Book Blurb:
Fleeing her abusive fiancé, Katherine O'Brien unexpectedly discovers love, family, and strength amidst the brutal Mexican Revolution.
Chihuahua City, Mexico, 1913: Katherine O'Brien reluctantly enters into a marriage of convenience to hide from her abusive ex-fiancé. She struggles to adapt to an unfamiliar culture as she begins to regain her ability to love and trust. Her new husband, a soldier in Pancho Villa's army, treats her well but expects an obedient and docile wife. Kate, a tomboy raised on a West Texas ranch, finds such a role extremely difficult. The two strive to find middle ground even as he fights beside Villa in the brutal revolutionary war.
When the Revolution turns against Villa, the couple is separated. Kate must lead her small extended family to a new home without help from her husband… and with her violent ex-fiancé following her tracks. Facing these challenges tests her courage and survival skills to the utmost degree.
"A Dangerous Woman," a debut historical novel from Texas author Josie Wilson, seamlessly blends fact and fiction to depict a determined woman and an unlikely romance that blooms and endures, even during the hardships and turbulence of war.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/PIqm7qk
Author Bio:
Josie Wilson is a retired librarian. She was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, approximately 15-20 miles from the Mexican border town of Reynosa. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, she returned to the Valley to teach high school English and later became a middle school librarian. After retirement, she went back to school to earn a master’s in English Rhetoric and started writing.
For a while, most of her writing was just for her own enjoyment. As she began to read about people who were able to self publish, she decided to get serious and write her first novel at the age of 73. It has taken a long time to complete the project, since much research was required, and several years turned into a time out caused by the pandemic. Finally she reached her goal and is now considering a sequel. Hopefully, this new project will not take as long.
Josie still lives in Texas but has moved to Houston to help take care of two precious granddaughters.
She would appreciate your reading her book and leaving a review, as reviews help more people to discover the book..
Editorial Review:
Josie Wilson's debut book "A Dangerous Woman" is a brilliant addition to the field of historical fiction. It is a kaleidoscope of love, peril, and history. It presents readers with a world rarely explored in fiction, set against the volatile backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, making the trip both enlightening and fascinating.
Katherine O’Brien huddled on her large four poster bed, hidden under the covers, shuddering at the thought of what had just happened to her. She could not believe that her dreams of being courted by a handsome suitor and starring in a lovely wedding had been shattered and thrown away. Her face throbbed painfully from the blows rained upon her by her enraged fiancé. She felt a sharp stabbing pain in her ribs each time she moved. Her shoulders ached from having her hands held behind her back during his vile attack. Nothing, however, was as painful as the knowledge that she had completely misjudged the man she was supposed to marry. The young gentleman who had courted her with such courtesy was a monster who would live in her nightmares.
From the very first chapter, we are thrown into the scene of a compelling storyline. Resilience, love, and self-discovery are the main themes of this tale, which is told mainly through Kate's perspective. It is fascinating to follow Katherine O'Brien's path from a victim of abuse running from her past to a resolute woman in the center of a revolution. Her journey out of her troubled past coincides with a significant historical event, fusing her personal story with the larger story of a country in turmoil.
Wilson masterfully draws readers in from the very first sentence. The combination of an impending marriage, an abusive ex-fiancé, and the Mexican Revolution sets the stage for a story that promises—and delivers—much depth.
Chihuahua City, Mexico, 1913: Katherine O'Brien reluctantly enters into a marriage of convenience to hide from her abusive ex-fiancé. Fleeing her abusive fiancé, Katherine O'Brien unexpectedly discovers love, family, and strength amidst the brutal Mexican Revolution."
We see a woman trying to grow, love herself, and save herself from a bad situation. It’s heartbreakingly real and pulls you into the story as you root for Kate and her success.
Another new and interesting pastime for Kate was gardening. Elena grew her own herbs and vegetables, both for cooking and for medicinal purposes. She was happy to use modern medicine when it was available, but she also believed in herbal healing for some remedies. Kate found that digging in the dirt, then planting and harvesting herbs and vegetables worked like cooking. It took away the bad memories and gave her peace of mind.
Once the wounds on Kate’s face healed, Elena suggested that she should come and work at the clinic at least two or three days a week. She thought it would be good for Kate to get out of the house and meet a few people. Kate was not willing to care for patients at the clinic, since they were mainly injured soldiers. She offered to work at cleaning and organizing the storerooms and the office area, as long as she could avoid working with any man. Elena finally agreed to that, and, several months after she had arrived in Juárez, Kate took on her new job.
The book is professionally edited, with consistent formatting throughout. This ensures the story flows smoothly, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves without the jarring disruptions that can come from editing errors. Where it truly excels is in character development.
Kate's transformation is both nuanced and authentic. From the beginning, where she is hesitant and on the run, to finding strength amidst the chaos, readers will be hard-pressed not to cheer for her at every turn. Her interactions with other characters, especially her soldier husband, showcase a complex mesh of personalities, each shaped by the revolution in unique ways.
Her new husband, a soldier in Pancho Villa's army, treats her well but expects an obedient and docile wife. Kate, a tomboy raised on a West Texas ranch, finds such a role extremely difficult.
They left in the pre-dawn darkness one morning, rolling quietly out of town. Julio and Carmela rode on the extra mules, and Tía Elena drove the wagon with Kate sitting beside her holding the baby. The town was quiet in the cool early morning, and, if anyone noticed their departure, they did not remark on it. Not even a dog barked to disturb the silence.
The travelers were quiet as well. Each one was experiencing their private thoughts about the difficult journey they faced and their doubts about how it would go, but each one was determined to see it through. They had all had enough of the destruction and suffering they had seen in the Revolution and were hoping for a more satisfying life in a different environment.
Luckily, they were traveling in November, one of the cooler months in the Bolsón. Most days they were able to travel all day, only stopping if the temperatures rose enough to make it uncomfortable for the animals in the afternoon. On those days, they would rest during the warmer hours and travel longer in the evening. The days and nights seemed endless, with the same barren desert sprawled out around them.
The progression of the Mexican Revolution is chronicled meticulously, ensuring that the backdrop against which Kate's story unfolds remains consistent. Every event, be it personal to Kate or of national importance, finds its rightful place in the timeline.
Without giving away spoilers, the novel culminates in a manner that feels both earned and true to the spirit of the narrative. Readers will find themselves pondering the book's conclusion long after the final page has been turned. Another bonus is the uniqueness of this story.
Few studies have been conducted on the Mexican Revolution from the viewpoint of an outsider, much less an American woman. Wilson's method not only imparts knowledge but also presents a novel perspective on a time when individuals such as Pancho Villa held sway. Readers are given a distinct perspective that strikes a balance between the political and the personal by seeing these events through Kate's eyes.
Wilson uses succinct, expressive language. Her dialogue is deftly handled, and her vivid descriptions guarantee that each character's unique voice comes through in every exchange.
From the building tension of Kate's early hardships through the pivotal events of the revolution and her emotional journey, "A Dangerous Woman" has a distinct, well-defined arc. The satisfying ending of the book feels like a series of steps, each of which comes before the next.
To sum up, "A Dangerous Woman" is a thought-provoking book that deftly blends historical facts with the author's own struggles. In addition to providing insightful information on a significant period in Mexican history, Josie Wilson has written a novel that has a profound human resonance. Strongly advised for fans of historical fiction as well as readers unfamiliar with the subject.
*****
“A Dangerous Woman” by Josie Wilson receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company
Award:
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