Brighter Than Her Fears

<p><strong style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The 19th century women's rights movement and the rise of public education intertwine with one woman's story of struggle perseverance and love.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(29 34 40 1)>When her father dies and the family inn falls to ruin i</span><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>n 1882 western North Carolina </span><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(29 34 40 1)>thirty-year-old Alice Harris is compelled to marry Jasper Carter a Civil War veteran twice her age.</span><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> Far from home and a stranger in a new family Alice remakes herself. She learns to farm tobacco mothers her stepson and comes to love her husband.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>However Alice uncovers pending trouble with the family's land holdings which threatens their livelihood on the farm. The growth in Asheville promises a different future-one of manufacturing transportation tourism and wealth. Alice believes this future demands an education and she rebels against the limited rural instruction. She joins forces with other women campaigning for Asheville's first public schools. Her actions spark the rebuke of the Carter men.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Tragedy strikes and Alice's newfound security is ripped away. The family challenges her property rights and files for guardianship of her stepson. Battered but determined Alice turns to the law-and a friendly court clerk-to fight for her independence. Will Alice lose everything? Not if she can help it.</span></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Lisa Ard's debut historical fiction novel will resonate with readers for its parallels between then and now on women's rights inequality and racism.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>