From a Distance

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
The very first paragraph tells us so much about the main character: her name, age, dreams, determination, courage… and that her time is limited. In the first chapter, we learn that Elizabeth is a strong woman facing a life-threatening illness, yet she doesn’t let that stop her or even slow her down. She dreams of becoming the first female staff photographer and journalist at the Washington Daily Chronicle, and she won’t let illness, the treacherous Rocky Mountains, or her father’s disapproval get in her way. However, we also see that her determination is balanced with heart in the way she treats the “Negro” man she has hired to assist her and in how she views the wildlife around her.

When we first meet show more Daniel Ranslett in Chapter Three, we learn that he is a patient tracker, a skilled hunter with a conscience, and a man of his word. We also learn that he is haunted by his past and still wrestles with the guilt of old choices. He prefers to keep to himself, but his reluctance is no match for Elizabeth’s determination once she learns he has the experience she needs to accomplish part of her goals.

Characters:

In addition to Elizabeth and Daniel, Tamera introduces us to a variety of well-developed characters including:

Josiah – a former slave, kind & competent employee, and loyal friend;
Sheriff James McPherson – whose current friendship with Daniel has been complicated and strained by past events;
Rachel Boyd – sister to the sheriff, mother, and recent widow;
The Tucker family – struggling to provide for their large brood, including a young son with a severe illness;
Drayton Turner the local newspaper man;
Carnes the coroner;
Mr. Zachary manager of the local land and title office;
and too many more to list.
Despite the size of the cast in this story, Tamera has managed to give each character such a unique depth, and introduced them so skillfully, that there was never a moment where I lost track of who was who. Each character is as real and rich as the next.

EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT & PACING OF THE STORY:
This is not an edge of your seat, flip the pages as fast as you can, style of story. However, Tamera has created just enough tension that you are always reluctant to set this book down. As I’ve already said, the characters are so real and their emotions so deeply felt by the reader that you cannot help but be pulled into their world and their struggles. You want to know what will happen next and whether or not each character will achieve their goals.

Elements I especially liked/disliked:

Something that sets this novel apart is its handling of the racial issues present in 1875 Colorado Territory. I appreciated how Tamera managed to portray this in a way that felt real, yet not garish. It was neither overdone for the sake of drama nor underplayed for the sake of current (2016) political views. I think it’s important to remember the shameful parts of our history as well as the moments of which we are proud. It’s how we learn and a reminder never to go back.

Themes:

The primary themes are accepting forgiveness and learning to adjust when your dreams don’t turn out to be what you imagined they were.

Ending:

I found the ending of this book mostly satisfying. I felt the romance was resolved a bit too subtly for my taste, but this is a nitpicky personal opinion. In regard to length, I would, perhaps, have liked just another page or two more to enjoy the afterglow of resolution, but this is more a sign of having enjoyed the book than a complaint against it. There is no hint of a cliffhanger. The romance plot and all the side plots are nicely concluded. show less

This book starts a new series for Ms. Alexander. To date, she has concentrated on US Civil War Tennessee as her setting, but in this series she has moved on to post-war Colorado, with the story of a female photographer from the North, and a rugged guide from the South. Much happens to them, and a number of deceptions and past baggage need to be worked through before they can really come together. It takes awhile to get going, since our heroine Elizabeth understandably, but annoyingly defensive, and it's hard to warm up to someone with a massive chip on her shoulder. But as she and Daniel mellow out and become more comfortable with each other, and start meeting the many problems they face with teamwork, it warms up nicely.

Elizabeth Westbrook has come to Timber Ridge in the Colorado Territory in 1875 for 2 reasons. First, she wants to prove herself as a topnotch photographer and win a job as photographer and journalist on the Washington Chronicle and, second, she hopes the mountain air will improve her lung condition, a condition that ended her Mother's life at a young age. She keeps her association with the newspaper a secret under the advisement of her publisher but feels guilty about it. She has hired Josiah, a freed slave as an assistant and roams the area taking pictures. Her publisher has suggested pictures of the newly discovered Mesa Verde as a possible subject for winning the job, but she needs to convince Daniel Ranslett to guide her there and show more he is not willing. When events reveal her secrets and threaten her assistant, she feels all is lost. Then the trip to Mesa Verde suddenly becomes a possibility, but dangerous due to weather conditions and sudden illness. The journey becomes a revealing trip for Daniel, Elizabeth and Josiah. Ten years have passed since the Civil War but it's still having an effect on the lives of each character. This was a well plotted, moving and intriguing story. I plan to look for the other 2 books about this community. show less

Excellent story. Captures the attention from the beginning. Beautiful scenery descriptions. Emotionally engaging. Wonderful characters. Suspenseful. Makes you want to experience what the author describes and to know the people in the story. The thought process of the main character leaves you with things to think about in your own life. Historical details very interesting.

Tamera Alexander does such a good job of making you understand and appreciate the time and place in history you are reading about; the beauty of the "west" and the difficulties of living in the 1870s (and especially being a photographer). A well written and enjoyable story.
This is a story of Elizabeth Westbrook who travels to Colorado to capture in pictures the mountains near Timber Ridge. The fact that she is trying to win her place as a photographer for the Washington Daily Chronicle and that she is the daughter a well known politician, isn't something she wants the folks of Timber Ridge to know. Daniel Ranslett is a man who wants to be left alone as he lives in the Colorado mountains and tries to come to terms with his past and the show more part he played as a Confederate sharpshooter in the war. When Daniel shoots down the animal that Elizabeth is taking a picture of, things don't exactly get off to a good start. And when Elizabeth and her assistant Josiah have to leave town quickly, it's Daniel that must lead them on an adventure to photograph the Mesa Verde. The more these two are around each other the more each of them learns to appreciate the others strengths and weaknesses.
I think the author summed up this story when she writes "God loved her (Elizabeth) enough to intervene in her dream - to shatter it, to shatter her - only so He could put her back together and give her an even bigger, better dram. His dream for her life."
I am looking forward to book 2 and 3 in this series! show less

This is more than a novel, a journey into two peoples lives that brings you to the edge of their experiences and beliefs and makes you focus on your own as well. I had a hard time through the first part of the novel, because I was unsure if I really liked the personality of the main character Elizabeth Westbrook. Yet as the story continued, and I was able to really look more on who she was and who she might be becoming I found that I really did like her. The humor through out the entire book is true to life. Included with the hardships of live during and after war, as well as life in the West is a love and growth between individuals. It is something that you can read about, and then feel it within your heart and not just turn a blind show more eye. Each character within this story has their flaws and they are these bits and pieces that make them so much more realistic and provide a reader the ability to relate. Every page brings something unexpected, and be fully prepared to shed some tears on the last page. Tammy has done it again with this novel, so far every single one is a complete hit to my mind and I cannot finish typing this review fast enough to pick up the second book in this Timber Ridge Series, [b:Beyond This Moment|3568996|Beyond This Moment (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 2)|Tamera Alexander|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1220382528s/3568996.jpg|3611199]. show less

This is more than a novel, a journey into two peoples lives that brings you to the edge of their experiences and beliefs and makes you focus on your own as well. I had a hard time through the first part of the novel, because I was unsure if I really liked the personality of the main character Elizabeth Westbrook. Yet as the story continued, and I was able to really look more on who she was and who she might be becoming I found that I really did like her. The humor through out the entire book is true to life. Included with the hardships of live during and after war, as well as life in the West is a love and growth between individuals. It is something that you can read about, and then feel it within your heart and not just turn a blind show more eye. Each character within this story has their flaws and they are these bits and pieces that make them so much more realistic and provide a reader the ability to relate. Every page brings something unexpected, and be fully prepared to shed some tears on the last page. Tammy has done it again with this novel, so far every single one is a complete hit to my mind and I cannot finish typing this review fast enough to pick up the second book in this Timber Ridge Series, [b:Beyond This Moment|3568996|Beyond This Moment (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 2)|Tamera Alexander|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1220382528s/3568996.jpg|3611199]. show less