Daughter of Fortune
Description
Maria Espinosa should not have survived the 1679 cholera epidemic in Mexico City that killed her parents, already reeling from the loss of their fortune, nor should she have survived an Apache raid on the caravan transporting her to a sister in remote Santa Fe, in the royal colony of New Mexico. Rejected by her sister because she is penniless, Maria struggles to stay alive in a society unaware of impending disaster. A charismatic Tewa Indian named Popé is determined to drive the hated European overlords from the land. Maria's refuge is no refuge at all. When Mary is taken in by a Spanish ranching family living uneasily among the Pueblo Indians, her beauty and spirit inspire a rivalry between two brothers-one a Spaniard, the other half-Indian. Will she find security and purpose in this harsh land only to lose her heart? In the midst of personal turmoil, Maria discovers a rare talent in this colony of believers. She learns how to carve discarded branches and tree stumps into statues of saints. She also learns the larger lesson: that grace can transform an object of little value into a masterpiece. But trouble lies ahead. Maria can reveal the saint buried in a block of wood. What mysteries lie deep within her own heart?Product Details
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About the Author
Carla Kelly is a ranger in the National Park Service at Fort Union Trading Post and a contract research historian for the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Scott Eckberg is a manager for the Idaho Unit of the Nez Perce National Historical Park in the National Park Service.
Reviews
"Maria's ability to survive--and even thrive--among the most difficult of circumstances is impressive. She not only saves herself, but she bravely and selflessly saves those she cares about. As Diego opens his eyes to love, she is the only woman that he sees, and he learns that there is more to life than property. This isn't a novel for the faint of heart. Kelly describes (in excruciating detail) the cruelties that people inflict on one another, and there are times when it's overwhelmingly brutal. Though Kelly is best known for her Regency romances, this debut, originally published in 1985, is a good addition to fans' collections."
--Historical Novel Review
