WILD, BEAUTIFUL, AND FREE

The evocative, melodic voice of Channie Waites brings to life the character of Jeannette, who struggles to find her identity and reclaim her birthright. Listeners empathize as Jeannette, the daughter of an enslaved woman, suffers when her beloved father, a white plantation owner, dies and she is sold into slavery in 1850s Mississippi by his wife. Listeners meet many well-crafted characters--sympathetic and despicable--whom Waites makes very real. Jeanette escapes and goes to Ohio, where she finds employment and true love, but her adventures are not over. The drama continues when she serves as a nurse during the Civil War. There are some similarities to Jane Eyre in this historical romance, but this literary work is unique and engaging. Listeners will enjoy the action and the heroine's self-actualization. D.L.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]