I received a free copy of Burning Ground by D.A. Galloway from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours at no charge for my honest review.
About Burning Ground:
Does time heal all wounds? Or do some last forever?
Pennsylvania, 1971: Graham Davidson is a young man with survivor’s guilt after the death of three siblings.
Estranged from his father and seeking a direction in his life, Graham learns about vision quests from a Crow Indian. He secures seasonal employment in Yellowstone National Park and embarks on a spiritual journey.
Wyoming Territory, 1871: Under a full moon at a sacred thermal area, Graham finds himself in Yellowstone a century earlier – one year before it was established as a national park. He joins the Hayden Expedition which was commissioned to explore the region.
Although a military escort provides protection for the explorers, the cavalry’s notorious lieutenant threatens Graham. His perilous journey through the future park is marred by a horrific tragedy in a geyser basin, a grizzly bear attack, and an encounter with hostile Blackfeet Indians.
Graham falls in love with Makawee, a beautiful Crow woman who serves as a guide. As the expedition nears its conclusion, Graham is faced with an agonizing decision.
Does he stay in the previous century with the woman he loves or travel back to the future?
If you like the historical time travel adventure of Outlander or enjoyed the movie Dances with Wolves, then you’ll love Burning Ground!
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“When I finish a genuinely great read, it leaves me with a sense of melancholy because the adventure the author took me on through his work is now over, and I’m left wanting more. Burning Ground is exactly that sort of book. After Graham is set upon his course by his mentor Redfield, the rest of the novel is a page-turner; the action is nearly non-stop, and the situations which arise are entirely realistic and believable. Galloway’s descriptions of late 19th century frontier life are vivid and detailed. It is clear that authenticity was an important goal, and Galloway hit the mark in descriptions of equipment, clothing, firearms, and other hardware. I felt as if I were there with the protagonist Graham, and when I turned the last page I was indeed filled with melancholy, proof of an excellent novel.” – Brian R. Smith, Author of Samworth Books, A Descriptive Bibliography of the Small Arms Technical Publishing Co.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the story! I was amazed at the depth of Galloway’s research, which extended far beyond the Hayden survey. The details on so many things the protagonist Graham experienced in Yellowstone all ring true. I especially liked the presentation of Henry Elliott, William H. Jackson, and Thomas Moran. Each person was presented in an unvarnished manner that was quite believable. Overall, the characterization of Lieutenant Doane is painfully accurate. The author captured the spirit of a man who felt entitled and was egotistical.” ~ Kim Allen Scott, author of Yellowstone Denied: The Life of Gustavus Cheyney Doane
About the Author:
David Galloway grew up in rural Pennsylvania near Gettysburg. After a long career in the paper industry and writing a bestselling non-fiction book, Safety WALK Safety TALK, he decided to follow a once dormant dream of writing a novel. Burning Ground was inspired by two memorable summers of his youth.
As a teen, David worked on a fruit farm in Pennsylvania. It is here he met Redfield, a Crow Indian who lived a simple life but had a profound effect on the way David saw the world.
As a young man, he spent a summer in Yellowstone National Park, providing guided boat tours on Yellowstone Lake. When he was not on duty, David explored all corners of that magnificent land, often in the backcountry. His love for our nation’s first national park is rooted in these experiences.
David is currently working on the sequel to Burning Ground, tentatively titled Fatal Ground.
He enjoys reading about adventurers and explorers, traveling internationally, riding a recumbent tandem bike, and spending time with his grandsons.
David lives in Springboro, Ohio with his wife Leesa.
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My Opinion:
Burning Ground combined two of my favorite things; time travel novels and Yellowstone National Park. Graham is a young man who has seen a lot of tragedy in his young life and he somehow feels guilty for surviving when his siblings have all died. Seeking an escape he takes a job in Yellowstone National Park for the summer. Before he goes he learns about vision quests from a Crow Indian.
One night in Yellowstone when the conditions are right Graham tries his Vision Quest and wakes up 100 years earlier with the Hayden Expedition as they are exploring Yellowstone for the first time. With them is Makawee, a Crow woman who will play an important part in Graham’s life.
As Graham explores Yellowstone, discovering it’s secrets and marveling at it’s beauty he finds that not all is as it seems for there is danger amidst the beauty. But he also discovers that love can be found where he least expects it.
I found this to be a really interesting book. As I noted I am always thrilled with a time travel book and this was very well done. I found myself quite immersed in the story and felt I was back in Yellowstone before it was developed. It is a truly beautiful place and it was a delight to envision it without any of the manmade elements that have been added.
This was a fun and entertaining read with a diverse and entertaining cast of characters.
Rating:
4.5
