These Is My Words by Nancy Turner

This is a beautiful, sweet, romantic novel that is hard to put down.  While I don't usually read a lot of fiction, this book, based on the real life happenings of the authors great grandmother, was excellent.

Written in the form of a diary, the book begins with 17 year old Sarah Prine traveling with her family in a wagon in the late 1800's from New Mexico Territory to Arizona to begin a new life on a ranch.  The book has a rough start with the death of several people including Sarah's father and brother, Indian attacks and the rape of a young Quaker girl who submits without fuss.  Sarah runs back for her gun and kills the outlaw.  I almost quit reading at this point, but I'm very glad I didn't.

In the beginning, Sarah's writing is rough and unpolished, but after finding a wagon full of books, you can watch her becoming more and more self educated as her writing improves.

By the time Sarah turns 21, she has endured a loveless marriage and the birth of a child, and is a widow.  She struggles of maintain her dead husband's ranch, and a beautiful romance begins between Sarah and Captain Jack Elliott, who helped Sarah's family get to Arizona, and seems to show up whenever Sarah really needs him.

The book covers around twenty years of Sarah's life, as she grows from a young girl into a courageous young woman, and a mature wife and mother.

This book has courage, heartache, and love of family.  It is exciting, sad, joyful and full of life and raw emotion.  I cannot recommend it highly enough.  It's one of those books that you are sorry to finish, and can't wait to get the sequel!