My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Priscilla's Reveille by Erica Vetsch

This book is the first in a series called My Heart Belongs...

I was drawn to this book because I actually live about 5 miles from the modern day Ft. Bliss, Texas. We spend a lot of time in that community with families and scouting.  

This book is historical fiction from a Christian perspective.  Erica Vetsch has done a beautiful job researching the history and details of this area..  You get to know, from the very beginning of the story, that there is a love story brewing.  What you don't know until it begins to unfold is that the story takes many twists and turns to get to the final resolution.  Life is never dull in the desert for the characters of this charming story.  The characters are genuine and lovable... well, most of them.  The book gives us a pretty good picture of what the relationships between 1874 fort residents and the locals, Indians in the area, and the many travelers on their way through to other destinations might have looked like.  They had to walk a fine line with the delicate balance of peace sometimes. The author explores, in detail, the beautiful, yet sometimes harsh, landscape and flora and fauna of the area.  She tells of a doctor who becomes friends and colleagues with a medicine man from a local tribe.  They share knowledge of herbs for healing and treating ailments in order to treat those under their care. 

The story is set in 1874 in far West Texas at a desert Army Fort... Fort Bliss, TX.  Priscilla gets the news that her brother and his wife have died and left twin children orphaned.  She travels from Cincinnati, Ohio to the fort with the intention of bringing them back with her to raise them in Ohio.  She did not expect to find them living with an Army doctor/surgeon on post when she arrived  This man was not only a doctor but is also their UNCLE.  The battle for the custody of these children begins as they have to decide what is best for the children.  You will have to read the story to find out what happens.... no spoilers here!

It is a great adventure! 

If you are ever in the area they have a lovely Old Fort Bliss Museum on post and if you are here during the March/April time of year you might catch a glimpse of those beautiful Mexican Poppies you see on the cover along the Castner Range area on the Northeast side of El Paso off Hwy 54 and Trans-mountain.

Just a sampling of our Mexican poppies

Old Fort Bliss Museum area... This was taken during my middle son's Eagle Scout Project that he chose to do at the museum.

You can see the museum in the back.  I will have to go and get a better photo sometime to share with you but I wanted you to see the area honoring the old fort.

There are more books coming from Barbour Publishing in the My Heart Belongs series with the next one coming March 1, 2017 called My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains by Susan Page Davis.

I was sent a copy of My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas in exchange for an honest review.  It is published through Barbour Publishing Company.  Please check out more from Erica Vetsch here and also on Facebook. 

I loved her writing very much!  

I give it a 5 out of 5.