Eliza Waite Reviews

Selected Reviews for Eliza Waite

“Sweeney’s debut novel is a beautifully written work of historical fiction tracing one woman’s life in the wilds of nineteenth-­century America. Readers will be immersed in Eliza’s world, which Sweeney has so authentically and skillfully rendered.”

—Booklist

“The story moves briskly along, and as a portrait of a woman daring to live life on her own terms, Sweeney’s book is both believable and eye-­opening. A strong, heartfelt novel.”—Historical Novels Review

“Eliza’s adventures and her awakening are enlivened by real diary entries and authentic pioneer recipes evoking this unique era in American history. . . . If you enjoy well-­researched historical fiction with plenty of engaging plot twists, you’ll love Eliza Waite.”—Hungry for Good Books

“Eliza Waite is a lively and compelling narrative of one woman’s quest to navigate the social turmoil of the late 19th century Pacific Northwest. Traversing the San Juan Islands, Seattle, and the Klondike, Ashley Sweeney offers an insightful look into the challenges and opportunities of the Gold Rush for charting a new course in life.”—Polly Myers, University of Washington History Department

“Meticulously researched, Eliza Waite transports us to the Klondike Gold Rush, where a resourceful young widow searches a more elusive prize: happiness in a re-­forged life.”—Pamela Schoenewaldt, USA Today Bestselling author of When We Were Strangers

“Cast off by her family and living in the shadow of unthinkable tragedy, Eliza Waite finds the courage to leave her remote island home to join the sea of miners, fortune hunters, con men and prostitutes in the Klondike during the spring of 1898. Ashley Sweeney’s exquisite descriptions, electrifying plot twists, and hardy yet vulnerable characters will captivate historical fiction fans and leave them yearning for more. Eliza Waite is a stunning debut!”—Kristen Harnisch, award-­winning author of The Vintner’s Daughter and The California Wife