The Winter Loon
by Lori Henriksen
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Pub Date Jun 11 2017 | Archive Date Apr 30 2019
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Description
In the shadow of the Great Depression, long before historical changes leading toward LGBTQ advocacy and equality, eighteen-year-old Ruth Thompson defies her family's expectations to marry Duke, her long-time sweetheart. Instead, she joins a rodeo circuit in order to earn money for college and comes of age in the male-dominated culture of rodeo competition.
Ruth returns home to Minnesota a prize-winning competitor and resumes her familiar relationship with Duke. Once at college she grows increasingly restless in her role as sorority girl with Duke as her escort for all social occasions. Her safe existence is upended when she meets confident and free-spirited Gisela and then further unravels when the two women fall in love.
The lives of Ruth, Gisela, and Duke entwine while Ruth embarks on a journey of self-discovery, full of dangerous social repercussions that takes her from Minnesota to the Pacific Ocean of California. As WWII escalates, each of them faces a test of their fortitude as all three must come to grips with redemption, forgiveness, the meaning of family and how to honor their authentic truth during this perilous time in history.
Both heart wrenching and uplifting, The Winter Loon honors the strength and spirit of all those who struggle with social persecution because of who they love and how they define family whether it is their own flesh and blood kinfolk and/or those nearest and dearest to their heart.
Advance Praise
"The Winter Loon is a compelling story of a woman's secrets, choices, and courage. Both tender and wise, Henriksen is a fine storyteller and her characters are skillfully drawn and memorable." ~Sandra Butler, award-winning writer, group facilitator and activist. sandrabutler.net. motheringdaughters.net.
"The Winter Loon is an ambitious, gripping, often painful story with a lot of drama and emotion, ups and downs and an ending that leaves the reader in satisfying tears." ~Alan Rinzler
"What a beautiful, thoughtful book. The Winter Loon offers up complex characters and issues, a multi-textured plot and lots of heart. I have felt wrapped in the cocoon of this beautiful love story." ~Alissa Lukara
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9780997740608 |
| PRICE | |
Links
Featured Reviews
Kristin J, Reviewer
The Winter Loon is a well written historical fiction about being LGBT+ in a time when it was frowned upon. The characters are complex and the plot is interesting and engaging.
Bonnye Reed F, Reviewer
The Winter Loon is an exceptional look into the lives and hopes of families faced with questions of acceptance of LGBTQ members. Though fiction, the delicacy, acceptance, and tenderness of the handling of the stories of those family members with alternative lifestyles are made plain and the road to acceptance of same is clearly drawn. This was a novel I read at a single setting, one I couldn't put aside.
America's entry into the Second World War and the way the country geared up and worked together to do what had to be done is also covered well. I found this novel an all-around good read with a lesson in patriotism that wouldn't go amiss in the climate our nation is struggling under today. This is a book I am pleased to recommend to friends and family.
I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Lori Hendriksen, and Cougar Creek Books. Thank you for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.
Heather B, Reviewer
The Winter Lion is a wonderful historical romance of two women who fall in love in a time when it is not excepted in society. The author has written the characters well and I enjoyed the storyline.
Anne Marie B, Reviewer
This is a riveting story of the love of two women in a time when this kind of love was not easily accepted by society. When Ruth realizes she is falling in Love with Gisela, she has many doubts about claiming that love and their relationship openly.
I am only giving it 4 stars because the first few chapters when Ruth was 18 and riding the rodeo circuit were a little tedious to get through, but that might just be me because I was a “horse girl.”. Also I felt that the last several chapters were a bit rushed and the dialogue a bit stilted. However, I enjoyed the plot and the characters immensely.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Katarzyna S, Reviewer
Quite good story about a girl who try to come out in times when homosexuality was untolerable. It's heart-warming story that I would recommend not only for LGBT people but for everyone who struggles with expectaction tha others put upon them. This book is full of hope and reading it in time I needed a lot of hope it was really enjoyable read.
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