The Deer Run Series - Review by Lisa Norato

The Road to Deer Run, Book One

by Elaine Cooper
Publisher: iUniverse


Mary Thomsen is a young Colonial woman who has lost a beloved brother to the Revolutionary War. Daniel Lowe is a British soldier fighting for the enemy. When Mary finds Daniel seriously wounded in the woodlands by her home, she is presented with an awesome decision. There are so many reasons why she should not help this man, the most pressing being the danger she would be placing herself, her mother and her sister in—three women left to fend for themselves, because all their menfolk are away at war. What would happen to them if they were caught harboring an enemy soldier? But Christ’s message of the good Samaritan burns in Mary’s heart. She does help Daniel and so begins their love story amongst great danger.



The Road to Deer Run was inspired by the true account of Elaine’s fourth great grandfather who fought for England in Burgoyne’s army. When the redcoats surrendered at Saratoga, he escaped while on his way to prison then met and married her American grandmother.

I loved every moment of this novel. It wrenched my heart and brought tears to my eyes with its sadness, poignancy and warmth. It is a story of romantic and family love and of overcoming adversity through faith. I also really enjoyed the chapter headings which hit to the heart of the messages within.


The Promise of Deer Run, Book Two
It was such a pleasure for me to return once again to Deer Run! It’s been seven years since the Revolutionary War ended, and now it is Sarah Thomsen’s turn (little sister of heroine Mary from Book One) to experience the joys and heartaches of love. Nathaniel Stern is a lonely war veteran who suffers deep, emotional battle scars as he long awaits his father’s return from war and mourns the loss of his younger brother.



Sarah and Nathaniel have eyes only for each other. Their sweet and tender courtship will stir feelings of young love in even the oldest of readers. When a spurned suitor slanders Nathaniel with an unconfirmed story, Sarah falls victim to distrust and the couple are torn apart. Nathaniel is deeply wounded by Sarah’s lack of faith in him, and it will be a long road to forgiveness. Meanwhile, Mary’s and Daniel’s story continues. Their family has grown immensely and continues to grow, as does the family of their brother, James Thomsen. Mary’s and Sarah’s midwife mother is now re-married and continuing her practice, but she has her own troubles at home with a sickly husband. Still, the mysterious disappearance of Nathaniel’s father haunts him with no explanation as to what could have happen to the man.
Along the way, there are little treasures of subplots—like the miracle of the woven flax and the birth compared to that of the Christ child. The Promise of Deer Run was a joy to read and a book historical fans and Christian readers dare not miss!

Reviewed by Lisa Norato (www.lisanorato.com) Lisa is a member of Colonial American Christian Writers.  This is her first guest post for Colonial Quills.

Elaine accepting first place for the 2012 Los Angeles Book Festival Award in the Romance Category.