Shirley G. Webb & Janet Moreland, Authors - Summary of the 3 books in "The Howell Women Saga," Historic Romance Fiction for Teenagers & Adults

"The Howell Women Saga" is comprised of historic Women's fiction that follows the lives of the courageous Howell women, beginning with Cherokee grandmother Adrena and continuing to her granddaughter Deborah Boone, Deborah’s daughter Victoria Redman, and Victoria’s daughter Olivia Johnson. The saga consists of Cherokee Love, Dance in the Rain, and Song of Love. These stories are soft romance combined with action adventure, suitable for readers ages twelve and above. They are multi-cultural, crossing the boundaries between traditional American Indian vs. Anglican American values. Each book begins with a short Cherokee legend that carries a positive life lesson which threads its way throughout the story.

The four generations of Howell women are faced with many struggles to which they apply determined, forward-thinking solutions, an unusual feat in the male-dominated society of the era between the American Civil War through the Korean War. Deborah, Victoria, and Olivia all have careers outside of their roles as wife, mother, and housekeeper. Deborah begins as a young reporter and later becomes the director of a school for young girls; Victoria is a doctor until she marries; and Olivia is an artist. As life would dictate, they all experience romance and, through their struggles, find love and trust. In addition to the lovable, well-rounded characters of the saga, there are also several villains who can be hated with ease.

Although not the main focus of the saga, historical events are an intricate part of all the characters’ lives. Within the three books, even subtle changes in society, technology, transportation, economics, communications, and fashions fill out the background to the characters’ lives and daily activities.

Book One - Cherokee Love

Cherokee Love opens in 1865 when the heroine, Deborah Howell, a spirited 19-year-old reporter at the Raleigh Centennial, rivals her colleague, George Boone, for an assignment that changes her life. She meets her Cherokee family when Adrena, a captivating Cherokee matriarch, tells her own heartwarming love story for the Raleigh newspaper. Deborah, born of mixed blood and raised as a white child, is filled with delight. In the presence of this elderly storyteller, her need for her Cherokee family is awakened. She meets her Cherokee half-brother Tlanuwa, his wife Sukanet, and their young daughter LeLanna, all of whom become central figures in her life.

Following a whirlwind courtship, Deborah and George marry, and she becomes the director of a prestigious school for girls in Washington, D.C. Her staunch advocacy of the women’s rights movement is a constant bone of contention between Deborah and George. This is a story not only of romance, but also of trickery and deceit. George becomes the first villain of the saga. After the “death” of her baby (who was actually sold to a black market baby ring), Deborah embraces her Cherokee culture and is told by the shaman that the Great Spirit will “restore all that was taken away by the evil one.” This prophecy is not understood until 13 years later when a miraculous event happens.

No battle scenes here – just life as it could have been lived during the civil war and years following. Deborah interacts with historical events and people. She is at the Ford Theatre the night President Lincoln is shot; she interviews Charles Dickens in London; she is the first female awarded the highest honor in America for journalists.

After George’s unexpected death, Deborah remarries to her long time friend and admirer, Dan Wainwright, who shares and enthusiastically supports her ideas and values as a liberated female. With Dan at her side, she provides a nurturing influence for young Victoria, a student at her school, and her Cherokee niece LeLanna as they mature into strong, independent women.

Both young ladies find romance during a vacation in London. Lelanna marries Dan Wainwright’s younger brother Richard. However, Victoria refuses the proposal of Garrett Cowling, because she has already fallen in love with Hawk Redman during a Sun Dance at LeLanna's Cherokee village.

After two years’ separation during which Victoria thinks Hawk was dead, they are reunited and renew their vows of love to each other. Deborah attends Victoria’s wedding, but then dies unexpectedly five years later, leaving Victoria with ghosts of the past in the old house in which Deborah grew up.

Book Two - Dance in the Rain

Dance in the Rain unfolds as history moves forward in the 20th century. It begins in 1909 as Deborah Wainwright’s daughter, Victoria Redman, living in Washington D. C., endures the disappearance of her Cherokee husband, Hawk, for whom she has given up her medical practice to devote herself to being a wife and mother. Eight months after Hawk’s disappearance, she gives birth to twins, Oliver and Olivia. She loses her son to ill health when he is only 18-months-old. Soon after that her beloved housekeeper Anna Lloyd dies, and her dear aunt, Brenda Traka, plans a move to Richmond, Virginia to marry Dr. Marcus Grill. Victoria joyfully approves of her Aunt Brenda sailing away to England with her fiancé, knowing the two are planning to marry aboard the maiden voyage of the Titanic on their return to America.

Soon after, Victoria and Olivia, with Cassandra Roman, Victoria’s new housekeeper and an old friend of her deceased mother, move to a horse ranch in Orlanger, Virginia. The journey is laden with hardships due to a sudden storm that turns the roadway to a sea of mud. Once at the ranch, Victoria befriends her ranch manager, Caleb Johnson. Olivia, a toddler, instantly becomes “best friends” with Caleb’s five-year-old son, Brad.

At Grill's Ranch, Brad and Olivia share childhood adventures until he is 11 years old. At that time, Caleb sends him to live with an uncle and aunt in Colorado. With Brad gone, Olivia spends more time with Cassandra, and a mutual disregard develops between them.

Though the search for Hawk continues, Victoria lives a solitary life on the ranch, refusing all invitations and proposals from other men, including that of a sanctimonious preacher. She encourages Olivia in her art talent, and Olivia, when she is not yet seventeen, accepts an invitation from Garrett Cowling, Victoria’s former beau and trusted old friend, to travel to England with him to get advanced art studies in both London and Paris.

Olivia lives in the Cowling household for a year and falls in love with Garrett’s son, Lawrence. However, she refuses to marry him until she completes her year of art school in Paris. Meanwhile, Victoria and Garrett rekindle their old romance through letters, just as Brad and Olivia maintain their friendship.

Shortly after her schooling is completed and her art is selling well at prestigious galleries, Olivia discovers that Lawrence has had an illegitimate child by another woman. She returns to her mother’s ranch, where Brad Johnson is now ranch manager.

When official word explaining Hawk’s disappearance arrives and she knows he will never return to her, Victoria agrees to marry Garrett and move to his home in London, leaving Olivia as overseer of the ranch. Olivia and Brad awkwardly reestablish their old friendship, which leads to a proposal of marriage by Brad.

It’s not until the end of the book that Olivia and Brad discover, at last, an unexpected villain who has caused much of the family torment for three generations.

Book Three - Song of Love

Song of Love begins in 1928 at Grill’s Ranch in Orlanger, Virginia. Olivia Redman is in a heated argument with her fiancé, Brad Johnson. She is about to take a trip to Paris for a special gallery showing of her paintings and, out of his own insecurity, he thinks she should not go. The feisty Olivia is not about to be stopped. Aboard ship on the voyage to France, Olivia meets Owen Hunter and Alice Mellon, an engaged couple who quickly become her friends.

While in Paris, she visits with Lawrence Cowling, her former beau and now her stepbrother. He is raising his infant daughter, Chloe, as a single parent. Olivia sees him in a new light and accepts the idea of him as a member of her family.

Owen and Alice attend Olivia’s gallery showing and are greatly impressed with her paintings. They buy one of her works and become important influences in the marketing of her paintings. The showing is a spectacular success, confirming Olivia’s place in the art world.

In London, there is a reunion between Olivia and her friend, Clarise Fox, Olivia's former roommate from art school. Afterward, Olivia visits her mother, Victoria, and step-father, Garrett Cowling. The influence of Clarise and Victoria makes Olivia realize she is truly in love with Brad and is ready to marry him, although she fears a curse has been placed on the lives of the Howell women. She recalls the many hardships they have encountered because of this apparent curse and worries that the same will befall her.

Olivia returns to Virginia where she and Brad marry. A year later their son, Will, is born. Shortly thereafter, Clarise comes to Orlanger to visit with them. Clarise falls in love with and marries their neighbor, Cody Ray McGuire, who is Brad’s best friend.

When America becomes involved in World War II, Brad enlists in the Navy. Olivia recalls the curse and fears for his safety. This period in Olivia’s life is full of trauma. It is during these lonely years she seems to draw nearer to a Cherokee ancestor. He mystically appears to her during a snow storm, possibly keeping her and Will from having an accident.

With the help of Clarise and Cody Ray, Olivia struggles to keep the ranch in business. She hires a black man, Dete Parker, and his son, Garth, who are looking for work. They fit in well with the other ranch hands and become part of Olivia’s family, which includes Brad’s Aunt Lottie. Garth and Will are soon best friends and share many adventures, including a failed attempt to cook a duck they have shot.

Grill’s Ranch becomes a happy home once more when Brad returns from his military service. He works to transform the ranch into a successful racehorse operation. This is disrupted by the presence of the irresponsible Harley Grill, who has been ordered to work at the ranch by his adoptive father, Lance Grill. Lance is the true owner of the property, although Olivia has lived there since she was a toddler. Harley’s presence is disturbing to her. She fears he will eventually take over the ranch and possibly cause her family to lose their home.

The Cherokee ancestor's mystical spirit again appears to Olivia. For the first time, he talks with her and assures her things will work out fine. He also predicts that Will is going to face a life-threatening incident.

Meanwhile, because of this ancestor's influence, Will goes to the Cherokee village in North Carolina to visit his cousin, Jess, and explore his Cherokee ancestry. While there, he falls in love with Rilla, a young Cherokee woman. He suffers great heartbreak when he learns that her father disapproves of their relationship—they are third cousins. Because of the depression he develops, Will feels he must get away and enlists in the Navy. Olivia had feared she would lose her son to Rilla and the village; now she feels she has lost him to the Korean War. She is convinced the family curse is to blame.

Having Harley living at the ranch proves to be a detriment to both the ranch and the family. While Will is home on leave, Harley deliberately starts a fire at the stable. The Cherokee ancestor appears again and saves Will’s life and Brad’s favorite race horse, Song of Love. Once Lance hears the truth of this incident, he runs Harley off the land and gives Brad and Olivia full title to the ranch.

It is 19-year-old Garth who becomes Brad’s jockey and begins a successful racing career, ultimately winning the Kentucky Derby with Song of Love.

Not long after that victory, Brad and Olivia learn there has been an accident aboard Will’s ship. At the same time, news reaches Olivia from London that her mother has died. She is then torn between her obligation to travel to London for her mother’s funeral and her deep concern over Will, who is reported missing from the carrier, USS Century.

Olivia finally is ready to accept her destiny. She finds in herself the courage to overcome her fears and realizes that making tough choices yields unexpected rewards. Accompanied by Clarise, she attends her mother’s funeral with a steadfast resolve that her son will come through this tragedy and return to her.

Will has a near-death experience in which the mysterious ancestor, once again, saves him by directing him back to the world of the living. After surgery on his leg, Will is discharged from the Navy and returns to Orlanger. He plans to live at Grill's Ranch, eventually taking over for his father. In a surprise ending, Will discovers how the longest, most winding journeys begin and end with a song of love.