The Heart of Courage: A Novel of the French and Indian War

By Lynne Basham Tagawa

Description:

It’s 1753, and troubling news comes to Russell’s Ridge . . .

Susanna Russell longs to escape her valley home. When war breaks out, she gets her wish to study in fabulous Williamsburg. But she realizes she’s lost something important along the way. Something—and someone.

James Paxton is studying for the ministry. But when violence threatens the valley, his path becomes clouded. What is God’s will for his life? The answer is alarming—and impossible.

Red Hawk spies white surveyors near his home, a harbinger of trouble to come. Shawnee chiefs go to Philadelphia to treat for peace, but the unthinkable happens, and Red Hawk loses all he once held dear. Then he has a strange dream. What can it mean?

War, romance, and gospel truth unite in this remarkable sequel to The Shenandoah Road.

Book Takeaway:

I hope the reader can enter into Susanna's experience of spiritual backsliding, as well as Jamie's search for direction.

Awards:

Why the author wrote this book:

As a sequel to The Shenandoah Road, I wanted to showcase the "ripple effects" of the Great Awakening that were present during the middle of the 18th century. That period was also the French and Indian War. Several areas I touched on were the Baptists and Baptist persecution during this time, and of course the Indian raids in the Shenandoah Valley. After studying the history, I was shocked at the atrocities and determined to create a Shawnee point-of-view character. That was illuminating and fulfilling, and I hope it interests the reader.