RACHEL'S CHOICE
Judith E. French
Ballantine Books
October 1998
ISBN: 0-345-40874-8
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Judith E. French brings us yet another
fabulous novel entitled, "Rachel's Choice".
It's 1864 and the Civil War has turned from
the price of cotton
to a fight over slavery. The ravages of war has turned once
pleasant folk into cautious, untrusting people. It has taken
lives in death and loss. And made the weak women strong. Rachel
Irons is one of them. The realism of this period is brought
to life with supporting characters Cora Wright, reputed to be
running the underground railroad; the 'by-the-book' town Sheriff;
Union officers looking for 'donations' of food and animals;
escaped prisoners; and Rachel's own pious in-laws who are determined
to see Cora's business affairs halted, and to take Rachel's
child!
In the beginning, Rachel Irons thought her
life was perfect. Married to a good man, running a successful
plantation and sights on the future she thought nothing could
go wrong. Until the Civil War. The Union Army has been through
and stripped Rachel of nearly everything she has, food, cattle,
horses. And her husband, James Irons. Left to survive on her
own, Rachel is living off of whatever she can grow and catch
for herself. Crab traps afford her meat for the crab soup
she sells in town, and her few chickens lay eggs that are
nearly worth their weight in gold. Then one day one of her
crab traps gets her more than just crabs. An escaped convict
from the nearby prison. And worse, a Confederate soldier!
Heavy with child, Rachel must find a way to get her crops
planted so that she can pay the note on her farm. And keep
her child. This man could be her only salvation. But falling
in love with a 'Johnnie Reb' was the last thing she had on
her mind.
Naked and tangled in Rachel's crab traps,
William "Chance" Chancellor has barely escaped with
his life. Injured and losing blood he stares down the barrel
of Rachel's shot gun and there is little he can do. Though,
with Rachel's help, he can recover and go back for the friend
he was forced to leave behind. It seems like a simple enough
plan but he finds that Rachel has plans of her own. Striking
a bargain, Chance agrees to help her get her crops in before
he leaves. He doesn't count on falling in love with her though.
He is a Confederate soldier, and a member of the Southern
gentry. She's the 'half-breed' daughter of a Northern farmer.
His social circle certainly won't accept her. But he finds
that he doesn't care. He wants Rachel. Needs her!
"Rachel's Choice" is more than a story
of two people being thrown together in incredible circumstances.
It's choices Rachel is forced to make to survive, learning independence,
strength, determination and bravery. Judith E. French has told
Rachel's story as if she's lived it from first hand experience.
She's made Rachel Irons the proud and strong woman we crave
to read in Romance Novels. "Rachel's Choice" is a
story of survival as well as unconditional love. Anyone wanting
a thoroughly riveting read will love this book!
