I came away from reading this book with strong mixed emotions. The three women of three generations of the story all face their own trials and uncertainties. AsTrixie’s great grandmother, Mariah, is over 100 years old and ready to talk about her past with Trixie. She was a student of Laura Ingalls and believes the class was not favorably portrayed in the stories she wrote. As the story progresses we learn more about why she is not a big fan of Laura and how her life was affected. Choices Mariah made also affected future generations of Gowan family. Trixie gains a new understanding of love and relationships that nay change the course of her life.
I found the story to be emotionally draining at times and the characters quirky yet true to life. Mariah is especially loveable as she is nearing the endorsement of life and yet so full of life and wanting to share her truth with Trixie. Trixie is conflicted and very indecisive about taking risks. Will Mariah’s story entice her to take chances in her own life?
I give it 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is an intriguing novel…historical fiction and present time. I do not usually like the divided times, but this author has woven a story that keeps me wanting to know what happens next in each time period. I admit I get mixed up with some of the characters, but I like the story so much I can’t put it down. Some of my favorite books include The Little House Series…I read them frequently. This is another take on that story. The book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher. Curl up in a comfy chair, have a cup of steaming herbal tea with a scone…enjoy the journey.

It usually takes me a while to get into books that have two different timelines going on at the same time. They are not my first choice when deciding what to read, but that being said, I did enjoy the book.

A positive review was not required for this complimentary book I received from NetGalley and the publisher. All words and opinions are my own.

The author brings to life some minor characters included in Laura Ingalls Wilder stories set in South Dakota. Readers who loved the Little House books will enjoy Trixie's quest to help her great grandmother and find out the secret that Mariah has held for years. The was not one of my favorite Doors to the Past story.

LAURA’S SHADOW by ALLISON PITTMAN is a historical romance novel which takes place in 1890 and 1974, and the story flows between the two time frames.
Trixie Gowan, the fourth generation of living Gowan women, takes time off from her job at Neighbourhood Newz in Minneapolis to go to her family’s home in De Smet South Dakota, to see her 104 year old great grandmother GG Mariah, who seems to be fading fast. She is close to GG and is hoping to hear the secret that has caused the deep sadness in GG’s life, and also why they are forbidden to mention Laura Ingalls’ name.
Although there is a lovely sense of family when the four women are together, in both time frames the characters’ families are decidedly dysfunctional.
I like this author’s style of writing.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I wasn't sure how I would like this book, but I am so glad I sat down and read it! Allison Pittman can bring the past to life, both on the plains of the 1800's and the 1970's of America. The romance is sweet, and she make's the character's emotions and personalities so real, its like they are sitting across from you, not on the page. Overall, a great read and one in a series that I will definitely be checking out.

This book is not what I was expecting and surprised me both ways positively and negatively
I was expecting a re write of Laura or a sort of fictional bioeticiste and it wasn’t
Well written well edited nevertheless parts are boring and too long descriptions of daily tasks dual POV is not for me but well done
3 stars
I just reviewed Laura's Shadow by Allison Pittman. #LaurasShadow #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL] Edit

Part of the wonderful Doors to the Past series, Allison Pittman's "Laura's Shadow" follows two timelines but with two important differences. The action in the "present" timeline actually happens in 1974, and a character from the "past" is still alive (these are not spoilers.) The result is an intriguing blend of TWO historical time periods.

Laura Ingalls Wilder, who appears only briefly, has indeed taken up residence inside former student Mariah Patterson's head, and for better or worse, affected her more than one would think. My personal knowledge of Laura Ingalls Wilder extends no further than the television show "Little House on the Prairie". While creative license is taken here, a glimpse into the life of the actual Cap Garland is nonetheless interesting.

Trixie Gowan is a sweet and whimsical character with two potential love interests. Pittman's research into 1974 history is detailed, something to which I can personally attest. I found Mariah Patterson unlikable, as I did most of the 1890's timeline characters. Maybe this is an unfair assessment, as Mariah had a very tough childhood and South Dakota was harsh.

That being said, characters are well-drawn and imagery is vivid. Allison Pittman's prose is enjoyable. Although this novel is clean, an indiscretion is an important plot point. I greatly look forward to the next installment in the Doors to the Past series. I've read all of the books so far. They are unrelated, and can be read in any order.

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC of this pleasing novel.

3 ⭐️

While there were some aspects of Laura's Shadow that I did appreciate, one of them being the author's writing style and character development and another being the pacing of the story (especially considering this book is about 70-100 pages shorter than full-length novels, the pacing of events was very well done). However, this read wasn't for me, honestly.

There was one scene that kept me from giving this book a higher rating, and I feel it's important to share this content warning. About halfway into the story, one of the main characters has sex outside of marriage with a man who already told her he doesn't love her nor would he marry her and ends up getting pregnant. The girl (Mariah) is doing this as a way to fill the sudden loneliness of her brother being married. Of course, if I were in Mariah's shoes, without parents and my only brother getting married, I, too, would have felt loneliness and struggled with that sudden change. However, in Christian fiction, I wish authors wouldn't include "fade-to-black scenes" when it comes to sex. Although the author kept this "clean" (only describing the moments leading up to it, Mariah needing Oscar's help unbuttoning her dress, and a few brief descriptions of words Oscar told her that night and how they held each other), I wish this had been handled differently. I believe that even in fiction, it's *so* important for authors to set good examples. I'm by no means saying having perfect characters who make perfect decisions because that's not realistic at all. What I'm saying is that I would have given this book a higher rating if Mariah had been tempted to spend a night in her bedroom with Oscar but not gone through with it.

As I stated above, this scene didn't have explicit content, so if fade-to-black scenes don't bother you, then you'd probably give this book a higher rating and enjoy it more than I did! For me, personally, it just made me a bit uncomfortable reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of Laura's Shadow. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.

3.5 stars
Laura’s Shadow by Allison Pittman shares a different story about Laura Ingalls Wilder, the widely popular prairie writer. The two time periods were interesting and filled with a pending revelation that readers will eagerly flip the pages hoping to discover. The past story was the one that really captured my attention. Of course, it was the actual story that the present day story was alluding to. I kept waiting for GG to explain to Trixie what the big secret was. A little disappointing at the moment of the “revealing”, but I do not want to share any spoilers. This was a unique story, which put Wilder in a different light, but it won’t tarnish her reputation. On the other hand, the romance in both timelines were a little off-setting. The present one definitely more than the past one. I did not buy the romance in the current day story at all. It was a weird and left a bad taste in my mouth. As for the past romance, the idea of Mariah’s brother and how he treated her once he became married really rubbed me the wrong way. Not that it does not happen because it does all the time. I just did not like to read it that way. Did not go well for Mariah in the story. Overall, Laura’s Shadow by Allison Pittman does definitely introduce readers into a Door into the Past, but I wanted a better ending to the revelation of the big moment that tied the two time periods together.

I received a complimentary copy of Laura’s Shadow by Allison Pittman from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

I just adore these "Doors to the Past" series books! This book is another great story!

I really enjoyed this story. It's told in two parts - in 1890's South Dakota prairie told by Mariah and 1970's told my her great-granddaughter, Trixie, who lives in Minneapolis as a cartoon artist. Trixie is called home, being told her GG is dying and wants to see her one more time. She arrives to find that may have been a ploy to get her home because GG has a secret she wants to share with only her. And it's about Laura - as in Laura Ingalls - and how Mariah knew her when Laura was her teacher. And the history not told in the books Laura went on to author. It's a really neat look at Laura and a great mystery for Trixie to help solve.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

First sentence from the prologue: The schoolhouse was nothing more than a shack, with sunlight and drifting snow blowing through the spaces between the thin, rough-cut slats.

Laura's Shadow, the newest novel by Allison Pittman, has dual timelines: 1891 and 1974. One story (the 1974 story) focuses on Trixie Gowan, a young cartoonist (and ad writer), her cartoon "Lost Laura" may be on its way to becoming syndicated. It is about a "prairie girl" lost in the modern world. The other story focuses on Mariah Patterson, a devoted sister who's about to faces some major personal challenges when she gives her heart (and body) away to the super dashing yet elusive "Cap" Garland.

The premise of this one is that Trixie's great grandmother (the 104 still very much living great-grandmother, GG Mariah) was one of Miss Ingalls' pupils. She was renamed Martha in These Happy Golden Years. And Mariah did NOT like how Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about her teaching days. For as long as Trixie can remember, Mariah has hated Laura Ingalls Wilder. But is there more to this story than just how the pupils were depicted? Now that Mariah is dying (in 1974), she's trusting one woman--her great-grand-daughter, Trixie, with her closely held secret... She's not ready to reveal all to her daughter-in-law, Eugenie, or her granddaughter, Alma, just her great-grand-daughter, Trixie.

Dual timelines, dual narrators, alternating chapters. Usually I hate, hate, hate this technique. But in this case, it worked for me. I actually was enjoying BOTH timelines equally.

I loved Trixie going back to her family home in De Smet, South Dakota, and spending time with her great-grandmother. I loved Trixie's romance. I loved the family dynamics. I almost wanted *more* of the family dynamics. We *really* get to know two of the four generations. But I would have loved to see more of how Eugenie and Alma fit into the family's legacy. Another thing I loved was all the culture/music references. Pittman does a great job with bringing to life the 1974 setting. I especially love that the book ends with the whole family (minus one) watching the premiere of the television show Little House on the Prairie.

I was enjoying Mariah's narrative...until I wasn't. I would say for 80% of her chapters I was like THIS IS SO GOOD. Mariah is 100% fictional. If there was a Charles and Martha (I can't remember if These Happy Golden Years gave them a last name) in history, they faded out of the records quickly. Perhaps they were composite characters. Maybe first and last names were changed. Because they are record-less, Pittman has taken full liberties with their characters, their stories. "Cap" Garland (Oscar Garland) is NOT fictional. He was a real person. There are real facts and details actually known about him. (Including HOW and WHEN he died.)

For better or worse, I made the mistake of looking up Oscar "Cap" Garland about halfway through the book. It changed how I experienced the rest of the novel. On the one hand, I think it prepared me. On the other hand, I knew what was coming. For the faint of heart, I do recommend knowing before you get to the END.

Side tangent: This is definitely published by a Christian publisher--Barbour--BUT I feel that 99.99% of this one could have been published by a secular publisher for a secular audience. Other than the fact that the 1891 characters go to church (mostly) every week, there's not one iota of this one that makes it Christian. This could be seen by readers as GREAT news or horrible news. On the one hand, there are hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of readers who wouldn't touch Christian fiction with a ten foot pole. They may have an interest in the subject--Laura Ingalls Wilder's friends and family (we see Pa Ingalls playing his fiddle at a couple of community events), but no interest in reading a "Christian" book...ever. On the other hand, Christian readers who actually read Christian fiction on purpose and know that Barbour is a Christian publisher who specializes in feel-good Christian romances, may be confused by the lack of Christian content or any actual moral. (Again the lack of a moral may be hooray!!! for some readers.)

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SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT

I hated the liberties Pittman took with "Cap" Garland. She may have been in love with him since she was a girl reading the "yellow" books (aka Little House books), but that isn't a good enough excuse, in my humble opinion, to make him an immoral cad. It was like she was using her love for him as an excuse to write a "steamy" scene in a historical book.

Quote from "The Wanderer"

Oh well, I'm the type of guy
Who will never settle down
Where pretty girls are
Well, you know that I'm around
I kiss 'em and I love 'em
'Cause to me they're all the same
I hug 'em and I squeeze 'em
They don't even know my name

Quote from "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me"

Girl, don't let your life
Get tangled up with mine
'Cause I'll just leave you
I can't take no clingin' vine
Baby, baby, don't get hooked on me
Baby, baby don't get hooked on me
'Cause I'll just use you then I'll set you free
Baby, baby don't get hooked on me

Quote from "Angel of the Morning"

There'll be no strings to bind your hands
Not if my love can't bind your heart.
And there's no need to take a stand
For it was I who chose to start.

I think even with the turn that this one took--and it was a choice, to be sure--I think with a couple hundred more pages it could have been redeemed. Cap Garland may have met his end--dramatically and 100% true to life, but, it wouldn't have had to be end for Mariah's story. Again, a choice on Pittman's part. Personally, I would have loved to see Mariah's story REDEEMED by a second chance and a discovery of what love actually means (as opposed to lusty-lust and puppy love). We've had plenty of stories of women finding love again after disappointment or heartbreak or whatnot.

I came so close to cutting my losses on this book, but fortunately decided to read just 'one more chapter,' and it got a lot better quickly. It was a slow start, but the mystery finally built. Fans of Little House on the Prairie will love the Laura Ingalls angle (this was not me, but will appeal to many). I really enjoyed the dual timeline, where the contemporary one was set in the 70s. In this quickie-mart-fast-paced age, it was nice to 'visit' a familiar place that felt much simpler... The Doors to the Past series has been fascinating, and this addition fits in well. Though it began slow, it more than made it for it by the end.

I love love love the Doors to the Past series and Allison Pittman's contribution, Laura's Shadow, was a perfect addition to it. Five stars.

A moving story that had my attention from the beginning right through. Realistic story that encompasses real life situations, hopefully I can learn from these experiences.