Forks In The Road by Tamera Lynn Kraft Book Review and Giveaway

- March 13, 2020

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Orphans, Outlaws, and Redemption in the Old West!

(Looking for a prairie romance? Don’t look here!)

A classic Western tale of Joshua and Jonathan Jackson, brothers orphaned during the Civil War. They needed someone to give them a chance, but the war-torn countryside and people had little to spare.

After the war, the teen brothers headed West to find their fortunes and escape their past. Instead, they found a hard land and nobody willing to lend a hand. At every fork in the road, fear, grief, or pain prompted them to choose the wrong path.

By the time they were grown men, they had traveled so far into trouble, there was no way out except prison or death. They had one chance for redemption. Would they take it?

If you’ve read LOST IN THE STORM, you met Jed Jackson – this is the story of what happened to Jed and his brothers.

Book: Forks in the Road Author: Tamera Lynn Kraft

Genre: Christian Western Release Date: October 15, 2019

CLICK HERE to Purchase

MY BOOK REVIEW

Anytime I see a book taking place during the Civil War Era I have to read it. "Forks in the Road" by Tamera Lynn Kraft is a spinoff from "Lost In the Storm" but it can be a standalone book.

This book contains many spiritual lessons. Joshua "JJ" Jackson is 12 years old and his 10-year-old brother, Jonathan "Kid". Their father and mother passed away. Their father and two brothers were killed by Quantrill's Raiders. Their mother died from a rattlesnake bite. The older brothers died in the Civil War.
Jed also served in the war. Joshua and Johnathan were taken in by a farmer, Mr. Greer, and his wife, They treated them horribly. Mr. Greer and Mrs. Greer were mean and very abusive to these boys. They worked them to death on their farm. Eventually, the boys escape. The story spans over several years. It introduces Jeb, the oldest brother who became a preacher and was determined to find his brothers.

The boys had to do what they had to do to survive. They went to Hunts Peak, Colorado where they started working in a Saloon sweeping and taking beer to the miners. Working there pushed them into a life of crime. They had a warrant out for them throughout Colorado and Wyoming.
The raiders led by Quantinill are sweeping the country killing people.

Their need for survival caused them to do things they wouldn't have done otherwise. Kraft did a great job of showing the power of prayers, and not to give up even when times are tough. I felt for the boys even though they were doing bad things. Their childhood led to them doing these things. Her writing style is easy to follow and has wonderful words of description to bring you into the story.
"Fork in the Road" beat my expectations. If you love Civil War era books I recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest opinion and thoughts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures. She loves to write historical fiction set in the United States because there are so many stories in American history. There are strong elements of faith, romance, suspense and adventure in her stories. Alice’s Notions, Red Sky Over America, Lost in the Storm, Resurrection of Hope, and Soldier’s Heart are among her published works.

Tamera been married for 40 years to the love of her life, Rick, and has two married adult children and three grandchildren. She has been a children’s pastor for over 20 years. She is the leader of a ministry called Revival Fire for Kids where she mentors other children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s ministry consultant and children’s evangelist and has written children’s church curriculum. She is a recipient of the 2007 National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement in children’s ministry.

Her Website: Click Here
Facebook Page: Click Here
Twitter: Click Here @TameraKraft
CLICK HERE to Purchase

More from Tamera

I have always loved westerns. As a child, I remember watching shows on television like Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Maverick, Big Valley, Alias Smith and Jones, and many others. I also loved the great western movies such as High Noon, The Quaker and the Bad Man, Three Godfathers, and Stagecoach. My favorite were the stories with an element of redemption in them. There is no better redemptive story than a man’s man out on the trail realizing he needs God.

Three Godfathers with John Wayne is my favorite movie. I first watched it when I came home from the hospital after giving birth to my first child. John Wayne plays an outlaw who, with his two friends, robs a bank and escapes into the desert. The outlaws happen on a wagon where a woman is giving birth. She dies shortly after. They have a choice. Either they risk their lives and freedom saving the child, or they leave the child to die and get away with the loot. I highly recommend it.

When I decided to write Forks in the Road, I wanted to capture that redemptive spirit in many western novels. Joshua and Jonathan are brothers who were orphaned at the ages of 10 and 12 when Quantrill’s raiders ravaged Lawrence, Kansas. They headed west to make it on their own, but at every fork in the road, they made wrong choices. They grew up and became outlaws, but they never became hardened or callous toward others. Even so, God had a plan of redemption for them. Would they take it?

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