What a great book! This is a historical fiction novel at its finest but also a dual timeline novel and part of the Doors to the Past series! Can it get much better than that? Well, add in Laura Ingalls and I’m hooked!

I grew up reading the Little House books (and watching the TV show) much like the author of this story. I longed to be more like Laura. Well, now I’m a grown woman with kids of my own and I actually find myself wanting to be more like Ma Ingalls now! Bring on all the preserving and mending and baking etc.

But really there is a resurgence right now in women who want to be like those of yesteryear. They’re romanticizing it. This story isn’t doing that. It’s actually bringing out the other side of the pioneer life. The hardship and the real of what life was like.

And yet, there is romance of course!
I loved this story and really hope you take the chance and give it a read. You’ll love the dual timeline aspect. It’s great and doesn’t leave you with whiplash as you go back and forth. The past and the present are connected over the years and will both capture you within their depths.

This book is part of the Doors to the Past series. I’ve read them all. I’ve loved them all. And I loved this one too. I am forever in the debt of who ever came up with the idea for this series because they have all captivated me and made me fall in love with dual timeline historical fiction novels.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Laura’s Shadow by Allison Pittman is a must-read for everyone who is (or was) a fan of Little House on the Prairie. But it’s also a book for fans of multi-generational stories and romance and heartbreak and healing.

Pittman weaves the past and the present stories through a woman (Mariah who the author pulled from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books to give her own story to) in 1891 and her granddaughter Trixie in 1974. Both stories are well told and you feel connected to both of these heroines.

My favorite parts of this book were the author’s lyrical turns of phrase and the relationships between the women in Trixie’s family. They are different from generation to generation, yet we see how each one has shaped the women into who they are in the more modern timeline.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.

The author brought the setting and the characters to life quite realistically both in historical De Smet, South Dakota, circa Laura Ingalls Wilder’s time, and in modern-day De Smet in 1974. One elderly lady had once been a student of Laura’s. Now this woman’s great-granddaughter tries to unravel her story of what really happened once upon a time. Why does GG despise Laura?

I liked the dual timeline with the two tales and their connection, but I did not care for the immorality portrayed and that the woman who invited a man to her bed did not repent of the sin or seem to really recognize it as such. For that reason, I would not recommend the novel to younger readers or those who prefer a clean narrative. This drama does sound plausible but it was not something I expected to find in a book built around Laura Ingalls. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Her life will no longer be in Laura's Shadow...

Since Little House In The Big Woods the world has been fascinated by the life and fictionalized adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder. We've read the books, watched the TV show, made our own cornhusk dolls and snow candy...but what if there was a girl who, by circumstance and by choice, was lost in Laura's Shadow? What would it be like to always be eclipsed by your young schoolteacher even long after she were dead...

Like millions of little girls before me in the last 90 years I grew up on the Little House books. My mom read them to me when I must have been 5 or 6 and it wasn't long before I read them all for myself. When I discovered that Doors To The Past series that I've been enjoying since book one would have a story set in Laura's world, well, I was excited and intrigued. What I got from Allison Pittman was much more interesting than I could have ever anticipated...

Laura's Shadow untangles the lives and choices of 4 generations of women, from 1880s pioneer life on the prairie to the women's lib era of the 1970s. These women have loved, they have lost, and they have endured together as a family. I will date myself just a smidge by saying that I really liked Allison Pittman's daring change-up from the Doors To The Past series norm by setting her story in two separate historical eras – the late 1800s and the mid 1970s. It was different and it was fun to read.

There are many things I could say about Laura's Shadow but I think this is one you are just better reading it for yourself. Allison Pittman's take on the story is not a light and fluffy historical romance which I felt lent some real authenticity to it. Life isn't always easy and the choices we make are not always the right ones but, like Mariah, and even Trixie, we still do the best we can with what we are given. So, if you are looking for a book with some real poignant moments and some great song references may I recommend this ninth Doors To The Past novel...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

1891 & 1974 South Dakota

This time slip novels shine a fresh light on Laura Ingalls Wilder. The focus is on Mariah, a student in Laura's school. Mariah is jealous of Laura due to a love triangle for another student..Cap Garland. I was fully engaged in this 1891 story line and the details were revealed expertly. In the more current timeline, Mariah (GG) has a lot of spunk which I loved, but I didn't completely understand how things played out. Perhaps it was the author's intent to have readers fill in the blanks.

Loved the period details in the 1974 thread! So fun. GG's great granddaughter's story was a good one.

Even if I had not already committed myself to reading each of the Doors to the Past books (not out of obligation, but simply because it is another superb series by Barbour), I would not have been able to pass this one up. You see, the Laura in “Laura’s Shadow” refers to that Laura, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and like so many others, I too was enamored with the world of “Little House on the Prairie” as a child; I just never outgrew it. So when I realized that this ninth installment, penned by Allison Pittman, had a connection to that legacy, I was thrilled. Having read countless renditions of the pioneer story and of the Ingalls family in particular over the years, I went into this novel with a somewhat jaded curiosity, not expecting anything truly distinctive but ready to just enjoy a good story. Thus I was pleasantly surprised by how different this narrative proved to be.

Despite the link with Laura Ingalls, she is not the focal point. Rather, “Laura’s Shadow” is a character unto itself, always lurking in the background and serving as a reminder of the shadowed secrets of the past. Two timelines and four generations converge near De Smet, South Dakota in 1974 when Trixie Gowan gradually learns more about her 104-year-old great-grandmother Mariah’s life as a young woman in 1891. This provides a unique perspective on how an outsider may have seen Laura Ingalls, and it offers a speculative glimpse into Cap Garland, who had a crush on Laura and for whom Mariah developed feelings. Generational trauma and keen humor demonstrate that the line of unconventional Gowan women are as inspirational as they are tragic. As Trixie’s grandmother says, “Was there sin? Yes, but sin can be forgiven. Shame you drag around with you.” Coming to terms with the past and making peace with it are necessary regardless of the circumstances, and it is never too late to do so.

A few aspects of “Laura’s Shadow” that I most enjoyed include a witty romance that I won’t spoil by detailing and the “Lost Laura” cartoon, which epitomizes the struggles of both Mariah and Trixie, in my opinion. I found this latter to be such an interesting addition to the story, as well as a reminder of perseverance. The one thing that I wish had been more prominent is the Christian element, especially given the subject matter, which highlights the need for and beauty of redemption.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

I loved the Little House on the Prairie show growing up and though I have not read the book series yet, this story that tied with Laura Ingalls Intrigued me. Here we meet Mariah Patterson who was one of Laura’s students when Laura first started teaching. She watched, as a fourteen-year-old girl, her teacher Laura ride away with her love Almonzo. This was a romance she craved. Now years later Mariah loves a man whom she knows will never love her back. She knows this because he has told her and because he is still in love with Laura Ingalls Wilder, even though his good friend Almonzo married her. Then Mariah makes a fateful choice that will change her life forever.

Fast forward to the 1970’s and we have another girl, Trixie Gowan who is making her way in the world as far as she could get from her hometown and country life. Working at a newspaper and writing a comic strip, she is getting ready to get a big break when her great-grandmother needs her. She needs to tell Trixie her story. Trixie’s great-grandmother is Mariah, and she wants to tell her story of what it was like living in Laura’s shadow and the family secrets that follow.

This is at times a heartbreaking and witty novel. I liked seeing through the eyes of another character that knew Laura, if for a brief time. There is romance and Trixie must decide whom she will embrace. I liked how the author brought breath and life to a lesser-known character and what her life might have been like. This was a very unique story.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Laura’s Shadow, by Allison Pittman, is part of the Doors to the Past Series. This is a series of stand alone stories written by different authors that focuses on different parts in American history. This is a dual time line Christian historical romance story that is loosely based on Laura Ingalls Wilder. This story takes place mainly in De Smet South Dakota and focuses on the four generations of Gowan women. Mariah accepts a proposal from a man she does not love, to hide the fact she is with child from another man. She is now near her death and wants her great granddaughter, Trixie, to come home.

This is a heart warming story to read. It is so well written it is easy to imagine what is happening and easy to forget it is fiction. This story grabbed my attention right from the beginning and kept me reading to the end. I enjoyed the different ways the women make up the family unit and how they were affected by actions in their past. This story gives a look into what times was like during the 1890’s. I especially enjoyed Mariah’s interpretation of Laura Ingalls Wilder as a teacher and a young lady. As well as how she remembered how hard the times were, the cold and lack of food.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

Another good story in the Doors to the Past series. Dual time settings of the 1970s and 1890s. Family secrets are revealed as the story unfolds. I enjoy dual-time and historical fiction genres. Laura's Shadow was a good meld of the two. I listened to a library copy of the audiobook and Suzie Althens did a great job narrating Mariah and Trixie's stories.

I loved this story. Trixie and Mariah are great characters. I also loved Ron, Cam and Samantha. I loved Little House on the Prairie and really enjoyed the use of Laura Ingalls in this story. I laughed and cried and did not want to put this book down. I loved how this story was written and I loved that a lot of the story is in 1974. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Laura’s Shadow is written by Allison Pittman. This is book 9 in the Doors to the past series. The series is written by multiple authors. While this is part of a series, they are all stand alone books. I have read the entire series. The author did a great job bringing to life minor characters from Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. I was brought back to my childhood where I devoured all of her works.

In Laura's Shadow, our two time periods are 1890 in De Smut, South Dakota and 1974. I loved how the author built her story and changed between the periods flawlessly. Mariah is our 1890 character. She along with her brother, Charles have had a rough life. They lost their mom and then their dad and have had each other and had odd jobs to make ends meet. Charles eventually meets his future wife, and tries to introduce his sister to a new in town bachelor, and while Mariah entertains his company, she has a crush on someone else.... who has no intention on ever settling down. Our 1974 character is Trixie Gowan. She is the Great Great Grand daughter of Mariah. She works in newspaper and has created the comic strip Lost Laura which has become a hit. She has been summoned back home to De Smut and she fears that her great grand mother is about to pass. However, we start to see secrets start to unfold.

I felt the story was well written. It was an interesting perspective to De Smut, South Dakota and how some may have viewed Laura Ingalls Wilder. There is a scene where there sex outside of marriage and I felt the author handled it well. I have really been enjoying this series. I also loved Trixie's cat, House. He made me laugh.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

A dual timeline novel that delves into the world of America's most beloved prairie girl.

Written in Ms. Pittman's signature lush prose, with descriptions that make you want to pause and linger on the mental image, she brings to life briefly mentioned characters from the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder novel. I was intrigued by the premise, though at times it was hard to read because I could see the wheels churning in Mariah's head leading up to a choice she made and couldn't stop her. I think that readers should be warned that there is a fade to black sex scene, and I didn't find the way that it was dealt with in the aftermath satisfying for me personally.

Oddly in this dual timeline story I actually enjoyed the more contemporary story better, as Trixie decides between the familiar and taking a chance on something new. I loved her friendship with Ron, and his quirky charm.

Overall, I have really mixed feelings about this book. It definitely has a little of everything going on with forbidden love, love triangles, arranged marriages of convenience, Laura Ingalls, and family secrets revealed. Some things I really loved, and others I didn't. A story of love and longing, that does a great job bringing the South Dakota prairie to life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I read this story a little unsure if I would like it. I am not a fan of books that flip from the historical story to the modern day story. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book and each of the characters, The story begins with a young girl, Mariah, that is being taught by the famous. Laura Ingalls Wilder in her one room school house. How Laura impacts her life, not through teaching, but in a general way. The story then flips to 1974 and a young woman Trixie. As you read about each one, you can see how generations are connected and the impact of those relationships. I really like Trixie and her special talents and personality. Mariah had a sad story and I cried several times while reading about her experiences. As the story progressed, I became fully invested in each one. This was an intriguing and engaging story that provides for a surprise culmination of colliding generations. This is an excellent read and I would definitely recommend it. It is a clean read, but a realistic portrayal of these fictional characters.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are voluntary and unbiased and are entirely my own.

Laura’s Shadow by storyteller extraordinaire, Allison Pittman, was a not a thing what I was expecting, but I was not exactly sure what to expect. This is the ninth book in Barbour Publishing’s Doors to the Past, dual time series. Each installment is a stand-alone read. I have really enjoy this series.

Allison Pittman is a gifted wordsmith. Her stories are unique and often a bit gritty. She brought the 1890s and 1970s to life on the pages of her novel. I was captivated by her engaging story. This was a riveting page-turner, and I kept reading long into the night. I loved it.

The Laura in the book’s title refers to Laura Ingalls Wilder. In the 1890s section, we meet siblings Mariah and Charles. They are a close brother and sister pair used to taking care of each other. We briefly meet their teacher, Laura Ingalls. Contrary to what I have always thought, this book provides a view that she is not liked by everyone.

We meet Trixie, a newspaper comic strip creator, along with her mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. The four generations of women in that family each have had their own battles and have proven to be resilient. Trixie is able to learn some surprising family secrets after being called home.

There are so many life and spiritual lessons tucked into this remarkable book. This story has many twists to it that kept me guessing. Even though I finished this book days again it is still lingering in my mind.

I highly recommend this book. If you belong to a book club or reading group, this would be a fantastic selection. There is so much to discuss. It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

I am a big fan of Little House on the Prairie. I have all the books. I have the dolls. I watch the tv show. I even visited DeSmet, Iowa to visit their homes and grave sites.




I was eager to read this. I enjoyed the book. This is a book from the Doors to the Past Series. I liked how the author had two storylines going. I loved Mariah. Sad that women in the past were limited in their choices on how to live their lives. She was dependent on her brother and needed to lean on another to survive in the 1870s.

Mariah couldn't forget her first love. Trixie knew that she needed to let go of hers. Two women, different generations, different choices.



I received this book from Celebrate Lit to review.

“I used to worry about you, our little Trixie. Growing up in this house. None of us set a very good example of how to be a wife or mother. Almost like each of us could do one but not the other.”

Allison Pittman tends to write books just a little grittier than I expect, not quite the happily-ever-after that I often want, but, oh, the impressions her books leave behind!

Laura’s Shadow by Pittman surprised me in a few ways. I had never imagined people NOT liking Laura Ingalls (except for Nellie Olsen, but does she count?) So this took me aback. Then, I had another issue to overcome. Usually, a main character or such a prominent one is positively portrayed, but I really did not like Mariah much. She was a very bitter woman, who gave up what she could have for something she knew was out of reach and bounds. That said, there are a lot of unlikable people in life. So I really appreciated Mariah’s character. Her personality made this novel feel more like literature. Bold move, Ms. Pittman, bravo!

My heart just went out to each of these four women for different reasons. Each, except for Trixie, acted in such a way that I was sure I didn’t like her. Then, as Pittman reveals secrets and motivations one-by-one, like a slowly peeled onion, my feelings reversed. Perhaps that is why we are not to judge others. How can we really understand what they’ve been through, without knowing them deeply? Only God knows us that thoroughly.

I loved the romantic triangle. Another well-drawn sub-plot.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“That was a bald lie, but it seemed the thing to say, and the relief that washed across his face justified the sin.”

“Was there sin? Yes, but sin can be forgiven. Shame you drag around with you.”

“Life was exercise. We never got to stop moving until we died.”

“I knew the living child would be a piece of God’s mercy I could hold in my hands. I felt his love…I swallowed his forgiveness along with my unshed tears.”

“She’d been living with a decades-old broken heart, and that heart had been broken by Cap Garland.”

“I don’t know how many tomorrows I have left.”

“There’s nobody at this table with a right to throw stones.”

I loved it! This has a perfect combination of likable, relatable characters, a picturesque setting, dual timelines of 1891 and 1974, and references to a beloved childhood book series. It captured and held my attention throughout. The four generations of Gowan women and their love and respect for each other despite their differences, who each learns to thrive in any circumstances, sets them apart. Their uniquely personal stories are told with warmth and sensitivity.

Trixie is an artist for a publication called Neighborhood Newz in Minneapolis. Her creative drawings enhance client advertisements. She grew up in De Smet and left home for the big city but had met few people in the two years she has lived there. The main male in her life was House, the cat who came with the apartment. Trixie demonstrated adjusting to big city life in a comic strip she created, Lost Laura, in which a young woman with braids and wearing calico tried to adapt to Minneapolis. Her boss, Ronald, loved it and included it in the Newz.

Trixie has two life-changing events in one day. She received a letter from the owner of numerous large, national newspapers, wanting to acquire the rights to publish Lost Laura in their papers. Then, when arriving home, she had three messages to call her family. Her great-grandmother, GG Mariah, at 104, is dying, and has been in the care of Cam, a doctor. Trixie and Cam had dated seriously in high school and he broke her heart when he left for college and never contacted her again.

She didn’t know anyone who could watch her cat and called Ronald to see if anyone at work could look in on House. When he heard why, he offered to watch the finicky feline, and stayed at her apartment to keep him company.

Trixie drove home. Cam was there watching GG while his young daughter, Samantha, played quietly. When Trixie had time alone with GG, Mariah asked Trixie to get a book from her dresser, a first edition of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “These Happy Golden Years”. Trixie had loved and reread the series many times, but she had never seen the first edition.

GG and her brother were two of the five students Laura Ingalls had in a one-room schoolhouse in Silver Meadow, SD. GG was only a couple years younger than Laura. GG told Trixie only the minimum about herself because of a promise she made. What I read of Mariah’s life in 1891 broke my heart.

Reading about Trixie and her family in 1974 made me nostalgic for the music and groups, TV shows, Trixie Belden mysteries, and phones that must be plugged into the wall. I loved the women in this family who often rejected social norms but kept their faith. Ever the pragmatist, GG did not get mired in self-pity and learned to do whatever was necessary for survival. I think Trixie was her favorite of her family, especially when she asks only Trixie to take her for a special ride. Seeing GG’s joy in the borrowed Mustang was a highlight! I felt so many emotions throughout, from heartache to anger to joy! The ending was very satisfactory, and I appreciated what Trixie learned about GG, life and love, and what home really is. This fabulous novel has something in it for everyone who enjoys history, family sagas, and sweet romance, and I highly recommend it to women of all ages.

From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from Celebrate Lit and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I am enjoying reading through the Doors to the Past series and when I saw this one has a backstory focus of Laura Ingalls Wilder I was all in. Growing up of course I've read the Little House on the Prairie books.
The duel time line just flows effortlessly and is about Mariah, a student of Laura Ingalls in the historical time frame and we then see Mariah again in the later time frame of the 1970's as a woman over 100 years old requesting her great granddaughter Trixie Gowan visit her. The more Mariah tells Trixie the more secrets we hear revealed about her life.
Interesting read. This one will hold your attention from the first page through the last.

Pub Date 01 Aug 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

There is something very special about a dual-time split book. You get the best of two eras and find out how they relate to each other. The author is a master storyteller and keeps the story flowing with breathtaking scenes. The characters are easy to relate to and made me feel part of the story.

Mariah’s story set in 1890 is a spectacular look at a time when a very familiar name arises. I have loved Little House on the Prairie books since I was a child. The simple life and farms they grew up on has always fascinated me. Getting to know Mariah better was a bit of history mixed with fiction. Mariah’s childhood was surrounded by school and her teacher Mrs. Wilder. Perhaps she had a little animosity towards Mrs. Wilder or was it jealousy? It’s funny that the story tells us that Laura wanted to be a teacher yet we discover she never really liked it.

The relationship between Mariah and Oscar were very sweet and I enjoyed how they slowly started to feel comfortable around each other. I liked how we get to see how Mariah longs for a husband but doesn’t really share that with her brother. She wants her brother to be happy in his new marriage and perhaps it is time for her to start her own journey. The author reveals secrets that have long been hidden by Mariah. What impact will they have on Trixie?

Trixie rushes home because she has been summoned with the knowledge that her great grandmother is very ill. What she finds when she arrives is a very lively older woman who wants to spend time with Trixie. To me this was the real story as Trixie soon discovers things about her family that was locked away for years. There are a few funny moments in the story which shows the author’s ability to lighten up a story at just the right time. With Trixie back home there a few to many in the house and their personalities clash. Poor Trixie is trying to find out the real reason she is here without having to endure the little remarks about her still being single.

Cam and Trixie have a past which somehow took them in different directions. Learning about Cam’s life now made me really like him. Raising his daughter has softened him and his priorities have changed. He feels it is important to bring his daughter to church and raise her in a loving home. I was sad that his mother was ashamed of her granddaughter but during the 1970s having a child out of wedlock was disgraceful to some. I guess they don’t remember the scripture, “Ye without sin cast the first stone.”

The story has captured my love of stories that go back and forth in time. I wanted to stay with Mariah as she dealt with a secret that made some people turn against her. I was upset with her sister-in-law as she tried to shame Mariah. But most of all I cried for the love she yearned for. The author does a great job of giving us a look at a story that was well known and capturing what could have been.

Trixie surprised me with who she came to depend on and I loved how the author focused on the special relationship of great-grandmother and Trixie but also a new beginning where Trixie finds true happiness. I’m sorry to see the story end but I’m hoping we get to visit these characters again.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Laura’s Shadow by Allison Pittman is a dual timeline story. The story moves between 1890 with Mariah and 1974 with Trixie Gowan. Personally, I enjoyed Trixie’s storyline more. She is an artistic woman who used her talent to create a comic strip titled “Lost Laura” for the local newspaper where she works in advertising. Trixie is called home when her great-grandmother, Mariah takes to her bed. GG as Trixie calls Mariah has something she wishes to share with Trixie and not the other members of the family. The pacing is gentle as we follow Trixie and Mariah as they go about their daily tasks. I liked the older Mariah’s spirit. I can see why Trixie was drawn to her. I was surprised by a scene in the 1890s where an unmarried woman had intimate relations with a man. I understand why it was included, but I did not expect it in a Christian novel (it is not a detailed scene). I like the author’s descriptive writing which provides details that help me envision the scenes and characters. It was interesting to see a different take on Laura Ingalls Wilder and Oscar “Cap” Garland. I just love the Little House series (I own the whole set) which was why I wanted to read Laura’s Shadow. I liked Trixie’s family and Ron, her boss. I appreciated the epilogue which wrapped up Laura’s Shadow and the author’s note. Laura’s Shadow is the ninth novel in the Doors to the Past series. Each book in the series can be read on its own. Laura’s Shadow is a nostalgic tale with a dependable brother, a petite teacher, joyous sleigh rides, a hopeful heart, an honorable man, a long life, a last longing, and a surprising secret.