Synopses & Reviews
In a novel based on true events, New York Times bestselling author Sandra Dallas delivers the story of four women---seeking the promise of salvation and prosperity in a new land---who come together on a harrowing journey.
In 1856, Mormon converts, encouraged by Brigham Young himself, and outfitted with two-wheeled handcarts, set out on foot from Iowa City to Salt Lake City, the promised land. The Martin Handcart Company, a zealous group of emigrants headed for Zion, is the last to leave on this 1,300-mile journey. Earlier companies arrive successfully in Salt Lake City, but for the Martin Company the trip proves disastrous. True Sisters tells the story of four women whose lives will become inextricably linked as they endure unimaginable hardships, each one testing the boundaries of her faith and learning the true meaning of survival and friendship along the way: Nannie, who is traveling with her sister and brother-in-law after being abandoned on her wedding day; Louisa, whos married to an overbearing church leader who she believes speaks for God; Jessie, whos traveling with her brothers, each one of them dreaming of the farm they will have in Zion; and Anne, who hasnt converted to Mormonism but who has no choice but to follow her husband since he has sold everything to make the trek to Utah.
Sandra Dallas has once again written a moving portrait of women surviving the unimaginable through the ties of female friendship.
Review
“With a perfect blend of masterful storytelling, sympathetic and realistic characters and prose as crisp as a Colorado creek, Dallas again spins a timeless tale of love and tenacity, tenderness and redemption. And "The
Bride's House" is ultimately a story of the confines of legacy and the fulfillment that can come when those chains are broken.”
—Richmond Times Dispatch on
The Bride's House
“This satisfying novel will immediately draw readers into Hennie and Nits lives, and the unexpected twists will keep them hooked through to the bittersweet denouement.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ON PRAYERS FOR SALE
“Dallass terrific characters, unerring ear for regional dialects and ability to evoke the sights and sounds of the 1940s make this a special treat.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ON TALLGRASS
“Forgiveness and redemption are the themes of this gentle novel about hardscrabble lives.”—KIRKUS REVIEWS ON PRAYERS FOR SALE
Review
"A born storyteller, Dallas excels not only at plot but also at peopling her novels with memorable individuals." —Richmond Times Dispatch "Dallas offers a richly drawn fictional account of tragic true events." —Booklist "Dallas tells the story of . . . strong women and the beautiful relationships they can create even in impossible circumstances. . . . a memorable story.” —Publishers Weekly “This fact-based historical fiction, celebrating sisterhood and heroism, makes for a surefire winner.” —Kirkus Reviews
Review
Praise for True Sisters
"A born storyteller, Dallas excels not only at plot but also at peopling her novels with memorable individuals." —Richmond Times Dispatch
"Dallas offers a richly drawn fictional account of tragic true events." —Booklist
"Dallas tells the story of strong women and the beautiful relationships they can create even in impossible circumstances a memorable story.” —Publishers Weekly
“This fact-based historical fiction, celebrating sisterhood and heroism, makes for a surefire winner.” —Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Whiter Than Snow and Prayers For Sale
"Whiter Than Snow is a fast and engrossing novel that will capture readers' hearts from the first few pages." --- Deseret News on Whiter Than Snow
"Her sense of time and place is pitch-perfect and her affection for her characters infectious." --- Kirkus Reviews on Whiter Than Snow
"Whiter Than Snow adds to Dallas's luster as a superb storyteller whose work is grounded in the redemptive power of kindness." --- Richmond Times-Dispatch on Whiter Than Snow
"This satisfying novel will immediately draw readers in and the unexpected twists will keep them hooked through to the bittersweet denouement." --- Publishers Weekly on Prayers for Sale
"Forgiveness and redemption are the themes of this gentle novel about hardscrabble lives." --- Kirkus Reviews on Prayers for Sale
"The idea of selling prayers conjures images of pre-Reformation Catholicism or, at the very least, stops you in your tracks to think a bit. Like the lives narrated, this novel runs the gamut of heartache, hardship, and happiness as Dallas skillfully weaves past into present and surprises everyone at the end. Fans of Lee Smith, Sue Monk Kidd, and Kaye Gibbons will love this book." --- Booklist (starred review) on Prayers For Sale
"Putting down a Sandra Dallas read is nearly impossible. This book is filled with secrets revealed as the reader learns about the lives of the characters. The secret revealed in the final pages is top-notch." ---Daily Camera (Boulder, Colorado) on Prayers for Sale
"Prayers for Sale is a finely crafted tale that celebrates women and their resiliency." --- Deseret News
Praise for The Bride's House
“With a perfect blend of masterful storytelling, sympathetic and realistic characters and prose as crisp as a Colorado creek, Dallas again spins a timeless tale of love and tenacity, tenderness and redemption. And “The Brides House” is ultimately a story of the confines of legacy and the fulfillment that can come when those chains are broken.” --- Richmond Times Dispatch
“Putting down a Sandra Dallas novel is nearly impossible.” --- Daily Camera
Synopsis
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bride's House comes the story of four women, brought together on a harrowing journey of Mormon settlers in this incredible novel based on a real-life event
In order to encourage Mormon converts to emigrate to the promised land (Salt Lake City), a plan was implemented by Brigham Young himself: emigrants were outfitted with two-wheeled handcarts. The settlers were then expected to walk, pushing the handcarts, for the 1,300 mile journey from Iowa City. Several “companies,” as they were called, completed this perilous trek and successfully reached Salt Lake City. But for the Martin Company, one of the very last groups to leave from Iowa City that year, the trip proved disastrous. True Sisters tells the story of four women, brought together on the harrowing journey of the Martin Handcart Company, and united by the promises of prosperity and salvation in a new land. Through the ties of female friendships and the strength born from suffering, each one tests the boundaries of her faith and learns the real meaning of survival along the way.
Synopsis
In 1856, Mormon converts, encouraged by Brigham Young himself, and outfitted with two-wheeled handcarts, set out on foot from Iowa City to Salt Lake City, the promised land. The Martin Handcart Company, a zealous group of emigrants headed for Zion, is the last to leave on this 1,300-mile journey. Earlier companies arrive successfully in Salt Lake City, but for the Martin Company the trip proves disastrous. True Sisters tells the story of four women whose lives will become inextricably linked as they endure unimaginable hardships, each one testing the boundries of her faith and learning the true meaning of survival and friendship along the way: Nannie, who is traveling with her sister and brother-in-law after being abandoned on her wedding day; Louisa, whos married to an overbearing church leader who she believes speaks for God; Jessie, whos traveling with her brothers, each one of them dreaming of the farm they will have in Zion; and Anne, who hasnt converted to Mormonism but who has no choice but to follow her husband since he has sold everything to make the trek to Utah.
Sandra Dallas has once again written a moving portrait of women surviving the unimaginable through the ties of female friendship. Her rich storytelling will leave you breathless as you take this trip with Nannie, Louisa, Jessie, and Anne. This is Sandra Dallas at her absolute best.
Synopsis
In a novel based on true events, New York Times bestselling author Sandra Dallas delivers the story of four women---seeking the promise of salvation and prosperity in a new land---who come together on a harrowing journey.
In 1856, Mormon converts, encouraged by Brigham Young himself, and outfitted with two-wheeled handcarts, set out on foot from Iowa City to Salt Lake City, the promised land. The Martin Handcart Company, a zealous group of emigrants headed for Zion, is the last to leave on this 1,300-mile journey. Earlier companies arrive successfully in Salt Lake City, but for the Martin Company the trip proves disastrous. True Sisters tells the story of four women whose lives will become inextricably linked as they endure unimaginable hardships, each one testing the boundaries of her faith and learning the true meaning of survival and friendship along the way: Nannie, who is traveling with her sister and brother-in-law after being abandoned on her wedding day; Louisa, whos married to an overbearing church leader who she believes speaks for God; Jessie, whos traveling with her brothers, each one of them dreaming of the farm they will have in Zion; and Anne, who hasnt converted to Mormonism but who has no choice but to follow her husband since he has sold everything to make the trek to Utah.
Sandra Dallas has once again written a moving portrait of women surviving the unimaginable through the ties of female friendship.
About the Author
SANDRA DALLAS is the author of eleven novels, including The Bride's House, Whiter Than Snow, Prayers for Sale, Tallgrass and New Mercies. She is a former Denver bureau chief for Business Week magazine and lives in Denver, Colorado.
Reading Group Guide
1. What were the driving reasons for Nannie to give up her career to convert to Mormonism? Would you have given up what she had?
2. Is it truly a renouncement of faith for Louisa's family to stay in New York over the winter? Was Thales' reaction unreasonable? What was he trying to prove?
3. Why did Robert and Maud decide to make the trek against their friends advice?
4. The Saints excommunicate a woman for adultery without a trail, which upsets some of the sisters. Is this a fair verdict? What does this show about how women are treated in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?
5. Why does the Old Absalom oppose making the trek in the winter when he knows it is against the wishes of the other leaders? Is this indicative of cracks within the group?
6. Is it right for the other saints to profit from Emelines father when the cart is overturned? Should their need supersede the Mormon value of respect for the grieving?
7. What effect do you think Emeline had on Ephraim? Would he have survived the journey without her?
8. Does Thales have a revelation after he causes his nephew Jimmys death, or was the humility he shows always a part of his character?
9. What does Anne represent for the other Mormon women? Do they ultimately accept her?
10. At what point would your faith have been shaken?
11. Polygamy is a constant source of stress for the female characters in True Sisters, coming to a head when they arrive in Zion. Do you agree that it was the right decision for Andrew to offer to take Nannie as a second wife? Should she have accepted?
12. Have you ever heard of the Mormon handcart tragedy?
13. Do you feel that True Sisters gave you a good insight into what made Mormonism compelling to the converts? Did they make the right choice to leave their lives in the United Kingdom and make the pilgrimage to Zion?