Lori Benton's The Wood's Edge ~ Reviewed

The Wood's Edge: A Novel
by Lori Benton
Series: The Pathfinders
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (April 21, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601427328

Description:

At the wood’s edge cultures collide. Can two families survive the impact? 
 
The 1757 New York frontier is home to the Oneida tribe and to British colonists, yet their feet rarely walk the same paths. 
 
On the day Fort William Henry falls, Major Reginald Aubrey is beside himself with grief. His son, born that day, has died in the arms of his sleeping wife. When Reginald comes across an Oneida mother with newborn twins, one white, one brown, he makes a choice that will haunt the lives of all involved. He steals the white baby and leaves his own child behind. Reginald’s wife and foundling daughter, Anna, never suspect the truth about the boy they call William, but Reginald is wracked by regret that only intensifies with time, as his secret spreads its devastating ripples. 
 
When the long buried truth comes to light, can an unlikely friendship forged at the wood’s edge provide a way forward? For a father tormented by fear of judgment, another by lust for vengeance. For a mother still grieving her lost child. For a brother who feels his twin’s absence, another unaware of his twin’s existence. And for Anna, who loves them both—Two Hawks, the mysterious Oneida boy she meets in secret, and William, her brother. As paths long divided collide, how will God direct the feet of those who follow Him?

Review:

The Wood's Edge begins in 1757 in the new colonies before the Revolutionary War. The New York frontier is home both to the Oneida Indian tribe, and to the British colonists. On the same day that Fort William Henry falls, Major Reginald Aubrey has a dilemma on his hands. His infant son, born that day, has died, but his wife does not yet know. While she is sleeping, he takes the boy from her and grieves. In the midst of wandering, he comes across a young white woman dressed as an Indian in the camp hospital. She is sleeping, and holding newborn twin sons, one white and one brown. In moment of madness, fearing what the loss of the baby might do to his wife, he swaps his dead son for this woman's living white son. Shortly after, chaos ensues, and as the young woman, Good Voice, escapes with her babies, she doesn't realize until it's too late that the white son she is holding is not her own. While her and her husband, Stone Thrower, grieve their missing son, Reginald is now living with a heavy conscience, though no one suspects that William is not his son. As time goes on, Reginald's wife begins to lose her mind, and his young daughter, Anna, begins a friendship with a young Oneida boy, Two Hawks, not knowing that this is William's brother. As the children grow, the weight of the decision made that day grows heavier on Reginald and the truth begins to come out

I LOVED this story. I had a hard time putting it down. I kept getting inpatient for things to get fully resolved, only to get to the end of the book to find that I have to wait for the next one in the series to come out. I highly recommend this book. It was wonderful

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers