THE CROSSING AT CYPRESS CREEK is the third book in the Natchez Trace series by PAM HILLMAN, and follows after The Road to Magnolia Glen. It can, however, easily be read as a stand alone.
In this novel we come across Caleb O'Shea, newly arrived in America after surviving danger on land and sea, who unexpectedly lands up with his brothers at their logging camp. He also meets the enigmatic Alanah Adams, who is one moment a beautiful young lady and the next a filthy wild girl with a large bow with arrows, and who knows how to use it!
It is a story of forgiveness, reconciliation, and legalistic religion as opposed to true Christianity. It is very exciting and hard to put down. It is an historical novel and we get to see what life was like in the area during the eighteenth century. It was truly a case of"the survival of the fittest" in Cypress Creek
The characters are very well portrayed, from the O'Shea brothers who are so very Irish, to Alanah and Lydia with their nursing ability, to the rough loggers, the very large Tiberius, fearful little Betsy and Uncle Jude, the conflicted man of God, to name a few. Of course there are also the villains - Micaiah and Elias Jones and the river pirates - all together making up an excellent read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own