For Katherine Fairfield, her journey started as an adventure of sorts but ends up being a test of survival. Quite innocently, Katherine is accompanying her new husband across the western territories to serve as missionaries. Their mission is to assist in the "civilizing" of the Native Americans they would encounter on their trip. Katherine routinely describes most of the natives as savages. Having no personal knowledge or association with any of the tribes or their community, she is basing her description on what the council of missionaries does. Preaching to savages so that they leave their reliance, traditions, and birthright and become "good Christians." A blatantly insulting and elitist viewpoint, but that was a common belief. In actuality, it was all a huge ruse to acquire the tribal land, and use the natives as instructors in the trades that the settlers were planning on assimilating as their own. Tell me again who the savages are.

Kathleen Eagle brings these stories to light and to life in every book she writes. There is always an incredible element of facts and truth. Her characters come to life through their spoken dialog and their quiet thoughts. Many characters are based on real people, often hidden in the annals of history.

HEAVEN AND EARTH includes discussion about the treatment of the indigenous people of America before it evolved into the United States of America, a country created with the joining of many undeveloped territories. I love books about Native Americans and appreciate a chance to continue to learn about yet another challenge they faced when their land was confiscated.

HEAVEN AND EARTH also touches on a few sometimes-distressing stories about folks traveling west. Arduous travel through vast undeveloped land. Most were truly unprepared for what challenges lay before them. And Katherine and her husband were a perfect example. Kind of starry-eyed and in love, Katherine was willing to follow Thomas wherever he envisioned helping people through his missionary work. But neither could have foreseen the peril in their path. They were left behind by their wagon train. Thomas died of the fever. Katherine now drove her wagon with a very ill child whose parents had succumbed to the very sickness that now plagued her.

Katherine would have been still another victim if not saved by Jed West. And this is their story told with an amazing backdrop of history.

Those of us who find conflict in rationalizing how the original inhabitants of this land were treated will find HEAVEN AND EARTH a moving, informative look into their conditions and treatment. The utter disrespect for the traditions and language is palatable. The movement to change them was quick and decisive. The misuse of the land and its herds of animals still resonates. All due to authors like Kathleen Eagle. HEAVEN AND EARTH is gritty and real and wondrously penned by a talented author.

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