From a Distance

I am a planner. My friends and family would say that this is a big understatement. I enjoy planning so much that I already have details mapped out for a trip we won’t be taking until December 2009! I am constantly thinking ahead and sorting out ideas for the future, and it pleases me greatly when things fall together nicely and neatly.

Elizabeth Garrett Westbrook, the leading lady in Tamera Alexander’s new novel From a Distance, is a woman after my own heart. She has a plan for her life, and she works toward her goals with gusto. As an aspiring photographer in the 1870s, Elizabeth’s desire is to break into the male-dominated newspaper business by traveling to Colorado Territory and capturing the breathtaking scenery for a Washington D.C. paper. She is determined to succeed no matter what.

At some time, of course, all planners must come to terms with the fact that things do not always work out according to preset schedules. As Proverbs 19:21 states, and as Elizabeth discovers, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails…”

I enjoyed reading this book and following Elizabeth’s journey. I like historical fiction, and Tamera Alexander creates a story that is meaningful today while including fascinating details from our nation’s history. As an amateur photographer in the digital age, I also appreciated the information Mrs. Alexander included about Elizabeth’s role as a photographer. It required such effort to capture only a few images!

From a Distance is the first in Mrs. Alexander’s new Timber Ridge Reflections series. If you are interested in reading an excerpt, visit this link at the Bethany House site. Also, if you would like to win my personal copy, please visit my blog and leave a comment on the From a Distance post by July 18.

Lauren is a wife, a mother of two, and an avid reader. She blogs at Baseballs and Bows.