Second Wind: The Saga of Pike Wheeling

by Lori Davis

For Pike Wheeling has to face and conquer these emotions many times. Barely surviving Andersonville prison after being captured by Confederates, Pike comes home to find his one and only love married to his middle brother. Beginning again is a daunting task for Pike. He decides to move to Indian Territory to escape but is dismayed to accept both brothers are following and Pike's love will be with him . . .daily. Not only must Pike deal with his most bitter disappointment but is tricked into an unsatisfying marriage, only to discover he loves someone else. Many more mountains Pike has to face as well as his enemy from Andersonville.

412 pages, Paperback

First published February 19, 2010

Reviews

[Emily-Jane Orford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I found the beginning confusing, starting in the present and then jumping into the past to bring the reader up to the present. Between the Prologue and first chapter there was no indication of time frame to tell the reader that the story had jumped back in time. There were other places where time was confusing, like when Pike's daughter was born and a couple of months later it was walking. In some ways, the story was a little unrealistic. Not many pioneers had that much money to buy everything once they reached their new settlement. And building homes was not done as quickly and as easily as the book suggests. There were some horrible scenes in this story, very realistic, sadly. There were so many possible plots, it was difficult to decipher what the main plot was. The description and the characterization was well done, though. As I said, I did enjoy this book. Perhaps it could use a little more work to tighten up the story, the plot. Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford, award-winning author of "The Whistling Bishop" and "F-Stop: A Life in Pictures".