Many Sparrows by Lori Benton

Many Sparrows by Lori Benton is another novel of the settling of the west by this wonderful author.  She tells the story from many points of view including the Native peoples, the white settlers but also in the unexpected point of views of the army and the politicians.  She tells of the selfish wants wishes and desires as well as their religion of wishing to do as the Master tells them.  She gives the background as well on how they formed their opinions.  Reading Ms. Benton's story helps the reader to understand that they all thought that they were correct in their thinking and helps our understanding as to the why of their thinking.  In the beginning of the book I found myself changing my mind so often in who was right and who was wrong but I feel I didn't understand until also the end that only God is right and holds the future and that if only we would patiently watch and wait our life as well as those around us would be so much enriched and bathed in His love that He so much wants to give us.  God only wants good for us and that is what this whole book told me.

Claire does not want to go west and settle there; she is happy living on her uncle Alphus's farm and working there.  Philip her husband is set on proving to Claire that he can provide for his family by himself and so they are headed west.  Not headed west with the planned group for they were late meeting them but headed out on their own to try to catch up with the group.  Then the broken axel happened and with it the broken wheel and so Philip headed out on his own to find help to fix both of them leaving Claire alone to protect Jacob her son while in labor with the next baby. She couldn't help that Philip had never come back to them.  She couldn't help that the storm had come up.   Claire just left Jacob for a moment and just because she was afraid that she would scare Jacob with her pains but that moment was just enough to allow Jacob to get away.  Claire was still in the intense pain of labor but she was steadily looking for him.  Jacob was only a toddler where could he have gone?  Then she saw the moccasin tracks and she knew why Jacob had left--he had been carried off by someone.  Then she spotted Jeremiah.  A white man wearing moccasins.  Was this who took Jacob?  Another pain, she was going to have this baby soon.  She tried to rush Jeremiah to get back Jacob but in the end Jeremiah helped her have this new baby and set her on the trail to find Jacob.

This book is so good.  Anyone who loves reading a western set love story would love it, anyone who loves history would love it, but most especially anyone who loves reading just a good novel will love this book.  It is a can't miss book.  I received this book from Waterbrook Publishing for this review and I am so grateful for this opportunity.