I love historical fiction, and I selected The Lady’s Mine by Francine Rivers because she is a master craftsman of the art of writing, as well as an expert on characterization.
In The Lady’s Mine, I placed myself in the setting of the Sierra Nevada, which I’ve visited often, but never in 1875. The concept of women not being able to vote or easily build businesses besides a brothel kept me turning the page. The main character, Kathryn Walsh, was a born entrepreneur. Her love of people and business helped her survive a mining town with more saloons than stores and no school. Her perseverance and sacrifice enabled her to become a newspaperwoman for the Voice and share her stories with the townsfolk, who were hungry for information.
Michael Beck, owner of a reputable hotel, knew what he wanted the minute he spotted Kathryn. She needed convincing, and that’s one of the fun parts of the story. With a demanding and detailed list of requirements ahead of him, no one, including Kathryn, believed he would accomplish the task of earning her hand in marriage.
The friendship between women is a thread throughout River’s novel. Kathryn refuses to ignore a woman based on her profession. Her choice leads to disapproval from community members, but it reminds me of Jesus’ warning to those without sin to cast the first stone. This feisty redhead earned a top spot for courageous women characters for coming to realize her limitations in a rough-and-tumble mining town while adding to the strength of the community and proving her worth tenfold.
Rivers presented a convincing argument for the benefits of incorporating a female character who prioritized people over money, highlighting how a successful businesswoman could contribute to the cause. In the character of Kathryn, I learned about fair-mindedness as a leader, friend, and lady.
If you enjoy The Lady’s Mine by Francine Rivers, you may enjoy Mary Connealy’s Forged in Love, DiAnn Mills’s Under a Desert Sky, and A Woman Called Sage.
