Today's Wednesday Wonders features
The Buckskin Trail
By JoAnn Arnold
About
the Book:
“This is what my parents died for?” Kelzi whispered, looking
at the battered buckskin.
Ahyoka nodded. “And now you must take it with you and
protect it.”
A miracle saved Kelzi’s life when she was younger, now it’s her turn to save others. When Kelzi discovers the truth about her parents' deaths, she steps onto a dangerous path, one where she must avenge those who have died and protect the land of her Cherokee people—at any cost.
Excerpt:
Finally the
fire chief heaved a deep sigh. He took a step backward, mentally calculating something
in his mind. He furrowed his brows, rubbing his fingers over his chin. “I’ve
been in this home numerous times. As I recall, the front door was approximately
fifteen feet straight ahead of me, and I ask myself, why were they unable to
escape . . . unless the fire started where they stood.” He paused, his eyes
searching for something not visible. He shook his head. “Amedohi was a
respected lawyer throughout the state of North Carolina. He and Kate made a
handsome couple.” A deep sadness revealed itself in his eyes as he cleared his
throat. “I’ll leave you to your work.” He turned and walked away.
The
investigating officer pulled the radio from his belt, pressing his thumb
against the button while wiping away the perspiration that trickled down his face.
“I need a forensics team at the core of the fire investigation,” he said, his
voice scratchy from the inhalation of smoke.
He lifted his
eyes and quickly scanned the area around him. Strapping a surgical mask over
his nose and mouth to prevent any more of the gray residue from getting into
his lungs, the officer brushed ash and debris from what remained of a rib cage.
He removed long tweezers from inside his case and slipped them between the
pallid bones, blindly searching through the rubble when his radio crackled and
a voice informed him that the forensics team was two minutes out.
Time was short.
Sweat stung his eyes. His throat felt dry. His heart pounded. Moving rapidly,
he found what he was looking for. His work was finished and two objects were
safely inside his pocket; he cautiously scattered ashes around the area. He
leaned back, letting the air flow through his lungs unhampered while his heart
calmed to a steady beat. Still, his mouth felt like cotton, and he could taste
the ash that had somehow found its way to his tongue. In fact, his clothes,
hair, and skin were completely covered with the stuff.
As soon as
forensics arrived, the officer directed them to the evidence and then stepped
away, letting the three men do their job. A few minutes later, he heard their
voices meticulously identify and label each piece of evidence.
When their work
was done, the officer suggested that if the remains were those of Amedohi and
Kate Tsali, it might be necessary to search for a third body . . . that of their
eight-year-old daughter, Kelzi.
My Book Review:
My attention was immediately caught with the arson fire that
claimed the lives of the parents—one Cherokee and one Irish—of an eight
year-old girl, Kelzi Tsali. Hidden by her parents who realized they were under
attack by unethical men willing to stoop to murder to steal a valuable land deed,
Kelzi sees her parents’ murderers and with supernatural help, manages to escape
and be raised to adulthood, hidden in plain sight. Only then can she, the
hereditary chieftain of her tribe of Cherokee, reach her destiny as an adult and
be able to help her people.
This story drew upon the Native American belief in the power
of nature, respect for Mother Earth,
faith in God or a Great Spirit and the assistance of those who have already
left this earth, but who have an interest in preserving their descendants. I
felt the paranormal elements were handled well and in balance with a belief in
a higher power. The setting took place in North Carolina, the original home of
the Cherokee at the time the Europeans arrived on this continent. It could only
take place here since the story reached back into the early legends that were
tied to the land before the coming of the Europeans.
The author created memorable and believable characters, both
Cherokee and those of European descent. I enjoyed the insight into the Cherokee
culture. The romantic interest was introduced late, and I do think since Kelzi and
Cassidy knew each other as children he could have been mentioned earlier in the
book. Although he was not the main character, he added a nice balance to the
story as it built towards its conclusion.
The focus was on Kelzi. The first part of the book moved a
little slow as the author walked the reader through her growing up years and setting
the stage for her mission in life. But, readers need to hang in there. Once Kelzi
was called “home” to face her challenges as hereditary chieftain and keeper of
the contract her tribe depended upon, the story exploded with suspense
and action. I was unable to put the book down until I finished.
The book was well-written, interesting and exciting, and the
romance elements were clean and proper. I highly recommend it.
About JoAnn Arnold:
JoAnn
Arnold was born in Price, Utah. Her first experience in creative writing was in
authoring both Children's musicals and Adult Musicals for her community. Her
musical, "Rosie the Riveter" received an honor in a special addition
of the Smithsonian Magazine.
Her first book, "Miracles for Michael" was written
as a Christmas Musical for her community Theatre. A few years later, she
decided to turn it into a book.
It is her belief that it is with the gift of imagination
that we create in ourselves the person we want to become, and she wanted to
become an author so she did. "My dream is to be an artist who paints from
the heart; to be an author who can take the imagination beyond that which is
conceivable. I'm still in the infant stage of those dreams, but I run with the
stars and, in the distance, I see the dreams fulfilled."
Connect with JoAnn Arnold:
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This is what my parents
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