I can't decide if The Widow's War: A Novel by Sally Gunning is carefully crafted historical fiction or a trashy romance novel. I guess I like it because it's a little of both. This is the first book I read on my iPhone, after downloading it onto iBooks for 99 cents—all 1,384 pages of it on that tiny screen! But I've discovered that I love reading on these little electronic devices!
While the morals and values of the story's heroine may be questionable, the author defends the book's carnal elements noting that according to her research, "The Puritans were anything but pure." I appreciate her attention to historical details and her authentic depiction of colonial life on Cape Cod. Interestingly, the book's 18th century characters wrestle with the same emotional demons as many contemporary people. When the Indian Cowett and the widow Lyddie discuss sins such as adultery, he explains that, unlike the English, Indian men and women are free to leave one mate and try another whenever they wish.
"Then where lies the sin?" Lyddie asked.
"When the trying comes before the leaving."
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