From A Distance (Timber Ridge Reflections, book 1)

By Tamera Alexander

Description:

What happens when the realization of a dream isn't what you imagined... and the secret you've spent a lifetime guarding is finally laid bare?

Determined to become one of the country's premier newspaper photographers, Elizabeth Westbrook travels to the Colorado Territory to capture the grandeur of the mountains surrounding the remote town of Timber Ridge. She hopes, too, that the cool, dry air of Colorado, and its renowned hot springs, will cure the mysterious illness that threatens her career, and her life.

Daniel Ranslett, a former Confederate sharpshooter, is a man shackled by his past, and he'll do anything to protect his land, and his solitude. When an outspoken Yankee photographer captures an image that appears key to solving a murder, putting herself in danger, Daniel is called upon to repay a debt. He's a man of his word, but repaying that debt could bring secrets from his past to light.

Forced on a perilous journey together, Daniel and Elizabeth's lives intertwine in ways neither could have imagined when first they met . . . from a distance.
Reviews
"This first installment in Alexander's new historical series is fast paced and emotionally charged, with beautiful descriptions of the landscape." --Romantic Times

"I love reading about women who don't fit in with society's ideal, such as women doctors or lawyers--or in this case, a woman photographer, in the 1800s. Author Tamera Alexander most definitely succeeds on this score with From a Distance.... The characters ... are well written and incredibly believable. The prose is smooth, never flat, and the intrigue will keep the reader turning the pages. Ms. Alexander's newest offer is well researched and will give her more success. Don't miss out on From a Distance if you love books of this genre, for it will not disappoint. Elizabeth will make your day a little brighter." --Penny Goodwin, LoveRomancesandMore.com

"In this post-civil-war story, Alexander has put a woman with rather modern values into an 1875 frontier setting. The result is the story of ambition and determination pitted against nature, a mysterious illness and a backwoods community that is not a little askance over our heroine's big city outspokenness and style.... The story twists and turns through murder, romance, greed, and forgiveness. As a whole the characters are well-developed and complex, and the plot is cleverly conceived.... Alexander writes in an easy-to-read style.... She also has a way of ending chapters with a hook that kept me turning pages.... Altogether, I found From A Distance a rewarding read. Fans of romantic Americana won't want to miss it, or the next book in the TIMBER RIDGE REFLECTIONS series, Beyond This Moment, due to be released in the spring of 2009." --Violet Nesdoly, BlogCritics.org

"From a Distance is an outstanding new addition to Ms. Alexander's list of books. Book one in her new TIMBER RIDGE REFLECTIONS series, From a Distance, takes us on an adventure you'll eagerly travel. We are taken into the world of early photography and journalism. Ms. Alexander has woven a message of faith that of following God's path for our life over following our path. The characters are charming, engaging, and very realistic. The message is one that fits with today's world as well as the historical setting it's written in. From a Distance is a great story that will have readers quickly turning pages, eager to see how it ends, yet sad to see the final page turn. I for one, am thrilled this will be part of a new series. I highly recommend From a Distance to all readers." --Wendy Keel, TheRomanceReadersConnection.com

"From A Distance takes readers on a fascinating trip to the Colorado territory and into the world of photography. Readers will experience seeing Colorado through Elizabeth's eye.... It's very evident that author Tamera Alexander has done her research by the intricate details she relates of taking photos and developing them.... I liked the tug of attraction between Daniel and Elizabeth. Their relationship, which started with them both irritated at the other, developed naturally yet kept the reader intrigued.... the interesting topic and suspense element will keep readers engrossed to the very satisfying end." --Vickie McDonough, TitleTrakk.com
"It is 1875 and Elizabeth Westbrook, daughter of a former colonel in the Federal army, is determined to win a coveted staff position on the Washington Daily Chronicle by photographing the beauty of the newly discovered Mesa Verde cliff dwellings. Elizabeth needs a guide to take her through the Rocky Mountains of the Colorado Territory, but the only man available is Daniel Ranslett, a former Confederate sharpshooter who can bring down an elk --or an enemy officer --from the distance of a mile.

Eleven years before the opening chapter, Daniel and Elizabeth lost loved ones on opposite sides in the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, a battle in which Colonel Westbrook was the tactical commander. Subplots involving Elizabeth's Negro assistant, Josiah, and Daniel's widowed friend, Rachel, add substance (and, presumably, set the stage for sequels).

Alexander, a bestselling novelist, writes with an ease that belies the complexity of this love story. Daniel and Elizabeth are multifaceted characters who must overcome their own shortcomings before they can trust each other. Altogether, this is a compelling and thought-provoking novel. I give extra marks for the beautiful cover, which captures so perfectly the heroine in her favorite gown." --Nancy J. Attwell, Historical Novels Review Aug. 2008

"This is a heartwarming story of people coping with losses caused by war and life in the late nineteenth century. The details of living for all of them are well painted as is the land of a mostly unspoiled Territory. The author has done a superb job making this book believable, enjoyable and memorable for me and, I hope, for all readers." --Dee Dailey, TheRomanceStudio.com

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