The Sun Is But a Morning Star

by Connie Lapallo

The Sun Is But a Morning Star is the final novel in the Jamestown Sky series, based on the true story of Joan Peirce and the women and children of Jamestown, Virginia. These novels span 1592 to 1652, sixty years of Joan's life in both England and Virginia.

When Joan Peirce sailed for Virginia in 1609, she little knew the adventure and hardship that awaited her. In this finale of the Jamestown Sky series, Joan faces her hardest year since the Starving Time. The colony first endures massacre, followed by famine and epidemic contagion, and Virginia teeters on the edge of collapse once more.

* * *

Optimism fills Virginia in 1621—and why not? The colonists are working to produce iron, salt, ships, wine, and silk, which will give them prosperity beyond tobacco. Carpenters have arrived to build Virginia’s first inn. The first college in the New World and a school for the native Powhatan boys are underway upriver. Prominent men such as Sir Francis Wyatt, George Sandys, and George Thorpe have arrived to lead the colony.

Besides, food is plentiful, and peace with the natives has been sure since Pocahontas’s marriage to John Rolfe, seven years before.

But as Joan has learned, Virginia is never without surprises.
When Joan faces her most tragic loss yet, she’ll have to seek solace and purpose once more. And she little knows that in so doing, she’ll give her life meaning far beyond what she ever could have dreamed.

Through love and losses and setbacks, Joan again discovers that while life on the Virginia frontier is filled with heartache, it is also never without hope.

596 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2017

About the author

Connie Lapallo is the author of two novels based on the true story of colonial Jamestown's first women and children. During her research, she discovered that fifteen generations ago her grandmother Cecily had come to Jamestown in 1611 as an eleven year old. Cecily's mother Joan had come two years before that in 1609. These facts were indisputably in the records. Yet most history books said no women or children were at Jamestown. The realization that history had not only forgotten these women but even denied their existence wouldn’t let Connie go. She set out to tell these women’s story.

Connie is recognized as a historian regarding these early 17th century settlers and has spoken to more than 400 groups, societies, clubs, and schools. She is now working on the third book in the Jamestown Sky trilogy, The Sun is But a Morning Star, and a non-fiction about an early Jamestown governor, In Search of Sir Thomas Gates: A Biography.

To learn more about the Jamestown Sky trilogy and Connie's appearances, join her mailing list: http://connielapallo.com/mailinglist1... or visit her at connielapallo.com.

Reviews

[Coleen Dailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final installment of the first fifty years of settlement of Jamestown and Virginia. I knew bits and pieces of this story - I knew that the women came later than the men, that there were time of famine and wars with the Natives. I knew about Martin's Hundred but did not know about the political intrigue both in Virginia and the England. These books were extremely well written and researched. I not only read the story itself but also the research that she did and put in the end notes. I have spent a fair amount of time in this area and was somewhat familiar with some of the plantations listed however, she really made the story of these people particularly the women come to life. I would highly recommend this series to anyone interested in women's history, the history of the founding of our country or just a great story in general.

[KK A.T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, it too me a lot of perseverance to get through this book. It’s not because it was bad just because halfway through the book I got into a reading block and just couldn’t read! This book was wrote in a way that just sucked you into that world, it made you think you knew the characters, and that you were there with them. I would feel sorrow and grieve when they would and feel joy when they did, the storytelling just immersed you into the book! And I would recommend this book series to anyone trying to understand from a settlers point of view (and sometimes an American Indians point of view of Spaniard.)

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this series! The history is fascinating, and the book is so well written! You feel like you know the characters, but it's impossible to truly comprehend what they went through, even though you read each detailed description. The eye opening historical accounts, with a touch of fiction to bring it all together, give a whole new understanding to what the first settlers went through to start this great nation.

[Merle Dunson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again in this third of the series I was amazed at reading all the details of how our country started out with brave risk takers from England. They had a spirit that did not quit. Very inspirational. Look at my other reviews on this trilogy series. I was captivated by these 3 books. Highly recommend!

[Toby Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this whole series. Very interesting and informative..

[Sheryll Waite · Rating 5 out of 5]

We had recently visited Jamestown and I wanted to know more. This book and the rest of the series were great because they made it come alive. The author based the story on historical facts but gives the characters life so you weren't just reading a dry history book account of the times. I really enjoyed the whole series.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Great series of historical fiction with women as the main characters. I learned so much about the early days of Virginia.