Member Reviews

I love a strong, independent female character and Easter fits this roll 100%. Great story of a unique circumstance in American History.

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Historical fiction at its best. I’m always in awe of the frontier women and Esther is no exception. Great writing, well researched, wonderful story and romance. Loved it and highly recommend.

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Genealogy company have been pushing adding history to the story of our family. This book is example of that. The book is heavily the political history of the time. The story of the family is interesting but what happens after the first husband died. The book seems to stop short of the full story.. I was a bit disappointed.

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What a surprise this book was! It follows the story of Easter, a woman who is much of an enigma herself as the newly forming American West. Married and a mother before she turned 20, Easter left her comfortable home in New York for life as a frontier wife in the Ohio country. I was particularly intrigued by this book because of this, I am always complaining that there is not enough literature based in the frontier years of Ohio! And knowing this story was based on family lore was even more thrilling for me.

However, the intermittent chapters chronicling the advancement of westward expansion and politics were quite tiresome. They provided great context in the sense that you completely understood the way men would think about homesteading and frontier life and the decisions they would make and the prejudices they hold. But during these chapters I found myself yearning to know more about Easter and her way of life. Despite this, everyone should read this book, especially if you feel like this is out of your comfort zone. Its a complete hidden gem.

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The story starts after the War of 1812. We meet a woman named Easter. We read about her life on the Northwest frontier. She makes it through life with determination in a time when America was new. I found ir to be a fascinating story.

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This was an excellent novel, HF filled with not just a story, but filled with the years between the War of 1812 and the Civil War and the expansion of America to the west. The story is woven around the Conklin family and their journeys as pioneers to territories that are now Ohio, Illinois, Iowa. The focus is on a pioneer woman who becomes a frontier wife and her family; a woman who is tough as nails yet someone who helped shape these United States. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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WOW. It was a rough start to this book. I couldn’t get into the plot quick enough and there were so many history details that didn’t interest me (at first!). But once I got to about 40-50%, I FELL IN LOVE. I couldn’t put it down. The writing is beautiful, and all the scenes were described so well. I felt like I was there when I was reading about a certain environment. I loved how each chapter started with the ages and members of the main family. I loved learning about the main family. There were so many important points of view (but I must admit, I couldn’t wait until I got back to the main family POV). Overall, this book was written VERY well, and I learned SO MUCH. The plot got so interesting at the end and I had to finish it even though it was way past my bedtime:

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If you're a fan of American history and expansion westwards this is the book for you. Easter makes her home on the northwest frontier and faces the difficulties of life as a pioneer. A fascinating insight into the period intertwined with a tale of romance and jealousy. The story is based on the history of the writer's family and is a testimony to the lives of ordinary men and women doing extraordinary things. Having said that some of the chunks of history were a little heavy which is probably why it took me as long as it fit to finish the book - but it was good to find out about some of America's historical figures before the civil war from the perspective of the people who lived through the period before the civil war. It has encouraged me to find out more about the concept of manifest destiny and to find out more about the history of female settlers.

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In A Profitable Wife by Kat Christensen, readers are immersed in a captivating journey through American history, navigating the tumultuous years between the War of 1812 and the Civil War alongside the resilient protagonist, Easter. The novel seamlessly weaves personal narratives with historical events, offering a unique perspective on the shaping of the American frontier. Christensen's storytelling, rooted in her own family lore, brings authenticity to characters like Easter and introduces iconic historical figures. While the balance between personal and historical elements occasionally falters, the novel remains a compelling exploration of love, betrayal, and the indomitable human spirit. Despite a darker turn towards the end, the unexpected twists add complexity, injecting a sense of realism into the narrative. A Profitable Wife emerges as a standout historical fiction piece, leaving readers with a rich tapestry of emotions and a lasting connection to the intricacies of the past.

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Loved reading the entertaining and engaging story. Easter, a pioneer woman, gets married, and has over a dozen children while trying to make their farm a success. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting story.

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An interesting story of a young woman, half European, half Native American in a changing America, and her family and loves.

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Kat Christensen's research of the time period gives the reader a detailed look into this period in early American history. Christensen takes this historical setting and weaves in precious family lore of her ancestor, Easter. This story uniquely illustrates how decisions made by those in power impact the day to day life of the people. Full of joy, perseverance, and tragedy, Easter's story is not one to be missed!

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This is the first book that I’ve read by Kat Christensen, but it will definitely not be the last. I loved how in A Profitable Wife, she wove in factual events and characters. I loved the resilience of a woman set in the 1800s. Excellent historical fiction. Thanks to NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity!

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This is just the historical romance I was looking for. It was such a unique story and I enjoyed it so much! The romance was perfect!

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