At twenty-eight, Laurel Campbell has accepted her fate as the spinster of Hawthorn. She long ago gave up her dreams of love and a happy life, leaving her broken and inadequate-at least in her own mind.
The state of Arkansas is seven years younger than Laurel and a thriving destination for pioneers and homesteaders. State law forbids women from owning property-a fact Laurel's dying father understands all too well. To protect his daughter, Mark Campbell arranges a marriage of convenience to Patrick "Mac" MacLayne.
The situation doesn't sit well with Laurel, who's no man's chattel-not even a handsome and godly man like Mac. For Mac's part, a past heartbreak has left him leery of "falling in love" even with his new wife.
Together, the two begin the long and dangerous trek to Shiloh, Mac's distant homestead. The only thing Mac and Laurel have in common is faith, but is faith enough to build a new life together as husband and wife? Will love play no part in their relationship?
The first story in the Shiloh Saga, In Search of Shiloh celebrates the Arkansas pioneers' strength, loyalty, and devotion to both God and each other.
About the Author: Patricia Clark Blake holds a BSE in English, an MSE in reading, and an EdS in counseling psychology from Arkansas State University. Now retired, she spent her career in Arkansas public schools teaching English, Spanish, oral communications, leadership, and as a secondary school counselor. She taught psychology and supervised counseling interns at the college level.
Known as Pat to her friends, Blake has published in juried psychological journals. Her proposal for the Shiloh Saga won an award from the Blue Ridge Christian Novel Retreat in 2016. In Search of Shiloh will be followed by the next book in the series, The Dream of Shiloh
Blake volunteers at her church, teaches Sunday school, directs water-wellness classes, and assists with a summer lunch program. She is passionate about genealogy and Arkansas history, and she is blessed with a wonderful daughter and son-in-law. She is Nanna to a beautiful granddaughter and a fine grandson.
