Dauntless

"The best historical fiction is not just a plausible reconstruction, but an entry into the lives of people in times long passed. Jeanne Gehret demonstrates the ability to do just this in Secrets to the Wind . . . . The combination of detail, historical realism, and a well-crafted, plausible historical relationship makes this a compelling and worthwhile read.--Brandon Fess, librarian at Rochester Public Library, Local History & Genealogy1863: Half a continent apart, a man and a woman fight slavery separately until they join forces in a cunning attack on human bondage. Annie Osborn of Martha's Vineyard has had little trouble keeping her Underground Railroad activities secret. But while she was assisting a freedom seeker, a Confederate sympathizer witnessed the event. He'll keep quiet if she grants him sexual favors. If not, he'll turn her in to authorities to be jailed and fined. Daniel Read Anthony of Kansas has no qualms about owning up to his six years fighting slaveholders as a guerilla abolitionist and Union colonel. He'd much rather be known for his heroism than the way he killed a civilian in a street fight. And he'll never tell how he's kept his sister Susan B. Anthony safe while giving her abolitionist speeches. Although Annie and Daniel's shared resistance to slavery leads to love, his shameful past holds him back. Maybe it's too late for Annie anyway, because her accuser is running out of patience. The couple's only chance for a future together lies in using their unique strengths to confound her enemy and re-open the freedom trail on Martha's Vineyard.Basing her novel on hundreds of newspaper articles, scrapbooks, and archives, the author fashions the scattered fragments of Annie and Daniel's legacy into an account that seems larger than life-except that it's mostly true.Sure to please fans of Stephanie Dray, Marie Benedict, and Glen Craney.

Can their love survive what the Border War left behind?A young bride faces the dangerous legacy of her husband's past-and the cost of standing with him. Romantic historical fiction inspired by true events.Leavenworth, Kansas, 1864: New bride Annie Osborn Anthony left genteel Martha's Vineyard with high hopes and strong ideals-only to step into a town still scarred from Bleeding Kansas with a husband whose abolitionist reputation has earned dangerous enemies. When she discovers a hidden journal that reveals another side of the border war-and of Daniel-she begins to question the man she married.During the war, mayor Daniel Read Anthony was a hero to some and a menace to others. Now he fights with the press instead of a pistol, and he'll do anything to protect Annie. Even hide truths he believes will spare her pain.But when Daniel's controversial past comes to light and threatens everything they've built, will Annie walk away-or stand with the man she loves?Born of this Fire is Book Two in the acclaimed Dauntless Series. Inspired by true events from suffragist Susan B. Anthony's family, it pairs Daniel's fierce convictions with Annie's quiet strength in a Civil War–era marriage tested by betrayal and violence. Perfect for readers who love character-driven historical fiction set on the American frontier-rich with heart, history, and redemption.Through the lens of one woman's spiritual and emotional awakening, this novel invites readers to consider the courage it takes not to fight, but to stay.​​​​​​​Get your copy today!PRAISE:"History melds nicely with emotional and political realizations as the lives of Annie and Daniel Read Anthony come to life, firmly rooted in the hopes and expectations of their times." Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review"The heated and even murderous politics of post bellum Leavenworth seem to rival that of Washington, D.C. of the time. Gehret has done meticulous historical research onsite in Leavenworth and in Susan B. Anthony's hometown of Rochester, NY." Andrew Coyle, Librarian & Managing Editor, Rundelania.com"A beautifully crafted love story with multi-layered relationships, rooted in one of America's most turbulent eras-the Civil War's "Bleeding Kansas" conflict and the fight for women's suffrage." Almeta Whitis, African-American storyteller ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Jeanne Gehret writes women's historical fiction that explores the emotional and spiritual journeys behind public lives, especially those of Annie and Daniel Read Anthony. Her Dauntless Series draws from years of archival research and a deep interest in how women endure-and transform-through hardship. With a background in spiritual formation and a passion for untold stories, Gehret brings the Anthony family to life through writing, blogging, and historical presentations.