Larksong Legacy Book 1
1st Place Winner – 2023 Catholic Media Awards – Catholic Novels Category
Available Worldwide in eBook, Paperback, and AudioBook
For Library Orders:
Title: For a Noble Purpose
Author: Kelsey Gietl
ISBN (Paperback): 979-8-9856744-0-8
ISBN (eBook): 978-0-9991105-9-1
LOC Control Number: 2022904640
Publisher: Purple Mask Publishing
Date of Publication: June 7, 2022
Number of Pages: 294
About the Story
What if your worst curse could also be your greatest gift?
As a Missouri plantation owner’s daughter, Sarah Walcott has always experienced the best society has to offer, yet her charmed life also carries unexplainable tragedy. She’s been widowed six times, always on her wedding day. When a seventh husband meets the same fate, her parents determine to send her to an asylum, where she can no longer be a burden to them or a danger to society. In desperation, Sarah joins the Larksong wagon train on their way to the West and soon learns that her saviors also harbor extraordinary gifts…ones that may finally bring her the answers she needs.
Anxious to be free from a family legacy he would rather not claim and a slave-built society he doesn’t support, Tobias Lark believes the only way to find his perfect town is to create it himself. Joined by his three brothers, he sets out for the Washington Territory with a collection of carefully curated supporters, all determined to build a new life in the West. When a young plantation widow unexpectedly joins their party, he fears the curse she carries will crack the solid foundation upon which all his plans are built.
With each step along the trail, Tobias and Sarah encounter hardships that test their resilience and threaten the idyllic life they’re searching for. Will they stand together in the face of adversity or is the community of Larksong just another unobtainable fantasy?
Praise for For a Noble Purpose
“Well-written and produced novel which clearly undertakes all elements in the Catholic novel theme involving Catholic faith, Catholic imagination, the power of grace, the struggles of life on all levels, and God’s closeness in the struggles of faith, in times of loss and sadness, and in times of joy. Terrific, transportive story which not only engages and entertains with plot surprises but also inspires and offers examples of good Christian behavior in a “real” human setting. Memorable characters, and an excellent balance of very satisfying- yet clean- and Godly historical romance.”
~ Catholic Media Conference Awards, https://www.catholicmediaconference.org/books
“For a Noble Purpose has one of the more unique premises I’ve encountered: a historical novel loosely based on the Book of Tobit (part of the deuterocanonical canon, also known as the Apocrypha), but set during Western Expansion, starting in Missouri and ending in Washington Territory. I was curious to see what Kelsey Gietl would do with it, and I was not disappointed.
The biggest challenge of adapting the story of Sarah and Tobias is finding an equivalent to the story’s supernatural elements. To do this, Gietl adds a speculative twist and mystery plot to what is otherwise historical realism. I thought it a creative approach that enhanced the story’s romance plot line.
Another aspect I appreciated was the story’s pragmatism. Tobias and his brothers, sons of a slave-owning plantation owner, have a grand vision to create a sort of utopia far away from their native South Carolina. (This is pre-Civil War; the cast of characters joining the Lark brothers’ wagon train includes formerly enslaved people.) But between race relations, tensions between the brothers, and Sarah’s past, which follows her, they discover that there is no such thing as heaven on earth. This left room for a lot of character growth.
Gietl is a solid writer; the plot engages and the prose reads well. Overall, I very much enjoyed the book. I look forward to the next book in the series!
~ Rhonda Ortiz, author of In Pieces
“Kelsey has such a unique way of stringing words together, it made the whole book feel like a dance of language…I was amazed by her gift with words and story. I’ve never read another book like this one.”
~ Heather Wood, author of Until We All Find Home
“If you are a fan of Janette Oke’s series – Love Come Softly or When Calls the Heart (two iconic series in my mind) this series is for you!”
~ Erica, Goodreads review
“I don’t normally pick up historical fiction, but Kelsey has changed my mind and made me a lover of historical fiction! … This concept was so unique and unexpected, but I loved it!”
~ Storm Shultz, author of Meant to Bee
“The Lark brothers were my absolute favorite, and the speculative element to this is something I loved…The twist at the end had me on my toes!”
~ Bethany Cox, founder of Christian Mommy Writers
“What a wild ride! … I’ve shed a few tears while reading this one.”
~ Tiffany, Goodreads review
“The tension and the triumphs were written so empathetically that the reader felt the senselessness of the tragedies, the frustration of dreams unraveling despite everything being done to fight for them.”
~ Jennifer Q. Hunt, author of In the Night Season
“You don’t want to stop turning until you’ve finished the story.”
~ Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, author of A Bride’s Journey to the Colorado Territory
