A Sweetness To The Soul

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Summary: Powerfully moving!
Review: A Sweetness to the Soul received the Wrangler Award for Outstanding Western Novel of 1995. This work of fiction was inspired by a remarkable frontier couple, Jane and Joseph Sherar. Jane was rescued one summer from the depths of her sorrow by a young Indian girl, Sunmiet and her family. Their lives would be forever intertwined--understanding friends, one who does not ask but is always there. Jane meets a stranger one summer and she dreams he will be her husband. That stranger's name was Joseph Sherar. Through their years together she realizs she married her best friend. Their love conquers all obstacles and offers a powerful testimony to the miracle of God's healing power. "I learned to cope by leanin' into the wind," she said, "just like you told me."

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Summary: AWARD-WINNING NOVEL
Review: A SWEETNESS TO THE SOUL was named Outstanding Western Novel of 1995 by the Western Heritage Center and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame

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Summary: I was born late!
Review: After reading A Sweetness to the Soul I am, once again, convinced that I was born not only late, by over 100 years, but also in the wrong geographical location! To quote the beginning of the first chapter: Like the slow rising of the river after an early snow melt in the mountains....they seeped into my life, unhurried, almost without notice, until the strength and breadth of them covered everything that had once been familiar, made it different, new over old. I've never been affected by two characters so deeply in all the novels I've read. JK has touched my soul with Jane and Joseph. I would have loved to have lived near them, known them (longer). My husband and I share many similarities with them-perhaps it is contentedness that I feel?.....whatever it is, I am grateful.

Rating:
Summary: I was born late!
Review: After reading A Sweetness to the Soul I am, once again, convinced that I was born not only late, by over 100 years, but also in the wrong geographical location! To quote the beginning of the first chapter: Like the slow rising of the river after an early snow melt in the mountains....they seeped into my life, unhurried, almost without notice, until the strength and breadth of them covered everything that had once been familiar, made it different, new over old. I've never been affected by two characters so deeply in all the novels I've read. JK has touched my soul with Jane and Joseph. I would have loved to have lived near them, known them (longer). My husband and I share many similarities with them-perhaps it is contentedness that I feel?.....whatever it is, I am grateful.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Writing
Review: Finally, a author of today that can write in the style of the Bronte sisters. I could not put the book down, my heart was touched by this book. Thank you Ms. Kirkpatrick for sharing your talent and clearly your love of history....

Rating:
Summary: A Sweetness to the Soul
Review: I absolutely loved this book! I was so anxious to read every word, all the time not wanting it to end. It was so real to me, I could smell the fresh air and feel the spray from the the Falls. I felt the pain of each loss, but also the joy of love, friendship and very hard work. Jane Sherar was unbelievably brave, as was her wonderful husband Joseph and to think that they were a very real part of settling that part of our country. They feared nothing but the thought of losing each other. They had such a fierce devotion and loyalty to the people with whom they shared their lives: Benito, Sunmiet, the Turners, Ella and all the others. Jane Kirkpatrick is such a prolific writer, with a wonderful knack of giving us every detail, making us feel a part of the lives and the community of every book she writes. Just an outstanding book...I loved it!

Rating:
Summary: A Sweetness to the Soul
Review: I absolutely loved this book! I was so anxious to read every word, all the time not wanting it to end. It was so real to me, I could smell the fresh air and feel the spray from the the Falls. I felt the pain of each loss, but also the joy of love, friendship and very hard work. Jane Sherar was unbelievably brave, as was her wonderful husband Joseph and to think that they were a very real part of settling that part of our country. They feared nothing but the thought of losing each other. They had such a fierce devotion and loyalty to the people with whom they shared their lives: Benito, Sunmiet, the Turners, Ella and all the others. Jane Kirkpatrick is such a prolific writer, with a wonderful knack of giving us every detail, making us feel a part of the lives and the community of every book she writes. Just an outstanding book...I loved it!

Rating:
Summary: Nice historical novel
Review: I enjoyed her other book (Love to Water My Soul) enough to read another one by her. While I did not find this book quite as interesting as Love to Water My Soul (which I wish I had given four stars now) it was still a good book. Jane Kirkpatrick does a good job of mixing history with story to enhance both. I really felt like I got some idea of what life was like in Oregon in the late 19th century. I think at some points she works too hard to incorporate real events. There were a few odd episodes during the book that seemed a little out of place, but then I saw them mentioned in her notes at the end as historical events she had discovered in her research. But overall a good book.

Rating:
Summary: Nice historical novel
Review: I enjoyed her other book (Love to Water My Soul) enough to read another one by her. While I did not find this book quite as interesting as Love to Water My Soul (which I wish I had given four stars now) it was still a good book. Jane Kirkpatrick does a good job of mixing history with story to enhance both. I really felt like I got some idea of what life was like in Oregon in the late 19th century. I think at some points she works too hard to incorporate real events. There were a few odd episodes during the book that seemed a little out of place, but then I saw them mentioned in her notes at the end as historical events she had discovered in her research. But overall a good book.

Rating:
Summary: Truly a great book!
Review: I was given this book as a present from my grandma, and it took me several months to pick it up. I shouldn't have waited so long! This book is a touching story about the life of Jane Herbert, a pioneer who lives in Oregon during the middle to late 1800s. Although it is a novel, it is based on real people and events. It details her struggles and triumphs from her preteen years on, including her marriage to Joseph Sherar at the age of 16 (I think) and friendship with Sunmiet, a Native American from the Warm Springs tribe. The author's use of language was incredible. While it is not neccessarily fast paced, it is touching and far from boring. Once I started reading I could hardly stop. The book really draws you in. I thoroughly enjoyed this masterpiece from the first page to the last.