The Fire and the Ore: A Novel

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Three spirited wives in nineteenth-century Utah. One husband. A compelling novel of family, sisterhood, and survival by the Washington Post bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow.

1857. Three womenonce strangerscome together in unpredictable Utah Territory. Hopeful, desperate, and willful, theyll allow nothing on Earth or in Heaven to stand in their way.

Following the call of their newfound Mormon faith, Tamar Loader and her family weather a brutal pilgrimage from England to Utah, where Tamar is united with her destined husband, Thomas Ricks. Clinging to a promise for the future, she abides an unexpected surprise: Thomas is already wedded to one womanTabitha, a local healerand betrothed to still another.

Orphaned by tragedy and stranded in the Salt Lake Valley, Jane Shupe struggles to provide for herself and her younger sister. She is no member of the Mormon migration, yet Jane agrees to marry Thomas. Out of necessity, with no love lost, she too must bear the trials of a sister-wife.

But when the US Armys invasion brings the rebellious Mormon community to heel, Tamar, Jane, and Tabitha are forced to retreat into the hostile desert wilderness with little in common but the same manand the resolve to keep themselves and their children alive. What they discover, as one, is redemption, a new definition of family, and a bond stronger than matrimony that is tested like never before.

Reviews

An interesting and readable story, but what makes it more profound is that all these characters actually existed, with nearly unchanged backstories. Booklist A deeply moving novel that is so beautifully crafted you cant help but feel the sun beat down on your back or the snow bite into your skin. The evocative setting and well-researched history combined with nuanced characters make this novel one not to miss. Historical Novels Review With The Fire and the Ore, Olivia Hawker delivers a compelling and epic novel that proves she is a master of her craft, a storyteller of supreme talent. This book is all heart. Its meticulously researched, brilliantly constructed, and rich with historical detail. On top of all that, its a stunning and breathtaking page-turnerThis is, quite simply, a beautiful book that readers will love and devour. Julianne MacLean, USA Today bestselling author A beautiful and nuanced story about a little-known and little-understood period of history and three women who have every reason to dislike one another but, driven by different levels of faith, need, and ambition, find their way to a deep and lasting bond. The Fire and the Ore is a well-researched and deeply felt novel of tragedy, hope, and connection. Megan Chance, bestselling author of A Splendid Ruin Based on real family history, this is the heartrending story of the trials endured by Mormon converts as they made their way across the American wilderness to their promised land and of the triumph of sisterhood over adversity. A must read for fans of Western history. Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of The Venice Sketchbook

Author Bio

Olivia Hawker is the Washington Post bestselling author of The Rise of Light; One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow, a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and the WILLA Literary Award for Historical Fiction; and The Ragged Edge of Night. Olivia resides in the San Juan Islands of Washington State with her husband and several naughty cats. For more information, visit www.hawkerbooks.com.