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Elinor by Shannon McNear ~ Book Review + Giveaway

January 16, 2022

About the Book

Book: Elinor
Author: Shannon McNear

Series: Daughters of the Lost Colony
Genre: Christian/Historical/Romance
Release Date: December 1, 2021

A Journey Full of Hope…
Escape into a riveting story based on the mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke.

Author Shannon McNear portrays history with vivid authenticity.

In 1587, Elinor White Dare sailed from England heavy with her first child but full of hopes. Her father, a renowned artist and experienced traveler, has convinced her and her bricklayer husband Ananias to make the journey to the New World. Land, they are promised, more goodly and beautiful than they can ever imagine. But nothing goes as planned from landing at the wrong location, to facing starvation, to the endless wait for help to arrive. And, beyond her comprehension, Elinor finds herself utterly alone. . . .
The colony at Roanoke disappeared into the shadows of history. But, what if one survived to leave a lasting legacy?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

We lived in NC and one of the things I regret not doing while we lived there is going to the town of Manteo and explore. They now do a Broadway type show every summer portraying the story of "The Lost Colony" which always has a different ending. This book reminded me of that. Obviously it is based on actual historical aspects intertwined with fiction and author Shannon McNear did a great job with it. The story definitely captures you and takes you on what was and what could've been. The character of Elinor was so realistic. We see her go through trials and struggles but she clings to her faith not shying away from the hard things.

The history in this book is rich. I say this because if you aren't into historical fiction then this may seem a bit boring or slow moving. Shannon McNear definitely did her research and did so with a passion. I really enjoyed the story and look forward to reading what she will write next!

My Rating: 4 Stars/Really enjoyed it!

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

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 this story? Well, God shoved the opportunity under my nose, and I didn’t want to be guilty of taking the easy way out, by saying no. 😊

Really, while the concept was fascinating, the execution was daunting, and sometimes terrifying. The Elizabethan Era—before the King James Bible and even before Shakespeare was popular! As a student of the Revolutionary War and surrounding times, I felt very much out of my depth.

Though the research sucked me in, it was also daunting. Sifting through various interpretations of the primary accounts and their own speculations on why they felt things must have gone a certain way. Trying to “find” my story amongst all the theories and opinions. Above all, getting to know my characters and letting them come alive in my own imagination.

And come alive, they did—in full color, with a vividness I did not expect. I hope I was able to translate even a portion of what I envisioned to the page, so that you also can see them!