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C. M. Huddleston
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Esther Kindle Edition

by C. M. Huddleston (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 45 ratings
Finalist for Chanticleer Book Awards - Laramie Americana Fiction Award - Earned two Incipere Awards - 1st Place for Young Adult Historical Fiction and 2nd Place for Adult Historical Fiction: Their story began in 1775 amidst a war between brothers, amongst fathers, sons, cousins, and even betwixt husbands, wives, and daughters. As America’s Revolutionary War gripped the colonies, five siblings found themselves alone in a land engulfed in war. Forced to survive on their own, they found no recourse but to flee their palatial Virginia home.

Five Ballinger children, Esther, Lovely, Samuel, Joshua, and Benjamin, must search within themselves for the will to survive, first in Virginia’s wilderness and then, forced to flee once more, in North Carolina’s Watauga settlement. Some go off to war. Others find ways to provide for their wellbeing. Most find love grows even in the darkest of circumstances.

C.M. Huddleston, author of six award-winning historical novels, including Caintuck Lies Within My Soul, once again weaves a captivating story with rich historical detail. This Revolutionary War tale brings American history to life.
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  1. Print length
    296 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    October 1, 2023
  5. File size
    5.5 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review wrote:
Esther is a highly recommended historical novel for all ages, from young adult through adult readers. It centers on American Revolutionary War history as seen through the eyes of late 1700s character Esther, who experiences war, Indian attacks, movements through early American settlements, and shifting family relationships.

The times come to life through her eyes and travels as C.M. Huddleston attends to capturing the atmosphere and motivations of late 1700s America and those who lived in these turbulent times:

"As the war raged in the east, Indian attacks grew more frequent in the lands across the Appalachians. Despite knowing of and fearing such attacks, men, families, and the militia traveled the far western trails, for such was life in the wilderness. Besides the threats of Indian attacks, all frontier travelers heard tales of robbers, evil men, white like themselves, attacking and killing along the backcountry roads and trails."

The timeline of America's Revolutionary War that introduces this milieu may prove daunting to those who want immediate immersion in fictional drama, but it does set the stage for the story's roots in fact. Readers who want immediate gratification and draw can easily look beyond the timeline introduction and refer to it later as Esther's life progresses.

As relationships between men and women (and within families) unfold against the backdrop of early American journeys and trails, readers receive a "you are here" feel that cultivates a compelling immediacy and logic to the history embedded in Esther's story.

Huddleston is particularly skilled at integrating thoughts and prayers with the routines and concerns of not just Esther, but the community and people she moves among. This creates a wider-ranging sense of place and purpose that helps drive the story line with satisfying psychological and historical insights. Ultimately, these dovetail within Esther's experiences and shifting perspectives about herself, her relationships, and the wider world at large.

As Joshua, Esther, Seth, Lovely, and a disparate range of personable characters come to light, readers will revel in the challenges and courage that also emerge from their experiences and interactions.

Esther's ability to reach a wide age range with a compelling saga that's based on primary materials and published resources, yet incorporates the drama and action of fictional creativity, makes it a strong recommendation for libraries and reading groups interested in early American history and novels reflecting the times.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CJ92985W
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Interpreting Time's Past Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.5 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8985267235
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 45 ratings

About the author

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C. M. Huddleston

C. M. Huddleston

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C.M. Huddleston tried making careers of teaching, archaeology, and historic preservation before attempting her dream of writing the stories circling through her head. While her first three ventures proved successful, her dream career has panned out to be much more appealing! She now writes, edits, and then shares the characters and the stories roaming her head so you can experience their adventures right along with her. Can you imagine a more fun job? No boss except for all those characters vying for attention, wanting their story written, and constantly telling her to get on with it and type faster! So, immerse yourself in fiction, discover a bit of history—maybe even some archaeology—and peruse the stories gleaned from an award-winning author’s imagination.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
45 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Dorothea Jensen, Author
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent visit to the past!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Connie Huddleston worked for years as an archeologist, uncovering artifacts which brought the distant past to life. She does the same thing with her research and story about the American Revolution in this book, which is the first in a new series. I look forward to finding out what happens to Esther and the rest of her family during the dire times of the Revolutionary War as Huddleston completes the intriguing stories of Esther and her siblings.
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  • sandra s.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Very good read. Some parts a little boring. But overall very interesting. Would have liked it more if Lovey body had been found and what caused her severe depression
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  • PW
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is one of the best historical fiction stories I have read, and I read a lot. It was interesting to learn which characters were real and which made up. Wish read more of C.M. Huddleston books
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  • DD
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2023
    The book starts by giving dates and facts about the Revolutionary War and transitions into the Ballinger family, one member being Esther, the main focus of the story. Although her character is fictitious many of the people mentioned are real, as are historical facts and locations. The more I read the more engrossed I became in their lives. The story drew me in and I felt as I was there with them experiencing their sorrows, hardships, fears, love and joy at a time when a young nation was struggling to free itself from British rule.
    One person found this helpful
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  • D. Settles
    5.0 out of 5 stars Historically accurate and engaging
    Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2023
    C.M. Huddleston's characters in ESTHER encounter family treachery, betrayal and deceit as well as support and fidelity as they make their way through the divided American Colonies from Virginia to North Carolina and Tennessee and into the brand new territory of Kentucky. Huddleston's years as a historic preservationist and archeologist shine as she sets the stage for the coming American Revolution, providing context as her characters move through the setting and the story. An excellent and informative read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • M.J. Evans
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Written
    Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2023
    Through beautiful prose and careful research, the reader is immersed in the Revolutionary War era as experienced by a teenage girl and her family. Esther and her siblings face the tragic loss of their parents and the family estate and must go into hiding in the wilderness, even changing their sir name. The pain of war is carefully described and much history about the war with Britain is depicted, sometimes quite graphically. The book is an excellent read for both young adults and adults who want to experience the 1700s through the lives of a fictional family. M.J. Evans, Award-winning author of "The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy"
    4 people found this helpful
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