Daughter of Twin Oaks (A Secret Refuge Series #1) (Book 1) [Paperback]

Lauraine Snelling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000

Seeking to fulfill the promise she made to her dying father, eighteen-year-old Jesselynn Highwood determines to take her little brother and the family's remaining Thoroughbreds from Twin Oaks plantation in Kentucky to her uncle's farm in Missouri, where they will be safe for the remainder of the Civil War.

Dodging Confederate and Union troops, they ride at night and hide during the day. Finally, after encountering hunger, sickness, and the devastation of war, they arrive in Missouri only to discover the situation there puts them in even greater danger.

But Jesselynn will stop at nothing to save her family, the horses, and whatever remains of Twin Oaks.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of over 60 books, fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young adults. Her books have sold over 2 million copies. Besides writing books and articles, she teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; Reprinted edition (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556618395
• ISBN-13: 978-1556618390
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #417,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lauraine Snelling, an award-winning author of fifty-plus books with sales of over 2 million copies, also writes for a wide range of magazines and teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a Civil War adventure, July 8, 2000

By 

Beverly "bevreader" (Mississippi) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daughter of Twin Oaks (A Secret Refuge Series #1) (Book 1) (Paperback)

Having thorougly enjoyed Snelling's Red River of the North series, I couldn't wait to read Daughter of Twin Oaks. In this book, the setting is a thoroughbred horse farm in Kentucky in the midst of the Civil War. Jesselyn's father and brothers are away in battle and she sends her younger sisters away to an aunt's home for safety. After her father comes home to die from his battle wounds, she realizes that she needs to get her horses away from Kentucky if she will have anything left to start over with after the war. Taking her little brother and her few now-freed slaves with her, they embark on a perilous journey where danger and adventure await them on every corner. A devout Christian, Jesselyn finds that her faith gradually slips away as they encounter pitfall after pitfall. By the end of the book, she has quit praying altogether and is blaming God for the war. Meanwhile, her sisters in Richmond find love and happiness with soldiers that they meet and reunite with their long-lost brother, now wounded from battle. Unlike Jesselyn, they retain their faith in God, even when Louisa's soldier is declared missing and probably dead. This book was good and kept me reading, and I want to read the second one because so many loose ends were left. Will Jesselyn ever get all of them to safety? Will she ever give her heart back to God? Will Louisa's true love return? Will Twin Oaks still remain when they get back home? Anyone who enjoys historical Christian fiction will like this book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've read in a long time!, November 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Daughter of Twin Oaks (A Secret Refuge Series #1) (Book 1) (Paperback)

I'm usually disappointed in a lot of books, since usually the story itself would be excellent except the characters are undeveloped and the plot isn't good with a bad ending. This book was excellent, and will be one of my favorites for a long time. "Jesse" and Louisa are two lovable characters, and their stories keep you reading. Since one chapter would be about "Jesse" and the next about Louisa, I couldn't stop reading so that I could find out what happened to each of them! :o)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME!, April 21, 2000

By 

Beth Shults (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daughter of Twin Oaks (A Secret Refuge Series #1) (Book 1) (Paperback)

Terrific. The best yet, since Eagles Wings. Mrs Snelling outdid herself in this tragic tale of the Civil War. Miss Jesselynn turns Marse Jesse, and keeps her promise to her father. You'll be enthralled on this breaktaking journey of a young woman's quest to lead her Thoroughbreds to safety!