Skin of the Sun

"Why, you a gal, ain't ya?" With these few words, Worthy, a captured runaway African slave, begins an odyssey with Mary Rivers, a beautiful Chickasaw woman. There was no way the bounty hunter who tied the beaten and bloody body of Worthy to the abused and violated body of Mary could know that he was also forging the first link of the chain binding their hearts and souls together. Against the majestic backdrop of the mountains and plains of the American West, Mary and Worthy begin a long journey in search of their freedom, a journey filled with unspeakable danger and heartache. It's an odyssey they must pursue--to freedom or to death.

I was frankly astonished by SKIN OF THE SUN, for a number of reasons. The storyline is unique and compelling, involving characters one doesn't often find explored in contemporary fiction. The action proceeds from the first page at a pace and in a style that made it difficult for me to put the book down and eager to pick it up at the first opportunity. The characters are described and presented with great skill and sensitivity. They came alive for me. The historical references to the people, the landscape, the dress, and the attitudes of the time in which the book takes place reflect careful research and attention to detail. The dialogue is one of the strong points of this fascinating novel. And the people in the story--whether trapper, trader, priest, Indian, or settler--are portrayed with remarkable sensitivity and believability. The Native people, in particular, are portrayed honestly and humanely, in contrast to the unrealistic stereotypical portrayals (both positive and negative) that one frequently encounters. But ultimately, it's the fascinating story and the skillful way in which it's told that elevates this book. For those who crave that rare, excellent read that grips and thrills, enlightens and delights, SKIN OF THE SUN fulfills these expectations--and much more!

Leonidas Brown, Jr., Producer, THE LIVING HISTORIES PROJECT

Lynn Gray is the author of the nonfiction work, Longing for the Wild, and ten novels. She lives in Arizona.