Boston, 1763 the Seven Year war is ending, but what Eliza doesn’t know is a new war is coming, a conflict that could threaten everything and everyone she loves. Come on this journey with her as she tries to find her way in this rapidly changing world of war and intrigue which tests her loyalty and love. Can she protect her family while also saving the land and home she loves, or is she destined to lose it all?
“Till I Come Home” is borne out of my extensive work in genealogy and pays homage to our ancestors, especially the ordinary women whose accomplishments were anything but ordinary. Our ancestors live on through stories like these. Also, discover “On the Wings of the Red-Tailed Hawk,” the story of Eliza’s great-great grandmother and her journey to Colonial America, available now on Amazon.
Reviewed by Michelle Robertson for Readers’ Favorite
In Till I Come Home: The Centenary Chronicles, Tales of American Women by Gail Combs Oglesby, Eliza comes from a line of strong, prosperous women going back to the 1600s, when her first descendant came over with the Pilgrims to Boston, Massachusetts. The women of her past had endured many hardships but prevailed. Could she do the same? The year is 1763. The French and Indian War was nearing an end. Finally, after some struggle, Eliza and her family can return to their normal life routines. Still, there was increased talk in the town and within her own family of resistance against the English king and his soldiers. Would the men ever settle their differences without a war? Can Eliza handle the hurdles life is about to throw at her?
Till I Come Home by Gail Combs Oglesby is the second book in The Centenary Chronicles. Through extensive research and creative storytelling, Gail introduces readers to her genealogy and historic events. Providing information on women of the past with stories of their political affiliations, the choices they have made, and how their actions have affected future generations, the author gives her readers a personal look into the lives of historically significant women. The conversations between each character, their emotions, and the drama that unfolds within the story are written so beautifully that a reader can imagine or picture the scenes in their mind, just as if they are watching on a television screen. I loved this book and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys
Reviewed by Carmen Tenorio for Readers’ Favorite
Till I Come Home by Gail Combs Oglesby is the second book of The Centenary Chronicles, Tales of American Women series, and is set during the impending American Revolutionary War against the British occupation in the mid-1700s. It is the story of an American-born wife of an Englishman and mother to several children in 18th-century Boston, Massachusetts. Experiencing the tragedies brought about by the war and the snowballing resistance to authority hardened her resolve, albeit low-key, to strive for freedom, equality, and self-determination and to fight exploitation and injustice. Eliza was not a woman who cowered in fear or depended solely on prayers. She learned to handle a musket and took up arms to fight for what she believed was right and just. Her house is divided, and her loyalty tested, but her deep love for her spouse and children remains steadfast and unchanged until the very end.
One of the best ways to learn about history and remember it is by seeing how macro-level events personally affect the everyday lives and relationships of people as they go through the ordinary, micro-level situations of living. Author Gail Combs Oglesby has successfully done it in Till I Come Home. The Tales of American Women series aims to honor the contributions of ordinary women from the past, the political and cultural significance of their choices and actions, and how they influenced the present. She has skillfully combined several kinds of historical references and events as the reader becomes witness to a remarkable life. The author uses the first-person point of view of a wife and a mother who does her best to live through all the privileges, joys, and rewards as well as the struggles and challenges during a very difficult time in American history. It is Herstory more than anything else. The author’s writing is smooth. The dialogue, emotions, and drama easily paint an image or scene in the reader’s mind, remaining faithful to the era. The author includes both fiction and non-fiction characters and is good at creating seeds of conflicts that embroil the players and effectively uses them for character development. A highly recommended read for fans of historical fiction and drama.
fiction or reading about strong women.
Gail Combs Oglesby 