Hannah's Handkerchief

Lockets & Lace #24

by Zina Abbott

With her blonde hair and blue eyes, Hannah Atwell, a Kansas farmer’s daughter, knows she is pretty—and she enjoys pretty things. She spent her life striving to be the perfect, obedient daughter. She feels she is destined for something more than being a farmer’s wife living in a soddie. While at a party held at Fort Riley, Kansas, to celebrate the end of the Civil War, Hannah begins to question if always doing what she is told is to her advantage. The special event, complete with dancing with handsome young officers and a chaste kissing fundraiser for the Sanitary Commission, opens Hannah’s eyes to possibilities for her life as surely as Lieutenant Jake Burdock captures her heart. She impulsively offers him her handkerchief as a token of her regard. Missed connections, parents who constantly warn against the intentions of some Army officers, and dealing with those close to her who have suffered combat injuries conspire to drive her away from Jake. Only the letters they exchange seem to keep them connected. Not long after the dance, Jake, who works under Captain Prescott, the quartermaster at Fort Riley, is assigned to duty at the frontier forts in western Kansas. There, many of the living quarters are more primitive than a Kansas soddie. Supplying the uniforms, supplies, horses and mules the soldiers need is challenging at best. In spite of the hardships involved, the Army is Jake’s chosen career. His life constantly at risk, must he sacrifice his chance to share his life with the young woman who had won his heart?

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2020

About the author

Zina Abbott is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels. Her novel, Family Secrets, was published by Fire Star Press in October 2014 and her novelette, A Christmas Promise, was published by Prairie Rose Publications in November 2014. The first two novellas in the Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series, Big Meadows Valentine and A Resurrected Heart, are now available.

The author currently lives with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” She enjoys family history and any kind of history. When she is not piecing together novel plots, she pieces together quilt blocks.

Reviews

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah was so excited. Whe and her cousin Kizzie had been invited to a dance that would celebrate the surrender of General Lee and the virtual end of the war with the Southern States. It would also raise money to help provide medical supplies and trained nurses to help the injured soldiers returning from war. She had just turned seventeen and she felt it was kind of like her coming out!
That is where she met Lt Jake Burdock and danced with him and there was an attraction. But would she see him again?
Zina Abbott has interwoven history into this tale which was so interesting. I don't often hear about what happened after the civil war and as the move west intensified. Hannah had always been the good daughter, trying to obey her parents, who were pretty stern at times. But she and Jake had a journey to take and I could not stop once I started on the first page.
A wonderful story that at times was difficult as these two try to find a love that will endure forever...

[Renate Deutsche Oma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The historical romance series Lockets and Lace is a delightful read with historical elements of Westward Expansion. Hannah's Handkerchief includes the motifs of the series - a locket and a handkerchief. Zina Abbott weaves her extensive research into Hannah's story: Thanksgiving being celebrated in December, a fund raiser for war supplies (winter uniforms and supplies to aid the military escorts and to establish forts), bison migration, various Indian tribes (Law, Cheyenne, Sioux and Plains Apache), and field hospitals. Relatable characters with twist and turn plot. While Hannah and Jake reached an understanding there is no Happily Ever After. Not familiar with the Santa Fe trail or the Kaw Trail, therefore with the various forts, rivers, Indian tribes; I wished a map had been included.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Simple Gesture

Hannah loves pretty things. She doesn't always get to see pretty things, living on a farm in Kansas, in 1865. Life is hard, but when meets Lt. Jacob Burdock, at a dance at Fort Riley, she gives him her handkerchief, as a token of their meeting. She thinks of him fondly and meet briefly again, and agree to start a correspondence between them. She dreams of a life that is more than she has now. Can their letters bring them closer together. Time will tell.
I was given a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is a cute book and reasonably well written, it leaves you hanging and that I do not appreciate. The description should state the book leaves you hanging and then you can make the deecision as to whether you want to buy and read it.

[Gwen Hight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah 's Handkerchief(Lockets and Lace Book 24)

This is the twenty-four book in this series about the are all family and Hannah and a young solder she has feelings for

[joy mansion · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful Kansas lady

I didn't Remer at fort I had read this before .after a few chapters I knew I had red this it a beaut story I hope you read it . Zina is a great either .

[Ami Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable

At first this moved slowly for me, but after Hannah started standing up for herself, the whole story picked up! I ended up really enjoying the book!

[Ann Faw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ended with a cliffhanger.

[Sandra Sorola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Author never fails to give one a dose of history along with a wonderful read. I appreciate all the research that goes into her books. I am a huge Civil War era fan and enjoy learning what life was like after the war as well.
The life of the Military was precarious at best. They moved around a lot and this tale shows just that.
Jake and Hannah met at a Soldier's ball and kept each other alive in their hearts. Hannah self described as the good daughter, really didn't want to be known as that, but had a difficult time breaking out of that role. She wanted to honor her parents by following their ideals set for her. But so wanted to choose her own path in life.
Jake was a Military man and as such moved around the West that they didn't see a lot of each other, but knew where their hearts were. Before the end of the story a locket is given and received. This locket is the promise that they will find their future together.
These characters were written with depth and a complete understanding of where their hearts want to be in the future. I enjoyed this book immensely and am so looking forward to reading Hannah's Highest Regard when it comes out! It will be the continuation of Jake and Hannah's story!
I received an ARC of this book and am choosing to leave an honest review.