Review: An Unseemly Wife by EB Moore

An Unseemly Wife

by EB Moore

Publisher: NAL Trade

Pages: 336

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  1867. Ruth Holtz has more blessings than she can count—a loving husband, an abundant farm, beautiful children, and the warm embrace of the Amish community. Then, the English arrive, spreading incredible stories of free land in the West and inspiring her husband to dream of a new life in Idaho.
 
Breaking the rules of their Order, Ruth’s husband packs up his pregnant wife and their four children and joins a wagon train heading west. Though Ruth is determined to keep separate from the English, as stricture demands, the harrowing journey soon compels her to accept help from two unlikely allies: Hortence, the preacher’s wife, and the tomboyish, teasing Sadie.
 
But as these new friendships lead to betrayal, what started as a quest for a brighter future ends with Ruth making unthinkable sacrifices, risking faith and family, and transforming into a woman she never imagined she’d become….


Kritters Thoughts:  Weird intro for a review - As a child who grew up in the 80s and early 90s, I learned to type in middle school and during typing class we played Oregon trail.  This book is a fictional tale - minus them headed to Idaho instead of Oregon!  

Ok, now that we have the weird intro out of the way, let me tell you what I thought about the book.  Ruth was a great character, although I couldn't imagine her devotion to her husband, but with the time and her religion, I grew to understand and appreciate her blind devotion to her husband's plan for the family.  The things she went through were beyond belief - no spoilers, but man oh man, this journey was far from easy.  

My one peeve with this book was the ending.  It was abrupt and frustrating, I wanted more!  It wasn't a cliff hanger, it just stopped and I don't want to use my imagination to come up with an ending, I wanted it to end.  

If you are a fan of very historical fiction and love a journey style book then this one is for you, but be forewarned of a very abrupt ending to the story.


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Penguin Random House.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.