Elinor

Title: Elinor: A Riveting Story Based on the Lost Colony of Roanoke
Author: Shannon McNear
Series: Daughters of the Lost Colony, book 1
Major Themes: North Carolina, Roanoke Colony
Synopsis: Nothing went according to plan after John White’s English settlers landed on Roanoke Island; would Elinor and her husband and baby survive?

My favorite fiction genre is historical fiction. I love books in which an author can bring a place or event from the past back to life and make me feel like I am there, experiencing what the characters experience. I really admire authors who research so much that they can come up with plausible explanations for unsolved mysteries in the past. For example, what happened to the English settlers on Roanoke Island? Many theories have been advanced over the years! Shannon McNear has come up with a scenario that sounds quite likely in Elinor. It took me a couple of chapters to get into the story, but I had a hard time putting this book down once I did.

The year was 1587. John White convinced his son-in-law Ananias Dare and daughter Elinor to accompany him to the New World. They planned to start an English colony in Virginia, but instead of being landed at Chesapeake, as they intended, they were put ashore on Roanoke Island. John was there previously, had met the natives, and even painted pictures of them, but his party mistreated the “savages” and he was leery of settling on that island. They made the best of it, though, and soon Elinor gave birth to her baby, the first English baby to be born in North America. Then, John White had to leave to return to England to give a report and get supplies for the new colony.

Soon, the settlers found themselves forced to move to another island. Then, circumstances forced another move, and they faced starvation. What could they do? Some of the neighboring Indians were friendly and welcoming, but some were openly threatening. When Elinor found herself alone in the world, what could she do? Would her faith in God be enough to sustain her? She knew in her head that nothing could separate her from the love of God; would she now know this in her heart?

What really happened to the settlers on Roanoke Island? Did any survive the first year or two, when the colony vanished from sight? This amazing story proposes a possible explanation, as well as being an amazing story. If you enjoy historical fiction, don’t miss Elinor! I’m looking forward to reading the sequel soon.

I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: Twice men are killed, and a married couple kisses several times.

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