Woman of Courage

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

A Woman of Courage Makes an Epic Journey

Take a three-thousand mile journey with Amanda Pearson as she leaves the disgrace of a broken engagement and joins the work at a Quaker mission in the western wilds. The trip is fraught with danger, and Amanda is near death before reaching her destination. Among those she meets are an Indian woman who becomes her first convert and a half-Indian trapper who seems to be her biggest critic. But love follows her into the wilderness and will determine the course of her future. You are sure to enjoy this historical romance adventure from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter.
 
Included is the newly-written sequel, Woman of Hope, with Little Fawn’s story.
Raised as an orphan by a loving white couple, Little Fawn always felt something was missing from her life. She longs to take the news of Jesus to the Nez Perce Indians, but despite being a missionary herself, Little Fawn’s mother forbids it. Will White Wolf, her intended, support Little Fawn’s decision when she abruptly follows the tribe’s migration onto the Plains?
 

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Amish, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Christian

384 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

Reviews

[Kremena Koleva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Woman of Courage е историческа измислица от колекция християнски романи. Въпреки, че героите са плод на авторско въображение , то събитията , обстановката и обичаите ,културните различия между заселниците и индианските племена са напълно автентични. Трудностите на живота далеч в планините са компенсирани от свободата , красотата на природата и независимостта, която си осигуряват жителите на тези райони. Опасностите са на всяка крачка - хищници, отровни змии, природни стихии, индиански нападения и посегателства от различни изпаднали индивиди. По принцип аз толерирам книги, в които християнските ценности мотивират търсенията и оформят характера на героите. Но в Woman Of Courage изпитвах само раздразнение и яд. Аманда Пиърсън не можа да ме спечели за каузата си. Напротив. Нейните квакерски напъни да пробутва библейски текстове и постоянно да бъде потопена в молитви, предизвикваше неприязън в мен. Ужасните ситуации се стоварваха върху нея на всяка крачка. Хората, при които се беше приютила, бяха подлагани на постоянни изпитания, наранявания и смърт. И тя упорито настояваше да вярват в божието слово. Всеки човек знае, че нашият живот е низ от уменията ни; от силата на характерите ни , на инстинктите ни за оцеляване и на вярата ни първо в нас самите и после в упованието ни в духовните сили.Които също извикват силата и борбеността ни.
Но за собственото си благополучие трябва да работим. Не само да гледаме как трудностите и изпитанията идват , сполетяват нас или хората около нас , и да се успоковаме с религиозни догми или да си кажем , че щом това се е случило, Бог е имал причина да го наложи.Онова, което винаги ме е изправяло на нокти в религията, е идеята за примирение. Към онова, което ни се е случило. Което сме предизвикали. Или което са ни наложили. Още от книгата " Алената буква " на Натанаил Хоторн, която прочетох като тинейжджър, се дразня от лицемерието в религията. В липсата на подтик и непримиримост към неправдите и несгодите. А божии служители или мисионери, които като коне с капаци на очите, проповядват монотонно подчинение и спазване на каноните, без значение дали има полза за хората от това, ме правят скептична.
Разликата между религиозен и вярващ е от земята до небето. Това бих казала на героинята тук.
А надлъж и на шир по земята има такива неприятни и отблъскващи типове, че и цял отряд мисионери не биха могли да прочистят загнилите им души от злобата, безчестието и алчността. А те също ходят по божията земя. И превръщат живота на всеки, до който се доберат,в ад. За тях и един куфар с библии не би бил лек, нали?
Ето толкова възмущение извика тази книга у мен!

[RebekahAshleigh]

I’m not going to be finishing this book.
One of the characters, Jim, is horrible. He’s super rude and degrading to his wife and I don’t want to deal with him anymore.
There’s other things I didn’t care for as well but I’m just not very invested in the other characters or the story.

[Faith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This review is based on my reading of the first 90 pages and skimming the remainder of the book. Due to that, there may be things I missed and/or conclusions to things I was confused over explained at a later point. That said, there was plenty of reasons in the first ~25% of the book to convince me to DNF and not waste my time.



TLDR: Unrealistic at best. Stilted and awkward writing. Plotline not even true to the back cover description. Basically, a Quaker woman with a white savior complex goes west to save the poor dumb Indians. Content warning for those sensitive to domestic verbal abuse, Indians being treated as less-than, or violent death(s) semi-detailed.


Where to begin? I was honestly appalled at how bad this book was. As a preteen, Brunstetter was one of my favorite authors, so even though I hadn't enjoyed some of her more recent releases, I decided to give this one a try. And I almost immediately regretted that.



|| AMANDA ||

First off, we have our MC Amanda. Per the book blurb... Jilted by her fiancé, Amanda Pearson gives up on romance and turns to her Quaker faith for reassurance. She becomes determined to follow the Rev. and Mrs. Spalding into the western wilderness to minister to the Nez Percé Indians.

I don't remember anything about her "giving up on romance," unless that's meant to be implied by her decision to move away. Also nothing about her "turning to her Quaker faith for reassurance." (also, reassurance of what??) We also don't see or hear of her "becoming determined to minister to the Indians." Instead, we're told after the fact that, following her broken engagement, Amanda up and decides to go west to share the Bible with the Nez Pearce. (read: save the poor heathens from their awful, wicked ways by her own power--more on that in a minute)

Next paragraph of the blurb: But a three-thousand-mile journey in 1837 is fraught with danger for anyone... Yeah, it probably was, yet we learn very little about most of that 3,000 mile journey from Danville NY to the Spalding mission in OR, as Amanda is already a few days west of Fort Laramie WY when chapter one begins!

Back to Amanda. She's unlikeable at best. She's unkind and demanding toward her first guide who dies early on in the book and she feels bad about being rude to him and not sharing her faith with him for like .8 seconds and then she's over it . She also just acts dumb about things?? But like not in a way that makes sense.

Two examples of her nonsensical behavior:
- At one point, she's snooping through someone else's belongings, finds a family heirloom of sorts, and just walks out and hands it to the person it belongs to. And then is upset when they're mad at her for being nosy and intrusive??! GIRL, YOU'RE THE PROBLEM HERE. ITS YOU.

- Amanda's father dies within the first like 20 pages. She and their guide bury him, conduct a makeshift graveside service, put up a cross to mark the grave, etc. THEN she wakes up the next morning and FORGETS HE DIED. She's all like "hmmm what a terrible dream I had, oh hey harvey (mountain man guide) where is papa??" and Harvey's looking at her like "have you lost your ever loving mind??" (yes, yes, she has) and then she wanders around looking and calling for her dad, finally sees the grave and remembers. IM SORRY WHAT. Who does that???!

Now the faith-based problems: So Amanda's supposedly all gung-ho about making it to the Spalding Mission, yet it never felt real to me why she wanted to go. She wants to share the Bible with them, sorta. But just because she knows they're unbelievers and she needs something to do with her life, I guess. She also is committed to going because she promised her dad she would continue the journey when he couldn't, but because we knew neither of the characters well enough at that point, the whole conversation about it felt forced. In general, Amanda's faith comes across fake and very "surface level." There's absolutely no depth to any of her thoughts or conversations about God.

The worst thing about Amanda, in my opinion, is how she sees herself as the one going to "save the poor Indians." I don't remember Jesus or the Gospel being mentioned a single time. There's no clarity given as to the One who would actually be doing the saving.

Quote from page 89: "Now if she could just get Jim and Mary to see their need for salvation, Amanda's mission here at this place would be complete." Girl... it's literally not your mission—it's His. It's not about you—it's about Him.



|| MARY ||

Mary and Jim are a couple that Amanda meets early on in the book, who both then get their own POV. Jim is a white man, a trapper who lives in the mountains along Amanda's route, and Mary is his Indian wife.

Mary is the only character in this book that I had a chance of liking. And it was ruined by the terrible way her speech patterns were presented. Yes, she's recently learned English. Yes, the author wanted us to experience her broken-English. I get it. But oh my gosh it was annoying. I don't say that to be unkind or rude to those learning a second language for the first time and, inevitably, making mistakes or struggling with the differences in grammar and syntax. I'm simply referring to how poorly that was shown here.

I don't claim to be an expert on the subject by any means, but I do work as an interpreter between two languages, so I know a little bit. It's common for someone conversing in their L2 (second language) to revert to the grammar of their L1 (first language), and would've made sense here for Mary to do so. But she doesn't.

It's also common for someone to not be able to come up with the correct word in their L2 and revert to their L1, yet that also never happens. For example, if Mary couldn't think of or didn't know the English word for something, it would've made sense for her to substitute the Nimiipu word. This would've brought authenticity to the story and given us a non-forced glimpse into Mary's background, but alas, never happens.

It also would've made sense for Mary to not always understand what the English-only-speakers were saying, but that also never happens! Even when Amanda says "papa" while recovering from a fever, with no context, Mary immediately knows that this unknown English word refers to a person ("Who papa?" she says). HOW WOULD SHE KNOW THAT WITH NO CONTEXT AND NEVER HEARING THE WORD?!

All that to say, I would argue it's NOT common for someone to speak English perfectly EXCEPT for leaving out the words "is", "the", "my", "and", and a few others. Or randomly leaving off the first or last word of a sentence, with no negative effects. Instead, it made Mary sound slow and dumb, which was certainly not the case.



|| JIM ||

* screams into the abyss *

(I didn't want to give this deplorable man his own section, but I'm trying to stay organized because this is a lot .)

So then there's Jim... Mary's husband, who legit bought her (while admittedly drunk) and was forced to marry her before hauling her off into the wilderness with him alone. She had been stolen from her tribe by another tribe, then saved from that tribe and brought into a settlement of sorts, where Jim appears. (We're told all this in backstory. Did I mention there's loads of backstory/info dumping in this book??)

That's not even what I have a problem with. My issue is how terribly Jim treats Mary for NO reason, other than he's angry that his wife died (years ago, at this point) and treats Mary like absolute trash because of that. Even currently, while nine months pregnant with his child, he treats her like a slave.

We had Jim's POV (unfortunately), so we're subjected to thoughts like this: Jim's POV when remembering how her came to "get" Mary. The only good thing that had come from the trade was that he now had a wife to cook, clean, and do other chores, which gave him more free hours to hunt, trap, and enjoy the outdoors. " IM SORRY WHAT. He literally treats her like a servant. I think the point of having his POV was that we would somehow feel sorry for him, but it just made me despise him more.

More examples, because I don't even know how to describe this:
- Yells at Mary for lots of things: helping a woman on the verge of death, speaking up when he didn't address her directly, daring to offer someone else food before feeding him
- Doesn't allow her (or himself) to sleep in his dead wife's bed, but instead makes her climb a ladder to sleep on the floor in the loft alone, even while days away from giving birth
- References "enjoying her womanly company"--whether that was meant to imply what I think it was meant to imply or not, it still made me feel icky in light of how he treated her 99% of the time

The final straw for me was Jim's behavior after Mary delivers their newborn son. First, he nearly has a fit when he finds her resting in his dead wife's bed, until realizes she just gave birth alone while he was off being angry about goodness knows what. Technically not alone because Amanda was there, but you can imagine how much help she was. Suddenly, now that there's a baby involved and a boy at that, Jim does a complete 180 in a matter of 2.5 seconds, asks Mary how she's feeling, shows interest in the baby, etc. Leading Amanda to ponder how this "kind, gentle" man was just hidden under a "harsh" exterior. WHAT. Now that his purchased, slave-wife gave him a son like he wanted, he's suddenly gonna be more pleasant to be around? I am disgusted.



|| FINAL THOUGHTS ||

- I don't think I'll be reading anymore books by this author. I just... I don't see how I can come back from this.

- It doesn't even feel necessary to talk about Buck because he was so two-dimensional and irrelevant in the early parts of the book, but I'm sure he and Amanda end up together at some point.

- Also who exactly is "woman of courage" supposed to be referring to? Amanda? Surely, not. Mary? Maybe, she is the only character I have any sympathy toward. Maybe "woman of courage" more aptly refers to myself and my friend, for attempting this book in the first place...

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your typical Brunstetter Amish book, make no mistake by me saying this I don't mean I don't like them because I do enjoy them immensely! This is a bit different than her Amish books and her cookbooks. The main character, Amanda Pearson is a woman of deep faith taught to her by her preacher father. After a failed engagement this Quaker woman decides to spread God's word and become a missionary woman to the Indians. Before she gets there her and her traveling mates, her father and a trail guide go through many perilous things including fatalities that leaves Amanda on her own to navigate. Determined to continue on in the wilderness herself she becomes deathly ill before being rescued by an Indian woman married to a white man. They become friends despite not having the same religion and the Indian woman speaking just enough English to get by. I love how I felt as though I was there experiencing the wilderness from the travel,to the descriptions of the herbal medicines,to the clothing type and lodging descriptions. What a wonderfully inspirational writer Brunstetter is! I would love to see more historical books like this by this author!
Pub Date 01 Dec 2018
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing, Inc. through NetGalley. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book that I read by this author and I can tell you right now that I was very,very,very impressed! I really enjoyed reading this book. I think I've had interest in reading books that includes the Quaker lifestyle ever since reading Siri Mitchell's book called,"The Messenger" (which is a very good book by the way if anyone hasn't read it yet).

This book was very different for me. I loved the plot's twists and turns! This book certainly has its share! On certain parts of the book I was like"WHAT, THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!!" It was full of surprises!

The heroine was very courageous and just as sweet to read about. I loved how she kept falling into the Quaker dialect and some of the other characters were like, "Why can't you talk normally?" I also kinda felt sorry for the heroine at one point because it seemed like everything was happening to her all at once!
I've never really seen a book where there were so many other cultures involved. Like in this story, it ranged from the Quakers to the Indians. Another thing that I like in books is when the author can do flash backs with the characters. It's so awesome to really see why a certain character is a certain way because of what happened in the past and then eventually seeing God coming and changing the scene altogether.

I loved reading this book and I was totally captured until I had finished the very last page! It was adventurous and engaging all at the same time. I'm totally going to see what other books this author has written and see if can I find more books like this. It was a very good read! (4 stars)

[Cathy Cermele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of this author for several years so I’m always happy to have the opportunity to read anything she writes. Yes, I’m more familiar with her Amish fiction books and cookbooks but this book is the quintessential story of Quaker missionaries traveling across country to share the word of God with the Nez Perce Indians.

It’s definitely not an easy undertaking with danger facing the travelers along the way. Amanda Pearson faces unimaginable hardships with the death of her beloved father and then the death of her trail guide. Amanda made a promise to her father that she would carry on with the mission work so she traveled across the wilderness on her own. My goodness ,she had a rough time as she falls ill and is mercifully taken care of by an Indian woman named Mary. Of course there is a language barrier between Amanda and Mary which was authentic and made the story interesting to me.

There were several characters that I liked but my favorite is Amanda because no matter what happened to her she remained steadfast in her faith and most importantly she was determined to keep the promise she made to her father. I admired her for never wanting to settle for less than she expected in a mate even if it meant remaining single and raising a little girl she rescued from an almost certain death. I loved that she knew she would not really be on her own with the child because of her strong faith.

I loved how the characters come full circle at the end of this well written historical novel and would like to read more of this genre from Ms. Brunstetter.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

[Emock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skip this and read Jody Hedlunds "the doctors lady" (about narcissa Whitman) or Lori Benton's "the wood's edge." The concept of "Woman of Courage" is compelling but everything underwhelms and fails to deliver. The diction is obnoxious starting with the thees and thous and continuing with the native Americans broken speech whenever they are supposedly speaking English. I get the author was attempting to be historically accurate, but it is unnecessary to alter the characters' speech to do so and results in a choppy story with poor pacing. The plot line was unbelievable and too convenient with several occurrences that seem over the top. The spiritual conversions of the characters lack authenticity and feel way too random and disconnected from where the character has led us. Perhaps the most disappointing thing of all is the character development and relationships. There is zero chemistry and believability between the romantic leads.... None of the characters seem dimensional either. Overall, I can hardly believe I finished this thing and am More than a little disappointed that I chose to spend my time doing so. Skip this one for sure and read something that comes off the page instead.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know that Wanda wrote historical fiction as well as Amish fiction. I do enjoy the story. I got the book woman of courage Collection edition. We get the full story of Woman of Courage along with Woman of Hope which is Little Fawn story.

We meet up with Amanda Person and we go along for her journey. That I really what this book is mostly about. We get a little bit more of Little Fawn's story in the story of Woman of Hope. Wanda does a wonderful job with her writing that she does take you back in time.

Go along with Amanda as she travels you go along as she goes though some of trails and learns about where she is going. Will she find love? Will she be able to spread God word to the Indians? To find out and to read Little Fawns story you should pick up this book.

[Trixi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve long been a fan of Wanda’s Amish fiction so I was definitely looking forward to a novel featuring a Quaker main character! I don’t know much about them and have only read a book or two highlighting them. I’d have to rate this as her best yet! I’ve also since learned “Woman of Courage” had already been written, but what I read is a Collector’s Edition so there is an added story at the end entitled “The Story of Little Fawn”. Both are a delightful historical read.

Amada Pearson‘s heart is to bring the gospel to the Nez Pierce Indians. I especially enjoyed this particular historical fiction because I live in a close proximity to the modern day Lapwai Valley in Oregon. Amanda and her papa set out with their guide to travel from New York to the Western wilderness to help minister alongside the Rev. and Mrs. Spalding. However, the trail is strewn with heartache and many devastating losses. When Amanda finds herself injured in an unfamiliar cabin tended by a kind Indian woman, her life takes on a completely different turn. I admire how she clings to her strong faith to make it through the tough days ahead. She also befriends the Indian woman named Mary “Yellow Bird” and learns much of what she needs to know about the Nez Pierce. It’s as if the Lord has placed her exactly where she needs to be at exactly the right time! She also meets Buck, who is a good friend of Mary’s husband Jim…who also wants nothing to do with the Gospel due to a cruel father. I loved seeing how the Lord changed his heart at the end and all the various things that happened in the story, there’s so much packed into it! Brunstetter knows how to spin a tale to keep you wanting more and invested in her characters & storyline. It only took me two days to read this because I didn’t want to put it down! I think anyone who is a fan of this writer, loves history, enjoys a strong faith thread, adventure, and a hard won happily-ever-after at the end will enjoy this one. I loved journeying alongside Amanda, Mary, and Buck as they travel to bring the good news to the Nez Pierce Indians.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. *

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely deserves 5 stars.

Wanda made feel like I was there. I love that about her writing.

This book will keep you turning the pages from the start. 

This isn't your typical Wanda book which makes it pretty awesome in my book. I do love her Amish books but I think that this her best yet.

I know I know I'm just rambling but I really loved this story!!!! 

There really is a woman of courage or actually 2 in this wonderful book!!

I am going to have to say Mary Jim's wife just amazed me throughout the story. It had to have been hard switching from one culture to another and then to have an ornery husband on top of it all. Yes, love can hurt but it also can heal. 

This story gives us hope, forgiveness and offers a real true love

The 2nd woman of courage is Amanda. I loved her ability to move in light of all that has happened to her she found the ability to go on. Henceforth; the verse I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. My most favorite verse in the whole Bible.

I loved how she prayed and encourage others in what she believed faithfully. That had to be hard for her. I felt the Lord working through her. We need more like her.

I also enjoyed Little Fawns story.  She reminds me of me a lot! Now that I'm older Im still learning to let God be in control not myself.  My mom always said that patience is a virtue. I'm still not so good at it and it gets me into trouble sometimes. ( Not bad trouble ) 

God does things in His timing not ours. 

This is why Little Fawn is my favorite character

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the Book:

Take a three-thousand mile journey with Amanda Pearson as she leaves the disgrace of a broken engagement and enters the work of a Quaker mission in the western wilds. The trip is fraught with danger, and Amanda is near death before reaching her destination. Among those she meets are an Indian woman who becomes her first convert and a half-Indian trapper who seems to be her biggest critic. But love follows her into the wilderness and will determine the course of her future. You are sure to enjoy this historical romance adventure from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter.

About the Author:

Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of over 60 books with more than 7 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and CBD. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine and USA Today.

My Review:

To gain some independence and perspective from her recent failed romance, Amanda Pearson decides to go on a mission trip with Quacker Reverend and his wife to minister to the Nez Perce Indians. Little did she know that she was in for a possible romance. Sharing the gospel is proving a bigger feat than Amanda expected and it just seems to get worse and worse.

Soon she meets Buck McFadden, who is half-Indian that doesn't trust the white man, because he has been treated so harshly by them in the past. He seems to really take an interest in her, which neither he nor Amanda expected to happen. Poor Amanda feels like she will never reach the mission with all the bad luck she has been having.

The tenacity of the early settlers and the life they had to lead to better themselves at times is astonishing. They beat the odds in order to help themselves and future generations. The harshness of the times and of the people that they had to endure was mystifying. Wanda's research of the history involved in the writing of this book really shows through. She has done an excellent job!

**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Book Fun.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not Wanda Brunstetter's normal Amish book. This is about Amanda Pearson, who is a Quaker. After being jilted by her fiance' Amanda tells her father that she wants to travel west to join a missionary couple. Her father doesn't want her to go alone, he sells his property and they head west. From there you have Indians, wild animals, bears, illness. Amanda is lost and rescued by a mountain man, who takes her to his friend's cabin. The wife is Indian and of the same tribe that Amanda is hoping to spread the word of God to. The Indian wife becomes her friend and first convert. When traveling toward the Indian Village of the Quaker's Missionary Camp, there are hardships. snake bites, rough mountain men that try to take advantage of the two women when they are trying to trade pelts. The mountain man that first rescued her (Buck McFadden) seems to always be there when she needs help.

This book is slow in a few places but the characterizations, the plot and Wanda's own unique style of writing will keep you going. I can't say too much without giving away this unique storyline by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I'm so used to her writing Amish fiction that I kept looking for Amish to show-up. Sorry Wanda, but that's all I've read by you previously.

I received this book through the publisher and www.bookfun.org to read, review and all they asked was to leave my honest opinion. I found the book to be enjoyable and different than I expected. I read the book in about 3 sittings. Hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. If you have ever read any of Wanda E. Brunstetters' books then you will find this to be a unique read.

[Molly Jaber (Audiobooks And Sweet Tea) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanda Brunstetter never ceases to amaze me! She is a brilliant Amish fiction author, and captivates her readers with each story. This book is a Quaker story, not Amish but her brilliance shines through just the same way. Each page turn brought me closer to the heart of the story, and left me with amazing messages from God. If you want a story that will warm your heart and stay with you for a long time to come, grab this story now. Wanda Brunstetter will not disappoint with this fabulous 5 star read.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under not obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one I have read before but it has been added to, it continues the story of Little Fawn and I loved it. So even if you have read it before you will want to read the Collectors edition copy with the story added to it.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woman of Courage is a gripping novel that I wanted to read because of both the author and description. This Collector’s Edition includes a short story, Woman of Hope, about Little Fawn. One of America’s favorite storytellers shares a breathtaking historical drama from the period of Manifest Destiny while changing her focus from Amish to Quakers. The characters are unique, strong, hardworking people, and the descriptions of scenery across the country are so magnificent that I could almost see and smell it.
Amanda’s fiancé Nathan Lane did a cruel thing. Within a short period of time, Quaker Amanda Pearson believed the Lord was calling her to be a missionary with the Reverend Spalding and his wife with the Nez Perce Indians in Oregon territory. Her father sold their house and his business so she wouldn’t go alone. The trip would be long and arduous across the country, through the Rocky Mountains, then to Oregon. They finally made it to Wyoming territory and hired a guide to Oregon territory. Papa had not told her until it was too late that his heart was failing, and that he had a dream in which the Lord told him their future lay in the west. Dying from a heart attack, he made Amanda promise to continue west with or without him.
Ever alert for Indians, Amanda and her guide, Harvey, continue on horseback into the Rockies. Even as she continues to pray about everything, the worst occurs, and Amanda becomes so sick that she is unable to go further.
In the mountains, Jim Breck and the wife he traded for from the Blackfoot Indians, Mary, born Yellow Bird and stolen from her Nez Perce family, had a cabin where Jim trapped, hunted, and fished. Mary was pregnant, only weeks until her due date. Jim has a young friend Buck Red Hawk McFadden; they met when Buck was about 14 and Jim taught him about trapping and hunting. There is a red hawk he rescued when a hatchling and raised that always lives near him. When Buck finds Amanda on the trail, very sick and suffering a head wound, he takes her to Mary, who knows much about healing and herbs.
This special edition includes a short story about Little Fawn and the young man sweet on her, White Wolf. Little Fawn was adopted as an infant into a home with one white parent and one of mixed heritage, and she wants to be a missionary to other Indians. Her parents won’t yet allow her to go, so she leaves in the night without a note. She, also, endures struggles, as does White Wolf when he tries to find her.
There is more than one woman of courage in these stories. It would be impossible to travel cross-country to serve as a missionary to a different culture without God-given courage through beautiful prayers of faith. Each of the characters is well defined; when one finishes the novel, it is hard to leave them behind.
I highly recommend this Collector’s Edition Woman of Courage with Woman of Hope. Both are written with excellence. The stories sing with the joy of life lived for and with God. They are hard to put down. Dialog is realistic, and one of the underlying themes is why God allows bad things to happen to His people. With use of scripture and forgiveness, we see what they do when we don’t understand. This is one of my favorite novels by this author; she has designed characters that one can genuinely appreciate.
From a grateful heart: I received a copy of this e-Arc from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I am a woman of faith who is trusting in the Lord to give her courage.”

“Woman of Courage” has been on my reading list for a few years now, and I am glad that I was able to read this collector’s edition, which includes the sequel novella “Woman of Hope.” Expecting “Woman of Courage” to be a travel novel and an Oregon Trail-like experience, I was surprised to discover that it fell more into the genre of wilderness survival and mountain living. Traveling was still a part of the tale, but most of the narrative was focused on the characters’ experiences and interactions with each other rather than on the trek itself. Fraught with omnipresent danger, this story did not have any lulls or tedious sections and proved to be a quick read, even taking into consideration the appended novella. The situations seemed realistic and not contrived, and there were several twists that I did not expect, which I always appreciate. Amanda, the eponymous heroine, was a sweet character, and I would have liked to have more of her background; other than being unerringly Christian and using quaint language (“thee” and “thou”), there were no other indications that she was a Quaker. It would have been worthwhile to add more information about this particular religious group to the story, in my opinion. However, I did appreciate the author’s use of Native American and mixed-race characters.

Despite very much enjoying this story, there were a few points with which I had issues, and I wavered between a four and a five-star rating. Some of the language and slang used in the narrative was not period-appropriate, and several of the characters were stereotypical, including Amanda. She was too perfect and therefore did not seem to grow or change throughout the course of the story, whereas Jim Breck’s attitudes and place in the story shifted too quickly. Yellow Bird and Buck McFadden were my favorite characters, as they were the most dynamic and realistic, given their pasts and what became of them. Because Amanda was a missionary, the Christian underpinning of the novel did come across as preachy, but not overbearingly so. Amanda’s story dovetailed well into that of Little Fawn’s in “Woman of Hope”, and this novella is what ultimately bumped up my rating. Little Fawn’s story was not as idealistic and yet it was still hopeful and inspiring. Amanda’s character was also more realistic, and all of the characters’ actions were credible. The story was well written for its short length, as well, and it did not seem like it was too abrupt. Being able to see how circumstances changed for the characters from “Woman of Courage” in the approximately seventeen-year time gap and being introduced to the next generation of characters was a fitting way to end the saga.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Pearson is a Quaker woman of deep faith taught to her by her preacher father. When her fiance breaks off their engagement, she and her father decide to leave New York. They sell their home and belongings and head west to become missionaries. Their goal is to bring God to the native people. The journey is perilous and both her father and guide die leaving her along to try and find the way to the fort. She becomes deathly ill and is rescued by an Indian Woman. It turns out that she is married to a white man and speaks enough English to communicate. Amanda and Mary (Yellow Feather) become friends and Mary becomes Amanda's fist Christian.

This story is very well written. There are many adventures, trials and tribulations that Amanda goes through. We learn about various tribes and some of their customs. We find out about kidnappings, slavery and relationships between the tribes. Through flashbacks, we find out how Mary ended up married to a white man and what happened in her past. Amanda was very courageous and true to her faith and beliefs. She was also a sweet and caring woman. I also felt sorry for her with all that she went though. It seemed like so many things went wrong, but with her prayers, the Lord was there protecting her and brought her through many situations. I do not want to tell you more about the actual story as it is very interesting to uncover as you read this tale. This was The Collector's Edition of the story and also contained a short story about "Little Fawn" and what happens to her as the story continues. It gave some closure to some aspects of the story. A very enjoyable Historical Fiction book with a Christian plotline. The publisher, Barbour Publishing, Incorporated, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanda Brunstetter's Woman of Courage (Shiloh Run Press 2014) begins when young Amanda Pearson is jilted by her fiancee and sets out on a three-thousand-mile journey across early 1800's America to help a missionary couple in the Oregon territory. Her father joins her but dies of a heart attack early, leaving her with a tough but fair guide. When he is killed, she is alone, bereft of even the most basic survival skills, and would have died herself if not for a mountain man who unexpectedly finds her near death after bears ravaged her campsite. He places her in the care of another mountain man who is married to an Indian (Mary) he hopes can save her life. Despite these initial setbacks, her faith in God is not shaken and He always seems to answer her prayers.

While there are many fascinating characters in this story, one of my favorites is Mary--Yellow Bird to her native Nez Perce tribe. She was kidnapped from her People and sold to her trapper husband who is ambivalent about their relationship until one seminal event that changes everything for both of them. Seeing the white man's life through her eyes is humbling and educational.

While this surely is a book about a woman of courage--which of these two women the author refers to, I'm not sure--the thread that connects everything is Amanda’s unrelenting drive to spread the word of God and turn nonbelievers into Christians. I have to admit, I cringed at the idea of forcing religion on those with their own long-held beliefs but I know historically, this is what happened. Brunstetter, a New York Times bestselling author, addresses this with respect for all those involved and as nicely as possible.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of who love to read Amish novels, readily recognize the name of author Wanda Brunstetter. A favorite of many, Brunstetter has never failed to provide this reader with adventuresome and inspiring stories.

In Woman of Courage: Collector’s Edition Continues the Story of Little Fawn, the author focuses on a young Quaker woman named Amanda Pearson. Following the death of her mother, Amanda and her father determine to head west to a mission to the Nez Perce Indians, where she will teach young Indian children. Traveling by horseback, the three travelers including a guide, meet untold danger. Before Amanda can reach her destination she finds herself deathly ill and rescued by a gruff trapper, his Indian wife and a handsome stand-offish younger man who is also a trapper.

Once she has recovered, Amanda once again begins her trek west only this time her guide is the younger of the two trappers. Again meeting danger, the two work their way west. Upon reaching the mission, she begins befriending the natives and teaching their children.

Woman of Courage, while fraught with dangerous situations, is one of my favorite historical romance novels. I was so pleased when the author chose to continue with the story of Little Fawn, it is the icing on the cake! I highly recommend Woman of Courage: Collector’s Edition. After sharing my copy with a few friends, it will find its place on my bookshelf with some of my other favorites by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Previously released as a single novel the Woman of Courage continues as a Collector’s Edition with a newly written story of Little Fawn at the age of seventeen, titled Woman of Hope. The adventure begins in 1837 with a three-thousand-mile journey that is not for the faint-of-heart. Author Wanda Brunstetter writes with attention to detail that helps the reader to understand the historical time period better. It must have been fun and imaginative coming up with all the various Indian names and tribes. The women in this story are very courageous and it is a book filled with hope and faith. If you enjoy historical romance, you will delight in this book. If you’ve previously read Woman of Courage, I encourage you to reread it in this collection to find out what happens to Little Fawn. She’s a feisty girl just like her mother! Enjoy!
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

[⚜️XAR the Bookwyrm · Rating 2 out of 5]

FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER THROUGH NET GALLEY. I VOLUNTARILY OFFER MY HONEST REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THOUGH IT IS NOT EXPECTED OF ME! RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!

While I am normally a fan of Ms. Brunstetter's work, this was a definite miss for me! The language seemed pretentious, despite it's authenticity to the times, especially since Amanda had been asked several times to leave it off! I had a hard time believing the plot overall, but most especially in the spiritual conversions that happened over the course of the story, possibly because I found the plot so dry and boring! The characterization felt flat to me, and I couldn't really engage with the characters, or bring myself to care about them over the long term. Other reviewers have suggested better stories instead of this one, so I think I'll be seeking those out instead.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah! Woman of Courage by Wanda Brunstetter is amazing! I am a huge fan of her Amish Fiction, but this book is a little different as it is a historical fiction and this particular edition is a collectors edition, so add it to your Christmas wish list. It also contains Woman of Hope, which is a sequel Novella to Woman of Courage.
Fans of Wanda will enjoy the sense of adventure, history and the spiritual elements to this book that make it a great story. I found myself captivated by the story and turning the pages to see what was happening next with the characters. The twists and turns, made this book so adventurous, I loved reading it.
Grab a copy today, you won't regret it!

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Determination, bravery, strength, trust and faith are shown in the story of adventures in the wilderness. The main character, a woman, must deal with many obstacles as she travels the roads of the forest, meeting unsavory characters and also, making new friends along the way. Interesting sequel is included in this copy. I received a copy of this book from the author and Net Galley. This is my honest personal opinion. No review was required.

[Stacia | stacialovestoread · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Zondervan for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review!
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Wanda Brunstetter has done it again! This book is the perfect mix of romance, information, and Jesus. I absolutely adore Amanda and her can’t-give-up attitude. Although this one isn’t Amish based, it’s still amazing. I can’t wait to see if Amanda’s story becomes a series, or if Mrs. Brunstetter will do another story from a different angle.

[Sarah Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book..

[Peggy Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Wanda writes her books the story just flows. The books are always are so good and this one was wonderful. This was so interesting and just didn't want it to end. Wanda hit a home run with this !

[Beth Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book filled with non-stop action and a feel good ending tied up in a bow. Far from realistic but wonderful to read.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“A Quaker Woman Dares the Unknown to be a Missionary

Jilted by her fiancé, Amanda Pearson gives up on romance and turns to her Quaker faith for reassurance. She becomes determined to follow the Rev. and Mrs. Spalding into the western wilderness to minister to the Nez Perce Indians.

But a three-thousand-mile journey in 1837 is fraught with danger for anyone, and soon Amanda finds herself recovering from near death in a trapper’s cabin. His Indian wife becomes Amanda’s first convert—and friend. But the trapper and his intriguing half-Indian friend want nothing to do with Christians.

Buck McFadden has received nothing but pain from white men who claim Christ as their lord. He wants only to be left to his solitary life, but he can’t seem to walk away from Amanda.

Amanda fears she’ll never reach the mission in the Lapwai Valley. This journey has become life-changing for her—and those she meets—and the choices she must make are almost unbearable.”


Series: As of now, no.


Spiritual Content- Ephesians 6:10 in the beginning; Psalm 23, Isaiah 26:3-4, Matthew 6:14-15, Romans 10:9-10, John 1:1-4, Deuteronomy 31:6, Many prayers & witnessing; Some Indians believe that “The Great Spirit” and God are the same; Buck doesn’t believe in God because of a man in his past.


Negative Content- Being a book where half the main characters are Indian, talks of arrows through the skin, Blackfoot attacks, blood wounds (some semi-detailed), bear attacks (one very detailed), “bagging” animals, gun shooting, knife stabbing, skinning (& plucking) their next meal, and killing a bear (very detailed).

Sexual Content- One semi-detailed kiss; Three babies are both & Amanda (kinda) helps deliver them (Not very detailed); A man forces himself on Amanda & Mary twice—kissing both of them.

-Amanda Pearson

-Buck McFadden

-Mary Yellow Bird
P.O.V. switches between them, Jim, Gray Eagle & Two Feathers.

Set in 1837
316 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre & New Teens- One Star

Early High School Teens- Two Stars

Older High School Teens- Three Stars

My personal Rating- Three Stars

{Not for the girl who gets queasy at the mention of blood and/or killing animals—lower stars for that on my personal rating—since I do get queasy at those topics}

I normally don’t like stories about/featuring Indians (At age 10, I was pulling my own teeth to read Kaya’s books—the only ones I lacked from saying that I had read all the American Girl books) and stories set before or during the Civil War, but while I didn’t enjoy this book a large amount, older girls who find those topics interesting might like this book.

Link to full review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...



*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Shiloh Run Press) and the Author for this review.

[Connie Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1837 Amanda Pearson believed that she was about to marry the man of her dreams but instead she was faced with the shame of being jilted the night before her wedding. What follows is the story of a young Quaker woman who faces danger and near-death so that she can fulfill her dream of becoming a missionary to the Indians. She leaves New York with her father and a hired trail guide to travel to the Oregon Territory but her father dies and she is left to travel alone with a guide who is often irritated by her Quaker language and the use of thee and thou; more than once he warns her to use the English word "you" when speaking to him. Soon, a tragic accident takes his life and Amanda must become a Woman of Courage if she is ever able to reach her destination and fulfill her dream.

This young Quaker woman is strong and determined and truly believes that God intended for her to teach His Word to Native Americans. Her friendship with an Indian woman is hindered by the differences of their language and culture but Mary Yellow Bird saves Amanda's life and eventually Amanda is able to lead Mary to Christ. Her mission however, isn't as easy with Mary's husband Jim and several others who have been hurt by organized religion and want nothing to do with learning more about God. One of them especially resists Amanda's efforts. He wonders "Was it possible that she really was a Christian, who lived by the Bible and not her own selfish ways? Well, even if she was, Buck had no desire to have religion crammed down his throat". It appears doubtful that Amanda will ever change Buck McFadden's mind.

Wanda E. Brustetter is best known for writing Amish stories but this book shows that she is more than capable of writing historical fiction. She offers us a view of the hardships that were endured by the people making those westward journeys and she creates several memorable characters to enhance her story. I'm sure that some poetic license may have been take with some of the events shared but I was especially intrigued with her telling of twin baby girls born to an Indian family and their belief that only one baby deserved to live. The decision that Amanda makes concerning this child plays an important part in her life. There is also romance but the main focus of Woman of Courage is the work of the missionaries who were brave enough to offer salvation to the Nez Perce Indians. This is a heartwarming story and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys Christian historical fiction. There is also included in this Collector's edition a short sequel that is set eighteen years later. Woman of Hope is the continued story of Little Fawn, one of the characters from Woman of Courage, and it relates her own desire to be a missionary to the Nez Perce Indians.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher but my review is voluntary. These are my honest opinions.

[Dawn Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Woman of Courage is my second experience with Wanda E. Brunstetter (see my review of White Christmas Pie). Having revisited my thoughts on my first Brunstetter read, I’m not surprised to see that my newest impression lines up it.

Character development takes a backseat to plot. I would have liked getting to know Amanda better. We don’t learn much about her beyond the fact that she is the daughter of a Quaker preacher and she is jilted the day before her wedding. Aside from all the “thee”s and “thou”s, we learn little of what sets the Quaker faith apart. And while Brunstetter shares back stories for others like Mary “Yellow Bird”, Buck, and even Jim, Amanda’s life is not fleshed out. She, therefore, seems very single-minded in her quest to reach the Spalding’s Quaker mission to convert the Nez Perce.

Speaking of bringing Christianity to the Nez Perce, I had some things to investigate. More than once in the novel, Amanda mentions that the Nez Perce sent a delegation to St. Louis asking for a missionary to come west and share Christianity with them. True? A group of tribal leaders did go to Saint Louis in 1831. Why? It depends on whose account of the story you read. While the request for missionaries is apparently the accepted Christian historical record, the Nez Perce oral history tells a different tale. One source I read says the delegation was seeking to acquire technology, another that they wanted not missionaries, but teachers when they asked for this “book of Heaven” because they understood that education could enable their people to be more prosperous. We may never know the real motives behind their request, but I suspect it’s not as simple as the “savage” asking to be saved by white missionaries. And from accounts I have read, Spalding may well have been abusive and intolerant in his dealings with the Nez Perce, forcibly requiring that they abandon their customs and replace their nomenclature with Christian ways and words. Indeed, in the novel, we see a church member ask a tribal member to stop referring to God as “The Great Spirit”.

Another question that my reading of the book prompted is this: Who may be more appropriately referred to as the “woman of courage”: Amanda or Mary “Yellow Bird”? I’ll go no further than to say that my money is on Yellow Bird. However, this question (along with the one previously mentioned) would certainly be a worthy topic of discussion in classrooms or reading groups.

3 of 5 stars. Recommended, With Reservation. Woman of Courage is not without flaws, but has value in that it can spark meaningful historical, cultural, and religious discussion. Mind you, all said, some will read the novel without any problems or inklings of historical bias and be perfectly content with the yarn it spins.