SODA SPRINGS, Sweet Romantic Fiction by Carolyn Steele
SODA SPRINGS, Sweet Romantic Fiction by Carolyn Steele
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New Release! Soda Springs (12-8-15) by Carolyn Steele, author of Willow Springs. Published by Cedar Fort, Inc., this 264-page paperback is a clean, wholesome read and will appeal to readers of all ages. Filled with accurate history! Civil War-era North Carolina. Wagon train treks across the continent toward Oregon. And the earliest white settlements in south-eastern Idaho.
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I had the privilege of reading an Advance Review Copy (ARC) of Soda Springs. And found the storytelling lyrical, enjoyable, and the characters multi-dimensional. I felt as though I’d spent several seasons in the company of the characters. The story is primarily Tessa’s. It fits nicely into the book categories Coming of Age and Love Story.
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While Tessa is my main character, I fell in love with the backstories and character arcs of her father (Henry), Mrs. Holt, William, and the rest of the cast! Even then cantankerous Mr. Pixton surprised me at the end of the book..
I’m particularly proud of the historical accuracy of Soda Springs, right down to ensuring the language was accurate for the time frame. (I had to change the term “crush”–as in having a romantic fondness–because “crush” wasn’t used until in the following decade. And Shakespeare’s “paint the lily” didn’t become “gild the lily” until the turn of the century.) Even the Scottish phrases are accurate to the period...
~Carolyn Steele
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Author Carolyn Steele
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My father was still living when I began writing historical romance. He loved the draft of my first novel, Willow Springs, though he didn’t live long enough to see it published. In his final years, I loved sitting with him, reliving family vacations in Grays Lake, Idaho, his boyhood home. I began gathering information about Grays Lake to weave into a future novel. In my research, I stumbled upon the settlement story of Soda Springs, which is the gateway to Grays Lake, and knew this story had to be the backstory for my book. Soda Springs was settled in 1863 by a group of self-exiled Mormons called the Morrisites. The history of the Morrisites, their break from the LDS church, and subsequent exodus to southern Idaho is fascinating–and one I had never heard before.
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In pondering what could cause a family not associated with the pioneer trek of the LDS church to make the arduous crossing on the Oregon Trail, my thoughts wandered back to my husband’s family roots in North Carolina. I love building intrigue into my writing, so what better than a conflict with roots in the Civil War?.
~Carolyn Steele
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Updated July 2022
Copyright © 2015 Kristin Holt LC
Loved your review, Kristin! I forgot that I did this interview, so it really touched my heart to see it here. I’m so excited for everyone to read this story–truly a work of love! Thank you!
You’re most welcome, Carolyn. I’m so very glad my review, inclusion of your interview, and my participation with your blog tour made your world a little brighter. Your ‘work of love’ shines. My review and compliments are 100% genuine and authentic. Wishing you the very best with your new release… and your many years of future success.
Warm regards and Merry Christmas,
Kristin Holt