Leaving Independence
Leaving Independence is, at its heart, a love story that takes place on the western frontier during the Civil War era. But it is also a story of resiliency when faced with trying circumstances. Tennessee resident Abigail Baldwyn has been raising her children on her own while her husband is fighting in the Civil War, refusing any help from her father. When she receives word that her husband Robert died in the war, she accepts her widowhood, until she hears a rumor that Robert has been seen in Idaho Territory.
Rather than wait passively, Abigail gathers her children and travels to Independence, Missouri, where she boards a caravan on the Oregon Trail in hopes of finding out the truth. Along the way, she meets a man named Hoke Mathews, also traveling west, and the two try to resist their growing feelings for each other.
The book is an adventure story and love story wrapped up into one absorbing read. Abigail is a refreshing character—she is courageous, spunky, and fiercely independent, balancing motherhood with trying to pull her weight en route to learning the truth about her husband. The adventure part of the story is no-holds-barred, complete with gunslingers, snakes and scoundrels, while the love story is subtler. Abigail is a dynamic and unforgettable protagonist who stars in a well-researched, utterly enchanting novel.
