The Measure of Katie Calloway

By Serena Miller

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Hypnotic storyteller Serena Miller writes so atmospherically that her novel deftly absorbs the reader into the story of the loggers and the plight of Katie Calloway.

While the straight-and-narrow character of Katie lacks emotional development, the plot makes up for it with both tragic and endearing situations. Katie is taking care of her young brother and desperate to escape an abusive marriage which is a political clash between North and South in post-Civil War Georgia. She seizes the opportunity to run away, taking little Ned with her to parts unknown. Traveling to Michigan, she meets up with Robert Foster, who gives her a respectable job as a cook for the loggers he employs, offering a sanctuary for Katie that she has never had. The lines separating the boss and cook begin to disappear, but the secret that Katie hides threatens everyone’s security at the logging camp.

Katie’s story is made more enticing with the scenery and supporting characters of the camp: a surly head cook, the many loggers, and Robert and his children. Robert battles his own demons, but can Robert save Katie from her marriage and still feel like an honest Christian?