Ebook $3.99
Print $12.99
Mary Bishop, by Jane Yunker
Historic romance, 230 pages
February 2020, self-published
About the Book:
Mary knew from the moment they met, Earl Bishop would be the love of her life. Together they survived the Civil War and the loss of their children, only to face a much greater danger from the people of one small northern town. When Earl dies, Mary is left alone to continue the fight against those who would harm her. Can she trust local shop owner, Oliver Polk, when he offers his help, and his heart?
Just when all appears lost, an old friend returns to help Mary overcome her grief and learn how to love again.
My Review:
I knew Jane Yunker as a most favored poet, so I was eager to
read her first full length novel. This wonderfully poignant historical work set
during a devastating period in American history admirably traverses northern
and southern sympathies in the nineteenth century.
The first half of the story is set in Virginia where Mary,
the daughter of a minister, is encouraged to read widely and learn about the
world. She is a child of the South, but not a wilting Southern Belle. The love
of her life, Earl Bishop, is raised in neglect and violence; a hard-working and
sensitive young man, he finds his way to Mary’s family after attempting to show
kindness to the slaves under his uncle, an overseer on a large plantation with
many ill-treated slaves, and is beaten. Mary and Earl marry and set up their
home nearby, making a good living from the land and Earl’s work at a lumber
mill. Their firstborn, a son, is the darling of their eyes, and eventually Mary
and Earl find special friends in Sara and Lucas when their sons join forces in
mischief at school.
Earl’s sensitive reaction at the loss of an infant daughter
push him off the wagon and he begins a lifelong battle with addiction. Only the
perilous undertaking of giving aid to the most desperate gives him purpose in
life. Mary lives in fear for Earl and their friends and family if Ear is
caught. Her fears come true with the death of Sara’s husband. This tragedy is
the tip of the iceberg of fear as war between the States looms. Mary and Earl’s
son is the embodiment of State’s Rights convictions. Torn between pride in their
child, Southern sentiment and tradition, and their own belief that the
institution of slavery is wrong, Mary wonders if perhaps they shouldn’t have
had more open dialog in their family as their son proudly goes to fight.
The ravaged South no longer feels like home at war’s end,
and Mary and Earl relocate to northwest Wisconsin where Earl can work in the
lumber mills. But the north is not so welcoming and the viciousness of those
who also lost their sons to the rebellion make life intolerable for Earl.
Twelve years of suffering pass and Mary is left a widow. But life is not over,
and Mary learns that not everyone in her adopted community shares the
sentiments of the most vile of town biddies. Meeting rumor, false accusations,
and death threats with dignity and a well-aimed pistol, Mary shows her true
character and reaps only good things.
One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Mary has
nothing left and teaches her husband Earl a lesson in how his actions affect
everyone around him. “Who taught you to swear?” he asks at one point. “Who do
you think,” Mary responds.
Told through Mary’s point of view, this lovely, poignant
story opens in the ultimate tragedy, reverses and builds slowly to meet itself
in time and move forward. Mary’s insecurities, grace, longing, and anger offer readers
who love strong characters at a fragile time in history much to enjoy in Mary Bishop.
About the Author:
Jane is a blogger, poet, and fiction writer
living in NW Wisconsin along the beautiful St Croix River. Most recent
publications include Creative Wisconsin, Oshkosh Independent, Living and
Playing Magazine, Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets’ calendar (2014, 2015, 2016,
and 2018), Red Cedar 2015 and 2016 (UW Barron County), and the Hometown
Gazette. She won the Saturday Evening Post’s 2014 Easter limerick contest. Her
first novel, Mary Bishop, was a
finalist in WisRWA’s 2016 FabFive competition in their historical romance
category. Her current work-in-progress is the first of a trilogy, The Pine Lake
Girls: Alice. www.janeyunkerauthor.com
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