The central characters include two strong--willing sisters who would rather be anywhere but where they are but respect for their father and family obligation guide their response to loss, poverty, hunger, betrayal and new relationships. There are three books in the series but this first does not end so abruptly that you are disappointed. It could possibly stand alone if you did not become so interested in what lies ahead for these first families. I am hooked so I will move on to book two.
August 4, 2018
Homesteading in Kansas
This is the story of the pioneers in Nicodemus, Kansas. After the Civil War a group of former slaves left Kentucky to start a new life in Kansas. They faced many challenges but with fortitude and courage they continued on. My understanding is that this is based on true accounts since Nicodemus exists to this day.
This is the story of the pioneers in Nicodemus, Kansas. After the Civil War a group of former slaves left Kentucky to start a new life in Kansas. They faced many challenges but with fortitude and courage they continued on. My understanding is that this is based on true accounts since Nicodemus exists to this day.
September 19, 2014
This is not my usual type of reading material. But I was soon drawn in by the story and the how the sharecroppers made do with what they had, instead of turning tail back to Kentucky and sharecropping again for other men. It was not very surprising to find out that while the story was fiction the town that it as written about and the circumstances that happened to make it come about was not. A similar thing happened in my family of German immigrants, promised by a land seller of "prime farm land" in the new country when in actuality when they got here they had bought the Allegheny Front which I'm sure my Native American ancestors were none too happy about either. Not exactly the same circumstances but sucked all the same.
Just like my ancestors, they dug in and made do. I especially liked the part in the book when the Native tribe came to give them meat as some where known to do when they saw new settlers struggling. So it was a good story.
Just like my ancestors, they dug in and made do. I especially liked the part in the book when the Native tribe came to give them meat as some where known to do when they saw new settlers struggling. So it was a good story.
February 4, 2018
I have to admit I found the story telling a little dry, the dialogue stilted, and the plot kind of meandering with a lot of rabbit trails that went nowhere.
However, there was a lot to love about the book as well:
The subject matter, first of all, was an intriguing glimpse into the pioneering adventures of sharecroppers (mostly former slaves) who went boldly into the unknown of the prairie to start afresh as free men on their own land. Their experiences are largely what kept me reading and now I'd love to know more about the real history behind the story.
Secondly, I loved the parallels of Macia and Jarena's stories. That was a unique element to the book that I appreciated.
Finally, there were some endearing characters, like Ms Hattie and little Lucy, that I would have loved to get to know a little better. There were a lot of loose ends in the book, so I guess I'll have to read the next one in the series to find out what happens with everyone!
However, there was a lot to love about the book as well:
The subject matter, first of all, was an intriguing glimpse into the pioneering adventures of sharecroppers (mostly former slaves) who went boldly into the unknown of the prairie to start afresh as free men on their own land. Their experiences are largely what kept me reading and now I'd love to know more about the real history behind the story.
Secondly, I loved the parallels of Macia and Jarena's stories. That was a unique element to the book that I appreciated.
Finally, there were some endearing characters, like Ms Hattie and little Lucy, that I would have loved to get to know a little better. There were a lot of loose ends in the book, so I guess I'll have to read the next one in the series to find out what happens with everyone!
November 27, 2017
I just thought this novel was wonderful from beginning to end.
One of my biggest thrills was the time period and location. Set in the late 1800's, in Kansas, slavery had just been abolished, and many of those under slavery's disgusting stronghold were venturing out into new exciting possibilities, inclusive of owning their own land.
I don't even pretend to have voluminous amounts of knowledge about this time period, so I was so excited at the end of the novel that I can truly say I have a renewed and more expansive knowledge of what went on during this time period.
I loved the characters, even those for whom I had no affinity. I was intrigued by their uniqueness.
Wonderful, wonderful story! I recommend this novel highly to anyone and everyone!
One of my biggest thrills was the time period and location. Set in the late 1800's, in Kansas, slavery had just been abolished, and many of those under slavery's disgusting stronghold were venturing out into new exciting possibilities, inclusive of owning their own land.
I don't even pretend to have voluminous amounts of knowledge about this time period, so I was so excited at the end of the novel that I can truly say I have a renewed and more expansive knowledge of what went on during this time period.
I loved the characters, even those for whom I had no affinity. I was intrigued by their uniqueness.
Wonderful, wonderful story! I recommend this novel highly to anyone and everyone!
January 22, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. The author Judith McCoy Miller really made me feel like I was there. Good author, good book. I really love Historical Fiction Books. I learned a lot about people who traveled to Kansas and tried to start a life there. Kansas is where my parents lived and my mother use to tell me stories about the houses made out earth. Really good book! I recommended to anyone to read. Can't wait for the next book.
April 26, 2016
I read this book some time back. I remember enjoying it a lot. It was a bit of a different historical avenue than the books I usually enjoy. The family(s) in this story face true raw struggles.
October 8, 2020
A wonderful account of faith under hardship
Complete with someone falsely accused, a pretty solid cast of lying creeps, hard working homesteaders, near-famine conditions during a harsh winter, people falling from faith then regaining it, compassionate people of other ethnicities, love (true and false), and growth in faith.
The author mentions, in the foreword, that the town of Nicodemus, the first black frontier town, is still there today, and warns that this is not a historical account, but a fiction based on reseearch into the town when it was still early days. .
The story is well put together. The characters have depth, and at the end, you feel like you've gotten to know them some and want to know more.
Complete with someone falsely accused, a pretty solid cast of lying creeps, hard working homesteaders, near-famine conditions during a harsh winter, people falling from faith then regaining it, compassionate people of other ethnicities, love (true and false), and growth in faith.
The author mentions, in the foreword, that the town of Nicodemus, the first black frontier town, is still there today, and warns that this is not a historical account, but a fiction based on reseearch into the town when it was still early days. .
The story is well put together. The characters have depth, and at the end, you feel like you've gotten to know them some and want to know more.
October 15, 2023
I liked the story, and I felt I really connected with it when the stories connected between them. I won't say more to avoid spoilers. It is a good story to have a sense of how was the process of going west and opens the eyes to a lot of hardship.people can face, but also what faith can do. With this said, I felt the story lacked closure.. I know it is a series and there are two.more books, but I believe even in series each book needs some sort of closure. I also found it hard in some chapters to jump from scene to scene without any kind of transition or break. I don't know if the book is written this way or if it was my Kindle edition, but without letting the reader know we jumped from a city to another, a character.to another.. and it did not help for the reading experience.
July 15, 2020
This book seemed to move very slowly describing people taken advantage of moving to Kansas. It takes a while to figure out that this group of people are African American and it is just after the Civil War. It was only after I was over halfway through the book and wondering why I was continuing to read it that I chanced to look up the town of Nicodemus, Kansas. It's a true story! Of course, the characters are fictional but the historical part of the narrative is true. Say no more, I finished the book and bought the other two in the series. I found myself drawn in to learning the history of some of America's people that we never hear about.
June 17, 2019
Courage, Hope and Working Hard.
I gave this book 5 stars because I will read it again. This is not a book for young adults but those 25 and older will appreciate it. This is about several groups of families and a few young singles who spent nearly everything they had for a new life in a new land. They had the deeds to the land but nothing else. They had been dumped in the Kansas frontier wilderness with no shelter, few tools, and little idea what to do next.
I gave this book 5 stars because I will read it again. This is not a book for young adults but those 25 and older will appreciate it. This is about several groups of families and a few young singles who spent nearly everything they had for a new life in a new land. They had the deeds to the land but nothing else. They had been dumped in the Kansas frontier wilderness with no shelter, few tools, and little idea what to do next.
December 19, 2020
I loved this book! This is about 2 different families traveling to a new land.
Jaarena is unhappy when she and her family arrive in the new home that isn't prepared for them, as they were promised.
My favorite part of this book was seeing how the settlers tried to make a new life in a new land.
Also, Iliked reading about Jerena's faith struggles. I always find myself finding that kind of story interesting.
Gonna start the sequel now!
Jaarena is unhappy when she and her family arrive in the new home that isn't prepared for them, as they were promised.
My favorite part of this book was seeing how the settlers tried to make a new life in a new land.
Also, Iliked reading about Jerena's faith struggles. I always find myself finding that kind of story interesting.
Gonna start the sequel now!
February 22, 2023
This is why I love reading Historical Christian fiction: learning the facts versus fiction. This is the first book in a trilogy about two Western Kansas frontier towns. One, Nicodemus, is still prospering today. I'm looking forward to continuing to learn the struggles and challenges that came with settling the United States, especially after the Civil War. I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, but it did not in any way affect my review. All opinions are my own.
May 29, 2017
I found the characters well defined and the plot of this first book in a 3 book series to be solidly built: believable that all 3 books will be solidly written. I look forward to seeing how the families on the Kansas prairie thrive. Highly recommend this for all historical fiction buffs, such as myself.
July 5, 2017
Don't pass by this book
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book. However, before long the characters began to materialize from the page. The experiences were profound to say the least. Only a people who had been deprived would struggle to hold on to what many would consider, so little. There is nothing more captivating than an indomitable spirit!
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book. However, before long the characters began to materialize from the page. The experiences were profound to say the least. Only a people who had been deprived would struggle to hold on to what many would consider, so little. There is nothing more captivating than an indomitable spirit!
January 17, 2020
Kentucky late 1870's. A group of former slaves/sharecroppers are offered a chance to purchase land in Kansas in a recently formed town of Nicodemus. However, when they arrive to find there is nothing whatsoever as far as a town or homes, they must learn quickly how to survive the harsh weather of the Kansas prairie. A tale of hardship, friendship, faith and new beginnings!
August 15, 2024
Glad it’s part of a series! It took a little bit to get going, but it was super interesting. So glad it’s part of a series I want to know how these folks do. Honestly I was a little worried it was going to be so depressing because I had very little hope they would live. Fascinating story, looking forward to the rest.
April 25, 2021
Lured by the promise of true freedom and a thriving community and land to call their own, black sharecroppers Ezekiel and his three daughters head to Nicodemus, Kansas. Many disappointments and hardships occur. This book is based a true settlement.
August 22, 2023
Very good read. The storyline was enticing and kept me reading on and on. The descriptive way of letting the reader know how it was in those days was one thing that was educational for most of us. Would read any sequels!
August 7, 2017
True hardships and Gods grace.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves true history.
It brings out truths that have been left out of our history books.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves true history.
It brings out truths that have been left out of our history books.
October 18, 2017
What a refreshing book to read once again reinforcing our faith and how our paths in life are already determined for us.
October 28, 2017
Lovely
It was a clean piece of historical fiction. Can't wait to finish the series. Yet don't want it to end. Enjoy.
It was a clean piece of historical fiction. Can't wait to finish the series. Yet don't want it to end. Enjoy.
December 27, 2017
good read
July 31, 2018
SOOOOO good.
August 10, 2018
Exciting Read
I enjoy period and historical fiction and this feature delivered what I hoped for. The characters could have been more developed, but overall a good read.
I enjoy period and historical fiction and this feature delivered what I hoped for. The characters could have been more developed, but overall a good read.
February 17, 2020
Colored pioneers brave the elements of Kansas after they are freed. A delightful story of endurance and love.
March 9, 2020
Apsolutly loved this book! Fell in love with a lot of the people in it! Definitely want to read more of her writing!
March 26, 2020
I was not a fan. I felt like the characters didn't really develop. It wasn't awful, but I wasn't disappointed when I got to the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews