1890s. Colorado. Following her mother’s sudden death, thirteen-year-old Hannah Owens is hired as domestic help by a wealthy doctor’s family in Colorado Springs. When the doctor declares bankruptcy and abandons his family to finance his mistress Pearl DeVere’s brothel, Hannah is thrown into a world of gold mining bonanzas and busts, rampant prostitution and the economic, political and cultural upheavals of the era.
Two of Cripple Creek’s most colorful historic characters, Winfield Scott Stratton, eccentric owner of the richest gold mine in Cripple Creek, and Pearl DeVere, the beautiful madam of The Old Homestead come to life as this old-fashioned, coming-of-age saga unfolds, a tribute to the women who set the stage for women’s rights.
My Thoughts Sparrow Alone by Mim Eichmann
In 1890’s Colorado, 13 year old Hannah Owens mother has just died. Her father is useless and just spews scripture, as always. So Mrs. Hughes takes her home with her to learn to be a servant for herself and wealthy doctor husband. It seems kind of Mrs. Hughes at the time but she is not a kind woman as the welts and scars on Hannah can attest to.
After Dr. Hughes abandons his family for his mistress, Pearl DeVere, Mrs. Hughes throws Hannah and the cook, Zuma out. They end up living on the high class brothel finances by Dr. Hughes and run by Pearl. They take in the brothel’s laundry and darning to be able to live. Hannah is also hired twice to sing on special occasions at the brothel. However, that life falls apart too and Zuma is sent to jail for something she did not do. Hannah is now completely alone. Enter Winfield Scott to save her or does he just want a piece of her?
Hannah is thrown from the frying pan and into the fire many times throughout this novel. How will she survive? It is clear that Mim Eichmann did her research. She captured the period and place well. Her characters popped off the page and kidnapped me into their world. Even though I finished reading, they still have me and won’t let go. I just can’t get them out of my head. Luckily, I found out at the end that there is a sequel coming next year. The wait will be excruciating. I highly recommend ‘A Sparrow Alone’ to historical fiction lovers and give it 5 stars.
I received the ebook from the author for my honest review.
About Mim Eichmann
A graduate of the Jordan College of Music at Butler University, Indianapolis, IN, Mim Eichmann has found that her creative journey has taken her down many exciting, interwoven pathways. For well over two decades she was known in the Chicago area primarily as the artistic director/ choreographer of Midwest Ballet Theatre, bringing full-length professional ballet performances to thousands of dance lovers every year and was the recipient of many arts’ programming and education grants from the Illinois Arts Council (funded by the National Endowment for the Arts) among others. A desire to become involved again in the folk music world brought about the creation of her acoustic quartet Trillium www.trilliumtheband.com now in its 15th year, a folk band well known for its eclectic repertoire, that performs throughout the Midwest and has also released four cds. She’s also written the lyrics and music and recorded two award-winning original children’s cds. She occasionally schedules concerts of her children’s music and movement programs in the Chicago area.
Ms. Eichmann’s short story “Slomp” won first place in the 2018 Short-Edition/American Library Association’s “Set Stories Free” Competition and was translated into French and Spanish in 2019. The story was also one of 10 fiction finalists in the 2019 San Francisco Writers Conference Contest. Over the years she’s written countless promotional articles for her own and others’ various endeavors. She was also a by-lined arts’ reviewer for The South Bend Tribune in the 1970s. Her many memorable reporting experiences include a personal interview with Vincent Price during a power outage and the opportunity to preview the musical “Annie” with the original cast at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. a few days before its spectacular Broadway debut.
Throughout her life, Ms. Eichmann has always been captivated by the writings, diaries and journals of late 19th century women, and how so many of these trailblazing women ultimately set the stage for women’s rights during the era’s economic, cultural and political upheavals. She’s now put pen to paper and the historical fiction novel she’s been passionately researching, its rich synopsis gradually evolving over many years, has finally become a reality. Her debut novel “A Sparrow Alone” will be published by Living Springs Publishers, Centennial, CO on April 15, 2020 and the novel’s sequel, “Muskrat Ramble” in Spring 2021.
A Sparrow Alone by Mim Eichmann
Thank you for a chance to win a copy of this book. One of my favorite genres.
A captivating historical. Thanks.
I have added this to my TBR list.
Sounds like a fascinating plot.
Sounds intriguing
You hear names and places in songs and in movies, but don’t often realize, that they are real people and real places.
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