Customer Reviews

Wind of the Spirit (The American Patriot Series, Book 3)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The third book in the American Patriot Series by J. M. Hochstetler is out and continues the saga of Elizabeth Howard and Jonathan Carleton. If you missed either of the first two books in the series, Daughter of Liberty or Native Son, I urge you to get a copy and read it before reading WIND OF THE SPIRIT. I found the series to be an accurate representation of history and recommend it to lovers of early American history.

In WIND OF THE SPIRIT, Elizabeth, also known as Oriole, continues her missions to gather information for General Washington. She misses her dear friend, Jonathan, and begins to wonder if the stories reaching her of a white Shawnee war chief called White Eagle might be Jonathan. She persuades their friend, Colonel Charles Andrews, to mount an expedition to the land of the Shawnees to see if White Eagle really is Jonathan and if so, to persuade him to return to assist the Colonials in their fight.

Jonathan has been adopted into the Shawnee tribe but has enemies in the tribe who feel he has not given up his white ways. One Shawnee, Wolfslayer, would like nothing more than to kill Jonathan.

WIND OF THE SPIRIT is one of those books that grab you and is difficult to put down to do other tasks. Loves of American History will find this story to mesh with actual history and will love the continuing story of Elizabeth and Jonathan. Please don't miss it.

J.M. Hochstetler is able to bring history to life with her exceptional prose and attention to detail. If you want a Last of the Mohicans type adventure with a hearty dose of romance and realism, buy these books! My only regret is that she doesn't write fast enough and there aren't enough books like hers! Wonderful, inspiring, educational reading! Bless you, J.M.! I use your books for my own research!

I could't wait to read book #3 of the American Patriots series by J.M. Hochstetler! It was so good to get reacquainted with these characters, following Elizabeth and Andrews as they searched for Jonathan and their startling reunion among his adopted people, the Shawnee. Hochstetler ramps up the drama at every turn, taking the reader through a full range of emotions. The only criticism comes in realizing we must wait for the next sequel to this compelling story! GREAT job, Hochstetler!

I have not had the opportunity to read the first two books in this series. Even though I missed a lot of the beginning, this book read very well on its own.



The year was 1776 when Elizabeth Howard and Brigadier General Jonathan Carlton was denied the permission to wed and were sent seperate ways in order to serve in the American Revolution war, she as a spy and had to dress as a boy so that she could get closer to the enemy and find out things that they may never be able to know otherwise.


Elizabeth continues to work for General George Washington and she begins to wonder if the stories reaching her of a white Shawnee war chief called White Eagle might be Jonathan.

Jonathan has been adopted into the Shawnee tribe but has enemies in the tribe that feels he hasn't given up his white ways. Wolfslayer, a Shawnee would like nothing more than to kill Jonathan.


Rich in history and full of adventure, romance, this book was a great read. Thanks to "Sheaf House Publishers" for sending me this book to review.

Jonathon Carleton has been adopted into the Kispekotha sect of the Shawnee tribe as the fearsome warrior White Eagle in the previous book, and Elizabeth Howard is a spy for General Washington among well-to-do British circles in New York City. They long for one another, but neither knows if the other has survived or still thinks fondly. Both have tempting love interests, but neither can commit their heart to another.

When mutual friend Charles Andrews arrives in New York to propose a trip west to find Carlton, Elizabeth jumps at the chance. Little does she know the adventure, danger, hardship and thrills awaiting her.

White Eagle/Carleton holds a fragile balance in the tribe between believers in Moneto's son, and those with murderous intent, set in their traditional ways. He must prove to the Shawnee his loyalty as his nemesis stirs up distrust and ill will toward him, by marrying a woman among the tribe.

When Elizabeth arrives, he is thrown into an impossible choice. Offend the people who have become his family, or forsake the love if his heart.

Rich in history, brilliant in imagery, evocative in beautifully written passages and resonant with characters who bring to life the longings of young, forbidden love, this book is the best of the American Patriot series so far. More of what I loved in Daughter of Liberty and Native Son, this brings the simmering love story and the dramatic backdrop of the American Revolution to full boil. Heartbreaking, riveting, promising, and engaging, this is a book I will not soon forget.

This book worked for me on so many different levels. Throughout my reading, I was impressed time after time with the amount of research that had to have gone into this book. The depictions of the Battle of Brooklyn Heights are interesting and personal--as a reader, I felt like I was there. I could feel the characters' fear and anxiety, and I cared about what happened. It's bloody and realistic, and I was riveted. I'm not usually that interested in battle sequences, but Ms. Hochstetler succeeds in keeping me from skimming through those parts as I have done in other books that focus on battles.

The other area that speaks to her in-depth research is her characterization of the Shawnee in this book. Her Shawnee characters are not just peripheral, one-dimentional characters--they are fleshed-out and real, with strong feelings and fears, loves, and hates. In other words, they are really a part of the story. Their part of the story is fictionalized, but many of the events depicted are very similar to events that occurred on the frontier at different times during the Revolution. I do know that the depictions of whites being adopted into the tribe are based in truth (Daniel Boone, for example, was adopted by a Shawnee chief during the war). And certainly any Native American group in close proximity to whites struggled with what aspects of white culture they should adopt and reject, and how they should deal with white settlers encroaching on their land.

Wind of the Spirit is so historically rich and well-researched, but I also really like the characters. They are complicated and are forced to deal with many heart-wrenching events, but through it all they try their best to keep their faith in God and in each other. The historical information is seamlessly incorporated into what is, at its heart, a love story, and it helps to give the story tension and reality. The descriptions in this book are even better than in the first book, which almost overwhelmed me with description in the beginning.

This is first-rate historical fiction with Christian themes. I definitely recommend it to those interested in historical fiction set during the American Revolution.

Blurb:
With the patriot forces on the brink of disaster, Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton, as the Shawnee war chief White Eagle, leads raids against the white settlers in Ohio Territory. Can Elizabeth Howard's love reclaim him from the savage bonds that threaten to tear him forever from her arms?

My Thoughts:
Wind of the Spirit is the first book of the American Patriot Series that I've read and I enjoyed the story very much. Even though it was obvious that I was missing much of the beginning, this book read very well on its own. Of course, now I have to read the first two books because I'm hooked.

Elizabeth Howard and Jonathan Carleton are intriguing characters. With multifaceted personalities, they give the story an emotional depth that might otherwise be missing.

J. M. Hochstetler acquaints us with the American Revolution in a way that brings this part of Colonial history to life. And if that were not drama enough, she presents through the eyes of Jonathan Carleton, as the adopted Shawnee War Chief White Eagle, the struggle of America's native tribes to retain their own lands and way of life.

This story mixes history, adventure, and romance into one powerful read.

My Favorite Quotes:

>"The man you seek is not here," he said, speaking now in English, his voice harsh. With a jerky movement of his head, he nodded toward the eastern edge of the forest. "He died far away a long time ago."

>Was it possible that Jonathan Carleton still existed somewhere in the soul of this enigmatic warrior? She prayed it was so.

Rating: 4.5/5

Once again, J.M. Hochstetler brings the past alive in her newest addition to her American Patriot Series. WIND OF THE SPIRIT is a wonderful blend of historical events and the fictional romance of characters Elizabeth Howard and Jonathon Carleton. If American History had been taught like this when I went to school, I'd have aced every test.

In J.M. Hochstetler's third novel in the American Patriot series, WIND OF THE SPIRIT ramps up the pace, adventure and passion as this tale set in the American Revolution continues. The odds against the rebels succeeding have drastically increased. Despite Elizabeth Howard's intelligence to General George Washington, British forces under General William Howe win the Battle of Brooklyn, sending the American militia into disarray. Fighting alongside her patriots as a young lad, Elizabeth is nearly killed before British troops capture her. Recognizing Generals Clinton and Cornwallis talking together about their plans to surprise the rebels, Elizabeth fears they will see through her disguise and realize she is the spy, Oriole. She whistles to her horse, Night Mare, who breaks free and runs straight to Elizabeth. She catches the trailing reins, vaults onto Night Mare's saddle and spurs her horse to jump the fence. She rejoins Washington's militia in time to escape to York Island with them, but their numbers are decimated. There she finds Colonel Charles Andrews, who tells her he is sure her love, Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton is not only alive but also the Shawnee war chief White Eagle. White Eagle's reputation for driving white settlers out of the Ohio territory is gaining British attention, and Charles convinces her that they must find the Indian chief before the British, who intend to hang him for treason.

With intense drama and brilliant prose, J. M. Hochstetler rivets readers through their journey to find Jonathan and to the Shawnee Indians' fight for survival that is as just a cause as the Americans' fight for independence. Captured and forced to live among the Shawnee when they try to convince Jonathan to return with them, Elizabeth and Charles come to love the `savages' just as Jonathan does, but White Eagles' enemy, Wolfslayer, endangers them all. In Jonathan's battle for supremacy over his Indian nemesis, Elizabeth faces he is more Indian than white and the lure of his people is stronger than even their love. Can she redeem him? We won't know until the next book comes out.

J.M. Hochstetler has set an incredible challenge to herself. By focusing on Elizabeth and Jonathan's love story through this series, she risks agitating readers' patience in seeing their love resolved. I know I'm beginning to feel the waiting as a torture. If it were not for her incredible writing, I would be scanning through the book to find out whether they indeed marry before I actually began reading the book. This may be a parallel lesson God asks of us when He seems to make us wait for answers while teaching us patience and trust.

The long-awaited continuation of Elizabeth and Carleton's story has arrived, and boy was it worth the wait. If you love history and romantic themes and find tribal culture fascinating, you will love this book. Wind of the Spirit carries you away--literally--to another time and place. The perfect combination of setting and fabulous wording pulled me into the story, and the emotional scenes kept me turning the pages. This story doesn't drag but keeps building while educating the reader about history at the same time. In regards to sensuality and tension--move over Deeanne Gist--cause Hochstetler goes places most CBA authors can't. However, the tension is so well done and is so beautifully written, I wouldn't change a thing. The author shows love as the holy experience it truly is . . . when it occurs the way God intended.

Not many books captivate me like this one did. I couldn't stop reading Wind of the Spirit because a good portion of the time and the story was filled with delicious conflict. It's honest and emotionally moving, not to mention daring and edgy. Plus, the passion the characters have for who they love is scrumptious. Wonderful story!