About the Book

Book: Mary

Author: Shannon McNear

Genre: Historical/Christian/Romance Fiction

Release date: October, 2022

Worlds Collide Along the Shores of the Outer Banks

Immerse yourself in the “what if” questions related to the Lost Colony of Roanoke. What if an English boy and a native girl met in the wilderness? The push-and-pull between two very different worlds begins as one seeks simple friendship and the other struggles to trust. And can it—dare they—allow it to be more?

Sparks fly between Mushaniq, free-spirited daughter of Manteo, and Georgie Howe, whose father was brutally murdered by undiscovered native warriors before they’d been on Roanoac Island a full week. As Georgie struggles to make sense of his life and to accept that not all they call “savage” are guilty of his father’s death, Mushaniq grapples with her own questions about who Manteo has become. As tentative friendship becomes more, forged in the fire of calamity and attack upon their community, both must decide whether the One True God is indeed who He claims to be and whether He is worthy of their trust.

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About the Author

Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in Charleston, South Carolina, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s a military wife, mom of eight, mother-in-law of three, grammie of two, and a member of ACFW and RWA. Her first novella, Defending Truth in A Pioneer Christmas Collection, was a 2014 RITA® finalist. When she’s not sewing, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies. Connect with her at www.shannonmcnear.com, or on Facebook and Goodreads.

More from Shannon

Why did I write Mary? The series started as an idea suggested by my editor and soon became something of an obsession. This installment was inspired partly by the Legend of the Coharie, a fragment of the very murky history surrounding the Roanoke Colony and the Lumbee people of North Carolina. According to this legend, George Howe, the son of the colonist by same name who was brutally murdered a few days after their landing on Roanoke Island, married a daughter of Manteo, the Native man who traveled twice to England, later led a group of the colonists inland for refuge and eventually became an ancestor of the Lumbees. Then, as my Lost Colony research expanded, my interest in the nuances of two cultures meeting and blending grew into a desire to pay tribute to what might have been the first (and possibly only) example of European and Native peoples living together in peace. Imagine if this had been the defining moment of our country’s founding?

As usually happens, fictional characters (even those based on historical figures) sooner or later run away with the story—and that’s the part I find most exciting! I hope you, the readers, also enjoy this tale of Mushaniq (squirrel in Carolina Algonquian) and Georgie, which serves as both a parallel story and sequel to Elinor.

MY REVIEW

I remember reading the first book in this series and thinking how beautifully it flowed. With this book it does the same only I feel it was a much more emotional and deeper book. The author goes into details that enhance the history of the people she writes about. It is easy to feel like you have traveled back in time as we get acquainted with the characters.

It was interesting to get to know the colonists and their beliefs. There is a discussion about God and one of them spoke of wanting “us to be as one people. One heart and mind. One purpose.” Even today that same mindset exists among us. In the 1500s people were trying to survive and get along with others. I enjoyed reading as this desire to work as one was played out in the story.

The book is one where at times I thought about how two people different in culture wanted to learn about each other. The journey was not easy and at times there was tension that could be described as maybe a warning to guard your hearts. I appreciate how the Native Americans were represented in the story. Yes there were moments that I didn’t want to believe that some horrible things had been done by these people but the author kept true to history.

The relationship between two people in the story was very touching and handled very well. Perhaps they came from different cultures but to watch them grow and desire to bridge the gap between the families was hopeful. Another aspect of the story was faith that was prevalent and the desire to know Him better. With the author’s ability to describe the food, land and clothes in this tine period helped the story come alive as we feel like we are right there with them. Overall good book that touches our lives as we understand each other better and accept each other. Maybe someday we will “be as one working together for one purpose.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.