Wings of a Dream [Paperback]

Anne Mateer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2011

Debut Author Delivers Sweet Heartwarming Historical Fiction

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of a life far beyond her family's farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promised adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he's the man she's meant to marry. While she waits for the Great War to end and Arthur to return to her so they can pursue all their plans, her mother's sister falls ill. Rebekah seizes the opportunity to travel to Texas to care for Aunt Adabelle, seeing this chance to be closer to Arthur's training camp as God's approval of her plans.

But the Spanish flue epidemic changes everything. Faced with her aunt's death, Arthur's indecisiveness, and four children who have no one else to care for them, Rebeka is torn between the desire to escape the type of life she's always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of a life far beyond her family's farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promises adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he's the man she's meant to marry.

While she waits for the end of the Great War and Arthur's return, her mother's sister falls ill. Rebekah seizes the opportunity to travel to Texas to care for Aunt Adabelle, sure that her glamorous and exciting life is about to start.

But the Spanish flu epidemic changes everything. Faced with her aunt's sickness, Arthur's indecisiveness, and four children who have no one else to care for them, Rebekah discovers she must choose between her desire to escape the type of life she's always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart.

About the Author

Anne Mateer is a three-time Genesis Contest finalist who has long had a passion for history and historical fiction. She and her husband live near Dallas, Texas, and are the parents of three young adults.

Product Details

• Paperback: 319 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764209035
• ISBN-13: 978-0764209031
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #853,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Anne Mateer has loved reading and writing historical fiction since childhood. In 2000, she began studying and working to hone her craft, finally resulting in a publishing contract in May of 2010. Along the way she reached the finals of ACFW's Genesis contest three times and saw her short essay, "Let it Snow", published in A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts.

Anne Mateer lives in Texas with her equally history-obsessed husband. They have three children, now in various stages of high school and college, who have spent many a family vacation touring historical sites.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Good but Oh so sad in places! March 11, 2012

By Susan K. Edwards

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was a hard book for me as it where I love historical and Amish Christian books so very, very much. With this I realize there is most often a degree of heartbreak in a book, that I understand as life itself has more than its share of ups and downs. What I have trouble with is when there is so much unhappiness in a book that you have to look for the degree of happiness ... I read for enjoyment and when it is all or mostly unhappiness ... it loses something for me. This book I felt had just too much unhappiness for me. I realize that this was a time that there was a lot of unhappiness but I sure would have like to have seen it mixed with more happiness .. even her romance wasn't very happy ... and if that had been I know that would have in my mind made this book so much more enjoyable.As I realize that the Spanish Flu was a horrible time and so many lives were lost ... understandably that was a period of time of real hardship and heartbreak ... but if Rebekah could have had a happier life somewhere thoughout this book ... that is all this needed.

Rebekah was unhappy with her life with her Mother, all her suitors, and life itself ... so many disappointments ... all while struggling with the losses of so many during this horrible flu ... too much of a downer for me. Frank, was actually too much on the sidelines for much of the book ... I wish he could have been a bit more involved and enjoyable. On the other hand .... the way Rebekah took it upon herself to raise these precious little ones and did fall in love with them ... that is why "I liked" the book ... the relationshps she developed with the children carried the book for me otherwise ... I would have given this book a much lower rating.

I am sure there are others that will be able to overlook all this unhappiness and will get great enjoyment out of this book and for that I am glad. I always feel a bit guilty when I don't really, really enjoy a book as much as I would like as I know that an author puts their heart and soul into these books .. but this is my honest review of this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable new book by Anne Mateer August 25, 2011

By Sarah Walker

Format:Paperback

I loved this sweet book about Rebekah's journey to the realization that everything she was searching for was right in front of her all the time. It is beautifully written and draws you in from the very start. I read a lot of historical fiction but had never read a book centered around the Spanish Flu epidemic, so it was nice to see something fresh and different. A very enjoyable read start to finish!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Original setting. Timeless story. August 25, 2011

By Regina Jennings

Format:Paperback

When Rebekah Hendricks' suitor leaves Oklahoma for aviator training in Dallas, the months ahead of her look bleak. Struggling against the uncertainties of World War I, Rebekah dreams of the day when Arthur will return and she can start her real life with him. In the meantime, she goes to help her widowed aunt in Texas with the hope that her sweetheart will visit from his training base nearby.

Rebekah arrives at her aunt's to find the town devastated by the Spanish flu epidemic. Not only is Aunt Adabelle deathly ill, but Rebekah discovers that Aunt Adabelle is the sole caregiver of four motherless children and until their father returns from the war Rebekah is the only one able to care for them.

Frustrated at times by her inability to escape, Rebekah shoulders the burden and waits for Arthur to make good on his promises to whisk her away, but the longer he delays the more she feels bound to remain with the children until their father comes home.

This story has a gentle pace that contrasts with the hardship and desperation that Rebekah faces. Mateer's description of a town under the ravages of the Flu Epidemic of 1918 is chilling, but tempered by warm neighbors and the bonds that grow between Rebekah and the children. Isolated by fear and a scarcity of healthy adults, readers will sympathize with Rebekah's difficulties and cheer her determination. And even after the passing of the epidemic and the end of the war, Mateer doesn't let the story sag, but introduces the best complication in the form of a war-weary father who isn't sure what to do with the young woman who has earned his children's love.

Excellent read. I highly recommend it.