Roanoke: The Lost Colony (Keepers of the Ring Series, No. 1) [Paperback]

Angela Elwell Hunt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1996

Series premiere special price!

Roanoke: The Lost Colony recounts the life of Jocelyn Colman, whose faith is tested and refined when she follows the husband she barely knows to an unexplored land. Jocelyn struggles with her husband's bitterness and guilt until God's forgiveness becomes a lifesaving reality.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In 1587, a fleet of English ships set sail for the Virginia colony. During a storm, one ship became separated from the others and was never seen again. The settlers on board were presumed lost at sea, but there is both historical and legendary evidence that the colonists actually founded the Roanoke colony. Veteran novelist Hunt ("Theyn Chronicles") reimagines this slice of Colonial history through the eyes of Jocelyn White, a newlywed reluctant to leave her home in England for the wild shores of the New World. White's journey is fraught with danger, but her dependence on God and God's providence carry her safely through. Hunt's engaging historical romance will appeal to fans of B.J. Hoff and Patricia Hickman. Recommended for most collections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"An unforgettable journey . . .[that] will certainly intrigue and encourage!" -- Beverly LaHaye

"Powerful stories rich with historical detail and compelling characters." -- --Francine Rivers, novelist

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Product Details

• Paperback: 494 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842320121
• ISBN-13: 978-0842320122
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #683,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly four million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 100 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels.

Now that her two children have reached their twenties, Angie and her youth-pastor husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City. Afterward, the dog gave out paw-tographs at the airport.

When she's not home writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers' conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.

Readers may visit her web site at www.angelahuntbooks.com and write her at [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful historical fiction about the FIRST English colony, February 11, 2001

By 

Soozie4Him (Chicago suburbs) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Roanoke: The Lost Colony (Keepers of the Ring Series, No. 1) (Paperback)

A few years ago, our family vacationed in the Outer Banks (islands off the coast of North Carolina. We saw a live play on Roanoke Island called "The Lost Colony". This play has been running for 60 years in the same location! It was fascinating to learn about these colonists from England who came over before the other colonists that we're traditionally more informed about - the settling of Jamestown in Virginia in 1607, then Maryland in 1632 and Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1620 and 1630.

Angela Hunt's book contains characters that were real people in history - Governor John White, Ananias Dare and his wife Eleanor, and Virginia Dare, John's grand-daughter who was the first English baby born on American soil, in August of 1587. After his grandchild is born, John White returns to England to get more food, supplies and more colonists. Because of England's war with Spain, Queen Elizabeth doesn't allow him to return! A few years later, he finally gets there and doesn't find his colony!

This novel portrays what might have happened - how these people lived and loved and worshiped and dealt with Indians and with each other. Jocelyn, the main character and Eleanor Dare's cousin, is married to Thomas, the pastor of the colony. Her loving patience with a husband who feels that it is sinful to love his wife is truly inspiring. The book takes place over about 20 years.

This series is continued with 3 children who escape Indian attack and escape to what will be Jamestown. The next book is entitled Jamestown.

If you are at all interested in history (or even if you're not!), this is a marvelous book, mixture of fiction and fact, and speculation of whatever happened to The Lost Colony.

I'm starting the next book in the series - I hope the next one is as good as this one!

Please check out my other reviews of Christian books and music.

God bless you!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Historical Fiction with a Christian theme, May 24, 2000

By 

B. Lapadat "boo-radley" (twincities,mn) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Roanoke: The Lost Colony (Keepers of the Ring Series, No. 1) (Paperback)

Historical fiction requires an author "do her homework" to make it believable. Hunt's research into the mysterious Lost Colony at Roanoke enabled her to produce an outstanding historical novel. The characters are deep and complex, and there are plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep you turning the pages. The only "buyer beware" for this book is that it does have a Christian theme to it, and the faith of the characters is a major part of the story. So, if you don't like Christianity in your fiction, this may not be a book for you. Otherwise, enjoy!

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Wish Authors Would Spend Some Time Doing Their Research, December 14, 2004

By 

Michael Hinkley "Mike" (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roanoke: The Lost Colony (Keepers of the Ring Series, No. 1) (Paperback)

My wife has enjoyed some novels by Angela Hunt, and I happened to pick this one up because I'm a history buff, with a special interest in the American colonial period. I'm sorry to say this, but this novel (and so many other 'historical' novels, alas) does not pass muster historically. With so many excellent histories of the English colonies, I would think the author could have spent some time boning up on her history of manners, religious practices, etc, before foisting this on the public. I realize that there is no arguing with the enjoyment of a novel--I mean, if you like the story and characters, you probably don't give a hoot whether it is historically accurate. But frankly the constant historical errors were too much of a distraction for me, and to be honest I did not find the characters very interesting. I am a Christian myself, but this and other 'Christian' novels give the impression that the writers have never actually heard real human conversations take place. They simply lack the ability to convince the reader that real people with real emotions are speaking to one another. That, and the lack of historical research, spoiled this for me.