Elinor Dare arrived in the New World pregnant and full of hope for the future. She, along with her husband, her father, and the other settlers who’d made the voyage, are ready for a new start, even with the difficulties that come from being dropped off in the wrong location. The island of Roanoke will be their home, at least for a time, but as history tell us, that colony did not fare well in that location. Though its true fate is still a mystery, in this book, Shannon McNear offers a possible glimpse into the colonists’ fate.

The idea of exploring what might have happened to the lost colony of Roanoke was really intriguing to me. And it’s clear, both from the book itself and from authors’ notes before and after the book, that McNear did her research. The atmosphere she painted really took me back to that time. However, the plot moved very slowly for the first half of the book, and I really struggled to get through it. I was confused about the title focusing on Elinor, when it seemed to be about so much more than her—her father’s and husband’s points of view were shown about as often as hers, and then sometimes a Native American from an opposing tribe. I was really uncertain about what the true plot was for a while.

Then just after the halfway point, a major event happened, and the story hurtled forward. It was a plot point I fully expected, but it came much later than I expected or would have preferred, considering the synopsis and that one of the genres the book is listed as is romance. I almost put the book down then, because I knew where the book was going, and I really didn’t want to go through it. But I kept going, and the 2nd half of the book came through for me better than I expected.

One of the things that I liked most about the book was the spiritual journey that Sees Far, the Native American I mentioned earlier, went through. I would have liked to see that fleshed out more in the second half, and the first half pared down. I like McNear’s writing in the couple of books of hers I’ve read so far, but this time, for me, the story just got bogged down by the history. However, I do think a lot of fans of history and Christian fiction will like this book.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by Barbour Publishing Group.

Fair warning. When I review books, I always try to find the positives, even if there aren’t things that I enjoyed about a book. But there are those occasions when I do not enjoy the book and I will tell you the reasons why. I am not doing it to be mean–these are just my thoughts. Also, TRIGGER WARNING: Harmful and Racist slurs pertaining to the Indigenous Peoples.

“It was, truly, tedious and very wearing.”

ELINOR
This quote sums up my feelings for Elinor by Shannon McNeer. I had to take some time before writing this review because when I finished the book, I was angry. This is the Goodreads Blurb:

“A Journey Full of Hope…
Escape into a riveting story based on the mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke.

Author Shannon McNear portrays history with vivid authenticity.

In 1587, Elinor White Dare sailed from England heavy with her first child but full of hopes. Her father, a renowned artist and experienced traveler, has convinced her and her bricklayer husband Ananias to make the journey to the New World. Land, they are promised, more goodly and beautiful than they can ever imagine. But nothing goes as planned from landing at the wrong location, to facing starvation, to the endless wait for help to arrive. And, beyond her comprehension, Elinor finds herself utterly alone. . . .
The colony at Roanoke disappeared into the shadows of history. But, what if one survived to leave a lasting legacy?”

It definitely caught my attention –and that cover!! It is GORGEOUS! I was hoping for mystery and intrigue. Is that what I got? Nope. Do you want to know what I got? I got the typical racist narrative: those poor white Christian colonials, they just want the land they feel entitled to? But no, it is the Natives that are hostile. And golly, they don’t even know Jesus. So let us kick them off their land, murder them, strip them of their culture and treat them as animals and not as humans.—Because that is what God would want.

The Native peoples are seriously villainized in this story. The term, “savage” is used multiple times on every page. Now, the author tries to justify this by saying this is what John White called them in historical documents, she is just trying to be historically accurate. Ok, fine. But this word occurs when John White isn’t around or in dialogue. It is repeated constantly within the narrative. There is no excuse. There is a way to be historically accurate without being harmful to the Indigenous Peoples. And people wonder why we need to rethink the way we teach history. But as I was reading the author’s notes, she really tries to justify the way she wrote this book. She even discusses how hard it is for white people to write about other cultures without being harmful. Then proceeds to talk about how she thinks Hamilton and Bridgerton are cultural appropriations. I am not making this up, it is in her notes.

Before I wrap this up here are a few other thoughts. It is slow and way too preachy. The characters were bland and stiff. I tried to find some positives. I really did. This is a no for me. 1 out of 5 stars.

Heavily pregnant Elinor, her husband and father land on Roanoke, eager to embrace a new world. Landing in a dangerous place, with little resources and hostile Indians, Elinor's father sails back to England for supplies and to report on the situation. This book imagines what happened to the lost colony at Roanoke through the eyes of Elinor.

This was a well written and engaging story. The characters were multi-dimensional, and very realistic. The story moved at a nice pace, holding my interest. I would love to read more from this author. Overall, highly recommended.

This book was very moving and poignant. It was a wonderful historical novel, that kept you wondering what would happen next and how the story would end. It was about life in the late 1500's. I think I am glad I didn't live then, forging the way for those that were yet to come.
This book was a true page-turner. It was a wonderful story with good and bad times. The book description says the book is riveting. Yes, it totally was. The book tells of loss, and actual historical events as it moves along. The story brings in the trust and reliance of God and is a great book for Christian fiction appreciators. The characters were believable and realistic in their search of a place to practice religious and other freedoms. I totally enjoyed the book and felt it was well written and presented history in a very well researched manner.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour publishing and NetGalley and was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Most gracious God, make me strong enough, wise enough, for this.

What a compelling story - one you certainly will not put aside! The detail is absolutely superb, to the point of making me short of breath as I was reading. This is a story of redemption, of belief in the promises of God and the opportunity of living out that conviction regardless of what is happening to you and around you. I found this novel incredibly thought provoking, wondering if I would have had even a tiny portion of the courage Elinor had when faced with a bleak future.

Settling in a land far from all that was known brought many challenges to this group of courageous colonists. The author has done extensive research into this lost colony, giving the reader pause for consideration of what occurred back in 1587 and beyond. Would that we could look back into the annals of this great country and know more.

This ARC was received through Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. These thoughts and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

Really good historical fiction about the account of Roanoke.
The characters were well done and the plot was engaging.

This is a wonderful book that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. It's a beautifully written romance that combines fact with fiction that made for an excellent read. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A lovely tender and also raw fictional tale in what might have happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke. The story came alive as fiction was melded seamlessly with historical elements.

The Englis planters on a new adventure are thrown into the unknown elements of The New World and lean only on their strength, talents, and faith in God to provide hope for a new beginning. Their lives are met with uncertainty, tragedy, and pain which tests their faith.

Elinor is a haunting story that will run the gamut of your emotions, as you are driven forward to delve into its pages. You won't forget the Lost Colony of 1587, long after you close the last page. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily choose to review it.

In the beginning, I had a difficult time getting into this story —I’m not a fan of the “Queen’s English “. I believe it to be historically accurate. I would not have wanted to be one of the early settlers in America—times were often difficult.

Get ready to get lost in this fantastic book! It's amazing!
I wasn't able to put this down so I ended up finishing this book in one day!
I love history! This is definitely history that we don't get to read much about and thought the author really out done herself on this one.
My favorite character was Sees Far. I loved seeing things from his point of view as well as Elinor's.
I feel like Sees Far was a good person. He truly is a remarkable character.
5 star s for excellent writing and for making this story realistic. And for making me a part of this wonderful story. I really didn't want it to end. I hope there will be more to come.
I'd like to know what happened after John White left the New World.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

If you are a history lover, settle down into this one. I am a huge history buff and enjoy reading about true events and how an author manages to fictionalize them without damaging the integrity of the event. Shannon McNear tackles a fascinating event here: the lost colony at Roanoke. I would love to know what actually happened to these people. McNear’s research is impeccable as always and I know history buffs will enjoy this one.

My thanks to Barbour fir a copy of this book. The opinion here is my own.
5 likes

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but I must say, I was very pleased. Shannon McNear brought the characters to life in a very interesting way. She showed that people from different backgrounds are still the same. You have the compassionate, the selfish, and every other personality you can imagine in every group of people.

The story, though fictional, is a good idea of what may have happened. It is believable. The word pictures are well done also.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a Christian theme, you will enjoy this book. I give it a solid 4 out of 5-star review.

What happened to the lost colony of Roanoke? In this beautifully written historical romance, author Shannon McNear takes us on a journey of possibilities.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book. The author introduces us to Elinor White Dare, who, along with her husband Ananias and her father, journeys to the New World with other colonists, never expecting things to go from bad to worse.

No one knows what happened to the lost colony of Roanoke, but the author has given us fiction that is so real, I wonder if the colony was not so much lost, but more likely never found. The research into this novel is evident and vast. The author did a remarkable job sharing facts, moulding fiction into it and making me believe the events as described actually happened. Elinor is a true heroine, and the circumstances of her life show the guts and determination of those who set out across the ocean to a vast and mysterious land.

I was captivated by this story. If you like history and romance, I highly recommend Elinor.

"...these people showed more fruits of being true followers of God than those in England who attended church faithfully and quoted scriptures..."

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I am completely obsessed with early colonial America, especially the lost colony of Roanoke... honestly I'll read anything that deals with the topic. Elinor is the story of the first governor of Virginia's daughter who crosses the Atlantic with her husband to build the first settlement. What they encounter is a harsh climate and unsettled relations with the natives of the area. This particular story covers the first handful of years after their arrival. After a short settlement period, Elinor's father departs back to England to update Sir Raleigh and request more supplies. He ends up stuck there as England is drawn into war with Spain and the settlement must go on without him. Elinor and her husband are quite religious and so the story relies heavily on their faith and desire to convert others. As they face hurricanes wiping out their settlement, they must move due to the salt tainted land. They find themselves embraced by one group of natives while others want vengeance for bringing sickness to their people. Elinor goes through some terrible trials and yet her faith shines through as she endures. Her resilience and desire for peace and forgiveness are unlike anything I've ever seen.

This novel is loosely based on the true happenings of the colony as we have the governor's surviving writings. I love that we get a story that is written in the language of the time but is also very readable. The author is clear that she used spellings and wording of the time although our understandings have evolved. I appreciated that level of detail. Handling the relationships of the colonists and the natives is hard but I feel like this was a fair representation of how misunderstanding and differing world views really defined the challenges and sometimes bloodshed of the era. Yet, there is also kindness, a desire to connect and hope.

Thanks to Netgalley for access. All opinions above are my own.

For a fictional story, this read is full of facts, and we are walking in their shoes.

This is the birth of the first baby Virginia Dare, but this story is so much more. We are with Elinor White Dare, Virginia's mother, and her journey to set her feet in Roanoke already expecting Virginia, and traveling with her husband and her father.

These people did not have easy lives, and there is so much happening, but they show a great faith in God.

Through the eyes of the author you will find out what happened to the lost Colony of Roanoke.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

A beautiful story with a strong and courageous heroine. I couldn't put this down! Beautiful writing kept me turning the pages!

I have long been interested in this subject. This is just a fascinating look at it. The lost Roanoke Colony continues to fascinate hundreds of years later.

The Lost Colony of Roanoke has always held a fascination for me. In this fictional account Ms. McNear tells an interesting story of what could have happened to the people who settled there. Using source documents and weaving them throughout the story made this believable and interesting.

The story centers around Elinor Dare’s experiences, her joys and struggles as she begins her life in a very different world than that of London. When the colony is attacked and Elinor is taken prisoner, you see what true mettle she has. Losing her family, working in a copper mine, and becoming a slave are a few of the things Elinor endured. She chose to trust God to see her through it all. Elinor was an embodiment of her name, “light”, as she shared her faith through her extremely difficult trials with her captor, Sees Far.

I appreciated Ms. McNear’s end notes on the actual people and events that happened. It was helpful to be able to read about what was true so I can do further research myself. If you are a person who likes Early American history and Christian fiction, this will be a book for you. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher of a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Elinor by Shannon McNear is a historical fiction based on the lost colony of Roanoke and takes place in the late 1500’s. Elinor Dare sails to the New World along with her father, John White, and new husband, Ananias and others from England expecting to make their home in this new land. They have to contend with storms, floods, lack of food and enemies. The author did a wonderful job of keeping my attention as the characters built their community and then had to relocate, made friends with one of the Indian tribes and fought off attacking ones. It was an intriguing book that kept my attention from beginning to end.

I enjoy reading historical fiction and look forward to the end of a book which shares historical facts which occurs in Elinor. I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing and Net Galley and was under no obligation to post a review.

I love historical fiction, but for me this felt more like a non-fiction book with conversation. I really appreciate how accurately the author tried to portray the language spoken and spellings, but it became confusing and felt very dry. There were long extended passages of sermons that I felt could have been condensed. If you are interested in the historical facts of Roanoke then you would enjoy this book. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.